Christmas 2008

We had so much fun this Christmas. The day before Christmas Eve there was tons of snow on the ground but Christmas Eve it started melting and now it's all gone (via the rain and sun). We did have a White Christmas but it was an old and dirty white Christmas - not the kind you imagine or see on postcards.Christmas eve I had a Dr apt in the late morning after which we went to Rachel & Tyler's Ugly Sweater Party. We had so much fun eating, talking and making boxes to take to local charities. This year we went to the Ronald McDonald house and dropped off a box of food, toys and toiletries. It makes everyone feel so good to share and give at Christmas. There was a toy in the box that Abygail especially liked and we told her she could hold it and look at it in the car but that we would have to give it to another little girl who was sick for Christmas. When we got to the R.M. House she went inside with Jason (Jackson was asleep) and willingly gave the toy away - so sweet!That evening we opened our PJs and took our annual PJ picture, then we read about the birth of Jesus in Luke and talked about it with Abygail who understood a little of it. Last year she and
Jackson got a nativity set from Allison and they have loved playing with it this year. After we read Luke we talked about it and the figurines from the nativity set, it was a nice experience.

Christmas morning the kids went straight to the stuff that was unwrapped. Abygail saw her doll stroller first and she was very excited. Then she saw her dress up stuff (Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, a too too (sp?) with 3 pairs of shoes and 3 tiaras - all displayed nicely in her new dress up basket).
Jackson loved his building blocks and cars. He also loved the doll stroller :)

Jason and I also had great presents. Last year Jason got me a camera and I got him a water bottle that he still enjoyes and uses. This year the tables were turned and I got him a Wii and he got me a 2009 calendar that I will use and enjoy throughout this next year.

Christmas day I cooked dinner (ham, green bean casserole, pumpkin pie...and Jason made smashed sweet potatoes - yummy!). Our friends came over and we all enjoyed the day/evening. We played the Wii while the kids played with new toys and watched a movie.

We've had so much fun and we hope all of you had a very merry Christmas too!

The Santa Train

Can you tell how excited they were to see Santa?!

Too bad this is blurry!

Saturday after Jason got home we all headed to lunch and to ride on the Santa Train. The kids have been obsessed with The Polar Express movie this year (I could probably quote the whole movie by now)! There is a train museum about an hour from here and they do seasonal rides (fall foliage, Thomas comes to town once a year, wine train tours, etc) and during the Christmas season they do a Santa Train. It was a little expensive but we decided to treat the kids to it and make the whole train experience come alive for them.

First on the agenda was to fill up our bellies. We stopped a The Original Pancake house and had some yummy brunch. Then we headed out to the train museum. We got there about 15 mins before the train left and it was CROWDED! When we got on our assigned car the only seats left were on the sunny side of the train. O well, we survived the sun.

Jackson, "ts Santa!" and Abygail hiding from Santa

Shortly after departure Santa came through our car. Abygail was very shy and covered her face the entire time. Jackson was fine as long as Santa kept a reasonable distance. They both knew who he was, Jackson even pointed at him and said "ts (it's) Santa". They may not have liked Santa being so close but they enjoyed the candy canes his elf passed out. After Santa some more elves came through and sang songs. We enjoyed singing Jingle Bells and Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer when the Elf sat across from us. The conductors came through and punched our tickets and chatted...we got a picture with ours, who also happened to be the oldest on the train...and probably the cutest too. Another Conductor did some magic tricks for the kids. We all had fun.

Jason and the kids de-boarding

It was a good experience for the kids, but I don't think we'll do it again. Unfortunately only half of the windows on the train DIDN'T fog up and ours was not one of them so we couldn't see out our windows and the tracks were blocked or backed up before we got to our midway point so we had to turn back early. It was about a 1 hour train ride total. The museum itself was ok but most of the toy trains were not even running and there were no BIG or REAL trains to tour (at least that we saw). So, although it was a fun time we overall thought it was not worth the cost. I'm still glad we went...but next time we'll just do something Christmasy closer to home and less expensive.

28 Week Update

The girls are weighing in as follows:

Amelia Bedelia: 2 lbs 7 oz - and still breech
Beatrix Potter: 2 lbs 14oz
Mommy: 158 lbs (total of 28lb gain and still at least 2 months to go)

They are both doing well and measuring appropriately. Their heart beats are 140 and 141.

My next appointment (at the hospital/sonogram) is in 2 weeks and then I'm on a weekly schedule there as well. Every week will be a quick sono and then a stress test and every 3rd week will be a full measurement sonogram.

I may not seem big to anyone else but I seem big to me. The biggest thing is that it's all baby/babies so their slightest movements are felt and my slightest movements are VERY uncomfortable because there is no cushion. So, for those of you that get really big when you are pregnant - be glad you've got some padding!!! It's not so great with out it.

The Belly

Christmas Time!

Although I'm not yet house bound I feel like I am. Jackson got pink eye Friday and we took him into the ER yesterday for some meds (we just found out we have to get a new pediatrician due to our insurance change too). We stayed home from church again today because of this and because I can't tell if Abygail is getting it or not - her eyes look glassy - so rather than risking other children getting it we are home.

This week we gathered for book club at our house and discussed The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict by The Arbinger Institute. I didn't finish the book so I felt pretty left out of a lot of the discussion, I also was up and down most of the time rounding my kids back upstairs and opening the door for guests so even when I felt like I could contribute my chance was gone by the time I came back. O well, it was nice to have everyone here since I don't get out much anymore and the discussion went really well. I would recommend this book to pretty much everyone, it's a good book on showing us how to treat others and keeping our hearts at peace with the world around us. It's also an easy read (I was reading some other books and put off reading this one and wound up with no time to read it in the end with the sick kids so it's my own fault I didn't finish it).

Last night we missed the ward Christmas party due to pink eye as well. Instead we had our own party. We finally got our decorations out and the kids and Jason decorated the tree, I made cookies and then put out the rest of the decorations. There was only one ornament fatality (our Niagara Falls ornament - which we can replace) so I would say the kids did really well. They are currently in love with the "Choo Choo Train Movie" aka The Polar Express so it was on most of the day yesterday. Abygail is so into Christmas this year, she's already asking about Santa and she loves the Christmas lights. Whenever she sees anything Christmasy she says "Oh, mommy, it's Christmas time!!!" Last night we read "The real story of Santa Claus" as a family and explained that Santa lived a long time ago and now as part of Christmas we celebrate his giving spirit, among other things (Christ Birth). We've decided to be truthful about S.C. and let our kids decide if they believe in him or not. We've also decided that this will be part of our yearly tradition, reading the story. We still have lots of things to do before Christmas day: learning about the true meaning of Christmas, decorating their first Christmas ornaments, buying their yearly ornaments, doing a service project, etc. I'm sure this time will fly by faster than usual. Also, just in time for our festivities...We had our first REAL snow (enough that you have to shovel) last night!

As a side note...last year my stocking holder broke and so I went out and bought a new one. I love nut crackers and the only nut cracker stocking holder they had was a twin pair so I bought them...do you think I jinxed myself?

While You Were Out

Abygail enjoyed Tea Parties with her cousins, aunt and grandma while in AL

I haven't blogged in a while and I guess I'm in a blogging slump. There's not much to blog about around here. It's gotten harder for me to get around and I'm tired and sore all the time so we are not doing too much.

Thanksgiving: While Jason and the kids went to Alabama I stayed here and had a week worth of FABULOUS SLEEP! I had forgotten what it was like to not have a child (or in my case children) shoved up against every part of your body while I'm hanging onto the edge of the bed for dear life hoping to not fall off. I remember I would wake up at 4 or 5 am and hadn't moved from the position I laid down in, it was AMAZING!!! I had a Dr.s apt on Wednesday of Thanksgiving week (I think the Dr just wanted to make sure I didn't leave with the family) and got to see two little feet hanging out in the lowest possible area of the uterus - baby A, you only have a few more months to turn around so you better get cracking. After my apt I went and watched Twilight all by myself - that was a real treat to be in a movie theater and to be there all by myself. I was disappointed with the movie, my thought is if I had not read the book I probably would have enjoyed the movie a little more. I spent Thanksgiving with our friends and enjoyed a yummy meal. Saturday Boss and I went shopping and that was lots of fun. I also did lots of shopping on my own and managed to keep the house clean for more than 20 mins (it's amazing how much of the everyday mess is NOT mine). I mopped around a bit, missing my family and watched way too much TV.

Abygail was sick for the majority of the time they were gone and remained sick for a few days after they got back.

Yesterday was the first day we got out all week. We went with our friends to the Children's Museum (I'm certainly not allowed to go that far from home alone anymore). All the kids loved it and the adults had fun too. We were all tired and ready to leave by the end.

Jackson learned to throw a ball and enjoyed playing with his cousins while in AL

Jackson turned 1.5 in Alabama...he hasn't had his 18 month check up yet so those stats will be coming soon. He's getting to be so grown up. He talks to much and knows so many words it astounds me. He loves his sister and he has learned "mine" from her. Now when they aren't playing together they are fighting over who's toy it is or who had it first. Jackson always seems to think that it's "MINE". :)