The fun has ended

Well, sadly the awesome sisters vacation is over! :( Amy was so kind to let us all take over her house! The 7 kiddos had a wonderful time playing together every second of the day. And the 4 sisters (3 of which are pregnant) + my mom and dad savored every minute together!
We spent the amazing 10 days:
-Hitting up the grocery store with all the kids in tow :) It was totally crazy but SO fun!

-Eating all the food! (we each took turns making dinner.. I could get used to this!)

-Playing in the backyard!

-Visiting the zoo

-Attempting to get a pic of me on this vacation... Gavin hates the camera!

-Enjoying every minute with grandpa!!

-Crazy fun bath times with the cousins of your choice (3 baths going at once in the house every night!)

-Getting to know this gorgeous new girl!

-Playing at the beach (Holly is due a few weeks after me)

-And constantly trying to get these poor guys to sit together for pictures!

Wish we could do this more often! Maybe someday we'll live in the same state!

6 boys & 1 girl

This past week my sisters and I have gotten together for such a fun little sisters week! We've had a blast with all these little kiddos running around keeping eachother entertained! Grandma and Grandpa have joined us too! It's been a full house in Texas!

Here's a few pics for my hubby who I know is missing this little man terribly :)

Happy Valentines!

Happy Valentines from our family!!

This straight out of bed messy faced cheese ball enjoyed decorating his cookies too!

I forgot to post the recipe of these amazing sugar cookies I make for almost all big holidays! Sorry! Here it is!

1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

1 cup room temp. butter

1 egg

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cream of tartar (this stuff makes ALL the difference!)

1/2 tsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups sifted flour

*Refridgerate 2-3 hours before rolling out and cutting into shapes

Bake 375 for 7-8 mins

Icing:

2-3 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

milk to desired thickness

Forts

Gavin has recently become obbsessed with building forts! Yes.. even his fat bellied mom gets herself down in them to eat breakfast and lunch with this little guy! How could I refuse?! :)

26 weeks

Ok.. these prego pics are terrible! I need to quit taking them at night before I go to bed! (But it's the only time I have Devin home to take it!) Anyway.. here it is! I'm 6 1/2 months along (26 weeks).. almost there! He's just as crazy as Gavin was... constantly squirming around and finding a more comfortably position. Can't wait to see this little guy! I think Gavin is just as excited!

PS. Scroll down to my 21 week pic... I can't believe how much I've grown in just these 5 weeks! My poor body :)

Christmas

We decided this year to spend Christmas home as a little family!. It was so nice not to travel! (but we missed seeing all our family) We spent Christmas Eve wandering around Seattle with all the crazy last minute shoppers. We ran into the "Bodies" museum that I hadn't known was here and was so excited to see. Gavin even enjoyed all the cool real body exhibits as much as we did! You have to see this if they ever come to your town!

Gavin loved putting out cookies, milk, and carrots for Santa and his reindeer!

He was so excited to find candy in his stocking!

It was so fun watching him open all his gifts and wanting to play with each one right away! It took all morning to open them :)

Christmas is so fun again with little ones!! (Now Devin and I keep wondering when all the talk about Santa will stop)

Baby Sewing Projects

Over Christmas Devin was home enough for me to get some fun sewing done! I've had my eye on the glider/rocking chair, the swing, and the baby's bed for some time. I even had the fabric waiting in my closet for the moment I had enough time to use it!
SO... here's my first project: Reupholstering the glider/rocking chair and glider with a machine washable microfiber with a zipper for easy removal and washing! (Nope... I don't know how to do this.. I just figured I could figure it out.. and I think it turned out pretty good!)
BEFORE

AFTER

2nd Project: the baby bed... Devin bought this for me for Christmas last year... the sweetest gift ever (seriously).. and we have been so excited to use it with this next baby.. unfortunately it took a lot longer than expected to get this little guy to us (miscarriage). Anyway, I fell in love with this fabric when I saw it and had to use it for his bumper! Then I used some super soft fleece fabric to make the sheet. I can't wait to rock this baby to sleep in here :)


3rd project: the baby swing! I LOVED this swing because it swings both front to back and side to side.. and most of all because it has an outlet plug (no need for tons of batteries). But what I DONT like is the bright animated colors! So with the left over material from the bedding I made a new seat for the swing.. cute huh?!
BEFORE

AFTER

Okay... so I know this little guy isn't due until April but I'm pretty proud to say we are much more ready for this guy than we were for Gavin!

Christmas YUM!

I've been busy making these.... (thanks Aunt Elaine for the BEST sugar cookie recipe in the world!)

And we attempted to make a gingerbread house out of graham crackers... next time we'll stick with the kit :) Gavin had a great time breaking it though!

21 weeks

So I had Devin take a pic of me last night before I went to bed... 21 weeks yesterday! (don't mind the pjs)

Gavin was trying to look like me... it's so fun having him understand what it means to have a baby in my belly. He tries to feed him, play cars with him, sing to him, and even tries to feel the little kicks. I can't wait for this little guy to come join our family!

Penguin

A few months ago I asked Gavin what he wanted for his birthday and he told me a penguin. A penguin? Where did he get that from? Well, he gave me that answer for weeks so while out shopping one day I ran across this stuffed penguin. I gave it to him on his birthday not knowing if he would even take a 2nd look at it... but he hasn't let it go since. This poor animal is dragged all around the house. He eats meals with him, plays cars, wrestles, colors, and is the only animal that actually gets tucked in at night. I probably should have bought 2 just in case he loses him! Anyway, when I went in the check on him the other night I couldn't help but take a picture to remember his love for "Penguin". (this is how you will find him every night)

(Yes, my son sleeps with 9.. yes, 9 blankets... he LOVES to be snuggly!

Pregnancy LOVES

I thought I could share a few of my loves during this pregnancy:
First, and most important... my LOVE for Zantac... with out you, I could never eat or drink a thing! I wish I had known about you with Gavin!

2nd: My LOVE for vegetables.. I crave all kinds, cold, cookec, or crispy... hand it over! I lived off carrots and celery during the morning sick weeks!

3rd:My LOVE for Oranges and Pears... thank you costco for the large quantities you provide :)

4th: My Crazy addiction to Pistachios! I eat them almost everyday around 3:00 pm. Gavin calls them "yucky" I call them "yummy"

Lastly... I have had this unbelieveable craving for a shredded beef Cafe Rio salad since I found out I was pregnant. I litterally dream about eating it. I could be deathly sick with nausea and actually find relief thinking about eating this salad. Devin thinks I'm crazy... but I have actually looked for flights just to get out there to get one. (Yes, I have spent hours searching the internet for recipes to match it's goodness... but I know I'll just be disappointed.)

PS. I promise to take a pic of my belly this week and post it. I took one 2 weeks ago but I don't even look that pregnant... I've grown since then :)

Meeting Santa

Last Saturday was the Ward Christmas party... and the first of many sightings of Santa. Gavin was SO excited when he appeared that he begged to be the first to sit on his lap.

I think Devin and I have done a pretty good job teaching him Santa brings presents, cuz he was sure all of those were for him :)

Once on his lap he was put in a little shock.. he just stared straight ahead... no smiles for mom and dad.

Then he woke up and talked poor Santas ear off. Funny kid is obsessed with Christmas!

What's inside?

This cute little baby will be joining our family in April... and will be a BOY!

Gavin will have a buddy in just a few months :)