My Favorite Part of Christmas 2009

This Christmas there was one thing Andy & I did that I wont forget. I truly enjoyed this because it was not only Andy's idea but it made others genuinely happy as well! Christmas Eve morning we were on our way to pick up stocking stuffers and go to the bank, both in Show Low, and Andy said to me that he had a really good idea. He then explained to me that he wanted to wait until late that night, load his pick up with snow and drive it to the Valley to throw it into Charley's yard. Later that day our oldest nephew Jordan expressed to us that he would love to have a white Christmas. Andy laughed and told him he better make a last minute request to Santa. Jordan laughed at Andy in return. The phone conversation pretty well set Andy's plan into action.

6:30PM rolled around and Andy went out, loaded his pick up with snow, we dropped the boys off with Tony and Rose and we left on our way to Gilbert. We had to stop in Christopher Creek to top off the snow then we were on our way with snow packed in and heaping over the top of the truck. We made it to Charley's house about 10:30PM, I untied the tarp and Andy started unloading snow. It took no time at all before we were headed back to Overgaard. Before we could even get out of town though Andy's phone rang. Charley had gone out to get coffee for the next morning and discovered the snow. The tone in his voice said enough and Andy was sooo excited that he had successfully provided a white Christmas for Charley and his family! Above and beyond making their Christmas a great one to remember, Andy provided me with a memory that I will not forget. Some time alone, a short road trip, and a lasting memory of his(Andy's) smile that was incredible! Making others happy truly made Andy happy! Yeah, I 've known he's got good, clever ideas but usually they are for me and I have no part in them until the end when I am given the surprise. This time I witnessed it first hand. It was awesome! Below are a few pictures of our trip!!

Christmas Events

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! The family and I truly enjoyed ours. We have a few traditions that we enjoyed this year as we always do. Christmas Eve starts off the excitement with one gift being opened, PJ's of course that we can all wear to bed in preparation for Christmas morning. Andy & I started a new tradition (if possible in the years to come) of delivering Snow to family members in the valley. It will have a blog of its own in a day or two. We once again woke up at our house on Christmas morning and watched the boys open their gifts. Tony and Rose came up and watched as well. Andy & I exchanged few gifts as well and we spent the rest of the day resting, playing with new toys, watching Christmas movies and cooking Christmas dinner. It couldn't have been a better day.

Saturday brought the arrival of Charley and his family as well as our second Christmas. Usually getting everyone together on Christmas eve or day is not easy so we wait until a day or two after. I think more then anything the adults enjoy visiting and what kid doesn't love to open presents. Tony & Rose always take care of all of us but this year we (the adults) got some special gifts. This year we got videos of the grandparents that passed away. Sounds kinda weird now that I am typing that but they are all very nicely put together and are a great way for the boys to remember those whom have passed. Besides great gifts we ate a delishish Mexican food dinner and laughed and visited while the kids enjoyed the snow and the company of their cousins.

I can't lie though, I am glad the events, all but New Years, are over for a few weeks. I am hoping for a nap in the next day or two!

Christmas Pictures

Drew & Ma'ma getting ready to open gifts

Michael, Kelsey, Madison, CJ, Ethan and Jordan waiting for Charley to hand out gifts

Christmas Afternoon at our house

Christmas Morning, at our house, the boys started with their stockings

Drew, Ethan, Michael and Andy opening PJ's Christmas Eve

December Events

So December has turned out to be a very busy month and has not yet slowed down! To save some time for a Christmas post, here are a few pictures, showing a few of the highlights of the month. We enjoyed Ethan's Nutcracker play, baked goodies & decorated cookies, shopped, met Santa for pictures, and soooo much more.

Ethan as a mouse in the Nutcracker, his 1st play at school

Drew, Ethan & Michael eat and decorating Christmas Cookies

Drew getting some dinner after a busy day of Christmas shopping w/Mom & Dad

December 19th we spent the evening with my Grandma at Fudruckers for her Birthday. Drew loved the statue out front!

The boys also got pictures with Santa, Drew was eating ice cream while Michael and Ethan rode on some of the rides at the mall.

SO December has started and the boys, Thanks to Ethan and his wonderful calendar abilities, were ready to decorate on the 1st. So as they wished we got the stuff out and although we are not done we are workin on getting there. So below are a few pictures for everyone to enjoy, of us decorating the tree!

Andy & Drew hanging Drew's 1st Christmas Ornament from last year
Me hanging something...?

Ethan & Michael looking for a place to put more decorations

Drew hammin' it up!

Michael with his 1st year ornament

And Ethan with his as well

A Boy or A Girl?

On Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 Andy and I attended My 20 week OB appointment! It started as a good morning and both of us as well as our families were excited to find out what the sex of our newest baby was! It was great that we had plans to find out but I guess we should have asked for the baby's opinion first. Hahaha! He had totally different plans! My Doctor started the ultrasound and got the heart beat and measurements that he needed. It was neat getting to see the heart, lungs, badder, spine, leg bone, head, all the things they measure during an ultrasound. We've seen these things with all the boys but this being the last baby... It was more incredible then ever before! My sister Katie, who joined us in going to the appointment was truly amazed! She's never seen the live shot of an ultrasound!

After getting what he needed the doctor began the hunt for gender proving!! The new baby wanted NO part of that. All we could see was the umbilical cord and the legs crossed right in front of the goods. We moved positions, and looked for a little bit but no luck. We were promised that we would do another ultrasound at our December appointment. Katie, Andy & I left the office and without saying much were all kinda disappointed! As we left the parking lot I suggested calling the 3D/4D Ultrasound place we used with Drew to see if they could squeeze us in. We were incredibly luck!

The ultrasound tech did a great Job and was able to find out what we wanted to know! With in minutes she showed us the family jewels. Not only were we excited to know what we are having but the ultrasound itself was truly amazing! The baby moved around for the 1st part of the ultrasound then got comfortable and rested for the second! He likes to lay folded in half with his legs under his body and against the placenta. I am guessing that its like one big squishy pillow but its been a while since I have layed against one so I could be wrong! haha!

Below are a few of the pictures we got to bring home with us! Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Waving At Us


An All To Familiar Picture of the Boy Parts

A Good Face Shot Of Our New Baby Boy!

Halloween 2009

So we started the Halloween season out with big intentions. We made it over the the Pumpkin patch is a good place to start. LOL!
So went to the pumpkin patch over in Taylor as we did last year. We had a great time minus the fact that I picked the windiest, coldest, most miserable day in October. My goal was to get pumpkins and as we did last year get a cute picture that we could use for Christmas cards. The pumpkin finding went great. All the boys including Andy found the perfect pumpkin. Drew, actually being big enough (almost) to actually pick out his own picked out several. The pumpkins that were to big to carry, he would drag, the ones he couldn't drag, he got help with from one of his brothers. Ethan was the wagon puller this year. I am sure the pumpkins weighed way more then he does but he pulled and pulled and pulled till his arms we about out of socket! The Pictures didn't go as well as I would have liked! Drew wanted nothing to do with the camera or sitting still! He was busy the whole time we were there. As for the rest of us, the wind blowing at us and sun going down... directly in our eyes... take a look at what we got. As far as a Christmas card picture, hahahaha! Just wait and see the mess I have come up with this year.

Ethan at the pumpkin patch
Michael also at the pumpkin patch

Drew dragging one of the many pumpkins at the pumpkin patch!

All 3 boys, not loving the suns placement or sitting still!

Dinosaur Ethan, Wizardly Michael and our little "Moo-Moo" Drew!

Halloween night was fun for the all of us! The boys loved dressing up minus Drew and his hat part. For the first time in a long time we were ready WAAAYYYYY before we needed to be. We went to our usual house to trick-or-treat as well as the trunk-or-treat at Bison Ranch. The boys made out like bandits and I am sure the candy will start going bad LONG before we eat it all!

Now are you wondering where the pumpkin carving pictures are.... hahaha! That is the one area we passed on this year. Yeah, I know, we spent money on pumpkins... Why didn't we use them?! They were all rotten when we went to clean them out. They felt soft-ish but we figured there was no way that in less then 5 days they had gone bad! Little did we know! haha! All 5 pumpkins we disgusting and smelt awful when we cut the stem portion for lids. The boys were bumbed for a minute but got over it once they smelt the rottenness! So lesson learned by all of us we'd like to pass on to you: Do Not Cut Into a Soft Pumpkin!!
Hope you all enjoyed your October and now that we are into November, I hope we can all remember the many blessing we all receive daily!