The Stockings Were Hung

This morning we got out the Christmas decorations and got to work.
The first thing I got out of the box was the Little People Nativity sets for the kids... I needed to keep them occupied while John & I set up the other stuff.
It worked.
They spent the rest of the day playing with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, and all the others.
I knew buying that first set for Jake's first Christmas was going to pay off in the long run! ;)

Today We Are Thankful

"I am gankful for my friends and my family" ~Jacob


"Joe-ja" ~Georgia

1. I am thankful for the Savior; for His life, His example, His love, His forgiveness, His sacrifice, and His plan.
2. I am thankful for my faithful and true husband. In all that he does he is valiant and honest. I am so blessed to be married to him, eternally. His heart is always in the right place. He knows what the top priorities are and puts them in the order they belong. I am thankful for his love and friendship.
3. I am thankful for these two beautiful and fun children that I get to mother; for the time I get to spend with them everyday and the joy they bring into my life.
4. I am thankful to have another baby growing inside and that last night I {finally} felt real movement. I am thankful for the peace that comes when I know everything is ok.
5. I am thankful for our extended family. The support and love we feel from them is priceless. I am thankful that at Christmas-time we get to spend time with each of them. It's not often enough we spend time together, but when we do... it's special.
6. I am thankful that even though my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer last Friday, that her meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday went really well. I am thankful for his confidence and cocky attitude, I know she is in good hands with him. I am also thankful to know that she only has a 2% recurrence rate and that her treatment "only" includes a lumpectomy, radiation, and possibly, maybe some chemo but probably not.
7. I am thankful for this body of mine that works and grows babies and is strong and able. It might not be in the perfect shape, but it's amazing.
8. I am thankful for good friends. My life would not be as full without them.
9. I am thankful for talents and abilities. For a mind that works and is creative. For opportunities to serve the Lord and the people around me.
10. I am thankful for more than I can list.

I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Preparation Day...

We spent our afternoon at Gramma's getting ready for tomorrow's Thanksgiving Day feast. We started with apple pie and then moved on to cherry. Dessert is going to be really good, for that we are thankful.

Looking for a good, easy, fun read?

Have you read these books? If you haven't, you should.

I've read them both over the past few days. Once I picked one up I couldn't put it down, which is really surprising since I am a total wimp and they are very violent. But the story... the story is so amazing. You fall in love with the characters, you feel their pain and only want whats best for them. I couldn't believe what they had to face, but they did and were totally committed. It was impressive. I feel like if they can face what they did, I can face whatever comes my way... {is it weird that a sci-fi book written for teenagers makes me feel like I can take on the world?!? which is a really good thing right now.} They are so good I've even been dreaming about them. I cannot get Katniss, Peeta, and the rest of them out of my mind...

By the way... I don't "do" sci-fi, generally, but these books... Oh. my. goodness. Soooo good! Now I just need to find out when the third book {it's a trilogy} is coming out. I hope soon. I need it now!

And, if they ever make these books into a movie - which I hear the rights have been purchased - I won't be attending. They will be far too much for me to watch.

So, if you're looking for some good, fun, easy reading over the Thanksgiving break... get these. You won't be disappointed. And if you are... let's chat. :)

Georgie & the Big Slide

For lunch we met up with Heather, Kyle & Andrew at "The Big Park". Jake calls it that because of the big, tall, super slide. It's the park he chose to have his 3rd birthday party at, so it holds a special place in his heart. In fact, each time we drive by it he reminds me that that's where his birthday party was. It's been awhile since we've been there. With all the high places its made me a bit nervous to take Little Miss Adventurous. I could just imagine the stress it would cause.

But today, when the invitation came, we took it.

And Georgia conquered the Big Slide.

over and over and over again.

Turkey Hands

In the spirit of Thanksgiving we decorated our door with homemade hand-turkeys today.

they were both pretty pleased with their work.

It is Fall, It is Fall...

...the leaves are falling everywhere!
{that means its Fall!}

the two cheesiest kids ever!
they love Fall.

{all pictures by heather keil photography}

It's a good thing she's cute...

She just might be the cutest little girl of all time, but let me tell you.... she sure can fill a diaper! Tonight, just as I was getting ready to start dinner I smelled something funny, asked her is she was poopy, she shook her little head no & smiled {which I know means she's not telling the truth} so off we go to the changing table...

Oh. my. goodness.

Never in my life have I experienced poop from head to toe, literally.

I cleaned her up best I could and took her straight to the tub to squirt off the rest. I couldn't even get her shirt up her back until she had a good soaking. It was completely disgusting.

Once she was cleaned off, we scrubbed out the tub, and let her bathe. I rinsed out her clothes and started laundry, cleaned off the changing table (there's a real possibility that neither her clothes or the changing table cover will ever come clean...), and worked on airing out the bedroom.

45 minutes later the whole ordeal was over. She was clean and pretty again. And I still had to get dinner together. I was tempted to head to In-n-Out, but Jake refused. {what!?!?!} He wanted Mickey nuggets & cuties. I could do that, for them... but not for me.

How was I supposed to eat at a time like that?!?!

Where We're At...

We're currently at 17 weeks...

seems like there's a lot of time before us, but I know the holidays fly by so quickly. I can't believe next week is Thanksgiving already. How'd that happen???

still not feeling this baby move inside. i'm looking forward to those little flutters... they help calm my nerves.

finally starting to feel alive. most days. evenings & mornings are still a little rough. but at least i can function during the day.

in just a few weeks we'll have the 20-week ultrasound, making sure all is growing as it should be & finding out whether we'll be having a little brother or sister... that's always exciting!! although Jake still insists its a banana....

Beautiful Sunset

Just a little before 5 o'clock this evening I received a text from Kiersten that simply said, "Have you seen the sunset?" I looked out the window & could tell that the sky was all purpley-pink so I told Jacob & Georgie to come outside with me.

And it was amazing!

Thanks Kiersten. Jake was totally impressed.

Little Monkeys... Big Monkeys

I spent my day at the LA Zoo with my little monkeys watching big monkeys. We all had a great time!

{I love this picture of the kids looking at the gorilla and him staring back at them. I wonder what he was thinking. I know I was thinking, "please stay up there, please stay up there, don't come down here, pretty please."}

As soon as we walked in Jake wanted to see the gorillas, then he'd bang on his chest & tell us that's what gorillas do.


I loved the giraffe. They are so graceful and beautiful.

For lunch we stopped in front of the chimpanzee's. They were having lunch as well.

{Those two look an awful lot alike to me!}

There were lots of helpers to decide what animals we wanted to see next...

{Kyle, Norah, & Jake}

We had a great time hiking all over that zoo. Both Jake & Georgie loved seeing the animals and spending time outside with their friends. I loved seeing the animals as well... and spending time outside with my friends too!

Park Perfect

The past few evenings have been perfect.

The weather has been perfect Southern California fall evenings so we've been meeting up with friends at the park to enjoy it. It's been wonderful. The kids run & play for hours and the mom's get to chat about all sorts of things on our minds. It really has been perfect.

Today, since we're honoring our Veteran's with not having school, we met up with more friends at the park for lunch. The weather, company, and conversation, again, was perfect.

Kyle, Mia, Scott, Ian, Henry, & Jake
{just a few of the little kids - the big kids were off playing soccer}

Now, the following story will probably make you think we are all awful mothers, but it really was hilarious watching 5 3-year old boys try to figure out how to get the "motorcycle" up the slide. Ian & Henry were determined. Then Jake & Scott joined in. Eventually Jake suggested they take it up the stairs... duh! Watching their determination & realization was impressive.

Once they took it up the stairs they rode it across the bridge & sent it, by itself, down the twirly tube slide... and then they had another idea.

Back up the stairs...
to the little slide...
and Ian hoped on...
and we all watched...
{this is where the bad moms comes in}
and LAUGHED...


That kid flew down that slide and crashed at the bottom.
The other moms in the park were totally disgusted that we all sat by & watched {and laughed} while Heather took pictures.
Ian wasn't hurt.
At least that's what he said, but he was ready to go home.

Hearing the Heartbeat

There are many things I love about planning for a homebirth and having a midwife. One is how involved my children get to be. When I was pregnant with Georgia I loved that every time we visited with our midwives they made Jacob part of the appointment. He was able to help measure my fundal height and find the heartbeat, they played with him, made him feel welcome & loved. I knew they cared not only about me and my unborn child, but about my family as well.

This pregnancy is no different.

Well, expect that this time Jake gets to share the responsibilities of measuring and listening. Georgie is a very willing helper.

They are both so excited about having a baby in our house. It's going to be a long, almost torturous wait for them. They are ready to be "bigs" now.

I always love hearing the heartbeat. It reassures me that everything is as it should be. This time Renee had some trouble finding it. We could hear the faint thud-thud-thud, but could not get a strong reading. It stressed me out a bit. Still does. But, I know it was there. I heard it myself. Renee thinks my placenta may be in front.
I'll have to have that checked when I have my 20-week ultrasound.

just have a little bit longer to wait..

Flashing Lights

John was pulled over by CHP today while traveling on the 210 for work. As the officer approached his car he got his drivers license ready, rolled down his window & waited. The officer asked to see his license & registration. As John handed him his license he realized he knew the officer... one of his Nielsen households... and turned to rummage through his glove compartment for his registration. Just as this was happening the officer says, "Hey, wait a minute. I know you... you're coming to my house tomorrow to fix my box." John answered in the affirmative. The officer hands him back his license and asks if John was going to tell him who he was. They chat for a few minutes about the officers "flashing lights" on his Nielsen box & then John pulls away... without a speeding ticket.

What are the odds?
I don't know.
But I am thankful they were in our favor today.
We can't afford a speeding ticket.

Slow it down, buddy.

Homemade Christmas

Spent all day at Gramma's using her sewing machine. Was able to get 8 of the 10 cousin gifts finished. Now I just need to finish up the last couple and start on the other Christmas projects...

Thank goodness the kids love being at Gramma's. We were there all day. Even stayed for dinner. She made White Lightning Chicken Chili... and it was so, so, so good.

Hopefully doing a homemade Christmas will help save money... hopefully.
I always have grand ideas and they end up costing just as much if not more than store bought. oops. :)

Evening Together

John finished up with work today around 2. By 3 we were packed & in the car headed to Disneyland. Just before 5 we walked into the "Happiest Place on Earth"

{Jake was freezing, it was in the high 60's afterall... and when did my baby girl get all grown up?}

We love our Friday evening trips to Mickey's house!

Just Bein' Her

Captured this of my girl just bein' herself today.
She loves to play with blocks, baby dolls, and anything that belongs to Jake.
Since Halloween there's been a daily battle over who gets to wear the "fighter fighter" hat.
Georgie won today.