No baby for 2009

Well, here we are in the last few hours of 2009...
Having contractions every 10 minutes (and I have been for the last 2 days!)... but no baby. I have gone on about 10 3-mile HILL walks (in the snow), eaten spicy foods and Lot's of pineapple, taken herbs, shoveled snow for the neighborhood a few times, done laps around the kitchen circle with the kids (and Aaron), and everything else that you can think of. The boys were both 5-6 days early. Tomorrow is my due date. If nothing happens by Monday I might end up with a c-section.

This little one just wants an even birthday year I guess. It's easier to add up and remember how old you are. My sweet friend Shiray even brought her a birthday cake yesterday! Thank you!

Unless a miracle happens in the next few hours we will have an early 2010 baby girl. I guess the Government just wanted to keep our child tax credit for 2009. C'mon baby!

Happy Birthday AARON!!!

The man I love the most in this world has a birthday today!!! Happy Birthday baby, I love you! For your Birthday I know you asked for a baby girl, but... you are not getting it unless some miracle happens within hours. A month ago when Nana, Poppop and Rachael were here we decided to throw Aaron a little surprise day.So when he came home from work, we were all waiting with the house decorated.
With his favorite papa murphey's pizza just out of the oven and a few gifts to enjoy!

Mac is DAddy's boy, through and through! This morning (his real birthday) Mac told Daddy,"Happy Birthday's to you dad, I love you, It's your birthday in the kitchen ya know." Sweet boy who LOVES that Daddy!

I love a generation shot too!

All the children celebrated with dad in his "hot wheels" themed birthday gifts. They were all very excited about toys for dad.

Happy Birthday love! No baby yet... maybe for New Year's???

Christmas

On Christmas Eve we had Grama Annie and Pagah over for a yummy ham and fettuccine Alfredo dinner on snowman plates. Then Grama read the Christmas story as the kids acted it out with our nativity set. Grama Annie and Pagah surprised the kids with special new Jammie's. Thank you!!! The Kids put out cookies and milk for Santa and headed off for their long winter's nap. Santa came!!! He ate his delicious cookies, drank his milk and brought Lot's of presents. (It is amazing how many presents there are with 3 1/2 kids!) After Mac opened his sword, he was satisfied! We opened up presents and played until 2 pm and then headed over to Grama Annie and Pagah for a delicious new favorite... RIBS. Yummy dinner, thank you! We played with new toys and watched a movie. Mom even got new Jammie's from Grama Annie :) The best ever!~ My favorite part about Christmas... Content Children and happy sounds. We came home and played WAY too late. Even Dad got his amazing collection out. I love you guys!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

How Mary must have felt...

I know that I will never fully understand how young Mary must have felt. I'm sure she was terrified to have a baby, especially so far away from her family. Making the journey to Bethlehem must have been so hard and uncomfortable! I know that carrying a little one so close to Christmas I am reminded often of Mary and the sacrifices she made to be the mother of Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of all the earth. I'm sure she must have felt the magnitude of His spirit as she carried His little body. I know I feel our little one near.

I will never fully comprehend how Mary felt but this Christmas season has given me a glimpse.

What a beautiful family I have! I am so blessed! Merry Christmas to my little ones!

As hectic and chaotic as we may be sometimes :) Due in 2 weeks (in this picture)
I am thankful for a wonderful husband, someone I cannot and will not live without. He is my everything. I am thankful I get to spend every Christmas with him. Merry Christmas baby!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing!
We took our first trip to Temple square to see the lights together. We went up to Salt Lake to meet up with Aaron's good high school friends Shaun and Jared and had dinner together at Trolley Square. Since we were in SLC we decided it was time to see the lights. It was really crowded on a Saturday night before Christmas but worth the crowds for the spirit we felt.

I think these boys have finally grown up? Both Jared and Shaun have 3 adorable boys each. It was fun to see them after so many years! We were walking to our car and saw....

SANTA CLAUSE!!!

This is our first smiling-Santa picture with Alana... EVER!

Mac went back twice to get... candy canes!

Ammon had his preschool program at school where he said his very important part... "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." He did a great job and sang well too! Good job Toa!Then Alana gave a talk on Sunday. She insisted on writing it herself. After she went to bed I had to grab a shot of how cute it is! She has grown up so much and has such a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love baby Jesus!

"He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His LOVE..."

Time with Family

For Thanksgiving Aaron's parents and Rachael came to visit us for 2 weeks.
They sure are cute, aren't they?!!!! We have really enjoyed the kids knowing our Nana and Poppop. Previously we only saw them about every 2-3 years (usually when we blessed a baby) so it has been a treat to see them so often this year. We love you guys!

We tried to get some pictures on Sunday morning with grouchy kids and an impatient mama. Mac definitely did not want his picture taken. But Everyone is finally smiling!

This was soooo cute! Mac took popop by the hand, led him into the playroom and told him to put a movie on and handed him a remote. He made sure his grandpa had a place to sit.

We had a little Christmas with them. Pops is happy to have BYU paraphernalia. Thank you for all your sweet and thoughtful gifts Nana, Popop and Rachael!!!

Can I just say that we have an AWESOME auntie that LOVES our kids! Who else gives shoulder rides, lets Alana climb up her back and makes sure kisses aren't rubbed off?!!!

OK, so then the work began...

Thank you!

Yes, pops spent a day under our car with oil spots on the back of his head to prove it. I know that Aaron puts gaskets on too tight, but it was not all for nothing! Thank you!

Then the tearing up of the bathroom after Aaron got home from work at 10 pm! Yes, 10 pm. By the way, our kids bedrooms are right next to the bathroom. Daddy!!! And popop was definitely ripping and dirty too! Dad and I have only one complaint Aaron... baseboards come off BEFORE you rip up the floor! :) But I spent quality time with Dad digging particle board off the edges of the floor.

But, we have new tile in our bathroom. We had a broken pipe in the wall behind the shower that slowly leaked and rotted our floor. We happened to re tile during snowstorms. So, we got a frozen toilet that had to thaw on towels in the kitchen all day:) I have to say, I am thankful for a father in law that is very thoughtful and precise at everything that he does. Because, I have a husband that is impulsive and just wants to get it done. Between the two of them, our tile was a success. Thank you again!!! This includes Nana helping with dinner, dishes, children and auntie Rae entertaining the caulk squad and the children.

So, problems do come in 3's. The pipe and floor, the car (fuel line block and transmission leak) and even a washing machine that just broke down. But, I am thankful for all the blessings we do have! Here is the finished product...Time to Decorate the Christmas tree...
Ammon Toa
Lani

The whole fam. (Yes, I have a VERY large belly)

Mac was SO excited to put the star on the top of the tree. When Grama Annie came over later he took her hand and said, "look, I put the star on the top of the tree!" Simple joys and pleasures of toddler. He has also been very possessive about the tree. We are excited to be feeling the Christmas spirit and thankful for a wonderful visit from wonderful Family. We are very blessed. Merry Christmas.

Baby Mariah Grace

~In Sweet memory of our beautiful cousin Mariah Grace~
Mariah Grace is our sweet baby girl cousin that was due on December 12th, just a few short weeks before our baby girl is due. She was delivered stillborn into a beautiful little 7 pound body, one week before her due date. She is the 7th child of the wonderful Washburn family.
We love you sweet cousin

You have made an impression never to be erased on our hearts

"If only we could look beyond the horizon of mortality into what awaits us beyond this life. Is it possible to imagine a more glorious future than the one prepared for us by our Heavenly Father? Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need not fear, for we will live forever, never to taste of death again... The Savior is the Author of our Salvation."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As I mourn this sweet loss of a niece, try to sympathize with the pain of a sweet sister and mama, and as I prepare to bring a little one into this world very soon, I am so often reminded of our Heavenly Father's love for us and the plan he holds for each one of us. Our lives are His. We are His instruments. We are to do His will.

As I feel each movement this little one makes inside me, I remember a mamma's arms aching to hold her own little one. I know our little girl loves Mariah. I know that they are kindred spirits and good friends. They have mourned together and rejoiced together. I have felt this.

I am so thankful for the plan of Salvation. That we are able to be together forever as families.

I pray for you dear sweet Washburn family, forever.
We love you baby Mariah!