Tackle it Tuesday: Baby Bulge

21 1/2 weeks

This week my goal was to get over my pregnant self-image. Luke took the picture and I'm glad. I don't have many pregnancy pictures because I get pretty big, pretty fast. Although, this time around, I feel smaller than I did with Spencer (I AM measuring ahead 2 weeks, but I also have to factor in the extra fat deposits from previous babies).

My body is built very interestingly. I have NO torso..from where my rib cage ends to where my hips begin..no room. None. Therefore, I jut out front..a lot. Bellies that allow babies to lay sideways? Not in my belly. They are all out front.

Every Sunday when I go to church a friend exclaims, "Katie, you are HUGE!" It doesn't really bother me because honestly, I don't have any place for the baby to go...so yes, I am huge. What did bother me? Someone asked me if I had two months left to go...uhh, no..make that 4 months!

Now that I have posted a picture I'm not scared to take more or even post them..bring on the flash!

Benson is here!!

My sister Kiera and her hubby Josh are the proud new parents to Benson Marshall born this morning at 8:22 MST..He is a BEAUTIFUL baby!!
CONGRATS!!

Tackle It Tuesday: Birthday updates

Well, since it was such a long weekend...I feel like it is Monday today! (Anyone else?) Anyway, today is going to be a much EASIER tackle (and it might not even classify as a T-it-T, but this is my blog..and I'll do it if I want to! ;) , since I have a lot of blogging to update!!

January 15th:
Grandpa Noel's birthday

We love you dad!

We also had our ultrasound today...it was pretty exciting..and a different post for it, since I have to scan the pictures into the computer!

January 17th:

I decided that I was going to do a birthday day for Luke today. I got a babysitter, without his knowledge, and we went to Cleats (restaurant) and then to see Valkyrie. It was a nice night without the kiddos! (BTW, that movie STILL haunts me a bit..don't really know why, other than our family is very closely related to WWII and Germany..and that there are some really EVIL people out there that like having control and power..scary!)

January 18th:
HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY LUKE!!

We went to church, to a baptism and then had ice cream cake with friends. It was a nice relaxing Sabbath!

Happy Birthday Luke!! We are so thankful that we have such a supportive and loving father/husband/companion and friend! We love you!

I Never Grew Up

There is an AMAZING giveaway on the site: http://inevergrewup.net for a Double bumbleride stroller!! Check it out!

Challenge! Where do you shop?

Ok, so this isn't really a huge challenge, but more of a request! Luke and I are looking for some things for the baby. We got rid of the infant carseat, swing, and other things..dumb? No. The carseat had reached it's prime (we got it from a friend who had bought it off eBay and the travel system stroller that went with it broke a tire), the swing was from a friend (when livi was a baby) and it's motor didn't work...etc, etc.

SO?! We were wondering if any of you know of some good places to buy kids things. New, mostly new, whatever. We were at Babies R Us last night and we found 2 carseat/travel systems that we like and we don't mind paying the $200+ for them, but if there are other places we can look...we LOVE saving money!

We have looked on craigslist (it is HORRIBLE out here..Kiera, you are really lucky with the things from Chicago and Rachel, I don't know HOW you get such great stuff!!), eBay, Target.com, Babies R Us, Burlington/Baby Depot, etc.

So, we would like to look for:

-carseat (we actually prefer Graco) and travel system

-crib mattress (we have one, but spencer is using it in the toddler bed)

-SWING

-Bouncer (although we are probably going to get this from Kristin! :)

-Dresser

If you have any websites you LOVE to frequent that give good prices on New or mostly new things let us know!! Thanks!

Tackle it Tuesday: Franklin Planner writeup

The title come from the blog: 5 Minutes for Mom and I was inspired to actually do it from my friend Alisha. Since cleaning isn't my biggest accomplishment in life, these Tackle it Tuesdays are going to be very interesting!! I'm probably not going to post pictures of what needs to be done, but I'll just give updates..Basically you come up with something that needs to be accomplished, above and beyond normal, to get your life back in order.

Since I am trying to declutter my home, I found a box FULL of pages from an old Franklin Covey planner. Yep, that's right my freshman and sophomore year of college right there on paper. Many dates I had forgotten, but many I had not...now they are all typed up (365 days x 2) in Microsoft Word and I have that many LESS pages and papers to worry about. I already feel a bit lighter.

Children's Museum in Naperville, IL

The kids always have a blast when they go to the Children's Museum. Usually the men take the kids and the women get to stay home and relax...and that's exactly what I DID! My dad and Luke took the kids and they had a great time playing around.

Christmas Eve

My mom got home on Tuesday night (Christmas eve EVE) and we got to work on the food. My mom is an amazing chef (I don't use that word lightly either) Since we were having a Christmas Eve party the next day, we started getting everything ready. I was EXHAUSTED when we got finished sometime after 1 a.m....

Wednesday I got up around 10 or so and got to work. We made quite a lot of food and I didn't get ANY pictures of the main course! Ridiculous! It was yummy though! I am really grateful that I come home for holidays because my mom teaches me how to cook. (Growing up we weren't allowed in the kitchen unless we were doing the dishes at the end! :)

Finished ottoman with Appetizers:

The Main table (the young adult table was similar to this one)

Livi and Spencer's table

Hot Wassail Drink (YUM!)

Dinner buffet table:

Dessert Table:

Homemade ice cream bowls w/peppermint ice cream!

Boston Cream Pie w/white chocolate bow (she makes this intricate bow EVERY YEAR!)

Bienenstitch cake

Here's the menu. It makes me want to go back to Chicago and eat..it was good!

Menu:

Appetizers:

-Shrimp w/cocktail sauce

-Olive marinade

-Cheese and crackers

-Phyllo bites

-We forgot to put out the smoked salmon/crackers/garnish..oops!

Dinner:

-2 Prime rib roasts w/ au jus and horseradish

-Pork loin on a bed of baked apples w/gravy

-Roasted mini potatoes

-Sweet/sour red cabbage

-Stuffed mushrooms

-Spring vegetable bundles (I made ALL BY MYSELF and they were SO CUTE!!)

-Asparagus w/hollandaise

-Frosted cauliflower

-Rolls/Butter

-Spinach/cranberry salad

Desserts:

-Bienenstitch cake

-Boston cream pie

-Trifle

-Ginger poached pears in cranberry broth

-Chocolate mousse in chocolate cups

-Peppermint Ice cream in cookie cups

-3-layer mini cheesecakes

Tuesday 12/23 The Ottoman

Tuesday morning was a little crazy! I woke up at 7 a.m. to take care of the kids. I mean, it was only fair since Luke had gotten up at 4 a.m. to get to work on Monday and then drove the whole way to Chicago. When we got there my sister, parents and me stayed up really late talking (BTW, my family is a whole bunch of night owls. Luke is only just realizing how much and we have been married 7 1/2 years!!)

Anyway, by the time he got up on Tuesday morning I was wiped out! I got to take a much needed nap and he took the kids out to play in the snow! (Previous posted pictures) They had a ball! They were out for a few hours and while out there Luke helped my dad shovel and shovel and shovel. It didn't matter how much they shoveled, it just kept coming..

After coming in and defrosting my dad, Luke, me and the kids ventured out in all the snow to do a small little project. They have a coffee table (for over 30 years!) that we use as an ottoman of sorts. Since it hurts to put our feet up on a hard table, we decided to try and make it into an ottoman ourselves. It isn't beautiful, but it works and we had a great time doing it!!

Ottoman project:

The coffee table...

Spencer helping grandpa measure

I didn't take a picture of the finished project without stuff on it...so I'll post it later!

Halloween and Livi's bday...

I didn't post Halloween and Amy has some to still send me, but here are a few:

Livi's birthday: