Skyline Drive

Today we went for for a drive in Shenandoah National Park. It was a beautiful day, a little on the cool side but sunny and no wind. So we enjoyed the wonderful views and the wild life. The Appalachian Mountains are not the Rocky Mountains that I love, but they have their own beauty. I think our kids love the Rocky Mtns too because Kyle kept asking "When are we going to be in the mountains?" the whole drive. We only did a 3rd of the drive today and I think we will make a trip in the spring. I hear the wild flowers are amazing.

Thanksgiving Day

The last two years Brian's folk have come out to visit over the Thanksgiving Holiday. So on the morning of Thanksgiving we have gone to see some sites and it has been really nice because not a lot of people are out. Last year we went to the Air and Space Museum, this year we rode the Metro to the Mall.(The DC National Mall) We saw Washington Monument and wanted to go up but we were to late to get morning tickets. So we walked to to the WWII Memorial and that was really cool. The art and what things mean was just amazing. Karissa and I wanted to go the Lincoln Memorial but it would have been to long of a walk to get there and back to the metro for this pregnant gal.


We did walk by the White House on the way back to the metro and saw the National Christmas Tree.
We had fun taking it all in even if we didn't stay to long. This is a tree that we saw on the way to the White House I think it's the high light of the trip for the kids. We made it back home so we could get the turkey on and have a lovely Thanksgiving Dinner. After we were done eating I asked the kids what they were thankful for. Kyle yelled "Jesus!", Colby said "Church and school because I learn different things at each.", Karissa wrote a poem at school about what she was thankful for so she read it and she is thankful for her family.

I'm thankful for...

The Gospel, a Testimony of Joseph Smith, the atonement of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, the Temple and Temple marriages, my parents for raising me the way that they did and for their Testimonies, my brothers and sister and their endless love, my husband, Brian who I love with all my heart, the wonderful, hard working man that he is, for all that his does for me and our family, my kids and their sweet spirits and for when they make me laugh, a beautiful roof over our heads, my wonderful friends through the years that have helped me grow to be who I am today, and most of all I'm grateful for the knowledge that I have a loving Heavenly Father that has blessed me with all of these things. With love, I hope that you all have a Thankful Thanksgiving!

WOW is all I can say!

Look at this.. Wow I know I get big but I have never taken photos to show how big I get every few weeks. I have 5 week 3 day until my c-section. You know I have not really started to nest yet. I keep thinking if I get through the holidays then I'm good. Just the hole getting the house Christmasie and wrapping the gifts then I may want to get out the baby stuff. I'm at the point when the Doctor say to "Take it easy." "Don't over do it." How do you do that with 3 kids that need you. I try but man it's hard and I already feel like I don't do anything. Well enjoy because as soon as I have the baby these photo are off of here.

This week...

Well, Brian's folks are out visiting us. This week has been a chilly and windy one, and Brian has been at work, so we haven't gone out to the sites. They have worked on the basement taping and sanding and I'm grateful for that. We have done some shopping at the Outlet Mall. This coming week Brian has off and we will be working on the basement some more, hopefully painting and tiling. There is still much to do, hang doors and cabinets, trim, and carpet. We will also try to make it around to some sites too, oh and have Thanksgiving Dinner. I'm not going shopping on black Friday for one I don't need to my Christmas shopping is done and two I don't like shopping with tons of crazy people.

Oh on Friday I went to see Twilight in the morning. WOW! It's a good movie. I loved it. It goes along with the book but I would have to say I love the book more. Like most book that are movies the books are better. I'm going to see it again with some friends ether Monday night or Tuesday. You know me I will be buying the movie when it comes out. And I can't what for New Moon. Yes they are going to make the next one. Isn't that just the coolest. Check Stephenie Meyer website and see for yourself. Oh speaking of a good books I just read The Hunger Games. I could not put it down. I read it in 2 days. I really liked it. But I'm mad that it just ended I have to what for another book. I hope I don't have what to long.

Fall for All!!!!

This year we have a blower and boy did the kids have a blast in the leaves. I think Brian was having fun too. The boys had to have their lightsaber out to kill and leaf monster. They always have them on hand to save the day. Karissa this is her favorite thing to do in the fall.

School Pics

I took some photos of Kyle for his school photos like Karissa and Colby had done. He thought it was cool to make faces at me.

Here are Colby and Karissa. I going to take some photos of them like I did with Kyle. School "Portraits" make me laugh.

BOWLING!

Today we went bowling for Brian's work party. The kids had so much fun. Of course Colby was mad the first go because he didn't hit all the pins down. Karissa, the soft hearted girl, cried when we gave her a few pointers. So the first few minutes were just calming the kids down, we even had bumper, but once they got a few bowls under their belt we had a hard time stopping them. The kids had a fun time using this bowling ramp. They would line it up and give the ball a good push and away it went. Kyle like that the best. On the 2nd game Kyle was the top bowler with 163 pins. Here is Kyle just after he got a strike.

I can do it!

Kyle is now picking his clothes out and dressing him self. This morning we started with everything backwards. Then while he was playing after lunch he took his shirt off. When we said lets get ready to go bowling he came to me crying because his shirt was on wrong. I couldn't help but laugh. That mad him so mad. We had to pick out a new shirt because the neck hole was huge. That's what happen when you put you shirt on upside down. I don't even know how he really did it. It would have been hard to get his arms through the neck and down to get them in the arm holes. It just funny!

CrAfTiNg KiDs

Yesterday after school I let the kids get out the water colors and paint. The Sunbeam Room has become the craft zone. Oh the name of the room is Sun Room but Kyle started calling it the Sunbeam Room when we move in and it stuck. We brought up the craft table when I started Joy school and now the kids do their homework and crafts there. Plus it's right off the kitchen and I can keep a close eye on the kids. Kyle's painting is "Fireworks" and he was flipping the paint. Thank Goodness it was water colors and I was close.

Good News!!!

This is good news to me. I went to my Doctor today and set up the date for my C-section. Dec. 31, 2008 is the day. So now I know what I'm doing for New Years. It is 2 week before my due date. But with my history will see if I make it that long. I hope that I can. Yes, this pregnant women wants to stay pregnant longer. I may change my mind but I don't want a NICU stay for the baby.
We are still working on a name. The top three are Clayton, Cooper, or Caleb all with the middle name Merrill after my dad. I have always had a strong feeling on what the name will be but not yet with this one.

Twilighter Quiz

This is what happens when you are in Young Women's. I think I am just as big a fan as the girls are. We are all counting down the day for the movie. Some of the girls are going to the Midnight showing. Oh how I wish I were young.
Julie is....

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!
You are observant, diplomatic and often aim to please. You are unaware of your attractiveness and despite being uncomfortable with any form of attention, people enjoy your company. You can be impatient, stubborn and headstrong, but you are true to your word and mature for your age, often taking care of your family and enjoying a good book over chatting with girlfriends on the phone.
Brian is...

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!
You are intelligent, observant and good at managing a group of people. Although you long for meaningful connections, you can be distant and sometimes lack self control. You are careful though and the tough experiences you’ve been through help you to work at living a better life.

Movie Night!

Last night we had a movie night after we went and had some really good burgers and fries made with Idaho potatoes. We made homemade milk shakes laced with Halloween candy. The movie playing was National Treasure 2.(Not as good as the 1st but still good for a family movie.) I tried to get the boys to go for Sound of Music but that was not going to happen. (he he) Soon Karissa and I are really going to be out numbered. Picking the candy!
Enjoying the previews.
Kyle would not hold still so this is what we get.

Halloween!

The day was full of so many things. Colby had his field trip to Cox Farm where he picked a pumpkin, went on a hay ride, and went on a volcano slide. Karissa and Colby had their Harvest Parties in the afternoon painting their pumpkins and eating candy. Kyle had his Joy School Party Thursday. He dressed up and the kids played Trick or Treat.
We went over to some friends house for dinner and the guys took the 7 kids out Trick or Treating while the girls passed out the candy. The Kyle didn't last to long and came back to hang out with the moms. The older kids were only out for an hour and boy did they load up.