Hello, again!

Well, I have been very much missing from Blogland. Am I back? We shall see. I don't want to make any promises, and really, is there really anybody who reads this anymore? I guess it is more for myself to document our life (and I'm really, really bad at it). I might try to back date back from when I dropped off the face of the earth (but really, I'm just more sucked into Facebook since it's easier), but I might just do from the beginning of this year. I'll see how I'm feeling. Elijah was born March 7, 2012, and we just love him to pieces! Powell has finished a year of school (kindergarten), and Isabel did ballet over the school year. Will update with posts and pictures later, but until then, "Hello, again!" :)

Fabulous 5!

I cannot believe this little boy is 5! Seriously, where has the time gone? He's going to start kindergarten in the fall, and he is beyond excited to go to school. He probably mentions it at least once a day. His new thing is, is to let me know that he hasn't done something or eaten something since he's been 5 (let alone the fact that he has done/eaten said thing before in his short 5 years). He's such a funny boy. He is my smart, sensitive, particular, giggly, snuggly, funny, energetic, video game loving, Lego loving, excited to have a baby brother, little boy. I just love him and couldn't imagine life without him. Happy Birthday my big 5 year old!!

Simply, Having, A Wonderful Christmas Time!

Christmas day was spent with just our little family at home. I made the kids a yummy breakfast of special Christmas tree waffles with berry ornaments and a bacon stump. They thought they were too cool. It was a very laid back day, taking our time opening presents and just hanging out as a family. A couple days after Christmas, we had Christmas with the "Dove" side. More fun with cousins!

Christmas Eve in front of the tree.

Mmmm...breakfast...

Daddy and Powell got matching slippers. Love it. :)

Opening some stuff for her Bitty Baby!Christmas at Uncle Josh and Aunt Christy's. Creed, Isabel, Powell, Cori, Isaac, Caidyn and Kennedy.

My babies in their Christmas best. I just love how Isabel is looking up at Powell in the second picture. Love them. *sigh*

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve this year was spent doing our "DeHart" Christmas. Michael and Karen hosted again this year. I was very excited about this because the dinner was the same as last year and was deeee-licious!! Ham, green chili, tamales, broccoli salad, and of course Christmas cookies and other goodies. :) We had such a good time (as always) and stuffed ourselves silly.

Isabel with her cousins, Andrew and Katie.

27 1/2 weeks pregnant.

Crazy, crazy cousins: Andrew, Dawson, Jacob, Mackenzie, Avery, Powell (no. he was not picking his nose), Katie and Isabel.

"What Do Mayflowers Bring?"

Thanksgiving this year was fun and interesting. Of course the food is always good, and getting to spend some time with family. This year, Herb and Kathy hosted at their house and we each brought something (like every year). My norms to bring are my homemade cranberry sauce, New England Yam Bake and my homemade pumpkin pie. Because of my MIL having celiacs, I did everything that required flour, gluten free. Whew! I think I bit off a little more than I could chew. First attempt at gluten free pie crust was not the easiest or the greatest. The pumpkin pie didn't turn out bad (since there's only 1 crust), but I attempted a double-crusted apple pie too. Yikes! What was I thinking?! It wasn't terrible, but it definitely was not the best either. I'm going to have to find a different recipe, or perfect it somehow. Anyhow, here are some pictures of our feast-filled day.

So fun to get the kids in on the action. They helped me make my cranberry sauce this year. I remember helping my mom make it when I was a little girl. :)
A family shot.
Yep. We're crazy like that.
Played a little b-ball.

Powell was actually really good at hitting. Almost hit every pitch. So proud. ;)
Isabel in her baseball "glub".
Dawson, Powell, Kenzie and Jacob waiting on the couch after dinner to watch some "Lady And The Tramp".

Oh, How I Love These Two...

20 Weeks

I really wish that I had gotten some better pictures at my 20 week appointment, but as luck would have it, my placenta is right in front, so therefore, we get very blurry, not-so-good pictures of this little boys' face. I still don't really feel him too much since my placenta is "fluffy" and in front, but he is growing and doing great! Nauseousness has lessened tremendously, but is still dully there. I'm just thankful that I'm not throwing up anymore and that the nausea isn't as prominant. :)

Halloween 2011

Halloween this year was tons of fun! My friend, Andrea, wanted to host a little party/get-together before we all went trick-or-treating. She had some delicious food set up and then we headed out into the beautiful night. We seriously had such nice weather this Halloween. No big, bulky coats to cover cute costumes this year! :) The kids got a decent amount of candy and we didn't get sick this year! Hooray! They both had so much fun going door-to-door. What fun ages.

My hero, Spiderman and my little Sleeping Beauty.

The kids in our group: Jacob (Frankenstein), Mackenzie (Witch), Noah (Ironman), Powell (Spiderman), Dawson (Bumble Bee), Lila (Ladybug), Isabel (Sleeping Beauty) and Ella (Pirate).

Our little family after the gathering of loot. Some of the cousins at g'ma and g'pa's afterward. Isabel, Powell, Dawson, Jacob and Kenzie.

Happy Halloween!!

The Cabin and The North Pole!

We went on our annual trip to the cabin with the in-laws (well, my in-laws anyway). As always, we had a fun time. We went for a couple walks, relaxed, played a lot of Mexican Train and ate. This time, they took us to The North Pole in Colorado Springs. Both of the kids enjoyed it, but I think, actually, I'm pretty sure Powell enjoyed it the most. We started off small, but soon discovered that he loved high and fast! Isabel does not love high and fast. She loves slow and steady and as close to the ground as you can get. lol I was a bit bummed that I couldn't enjoy some of the fast rides with Powell, but for some reason, they advise against pregnant women riding those types of rides....;)

On a walk with g'pa Herb.

Love her "side eye" look in this pic.

The old jalopies. Isabel was not a fan of this airplane ride. It ended in tears.
Who doesn't love a good carousel?
Daddy and Powell.
Haha! G'pa Herb was a little tall for the bus and Isabel made him sit in the second row. This made me laugh so hard.
On the roller coaster. It was dinky with not really any "hills", but it was fairly fast and jerky, and Powell loved it!
I don't think he met a ride he didn't like. His favorite was the Scrambler, but that ride is a bit too fast for me to take a picture of.
Isabel with g'pa and g'ma.

Mile High Farms

Well, we still ended up going to the pumpkin patch after all. Isabel was acting fine and both kids had really been looking forward to going and also seeing our friends, the Schultz's. We had a great time. Isabel, if I hadn't mentioned, is such a trooper! You wouldn't have even guessed that she had just gotten stitches that morning. She was walking, laughing, dancing (and I even let her go into the bounce house, just for a couple minutes. Shhh...). Powell loves Azlyn, and she is so great with him. She's going to be a great big sister. Her mom, my friend, Erin, is about 8 weeks behind me with her pregnancy. I'm due March 21st, and she's due May 10th.

Powell and Azlyn heading into Mile High Farms.

In the bounce house. I just couldn't say no to my sweet girl. She was so wanting to in and join her brother.

Powell feeding the goat a corn cob.

Isabel waving to Brian buddy in the hay bale maze.

Powell and Azlyn in the barrel train. Isabel refused to go on that one.

Hehe...Powell doing the bungee run. Too bad he couldn't really run. The vest was like a dress on him and so heavy. He had fun anyway! :)

Picking out a little pumpkin.

Powell and his pumpkin.

Brian, Erin and Azlyn.

Isabel, me, Matt and Powell.

My little dancin' girl. She was lovin' it. And so was I.