AND THE WINNER IS...

Mike and I have had a bet going for the past few months concerning the gender of the upcoming arrival to our home. I thought for sure we were going to be having a little girl join our family. Mike on the other hand was completely convinced that a little boy would be entering our home. So the stakes were high... If I won, and we were in fact having a girl then Mike would have to make me a wonderful Japanese meal. I was so sure that I was going to win that I was licking my lips in anticipation. I knew in my gut that we were having a sweet little girl. If Mike won this bet, and we were having a boy I had to make a dinner with uncelestialized meat (that is meat with the bone in... I never make anything with the bones still in it other then a Turkey.)
Today during the ultrasound it took quite a while to get that little baby to move into a position to be able to determine their gender. That was another confirmation to me that we were having a girl... I thought if it was a boy he would be proud and be willing to show everything with now hesitation.

so... the WINNER is........ Drum roll please........

Mike!

We are going to be welcoming another BOY into the family! We are so excited to have another fun boy enter into our home. Mike is looking for as many football buddies as he can get. Along with some yummy dinner I concoct just for Mike.

Pictures coming soon!

Open Mouth Insert Foot

On April 1st. I thought it would be really funny to post that we were expecting...We were not, and had NO intentions to ever have another child. Well the joke is now on me! The good news for right now... we think there is only 1 baby inside!

THING 5

coming Feb. 2010

Our 5,000 Mile trip!

WARNING!

This is a LONG post. There are a LOT of pictures...

We began our trip to Utah on Thursday morning at 3a.m. We hit a really bad rain storm that we had to pull over and wait until it passed, because we could not see anything. Thankfully we had a movie going and the kids were not to worried about the wind and the rain. We stopped at Iowa 80 Truck stop. It is the largest in the world and the kids had a great time exploring everything there. They quickly found the arcade and had a great time "playing" the games without any money.

Once we got to Omaha we made a quick stop at Winter Quarters for a tour. The kids had a lot of fun dressing up as pioneers.

My Grandmother Grandmary and Mike met for the first time. It was fun to have her meet the kids and my husband. Mike also met my Aunt and Uncle and cousin during this trip. My aunt is a professional chef and made a really yummy dinner on the grill. The kids each got to sit on my cousins motorcycle. They thought it was really cool!

Grandmary got each of the kids Nebraska shirts. It was so nice of her to get the kids little souvenirs. Grandmary suggested we make a stop in North Platte Nebraska where she grew up and go see the gravestones of my great-grand parents. It was really neat to stop and see the cute town that she grew up in.
Grandmary also said we should make a stop at the "Tower". This is the largest train exchange for the Union Pacific railroad. You can see for miles and the kids loved seeing all of the trains.
We got to Utah on Saturday night and had some time to relax with the family. Sunday was Mike's youngest brothers mission homecoming. He had been serving for the past 2 years in Uruguay. He spoke at church and gave a wonderful talk. After church there was a big party at Mike's parents house. It was so much fun!

Early Monday morning we all rushed around to get ready for family pictures. Here are a few of what they took. I think they all turned out well.

Mel & JoanMike, Jen, & Kids Dan, Joelle & Kids

Tim, Ginnie & Kids

Jon, Leah & Kids

Robert, Melanie & kids

Chris, Joanna and soon to be kid!Jake

All 4 of the 3year old boys!
Grandma, Grandpa and all the Grand kids!

All of the new baby girls of 2009

Mike's family

After the pictures we ran over to a Temple open house that we were able to tour the Temple before it is dedicated.

The kids played a lot!

This is Keith's art work! All of the 3 year old boys decided it would be a good idea to draw on each other... They had a lot of fun and got into a lot of mischief together!

The girls did a lot of art projects.

Shelby did this to herself... but we were not complaining!

We spent a day at the beach.

Grandma even had a good time eating chip and strawberry's with the little boys... she had to work a lot harder to get the cheesy face then the little boys!

The Kids buried Grandpa alive!

That night we went to visit Derek and Rosie for the evening. Derek was Mike's roommate all through college. We had a wonderful evening and Mike had a great time playing 6 games of basketball with Derek.

Mike left the next day to go work for a week at home. So I took a trip to Boise to visit my grandmother and a few friends.

This is a few of my cousins and spouses, and a few great grand children with my grandma. It was so good to go see everyone. I loved spending time with my Grandma!

My mom also happened to be in Boise... it was so fun for her to be there too!

We stayed with my friend Marie. Her kids are so cute! We were college roommates at Ricks. It was so fun to see her! I sure miss having her close!!

When Mike came back we went with the family to the Zoo!

This is my new niece. She is such a cutie!! A tinny little 4lbs 4oz when she came into the world.

Our trip home

We stopped in a place called Independence Mo. at the visitors center. The kids had a lot of fun learning more about the history of our church.

We stopped at Liberty jail in Missouri. This is where Joseph Smith was held for false charges of attempted murder in the 1830's. The 5 Men were in this cramped jail for over 4 months.

The last night of the trip we stayed in St. Louis with Mike's brother Robert and his cute wife Melanie. The have 2 adorable girls that the kids loved playing with. We also had a little houla hoop contest with the kids... Who knew that Spencer's little skinny body would hula so well!

We had a wonderful trip, but I am glad to be back home!

Our trip to the Dentist

Yesterday I took all 4 kids to the dentist at the same time. What was I thinking??? Or maybe I should ask what Mike was thinking because he made the appointment for me... maybe he was thinking I do not have to go... lets just touchier my wife for 2 1/2 hours and then on normal days she will be grateful that she is not trying to corral 4 kids at the dentist's office.
I thought that the appointment would not been too painful because I though that they would work on all of my kids at the same time... WRONG! They put us all in ONE room... all 4 of the kids... in one room. They started with Spencer, and if any of you know the amount of time it takes for him in the chair you will know the three younger less easily amused children lost interest really quickly! They could have done all 3 younger children in the time Spencer was being worked on. Finally after 45 min. another hygienist took Shelby into the room next door and started cleaning her teeth.
After 11 x-rays, 3 tours of the new building, and each child wanting to brush the dragons teeth I was done! Unfortunately the hygienist was not!
At the end of the visit I about passed out when I was told that there was about $1100 of work that "needs" to be done. We may be going for a second opinion, and looking for a new family dentist. Any suggestions?

With all of that I didn't even get the entertainment that this parent received... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txqiwrbYGrs&feature=fvw

Happy Birthday Bubba!

I can not believe that our little guys is 3! He has been such a joy to have as a part of our family! I love his infectious laugh and his huge personality! We are so happy to wish him a

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU!!!

What are you having for Dinner?

KFC is giving away one free meal per person. (up to 4 prints) Here is the link for the coupon! www.Oprah.com/kfc

Hope you enjoy!

Happy Birthday!

Today is Shelby's 6th birthday! I can't belive it!!! Last night we had a few friends over for cup cakes (Shelby liked them because she thought they all had ladybug rings on top... to her dissapointment they were just sticks). The kids ran around non-stop, and I think they had a great time. Here are a few pictures from the night.

Shelby recived some wonderful gifts from her friends. Mike and I got Shelby a Polly Pocket Mall... I think I had a moment of stupidity when I bought this item!!! I don't know what I was thinking... it is HUGE!!! I guess it is time to purge toys again...

We have already played the Fancy Nancy game 3 times today. I am glad it is a game she can playt alone and I don't have to play with her all of the time.

I think Keith liked the life sized Barbie the most. He is insisting that it is his naw girlfriend and he is going to take her to a dance... what a strange little boy!!!

Shelby was extatci about reciving yet another webkin and some Fancy Nancy books from her Grandma Allred.