christmas festivities

Well, Christmas has come and gone. The decorations are put away (for the most part), and life is becoming the boring life it once was.

Gwen loved Christmas this year. She'd been talking about it for weeks. It made things exciting and fun. Morgans family came in town for the Holiday. Having a house that could actually fit everyone comfortably was so nice. It was great to have everyone here.

Morgan and I came down with the flu (we think that's what it was). Gwen got a little sick, but nothing compared to her padres. A couple days of not wanting to move and staying in bed helped a little...but with me being prego and all I'm still recovering. You can't take any medicine that actually works when you're pregnant. Just grin and bare it pretty much(is that the right kind of bare?).

The Preston family Christmas party was a success. My mom (the preschool teacher) had the kids singing christmas songs. (complete with props and actions) They loved it. Santa came, and Gwen was not afraid. She ran and gave him a hug and sat on his lap with no fuss. She quickly came to tell me she was so "brave and strong."

Here is Gwen during one of the songs.
She has a star on her head representing the special night that Santa comes.
I think she was quite proud to be the star.

Gwen on weird Santas lap
She looks a little concerned, but no worries, that just how she smiles.

Christmas Eve
Santa told Gwen to be sure to leave out cookies, milk and 9 pieces of carrot for his reindeer.
(man that girl can do some creepy smiles)

the Christmas elves also left her new pajamas on Christmas eve
(a tradition that's been happening since I was a little girl)


Christmas morning
Gwen dumped out her stocking and was admiring her loot.


and this was her reaction to getting Wall-E
I think she was excited!

She also got a bike that she also was super excited about, but all of the pictures I got scared me. Really, she is not photogenic. She can't look at the same spot for more than a second.
Do they prescribe ADD medicine for children this young?

We also tried to teach her a little about the true meaning of Christmas...baby Jesus and all. She didn't really care about the true meaning of the holiday. All she wanted to think about was Santa. We'll try again next year.

My mom gave her a little nativity she could play with (since she was playing and rearranging mine so much.) She played with it a lot...until I noticed she ate Marys face off (it's made of wood...not chocolate or anything...she just "licked" it off according to her). Just another thing to add to the list of weird things Gwen has eaten.

you better not pout

I think this is my favorite picture of Gwen ever taken...well at least recently

can't sleep

I can't sleep.

Haven't fallen asleep yet.
It's 3:00 am.
I'm not tired.
Just took a unisom. Hoping it helps.
I'm mad I'm not sleeping.
Yuck!

almost done

morgan has been working on this room lately

it's almost done ( just the details left)

I really like the color of the wall
and you think that's bead board huh?
but it's not...it's wallpaper

this baby gets to use the same bedding as gwen
(and clothes and toys and everything else)
my mom made the bedding. I love it.

say cheese

This is what Morgan and I were doing 6 years ago today (Dec. 3rd). Aren't we young and cute and skinny (especially Morgan...he was only 21! Yikes)? Love you Morgie.

and also:

A friend of a friend of a friend (or however it works) is trying to expand her portfolio and asked if she could take some pictures of us. I was a little hesitant at first considering my "condition" (and by condition I mean huge belly and not to forget fat face), but decided we should, considering we had never had family photos taken before.

Here are some of the photos. When I saw them it just confirmed to me how chubby my face gets when I'm pregnant and that Gwen can't smile normally for a photo unless you have someone behind the photographer making a complete fool of themselves. Well, these photos work until baby arrives in February and we have to force ourselves into matching outfits once again...or maybe we'll put it off for another year or so.

gobble gobble

That's what we did for Thanks Giving. We ate everything we could shove down our throats. Here are some things I love about Thanks Giving.

This is what I felt like after eating...and I totally wore a bikini to dinner. Didn't you?

Me, Gwen, and Uncle Matt

We also set up the Christmas tree last night, and the boys put the lights on our house. Decorating is much more fun when you have a house. Gwen loves the tree, lights and decorations. She's playing with one of the nativities I have right now. She's lined up all of the figures in front of baby Jesus and they're taking turns kissing him and saying "your majesty." Good job Gwen.

too bad so sad

neener neener

That's all I have to say about that.

I'm roasting. The thermostat is set to 60 degrees and I'm burning up. I'm freezing Morgan and Gwen out, but I can't help it. Especially at night. I rarely sleep with covers on (at least while I'm pregnant) and so I selfishly kick them off Morgan all night too. Sorry Morg, hope you don't mind waking up to icicles for toes. I know all of you reading this who have been pregnant during the summer have no sympathy. I can only imagine. Although, if I was pregnant during the summer I would have to smash my horribly disfigured swollen feet into shoes, I could wear flip flops all day and no one would give me those "your crazy for wearing flip flops in the snow" looks. My feet have not yet gotten to that point yet (i'm hoping they don't, but with Gwen, it was bad. My doctor was even shocked by how swollen they got. I'm lucky like that).

I don't hate being pregnant. Which is good. But I hate labor and delivery, and I hate the first months (lets try 6) of newborn life. Newborns aren't fun. They are life sucking. Of course I'm basing this on the first 6 months of Gwens life. She was a nightmare. Really. Everyone tells me the second will be better. Well, she better be because if not, I'll be one of those moms driving their cars over cliffs and stuff.

Speaking of baby numero dos. I've been thinking about getting one of these (or one similar).

sit and stand stroller

Anyone have opinions, thoughts comments? It's either that, or tie Gwen to the stroller we already have with a length of rope. She drives me nuts. Like the other day when I had to go to the distribution center to get bigger G's for my bigger belly. She started running all around the store laughing at me trying to catch her. Well she tripped and fell and started crying. I told her that she deserved it and that I didn't feel bad for her because she was being naughty (I really did tell her that...and people heard me). There was this other mother close by watching and said to Gwen "Oh, look how brave you are! You're such a big girl." I wanted to slap the woman. Don't try to make her feel better. She's naughty. She deserves a good yelling at, and if I believed in beating...she'd get that too...right there in the distribution center surrounded by holy underwear and all.

speak of the devil

Anyone sick of looking at pictures of Gwen....me too...okay, not really, but I'm sure you all are.
Here are a few more from the Halloween parties throughout the week...and then I'm done.

Batman(owen), devil(gwen), ballerina(ava)

Spirit Fingers!

M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A!!!

Jumping

Cheerleader and fans

Here are the first of this years Halloween pictures. Tonight is the Ward Trunk or Treat. Morgs parents got this little outfit for Gwen. Turned out pretty cute. We have Halloween activities every night this week. She also has a Devil outfit, so more pictures to come....sorry for the overload of pictures...it's mainly for family that doesn't get to see her in person.

gardner village....and a carrot

Just a few photos from Gardner Village. We went with Mandy and Aunt Judy, Charise and kids (Ava and Owen), and Michelle and baby Reese....oh, and my mama. It was insane there. We should have thought twice about going during UEA. Dumb idea. Way too many people...I don't like people.

This is as close as Gwen would get. This is her new photo pose.

As good as it gets with the cousins. Owen wouldn't allow any photos this day.

so ugly it's cute....or not

this is the random picture of Gwen eatting a carrot. she LOVES carrots. She ate this carrot "all gone"

he be so happy now!

Gwen ran into the "office" a few minutes ago super excited. "Mommy! I found a spider!" Oh great. I freaking hate spiders...with a passion. So I ask her where and she says, yet again, extremely excited "on Mommy's clothes!" Damn it! I know cleanliness is next to Godliness. We've been lacking on the Godliness lately. I know I shouldn't have left those freshly washed clothes sitting on my bedroom floor. Now I get to search for spiders as I fold them (the worst job ever...next to dusting and doing the dishes, and cleaning in general. Did I ever tell you that when Morgan asked me what I'd do with the money first if we ever won the lottery, and I said I'd hire someone to clean my house? He told me that was me being lazy. He said it's like hiring someone to come wipe your bum for you just so you don't have to do it. "Whatever!" I said, you could buy a bidet.) Anyway, back to the spider. So I grab my slipper and head off to the bedroom to find the nasty spider. It was just a tiny white one, so no big nasty hobo spider to kill. I smashed the spider (sorry Mom, I know it's bad luck to kill a white spider in the house...my mom would always set them outside when she found one. But to me a spider is a spider. A scary, why did God create these things, spider). After the murder, Gwen proceeded to exclaim "Oh mommy, you killed the spider! He's dead! He be so happy now!" Yeah, well Gwen, I don't think so, but we'll let you continue to think that spiders are happy when they die. Just like we teach you that Honey is the food of the devil.

home again, home again

jiggity jig. We got home late monday night. Sad to come home, but ready to too. It was a great trip. Being able to just sit and not do anything was just what I needed. We went to the beach everyday, went snorkeling, ate food, free drinks, all inclusive. It really was fun. Can't wait to do it again...probably not for another 4 years (10th anniversary maybe?)

one of the pools

there were many of these little guys running around

Snorkeling

vacation

Morgan and I will be doing this for the next 6 days in Mexico. Yay for one last trip before our lives turn into pathetic newborn crazy filled days. We're excited. I'm not promising pictures because I'm pregnant and pregnant pictures are scary.

p.s. that's totally what I look like in a bikini at 5 months pregnant. don't you? there will be no bikinis for me.

it's a.....

So I know you've all been waiting at the computer all day long for me to post the sex of this devious baby...neglecting your kids and jobs and all. And you may be guessing by the color choice of this post that I'm having a boy....however, you would be totally and utterly wrong.

God is cursing me for my constant swearing and my disobedient actions (tattoo for example). We are actually having another girl. Now...don't get me wrong. A girl will be great. It will save me tons of money at least. Her wardrobe is plentiful (maybe slightly stained) and she'll have a big sister (who might beat her and drag her around by her hair) and daughters always stay close to their mothers right? It's just that I wanted the relief of having one of each...you know? And the fact that Morgan says "No more kids!" makes me sad. Oh, and that we have boy names that I love and no girl names that I'm 100% sold on. But girls are good. Everything looked good and dandy. Which I'm grateful for. The ultrasound predicted my due date as Feb. 10th instead of the 19th (which means I won't deliver until March).

So that's it, it's a girl.

intruder

I think there may have been an intruder in my house this last week. He must have come more than once, and I think he discovered my hiding place for my candy and Oreo cookies. I bought a package of mint Oreo cookies (double stuffed even) last week and now they're gone. I was the only one who knew where they were. I didn't share with Gwen too much (because I'm selfish, and don't like to share), and Morgan doesn't like mint. So, the only possible way that they have been totally consumed is that there was a cookie eating intruder. There is no possible way that I ate them all. They are delicious however, and cookies and milk sure do hit the spot. But it couldn't have been me who ate them all. A whole pack in one week? No way. There was an intruder for sure. I bought more yesterday, but I better find a new spot to hide them in since my previous hiding place was discovered.

i am sad

I am sad because Jeb passed away today. Morgan and Matt are sad because he was one of their best friends. We are sad because we will miss his great laugh, his amazing musical talents, his ability to make everyone smile and be happy, the story telling of the good old days, and so much more. To Gloria, Lohr, Erin, David, and Brittany - we love you and send you all of our prayers. We miss you already Jeb.

Hey Jeb,

Remember when you and Morg got arrested in highschool all because of a plastic water gun? or when you and Matt and Morg killed your moms fish by feeding it pepper? or messed up the fringe on your moms rugs and put foot prints in the freshly vacuumed carpet just to drive your mom crazy? Remember poop dollar? or all of the other stories I'm sure you guys haven't dared to tell me?

Remember how you and Morg threw pizza at people from the car the night before Morg and I got married ("Pizza Pie")? Remember how I caught you and Brittany making out - you didn't know there was a baby monitor in that room? or how Gwen was terrified of your beard until you took off your hat, but how she loved you so much? Remember how you and the twins went fishing the night before you got married and got soaking wet and you "lost" Morg's coat until you found it a few months later?

Remember all of those things and many more? That was funny.

driggs

for Labor Day we ventured up to Driggs Idaho (45 mins from Rexburg, 30 mins from Jackson). It's the perfect location if you ask me. It was beautiful. We stayed at my parents friend's (John Lewis) ranch. The view from his ranch was amazing. Here are a few photos of the adventure.

my parents and Gwen

lounging on the couch

Gwen and the horses....and swinging of course

potty break on the side of the road

breakfast on the veranda

Gwen and John

Thanks John and Mom and Dad for letting us come with you. We had an amazing time. Driggs is awesome. We'd love to go back anytime (hint, hint).