Giving Thanks and one month old

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did. Landon woke up Daniel and Emma early on Thanksgiving to make special cards for us. They all told us thank you for all we do for them....so sweet. We had dinner at my Mom and Dads house and everyone was there. I brought my sweet potato casserole- so yummy, why don't I make it more than just once a year? The kids loved the Bingo game Grandma did and playing with cousins. We had a great day and truly have so much to be thankful for! Thanksgiving also happened to be Kate's one month old day. She is a sweet baby and has started to give us smiles that are so precious. We love her and she is smothered in love by her siblings as well.
This is our first family picture with all six of us! The kids are modeling their new Christmas Sunday outfits that Grandma and Grandpa gave them- thank you, Mom and Dad!

















Kate spent the day sleeping in loving arms!
















This is why I should give Kate baths when the kids are at school- too much of a family event. Difficult as it is to bathe a slippery newborn with three other kids trying to "help", it is a cute picture and I really like how Emmas arm is around my back.

Do not attempt this at home.....and don't report us!

Richards got nice buns!

I just had to say that I am highly impressed with my wonderful husband and his new found bread making talent. He has been experimenting with making wheat bread for a while and he has perfected his techniques and made some beautiful loaves. They are most delicious and we have really enjoyed them! Anyway, Richard has many talents and he just found a new one! Lucky me (because he does all the work and we get to devour the finished product)! And, he does have nice buns!

Got Milk?

This week

Emma came with me to Katelyn's 2 week visit and tested positive for strep. Uuughh! Since the boys have had cold symptoms and the Dr. offered drugs, I took 'em! The pharmacist said, "Oh, it's not fun to be the mom at your house." But we're all OK- Emma had one icky night but is much better now! Love those antibiotics!









I love how Katelyn has her arm around Emmas shoulder- so sweet! Emma takes such good care of her baby sister. I think she would hold her all day if she could. Sometimes I have to force her to stop holding her so she can eat lunch or so I can feed Katelyn. She's a great babysitter!





Landon got a trophy at school for his reflections entry and will be going on to the next level for his 3-D art project. He entered the wolf he wood burned. He was very happy to get his first trophy- he has some medals, but they are not as special as a trophy, apparently.

Oh boy! I remember this happening after each baby. I feel like I kindof lose my identity as "Jenny". All I feel like is a machine that feeds baby, changes diapers, does laundry, scrounges up something for dinner, walks around like a zombie, and doesn't really feel much like herself. I feel like I neglect my other three children - see above. I know I'll adjust soon, and I'll find ways to make it all work. I know, woe is me. But tomorrow I am doing something for myself. I am going to join Weight Watchers and get back on the band wagon of eating good food instead of anything and everything that I see or feel that I deserve. Which is exactly what I have done for the past nine months and boy, am I feelin' it now! I gained a shameful amount of weight that I am embarrased about and I am ready to start getting rid of it. I need to be done wearing maternity clothes, people! I won't bore you with my progress (once it starts) but you better believe I will be rewarding myself for each goal I reach. I'm excited about it and am looking forward to doing something for "Jenny".

Puff the Magic Dragon

You might not find this as funny as I do, but Emma took this video while I was in the bathroom. If you can't understand what she says at the beginning, she says "Kate is going to be"laying" and I am going to be singing Puff the Magic Dragon". Obviously, she only knows the beginning and her face as she is singing is so funny to me! I know these two little girls are going to have so much fun together! The ending is a little abrupt, but it just makes me laugh every time I watch it!

Beautiful baby Katelyn

We had Katelyns newborn pictures done yesterday. They are nakie pictures, so Richard and I both got peed on a few times. (Thank you honey for being a good sport!) The entire session took about 2 1/2 hours because we had to get her into a nice deep sleep...which was a lot trickier than I thought it would be. You can see some of the pictures at www.eltonfilmandimages.com and then click on the word "blog" and it will take you there. They are titled "Jenny". I'd love to hear comments on favorites because I am ordering tomorrow. Let me know what you think!

Happy Halloween

Hope everyone had a fun Halloween. Here are our fun pictures. Daniel was three things this year. Better than his five costume changes of last year. I don't know why he does this- he's just Daniel!

He was Ron Weasley (Harry Potters best friend) for the Trunk or Treat. He was a cowboy at school for the day and then Batman to top off the night of Trick or Treating. What a character!

By the way, we finally settled on Katelyn Judy as the official name. And she was the cutest little pumpkin for Halloween.

Landon was a Ninja and Emma Jae was beautiful Princess Belle. I think her beautiful brown hair makes her the perfect Belle.

Ooooh! We had ginormous pumpkins to carve and therefore lots and lots of pumpkin guts! Eeeew! Emma would have nothing to do with the gutting, but the boys loved it all!