Not my best mommy moment

So, today the weather is okay. No snow, thank goodness, and the rain has not yet come for the day. Since it rained all day yesterday, the kids and I were cooped up in the house. I had the lovely idea of taking a walk to Safeway today. So, we get our coats on, and instead of using the stroller ( I didn't know if it would be worth pushing through the snow) I just put Bosston in the backpack and off we went. Let's remember I am six months pregnant, and Bosston alone weighs about 27 pounds. So add that to the backpack and the fact that there is a human inside, I was pretty weighed down. It would not have been that bad, but again, there is still frozen snow on the sidewalks where we live. Needless to say we made it to the store and back safely. I can only imagine if I did fall. Not one of my best mommy moments, but it gave us some fresh air, and much needed exercise.

Hershey's Chocolate.... or something else?

Okay, so funny story. I just got back from the store, and Nick tells me this. Kids will be kids.
"I run into the kids' room, because Dasher is screaming like crazy. I ask him what is wrong, and he tells me that Emmah bit him on his leg. Sure enough she had bit him. I asked Emmah why she bit him, and Dasher answers. He said, I was pretending to be a piece of chocolate, and she bit me. Again, sure enough, Emmah took a big bite out of that piece of chocolate. No blood though, so don't worry."
I thought that was funny enough to share with all of you.

"Away, in a manger, no room for a bed. The little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. The stars in the Heavens look down where they lay; the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay. Asleep, asleep, the Savior in a stall. Asleep, asleep the Lord of All."
Let us remember the true reason for the season.

My tribute to the Mastercard

RIDING THE MAX TRAIN DOWNTOWN: $ 1.40

CAPTURING THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS CARD FAMILY PHOTO: digital camera

CHECKING OUT A REALLY FUN TOY STORE IN DOWNTOWN: the walk up the street

FINDING NOSTALGIC TOYS FROM MY CHILDHOOD: PRICELESS.

Here's to making this Christmas Merry, with memories from the past, present, and ones to be shared in the future.

I love Christmas morning. It brings back so many memories. The anticipation of waiting, the "knowing" that Santa is bringing gifts, and just the feeling of Christmas. Well, here's our funny 2008 story. At 2 am, Dasher comes into our room, and says, "Mom, Santa came." Instead of just telling him to go back to bed, I humored him, got up
and went out to the living room. Well, he was right!! Santa did come. I then told him
that it was much to early, and he needed to go back to bed. He willingly went,
and thankfully, did not wake up Bosston, or Emmah.
So, then around 4am, he gets up, goes to the bathroom, and then tries to tiptoe,
back out there. This is where small houses come in handy. Nick, just tells him,
"Not yet buddy!!" This time, he was a little sad, but nonetheless, gets back in bed.
Okay, to be honest, by this time, I am pretty much awake, and I am starting to think of when would be a good time to get up and start Christmas morning. To me, you just get up and open presents, you can sleep later in the day. At 5:30, he comes into our room, and Nick and I let him get into bed, and this is how the rest of the morning goes.
D: "Mom, Santa brought me a bakugan" (some toy based off a cartoon.)
M: "Oh really, how do you know that?"
D:" It was outside my stocking."
M: "You didn't go through your stocking though right?"
D:" No, this was outside."
M: "Okay."
D: "And I got an Indiana Jones toothbrush, that plays music."
M:" Okay, Dash, you went through your stocking, because that was on the bottom."
D: "Yeah, you're right! Do you want to know what is in your stocking?"
M:"NO!!! and don't tell me, I want to be surprised."
a few mintues go by........ D: " You got a movie mom!!!"
M:" Dasher, okay, let's get up, before you tell me anything else.
I must admit, it was funny and classic. He is a great kids.
We kept it small this year, and it was great. Our kids really seemed to appreciate all they got, and the best part, not a ton of stuff to find room for. It has been fabulous day, now if the weather would just get better, so I can start planning our New Years' Game night with some great friends and family. Hope this brought some fun Christmas Cheer.

Merry Christmas Eve!!! I must admit, this year, was a little different. Not bad, just different. Usually we have a TON of finger foods and then bedtime, but this year, with Nick's parents house still being in the midst of a remodel, we kept things simple. Not by choice mind you, but it is hard to cook when you have no kitchen. Also, with the "yummy" weather we have had lately, we didn't get out Weeks Family feast either. Nonetheless, it was a great day, with great company, and great memories created. Onto Christmas Day!

We have had a lot of fun in the snow. And when I say "we" I mean, Nick and the kids. I, on the other hand, just don't really enjoy all this white stuff. But I have been a pretty good sport, and kept most of my complaints to myself. So here, we have our snowman, Bosston with ski goggles, our Christmas tribute to the Portland Trailblazers, and our pro snowboarder in training. Now that we finally have the cool picasa format downloaded, and I have figured out how to use it, more pictures are still to come. Enjoy.

Winter 2008

Taking a moment.

Bosston is sleeping a little longer than normal this afternoon, so I decided to keep the house quiet and let him sleep. Things have been a little topsy turvy the past couple of days, with Dasher not having school, and endless hours playing in the cold snow, I knew we all could use a little peace and quiet today. Well, not totally quiet.. I do have soft Christmas music playing in the background, but I feel it is helping the mood in the home.
I love, love, this time of year. Although, I personally have gone a little stir crazy this week, I love the fact that snow has covered the ground. It really adds to the season. All the work is done for Christmas, now we just sit back and wait for the glorious day to arrive. I can only imagine what it must've felt like for the people of Christs' time. Knowing that someday, the Savior would come, and with all of the "work" done, they waited patiently for the magical day to arrive. Can you put yourself there, in that time. Would you be one who believed, or one who mocked the believer? I am teaching Dasher and Emmah some of the primary Christmas songs. So far, the favorite is "Stars Were Gleaming" I too love this song, and to hear it from their voices is truly magical. Christmas is so much more than jingle bells, and winter wonderlands. It really is about that sacred Holy, and Silent Night. So many years ago, our Lord and Savior came into this world. He chose to be our Redeemer, brother and friend. He was born in humble, lowly circumstances, and raised just as you and me. We call him King, but he is the same. His life was lived perfectly, blamelessly, and selflessly. He is a man we all strive to be like. A babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes, a boy teaching a the steps of the temple, a man healing the sick and giving sight to the blind. Our brother, whose life was taken from us for us. I wait for the magical day where I can stand with my own eternal family and say, "Thank you!" May we all take this Christmas to reflect Christmas' from yesterday, and look to the future in hopes to say and give thanks for all He has given us. Again, Merry Christmas to my family and friends. I love you and wish nothing but the best for all of us.

Oh the weather outside is......

This is what happens when I leave daddy in charge. I came into the family room to find Bosston with the box of chocolates. He had all over his face, hands, pants and even his socks. He was caught "chocolate handed!!' Just some more fun pictures of our day in the snow. I am just glad that the kids had such a great time and got to spend sometime outside.

Let it Snow, we have no place to go!!!!!

We had our first snowfall start on Sunday morning. We had been waiting for this storm for a few days, and it finally happened. The kids could not wait to go outside, and once Nick came home early from his meetings, saying church was cancelled, on went the snow clothes. I could not keep Dasher inside. He would come in long enough to catch his breath, and then out he went. At least they did something productive on this Snowy Sunday.

I, however, am not a huge fan of snow. I was out long enough to snap these pictures, and back inside I went. I love the look of it, I think it is really pretty, but to play in, no thank you. I am glad that we only get snow every once in awhile. It does add to the holiday cheer though. Only more snow and cold weather in the forecast too. No school on Monday, and Nick took a snow day too. Hopefully, it won't last too long. But if it is going to be this cold, there might as well be snow on the ground.

Mailing the Christmas Cards

Hip Hip Hooray, we did mail our cards this year. In years past, we have been good about getting our cards out the first week of December, but for some reason, we just did not make it on time. So, they are in the mail, hoping to get to you all before Christmas.
I do want to share a funny story about mailing the cards. I couldn't find the stamps, so, I went to the post office to purchase holiday ones. In the past, I have been funny and we kind of sort of celebrate Hanukah. I know, it is weird, but we have a menora, and anyways. I thought it would be fun to put Hanukah stamps on our envelpoes. When it was finally my turn, I asked if they had any left, and the postmaster said they were SOLD OUT. Oh well, no big deal, I will just take the nutcracker ones. As I was leaving, I said, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" and the postmaster's reply to me was "HAPPY HANUKAH" I thought it was hilarious. For some, you will think so too. For others, you'll probably just think I am a weird. But to all, Happy Holidays!!!!

Now for the Tree

Portland is great. The tree was 75 ft tall and the lights were the LED kind that use less energy. Anyway, we can help the planet out, even at this time of year is great. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Great words to live by. We had fun. Nick and I took advantage of the misletoe painted on the stand, to steal a Christmas kiss. He is a great man, and humors me. Despite the wet and slippery walk to the tree, today it is snowing and that makes it all better.

Christmas Festivities

Last night, we went with Mark and his family to the BIG tree downtown. We did this event with them a few years ago, and thought we would do it again. The kids loved riding the train and had a lot of fun just spending time together.

Emmah was being a big helper with Kathrine and making sure she stayed safe.

Here we are waiting for the train. We would've made the first one, but Nick only bought one ticket and had to hurry and buy another, and then Mark and Alicia needed to buy theirs. Needless to say, cold weather and all, even waiting for the train was fun.

The train ride was long, and fast at the same time. The two babies got a little restless, but wouldn't you if you had to be strapped in a stroller the whole time. It is kind of funny, once we got there, we saw the tree and said, "Now what?" We then walked up to Finnegans, this really cool store, with out of the ordinary toys from OUR childhood. We had fun, got back on the train, after talking to some weirdo, and headed back home.

I really LOVE being with Mark and his family. They are awesome, maybe 2009 will bring less hectic schedules, and more time together. We will always have THE TREE. Merry Christmas and enjoy more pictures.

Our Emmah

Today, Emmah, Nick and I went to meet with the neurologist. To recap for some, in October, Emmah had a grand mal seizure. She was taken to the ER via ambulance. We did an MRI, and an EEG, and today was the day that we got the "results."
I dropped Dasher off at our friends' house, so he could ride the bus with their daughter. I am thankful for them, because this way, Dasher did not have to miss any school, for his sister. I told Emmah that she was going to the doctor, but we were only going to talk to him, no pokes, or anything like that. I was taken off guard, because when they called us back, the nurse weighed her, 40 pounds, measured her head 20 in, and then took her blood pressure. Emmah handled all three things fine. She was very quiet all morning, which is not like her at all. Before the nurse left, she got out a gown, and told me to put this on her, and wait for the doctor. That is when Emmah got nervous. She started crying and would not leave my side. She chose me over daddy, which again, is not like her. I felt bad, because I could've warned her about what was happening, and I was just curious if they were going to run more tests or what.
We only waited a few minutes until Dr. Konkel came in. I was also glad to see all of his prestigious awards on the wall. He is a pediatric neurologist, and he has received "Dr. of the Year" and chosen as "one of the best doctors in America." Good to know our daughter is good hands. He talked with us about the seizure, asked me a ton of questions about my pregnancy with her, her delivery, growth, developmental progress, and much more. We answered, and then he just did some reflex tests, had her run down the hall, jump on one foot and things like that. We then got to see the MRI scan. Pretty neat to see your daughter's brain. The neatest was the profile, because as they scanned out to her profile, it really was Emmah, and not just some random brain.
The MRI to me looked clear, but that is why I am not "brain" doctor. The arrow was pointing to this tiniest spec on the right of her brain, which Dr. Konkel ruled out as being a tumor. A huge sigh of relief. The craziest thing was that this "spec" is on her right side, but in her EEG the abnormal spikes were on her left side. Who knows!?!?
So the official diagnosis. Since Emmah has had supposedly two seizures, ( one I came in after, the other I witnessed) that were not caused from sickness, fever, or falling etc. she was diagnosed with epilepsy. We put her on a medicine that calms the brain to prevent them from happening again. This of course is not the best news parents want to hear, but it is also not the worst news either. So we medicate and monitor and in three months see the doctor again. He did say, she could outgrow this, but only time will tell.
I am so thankful for our beautiful daughter. She is a great girl to be around, and we love her very much. This is just a stepping stone we have to get over. She is good hands, and I know that our Father in Heaven is watching over her, and us as parents to ensure that she gets the best care possible.
Oh, and just a side note. Before Emmah was NOT happy about having another baby, but now she is excited, and I know that she will be the best big sister to her little sister.

Bosston picked this tree!!

Dasher picked this tree!!!

Emmah, Dasher and Bosston picked this one!!!

They sought out the perfect tree!!

Trying to stay on two feet!!!

The mission of the Perfect Tree.

Yes, it is crazy, but one of the reasons we bought our house was because of the ceilings. If anyone of you truly know Nick and I, then you know that we are huge fans of Christmas. Our house has 15 ft ceilings in the front room, so we all know what that means? A tall Christmas tree.

We went out today to our normal spot in search of the perfect tree. We just go up to Rocky Mtn Rd. There is a farm there that specializes in nobles, (the only true kind) and he is very reasonably priced. We have been going there ever since our first Christmas in our house. So once again, we found ourselves on top of the mountain. Fortunately, it was a gorgeous day, chilly, but no rain, or clouds for that matter. I get lost, and wish I could mark contenders, but it only took us less than an hour to find the right one.

I have to laugh, because this is the second year that I've picked the tree, and the trunk is to big for our stand. This year, instead of Nick spending the entire day, shaving the trunk, we just went and bought a bigger stand. Nick says next year, we go by size of the trunk, and not by how tall it is. I love real trees, the smells, the feel, look, height, and the memories we make by taking the day and going on a quest for the perfect tree. If you have never actually cut down your own tree, maybe this year can be your first. Merry Christmas from us in the Northwest.

The results are in......

We had our ultrasound yesterday and it was great. At first the baby did not cooperate and we couldn't get a good a picture of anything. Mostly just the placenta and bladder. The baby's head was really far down and I got to play elasta-girl in the room. The bed was tilted up and back, and they had me laying on my side. It was funny, but it took way too long. I even noticed a couple of times, Nick had his eyes closed. To me ultrasounds are boring. You get the same profile picture of all your babies, and blah blah blah. I know they are needed to chart the growth, but I could do without. Unless, you are the ones that like to know the sex of the baby. Well, if you are really curious...... we are having a GIRL!!!!!!. I am really happy. Of course, I would've been happy with a boy too, but it will be fun to see all of Emmah's frills and lace one more time. So here's to our perfect family.... two boys and two girls.