Christmas

Christmas came and went so fast this year! We had a wonderful time spending the season with family, the best kind of Christmas!

I'll start off my holiday post with some festive sweater modeling:

(I made Johnny's, our brother-in-law Brett found his magically embellished sweater somewhere)

My family - all of us in town together for the first time in about 5 years - saw the beautiful Christmas light display at The Riverwoods.

The boys did a little better this time around meeting Santa. Bubba actually sat on his lap, and Drake didn't tell Santa what he already knew he was getting, he just played along and answered Santa's questions.

1:00 in the morning when we finally got everything put together. As Johnny assembled the mini trampoline for Con he read 'Not suitable for children under 3'.

Con thought the racetrack was just a great, big, fun circle to sit in. So easily pleased.

Johnny helped Drake assemble his train track, getting frustrated and using expletives like millions of dads around the world were doing at the same time.

"TWO LIGHTENINGS??!!" Yes, Bubba, we know you so well.

Proof I was around through the holiday season, just behind the camera as usual.

Montana

Right before Christmas Johnny, Drake, and Bubba went up to Montana for Johnny's little brother, Porter's, mission farewell.

2 iPads for the boys and headphones for Johnny made this long drive bearable.

They stopped halfway in Rexburg, ID to spend the night at Johnny's grandparents home.

After getting to Billings, Drake and Bubb's aunts and uncles did an excellent job of wearing them out.

They got to ride on Grandpa's horse, Drake's favorite thing ever.

We learned just how bad Bubba's horse allergies are - just like his Dadda.

And here is glimpse of what Drake gets out of sacrament meetings...

Me and this guy had a nice little break, filled with lots of sleeping, eating, and more sleeping.

Every morning this guy would shout for his brothers at the top of the stairs. If I asked where they were, Con would answer "uhtaahs" (upstairs), and stare at the banister waiting for someone to come. It was so cute!

Africa

Every time I sit down to blog about my trip to Ghana, to write down the amazing lessons I learned, to share the things I saw, I start looking through the pictures and have to stop.

It was the best and hardest thing I've ever done.

I guess I'm still processing.

I will say, the only way I got through ten days of bus rides, ninety degree weather (with 90 percent humidity), awful smells, dying children and sick adults,

and as sick and emotional as I've been with this pregnancy,

was through the gift of the Spirit of God.

It's an amazing gift to have.

There is no other way I could've done it.

iPhone Photos

There are so many things to blog about, but I can't seem to find the energy.

In the meantime, here are some photos I just uploaded from my phone, in no particular order.

Drake and Bubbs share a bunk bed, but they prefer to sleep together on the bottom bunk. I can't get enough of the snuggling that unintentionally happens.

A picture I sent Johnny after I got done at the dentist.

Two pieces to a bookshelf that Johnny lost when carrying it up the stairs. We looked high and low for these for a week.

This little hole is where I found them, along with other things Conrad felt necessary to frustrate us with hiding (cough, maybe my wedding ring, cough)

Johnny's little brother Porter is leaving on his mission to Brazil in two weeks, so we went up to Temple Square and Cafe Rio one last time before he headed back to Montana.

When Johnny gets home from work chaos ensues. Shoulder rides, back rides, throwing in the air, tossing on the couch, etc. and the boys LOVE it. I often wonder what Johnny would do with a little girl.

This pregnancy has been rough. It doesn't help that while I'm in the bathroom throwing up for the third time this day, Bubbs found it necessary to stink up the house with nacho cheese, and rub it into every surface he could reach from this chair. Ugh, gag.

No wonder Con is such a muscle-man-baby, he uses the shake-weight religiously.

PS I never dress Con, I prefer to watch him waddle around the house all day.

It's one of those simple pleasures a mother enjoys.

Catch Up

Times been flying by, so here's some photos to catch up on things.

Fall seems to have come and gone pretty quick! We haven't had a real snow yet, but flurries and rain and lots of "MOOOOOOM! It's snooooooowing! Get some gloves on!"

We haven't gotten much done on our little "backyard" property, looks like we'll have to wait until spring.

We took family pictures a few weeks ago. What that means is, I chased the boys around with a camera yelling at them to turn and smile. When it came time for the family picture, I set up the camera, gave it to my mom, then sat with Johnny and the boys and we yelled at them to hold still and be happy. The whole thing only took about half an hour, thank heavens. (The picture on my blog header may or may not be heavily photoshopped.)

The most energetic, unique, and funny boy ever...

The most pleasant, chubby Con Con ever...

...and this guy is intelligent, funny, helpful, cuddly, and growing way too fast!

Con spends most of his day undressed or half dressed. His belly will help you understand why.

Halloween started with visiting Great Grandma and parading down the assisted-living home to show off their costumes.

We then took the boys out trick-or-treating! At each house, after ringing the doorbell, Bubba would run straight into the persons house and show himself around. Drake just stood there staring and waiting for candy. It was entertaining.

I love how Bubba's face looks 3x's too small for his head.

Chubbacon as ChubbyNemo. Best. Costume. Ever. (and only $10!)

Mimi helped us go around her neighborhood.

Johnny carried Nemo most of the way.

Drake and Bubbs currently enjoy sleeping together on the bottom bunk. I love it.

Johnny spent 4 consecutive weeks gone for 3 days at a time. 3 of the times he was gone, they were ill (colds + fever, pink eye, then stomach flu). It was not awesome.

We try to have family home evening. This usually involves bribery like ice cream, to get them to sit still, and an attempt at teaching them some religious concept.

It usually goes something like this:

Me: "Drakie, do you know why we go to church on Sundays?"

Drake: "To learn about Jesus?"

Me: "Yep! And do you know who Jesus is?"

Drake: "My brother?"

Me: "That's right, good job!"

Johnny: "And Jesus gave the intercessory prayer, can you say intercessory?"

Me: laughing

and thats about it until the next week.

Tomorrow morning I head to Ghana, Africa with a humanitarian group that provides medical care to remote villages. It'll be a ten day trip, and truthfully, I'm terrified.

Also tomorrow, Johnny is headed to Pune, India for ten days to visit the 80 computer programmers they employ out there.

And after ten days, Johnny and I will meet up in Rome for a few days before heading home. I'm just hoping the global bank doesn't collapse for another two weeks, and the Greece-like rioting doesn't start in Rome for a bit longer.

The boys will be taken care of by great woman and her 5 kids (ages 9-19) who are moving in for two weeks to feed, hug, and tickle my three guys until we get back, and my boys Mimi and Papa will be making sure the boys get some one-on-one time with some sleepovers, movies, and popcorn.

...and in the time it's taken me to finish this post, Bubba and Drake have filled up the bathroom sink, flooded it, and put 14 cars on the toilet.