Gearing up for Christmas

This year I decided to calm down on the Christmas decorating!  My theme this year is "Less is More!"  I am taking it a lot easier, but I kind of need to slow down at this point.  I have been exhausted and overdo things a lot!  Imagine that!  I waited until after Brax's party to put out the Christmas decor because I didn't want anything to get broken.  We did things a little differently.  Brax usually has a tree in his playroom.  We usually have a family one in the family room and one in the entry way that is small.  This year we put them all together and Brax informed me that the other little tree is now the baby's.  He informed me also that we need another stocking for baby.  He wanted one this year, but I told him the baby wasn't born yet but I'd let him pick one out on clearance for next year. 

The tree on the left is now the baby's and the one on the right is Brax's.

Brax's village - It belongs to the whole family, but Brax is the one that selects the new pieces each year and determines how it'll be set up.  Next year it'll be up on top of the cupboards, but I didn't want to attempt it this year since my balance is off for some reason!

For Christmas gifts Branden suggested that I make my grandma's candy for neighbors and friends.  I haven't attempted making her candy in years, so I decided it was worth the try.  If I could get it all done between 30 and 31 weeks of pregnancy, I should be able to handle it not pregnant.  I got all the candy done in a week.  I made 3 batches of toffee and caramel, 2 batches of fudge, 1 batch of fondant for cherry chocolates, 3 batches peanut clusters, 2 large bags of mini marshmallows, 2 bags of rod pretzels, and 2 bags of mini pretzels all of which were covered in chocolate!  It was a fun, but challenging time.  One of my caramel batches didn't turn out well it was too soft, but that was the only mishap I guess besides burning my finger.  Next year we'll only make 2 batches of caramel.  One will be caramels and the other will be for turtles.  We got out our gifts early this year due to the fact that we're preparing for my sister's wedding.  I'm excited to be able to celebrate a wedding and also for our friends and neighbors to know that we love them! 

marshmallows

pretzels

Toffee

Cherry chocolates - they didn't turn out real pretty, but I know what to do differently next year.

turtles

Fudge - Branden isn't a fudge fan, but he loves my fudge!  It's a Christmas miracle!

This is how my table has looked for the past week.  We get things done and put it away then do more!

I did cut back on gifts this year and tried to get people more meaningful presents.  I love the Christmas season and how giving everyone is.  I do feel bad for those that feel so desperate that they steal from others to get gain, but I believe there are more giving people than those who take away.  I'm grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ and his birth.  He is a great example to each of us and a person I hope that I even somewhat emulate in my life.  I look forward to spending time with family and friends.  I am excited however to spend our first Christmas at home just three of us, soon to be four.  It's something we've never done before and I think it'll give us each time to think about what we're grateful for and not worry about running from one house to another and if we're spending enough time with each family.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoy being in the middle of family for Christmas, but sometimes it's too stressful.  As I've proved, in high stress situations I start to have contractions and Branden is really worried about keeping my stress level low.  I also like mixing things up every once in a while.  I wish you all a Merry Christmas!  I hope we can all remember the reason for the season!

Brax's 9th Birthday

Brax turned 9 the week after Thanksgiving and he was so excited for his birthday.  His birthday was a challenging day for me because I'd been throwing up ever since Thanksgiving and that day I was particularly sick.  I couldn't stop throwing up.  I wanted him to have a very special birthday though.  First thing after he got up, all he wanted to do was open presents.  We had our family spiritual time and were running behind, but Brax really wanted to open presents.  We had a quick present opening time that lasted 5 minutes.  It wasn't full of exciting gifts, but he was grateful either way.  He got socks, new shoes, pajamas, and a Spider Hex Bug.  He went to school and got out early due to SEPs.  He helped finish setting up for his party and waited anxiously for friends to come. 




































There were 8 kids here playing different Nerf games.  We started with Nerf gun tag.  It was pretty entertaining and the kids came up with some fun hiding places.  After that we headed outside to have a target shooting game.  Some kids were pretty good at it while others struggled.  We had one that complained the whole time and how it was unfair.  Mostly everyone had a good time.  We let the kids run loose on 30+ targets that I'd made.  We came in for cake - cookie dough ice cream cake made by yours truly - and opened presents.  We had one final game.  I took a big box and put different size targets on it with different point values.  Whoever got the highest points won a full size candy bar and the rest got a mini size.  The funny thing was that the only girl here won the challenge.

All in all Brax had a great time and went to bed that night exhausted.  He had scouts that night and opted out of going out to dinner.  He is a great kid and we love him so much!  He goes mostly everywhere with me.  I am truly grateful for my little man in my life and couldn't have made it through the last 9 years without him.  He is the greatest blessing to our family and we look forward to adding another child!  

Thanksgiving

Brax had the Wednesday before Thanksgiving off.  I took him down to the Instacare with me so I could get my pregnancy blood panel work up done.  After we got done with that, we headed home and out of town.  We got up to visit family about 2:30 pm.  Brax stayed with my mom and played with his Cowley cousins.  They had a sleepover that night as well.  Thanksgiving day we got up and finished preparing our assignments for dinner.  We had a lot of fun visiting with the Cowley family and quite a few were in attendance.  All of my dad's siblings were there.

After dinner we cleaned up and finished cleaning the school house for Shanelle's wedding.  At about 5 we headed over to the Andersons to hang out with everyone there.  We had a good time.  I sat with my sister-in-laws and planned out our Black Friday shopping trip.  Once we got organized we ate dinner and I went to pick up my sister, Cara.  She was nice enough to come along and help me out.  Funny thing was that she got more than I did.  I picked up more for my brother's family than I did my own, but that's okay.  The stress of shopping  brought on contractions until 2 am the next morning.  They started out strong, but calmed down after a while so I didn't worry too much about it, but I didn't sleep much.

On Friday Brax decided he was going to work with Grandma.  He was so excited because she had a job for him and he earned money.  Branden and I headed to Richfield to talk to a guy about windows for our house and pick up a few items.  After that we headed to Glenwood.  Brax stayed with Grandma Cowley and went birthday shopping with his cousin.  They had a shake and got spoiled.  He then played at his cousins.  That night we worked on trying to start decorating for Shanelle's wedding.  We didn't have the right hooks, but we got all the lights lined up and set out.  I'm excited to see how it all turns out.

Saturday was another day at the school house and I spent the morning baking for Nellie's bridal shower that night.  In the early evening I went out on the bridal/groomal photo shoot and then headed back to my mom's to finish getting ready while my guys headed to the Andersons.  We had a really good turn out at the shower and had a lot of fun.

Sunday was a day full of illness.  I kept throwing up both Saturday and Sunday.  I couldn't get my stomach to calm down.  Branden didn't feel well either.  We hung out with the Andersons and had lunch with them.  Since it was only 3 days before Brax's birthday we let him open his presents from his grandparents and cousins.  He got spoiled and we told him he didn't need any more presents.  All in all, it was a fun weekend but am very glad to be home!

First Pregnancy Photo taken

Well, I decided on the Sunday before Thanksgiving that I should have Brax take a pregnancy photo since I was 28 weeks and only had one picture of the back of me.  Anyway, I might regret not getting a photo before now, but at least I have one.

Halloween 2012

Once again it was a crazy Halloween at our house.  Branden had Engineer's Conference in Sandy the 29th, 30th, and 31at.  I went with him and visited with my sister, sister-in-laws and friends.  We left Sandy at 1:30 pm on Halloween.  Braxten told me I could go with Branden if I made it back to trick or treat.  My mom was nice to come take care of our little man.  We made it home at about 5:45 pm.  We did stop a couple times, but we made it.  Braxten had a parade my mom went to, but I got to go out for the night fun.  Our ward and two other wards have a combined trunk or treat at the church so we headed up there.  After that we headed home and he went around with the neighbors.  We'd carved pumpkins the weekend before, but I forgot to take pictures.  I'm really thankful for Braxten and the fact that he loves to do things with me.  We definitely have fun together!

Anderson Family Craziness

Every weekend for the past couple months we have spent outside moving rock and dirt.    We also leveled out ground to prepare for a yard upgrade.  On October 27th we were finally able to pour concrete for a driveway up the side of our house.  This past weekend we tried to get our gates up, but it took a lot longer than we thought.  Our house is now the cool house and all the kids from the area are riding their bikes and scooters up and down the new driveway.  It's kind of crazy!

October 18th and 19th was Fall Break.  Branden took both days off to be able to head up to Sevier County to visit our family members.  The work in the yard took all day Thursday and Friday.  We left here at 8:30 pm Friday night.  We had a few projects to do at the rental house and we thought we'd be done in a few hours.  It took a lot longer than we thought it would.  We spent most of Saturday over getting things done.  At 4 pm Braxten and I went with my brother, sister, and their families to the area pumpkin patch.  We got one big pumpkin, 3 small pumpkins, and a bunch of gourds.  After that we headed to Pizza Hut for dinner.  It was a lot of fun, but I forgot my camera.  I only got one photo with my iPod and can't figure out how to rotate it.

 

 The night of October 27th we had a ward party.  It was a pot luck dinner and talent show.  Braxten had signed up in Primary to play the piano, but their paper wasn't turned in.  They had to go sign up with a member of the Relief Society presidency the night of.  As soon as he learned that he was up there signing us up to play a duet.  He was excited!  He played his part perfectly.  I'm so proud of him.  A lot of people told him how well he'd done.  He was so proud of himself.  He's funny because he wants to challenge himself and move forward, but he's got a lot to learn before he gets to that step.

When we're in St. George we try to get as much done as possible.  One day we were getting our grocery shopping and a few other things done.  I knew Old Navy was having a sale on Maternity clothes and I needed a few things.  I talked my guys into stopping there.  It was fire safety day so they entertained themselves while I was waiting in line to check out.

New Experiences

Being a Webelos Den Leader has kept me hopping.  We went to Public Lands' Day a couple weeks ago and spent about 5 hours with the boys helping clean up.  We have 16 boys total right now and there are 3 leaders.  Last weekend we had Day Camp that lasted approximately 9 hours.  The boys are learning a lot and receiving a lot of awards and I'm proud of them for that.  I just haven't been able to do a lot with them due to being so sick.  I am more the record keeper and organizer.  I've also had the most experience in scouts so I help the rest of us follow the rules.  I haven't had the energy needed to keep up with them, but luckily the other two leaders are able and willing.  I appreciate them so much!

We have waited approximately 8 years to add another child to our family.  I've hoped for it and wished that it would come.  I didn't expect to not be able to hold down food a lot or to have it run such an emotional toll on my family.  I'm not bed ridden, but close enough.  The baby moves a lot more when I don't feel good or have been throwing up a lot.  I overdo it a lot and then am in bed for days.  Don't get me wrong, I am truly grateful for this pregnancy and the future child.  I'd have to say this has been my greatest trial to date.  When we went to the doctor last he just told me I'm one of the lucky ones who will be sick all of their pregnancy.  That wasn't what I wanted to hear.  My dehydration levels haven't been bad enough nor my cramps putting me into preterm labor so there isn't anything more they can do to help.  There are days that I completely break down, today was one of them.  I get to the point where I just want to call it quits with everything.  I'm worn out a lot, but I make it through and know that it'll only last for another 16.5 weeks.  We have learned that this child is definitely stubborn.  We went for two ultrasounds and it wouldn't cooperate at all.  They didn't get everything they needed either time, but they called it good enough.  Everything has been different from my pregnancy with Braxten.  We aren't finding out what this baby is though, even though we think we already know.  We're looking forward to the day that it gets here and in the mean time we will be happy to be able to start a new chapter in our lives.  I am scared due to the fact that it's been so long and babies have always scared me because they're so little.  I think I'm going to break them or something.  I was also induced with Braxten so I don't know what regular labor is nor would I remember because it's been so long.  It will all be worth it in the end and it keeps me going on a daily basis.

Braxten is Busy

We are so proud of Braxten.  He earned his Wolf for Scouts in only 6 months, but due to circumstances he didn't receive it until September Pack Meeting.  He worked hard to get it done quickly.  He loves Scouts and I'm happy that he does because it is important.

 Brax started playing flag football.  He's had 3 games so far.  He has improved a lot and it's fun to watch him.  At his last game he even scored a touch down in the rain.  I watched from the car because it was pouring and I didn't have a jacket or umbrella.