Ben's Big 30!!!

Last Saturday Ben celebrated his 30th birthday.  In our family we have Birthday "week".  It is from the Sunday before to the Sunday after you birthday.  It is GREAT!  Ben's birthday week was lots of fun.  Thanks to a really light private practice schedule he was home most days with us.  Happy Birthday week to me!  Saturday morning there were balloons hung, a spider man tablecloth, and spider man paper plates (theme picked out by Isaac) laid out.  I made strawberry & cream cheese stuffed french toast and bacon...with homemade buttermilk syrup.  After breakfast he got his large candy-gram birthday card and opened presents.  The kids loved handing out their presents to him and quickly started laying claim on much of the candy from his card.  After nap time we went to Costco, a weekly ritual.   For dinner we had "delivery"pizza (a big deal in our house) & blew out candles on some Mississippi Mud pie.  I had his siblings send thoughts/memories for him and overall we just got to spend the whole day as a family.   Happy Birthday Ben...Big 30!

Spencer 9 Months

On Thursday I took Spencer in for his 9 month wellness check.  His stats are as follows.

Height: 28 1/2 (60%)

Weight: 19 lbs .5 ounces (26%...WHAT, how did that happen?)

Head:  18 1/8

Please don't mind the food all over his face...this little guy LOVES his food and is one MESSY eater.  I feel like all I do all day is feed him in his chair.  He insists on feeding himself.  I have to hurry and shovel spoonfuls of food in between his little fistfuls.  His favorites right now are bread, gerber puffs (Isaac tries to steal these), yogurt melts (also on Isaac's list), blueberries, black beans, bananas, hard boiled egg yolks, and recently chocolate cake & donuts.  I KNOW!  But he was literally lunging out of my arms to get Ben's donut so we gave a little piece...and well, that's all she wrote!

He is sleeping fabulously well at night.  Loves playing on the floor.  Cracks up at his crazy older brother & sister.  Snuggles so well with his mommy.  Gives the best big cheesy smiles.  Gets really MAD if you don't get him his food fast enough.  Has the craziest hair!

We watched some home videos with the kids and I couldn't believe how different he looks now compared to when he was born.  He doesn't even look like the same baby to me!  Trust me, I know he is, but he has changed so much.   I can't believe he is already 9 months.  We love you little Fudgy!

Snow Fun

SNOW TIME! We have plenty of snow around (even after all the rain yesterday). But last week we had snow & good temperatures...which meant we played outside! When at all possible I volunteered Dad to go play out side, although I gladly went out to get some sunshine & fresh air. Here are our monkeys playing outside and engaging in snowball combat.

Our Super Heros

Meet Muscle Man. He is adorable. He is a very hard working super hero. He excels in playing, eating, stealing his sisters toys, and giving the best hugs & kisses!

Meet Princess Nattles. She is entertaining. She is unstoppable. Her hearing is exceptional (especially when Mom tries to whisper to Dad) and her sense of smell is unreal ("Mom...I smell chocolate...are you eating chocolate?") She loves preschool, changing her clothes multiple times a day, helping with her baby brother, and trying to be the boss!

Staying Warm

To say that Iowa has been cold the past few days would be a huge understatement. We haven't left the house in over two days. Thankfully we have a warm house, internet, tv, movies, and lots of Christmas toys to keep us buys. Even with that said though the cabin fever is setting in. The kids are getting restless, Spencer is boycotting naps, and we've already made & consumed a batch of chocolate cookies! Here's to hoping for an early Spring (miracles do happen)!

reading books in their fort

painting in the AquadDoodle

sweet little faces!

Ending of 2009

(long long post)

We made it back to Iowa safe and sound! Thankfully we had a completely clear driving day through Wyoming, Nebraska, and Iowa. I swore I would never make that drive (especially during winter) and in the last 7 months I've driven it 4 times. It felt good to get home and settled, even if there were feet & feet of snow and ice. The kids went/and are still going through Grandma & Grandpa detox!

To celebrate on New Years Eve we had a special dinner, Mac & Cheese for the kids, and steak & shrimp for dear old Mom & Dad. We did our own mini count down with the kids where we celebrated by playing a competitive round of Hungry Hungry Hippos and eating carmel & chocolate covered pretzels. We got the kids into bed and were ready to bring in the new year. Except for the fact that I fell asleep on the couch around 10:30 pm and don't remember anything except for rolling over in bed and seeing the clock blare 12:32 am, and sheepishly saying Happy New Year to Ben who just rolled his eyes at me. Of all the nights to fall asleep early...whoops.

In reflection 2009 has been an interesting year for us. A year of anticipation and dread. We were blessed in April to have baby Spencer join our family, but were dreading the end of May when Ben would be leaving to start his fourth year medical rotations. We were blessed to spend the summer months split between San Diego & Bountiful with family. Natali turned 4 & Isaac 2. We got our dad back for good right before Halloween. Spencer got pneumonia and we had to change some travel plans. It all worked out and we got to go back to Utah to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas in Bountiful with family. It was a little intense at times, but we were so spoiled and got to do A LOT of fun things. I am grateful we got to end the year back here in Iowa with our little family of 5. This year has been an adventure, but honestly each day with 3 little ones is! Goodbye 2009...Hello 2010!