How accurate are these things?

Yes you are seeing correctly if you're seeing plus signs. It took me 3 tests to accept that it was really true. I was a little stressed and overwhelmed for the first day but we are now very excited to announce that I'm going to have another baby. It just better be a girl. I think I'm due for one. I'm only about 6 weeks and should be due around Aug. 21st. I'll have a better due date after I've seen the doctor in a few weeks. I'm feeling the first effects of morning sickness or should I say all day sickness. It's not too bad but it does wipe me out some days. All in all we feel very blessed and very lucky. From one to four kids in a year... who knew?

Seeing Santa

Well, my boys had their first encounter with the mall Santa in Tucson. He was a great Santa and talked with them for quite awhile. I expected Jake to be scared but instead he kind of just sat there trying to figure out what was going on, or so it appeared from the look on his face. He did manage to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas which is cars and more cars.

Joey was very eager to say he wanted a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. It's all he's asked for for a month. It's a good thing Santa found one.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of Jackson with the big guy because he was in Mesa with his Nana picking up his cousin Brandon from the airport. Santa was the last thing on his mind. I'm not sure Santa is going to be a part of his life for very much longer. He's 8 now and I was appalled to see a few signs of disbelief this year. It's almost sadder to me than it will be to him.

My Christmas Dinner Party

OK - So I love to give a good party and I love to cook new recipes for really rich yummy foods. I just don't do either very often. So I decided to throw a Christmas Party this year. It took about a week of preparation and I cooked for 4 days straight but it was well worth it for me and I hope for my guests. Everyone seemed to have a great time and there wasn't much food left when everyone was gone so that's a good sign.

I served Sesame Chicken Strips, Sweet Bacon Chicken Wraps, Pecorino stuffed Mushrooms, Lasagne Rolls (everyone's favorite and definitely one to serve often for dinner now), Garlic Roasted Potato Skins with a Spinach, Bacon, Artichoke Dip, A Pinecone cheese ball with crackers, yummy punch and a Chocolate fountain with lots of things for dipping for dessert.

The crazy pictures of all of us were taken while we played the Jen Knight version of Ooga Booga. You take big tootsie rolls and put one between your lip and your gums and then you play the game. It is always a great hit and everyone has more fun laughing at each other than they do actually playing the game. We had a great time.

Christmas Card 2007

Don't you just love my Christmas Cards?! I love them! I can't stop thinking about how great they turned out even though my kids only smiled about 1/3 of the time we were there. Jake even has rosy cheeks! We went to Andrea Stanley here in town and she did a fabulous job as always. We also got some great family ones but those will take a little longer to get back.

Thanksgiving Day

Make a slide show, scrapbook, or ecard

We had a fun Thanksgiving with the Allen side of the family. We ate way too much food spent lots of time with cousins, aunts, uncles we don't always get to see. It was lots of fun for the kids. Their only disappointment was that it was too windy for the rocket shoot. Maybe next year.

Jackson is growing up and I can't stop it!!!!

Jackson is growing up way too fast for me. He is such a boy always with some kind of football, basketball or soccerball in his hands. He went to his first cub scout den meeting today and was so excited. But worst of all, I was doing my hair the other night to go on a date with my husband and Jackson comes in and says "Mom, I have a girlfriend." Just like that as nonchalant as can be. I said "Oh really, who?" and he says, "Well, she's not really my girlfriend. I just have a crush on her." I say, "OK, who?" He says, "Kiyla Mattice the girl that sits across from me in class. She's just really cute mom. But, you can't tell anyone, Mom." I say, "Well, you have to go tell your dad and you know this has to go on my blog, Jackson." "No, MOM!" "Oh yes, Jackson. Oh yes!"

I was so not prepared for this conversation. He has shown no interest in girls up until now and I thought we were safe for awhile. Am I really old enough for this to be happening in my life? When did that happen?

Jackson's Baptism

What a special weekend we had. Jackson was baptized on Saturday by his father. Our closest family and friends were in attendance. All of his Morris aunts and uncles came up and stayed with us for the weekend. All of his Howard aunts and uncles who were in town attended as well as our friends from Mesa, The Baldwins, The Larsons & The Knights. Our only disappointment was that Grandma and Grandpa Morris were unable to attend but we know they send their love. We had a dinner afterwards at the Eagle's Roost. It was a very neat experience for all of us. I can't believe I have an 8 year old!!!

Halloween

Halloween was fun but very busy. My little boys had a party at their babysitter's and then we had to watch Jackson at his costume parade at school during the day. We then attended the school carnival and ward trunk or treat. Jackson was a gladiator, Joey a puppy and Jake a dragon. I have so much candy at my house I don't know what to do with it all. Joey and Jake couldn't believe that all they had to do was say Trick or Treat and thank you and people gave them candy. I could tell Jake thought it was too good to be true because he wouldn't let his candy bag out of his site. He just knew someone was going to take it away. They had a great day!

Carving Pumpkins

A few days before Halloween we had family home evening with some of our favorite people, the Knights. We had yummy soup in homemade bread bowls and then carved pumpkins. The kids had such a good time. It's so fun to share some of these things with my little boys because I know it's brand new to them.

Schnepf Farms

In mid-October for Jackson's birthday we took him and our family to Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek. It was very crowded and expensive but the kids still had fun. The food was terrible but the company was great. They got their faces painted, saw pig races, went through the corn maze, petted some goats and probably lots more things I can't remember. Mom just went along for the fall pictures to scrapbook.