Getting to know the BEAN :o)

Well the bean will be here before we know it! I'd have to say that this is the longest and the shortest pregnancy we've had.  With all the worries in the beginning, it seemed like it was taking forever to get over the "hump" of worry...now we are on the down slide and it does seem to be flying by.  Now with the busy season for me at work approaching the months will really go by fast.  The bean is supposed to make it's big arrival on April 16th....now keep in mind that neither Austin or Bayleann ever showed up when they were "supposed" to :)

As of right now the bean is just a bean...not a girly bean or a boy bean....the only people who know are God and the bean itself!  Not sure if it will stay that way...can't promise- for now the answer in safely sealed in a envelope.

With all the worries in the beginning they were checking and ultrasounding me every week for the first 3 months..I picked some of the better pictures to share.  Now we are on a more normal schedule.

This is one of the first pictures we got of the bean....you can see a oval shaped area and then a little dark spot toward the top-that is the embryo sack.  It was the first sign we got that the baby was growing safely in the right spot!

The kids got a kick out of this picture...they said it looked like a little laughing animal.  It kinda does :o)

Here is the bean looking more like a actual baby! The head is to the far left and the tummy to the right...you can kinda see the little arms and it has its legs kinda tucked underneath itself...

This is the most recent pic...right before xmas.  It is blurry cuz it's a close up of the head....look in the middle of the pic you can see the the jaw and teeth, eye and roundness of the top of the head.

Gotta love these types of pictures....I personally don't like my belly hangin out there but the kids love looking at how it changes. Bayleann especially likes my funny belly button! By child #3 the belly may never look the same again! ha! But I wouldn't trade my kids for a normal looking button!

The kids love trying to see if they can feel the baby kicking me..Andy likes to torment it and me with cold hands and poking my tummy.  When he used to do that to Bayleann she'd kick him right back! Somehow I always got the raw end of that little battle!  This little bean is very active & likes to move around.  Getting exciting!

GOTTA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR FAVORITE 4TH GRADER!!!!! Austin made the December HONOR ROLE in his class! We are so proud of our little booger! Way to go kiddo keep up the good work!

Gingerbread Houses-Twinkle Toes & Some Santa's Ho Ho Ho

I got to spend a Friday afternoon in December with Bayleann in her classroom for the annual Gingerbread making day....The kids were having so much fun spreading frosting on the gingerbread houses (along with licking the spatula after each dip) and decorating it will all sorts of sweet treats.


Peanut with her custom made chef's hat for the occasion



The finished house....looks good enough to eat :o)

Bayleann had her winter dance show on December 17th...she was so excited.  The girls had worked so hard perfecting their Marshmellow World dance.  Bayleann danced like the little princess she is! First we had rehearsal on Thursday so they could get used to the stage again.

Dad getting a close up.....she kinda looks like a deer in the headlights

She was so patient while mom curled each little strand of hair on her head and sprayed the crap out of it with mega hold hair spray! Thank god she has shorter hair this year!!!!!

Droppin her off back stage with her group.  She looks so cute in her costume and she was so excited to get on that stage and dance!  When we are at these shows she is in her glory. Reminds me alot of myself at that age!

They keep them pretty busy backstage while the other groups are performing...coloring, puzzles, games galore.

These are the pictures that make me smile...Monie & Bayleann-two wonderful dancers!

Monie may be in her 70's but you would never know it by the way she acts on stage! She is by far the most energetic of the group!

Marshmellow World! When we see her on stage dancin her little heart out we both get alittle emotional...our little dancer! we cheer so loud i think she can actually hear us up on stage!!

2011 Christmas Tree



The two very anxious kids waiting for Santa to come...Austin could have opened his eyes!



Fresh out of the bath tub in their robes watching dad put ut the prezels for the reindeer!

Each year ever since Austin was tiny the kids get new jammies just for Christmas and that is the first present they get to open before going to sleep...they look forward to their Christmas jammies!

Santa Came!!!!!!

Don't they look sweet! Our little monkies!

This is actually more the norm for these two!

Waiting patiently to open her presents!

Santa got him some legos!!!!

Last year for Christmas Bayleann so wanted a Unicorn Pillow Pet...which she got and has slept on every night since...this year she got the little unicorn pillow pet...she was one happy kiddo!

A pee wee Moose Pillow Pet...he was happy!

Snuggled like little buggies in a ruggy

Lego Man!

A ballet slipper pinata to hang as a decoration in Bayleann's room...it looks so cool! Perfect for our litle dancer

Little unicorn pillow pet slippers

This year Austin really wanted a Moose Pillow Pet...which of course was harder to find but mom prevailed! He was so happy when that box was opened!

Out cold after a busy night of munchin' on goodies, opening presents and just having fun! The sad part is that another Christmas is behind us already....time is going way to fast! Our little monkies are getting too big too fast!

This was in my stocking....A little gator rattle for the bean! Andy stuck it in there. You press the tail and the head vibrates...when I saw that in there I almost cried-he was so thoughtful remembering the bean before it even gets here!  I think he was wondering if his wife had finally lost it-since I was so into this little gator :o)

We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year! Even though another xmas has blow past-the memories last forever! Love you all & thanks for checking in on our lives every now and then.  Coming soon some pictures of the bean! It will be here before we know it!

Winter is here...where is the snow?

        Winter is here...but the only way I can tell is that it's colder! No Snow! I can't believe it's Minnesota and we don't have snow! But I'm really not complaining too badly :o) A busy fall turned into a busy Nov/Dec...From yummy turkey for Thanksgiving to the hustle and bustle of Christmas fast approaching. 
         We went the Saturday after Thanksiving to get our Christmas tree at a wonderful tree farm near Long Prairie.  The people who own the place are so wonderful! They help make this family tradition one of our favorites.  Last year the kids really had to help mom cut down the tree since Andy had just had his surgery...now this year they got to help dad since mom is pregnant :o) They loved it! We walked up and down rows and rows of trees to find just the perfect one-and of course we did. Than that night we all camped out in front of the tree for the night-the smell of fresh pine is still in our house!



Bayleann loved to watch them "wiggle" the tree as she called it...



On December 6th Austin was featured in the first Parkers Prairie Elementary art show.  For 8 weeks Austin was in a after school program called Art-N-Books where they would read a story and than get to illustrate the story however they wanted with different art mediums.  He had a blast! We held a official art show (just like the big timers) in the local event center.  With live music, treats, the kids dressed up and showcased their art work.  Austin sure has a creative imagination!



Showing Dick & Lois (our neighbors) his art work.




Couldn't believe it....our shy boy with his buddies actually sang some Christmas carols up on the stage! And they didn't sound too bad either :)




With his teacher Michelle and buddy Zac



Last sunday we made bunches of cookies! The kids helped with the candy canes....rolling the dough into little worms than twisting it into little canes.  They had a blast. Then we made cut out sugar cookies-with one big one especially for Santa!



Her shirt says it all!



Coming up next....Gingerbread house made by kindergarteners and Christmas Dance Show.