A family celebration

Jason got a job!!!  Yea!! 

The week after conference we asked the bishopric if the ward would hold a fast for us.  We needed all the faith and prayers we could get.  We were out of savings (pretty impressed it lasted a year!) - but it was gone.  We had our baby bills that were going to come (high deductible) - Jason's next tuition payment was coming, and the taxes on our house (we pay that separately).   So on fast Sunday the ward held a fast for us.  Plus the bishopric asked the ward members to each try to give Jason one contact that he could follow up on.  The next day he got about 30 emails.  One resulted in a contract job by the end of the week!  It was a miracle.  It is contract - so no benefits, salary, or stability - but we will take it.  It pays the bills and appears like it will last well into next year.  We have a lot to catch up on - but we aren't so worried about that.  We are just so grateful - and as an added bonus - he really likes it.

Even though we have a lot to catch up on and we decided that we could not change our standard of living in order to pay all the upcoming bills - we felt like we needed to celebrate and reward our children.  To say they have been amazing is an understatement.  We decided early on that we wanted them to be aware of our circumstances and share in the family sacrifices.  We made it clear they did not need to worry and that we were always fine.  But we needed to be thrifty and prudent and we needed faith.  They stepped up to the plate!  In the year and a half that we have gone through this trial they never complained or asked for anything - even when more sacrifices were asked (like Christmas, birthdays, allowance, sports, etc) .  If they wanted something they would say, "when dad gets a job can we go get Slurpees again".  They prayed for us, fasted for us, and stayed happy.  We probably won't know until their 20's how traumatized they were by it - you know when they start telling us all the things we did wrong.  But we were always checking in with them, reading between the lines, and reassuring them that everything was fine.  We had A LOT of savings, a years worth of food storage, we have ALWAYS paid our tithing - this was just one of those life trials and we KNEW everything was going to be ok.  We had gone through before and the Lord always keeps his promises. We just needed to be smart and faithful. 

So to celebrate we took them to Dairy Queen and told them they could get what ever they wanted.  It took quite a while to decide.  They were thrilled.  It was a good evening. 

Mom and Katie surprise me!

My ward was throwing me a shower on Saturday November, 3rd.  I was really excited and so were my girls.  I was sad that I wasn't going to have any family at the shower though.  It has been kind of hard not to have any family around for this pregnancy.  My friend Krista knew this and was on it.  Once she picked the date for the shower she called my mom and invited her and my sisters to come out and surprise me for the shower.  Ashley didn't come (its a long story... but she wanted to come).  

Anyways... I had no idea they were coming.  Krista invited me over on Friday afternoon to catch up and when I walked in my mom, Katie, and Alex were on Krista's couch!  I was so shocked!  Especially to see Katie.  She had never been to visit before and I couldn't believe she came with her new baby!  I am so grateful they put their lives on hold for the weekend and came to visit.  Turns out we were HORRIBLE at taking pictures.  These are the only 2 I got.  We went out to dinner, lunch, played with the kids, and the kids LOVED Alex.  It was a great way to get ready for our baby.  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of any of it.  

Funny story - when I brought the kids home from school Friday afternoon my mom and Katie were going to be at the house to surprise them.  When my kids walked in the living room my mom and sister had hid - but they left Alex on the living room floor.  My kids were confused about who this new baby was and asked if I had had the baby.  I said, "yep - that's Dane, I had the baby while you were at school".  They looked at me so confused and said, "really" and started touching my belly.  It was so funny.  I quickly told them no - and then my mom and Katie jumped out.  Good times.

I did get a picture of my mom playing a card game with the kids.

It was a great weekend.  Thank mom, Katie and Krista for making it happen!!

38 weeks

Still no baby.  Today is the longest I have carried a baby except Brock.  Brock was 39 weeks.  I actually feel great.  I am just ready for him.  I got ready for him 3 weeks ago - and so I am just waiting and wanting.  I am so ready for this baby.  My arms and chest ache for him.  Everyday I can't wait to meet him and hold him and cuddle him. 

Halloween

We had a few parties leading up to Halloween.

First a picture from the ward Trunk or Treat.

Next trick or treating at the high school with the Neyenhuises

Then one from Megan's class Halloween party.

Then the school Halloween Parade

This is the best picture a 6th grader was willing to take.

So Halloween was our first holiday to come up that was really stressful financially.  At this point in the year things got pretty desperate.  The kids knew this.  We try to be honest with them and set realistic expectations but at the same time ensure that we are safe and fine and taking care of it and they don't need to worry - but they CAN help.  From that they all instinctively came up with easy costumes.

Megan wanted to be a butterfly - this is from our dress up bucket and was super easy.  She was thrilled - that was the best part - NONE of them acted like it was a sacrifice and were THRILLED with their costumes.

Noah may have been the happiest.  He is really into making his own comic books right now.  He has created a character named Annoying Thanos (it is a parody off of an avengers character apparently).  Noah had written hundreds of comics about this character.  He wanted to be him for Halloween.  So I made this mask out of foam.  He LOVED it.  You can see through  the eyes.  And he just wears normal clothes.  I, personally, felt bad for him at first.  I asked if he cared if no one knew what he was.  He was too excited to be him that he didn't even care.  But it turns our he has shared his comics with everyone he knows that almost all the kids at the trunk or treat and in his grade all knew immediately who he was and thought it was awesome.  He felt like a rock star.

Brock TRIED to make his costume easy - but it wasn't.  He wanted to be a bush.  He reasoned we could make it and it would be free since we could just cut bush branches and leaves and glue them around him.  His innocents was endearing - and a little frustrating.  In the end we, obviously, couldn't make it work.  My mom, kindly, stepped in and bought this bush costume for him.  His whole goal was to be able to hid and jump out at people - a goal he accomplished.

Madison wanted to be a mermaid.  She wanted to use her mermaid tail that she got for her birthday for swimming.  It is not made for walking and would most likely get ruined.  I asked on our ward Facebook page if anyone had a mermaid costume we could borrow.  A mother of one of Madison's friends, Diana Hulme (her son is Oliver) said she did.  I was a little puzzled becasue she only has one child - Oliver, who is 7.  Why would she have a little girls mermaid costume?  But I did't ask and said thank you.  She asked if I could come pick it up that next week.  We went over and she had bought and made Madison this mermaid out fit and crown.  Madison was ELATED - and I was extremely grateful and humbled.  This is just a small example of the way our ward has ministered to us this last year.  Madison LOVED her costume - but she was being a huge stinker on Halloween night - she did not want to wear a coat or long sleeve or pants under her costume  -but it was cold.  So this is the best picture I could get.

Our neighborhood children right before trick or treating.  This is all within about 10 houses around us.  It kind of rocks.

The boys went trick or treating alone again.

Noah, Mark, Finn, Brock

Due to my "delicate" condition I stayed home and passed out candy.

34 weeks

The girls weren't thrilled at all to have Jason be the one to take them around trick or treating! ha

When they were all done going around our neighborhood I volunteered to take them to other neighborhoods.  It was great because I got to stay in the car the whole time - but still feel part of the fun.  I actually love doing stuff like this with my kids and their friends.  We stayed out until 9:30 and got more candy than we could carry.

Carving Pumpkins

Before we get into carving pumpkins my mom sent us a Halloween box and the girls spent one afternoon after school painting some wooden puzzles.  My mom is always so good to send boxes on holidays.  It is always so sad to not get to be at the Halloween party or the Easter egg hunt - I really appreciate that she includes us the best ways she can.  Thanks mom!

This was the easiest, fastest, happiest, and cleanest pumpkin carving year to date!  All four scooped and carved their own pumpkins.  Sometimes we wonder what on EARTH we were thinking starting over.  We sure are in for it!  But for now we sure enjoy the easiness of older kids.

This was the girls first year carving - they did great!

Noah did his to match his Halloween costume (Annoying Thanos - a character he made up in his comic book)

FYI - Brock's doesn't have a NOSE - that is his mouth

Baby

Feeling the baby move is a favorite past time of everybody's right now.  Even Brock - which I was a little shocked by.  We can't WAIT to meet him!

Karli

My BEST lifelong friend (friends since 3rd grade, friendemies from 4th - 10th grade, best friends since 11th grade) came to Colorado for a nurses convention and I got to go meet her for 2 hours.  She spoiled me with a pedicure and dessert.  Karli is my life long role model.  I have talked about her a million times on my blog - but probably not a ton in the last few years.  She is the reason I am who I am.  She is the reason I can do what I do.  Her influence makes me a better mom and wife.  She is amazing.  I am so glad I got a little Karli time this year!

Birches

I have put of f writing this post because I just don't think I can do it justice.  Colorado became home to us very soon after we moved here.  It happened so fast BECAUSE of the Birches.  They became our family.  Our personalities just clicked and they really took us in.  Veronica becamse like a sister to me - in lots of ways - but in a service kind of way.  We helped each other in the way only sisters help each other.  It was just known and expected.   They also love hosting and cooking and had us over on most Sundays and for every holiday.  Most of our kids were the same ages and the husbands even got along.  In fact Aaron has become one of Jason's good friends.  Well - they moved to Georgia in October.  It was and is very sad.  Besides Jason and I the move has been the hardest on Madison. Lucia was her best friend and she has cried SEVERAL times about loosing her. 

Aaron, Veronica, Elena, Carmen

Vaughn, Harry, and Lucia

We (the ward) threw a going away party for them.

Marisa Neyenhuis, Veronica, Angela Jensen, Julie Roper (we had it at her house)

Christina Marriott, Cindy and Paige Hamilton

Lucia, Elena, Madison, and Lana Olsen

I had people write favorite memories of the Birches.

Aaron made some delicious pork and homemade rolls (as usual)

Mike Clark, Bishop Glen Roper, Matt Olson, Jeff Bullock

Ammon and Davidson Jensen and Aaron

Brian Neyenhuis, Jason, and Reid Hamilton

Julie Roper, Kris Merrill, Nicole Bullock, Heather (and Mollie) Child

Me and Veronica

Marisa Neyenhuis, Leslie Prusee, Veronica, Hazel Cope, Whitney Olson, Christina Marriott

Ella Anderson and Carmen

Evan Roper, Megan, Cameron Neyenhuis, Madison, Noah, and Harry


Then the Sunday before they left we had them over for breakfast for dinner.

Aaron and Jason rocked the breakfast.  Jason made waffles while Aaron made lots of meat!

Then we had them over the night before they left. 

I talk to Veronica several times a week still and hope we maintain our friendship.  It still hasn't really settled in that they are gone.  I felt reassured about having these babies becasue I knew Veronica would take care of me and my family like we were still in Utah.  I know there is going to be a huge void and I am going to just have to pull up my big girl pants and do it alone.  She (and they) have been a example to me of unity in a ward, reaching out, and ministering.  We hope to take what we have learned from them and pay it forward.