Amazing Giveaway!!! Head over to Little Miss Momma for a chance to win a Silhouette Cameo! I've had my eye on one for awhile!
http://www.littlemissmomma.com/2011/12/another-silhouette-cameo-giveaway-on-little-miss-momma.html

Videos

We decided to do Christmas a little early this year. Why? Lots of reasons, but mainly because we wanted to and we can! It's one of the perks of being the Mom and Dad, you get to make decisions like that!

So here's a little taste of what Christmas was like at our house

Isaac was so much fun to watch open presents! He was so excited over everything!!!

He loved his new bike. And of course because Isaac got a new bike, Gary also got a "new to you" bike (Isaac's old bike)

and also for your viewing pleasure, Baby hiccups!

Ashley had the hiccups this morning and it was too much! I couldn't take how cute her little hiccup squeaks were.

Merry Christmas all!

Kay vs. Beer

As Greg said, since we don't drink he had to go with Kay.  I'm sure glad he did!

Isaac, Gary and Ashley's birthstones with engraving "Eternal Family"

Merry Christmas!!

Siblings?!

One of the main question people seem to be asking is; "Who does she look more like? Isaac or Gary?!"

Since I think they all look a lot like each other, but somehow still have their own unique look, I'll let you decide.

Isaac

Gary

Ashley

Related?!

1 week

It has been a fun week!!

It's been full of a whole lot of this;

We've all been enjoying have a little baby (yes, even at 2am when she's wide awake) and the happiness that comes with babies.

Has it brought calm to the house?! Not quite. The boys are still as rambunctious as ever and maybe a little more so from the excitement of having their baby sister here. They are so in love with her and I can't help but smile every time they try to "help" out. Their intentions are good and I guess that's what matters right?!

My mom was able to stop by for a quick visit on her way down to my Grandma's (HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRAMY).  It was nice to have her here, even if it was only for a few hours.

All in all it's been a fun and mildly crazy week.

Happy 1 week Birthday Ashley!

She's Here!!!

WARNING:

There are about a Billion pictures in this post!!!

Having said that;

WELCOME ASHLEY PEARL

At about 7:30am Wednesday morning I started having contractions. However, they were irregular and not lasting very long, plus Isaac had school pictures that day, so yes, I took Isaac to get his school pictures taken while I was in "labor"



This was the view from our delivery room!
Pretty awesome!

After returning from school pictures they were getting stronger and longer so I called the hospital and we were admitted around 11:30am. We walked around to get the contractions to be more consistent. The nurse we had was amazing! She gave us some good tips and advice to get the baby to drop (no she still hadn't dropped yet) and to get the contractions closer together.  She was also really good about leaving us alone to do our own thing.

I ended up getting my epidural, which slowed down my contractions so they hooked me up to some pitocin which got them stronger and closer together.

After 14 hrs of labor and 10 mins of pushing she made her grand entrance at 1:20am on December 1st weighing in at 9lbs 6oz and measuring 20.5 inches!

 

She is an amazing baby!! A great eater, super sleeper, and not fussy at all!!

The nice part was that since she is our 3rd and there were no complications they let us go home that evening.

Tiny Feet

Gary is totally in love with his baby sister. Always wanting to hold her and kiss her and hug her.

On our way home

Daddy's little girl!

Isaac is also loving having a baby sister. he is always making comments on how cute she is.

Day 2! She slept for 8 hrs straight!

Day 3. She's starting to open her eyes more.

Greg's Aunt and Uncle were kind enough to bring his Grandma up to meet her newest Great-Granddaughter.

Day 4. Ready for church!

Sunday nap time!
So in love with this little girl

Isaac is not as forward as Gary but you can tell he loves his baby sister

Gary is constantly asking to hold and love her

She's making the I love you sign.

I love this picture!

Greg trying out the sling

She loves cuddling with her daddy.

Such a daddy's girl already!

We are all head over heels for this little girl! We're so glad she has joined our family and we are loving every minute of it!



Prego in Pics

I was looking through my prego pics and found it amusing. Maybe because I long to be "that" size again. Maybe because I'm so done being pregnant that I have to remind my self that we're almost done. Maybe it's because I'm so tired that everything is funny to me at this point.

Anyway, here it is, My pregnancy in pictures.

6 weeks

12 weeks

15 weeks

20 week ultra sound

Then there was a HUGE gap in pics

6 months

39 weeks!

The Super soft, Super cute blanket our neighbor made for us.

So there you have it. It's Thursday November 17th and I'm due on the 20th.

You will be updated when the time is right!

Night of Nights

First of all I gots to send a shout out to my mom!

Happy Birthday to the bestest Mom and Nana in the whole world!!!!

We lucked out in the costume department this year in that we didn't have to buy any! As I was pulling out the Halloween decorations the boys got all excited when they saw their costumes! So since they still fit (they were pretty big last year)  we went with it!

A Gronckle, dragon, Gruffalo (depending on who you ask or talk to) and Buzz Lightyear

We went around our neighborhood and then due to lack of participation, went next door to the bigger neighborhood. We did not freeze and I survived all the walking! The boys did an AMAZING job staying safe in the dark among the bazillion kids. They had glow sticks around their necks and flashlights to see where they were going! They had a blast! Greg stayed home so that there would be someone to pass out candy at our house.

Only 20 days left!!!

So then we have the million dollar question. How do you distribute all that candy your wee ones have collected?!

Do you let them stay up all night and go to town?!  Our kids would be puking all night long if we did that.

Do you give them one every time they ask for it? Our kids would be puking all day and night for the next 2 days if we did that.

Do you divide it in half and "tax" your kids?! We had quite a bit left over.

Do you let them eat a few pieces every day?! That sounds like a good option.

Which is when Greg came up with a genius idea!!!

Our kids love to help out. They put their own clothes away. They pick up their dirty clothes. They will help fold the laundry ..... if we ask them to.

So he devised the "Good Job Jar" 

I found these cute little jars at the dollar store a couple weeks ago.

So last night after we inspected the candy, (would you believe that someone was handing out chocolate covered coffee beans?! And Rum flavored candy?!) they got to fill their jars with their favorite candy, and whatever didn't fit went into the candy bowl for everyone to share.

So now if they do something to help out without being asked they get to pick a piece of candy out of their good job jar!

So far this morning, Gary picked up the play room and Isaac put all the laundry away!

They picked up the shoes by the door and got all the dirty clothes in the right hampers!

They are loving the Good Job Jars and I am loving all the help!

We hope you had a fun and safe Halloween just like we did!!

From Tonka to Superheros!

This last weekend was the State Farm Halloween party!!

Greg and Gary with the scarecrow

we couldn't convince Isaac to go sit with him.

Candy dive. This was fun!

Ready, Set...

Go!

Isaac received some help

Gary dove right in!

The very much anticipated Fishing Game!!

Also. We are into a new craze at our house!

Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh BATMAN!!!!

Everything is;

"To the Batcave!!"  

"We haven't a moment to loose!" 

"Holy Catamoly Batman!"

"To the Batmobile!" 

And I am LOVING it!!!