Christmas

Christmas this year was with my family. We were there for about a week and got to see everyone in the family. We played games, ate good food, went light looking, and relaxed. The girls wanted one thing above everything else: a unicorn pillow pet. They were so excited that they both got one. What can I say, Santa is good. Santa also brought another pair of PJ's besides their Christmas Eve ones. MJ commented that she was glad Santa got our note saying we weren't at our home but at grandma's and he must have known mommy didn't pack any pj's for the trip and that is why he left another pair for them. It was funny. She still believes in Santa but you can see some doubt in some of her comments. The girls both loved watching where Santa was on the Internet. When he got to the US we decided it was bed time so we would be asleep when he came. It was great.


Gifts from mom and dad a few days before Christmas.



MJ going outside to play with her cousin in the freezing cold. Glad they had fun.


Lots of good food. This is where my brother is a lot: in the kitchen.


My gift from RB.


My sisters and I.


Taking a horsey ride on Uncle Ne is mandatory every time we visit.


Goodies after light looking.


Helping Grandma put down salt after a good snow storm.

The drive home was intense. It took us about 4 hours instead of 3 to get home. The WY roads were not very good, but as soon as we hit the UT border things looked much better. However, we got home to a snowed in driveway. So we dropped the girls off in the house, RB got to work shoveling, and I went and did some needed grocery shopping. When I got back RB had it cleared enough so I could pull in. He has such a sore back today but he did a great job getting it all cleared.

It feels good to be home today. Christmas is coming down and hopefully the unpacking will get done too. Hope Christmas was good for everyone, and have a great New Year!

Update #2

In my last updated post I did leave me out. I didn't want to post until I had my last doctors appointment and the results back from it. At my last ultrasound we received the exciting news that we were having a boy. Well it took the radiologist about 2 weeks to look at the pictures and get the news to my doctor. So the next time I came in from my monthly check up I finally received word on the ultrasound. They found that there was a hole in the heart and as a precaution I needed to come back at 26 weeks for another ultrasound. Worse case scenario is it could be the beginning signs of down syndrome.

So began the waiting and preparing for the second ultrasound. Since it was the same time as another monthly check up we planned a full day at the doctors. I arrived yesterday and chugged my glucose orange drink. I remember those things tasting a lot better than what this one did. Anyways, then with my extra full bladder I had my ultrasound done. The technician said that what they could see the first time (a muscle or something like that in the heart) was there now. She pointed it out to me and said that is what they are looking for. After the ultrasound I got to rush back to the doctors and get my monthly check up with blood work for the sugar test. Surprisingly all if this took about 80 min. I was very impressed! I guess I just got there right at the right times for everything that I didn't have to wait for a long time.

Later that day I received official word from the doctors office that yes things are fine with the heart. The problem they saw the first time was not present this time. Whew. Plus all my other results came back normal too. I do have to go back again in 6 weeks for another ultrasound just to be sure but I'm okay with that. It was fun seeing the baby again. I'm sorry but at 20 weeks the baby still looks like an alien. This time it actually looked like a little human. He has MJ's nose. It will be fun to see him again in 6 weeks.

RB and I both have felt really good about the whole thing. Whether the news was good or not so good we both felt calm and had a good feeling that things were going to be okay either way. That has been a huge blessing to not be so worried and stressed about it. Plus, I know there have been many prayers in our behalf, thank you everyone. RB was good to give me a blessing that morning since I went in myself so he might have some days to take off when the baby comes. All is good and we are very thankful for the outcome of good results.

Yes, I am doing well. Heartburn city already but doing well. Excited for the break, to see family, and super excited to watch my girls on Christmas morning. Have a great Christmas everyone!

Update

Decided I need to do better at updating this thing with or without pictures. I really don't have much to tell, but here I go.

MJ is teaching Lil how to speak and read. It is so cute hearing MJ say a word and then Lil mimicking her. MJ loves school and seems to be doing well.

Lil is a pill and when I say that is is full of love and affection. She is so full of energy and her new thing is to dance everywhere. In sacrament meeting she would shaker her bum as hard as she could to every song. She also likes to push others buttons. She knows what makes you upset and she'll do it just to upset you and then run off laughing. Yes, she is a pill but we love her for her upbeat and happy attitude.

RB really likes 4th grade. I really like car pooling with him. School is going well for both of us and we are both excited for the break. We made the snow hill in front of our house again this year. This is the second one we made since the first melted away. Sadly, the rain today is melting away this one too.

Well I've babbled on long enough about nothing. Have a great week!

SLC Visit

Yesterday we decided in the morning to head to SLC. After looking at the forecast for next week we decided we had better chance the weather this week and not next. So after breakfast we headed out the door. We first went to the Gateway mall and walked around. We made a list of the gifts we wanted to buy after the movie. Then we went and saw Tangled. It was hilarious! Well worth the time. After buying some gifts we headed to Temple Square to look at the lights.

MJ is always very cautious which is completely different from her daring sister who would have taken a swim if we had let her.


At temple square we met up with RB's brother and family. MJ loved seeing her cousin and walking around with him. I'm glad it wasn't too cold. Right as we finished it started to sprinkle. Perfect timing! After waiting for an hour to get a booth we ate dinner and then headed home.




It was a perfect day! Lil did so good too considering she didn't get a nap and was extremely tired at the end of the night. The movie was good, the weather was good, and the day was great!

Tree Hunting/Thanksgiving 2010

Christmas tree hunting was not quite the Griswold's experience it was last year. Things ran much smoother this year. We headed to Walmart to buy boots for MJ. We met RB's brother there and loaded up in his vehicle to cut down trees. We found a spot and got all bundled up. RB and his brother took off to find the trees while I stayed with the four kids to play. They dug holes, rolled down the hill, and took sled rides. Lil lasted 2 min. before going back into the car, and the others lasted about 10 min. including me. My toes were freezing. Once we got back into the car and started it to warm up the temperature read -4 degrees. Yes, it was that cold! After waiting for about 10 min. RB and his brother showed up. They had snow up to their waist they were walking through. I'm glad we all didn't go trekking up there this year. That would have been awful with four kids and snow up to their heads.








The boys were freezing when they got back and after some lunch they finished tying the trees up on the car. Then we headed home. Because our jeep still has problems, we weren't able to drive it. So, once again we shoved our tree into our Scion. I told RB not to make that a tradition although this year the camera had batteries so I was able to get pictures of it. So besides the freezing cold temperatures we had a great time and hopefully will get the tree up today.



Thanksgiving this year was at RB's brother's home. Since we had to travel an hour and a half we decided to leave from there and go visit my family. I did bring my camera and was smart enough to take zero pictures. What can I say I was having too much fun playing games, talking, and of course eating to take pictures. It was great to see both sides of the family. We had to come home a day early due to weather but it's good to be home and relaxing before school starts again tomorrow.



Here is a picture of our home with Christmas lights on it for the first time. I know it's not a lot but it's a start. On today's agenda is to go to church, decorate the tree, and watch A Mickey's Christmas with the family. Can't wait!