Once There was a Snowman...

It's been snowing like crazy these past few days so we decided to take advantage. While Nate was shoveling the driveway, the girls and I started a snowman. It was rather shabby looking at that point. Nate came over with his tooth scuplting skills and created this masterpiece.

The girls and I decorated with carrot, black rocks, scarf and hat. We may have taken a few baby branches off the tree but they went to a good cause. Afterwards Nate went after the sidewalk and we girls made ourselves some treats. First we made snowballs from the falling snow and added lime and grape flavoring for some homestyle snowcones. Next we (read Katelyn and Sarah) ate all of the chocolates from the windows of our advent calendar. We finished off our sugar indulging with a frothy cup of hot cocoa and marshmallows. It was quite the morning to be sure.
Sarah couldn't part with her carrot (we found a suitable replacement). I guess they didn't just have straight sugar for breakfast.

Salt Dough Ornament FHE

Salt Dough Ornaments
1 C salt
4 C flour
2 C water
Adjust flour and water as needed to create cookie dough like consistency. Roll out and use holiday cookie cutters to create designs. Use straw or the likes to create hole for ornament string. Lay on plate and microwave for 1 1/2 to 2 minutes to harden. Decorate with glitter, markers, paints, stickers. Allow to dry. Thread with string and hang on Christmas tree.
****For those really ambitious crafters add food coloring to different segments of dough and you can sculpt your own designs.

This has been a fun tradition my mom used to do with us when we were little. This year we used alphabet cutters, stars, bears, flowers, and hearts. It was an interesting concoction. The girls LOVED it and I think Nate was having just as much fun!

Ropelato Christmas Party

My Grandpa is headed to PA for the holidays so we moved our family Christmas Party up to the 5th. We had our delicious classic dinner of lasagne prepared by my grandpa and loads of fun with games. The kids dressed up for a nativity and we exchanged gifts. All in all a very fun evening. Thanks Aunt Dawn and Mom for all your prep work.

Opening Gifts



Nativity-(if you couldn't tell there are a lot of great granddaughters. My dad's section alone is 8 granddaughters to 1 grandson. Fitting for all the solo daughters and loads of sons from the generation before).

Get Together with Dental Buddies

Katie and Joey were in town for Thanksgiving so we threw an impromptu reunion at our place. It was fun to see how much the kids have grown and hear the updates on what's been happening in the last 18 months.

Amber (Cassidy), Stacey, Katie, Lisa
Cody, Nate, Joey, Spencer

Aubrey, Tucker, Cole, Will, Cassidy, Luke, Katelyn, Sarah

Gingerbread Houses for FHE

Hmmm...we may have to sharpen our house making skills but we had fun anyway. Nate and Katelyn did their best to fix my decorating mishaps. The Thompson's house was just plain awesome.

We're back...

Sorry for the lack of blogging. Sickness and holiday festivities have wiped me out. Here's a photo collage of some of our endeavors:

September

1st Hike for the Girls (Mount Ogden at top of Snowbasin)

Missionary Moments in Ogden(Elder Matt Pierce was our hometeacher in Maryland)

My first "fancy" fondant cake...probably the last

Fall Cleaning (they really are great helpers)

Track star days are coming Katelyn PR 1/2 mile, Sarah PR 1/4 mile.

Worms (and clearing out the crazy growth of parsley)

If Katelyn is potty training, so am I!

They go to bed in their own beds and this is what we find in the morning...

Teeter-Totter for Two

Last Swim of the Season at Home


October

Leaves with the cousins

Meowy!

Carving Pumpkins

Trick or Treating to Grandma Starley

Sisterly Loves


November

First Snow at Home

Thanksgiving with Grandpa

Merry Christmas from Ropelato Grandparents

Headed to the Nutcracker Ballet

Double pony rides by Daddy


ANDDDDD....we're expecting our third little GIRL May 1st!

Santa Wish List: Immune System

Okay in years passed this has been mildly entertaining but enough's enough. To truly appreciate this you will need a small bit of information, we're pregnant! So the due date is May 1st. Now for my endeavors:

Part 1: The Flu Shot
I swear everywhere I go everyone has been talking about the flu shot and how pregnant women are in a critical category to get inoculated. Dutifully I show up at our primary care's office after calling to confirm I simply need to show up. Little did I know I would be dragging both my girls through the maze of the hospital to find the little clinic in the basement. I probably exposed them to hordes of awful things. The little man behind the desk (read punk kid with engaged earrings) informs me he will need to speak with his supervisor.
"Sorry Ma'am, the flu shots are for established patients only."
I explain that my brother-in-law has swine flu and that all my in-laws have been patients for years and we've just moved to the state and for pete sake the doctor's name is on my insurance card.
"Let me check with my super." 20 minutes later he comes back.
"It will be $80 per shot." What, is it laced in diamonds?
"Sure. Whatever."
"Umm...just a minute." Again a 15 minute droll.
"Yep even if you are willing to pay, and though the family urgency we need to keep the remaining vaccinations for ESTABLISHED patients. But you can go to Walgreens and they have them for $25."

Walgreens after waiting for 20 minutes and filling out all the paperwork. "Sorry we can't give the flu shot to pregnant women or children under 13."

Luckily I found I could go to the instacare and my insurance would cover it and Katelyn's was $40. Nate went to Walgreens. I scheduled with Sarah's pediatrician office earlier and was planning on her $14 shot during the flu clinic. I called to cancel Katelyn's part of the appointment and the front desk forgot to schedule it in the computer after our very looong conversation and all 2,400 vaccinations were already scheduled out to other patients. We took Sarah to the Ogden Clinic for $20.

Mind you the Weber Morgan Health Department should have been stocked for the whole family but because they get their doses from a government allotted shipment it was delayed and so sometime at the end of October it is expected they will have the regular flu shot as well as the H1N1.

Part 2: The Flu...it's believed I had the Swine Flu
After all that work you would think we'd get a sick free pass, right? Wrong. Less than one week later the horrible flu reared it's ugly head but only for me (thankfully). After fever, profuse retching (did I mention I was already taking Zofran to keep something down before all this madness?), migraines, crazy wicked cough, and runny nose I started to get extreme vertigo evertime I glanced towards the tv. 6 days later I thought I was coming out of it with just a stubborn cough.
The instacare swab tested for influenza A which was negative but not always conclusive for ruling out Swine flu and the office never tested for the 24 hour blood confirmation...

Part 3: The Baby Scare
Apparantly one of those coughing or retching fits caused a tear in the placenta. Severe bleeding and cramping ensued and my OB couldn't give much more sentiments than there was a chance the baby could pull through but I would have to wait in bed for 2 days and then she could see me in the office. (She did tell me I could go to the ER but I would more likely expose myself to more nasty diseases and they would only be able to supply IV liquids).
Happily this morning we were blessed with the sound of a strong heartbeat and visual confirmation that I am healing from the tear. Life has been limited for the next week and a half to small quarters on "partial bed rest" but I am overwhelmed with grattitude for friends and family that have lifted the load with the girls.

Case in point I think I need some immunity help. Nate has repeatedly told me I have the immune system of a 90 year old woman.

PS. I cemented that I do indeed have the best husband in the whole world. Thanks Nate for all your help, love ya babes. Oooh...I forgot the craziest part, I have lost 12lbs in 2 weeks from this madness. Those dounuts on Halloween are going to be absolutely delectable!!!

Free Stuff

Gotta love free stuff...my ol' pal Mindee has one more opening on her blog but you gotta leave a comment fast.
www.happyholmans.blogspot.com
Stace

1st Time Tubing

I will have to steal some photos from my sis-in-law but after what was a rather peaceful day at the beach, Katelyn took her first tube ride behind the boat. Nate and Dan held Katelyn and Grace on their laps on a double tube for a fun first. Somehow there was a lot of slack on the rope so when the boat started the tubes went from 0 to 30 in a second, jerking the tube around. The next thing I saw was Dan's legs in a perfect V as he made a backflip off the tube while holding Grace. Needless to say none of the kids wanted to have anything to do with the boat. I am just grateful Katelyn and Nate stayed on board or she may have decided to hate the water too.
Thanks Heath, somebody has to be prepared with a camera...

Catching Up with Kristy

Life Jackets

Katelyn's Graduation from Swim Lessons Present

Dancing Queens

Our girls love to dance, shimmy, shake, groove, twirl, you name it. Sometimes they even let friends share in the fun. Zane is really sweet with the girls and a really fun neighbor.

Ward Campout at Camp Atoka

Deep Philosophical Discussions

Breakfast of Champions (though Laurie shared her delicious pancake recipe with us and they are a staple these days)

Cleanup Crew