FAMILY

Taylor and Amanda were able to come to visit from Washington. We have missed them SOOOO much since they moved. We all had to spend as much time with them as possible. They went to Utah to see new little baby Marley.

We headed to Utah too. We hadn't yet met Marley either. She is the sweetest cutest baby!!! In the same group as Camryn, Kendra, Kaydence, and our baby, of course.

I wish I had gotten a picture of Nicole. We went to see her when Marley was 9 days old. You can't even tell she just had a baby, NOT AT ALL. Her tummy is flat. She does so awesome being pregnant. She had an amazing delivery too. Nicole, you are my hero!

From Utah, we all headed to Mom and Dad's in Blackfoot. We finally had the whole gang together again. It seems like it's been far too long. I don't think I can put into words how AMAZING it is when we are all together. Most of the time we were there we just hung out and spent time together. The girls made watch bands, the boys played Xbox, and we played games. I already miss everyone, especially Taylor and Amanda.

Kent tried to show off his empathy pregnancy. He did pretty good, although he admitted it hurt to do this. Which belly do you think wins?

I swear I have doubled in size in the last week though. I am feeling huge, and getting puffy ankles that swell above my socks. I feel like a whale. Luckily, I think we are close enough to start counting down. Six weeks to my due date (on Friday anyway). I have never made it to my due date. Camryn came 9 days early. Kendra was almost 3 weeks early. This is bad, because I don't expect to go to my due date. I'll probably go crazy if she isn't delivered early!

New Baby!!!

I hope my sister is not mad at me, because she hasn't had a chance to do a post on her blog, but I am too stinkin excited.


MY SISTER HAD HER BABY!!!!!!!!

Marley Jo was born on January 6th

Weighing in at 7 lbs 1 oz and 19 inches long

Beautiful Mamma

And she brought this sweet angel into the world 100 percent naturally.

Proud Papa

Beautiful Baby Girl

Besides the fact that I am posting about her baby, I also stole her pictures to do it. We won't be able to make it down to see the baby until next week.

I love you, Nicole

P.S. You can get back at me when we have our baby. Oh, and remember, I lent you that nursing gown and robe =)

2009

Many people have been reflecting on all the changes that happened in 2009. My life changed dramatically. On New Years Day last year, I met Kent. We were engaged, married, and became a family. When I look at the time-line, it absolutely blows my mind. But I have to look at the time line to realize how fast everything went.
All the changes over the last year are hard to believe. My life is so much better. I don't want to try to imply that this year hasn't been without struggles. We have had a lot of challenges to work through, but through it all, we have grown closer. I am so grateful for Kent. He is everything I wanted and more. He puts my needs, and even my wants, at such high priority. He is an amazing father; we really needed his consistency. He shows us how devoted he is to us and our happiness with the things he does every single day.
I want him to know how much I love him and I am completely devoted to him. Thank you for an absolutely AMAZING year.

Christmas 2009

On Christmas Eve it is a tradition in my family to open 1 present.

I made 2 pairs of fleece pajamas for each of our girls. Kent embroidered their names on them with his embroidery machine.

The girls put their pajamas on, and we headed to Grandma and

Grandpa Petersen's house at about 8:00pm on Christmas Eve.

We thought the girls would be asleep when we got there, but we should have known better. Waiting for us at Grandma's house was their cousin Kaydence, who they absolutely LOVE, as well as Nicole, Travis, Jonathan, Dane, Mickell, and of course, Grandma and Grandpa Petersen.

Christmas Morning

Our four stockings

Presents

Grandma and Grandpa Petersen got all the granddaughters these Furreal puppies. The all LOVED them!

They also got Camryn this AMAZING kaleidoscope.

Camryn and Kendra got these Transformers from Grandma and Grandpa Parkinson. They LOVE Transformers!

Kent got mostly tools for Christmas. The girls did pick out a couple treats for him too.

Grandma LaRee Petersen made this baby quilt for our little Corinne.

Kent got me an exercise bike and a TV for our workout room. I LOVE IT! We are both super motivated to get in shape after this baby. With a treadmill and a bike and a TV we can do cardio together, or get an extra cardio session in while watching a movie.

After everyone was thourougly spoiled, Grandpa took it a step further and made his specialty, homemade biscuits and gravy. It is SOOOOO YUMMY!!!!!

After breakfast, the girls got to playing. Kendra got a chest with dress-up dresses and jewelry and stuff. The girls got all dressed up, then played with the karaoke machine Camryn got.

Enjoy the performing and the arguing. That's our girls!

All us kids usually go in together to get our parents a Christmas present. This year, we decided to get them the shutters they have been wanting for their house. It took some planning and scheming to figure out the color, style, and size. We also wanted to put them up and have my parents be surprised when they saw them on their house. The only gift under the tree for my parents from us was a $30 gift card to Johnny Carinos. Later, my mom asked Nicole if that was from all of us. Nicole smiled an awkward smile, said yes, and walked away to avoid more questions. It was Nicole's job to get my mom and dad out of the house while the men installed the shutters. She took them to her in-laws. We were sure my parents were suspicious.

The shutters are up (at least on one main window) and my parents return. They come inside. Nothing is said....they didn't notice.... We go on with our morning, whispering about how long we should wait or ways to get them to notice.

Dad got an amazing new charcoal barbecue grill. All the guys got together to assemble it.

I take this picture. Then the guys say to Jonathan, "Way to go Johnny, show up just in time for a picture, when we're pretty much done." Jonathan laughs, "I know, just like the shutters."
We look at each other....Dad goes on finishing up the grill....did he not hear that? We relax and go back to what we were doing. My mom was in the kitchen working on our big Christmas Day meal. Five or ten minutes pass. Suddenly my mom runs to the coat closet, throws on her coat and shoes and runs outside. I asked her if everything was okay. She says yes and hurries out the door. We followed her. She is jumping up and down outside admiring her shutters.
It was priceless!!!

My mom said she heard what Jonathan had said, but she couldn't leave what she was doing in the kitchen. As soon as she was done, she rushed to see if the word "shutters" really meant what she thought it might.

Dad said he was so involved in what he was doing, that he hadn't even heard.

My mom's reaction was perfect! We all feel like my mom LOVES her shutters. It still makes us smile.

Cute little Kaydence was no where to be found.
She climbed inside Dad's new grill.

That night, I got to read stories to all the girls before bedtime.


The next day Mom, Nicole, Mickell, Dane, Kent, and I went shopping. Gotta love Ross. They have the cutest maternity clothes.

We came back and Grandma had fun stuff planned for all of us. She helped the girls make gingerbread houses while helping Nicole and me make beaded watch bands, at the same time.


The girls ate A LOT of candy in this process. SUGAR RUSH!!! While the girls start running around like crazy, Nicole, Mom, and me are too busy working on our bands to do anything. We ask Travis and Kent to get the girls to bed for us. Our wonderful men olbige.
While back in the bedroom, Camryn starts explaining things to Travis. "You can't come in any of these three rooms. These are for us to play in," she explains.
"What if I have to come get Kaydence?" Travis asks.
"Then you come talk to me." Camryn dictates.

That's my Camryn.

Kent reads the girls stories tonight.

Nicole and I got pictures of our pregnant tummies together. She is due anyday, I still have over 2 months to go. It is fun being pregnant together. We are so excited that we are both having girls. Our 3 girls we have now love eachother so much. We are thrilled to be adding 2 more girls so close in age.


The next morning, Kent, Camryn, Kendra, and I headed to Utah to see Kent's family. His mom spoiled the girls rotten.

She made the girls barbie clothes, 2 pairs of flannel pajamas, and quilts that matched the pajamas.

We also stopped to see Kent's dad for a little while before we headed back home.

Christmas this year was wonderful for me. It was one of my best Christmases yet. We had so much fun with those we love. I love that Kent loves my family so much and fits in so well. It makes everything so much more fun for me. Our girls are at such a fun age too, and they love being with family. We really missed Taylor and Amanda, but they will be coming to visit this month. We can't wait!