Blog Neglect

So, yeah...it's been awhile. You'd think I'd have more time to blog! I am now officially a stay at home mom. It was a tough choice, but I really wanted to be home with Harley and Sophie. I missed so so much with Abby and Joey. I also want to back to school some day, so yup...

Our days are full, we drop of the kids at school. Try to clean up, do laundry, fit in some preschool stuff with Soph. Plan the meals, make the meals. Go to the library and park with Soph. I've also baked alot lately. Well, let's catch up shall we?

First is a couple funny pictures of James at Red Robin..the waiter brought us a ton of lemonade...




James looks so good. He's lost 61 pounds. I think I found all of it LOL.

Abby received "Most Improved Student" for her class. She's in the 2nd grade. I'm so proud of her! She's come such a long way. Now if I can get her to chill out a bit, she's going to be an interesting teenager. I got to go to her award ceremony. I also got to attend a little class assembly. And a science fair, and conferences...I get to do the things I missed now.



Harley is getting bigger..she's 3 months old now. Crazy right?



And here I am. I'm feeling better than ever and more relaxed. I think my job was killing me LOL. I do think my pregnancy would have been alot easier if I hadn't been working.



Joey is in a play for Theater Works. It's a special thing for the City of Peoria and the Peoria School District. It's called the Three Javelinas (it's the southwest version of the 3 Little Pigs) he plays a narrator. I think it's a great thing for him because he was asked to do it, he didn't audition. His last director recommended him because he was a funny guy and a good actor. I'm so proud of him!

And last, but not least...today is Abby's 8th Birthday! She's getting ready to enter the waters of baptism. Although we may hold her under a couple seconds longer than necessary to just get all that sin off of her. I wonder if the water will boil? I'm kidding! I love my little girl. She is the best helper with Harley. She's so good with her. She changes diapers folks! And she's good at it! She wonderful and I love her to death! Happy Birthday Abby!!!

What a blessing...

On January 3rd James blessed Harley at church. It was such a beautiful and sweet blessing. He really spoke from the heart and the spirit and it was absolutely perfect! We had many of our friends and family there to support us and the circle was huge.

Katie made her dress for her, I just think she looks like a little angel...

A 31 year old me...

January 1st was my 31st birthday. Yup, I stated my age, not afraid to say it. Only a bit freaked out LOL. So, New Year's Eve was spent with great friends, and New Year's Day was spent with a grumpy family (lack of sleep) at the movies (Sherlock Holmes) and with my folks (yummy homemade cake from my mom).

I didn't ask for much since Santa was overly generous, but I did receive some great scrappy stuff (Thanks Christine, DJ and Pat and Jen!) an Ulta giftcard (thanks Mom and Dad) and a vanity for my room (thanks Martina-my MIL) and an upcoming dinner with the girls. The vanity makes me feel like a Broadway star when I put on my makeup LOL.

So I venture further into my 30's but I think I'm going to be ok!

Thank heaven for little girls....

So my amazing friend Christine took some newborn pics of Harley several weeks ago, and we got the pictures at her great New Year's Eve party. Christine took lots of great shots and I'd like her to go back in time and take the same sort of pics for my other 3 kids. Or, we could recreate them again, but honestly a naked Joey would be frightening...seriously I've seen it...LOL

Anyhoo, here's some of the pics! (Doesn't James look hot?!)

Lights

Monday night we went to the Temple to see the lights with our friends. As always it was beautiful! And as always we watched the video of Luke II in the Visitor's Center, but not as usual I'm post partum so more tears than usual shed.

What a wonderful night! Thanks guys!!!

The Ho-Ho

Sophie is obsessed with Santa Claus, or as she says "The Ho-Ho." I do have to admit she's cooperating a little better since I have Ho-Ho on speed dial.

James took Abby to her first roller skating party a couple weekends ago, so Sophie tagged along. This is what she did the whole time.

Abby also tried skating for the first time. She fell many times, but didn't give up and wants to do it again. Very un-Abby like. I'm proud that she wants to try again, it shows she's growing up!

Then this past Saturday, James got a call that really made his dream come true, he got to play Santa at the Ward Party. Sophie said that her "Daddy was the Ho-Ho." We told her that he was Santa's helper. She was still excited to see Santa. Brother Mayo from the Ward took some great pictures THANK YOU!!!

Of course we had some laughs over James being a Mexican Santa. He really has always wanted to play Santa, but thought people wouldn't go for it because he was extra tan. I think he did a fantastic job. The funniest part of it all is that James recently lost 54 lbs so he had to use a pillow to play Santa! Last year it would have been natural, but since he's lost his gut a pillow was required.

I also forgot to mention that we went to Christine and DJ's house to take newborn photos of Harley. Christine posted this pic on her blog as a preview. All I can say is wow. I can't wait to see them all! She really does amazing work!!

On the first day of Christmas my true-love gave to me...

A Harley Lynn!

Harley was born on Dec. 1st at 12:03pm. She was 7lbs, 12oz and 20in long.

We had her at Del Webb, they were as awesome with this one as they were with Sophie's delivery and with my hospital stay. Shout out to Nancy my nurse, she was amazing! I really only had one weird thing happen, I reacted weirdly to an epidural and almost fainted. Creepy feeling. But, the doctor yanked that one out put the new one in and everything was perfect!

So, now what everyone wants....pictures!




Here I am at my Mom's house dropping off the other kiddos so we could go to the hospital at 5am (induction...blah!)








Harley showing off her weight, the only time a girl doesn't mind...







She had her bath, like the mohawk? She has really light hair too...







Here we are getting acquainted






Although he's not smiling, he is such a proud Daddy!!








This is my favorite, she's 4 days old here (check out the light hair here too)