June Eliza Stettler

We are so excited to have June join our family. She is incredibly sweet and lovely as ever. She was born a week and a half early on February 27. I had an appointment that day with the doctor at 10:00 a.m. and guess who showed up for the appointment, at 10:00 right on the money? Can you believe that? Eric was at work. I texted him around 7 a.m. and told him "I'm pretty sure I'm going in to labor." So he came home from work and picked me up. Finn's labor went so quickly we were nervous this one would come just as fast. So we just bolted out of there, forgot a camera, my phone, my wallet... We got to the hospital around 8 and she was born right at 10. She was 6 lbs. 14 oz. and 20" long.

The kids adore her and want to hold her all the time. There have been a few times while nursing that Finn tries to pick her up off my lap so I can get him a snack or something, but the jealousy is a lot less prevalent than I expected.

It was nice having Eric work just a couple floors down from where I stayed in the hospital. He would surprise every now and then when he got to take a break. This picture cracks me up because it looks like he just delivered her.

My first outing alone with three kids besides the doctor and all four of us survived! Unfortunately, Finn's clothes did not. He spilled half a bottle of chocolate milk on himself.

um...hello?

Anyone still there? I have seriously neglected this blog and the longer I went without posting the less desire I had to catch up. December had some major milestones for our family and I just felt guilty for not posting anything. I know no one cares to read it, but someday I want to print my blog out as a family journal, so I feel bad not having some of these things posted.

Hello, Eric's graduation! This poor guy has been in school for like 30 years! He passed his boards a couple weeks ago and is officially ready to administer your anesthesia.

Eric's parents came to visit/celebrate with us. Lily was so excited, she even planned an itinerary for their stay and dictated it to me. Here it is verbatim:

1. Go to Sweet Frog.

2. Go to the store and buy me some headbands.

3. Go to a fancy restaurant. There is a place I know called Chick-fil-A.

4. Play the pony game.

Eric's parents carried that around and crossed the list off as we went along. They made sure everything was completed before they left.

Lily turned 4. We had an awesome Knights and Princess party with Beckett. It will be strange going solo on these birthday parties next year. I don't even want to think about the Church's moving.

Christmas was really fun this year. For the first time we had Christmas morning in our own house. This was the first year Lily remembered her last Christmas so she fully knew what to expect and was excited about everything to come. Finn blindly fed off her excitement. He knew to look for the elf and expected a candy in our advent calendar every morning. I loved it. Christmas is way more fun as a parent than as a kid.

Melissa, Brett and Sarah all came for Christmas so for the first time in 8 years the whole Andrews family was together on Christmas.

Eric and I hosted Christmas Eve. We played a bunch of Minute to Win it games. It was really fun.

Melissa, Cooper and Sarah came up for a weekend . I loved that my kids could play with their only cousin on my side. I wish they lived closer so badly.

Daughters of God

Last month my visiting teaching partner shared this video and I LOVED it. Maybe everyone has already seen it, but I was definitely affected by it and want everyone to be able to see it.

 

 Our church has tons of short inspiring videos that are really well done. To see more go here.

Gary and the Caldwells

Doesn't that title sound like some folk band or something? Luckily they are not. I don't think they would be that great. But they are great in-laws and great company. We loved having them come out to see us. The kids and I got to spend the whole time with them. Poor Eric only got to spend one day, but at least it was the day we went to Busch Gardens. Here are a bunch of pictures of their trip here:

The whole group sans Gary, the unofficial photographer of the trip.

My kids were hit by the Chinese paparazzi. These ones give candy after they take photos though.

We took over Rob Bishop's office. 

Lily LOVES Meg.

and LOVES Candi.

and Finn LOVED the metro. He would say "weee!" the whole ride and insisted to sit on his own seat. Even if he had to end up by some stranger.

 A double stroller is a pain when you're in DC, so we had to make do sometimes.

Finally! A shot of Grandpa!

I think Bug-a-Dug at Busch Gardens is pretty under-rated. These guys went on it about 16 times.

Despite our mobility without a crib, Finn stayed on his nap schedule. He slept like that for about two hours.

Thanks for coming out guys!

A Pioneer Story

Lily recapped a story she learned in Primary. It had grandparents written all over it. So here you go grandparents.

Halloween

Eric promised me a foot rub if I post this tonight so obviously I am. I don't know why he cares, I think it has something to do with how much he likes to show off his kids.

Halloween was almost a week long event here. It started with music time on Friday. Lily and I compromised and she got to be a princess for music time and her preschool party if she wore her Goldilocks costume for the ward party and for Trick or Treating. Luckily we have a pretty good supply of princess dresses lying around and the Goldilocks costume was mine from when I was her age, so we only had to buy Finn his bear suit. I sewed all the bear stuff for Eric and I, so it was a pretty stress free Halloween.

Finn loved wearing his bear costume. He would just giggle when he saw me get out his costume.

She couldn't be the same princess twice of course.

Finn eating his trunk or treats stash on the way home. Wrapper and all.

We went trick or treating at my parents. They have some fun neighbors that really get into it. Lily had to reach into a coffin for candy that had a posing dead person inside it, bet on which pumpkin had candy in it risking not getting any and perform a song in front of 15 people to earn her candy.

The best part. The candy feast.

 

Disney On Ice

Lily, like many girls her age, loves anything Disney princess. So when my friends found $10 tickets to Disney on Ice, I was really excited to take Lily. She was in heaven. She was so in to it, standing up and dancing. I loved watching her watch it.

She wanted to wear her snow white costume. She put it on and everything. Then after some thought she asked me, "Mom do we sit or stand?"
"We'll be sitting in chairs most of the time, you can stand if you want though."
"Well I better not wear this, it might be uncomfortable to sit in." Were her exact words. She is all about comfort this girl. That is why jeans rarely make an appearance on her. So she nixed the dress, but kept the snow white head band. She also packed a back up tiara in my purse in case she ever wanted to switch.

( We're just missing Beckett and Lily's boy entourage would be complete. )