Three Little Turkeys

Thanksgiving has come and gone. We sure had a good one spending the holiday with lots of our friends but, it certainly wasn’t the same as being with our families back home. We definitely didn’t get to doze on the couch stuffed with turkey while watching football. Those days are gone. My heart is very full of gratitude for all that we do have to be thankful for; especially the three little things that make dozing on the couch with Jake nearly impossible. I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Ellie tells me she is thankful for pumpkin pie…which we had to put a limit on because she loved it so much I worried she would be sick. Hudson says he is thankful for turkey sandwiches. He has been looking forward to thanksgiving all year. Last year we ate dinner at two o’clock and Jake and I ate so much we didn’t even think about feeding the kids again before putting them to bed. That night Hudson crawled out of bed and informed us he was hungry, so made turkey sandwiches and ate them on the couch in our PJ’s. Hudson thought this was the greatest thing ever and has been talking about it with a lot of excitement and anticipation ever since. This year we once again had our late night turkey sandwich snack with Hudson. He was so excited I think it will be our Thanksgiving tradition for years to come!

Just before bed we got to Skype with the Powell’s back in Utah, and got a wonderful surprise when Sam and Erin announced that they are having a boy in April. Since no one even knew they were pregnant I think everyone was a little shocked, but we couldn’t be happier for them! There is no greater blessing then children.

Our little Autumn continues to do well.  Sadly, she did end up getting a cold from the rest of us. The sound of her little cough was so sad. She had some pretty rough days, but seems to be feeling a lot better now.  Today she 9 weeks old! She has made it to ten lbs and is starting to get a sweet chubby face that I can’t stop kissing. She is starting to take real naps and only wakes up once at night to eat. Sometimes my sweet husband will even get up and feed her for me so I get a heavenly full nights rest. It’s an amazing feeling! She loves to smile and coo when you talk to her, and especially loves the kids. We were even able to catch some of her smiles on camera.

Four in the Bed

♫♫♫There were four in the bed, and the little one said, “Roll over, I’m crowded”.

So they all rolled over and one fell out.♫♫♫



♫♫♫There were three in the bed, and the little one said, “Roll over, I’m crowded”.

So they all rolled over and one fell out.♫♫♫



♫♫♫There were two in the bed, and the little one said, “Roll over, I’m crowded”.

So they all rolled over and one fell out.♫♫♫



♫♫♫There was one in the bed, and the little one said,
 "I’m LONELY”.♫♫♫



This week has been so LAME! Everyone but Autumn has been sick with our first colds of the season. Our house has been a snotty cough fest for the past week, so I will feel very lucky if she doesn't get sick. There is nothing worse then a sick baby. Since everyone has been so sick our week has been adventureless.  We have made a few quick trips outside to play, but  it has been cold and the kids have been ill enough that out outings don't last long. The kids have filled their days with movies, trains, hide and go seek, and mostly destroying the apartment while hanging out in their jamies. If there was a font to express sarcasm I would tell you that, "It has been a lot of fun!"

Little Autumn is seven weeks old today. We are seeing a lot more of her pretty smiles. 

Ellie is still doing good with her potty training, although she uses needing to go potty to avoid doing things she doesn't want to, like going to bed, or sitting at the dinner table for meals.  Kids learn to manipulate way too fast!

Hudson has informed me that my belly is so big that I am having another baby.  He has even decided that it is a boy and named him Dusty. I guess that is a not so subtle hint to me that I need to either get pregnant or do something about my belly. In that case, I think I will be heading back to the gym soon.

November Blessings

Another busy week has come and gone.  Thanks to after Halloween sales Hudson picked out this costume to wear to the trunk or treat.  He was pretty pumped to get to dress up like Thomas the Tank Engine. I think he made a pretty cute train! Although I bought Ellie a few more costumes to play dress up with, she would not even consider wearing anything other then her kitty cat costume.  The kids are so sad Halloween is over.  They keep asking if we can go trick-or-treating again. Fortunately they have Thanksgiving and Christmas to get excited about.

Autumn is six weeks old now! She is sure a sweet girl! There are still times when life feels a little crazy as we are adjusting to our new addition.  One day this week I was feeling a little overwhelmed and blue. That evening as I stared at her, she looked up at me and gave me her first real smile.  Its amazing how my stress melted away and I felt nothing but joy and gratitude for all the love I have in my life. I know that my heavenly father knows me personaly and sends me little blessings when I need them. On another day we needed a few things from the store so I loaded up Hudson and Ellie into the stroller and put Autumn in the sling around my neck and headed on foot to make my purchases.  As much as Hudson and Ellie love eachother they love to tease one anothe even more and sometimes it makes my life difficult. By the time we made it to the store Ellie was crying, Hudson was yelling and every bit of my patience was spent. I got quite a few looks of sympathy, and coments like "wow you have your hands full", from passersby. Admitedly, I was feeling a little sorry for myself as well.  An old woman approached me and I prepared myself for yet another "helpful" coment.  She looked at me and asked if she could take them off my hands.  I gave her a courtesy laugh expecting that her coments was given with sarcasm. She came very close and wrapped her arms around Autumn and proceeded to tell me how beautiful my children were and express to me how children are such blessings from god.  Then she warpped her arms around me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.  As I walked away from her I couldn't keep the tears from rolling down my cheeks.  I was reminded not only that my children were precious gifts, but also that my heavenly father was always there with me to lead me, guide me, walk beside me, and once again I felt his love for me as stonge as I ever have.  I don't ever want to forget that day in the store. I want to look for opportunities to help someone else be reminded that they are loved children of our Heavenly Father.

I crossed off a huge task from my to do list this week; POTTY TRANING, or Potty Prison as Jake and I like to call it. I have been putting off potty training Ellie until things settled down a little. Honestly, I have been a little nervous of taking on this task because my little Ellie can be aaaaaaahhhhlittle willful and I was worried it might be quite the battle. She really surprised me however. With the help of some hello kitty stickers and Halloween candy she has done really awesome! I'm so proud of her. She is getting to be such a big girl.