A Christmas Letter

Every year I make card for Christmas to send out. No such luck this year. I am very very sorry. I kept delaying writing a letter and making a card hoping that our baby boy would be born in just enough time to make it in.. no such luck. So let me tell you what is going on with us.

Baby Boy Boulware, Jason I got a Mother's Day surprise of expecting another child. It has been very exciting. We know it is a boy, but it has been a rough pregnancy. In September I began to have pre-term labor pains, So I have been trying to stop early labor for all that time. Then it was discovered that I have a LOT of extra amniotic fluid. That can also trigger early labor and another set of issues. It also has meant I have to go to the Dr. 2xs per week. Mostly it just makes me very, very uncomfortable. A week ago I got the go ahead to not worry about labor... and like magic things have stopped. We already know by ultrasounds that he will be a larger baby than Brooke or Eric. So now we just sit and wait for him to come. May-be he'll make it in time for a New Year card?

Brooke has continued to be the diva or princess of the family. She has spent the year growing her hair and her vocabulary. She turned 2 in August. She loves hanging with her girlfriends and generally just going anywhere. She's the out going social butterfly of the family. Her best friend remains Eric and she wants to ride the bus to school just like him.

Eric continues to be the strong silent types in the family. He continues his pre-school and is learning to speak more and more. I think Brooke pushes him as well. He loves playing Mario Cart and driving around on his mini ATV. He the introspective thinker in the family, just like his dad. He turned 4 this year and is still the cuddle bug of the family. He's also a budding photographer.

TJ became my first teenager this year. Dang I am old. He had a ton of fun going to Boy Scout camp this summer. He also is taking an accelerated 7th grade class this year. He has potential to begin 8th grade in this school year. He's growing up and up and should soon be taller than me. His artwork continues to amaze us and one day this kid could own the world.

Me, Jeanne. I feel like I have been pregnant all year. Considering how rough the pregnancy has been no shock there. I spend my time raising the 3.5 kids, couponing, online garage sales and loving Dancing with the Stars. I also had the sad task of cleaning out my Mom's vacation house this fall. She can no longer travel down for the winter and needed everything sold/donated and the house cleaned for sale. It was a shock when it sold in 2 days and had a short escrow. However I quickly got it done. It was a little sad as everything in that house had been around the family long before I was born and I had so many memories of my dad attached to the furniture. I also spend my days doing things like taking Brooke and Eric to the park and trying to hold everything together.

Jason. He continues his employment with iCrossing going on 8 years now. It has been a real blessing of a job with great challenge, growth and a great salary. He got into sand buggys and ATVs this year. He even went so far as to purchase a buggy for me since I can't ride an ATV with the pregnancy. The kids all love going for rides with daddy. It is so cute to hear them ask for rides. He continues to be a devoted father with the kids sad when has to go to work. He also continues to advise the state curriculum on Information Technology for the AZ School board and recently started working with the Boy Scouts.

As a family we enjoyed a trip to Disneyland in Nov. for a week. Jason's Dad, Jack, joined us. It was great to see the Carsland and enjoy the rides. I think Brooke and I did the Little Mermaid ride a million times while the guys handled the non baby/ pregnancy friendly stuff. It was awesome to see Kacy, Jason's baby sister while we were there. Lovely memories of the kids enjoying themselves.

Otherwise it is going to be a quiet Christmas for us here at home waiting for a baby. Soon, hopefully soon, and then you guys can get cards from us!

Love,
The Boulwares

School Pictures are Here

So I finally have the school pictures. TJ's came good as usual. He's growing into a handsome young man.

Now if you recall Eric's photo wasn't the happiest last year. He even took it twice. So I figured this year would be better. Let's compare. Last year

This year.

Yup he cried more. Jason called me that day and said his teacher emailed us that Eric wouldn't even take his picture. So I ran by the school and offered to help. They told me to come back when he let out of school. They would try again. So I went on with my errands and stopped again at the school. Well the office didn't bother to tell them I was there, and Eric got sent home on the bus AND HE WAS THE FIRST STOP, and he still refused to get his picture.

So now I am driving around Anthem trying to beat his bus home. I made it just in time to grab him. His teacher suggested that I come back with the afternoon class. So I got him off the bus and drove him back to the school picking up Oreos on the way to bribe him. While rushing to the school, my cell phone rang and it was TJ's principal. UGH! TJ wasn't in trouble or anything but I didn't need this.

So we got to the school and I took Brooke and Eric in for photos. He refused to go up again even with cookies, however I was able to get this one done. I kind of love it for just what it is.

I just swear he really loves school.

Alien Baby Pictures.. part 3

So for those who don't know, I am expecting my 3rd (or 4th) baby. We are due Jan 8th. It is a boy. We did the 3-D ultrasound yesterday. The pictures weren't the best because the placenta is in in-front and blocking him a bit. Here are the best of what they saw.

Eric Sings

Back on September 15th during a car ride home, Eric surprised us by starting to sing "Happy Birthday". We had never heard him say birthday before. Usually he will wish you "Happy Cake" on your birthday. He's also never sang a song. That day I think we sang it for 15 minutes over and over again enjoying hearing him sing more than a line or a couple of words.

Then today, I was talking to him about T.J's upcoming 13th birthday. He started to sing it again. So I sang with him. He watched my mouth intently and was trying hard to make his mouth do what mine does. I caught this video on about our 4th run through. After making the video we watched it and sang it over and over again. I am sure we sang it 50 times. Dad even joined in for some of it.



I was so proud I started to tear up. I am proud of his hard work!

Photo Fun

Jason got a new phone last week. He was playing with the pictures while we were running to church members homes today. He caught some awesome photos.

Now I have to explain this last one. While having friends over to play Eric was driving his car around with Brooke's BFF Lulu. Brooke wanted to ride also but the seats were taken, so she sat on the back. She was riding around waving and to me it looked like she was the prom queen waving to the crowd. Sadly she stopped at the moment my phone took the pic, but it was a cute memory none the less.

Saturday Project

Most Saturdays Jason will do a home improvement project. This past Saturday he decided to paint one of my finds. I found this toy box/bench online and figured it was perfect for Brooke's room. So Jason took Eric outside to work on it. Eric wanted to paint as well. So this one side of the bench isn't perfect and has large gobs of paint, but it was done with love. Each time Eric sees the finished bench in Brooke's room he tells her "I paint it"

Family Fun Day

Jason's work allowed us to attend Family Fun Day with the Phoenix Suns. Held at the US Airways arena last Saturday. We had a blast. There was a little bounce house for the kids, face painting, balloon animals, FOOD FOOD FOOD. They let the kids play on the hardwood also had dancing out there. They gave out prizes (we didn't win). It was all free and awesome. The kids and mom and dad had a blast.

Jason and I were super nervous when Eric first climbed the 25 ft slide. He loved it


TJ got picked to assist in the lay up show