It was a Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas. I always think the best part of Christmas is getting together with family. Mark and I are both blessed with awesome families that we enjoy spending time with.

The kids seemed to enjoy what they got from Santa. Devin got a Zune...in my day they were called Sony Walkmans and could only play tapes or the radio!! His can download music, movies, & TV shows!!! Hello. Never in my wildest dreams! When I see him with those earphones in it brings back lots of memories! Sam got an iCoaster. He has been asking for one for a couple years now. It is a big roller coaster for marbles and it comes with an MP3 hookup so you can listen to music as the marble does all kinds of cool tricks. Ty got a Glo-Doodle, and Noah got more trains and train tracks for his train table.

I have had more of a post-Christmas let down then I usually do...not sure why. But, I think a lady in our ward put it best-"Christmas is to the year what Sunday is to the week" There is just something special about re-focusing on the Savior and serving others that makes Christmas such a wonderful time. I really want to extend that into the next year.

Us Against the World!!!

Happy 14th Anniversary to us!!
Fourteen years ago today Mark and I were married in the Bountiful Temple. It was the best day of my life...and the best decision I ever made! One of my favorite things is to sit in our front room after the kids are in bed and just talk with Mark. He is very honestly my very best friend. It makes me happy just to be with him.

Last night we were talking about how we first met and the first time we saw each other. It is so crazy to think about those good old CHS days and then realize where we are now! I'll be forever grateful for good friends who knew Mark and encouraged us to go out. We've shared just about every experience imaginable, including missions, college life, children...and more children :)

There are times when life gets to me...but it is so amazing to know that I have a partner and friend who is there to face it all with me. Heavenly Father must have known I would need someone patient (:)), strong, faithful, and funny to help me make it through.

There are lots of times when I feel like it's us against the world...us against the kids :)...us in it forever and always...and I'm so thankful. Words can't do justice how grateful I am for Mark. When Mark was in Jr. High his dad was in the Air Force. They wanted him to transfer to Germany, but he didn't want Mark and his sisters to have to leave their schools and friends, so he retired instead. It is crazy to think that if they would have moved, we would have never met. In fact, it is a little freaky how our paths have crossed...even before we were born! A few months ago Mark's mom discovered that she and my dad were in the same ward at BYU for a semester. It was the only semester Karma attended BYU! When Mark was in 9th grade and I was a sophomore, his Drama class came to the high school to watch a play I was in with my Drama class. During one song we had to pick a guy and a girl out of the audience to sing to...the girl who went out into the audience picked Mark and I stood right behind him, singing. My Mom got it all on tape. I had no idea who Mark was...and didn't for another two years!!

From high school, to five kids, a mortgage, and blasted student loans...We're weathering it all together. Sorry, ladies...but, they broke the mold...no one else like Mark! And just the fact that he'll still love me after posting such a sappy post, is evidence of what a great guy he really is. By the way...this song makes us laugh now, but it was one of the first songs we danced to...Christmas Dance 1990...so, it was "our" song...sorry if it makes you ill! :)

Happy Anniversary Mark! I Love your guts!!!

Christmas Cheer

"The new star of Bethlehem would have had to be placed in its precise orbit long, long before it shone so precisely! By reflecting such careful divine design, it underscored what the Lord has said: "All things must come to pass in their time" (D&C 64:32). His planning and precision pertain not only to astrophysical orbits, but to human orbits as well. This is a stunning thing for us to contemplate in all seasons!...There is a personalized plan for each of us. Like the Christmas star, each of us, if faithful, has an ordained orbit, a priesthood path, as we pass through this second estate." -Neal A. Maxwell

I'm not sure if it's the postpartum emotional roller coaster I'm on..or if the Lord is making sure I realize all I have been blessed with this Christmastime, but I have definitely been more emotional than usual the past few days. I have always loved Christmas..everything from the shopping to our traditional manger scene reenactment. But, for some reason, this Christmastime I feel especially close to my Savior and my heart feels like it may literally burst because of all I have to be grateful for. It seemed to start last Saturday when I was sitting in the car at Syracuse High, feeding Drue and watching Mark and the boys sled down the hill behind the football field. Despite the sign that read "No sledding, tubing, or snowboarding on school property", there were at least 50 people there enjoying the snow. I happened to be listening to The Forgotten Carols, and as one of the last songs played-a song I don't remember hearing before-I started bawling...the chorus went like this:

"All I ever wanted, all I ever dreamed of, everything I hoped, and all the things I prayed for, couldn't hold a candle to what I've been given, I've been given what I need."

Then last night we had our annual Christmas Family Home Evening where we each write down a gift we want to give the Savior this year. We read the book "This is the Season, Beloved of the Year", wrote down our gifts, sang carols, and bore our testimonies. Despite the expected moments of teasing, laughing, and general lack of reverence, the spirit was there, and I was so impressed by the quotes by prophets and apostles found in "This is the Season", there were so many I wanted to include in this post...but I picked my favorite-the one by Neal A. Maxwell. I know we all have a personal plan, and that God is not only aware of each of us, he is deeply interested in what happens in our lives and loves us beyond any love we can comprehend. I feel so much joy this year, not because we have a perfect life, or because we will be able to buy our kids what they want for Christmas, but because I know God lives and that he sent his son to earth to live and die for us. There is nothing in the world that means more to me.

Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Ty!

Happy Birthday Ty!! He turned the big 4 today and could hardly stop smiling! Here are just a few things we love about Ty:
*When he says to Mark or I, "You should be ashamed of yourself!".
*When he holds his cheeks together with his hand to try to keep from smiling
*When he gets in the car after preschool and insists that I wait until he shows me every paper he has before we go home
*When he says, "I'm not cute! I'm awesome!!"
*His long eyelashes that literally touch the tops of his eyebrows
*When he says, "You're the best mom in the whole woold"
*The fact that he doesn't understand length, time, or distance and says things like, "I can ride my bike real fast, like five inches".
*"My name is T-Y Ty".
We Love You Ty-Ty!!!

Happy Day

Today was a happy day in more ways than one. Mark turned 36 today....oops, should I mention his age?? He IS getting old :) On Thursday night I was at the hospital feeding Drue when I texted him to ask him if he wanted to go out to a movie on Friday night for his birthday. He texted back and said that he had forgotten all about his birthday!! We have been just a little busy this week. But, we did go out, and today he opened presents and his parents took us out for lunch. At 4:30 I went up to the hospital to feed Drue and the Neonatologist asked me if I was ready to take her home!! I was so excited! I called Mark and my mom went over to watch the boys so Mark could bring the car seat up and get us. It is so good to have her home! The boys love her so much, and I feel like things are finally complete. It stinks to go through labor and birth and all that, and not come home with a baby.
For those of you who haven't heard the story.. Drue was born on Tuesday Nov. 17. She weighed 8lbs 9oz and every thing went well. Mark and I had her in the room for about an hour before the nursery came to get her. Later they had Mark go back and give her a bath. Right after her bath she started turning blue. They put her on oxygen and took her to the NICU for observation. X-rays of her lungs looked pretty bad, but they didn't know if it was an infection or fluid she had aspirated during birth. They admitted her to the NICU and ended up putting her on antibiotics just to be safe. After two doses she was off of oxygen and doing much better. Now she just needs the bili lights-which is why she has white circles on the sides of her head, they keep the little sunglasses on.
So, Mark didn't just get Pumas and a Dunder Mifflin t-shirt for his b-day, he got to bring his baby girl home! Happy Day!!

First Night Down

The boys slept in their new room last night!!! The carpet was laid in the afternoon, and when Mark got home from work we started moving the beds and the dresser down. We have a small couch that is also a hide-a-bed, so we put that in there, too-knowing that Ty would want to sleep down there with them for awhile. I was really proud of them! They stayed downstairs all night without a peep! I have to admit, though, it was a little hard on me having them so "far away". Now Devin and Sam get to clean up their old room to make room for Ty and Noah...that should take a few days-at least. :) We really are going to put things up on the walls...but I guess the paint needs a couple of weeks to "cure"? Anyway....pretty exciting!!

The Final Countdown...

The boys' room is nearing completion! I was reading my journal the other night and had to laugh because we had planned on finishing their room before Noah was born. Oh, well. We've been a little crowded, but not too bad. It will definitely be nice to have the room done before Drue needs a room, though. Ty is even getting excited because he will get to sleep on the bunk bed when the boys move down! He's not too sure about sharing a room with Noah...but, that will grow on him, too I'm sure. We are excited about how the paint turned out. And the carpet comes tomorrow! I have to give a shout out to Terry for all the work he has done on the room. He was literally here every day there for a while, and that kept Mark motivated :) We wouldn't have the room without him! Thanks Terry!!

More photos to come!

Free Fall Fun

The boys re-discovered paper airplanes this afternoon and spent at least an hour throwing them around outside. The weather has been so beautiful lately-I feel guilty for being too tired to take them anywhere, but they had a lot of fun in our very own yard today! It was great. What made it even better was good friends! We love Blakers and Presto! Every time Noah sees Blake he gets so excited and shouts out, "Bake, Bake!". Too cute.

The Dreams of a Pregnant Woman

I don't know about the rest of you Moms, but I seem to have the most vivid and disturbing dreams when I'm pregnant. A few weeks ago I had a dream that Mark was a polygamist!!! Then I had a dream that I was getting a face transplant!? Last night I dreamed that it was illegal to say anything bad about Weber High School to anyone who worked at or attended Weber. I was walking with someone and I told them that I hated Weber High and was glad I didn't have to go there. The principal of Weber overheard me and called the police. I was put on trial and tried to explain that I was talking to my friend, who wasn't an employee or student at Weber, and that I wasn't talking directly to the principal-he just happened to be near by. No one would take my side. I was so frustrated and upset. Weird. It would have been more realistic if it would have been Davis High instead of Weber...;) Just Kidding all you DARTS!!!!!!

Let the Sugar High Begin!!!

Seeing Pink

I have the absolute BEST family, friends & neighbors!!! A good friend of mine threw a ward shower for me last Thursday, and then my Mom and sisters threw a shower for me today. I very literally have a closet full of pink now!! It is so fun, and so very different! I keep folding, and re-folding all the cute little outfits. Too fun! But, I have to admit, I feel a little guilty-I mean this is kid #5-should I be getting all this stuff??? But, I won't complain, it has been so sweet of everyone! I can't wait to see Drue in all these cute clothes!! (But, I CAN wait at least another week or so :)

Hold Your Horses!!

Yesterday at about 5:30 I was making dinner and I started to feel some cramping. I thought it was no big deal, until it kept coming and going. Finally I got Mark's stop watch and started timing them-the contractions were 6-7 minutes apart! I called my Mom, but she was still at work. Told my dad to have her call me, then about 10 minutes later she shows up at our house! I thought she had talked to my Dad, but she had no idea what was going on. She ended up staying the night with the boys while Mark and I went to the hospital. They hooked me up to all the monitors and put me on medication to stop the contractions. It took about three hours for the medicine to kick in, and the contractions were still 8 minutes apart. But, luckily I wasn't dilating at all. Mark went home at about 2am and then came back to get me at 5:30am. My mom was meeting my aunt and they were flying to California this morning to help out my Grandma and Grandpa, so the timing was perfect.

I am *supposed* to stay "down" as much as possible...like that's possible...but Mark took today off and probably tomorrow-which has been sooooo helpful! He is a great Dad and husband! We are both so glad that Drue didn't decide to come last night. We are so not ready! Now at least we know we need to get ready, and hopefully she'll stay where she is for at least another couple of weeks.

Fall Fun

Today Mark and I took the boys-minus one- to J&J for their annual food drive/hay ride. This is the first year we've done it, and it was a lot of fun. It's one of those things that you're glad you did for the photos and the memories-but, you're really glad when it's over. :) Devin had "prior engagements" with some friends (he's getting to "that age"), so I left it up to him whether he came or not. Heaven knows we didn't need a 'tude from him when I knew we'd have plenty of 'tude to go around.The hay ride stopped in a huge pumpkin patch and each child got to pick out a pumpkin. Sam picked a pretty big one and carried it all my himself without too much complaining. Noah loved picking up his little, slightly rotten pumpkin, and then promptly throwing it back on the ground. Ty had to find just the right one, not too big, but not "the littlest". We also picked one for Devin-aren't we nice? Of course when he got home and saw it he complained that it wasn't big enough...well next time you'll choose to come with us then, right???? We'll see. Anyway, it was a beautiful day, and nice to do something outside. I wish these kind of days would last longer!!

It's Great to be 8!!

Sam was a sweet baby. A big baby, but a sweet baby. He slept well early on, which is always a good thing! And he had a cute personality. He had lots of dark hair and really olive skin...which is funny because now he is our pasty boy :) I guess his olive skin was like Pangaea and turned into the hundreds of darling freckles he now has all over his face! :)

Sam has always been great at everything he tries. He hopped on his bike and rode without training wheels the first time he tried. He is a great baseball player, basketball player, and skateboarder. His math papers always come home with "wow"s on them. (Even though he says he doesn't like math) And he's a great reader-getting better every day!

Sam is not one to hide how he feels about anything, which is really fun when he's happy, and not so fun when he's not. He wants to do the right thing all the time, and gets frustrated when he doesn't, or when other people don't.
For his birthday he invited three friends to Sparetime and they bowled, played mini-golf, and had pizza. It was a lot of fun. Devin made Sam a go-kart with help from Grandpa Spalding and Mark. It turned out really nice and they have had tons of fun on it already.



Today (the 10th-his real birthday) he was baptized. It was a really nice program. He was the only boy being baptized-there were three girls and him-all from our ward! The baptism went off without a hitch, no do overs :), and he had lots of friends and family there to see it. Afterward we went to Golden Corral and celebrated both his baptism and birthday with family.

Happy Birthday Sam!! We love you!!

Greener Grass

My friend Sarah posted about their car troubles, and she did a great job of putting life into perspective. The grass really isn't all that green on the other side.

Mark was sure that by now, somehow, we would have been able to get a newer, bigger vehicle. But, here we are still driving the 1994 Montero that has over 250,000 miles and makes some very interesting sounds, letting the neighbors in on our coming and going. Adding another child to our family in about a month will be cause for more excitement, seeing as we can't fit another child into the Montero. I was contemplating tying Drue's car seat to the roof, but then I thought better of it and decided on tying Devin to the roof instead :) Only kidding. Mark is especially peeved because we have to register the Montero THIS WEEK, and he doesn't think the tires will pass inspection, which will mean throwing money we don't have into a car that will no longer fit our family. Kinda frustrating.

But...here's the part that I learned, and am still learning. At least we have a car to drive. I could be one of the moms I see every once in awhile, walking down the sidewalk on 1700 West with two kids in strollers and three tagging along behind, all holding grocery bags and going who knows how far down the road to their dumpy apartment and their gang banger neighbors. I live in a house I love with neighbors I love and a car I am trying desperately to love-a husband I love and kids I adore. I have it good. And anyway, how often do we all pile into one car.....once or twice a week? We can handle this! :)

P.S. The photo is NOT our Montero....just in case you couldn't tell.

It's great to be (almost) 8!

Yep! Sam's 8th birthday is coming up...October 10th. And it just so happens that because of General Conference, he gets to be baptized on his birthday! He is pretty excited. We're just hoping things go off without a hitch, if you know what I mean. Sam definitely keeps us on our toes. You never quite know what an event like this will bring out in him. But, it's his day, so we will roll with the punches.

It is so fun to see Sam thinking more about what it means to be baptized and the fact that he will be even more responsible for his choices once he is a member of the church. A few weeks ago on a Sunday night Sam came in and asked me if he could watch a movie in his room before bed. The rule at our house is no movies before bed on a school night, but they were going off track the next day. Apparently Sam didn't remember this because after I said "yes" I could hear him out in the hall way saying "I have to tell the truth, I have to tell the truth" over and over to himself. Then he came back in and said, "Mom, I can't watch a movie tonight because we have school tomorrow." When I told him he really didn't have school, but that I was proud of him for choosing the right and telling me that he thought they had school, you should have seen the grin on his face.

And the winner is.....

K-so only three of you commented, and one of you didn't guess!!! But, there is still a winner...Mandy! She guessed 4.6 pounds and the ultrasound showed that Drue is 4.8 pounds! But, according to the ultrasound lady that is right on track...for an 8 pound something, and would we expect any less?? :)

Any Guesses?

Tomorrow I go in for an ultrasound to find how just how fast this girly is growing. Because of my gestational diabetes they are worried that she may get too big, too fast. According to the websites she should be about 3.7 pounds at 32 weeks...I'm guessing she's a little bigger than that. I'm guessing 4.5 pounds. What do you think??

The winner gets their name up in lights...or at least on my next post :)