It's a GIRL!

She looks perfect and we are thrilled. I thought I wanted a herd of boys, but I've been giddy all day, so I'm thinking I must have secretly wanted a girl all along.

Ian and Joseph definately wanted a baby sister, and when we picked them up after the appointment they were both waiting eagerly to hear the news. Ian kept asking "Is it a sister, Mom? Is it a girl baby?"

We waited to tell them until we were in the car and could video tape them. The video is pretty anticlimactic, but there were a couple gems. Ian was thrilled and requested she arrive tomorrow. He has also been explaining (in detail) how he will hurt people that try to bite his little sister. Joseph declared we would name her Spike. I think if we name her Spike, she probably won't need Ian to defend her!

I think Scott was pulling for a girl. He is such a great Dad, and I can't wait to see him with our daughter. Our daughter!

She is due June 24 and is measuring right on time. I am really excited about all the prep "needed" for a baby girl, and can't wait to get started making bows and painting the world pink. And luckily, I already have a stash of baby dresses I've been collecting for 3 years. 

Also, we are now accepting advice on how to raise a daughter. I remember when I thought raising a boy was such a mystery, but now I feel clueless all over again!

You have been hacked!

Hi Pookie! You didn't sign out of Blogger when you used my computer. I figured I'd hack in, and write you a note of sisterly love.
It was so fun visiting you (and for a whole week!) You were a perfect hostess, and I really really loved almost getting eaten by a Texas alligator. The best part though was getting to chat with you, like we did to when we were teenagers. There is no one like a sister!
Jason loved the barbecue so much that I think he is planning to move into Rudy's restaurant, so that would make you kind of neighbors, right?
Love you sis, and thanks a million--we had a great time!

Thanksgiving

We've been up to lots of holiday fun. Our Thanksgiving camping trip with the Hales in Huntsville State Park  turned into a Wednesday night cookout when the weather got rainy and the temps dipped to the 30s. It was hard to be really disappointed when the preparation and cleanup was so much simpler. A long evening in the outdoors was just right.

On Thanksgiving day Scott and Jimmy fried a turkey! It took only an hour to cook, and made for stress-free meal-prep. Plus, the guys really enjoyed themselves.

We all really enjoyed having Scott home during the day too. Mostly because he does incredibly fun things like tie cars to a rope, then tie it around his waist and jog around the yard.

Bikes too.

One morning I slept in and woke up to find the guys had built an enormous train track. 

And then on Saturday it snowed! Well, it snowed at one of the mega churches in our neighborhood at least. So while Scott was watching the BYU-Utah game, the boys and I went and listened to carolers, rode a camel...

 ...drank Wassail with our friend Andrew Kearns...

...and got pelted with snowballs. Joseph got hit twice by ones that'd been packed hard and then told me he'd rather ride the camel again. Before we left, the boys each put a snowball in a cup. And they are now awaiting summer in our freezer. 

 Today we had some rain and the boys convinced me to let them stand outside with umbrellas. It didn't take much convincing. They were adorable!

Then Joseph declared he was "cold wike a wizard!" (Because they had just watched a lizard climb up the house) and they came inside. 

{More} Halloween!

The boys thoroughly enjoyed passing out candy tonight -- possibly even more than collecting it themselves. I was tempted to send their own candy out the door too...

Ah! The anticipation!

They gave freely.

But it was hard work, and it was already past their bedtime. So frequent rests were taken on the stairs.

But I am so glad they could keep their eyes open.... because the best was yet to come! Our neighbors Chad and Sheri hooked their four-wheeler up to a trailer and took the boys on a hay ride around the neighborhood. Twice! "I am so exciting to go for a ride!" the boys kept chanting. Ian was fascinated by the "big junks of hay" we sat on. It was the perfect end to a fun evening!