WOE is me...............

This fourth pregnancy is nearly KILLING me... doctor says that the baby is "hanging out" SO low in my pelvis that it explains why I feel like my bones are going to break EVERY time she moves- and that having FOUR pregnancies in six years is going to take a toll on my body... whatever, I've seen '19 kids and counting' and that woman doesn't walk around like her hips are broken with the look of death on her face -like I do! I guess it's just Heavenly Father's way of telling me that four is enough and I get to be done with the whole being pregnant thing for good!!!

My mom and dad came to visit (thank heavens) so Mark and I could have one last weekend without children........ and to help me move the kid's rooms around, and put new dressers together, and sort through baby girl clothes people have so nicely passed to me, and baby proof my house a little more, and talk me off of a cliff..... etc, etc, etc (they were busy!!! - what would I EVER do without them?)

Mark has even sensed a break-down coming and has "happily" decided to help cook Sunday dinner when we get home from church......... his potatoes are AMAZING! luv you honey:)

Oh, the day when I can ride a horse again.......... but for now I just watch Mark out the window and imagine myself......

He also has been taking ALL three boys out in the rhino with him when he has to plow our snow- they LOVE it and I LOVE it even more!!!

What we've been doing....

We had two bedrooms and one bathroom in our basement that we "stupidly" didn't finish when we built our house. Maybe we didn't think we would be growing into the rooms so soon- or maybe we thought we would have more money at a later time- or maybe we thought that once construction slowed down, the price of subcontractors would come down.... ALL have proven not to be true! However, we are having our fourth child and now need the extra space and have gotten REALLY tired of having to go upstairs to use a bathroom when ever we are down there. (Im sure our guests are REALLY sick of it too considering our guest room is downstairs). So we buckled down and got serious about finishing the basement..... Thanks to our little painter's helpers- we got'er done! (the short ones were the only cheap labor we could find!)

However, Ross has been "kicking back" through this whole thing since he has not been permitted in the construction zone.

He has a new fascination with sunglasses because he noticed that his dad won't go outside with out his....... and since it's too cold to go outside- he just wears his in the house!

Kortlen and Tristen have been spending a lot of time playing out in the snow- whether they want to or not- mom NEEDS them to! (notice Tristen's smiling face)

And Grandma Lori and Grandpa Malcolm FINALLY came to visit and we had a WONDERFUL time!!! We love you guys- come back and use our new bathroom!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Christmas was SO FUN this year with three little boys.... they were so excited for the big event that Santa took a boot string off just to "tie our gate shut" so the boys would HAVE to wait for mom & dad! (sorry Santa- we hope you were able to keep your boots on for the rest of your deliveries)

Ross had to watch his big brothers to "learn the ropes" about opening presents but it didn't take him long to catch on! And yes- he wore his Santa hat for most of the month (just to give his cowboy hat a rest).

Santa brought Kort & Tristen their very own clone trooper helmets and guns- apparently they are "one size fits all"......... hilarious!

Ross instantly fell in love with the hula hoops that his big brothers had asked for but his favorite present out of his own stack was his new coat- he wanted to wear it ALL day!

Tristen also asked Santa for his VERY own turkey to sleep with- because I hear that's what most four year old's ask for... Good thing Santa is magic and can find ANYTHING for little children! (whew, it was a close one!) "Gobbles is a big hit!"

Happy 4th Birthday Tristen!!!

Tristen turned the BIG 4 years old on December 5th! I can't believe he is really ONLY four! He has always acted so much older than his age from the time he started talking in sentences at 18months! He is such a little tender heart stuck inside a stubborn little thing- we love him so much and are so proud at what a good boy he is! This year he wanted a "Handy Manny" birthday! YIPPEE! (something other than Star Wars!)

Grandma Louise came all the way from Boston to celebrate with us and we had such a fun weekend!

Tristen got lots of cool presents from family and we had a great day- starting with his requested breakfast of blueberry muffins minus the blueberries!

We got to go to the bowling alley and finish the day off with handy manny cake and ice cream with the Rich's and Aunt Kris and Uncle Val and Jake and JoAnnah and baby Cade! What a great birthday- We love you so much Tristen- you are such a special part of our family!!!

Happy Thanksgiving & Tree Hunt'n!!!

I have to admit that we were a little disappointed when we realized we weren't going to be able to travel to St. George for Thanksgiving- but we ended up having A LOT of fun staying home and spending it with the Rich's! We had a YUMMY dinner at Grandma Julie's and then went out "Christmas Tree hunt'n"...

Uncle Dave cut us out some really cute wood "gingerbread houses" and Grandma Julie invited us over to decorate and eat as much candy and icing as we could- didn't they turn out cute? The kids eat a piece of candy off of them every day and are excited to wash them off after Christmas to do it all again next year!

Ross was my Thanksgiving Indian (he absolutely LOVES wearing the feathers!)

Ross and I had to stay in the rhino (because he is TOO heavy for me to carry in the snow) while Mark and Kort and Tristen picked us out the perfect Christmas Tree. They did a GREAT job and the boys even got to take turns carrying the saw!

Kort was my Thanksgiving pilgrim in his one of a kind turkey hat he made at kindergarten.

p.s.- This was the first year I cooked my own turkey and home-made dressing and it was FABULOUS! I feel like a real mom now :)