3 Months

It's hard to believe that it's already been three months. Amelia is growing so big and cute! She is laughing and talking and playing with her toys and her brothers and sister. She really is a joy. We love her so much!!

Christmas Time

Last night we decorated our graham cracker "gingerbread houses." Much fun was had by all. The kids did a great job of doing it all by themselves and it is always fun to see their personalities come out in their decorating. My favorite was Benji's stable, complete with baby Jesus. We also attended a fun cookie exchange with some friends from the ward. Thank you Piersons for being great hosts!

Before I sign off, a funny conversation...

George: Mom, I have a good idea!

Mom: What? (up to my elbows is soapy dishwater)

George: Ella wants to be a princess when she grows up, and since you don't have a job and all you do is take care of us, maybe when we get all grown up you can be her servant!

Mom: (laughing) Well.................only if she pays me lots and lots of money.

I just about passed out. What am I teaching these kids about moms? I need to rethink my parenting here. Too funny! Really though, George is a sweetie and a good helper.

Snow!

George buried up to his neck!

We survived the big storm, but right now we're feeling a bit taken. I mean, we live in VA now. We're not supposed to get this much snow, right? That was one of the perks of moving to this place! I have to admit, though, that I'm glad that our first Christmas here will be a white one. And it was kind of funny going to Walmart Friday night and seeing everyone panic. It was nuts! It was like people thought the world was going to end.

Daddy and Ella shoveling the driveway

George had his last day of school on Friday. This is a picture of him with his darling teacher. He just loves her and she has made such a difference with him this year. We are really sad that he has to switch schools and are praying that he gets another wonderful teacher.

George and Mrs. Dickey on PJ day

Look at this big girl! None of my other kids were this strong at 2 1/2 months. During tummy time they just laid there with their face in the carpet like little beached whales. But this girl is strong, I tell you! She even reaches for toys. What a cutie pie!

7 Weeks

I can hardly believe it has been 7 weeks since this little one was born. She is such a fun little thing. And happy (most of the time) as you can see from this picture. I know it's not a great picture, very dark, but she's smiling and that's hard to catch! Also, like her brothers and sister before her, she is starting to really chunck up. Just look at those cheeks!

I'm trying to get my act together to actually send Christmas cards this year. So, if you would like a Christmas card and think I may need your address, please e-mail it to me. Maybe you should e-mail it to me even if you think I have it. If you know me at all, the fact that I've probably lost your address will come as no surprise. If you want your name removed from the Christmas card list you can e-mail those requests as well. :)

Oh! By the way. We bought a house and moved again! We're nuts, I know.

She's here!!!

Amelia Jane Harry arrived on Friday October 2 at 6:46pm. She weighed 7lb 10oz and was
20 1/2 inches long. We are so excited to finally have her here! The labor went well and I was able to do it without pain meds-which was my goal. I'm a little bit tardy in my posting because we have spent the last few days running back and forth to the doctors trying to monitor her jaundice. However, today her levels stayed steady so hopefully we're reaching the end of our worries. Yeah!
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get a decent picture of a newborn? They are so wiggly and pull the oddest faces. She really is just a cutie pie. We all adore her to death.

Online Again

We're finally back online after the move! It took awhile to get ourselves together but I must say I am very excited to re-join the real world.

We are getting to know our new surroundings and so far really like VA! George is really liking his new school. Ella turned 3 and we only have 4 weeks until our new little one arrives. Whew!

I'm sorry I'm not posting any pictures. It will have to wait for another day, I'm afraid. Bye!

Criminal Confessions

We had quite the adventure this morning. Here's how it played out...

I was heading out to the doctor's office to give them my request for records transfer form. It had taken us a million years to get out the door because the kids didn't really want to go. Finally I ushered the last little body out the door and closed it tight...only to realize that I didn't have my keys! We were locked out. Normally we keep a spare hidden in the barn, but with putting the house up for sale and such we had moved it. I did a quick look around the outside of the house and was assured that all of my paranoid precautions taken to ensure our safety while Benji was away were in full force. All of the doors and windows were locked tight with the exception of one of the boys' bedroom windows on the second floor. What to do? I had no cell phone and I knocked on the neighbor's doors and no one was home. I could high tail it down to the library and call a lock smith (expensive)...or I could break into my own house. I decided to break in.

So, my first criminal act was to "borrow" a step ladder out of the neighbor's garage. From the top I could reach a bit past the second floor window sill. I then cut through the screen with a pair of garden trimmers, opened the window, hoisted myself up and through (not an easy task when 6 months pregnant) and was able to unlock the door.

The kids loved the whole situation. Some of the ideas they came up with were 1-climb up the side of the house with a rope (George added, "But mom, maybe you don't have the right skills.") 2- Climb the pine tree and swing over to the window 3- Let Iyah the monkey climb the side of the house. I was also informed many times, through hands covering giggling mouths, that "Daddy is going to be soooo mad at you!" Hope you're not mad babe!