Photo Roundup

After taking such a long break from blogging, it's hard to get back into it, so I'm going to start with posting my favorite pictures from the last month or two.

 The house at Christmastime.  It was a snug fit with adding 6 extra people for the holiday.  It's a good thing we all love each other!

 Baking in Alaska.  When there isn't room in the refrigerator, there's always the outdoor freezer. 

(I've heard rumors of moose eating fudge when cooling outdoors, so I just prayed they would survive intact)

 Snow on the peanut butter balls

The cousins all together for Christmas

Lydia showing everyone her "smells"...she's slightly obsessed with Scentsy

New Christmas Rocking Horse

The littlest boys all together

Snow Day

The "babies" with my sister.  These two kiddos, likely the end of our childbearing, are a week apart

My new "stag" decor.  I love it.

"Robot" Baby

Last, but not least, the joy of watching our beloved Seahawks win the Superbowl.  Everyone in the house is still on a high from the amazement that OUR team won the Lombardi Trophy.  It's been fun.

Mount St Helens

Yesterday we went up to the Johnson Ridge Observatory at Mount Saint Helens.  It's about a 2 hour drive from here, and it was well worth it.

The beauty is breathtaking and the story of it's 1980 explosion fascinating.  The kids were enthralled the whole time.

 

I was only 2 1/2 years old when the mountain blew, but I remember the aftermath and it's legendary destruction well.  Seeing it as an adult made me appreciate the power of such a volcano, as well as the incredible ability of nature to regenerate.

 

My little family

My sister, Amber and her family

My parents with all 9 of their grandkids

 

 If you ever get a chance to go see Mount St Helens, you really should.  It's awe inspiring.

 

First visit to Santa

We went to visit Santa at the Santa Claus House this morning.  I've never been there this late in the holiday season.  It was nuts, but we all had a good time.

We don't really "do" Santa Claus in our house, but this wonderful guy could make a believer out of anyone, he's just amazing. 

Lydia wasn't a fan for her first meeting with Santa

But Ephraim sure is

Traditional group shots with Santa 

Seeing the Reindeer

Rare group pics with Mommy

 Standing on the ice sculpture with the rising glow of the morning sun in the background (at 11:30am)

I have a really fun project I'm going to reveal after the weekend.  I hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Welcome Baby!

No, not my precious baby, but one very dear to my heart ♥

My sister and my due dates are only 2 days apart.  It's been hard not being able to share this experience together since it's the first time we've been pregnant at the same time.  But we've kept in close contact using the phone, internet and photos to stay in touch.

We talked just yesterday about maybe setting up Skype for our births, so that the other one could "be there" to witness it all.  We both have home births and until now have been each others doula and birth support, but this time, it's not possible.

She called this morning to tell me she thought she was in labor, and then her husband got us set up on Skype around 11am.  I hung out watching and chatting with her kids and her husband.  At that point, they realized there was a leak in the birth tub, so I called her midwives to see if they could bring their tub or a liner to help stop the leak.  Then we used the Skype to distract her 3 kids and get them out into the living room where they would chat with my 4 kids.  After an hour or so, the midwives came and so I shut down Skype until they got her all settled and ready to birth the baby. 

Around 1:00, I called back because I couldn't handle the suspense.  They were in the hot tub outside because they decided that was a better option than dealing with a leaky birth tub.  They set skype up out there so I could watch the whole thing.  Her kids and the midwives kids were running around outside playing and swinging.  I knew from her sounds she was getting ready to push, so I called my family and the kids crawled up on my bed to watch their cousin be born.  They were so quiet and excited.  About 10 minutes later, little Simon Thomas was born! 

 

These photos are a little grainy since they're from the Skype session

 

It was such a wonderful experience!  Not quite as great as being there and being able to be involved, but I am SO SO SO thankful for the technology that allowed us to participate in this little mans welcome to the world.  

Simon Thomas ~ Born 5/7/11

8lbs 3oz ~ 20 3/4"

 

Your Auntie loves you so much and I feel so blessed to have witnessed your welcome into the world.