Alright, I got the photo's working!!
We have been busy people for the last while. We had a great Christmas vacation. We went Grandpa and Grandma R's for Christmas eve. The whole family gets together for dinner and to act out the Christmas story. The children had a lot of fun. Of course they couldn't wait to open up the gift from their cousins and from the grandparents. Ethan and Parker were so excited for Santa to come, they asked if they could go to bed at 8:00 p.m.. Of course we said,"YES"knowing that they wouldn't get to sleep right away.
Loren's parents sent the boys Christmas gift in the mail because it was big and they had ordered it online. It was a huge double basketball hoop with the net that goes around it. It is also electronic and keeps track of scores and has different games to play on it. There was only a LITTLE bit of building to get it together. It took Braden and myself 2 1/2 hours to get the thing put together. It had over 50 wing nuts-our thumbs hurt by the time we were done. Grandpa what were you thinking? No, the boys love it. Paige and her friends have even been found playing with it.
For our New Years eve tradition, we ate soup,cheese and crackers ( the tradition is to eat oyster stew but I'm the only one that likes it, so we ate 3 kinds of soup) by candle light. We played boards games and watched movies until midnight. Poor Parker feel asleep 5 minutes before midnight, he just couldn't make it. The next day we went to a hotel that has an inside water park and a huge slide that is inclosed. The children enjoyed playing and swimming. We went to the movies and shopped at the mall. FUN!
Hope and I caught colds Saturday and weren't feeling so well on Sunday. We were both still ill on Thursday, so I hauled us both in to the doctors. We had sinus infections and put on med's. We are both doing a lot better now.
The children are back in school and Braden and Paige have started a new semester with new classes. Braden has Driver's ED now. Every one watch out. Paige was invited to dance with a group of girls for an assembly at school. She had to get up many early mornings for practice. And had to practice on Saturday, as well. I went to watch her perform, she did a great job.
I have finally finished making Hope's blessing/sealing dress and head band. I made it a size bigger than I thought she would need and tried it on her. It just fits. If she grows to much in the next 2 weeks, I will have to move the buttons over.
I took Hope to her 4 month check and she is now a whopping 15 pounds and 11 ounces. She is 25 3/4 inches long. She is a cute chubby little girl. The shots she got gave her a sore leg and a fever for 2 days. I felt really bad for her and held her most of the time. She is now back to her happy self. After her three month check, she started sleeping great through the night. She now sleeps anywhere from 8 to 10 hours. I love it. However, she takes short naps during the day. But I'm not complaining.
I made invites to Hopes blessing and sealing and finally got them out the beginning of this week. We bought new white shirts and ties for all of the boys and a new white dress for Paige. We thought that they should have something to keep for remembrance of this very special day. The children had temple interviews with the Bishop and a member of the Stake Presidency. We are all very excited about going to the temple together to have Hope sealed to us.
I however, am not excited about going to pre court because of our not so nice neighbors. I honestly don't think this whole thing is over our dog. They have some kind of vendetta against us and just like to try and make our lives miserable. Pray for them! And us!!
