"Toof-less"

Poor Kylie has been looking forward to having her first loose tooth and it didn't happen that way at all. Her permanent tooth started growing in and was in danger of being seriously crooked so we had to go get two teeth pulled at the dentist yesterday.

It was an awful experience and I absolutely hated the office we went to. They were super unprofessional and seemed to be clueless about pretty much everything. Not to mention names (Dr. Frank O Harris) but I will NEVER EVER go back there!

Luckily she got a little treasure box with her teeth in it and the tooth fairy brought her a couple dollars rolled up fancy in a little scroll and tied with a bow made of dental floss. Terrence made sure to comment on how silly the tooth fairy was for doing it that way, but I think our family's tooth fairy ROCKS! Kylie was just excited to think about whether he used shrink paste or invisibility spray....

What a birthday!

Terrence finally got his Elk on Saturday but it was in a very difficult spot to drag out, so after struggling for hours, he finally had to call it a night. He kept the sabbath day holy and went to church instead of going to get it, and we just hoped the rain would be enough to keep the birds off of it. So today, on his birthday, he had the pleasure of hiking the 3 miles to "try" to get it. Apparently the rain was not enough to keep the mountain lions away....so his birthday didn't go as planned. But we still made him an awesome birthday mask, which he wore proudly during dinner (during his break at work).

And then he got to light his own candles on his favorite kind of cake. (don't mind the missing piece we cut it out to bring to aunt Lysee on her break )

He made a wish....

and then he ate and hurried back to work his 16 hour shift. Talk about a LAME birthday! But we really are so blessed to have him in our lives. He is definately one of the hardest working, generous people I know. He's helped me to become more giving as well and I'm grateful for that. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TERRENCE!

OH BOY!

31.5 weeks

It's hard to believe this pregnancy is almost over. I'm down to the every two week appointments and starting to nest hard-core! I am so unbelievably excited to hold my little boy. After waiting 4 years to have him, it feels like the first time again, except instead of all the nervous feelings I am feeling just pure excitement. Everything looks fantastic at my appointments and I shockingly haven't gained much weight which my Dr. assures me is great! Our little boy is hanging out pretty low though and my pelvis sure feels it. Just putting pants on is a chore, and climbing into our truck makes me want to scream out in pain. It's funny how different every pregnancy is, but as uncomfortable as I'm getting, I love every kick and squirm. I'm gonna miss him being in there.

Kylie's intepretation...

This is Kylie's homework assignment for the day. She was asked to draw a picture of her family. Notice anything odd about me?

How about now.....

Me: "Kylie what is that line by my neck?"

Kylie: (very sheepishly) "ummmm...your crack?"

Me: "My crack?"

Kylie: "Well how else will my teacher know you're the Mom?"

I thought the name above my head and the fact that I'm taller than the kids in the picture would be a dead giveaway but apparently not!?

I dress very modestly and have been super self concious about my "largeness" in that particular area since Jr. High. It is totally not my fault that my crack shows on occassion. They don't really sell turtle necks in the summer ya know? It's sad that she has to draw that part in pictures. Someday......when they have served their full purpose and I am done having children....that will no longer be a problem. Until then...I will put my desires aside...take the drawing as is and accomplish my full potential as a mother. But someday................................................

She's 4!

Madison had her 4th birthday on January 4th. We did the big celebration on Saturday where we spent the entire day celebrating her! We took her to the mall and had her ears pierced where she chose a Hello Kitty set of earings and was unbelievably brave. She is so proud of her earings, but it will be a test of patience to see if she can wait 6 whole weeks til she can change them out!

That evening we had cake where friends and family joined us to celebrate. This little miss Avaree has become a pretty big part of our lives. We watch her from 11:00-9:00pm every week day and she is training the girls well for when baby brother arrives ;)

Andrea and her new man joined us as well. Andrea is experiencing the joy of a long distance relationship to the new love of her life. His approval rating is quite high thus far so we really hope things work out for the two of them.

Aunt Lysee even cut her weekend with her boyfriend short to be there with us!

She enjoyed some new gifts...

trying on and modeling some new clothes... and then asking to go to bed at 7:30 while the rest of us watched "Despicable Me". I just love that girl!

And finally....du du du daaaaa....the Christmas dresses. I should have taken a picture of their hair since you can't really tell from the picture that is was super adorable. But they LOVE LOVE LOVE their dresses. In fact...they ask me every day how many more days there are til Sunday so they can wear them again.

New Years

As soon as we got home from out Mills family Christmas festivities, my parents and sister Sarah showed up. We had barely had time to unpack the truck before they arrived, so my sparkly clean house was quickly turned into mayhem. But it was super fun. Grandpa played a few rounds of go fish with the girlies while I cooked cooked cooked and played hostess. My goal is to someday be as good at it as my Grandma. ;) I love having family visit!

I realized after going through my pictures that I never took one of the teepee my mom made the girls. I will post that later, but it is seriously awesome!!!

For New years, we all went to Idaho Falls for some family fun at Grandma Pabsts house. There were more of us there than there has been in a very long time and it was so much fun. All my holiday memories are at her house with sleeping bags and blankets scattered on the floor and couches and stepping over sleeping bodies. This year brought it all back...except that my big pregnant body got an actual bed this time ;) Grandma has the MOST comfortable beds in history! We had so much fun staying up late, playing games, and eating all the goodies.

I love the first thing in the morning overly excited sleep eyes. Of course Kylie had to put her new outfit on immediately. I actually had to wake my girls up at 8:30 because I knew we'd be late for Christmas breakfast if I didn't. I can't believe they slept in! They are usually awake by 7:30!

This is the only picture I have of their Christmas dressed. They were out of them so fast after church that I missed the photo op. Maybe next week? They are beautiful dresses. Gotta love Grammy!

And of course they got the beloved pillow pets they have been talking nonstop about for months. I will never understand the obsession with these silly things but they love them so I suppose it's money well spent?

Terrence's best friend is the store manager and Big 5 and is always telling us of killer deals he has. This has let to a lot of excess spending unfortuanately, but we have managed to get some steals! We got some seriously nice and expensive binoculars for almost nothing for both my Dad, and Tyrel a.k.a. "Uncle Homie". He was slightly excited.....

I just love when gift giving works out well

After presents it was off to Huntington for the annual Christmas breakfast. I didn't take any pictures of that surprise surprise :( After breakfast, we drove up the hill just north of Grandpa Macs house and went shooting. The kids and I stayed in the truck playing card games most of the time and we goofed off a little too. It was a great Christmas!

Christmas Eve

We went to Terrences brothers house for Christmas this year. On Christmas Eve, Tyrel had to do a Santa job and asked Kylie to be his special helper. We told her all about how uncle Homie works for Santa during the winter and dresses up in a Santa suit to bring joy to family/ward/and community parties throughout carbon/emery counties. We told her that if she went with him, she would be working for Santa too and she was BEYOND EXCITED!

She got all dressed up in her elf apparell and made up an elaborate story about her name being Sally the Elf and that her ears weren't pointed because she didn't eat her green vegetables (sound familiar? "Santa Claus?") She wanted to be prepared just in case anybody asked her about it.

Then she and uncle Homie set off to bring the cheer. She had so much fun, and on Christmas morning, there was a special letter and surprise from Santa sitting next to her stocking to thank her for helping him out on such a busy night.
After getting home and warming up, we decided to open the traditional Christmas jammies...only the girls opened the wrong package and got new outfits from Grammy Sharon instead. ha ha WHOOPS!

But no worries...we found the right boxes and all was well.
Thanks Grammy!

Of course I forgot to get a picture of the grownups in their Jammies. I was overall pretty terrible at getting any decent pictures this holiday season. ha ha!

What we're up to....

We have been so busy between preparing for Christmas, baby, and babysitting Avaree Mae 40+ hours a week. Kylie has been a super big helper with Avaree and is learning so much...including how to change a diaper. However...

This is the ONLY way Madison can hold sweet little Avaree, because for as much as Maddi loves Avaree....the feeling is not mutual!

Madison is learning a lot too. While I was making dinner a couple weeks ago I noticed Madison nursing her baby doll. She had a whole conversation with me about it. Her curiousity about the whole thing is so stinkin cute. I just feel bad that her obsession with everything baby does not help the fact that babies just don't like her smothering love. If I could pick a baby to watch, Avaree would be it. She rarely cries and is so so happy all of the time. My house is filled with sounds of her jabbering and laughing. She is definately loud just like her mother ;)

Amid the craziness of this holiday season, I did manage to fit in a couple traditions. We made a gingerbread house again this year, although it was definately the worst looking one thus far! ha ha

I also made dozens of cookies and several batches of brittle to give to family and friends. The one thing I didn't do was mail Christmas cards. I'm terrible! I'm so sorry to those of you who sent us cards and didn't get one in return. I have high hopes of getting birth announcements out to make up for it in March. Wish me luck!