Today was a good day! Nothing to exciting... Preston slept in after a long busy weekend and Austin came home from a sleepover at Parkers at 10:30. I was able to take Chloe to the doctor, go to Wal-Mart, get some house cleaning done and take the boys to play outside at my school when Jeff got home from work. Like I said, nothing to exciting but it felt good to get so much done! Now, Jeff and Austin are boxing on the Wii, Preston is pushing his truck around the basement and Chloe is watching me type as I talk to her! A blessed day and evening, I am so thankful for all of my blessings: big and small!

Chloe all dressed up

Chloe smiling at Jeff and I this morning!

Catching up...

Well, I'd be lying if I said it hasn't been a little stressful lately preparing for Christmas! I love this time of year, it's my favorite; however, having a newborn made it a little harder to get all the things done I needed to get done (not to mention the crazy weather)! Yet, in the end it all came together! We had Christmas dinner at our house yesterday with Jeff's family. Well, first of all Chistmas morning... There's nothing that compares to seeing your children's' faces on Christmas morning! The excitement, happiness, and smiles are just priceless! The boys loved their gifts! Austin couldn't believe they got a Wii! He played it so much yesterday that he is sore today! The day was spent opening and putting together toys. Then preparing for our company. We had a wonderful meal with the LaFave's and the kids tore through more presents! Today we will relax before we head to my mom's for another Christmas celebration!
Christmas Eve we baked cookies, wrapped more presents, and I even ventured to Wal-Mart for a few last minute things with all three kids (crazy)! Then we went to church and the boys sang wonderfully! I was able to sit down and just remember the real reason for the season for awhile that is! Chloe was ready to eat again as soon as all the music was over! Afterwards we went home, made dinner, boys took their baths and put on their p.j's, sat out cookies for Santa (this was one of the first things Austin checked when he woke up, if santa ate the cookies they made), tracked Santa on the internet and we tucked them in with a prayer and they were out! Jeff and I on the other hand were up until almost one finishing wrapping!

more pics

pictures: the boys enjoying hot chocolate on movie night, making the gingerbread house with daddy, Jeff put icing on Austin and Austin continued to decorate himself, I caught Chloe smiling. I"ve realized that I don't have very many pictures of her because I'm always holding her. I guess i need to put her down more but she likes to be held and I don't mind.

pre-Christmas fun with the kids

pictures: making reindeer bread, Preston singing songs at his school, and Austin's school Christmas party

Sugar cookie fun!

A lazy Sunday, a good day to bake cookies! The boys enjoyed making sugar cut-out cookies with me today while Chloe napped with her daddy!

A few new pics

Chloe is already 8 lbs 5 oz. Growing like a weed!
It's so fun having a baby in the house again. Granted the sleep I get is limited. However, it is so worth it and
I know this time is short lived, it will go by so fast.

I will miss her being so little before i know it!

I am so blessed with three wonderful children and a great husband. Jeff has been amazing since we brought Chloe home. He was able to have off of work for the whole week since it was Thanksgiving, (the longest he's ever been able to stay home with me after having our babies) and it was so wonderful to have him here with us. He was such a help and still is. I miss hime terribly while he's gone at work. The boys are adjusting just fine. Preston can't love on her enough. He helps out so much and loves the days he gets to stay home with Chloe and I. Austin likes to hold her and kiss on her, as well. I think he is a little more jealous that he still has to go to school while we are here at home.

The boys just love her and daddy's pretty proud, as well.

Chloe Grace

Born November 25, 2008
6:42 pm
7lbs 13 oz
20 in

What a blessing!

I can't even remember what all we've been up to lately, isn't that horrible. Just checking out the fisher's blog reminded me that the boys and I picked up movies last Friday and all the stuff to make homemade pizzas and spent the night cooking and watching t.v together. Jeff had caught the same bug I had so he wasn't really included in the nights' activities. The boys were thrilled to make their own pizzas and the three of us just had a really good time hanging out together. Austin went to Pizza Pro a few weekends ago with Cub Scouts and got to make his own pizza there, so he was sure to share his insight with us on how to properly make a pizza. So, I guess I should try to keep up with blog thing more because it is easy to forget the little fun things or the cute things the kids say when we live such crazy busy lives. I would love to make my blog into a book somehow someday so I can always look back and remember the little things we find happiness in.
Preston has been so amazed and loving during this pregnancy. He hugs my belly often and lays his head on my belly, just always giving me and his little sister love. I can't get enough. I know he is just going love his little sister right up. I'm sure Austin will, too. However, he doesn't really like to touch the belly, when she moves he says it freaks him out. The other day when we got home from a busy afternoon of cleaning, a birthday party, and a trip to the mall, my feet were so swollen you couldn't see my ankles and Austin was just disgusted by that, he was like that is so gross mom. He cracks me up.

I know it's been too long! I'm so ready for the holidays. I love Christmas time and absolutely can't wait to bring home our little girl soon! Hopefully, anytime after Friday she will arrive. So much has happened I don't where to begin. I guess instead of trying to catch up on every detail, I'll give the highlights: going backwards:
* Jeff and Austin go hunting- Austin actually enjoyed sitting in the stand for nearly six hours is what they said. They say a deer but it was right before dark and Jeff didn't have a clear shot at it.
* Preston and I went to church and afterwards enjoyed the afternoon at the Arena Hot Wheels Zoom Day. He loved it, he got to race a hot wheel car and won two ribbons and two new hot wheels. The little things that make kids happy. I loved to watch his face light up with excitement this day.
* I had a false alarm and was in the hospital for about 5 hours while the pumped fluids in me to get my fever down and help my contractions go away. I guess I caught a virus and got dehydrated which caused the contractions. Luckily, I was able to go home because I still have a lot to do to get ready for maternity leave at school.
*Jeff also got the bug the day after me so he was stuck on the couch for a couple of days, too. He even had to postpone the hunting adventure with Austin a day.
* alright to be continued, the boys are calling

The surprise was a baby shower. After church we went to get a Sam's card and decided to eat lunch there, we heard the food was good and cheap. And it was. Jeff kept rushing Preston to finish eating and I didn't' understand why. Then we get to the Fisher's because Jeff said Steve wanted to show him some stuff he got for his boat. Steve's vehicle wasn't even there, at this point i was confused;yet, had no idea what was going on. When I went inside several friends and family shouted surprise- I think I was still confused at first. Then I finally figured it out. It was so much fun and I love all the pink baby stuff. Thanks mom, Danielle, and Heather! What a great surprise.

Relaxing, fun filled, and surprising weekend!

WOW! What a great weekend. Friday the boys wanted movie night and we have not done that in awhile. We ordered pizza and literally watched movies all night. I even didn't get off the couch to do laundry or any house cleaning (very abnormal for me, I normally find it hard to sit and relax). After the their movies, we bathed them and put them to bed and Jeff and I stayed up to watch Baby Mama it was a cute romantic comedy. I think Jeff even enjoyed it. We slept in until 8:00, can't believe it and then we got ready to go to beggs family farm. I love that place that place and so do the boys. Preston was excited to meeting his friend Henley there, we all just had a great cool fall afternoon on the farm. We came home, the boys rested and started laundry. After dinner it was time to carve the pumpkins, the kids could hardly wait. They are so funny though, they don't like to put their hands in the pumpkin to get out the stuff. OK, I will be back to finish later... just when I thought we had the perfect family weekend it got even better Sunday; however, I need to get ready for work (couldn't sleep last night, too much on my mind) that's why i have time to do this right now.

words of a 7 year old....

I over heard Austin telling Preston that the baby started out this tiny (he made a very small circle with his hand). He proceed to tell him that there was a tiny egg in my belly and it cracked open. "I'm just kidding," he said, " God just came down and put the baby in her belly. Well, I really don't know!" It was cute and luckily for me he didn't ask for an explanation.

Austin's field trip to the apple orchard

Another Cub Scout event... the fire department!

Fall fun!

Preston rings the bell on the train that was actually a smoker at Pioneer Orchard's fall festival. The kids had fun jumping in the blow up things, going through the maze a zillion times, watching cider be made; we all enjoyed the caramel apples and kettle corn. We decided to wait to get pumpkins until we go to Beggs family farm, we will take the hayride there and pick our pumpkins.

Below: Glitter and glue... too much fun! Great job Heather... the kids loved the activities on the church Blitz day!

recent pictures

Recent pictures:

Austin shooting paint balls with his sling shot!

Arts in the Park Blitz 2!

Karate at the cubaree!

The apple orchard with Preston class.

Yes, were still here!

Well, I started to update a week ago and again got side tracked. I just don't have the time lately and the boys are always doing and saying cute things that I need to jot down. Tonight for instance, Preston read us a book that he made at preschool (he has it memorized but it's still so cute to hear him read it)! He also has memorized a train book that I still have to get on video tape. I think he wants to be like big brother. Austin is doing fabulous in school we are so proud of him. His reading has just taken off. At the end of kindergarten he was reading on a level 6 or 8 which was a few levels above average and his teacher just told me that he was able to read a level 20 which is second grade level. Granted he is one of the oldest so I would expect for him to be ahead but not that much. He read a lot over the summer too because I know if they don't they will usually regress. One reason we held Austin back was to ensure that he would succeed and not struggle because he was the youngest. We will do the same with Preston. I don't regret our decision one bit.
Well, over the weekend we enjoyed another Cub Scout event. Jeff and Austin went to the pack camp out and Preston and I stayed for the dinner and a few activities. Austin had a great time. They were home before 7:30 the next morning though (with donuts-a yummy surprise). I guess Jeff couldn't sleep and it was so damp out that everything was wet even their blankets were damp. Preston and I came home and watched a little movie together and he was so excited he was going to sleep in my bed. Well, around 1:30 I'm woke up to a loud thump and crying little boy. He feel out of the bed. Bless his heart. He just wanted back in his bed then.

Well, as you can see I have not made blogging a priority lately. We have been quite busy as usual. All of the kid rooms are completed finally thanks to Jeff's parent's being in town for a week. Jeff finished Austin's bedroom by putting in the ceiling and painting, we got the carpet installed and Jeff's dad helped us put up the sports border. Jeff's dad also painted the baby's room for us and helped us put up a border in there also. I love it, it turned out so adorable and completely girlie. Last weekend we were quite busy with the football game Friday night and Parker stayed the night to celebrate Austin's new room. Saturday we went to the cubaree, soccer, miniature golf and out for dinner. Sunday after church Austin had another soccer game, Jeff took the kids for a bike ride to the park, I was jealous that I couldn't go; yet, riding a bike right now at almost eight months pregnant just doesn't work. This week was crazy with parent teacher conferences both Tuesday and Thursday evening until 7:30; Thursday was rough because I came down with a cold the day before and felt awful all day. Friday school was out and unfortunately, I had to go to the doctor instead of what I had planned. I hoped to take the kids to St.Louis -we were going to go shop for a few maternity things and then to Chuck-e-Cheese and possibly the zoo. Perhaps another weekend. The boys got to go play with Parker and Hailey while I went to the doctor thanks to Heather for offering to keep them for me. Jeff decided to take off early so he took the boys fishing....

Soccer picture day

SEMO FAIR

For wheeler fun