imogen

A few pictures I took of my sister Cami's little girl, Imogen, while they were here visiting from North Carolina over the holidays. She was 9 months here, and a lot bigger than Olivia!

snowshoeing

A few weeks ago we headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon for an afternoon outside! Clayton and I love snowshoeing and it's such a fun thing to do with the kids. But it took all day getting out the door, gathering all the snow clothes, snacks, water bottles, plus driving downtown to get the pair of snowshoes Clay's brother borrowed, and another stop at REI so we could rent a pair for Nina...phew!! But it was so worth it, just to get away from everything and up into some clean, fresh air. Nina had a rough time because she didn't get enough sleep the night before AND she didn't eat her lunch...so Clayton ended up carrying her on his shoulders most the time while he was carrying Olivia in the baby backpack. What a manly man! On the way down I stayed with Nina and we sang all the verses of "Once an Austrian Went Yodeling" as little snowflakes landed on our noses. It seemed to cheer her up.

Olivia Has An Announcement

"I'm going to be a big sister in August!"

I know, it's hard to think of Olivia as a big anything, but yes, it's true! It came as quite a surprise, but we are all so excited! We had planned on having number 5 at some point, so I'm actually glad it's just happening, otherwise I may have kept putting it off.

I'm also really looking forward to feeling better...the morning-noon-and-night sickness has hit me pretty hard, and with four other kids to take care of, I'm just living in survival mode these days. Everything smells weird, nothing tastes good, and I'm throwing up more than you want to know. Any miracle tips from you other moms out there?

I told you I had some good excuses for falling off the face of the earth, didn't I?

off track

The hamster cage and goods.

The maze that Ben made in September because he was going to ask Santa to bring hamsters! They are named Lola and Lolly. Olivia freaks whenever she is near them.

Christmas breakfast.

Olivia's new crib and bedding that Santa brought.

Olivia loved the tape more than anything, so Dad kept giving it to her.

Yay! I got a Barbie! (I'm kidding, obviously.)

My cute nephew Sam.

The kitchen at my in-laws new house, isn't it pretty?

Hello friends, I know it seems like I fell off the face of the earth, but believe me I have some good excuses! Christmas was super busy and fun with my sister Cami and her family in town for three weeks. Santa brought the hamsters my kids asked for, and my in-laws finally moved into their beautiful new home which replaces the one which burned down last Christmas. We met cousins at Ikea for "Kids Eat Free" days (nuts!!), and finally got a kitchen table that our family can grow into, I'm so excited. Just need to save up for some new chairs now!

Then as we wrapped up the holidays, my kids began "off track," meaning still no school for 3 more weeks. We have "year-round" school where we live in order to fit all the kids into the schools. So my kids have been home since December 23rd, and they don't go back until this Tuesday, the 26th of January. So basically, when they are off track, my life goes off track! I'm so ready for the routine to set back in, and they are actually excited to go back after so long.

Happy New Year, a few weeks late!