Merry Christmas to All!

So I am posting a ton of pictures of Christmas Eve and Christmas. I know Jared's family wants to see them since they were not here. These pictures are of christmas eve. FYI my children are not naked. They had a bath and then got to open their christmas eve present which is Pj's. We had dinner at my house with my family and Lindsay's in-laws the Whitezells. We ordered Olive Garden take out and a cake from Smith's bakery (bakersfield natives might be drooling about now Smith's is the best). I think I want to order take out for every holiday dinner. It was so nice not to have to cook or clean up all the cooking. It was also really good!

So these pictures are of Christmas day. It was so hectic to keep up with giving the kids their gifts and taking pictures I really don't have to many. My mom and dad came over to watch kids open gifts and the headed over to Lindsay's to do the same. Luckily my kids get up early and hers get up late so it works. It was a good Christmas for all, and as you can see Mackenzie wasted no time in using her gifts. She could have cared less about any other gift after opening her princess shoes and dresses.

We are having a......

So we think we are having a boy. I had an ultrasound on Thurs. I was about 16 weeks so still kind of early. This baby would not cooperate at all. First the tech thought that it was the umbilical cord. Then the baby would not move its hand. So after 20 mins the tech said she was about 70% sure that it was a boy but told me not to go out and buy anything. I left kind of frustrated. I wait for the day to find out what I am having with as much excitement as I do my due date. I am not patient when it comes to finding out whether or not we are adding a boy or girl to our family. On all three of my other Ultrasounds I could tell before the tech even told me what we were having but this one had me totally stumped. I got out my other kids US pics and it looks nothing like my boys or mackenzie's. The only thing that makes me a little iffy on it is that what she is pointing to as "boy tools" is so high up and away from the baby's bum. Who knows as of right now I am just saying we are having a boy. I have another ultrasound on the 10th of Jan and they said they would be able to tell for sure then. We'll see. If any of you residents that we know can tell me for sure I would really appreciate it since this is the best picture, I am sure you are not at all busy, and since none of you except one is an Ob/Gyn resident. I am pretty sure that most of the moms would probably be able to tell me best. Actually Kristin and Lisa since you guys are the expert in boys I think you need to weigh in on this one.

Sacrament

So I am sure most of our Sacraments all go the same way. Multiple trips to the hall, dragging kids out by their arms, lots of bribing, and many many explanations (at least to Landon) as to why we are still at church and when we will be leaving. This is the explanation I got from Ethan yesterday:

Me: Ethan only take one piece of bread when they pass the tray
Ethan: But I am hungry
Me: Ethan two pieces of bread will not make you full and you need to leave some for everyone else
Ethan: If I take two pieces of bread I will think about Jesus twice

I am not sure how to argue that explanation I was pretty impressed he came up with that. Now I must think of a really really good argument for why we only take one piece of bread during the Sacrament. I am guessing I should just be happy that he knows what he should be doing when he takes the Sacrament.

So you think you can dance? No actually I do not!

So we finally saw the show and it was worth the wait. It was so so good. They did all of the great dances from the season and then a bunch of new ones. Honestly the show lasted over 2 hours. 2 fun filled screaming, clapping hours. We went down with almost all of jared's family and then my family. We were all kind of split up except for us die hard fans, jared and I, marc and lindsay, and my parents who for some reason didn't look over for the picture. We went all out for the more expensive tickets. Ironically I think jared's family had better seats sitting up higher rather than being down closer. This picture was taken during intermission. Obviously jared is really feeling the music playing since he is striking some gangsta pose.

Nigel and Mary were there that night too. We did happen to catch this picture. My dad was sitting right on the end but there was no way he was going to stop nigel and ask for a picture, so this is what I got. We were waiting for mary to come by jared and marc said they would let out a scream and tell her she was on the hot tamale train but they didn't get their chance. For those that don't watch the show nigel and mary are two of the judges. Again the show was so so good, and watching all these people do these crazy dances that were so good made me realize how much I can not dance, but I am so glad they can since it provides such great entertainment.

Happy Birthday to Ethan!

So yes my two boys have birthdays within days of each other which sure makes it nice for planning parties right now. Anyway, Ethan turns 6 today so we can't leave him out on the pictures.

I don't have any pictures of Ethan as a baby readily available since we still had the camera that used film then. This picture is of ethan at almost a year old. Ethan was born right on his due date. He was 8 lbs 8 oz. I think he was so big because I gained 60+ lbs when I was pregnant with him. Most people don't believe me and if I could get the picture scanned I would post it. He was in a hurry to get here though. My labor was only about 6 hours. I went from a 1 to an 8 in about an hour. Thankfully they still let me have my epidural. He was born head and shoulder at the same time so as soon as I had him the rushed him for xrays and exam since they thought he had a broken collar bone. When the broke my water it had meconium in it so he had to spend about 3 days in the NICU just to make sure he would eat well since I guess the meconium can cause problems. So here Ethan was this 8 1/2 lb baby laying next to all these 1-3 lb babies. Everyone would ask why in the world he was in there.

He was my easiest baby by far. He really spoiled us. We could take him anywhere, he was the best eater, and he was sleeping through the night by 8 weeks. He has been on the go and running since he was 9 months old. Honestly the kid never slows down. He definitely keeps us on our toes. We are hoping one day all the energy and the mischievous ways will be put to good use. Happy Birthday Ethan we love you lots!

Happy Birthday To Landon!!

So yesterday Landon turned 4 years old. They grow up so fast. I figured I would post a couple of pictures of him in his honor. Even when he was a baby his hair naturally went into a mohawk. Landon was my most difficult labor by far. He was breech at 37 weeks and my Dr. ( Dr. Wen one of the best OB's around) said they would try and flip him. I agreed to it only if they would give me an epidural before they did it, and if it worked that they induce me since I had been in and out of the hospital since 28 weeks with pre-term labor. I was so ready to be done.

They agreed so on the 14th we went to the hospital. They gave me my little piece of heaven (the epidural) and Landon just flipped on his own. So they turned the epidural off and put something on my cervix to soften it and see if just that would put me into labor. They said if it doesn't work in 12 hours we start a drip. Well 10 hours later it worked. I told the nurse I need them to turn the epidural back on. She said oh we have to wait for the Dr. ( I am pretty sure and an anesthesiologist went to lots of medical school and would qualify as a Dr. but apparently the Ob was the only one to give the Ok). That is when I entered the 9th circle of Hell. Landon was not waiting for anyone. His head broke my water and anyone standing within 5 feet of me got wet. I say that is what they get for not listening to me. Then I started scaling the bed trying to go where I don't know away from the pain I guess. Then I started screaming for the Dr. and for someone to help me since I thought I was dying. Finally the Anesthesiologist comes in and says "Why is she like this she already has the epidural?" Then he gives me what he calls the atomic bombs of epidurals. Jared was relieved at this point since I don't think his neck could take any more scratches in it. My OB walks in says push, out comes landon, then I went to sleep. The oh so lovely picture is a little while later and even then I still wasn't able to hold landon very long since I kept falling asleep. I am not sure what the dr. put in the epidural but somedays I wish I had acess to it.

So that is Landon's arrival into this world. Eventful just like every day with him. Landon is our funniest most honest kid. He is not one to sugar coat anything, he tells it like it is. This last picture is him on his first day of preschool. He dressed himself, hence the beanie. Of course we can't forget his pillow so that he can cover up the fingers he is sucking. So happy birthday to landon, we love you.

7 Random Things

So I got tagged and am finally sitting down to do this. This was a hard one, I was having a hard time coming up with 7 things that I think are random. So here goes.

1. I recently made a 6 hour trip to St. George just to go to Tai-Pan with my mom. 1 drive up, 2 Christmas trees, 4 shopping carts full, and 1 drive back was all accomplished in 23 hours. crazy and random I think.

2. I have a shower routine, not like emily's when she gets out of the shower, but in the shower. I wash, shave, wash my hair, wash my face, then I am done. Everyday same thing and I don't know what to do with myself if for some odd reason it gets out of order.

3. I already have my Christmas stuff and tree up. Thanksgiving is just an excuse to travel and have dinner.

4. I can fold a fitted sheet so that you wouldn't be able to tell it is a fitted sheet. You know how they always end up looking like some weird shape when you fold them, I know the secret thanks to my Grandma Hacker.

5. I love the snow, driving, scraping, shoveling, playing.. all of it.

6. I love frosting. Not the whipped kind. The good stuff, the lard full, stick to the roof of your mouth, full of sugar kind. I can eat it all by itself by the spoonful, and I prefer to have the big flower or decoration made of frosting when eating cake. Disgusting to some I know, except my sister in frosting love Amy.

7. I grew up in California about an hour from the beach and I have been to the beach 3 or 4 times in my life. I think that is weird.

I tag anyone reading this who would like to share some new insight on themselves with those of us wanting to know!!!