What We Did Today (confessions)

Same thing we do every cold icky day, try to take over the world BAKE!! I must be subconsciously excusing my recent baking and southern cooking extravaganza. Hey 4 inch long  fetuses need a sweet fix too!We have been having homemade chicken n dumplings, gumbo and biscuits. And now, this. No, I don't keep candy in my house. Yes, I did get my kids and myself dressed and go out in the cold solely for the purpose of buying candy for these cookies. Why? :) While we discovered that white chocolate melts A LOT easier than milk chocolate, it actually did taste better.

 We used kisses, hugs and white chocolate Reese's peanut butter cups. So far we are in agreement that the best was the Reese's with Hugs in close second. (that's just in case there is anyone else out there who cares as much as I do but isn't quite crazy enough to try three different kinds of candy and just wants the best one)

This is what I got when I asked the kids to look at ME and smile. He's looking at the cookies. With chocolate already on his face.

All in all I'd have to say this was a pretty good day. And by the way, it's vegetable night at our house. ;)

Good Things to Come

Aarik and I laugh and cry about how much this applies to our lives. Sometimes you go through seemingly unnecessary trials (sometimes over and over again) to help you put other bigger things in perspective throughout the rest of your life. Maybe just to teach us to have faith in his timing. Watching this always lifts my spirits when I need it, and when we receive blessings (sooner, later or the ones that will come in Heaven), it strengthens my faith in his timing. His closing remarks have become my personal mantra. Since I love it, I'm sharing it.

Counting our Blessings

Anyone who knows us probably knows that we have had a rough couple of years in the "production" reproduction department. We have been blessed with two beautiful, smart, insane children and we have always felt there was one more. After several attempts ending in multiple miscarriages we decided to take some time off. Last year was a wonderful year for us. We decided that focusing on what we have is more important than focusing on what we think or feel we need. I got some time to clear my head and heal my heart and really think about things. We have learned so much from this experience, but for me one of the most important things was that a righteous desire can become unrighteous when it becomes more important to you than your relationship with God. While I didn't stop believing in him (or anything even close) I didn't trust him like I used to or talk to him like I used to and it made a huge difference in me, and therefore our family. That had to change. So I decided to work on it. Last year I started running as a distraction and found something I would have never otherwise found. I LOVE running. LOVE. IT. It makes me so happy. I ran some fun races and went from being a 5k runner to a half marathoner. In August Aarik and I talked about possibly trying one last time after my half in October. by September I decided that I couldn't. We were in a healthy spot mentally and spiritually, Aarik had just started running with me, we had a whole year of kids who were potty trained and I didn't think I could sacrifice my runners body :) Not to mention it really is no fun to be sick and pregnant and gaining weight for 3 months and then go through a miscarriage. It came up again briefly after the race, and again was quickly dismissed.

Well, the point is that we are now just shy of 13 weeks. We've been to two doctors appointments and everything is looking good. We keep asking what our chances are at this point of another miscarriage. Our doc keeps telling us "It doesn't get better than this." We thought we would share with everyone after the first appointment. No, the second one. OK, at 12 weeks. Thing is, a public announcement of pregnancy could lead to the need for a public announcement of loss. But ignoring it means you can't be excited and grasp the reality of the blessing. Also, after several pregnancies and this being the third one making it out of the first trimester I'm not sure how much longer we can hide it, so here it is. This was our second ultrasound, the baby measuring at 11 weeks and 3 days.

We are SO excited and surprised and feel incredibly blessed. We know that our Father in Heaven will work out whatever the right thing is for our family and hope to have completed our brood by the first of August. Thanks for letting us share our blessing with you!

I'm wondering...

why it is that I can keep a fridge stocked with juice and milk and Gatorade and could live the rest of my life NEVER touching the stuff. Literally. I never touch it other than to put it in a cart and in my fridge and the kids cups or cereal. But if by chance there is ever ice cream, or a blackberry cobbler in the house I lose control. COMPLETELY. I decided once along time ago not to drink my calories. If I want fruit juice I can get it from eating a piece of fruit. If I need calcium I can get it from low fat cottage cheese on my whole wheat waffle in the morning. I decided this ONCE.

I have also decided, on multiple occasions, not to eat fast food, bake more than once a week, buy ice cream etc. etc., yeah, it still hasn't stuck. So, I'm just wondering why....

Because it makes me happy...

Orange (poundcake) Cupcakes on a Snowy Day

Christmas Pictures

SO- by the time I realized how fast the Christmas season had come I was sick with a super fun stomach virus and so we did not make or send out Christmas cards this year. However, we did get a few fun pics that we'd like to share with whoever would like to see them. Luckily my bout with the stomach bug came and went fairly quickly and was over before Christmas, Mckenzie wasn't so lucky. She got sick two days before Christmas, took a day off, so we thought she was really lucky, then got sick and threw up during dinner at Nana's on Christmas Eve. She was her sickest on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning so if she doesn't look thrilled, you know why. :) I also had my work cut out for me this year because we had been watching lots of Christmas movies for kids in which they talk about the "true meaning" of Christmas. When I asked my kids what they thought we celebrate Christmas I was told "The true meaning of Christmas is GIVING!" UGH! So we had to relearn things we learned last year and I went and bought Charlie Brown Christmas, just in case the movies are more believable than I am. It's kind of sad how "politically correct" means we can't even talk about Christ's birth when we talk about Christmas. Hopefully next year we'll remember a little better.

This picture is from a few days after Christmas, but it's silly enough to share.
Konnor got pretty much EVERY SINGLE thing he asked for for Christmas. Between Santa, parents, aunts and soon to be uncles and Grandparents he was one happy little boy in Superhero heaven. He was pretty excited about his Iron Man mask Grumpy got him.

Kenzie wore her monkey pj's a lot and they went perfect with her new monkey toboggan from Nana. As a side note, Stuffer is starting to look pretty rough. We hope that Sis outgrows her before she falls apart. :(

This was the one and only picture in which Mckenzie has any type of facial expression so this is our excited Christmas morning picture! Both kids got bikes from Santa (thank you black Friday deals!)

I was most excited about Kenzie's Pretty Pretty Princess game. Later when she felt better, she was most excited about her bike.

Konnor was most excited about his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle cartoon on Christmas morning, but has switched up favorites daily.

Granny Byrd came to Nana's on Christmas Eve and we were really excited to see her. She is 91 so every Christmas we spend with her is a treat.

We attempted (repeatedly) to get a cute semi-natural looking picture of the kids in Christmas church clothes in front of the tree. These were some of the results. haha

Local folks already know but we had an extra special treat this year and got a White Christmas. The most snow ever recorded on Christmas day here and the first measurable amount in several decades. We hope that all of you had a wonderful, healthy and happy Christmas. We have some more catch up blogging to do and lots to share but this is a good start for now!