Pumpkin Carving

Last Monday we decided to carve pumpkins for FHE. Both the kids were really excited and kept asking all day when it would be time. Doug helped them for the most part but somehow I managed to be the one in the photos.

Bella was excited up until I told her to put her hand inside and pull out the guts. She looked inside and then looked at me like I was crazy. Eventually she started to pull them out but kept this disgusted look on her face like she couldn't believe what she was doing. As you can see by the above photo I was trying to act as excited as possible to keep her digging.

Once all the guts were out and we were done carving, she was pretty dang proud of her pumpkin. She kept saying it was scary!

Now, Isaac on the other hand loved the feeling of the pumpkin guts. He was all smiles the entire time. After he was finished he helped his Dad draw a scary face to carve.

Doug helped Isaac with is scary pumpkin, but also took the time to carve the middle goofy one for little unborn Carter. After carving we set them in front of the fire place, lit some candles and turned the lights off. This was the first year that we didn't use those fancy stencils to carve pumpkins (you know with the haunted houses or flying witches). Turned out to be lots of fun letting the kids use their own imaginations (mixed with mom and dads of course).

I need this invention!

Oh how I wish this invention truley existed! To top off all of the insane pain I've been experiencing from the tail end of this pregnancy... Heavenly Father has decided to give me a nasty head cold as well. I'm sure there is a reason for this trial... but right now I cannot see it and am just plain miserable. I feel like my head is about to burst right along with my tummy. I know- This too shall pass...

A War Between Sisters...

Okay, so those of you who do not know my sisters or check their blogs- there is a war going on. Not too long ago my eldest sister Tonia (the one in the yellow shirt) snuck into my sister Trina's blog and posted her age for all to see. Trina promised to get Tonia back one day. Well Friday night Trina & my other sister Kristin attended a church Halloween party dressed up as 80's chicks. After Trina posted these pictures on her blog I posted a comment explaining that they "did Tonia proud". Tonia was the only one I remember dressing even slightly with 80's style. Well Tonia thought that was funny and said that she dressed "much, much cooler" then them. In retaliation to that comment, Trina posted the above picture of Tonia (in yellow) on her blog and is now taking votes. Who looks "much, much cooler"- Tonia or Trina & Kristin? So please take a little time to visit Trina's blog and cast your vote! Thanks!!!

Trina's blog: http://andersongaggle.blogspot.com/

Goose Hunting

Dougs grandparents were able to come to Michigan from Arizona for a 5 day visit. We don't get to see them very often so it was really nice to spend a little time with them. Doug, his brothers, and his dad all decided to take Grandpa George out on a "man adventure". George is an avid hunter... even more so then Doug; so Doug found a place for them to go goose hunting. Although this adventure began for Doug at 2am in the morning (and they got rained on quite a bit), he had a great time and said he's glad he was able to learn more about it. Check out this little video that Doug's brother Jerry put together of their trip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFffFbEbjDQ

Have You Ever???

Have you done any of these?...
Just copy and paste this to your blog and highlight or Bold the ones that you HAVE done.

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland/world 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty. 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train (it wasn't overnight, but a really long one in Germany) 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a Marathon 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run . 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing (yes real rock climbing outdoors on a cliff in Idaho) 40. Seen Michelangelo’s David 41. Sung karaoke . 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48. Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Kissed in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China 57. Started a business . 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check . 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt. 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job . 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published a book 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House . 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone’s life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee

Another Neice!

Monday the 20th at 11:50pm my newest neice made her debut. Emily Grace weighed 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 and half inches long. She's so tiny and beautiful! I went to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon to visit her and Rachael & Brian (also to take several pictures for Rachael). When I held her my heart melted. It made me so anxious to meet my little Carter! Rachael and I have been on this journey together neck and neck. I found out I was pregnant just days after she did, we were both horribly sick at the same time and put on Zofran, we found out the gender of our babies on the same day, and shared some maternity belly portraits together as well. Rachael was due 2 weeks ahead of me, so I knew her little one would more then likely arrive before mine. I guess now it is really becoming real for me that my turn is just around the corner. Exciting!

Back to Reality

Well I am extremely happy to report that exactly 2 weeks after buying the first Twilight book- I finished them all!!! Late last night the best feeling was to read that final page of Breaking Dawn which simply read "The End". Although I thoroughly enjoyed reading every single book I am so psyched to get focused and jump back into reality. I'm only due in 4 weeks!!!

So yesterday I went out and purchased some new bedding for our master bedroom. Doug promised that once the room was painted he would purchase a complete new set of bedroom furniture. I'm crossing my fingers that this entire project will be complete by the time little Carter makes his debut into this world. Doug asked for no more brown (our upstairs has lots of it, including our old bedding). So I decided to really step out of my comfort zone and buy some bedding that I normally wouldn't consider. Now that it's on the bed I am so happy with it and can't wait to get started on the rest of the bedroom. We plan on buying dark chocolate furniture. Here is the bedding that I purchased (it's actually the same exactly colors as the paint on my living room wall!)


So seeing as how I was finally hitting the "nesting" mode yesterday, we decided to set up the crib and bassinette as well. Washing all of Carters bedding and clothing. Now I need to pack! I have done this twice now but of course am always wanting to know what worked best for everyone else. So if you could; before I begin this packing journey- tell me what items you wish you would have brought to the hospital or what items you absolutley loved having. Thanks!

In Our Arms???

Oh, isn't this photo so sweet? The title of this post is "In Our Arms".

The question for all of you is...

When will we be holding little Carter in our arms?

Estimated Due Date: November 13th

It's so fun to hear and record everyone's guesses on the arrival of our little ones. I'll have to go back and check to see who was the closest with Isaac & Bella and post that another day. Today, however I'd like to start reading what you think. I will be 35 weeks tomorrow and a "full term" pregnancy is technically at 37 weeks. So this little guy could arrive anytime between October 23rd and November 27th. (Oh yes- big gap I know, but he very well could be two weeks late. I want him to come on his own time and will not ask to be induced until that date). For your guesses I'd like to know the following: Date of arrival, time of arrival, weight, and length. To assist you in your guessing I suppose I should remind you of my last two children.

ISAAC

Isaac was due October 27th. I was at the hospital in labor with him twice (32 weeks & 34 weeks), both times the labor was stopped with tributaline. Back in the hospital again at 35 weeks and 4 days with consistent strong contractions. He arrived the next day (Sunday) at 9:15pm weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces and was 19 and half inches. (May I remind you that the on call doctor did not attempt to up my tributaline but instead broke my water!)

BELLA

Bella was due on April 4th. I didnt' set foot in the hospital with her until the wee morning hours of April 9th (Sunday). She was born 6 hours later at 8:14am weighing 8 pounds 14 ounces and was 20 inches long.

So there you have it- one child was a month early and the other was almost a week late!

I'm clueless on this one's arrival. The contractions come and go but nothing consistent.

Okay- so here's where your conscience comes into the picture. I want you to make your guess before clicking on the comments to see everyone elses. Write yours down and then go and post it under the comments. Don't change it once you see the others!

So click on the comments and post your guess or email it to me

Remember: Date, Time, Weight, Length

Thanks!!!

It Happened...

Well.... it happened. I fell into the trap and am officially in love with the Twilight Series. I once was one of those people who laughed and made fun of the crazy "vampire" lovers and yet now I have become one. The majority of the girls on my Norton side have been raving about this series the past few months. When I found out that our "Norton Girls Night" in November would be to see the new movie "Twilight" I figured I better at least read the first book so I wasn't lost. So I purchased the paperback at Target for $8 last Thursday at about 2pm. I finished it the next day at 10pm!!! I couldn't put the thing down- it was insane. I wanted to read the 2nd one right away but knew I could patient and hold out... that is until late Friday night I discovered the "preview chapter" for the next book. After I read that I was doomed- Saturday afternoon I was at Walmart purchasing New Moon. I paced myself better with that one though- just recently finishing it yesterday. Now I'm trying to be patient and wait for my mother in law to bring me the 3rd and 4th books on Thursday. This is the first day in a week that I haven't read the Twilight Series! Sad huh? Well I must say looking at the picture for the new movie has me ecstatic to watch it. Little Carter better come out long before the movie or wait until after it arrives because I have every intention of sitting in the theater on opening night!!!

Go ahead and laugh all you haters- but pick up the book once and I promise you'll fall in too!