7 months

Well, I forgot again, so this is about 7 1/2 months. I seriously can't imagine getting any bigger than this! There isn't really a lot of room left! I had an ultrasound last week and everything still looks really good! I'm so excited to be having another baby! It finally feels real. The tech said she weighs about 4 pounds and already has hair and chubby cheeks! I'm hoping it is cute hair like Ashlyn had. I've been buying little bows and working on the nursery. I know I said I wasn't going to rush this last pregnancy, but I'm so excited for her to get here!

Sam and Mindy

A few weeks ago we had a visit from Sam and Mindy and their cute little baby Lily.

Mindy and Lily

The kids were so excited to play with the baby! They couldn't get enough of her! Jason couldn't have been happier to spend some time with his brother Justin gave Jason a sweet helicopter for Christmas that "Is Not A Toy!" Everyone had a great time testing out their flying skills.The kids spoiled me while we watched. They are always so good to me! The girls love to rub my feet and whenever they do, Austin climbs up by my head and rubs my shoulders! Ahhh...bliss! I feel loved. :-) I always knew Sam would be a great Dad! He has always been so good with our kids and his big, fun personality is so fun for the kids to be around. Watching the sweet, gentle side of him with his daughter warms my heart. It has been so fun to watch him grow up and to see his little family develop. They are so perfect together and we are just so happy for them to have found that kind of love and contentment.Jason showed Austin a few things with the new camera and he is loving taking pictures! He took this picture of himself in the mirror. He actually took several of the pictures that I posted on here. I think he will be a good photographer someday! Here is one he took of me... Tired and puffy, but content.
I feel so blessed to have so much love in my life.

Christmas

I love taking a picture of my kids each year on Christmas morning before they open their presents. I can't believe how fast they are growing up!

Austin, Jessica, Ashlyn and Lauren

We were watching some old home videos the other day and remembered how much fun it is to have video, so Jason and I took turns capturing the kids excitement.My parents joined us in their jammies to watch the kids open presents. I love having them so close by!
Austin showing off his new shirt from Jessica

Austin really wanted a new Xbox after his broke last year. He knew if he got an Xbox, he wouldn't really get anything else from us. He said he was totally fine with him. He is always so hard to buy for anyway! He never asks for anything, so we decided to get the Xbox. He got a couple of other things from Santa and his sisters. He said he had a GREAT Christmas. A Panda Pillow Pet was at the top of Jessica's Christmas List this year

She loved her peace Snugggie! She was so easy to shop for this year. A few things on her list were: Panda pillow pet, snuggie, colored duct tape, "crafty things", 5 books in the Warriors series, fleece pajamas, and dark skinny jeans.

Lauren asked for clothes, roller blades, a pillow pet and a Moxie girl. She didn't get her roller blades, but we were so excited to give her a Karaoke machine! I don't have any pictures of it, but we have some great videos of the kids all singing on it! Lauren loves to sing!! So, it was perfect.Jessica was so excited to give Ashlyn a Dolphin Pillow Pet. She asked really early to make sure nobody else bought one for her because she really wanted to be the one to buy it. We had a hard time finding the dolphin pillow pet. She loves puppies, so we decided she would like the puppy one just as much. Jessica was so excited and wrapped the present as soon as we got home. A few days later we decided to feel her out when we heard her talking about pillow pets. We asked her if she would want a puppy pillow pet. She said she did. We were really glad until she said she was would so excited to get two pillow pets! She said she had a Dolphin Pillow pet on her list for Santa. Jason and I started laughing. "Your list huh?" We didn't know she had a "list" and figured we better find out what was on it! I finally found a Dolphin Pillow Pet about a week before Christmas. (At Blockbuster of all places!). Jessica really wanted to give her the dolphin one, so she unwrapped the puppy and wrapped up the dolphin. They were both so excited when she opened it.

We opened our gifts from Granny. (My Grandma on my dad's side.) She made the girls cute scarfs, a hat for Austin, a sweater for Ashlyn and an etched dish for Jason and I. Thanks Granny!!

When we were done, we headed over to my parents house to exchange gifts with them and with Jen and her family. We had breakfast casserole, cinnamon rolls, and hot chocolate. Yum!

We were done early this year, so Jason took the kids and went skiing with the Bohn's and my mom. I went home with Ashlyn and took a nap! JenLauren Jessica and Lauren on the chair lift

We all had a great day. The next day, (the "real" Christmas day) we got in the car and went to Sacramento to spend some time with Jason's side of the family. Danale Cheryl, baby Carter and Ashley

Danny and JasonMe and baby Carter

I think I could have spent the entire time with that beautiful little baby in my arms! He is so sweet! After we had dinner at Mike and Cheryl's, Justin and Danale went to visit some of Justin's cousins and we headed over to my uncle's house too see what the rest of my family was up. I love the holidays and being able to see everyone!Grandpa and Ashlyn

My mom, Me and JenJason and Tara

The rain was crazy and we were tired so we decided to stay at Justin and Danale's for the night. As usual, we stayed up way too late, but we always love our time with them.

Christmas Eve (Eve)

We spent Christmas Eve (Remember, Christmas Eve for the Hurd's falls on the 23rd, not the 24th like most of the world) at my parents house. I always look forward to seeing my extended family and all of our holiday traditions.

My Grandparents I love all of the yummy food and and being surrounded by people that I love.
Karen, Koby, James and TakakoNancy, Craig, Devany, Carter and BrynneAustin, Jessica, Grandpa (my dad), and JeffJason

I seriously love this guy.

As I spent time thinking about what gifts to buy for people this year
and was asked what I wanted for Christmas, I felt so blessed to have so much love in my life. One of the greatest gifts I have been given, is my marriage with Jason. I love our relationship, the friendship, the communication, the understanding, the acceptance and the love we have for each other. I couldn't be happier.

I always love watching the kids act out the first Christmas. They are so funny as they get older and their personalities really start to show. Jessica has always been the oldest girl, so she has always been Mary. This year, she decided to pass Mary on to Lauren and asked if she could be the donkey! I don't think we have ever had a donkey, but she said she would make her own costume.

Ashlyn, Lauren, Jessica and Austin
Wes

I can't believe how big he is!Ashlyn loved being an angel

She was so excited to when she got to announce that Jesus had been born!
Lauren and Austin as Mary and JosephMe, playing with the new camera

(Isn't that why we do a nativity play? So us moms can take pictures?)

Next, we went outside to wait for the horses to pick us up for our annual "sleigh ride" through the neighborhood to look at the Christmas lights

Me and JasonLauren, always ready with a pose for the cameraJessicaDrew, Austin and GarrettTakako, Karen, Lisa, DarrellJessica and GrandpaAustin

"Jingle Bells! Jingle Bells!" The horses arrived!

"Yeah!"AshlynGrandma and Grandpa (my mom and dad) and Ashlyn Drew and CarterGrandpa (my Grandpa) and Lauren

Tara (Me) and Austin

We came back, and more yummy food and played games until we decided it was time to go home and get the kids to bed.

As we were putting out the cookies for Santa, Ashlyn said that she didn't want Santa to come into our house. When we asked her why, she said, "Because I am shy of him and I don't want him to come in our house while I am sleeping." She asked if we could lock all the doors and ask him to leave the presents outside on the porch. We could tell she was concerned about a strange man she didn't know coming into her house when she was asleep. After we thought about it, who could blame her? We are always telling kids how safe they are and that there isn't a monster under their bed or a boogy man in their closet, but somehow, the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and Santa all sneak around while they are sleeping? That would be a little creepy if you think about it.

When Lauren could tell that we were thinking about it, she got really concerned. She tried to convince Ashlyn that we had to let Santa in or it just would be like Christmas. Jason and I just looked at each other. We didn't think Lauren still believed in Santa, but we could tell she was serious and was really concerned about it.

Jason asked Ashlyn if it would be okay for Rudolph to come in and deliver the presents for Santa. Ashlyn decided that would be okay if Rudolph came in, "BUT NOT SANTA! He can wait on the porch." So, Jason helped Ashlyn write a letter to Santa, asking if he would please send Rudolph in instead. We left the note along with the cookies on the front porch for Santa and the kids went to bed.

Santa left a note back telling the kids that he waited outside and sent Rudolph in to deliver the presents. He apologized for the droppings that Rudolph may have left (unwrapped chocolate bells) and thanked the kids for being so good this year. We giggled like kids and went to bed too.