sisters sharing.

Brie, the night we found out we were having a girl, you asked when we would move your little sister into your room.  I said that probably when she was sleeping through the night so that her crying wouldn't wake you.  You quickly responded that you could get up with her if she cried, like if there was a thunderstorm you could try to help her...then you asked if you could knock on our door if you couldn't get her to stop crying.  What a sweet big sister, already thinking of ways to help take care of your baby sister.  You, no doubt, will help to take such good care of her.  You have such a sweet, nurturing spirit!

according to my Motorola, 1.

 Picking up Alex from preschool, such a handsome little man.

 Our porch and jack 'o lanterns.

 Some Halloween decor.

 Brie getting a snack pack ready for Roo.

 Brie's spider at school.

 Overnight visit to the Hintze's while Dad was at a conference in Minneapolis.

 Hintze's trunk or treat.

 Frisco Train Store = little boy heaven!

 Lining up trucks is what we like to do.

 Me & Miss Lilli.

 A quick stop by our old apartment.

 Brie all ready for the Primary Program.

 The silly sandwich face we made to send with Brie for lunch.

 With have a climber on our hands.

 Roo after putting on his own galoshes.

 Roo, I love your little "pose" here.  Cracks.me.up

 Monster mouth sucker :0)

 Alex trick or treating at NCHS with a preschool buddy.

 Halloween breakfast.

 Me & Roo at Brie's Halloween party with a mom who really IS that pregnant, expecting their fourth in January.

 Me & my OB.

 My SWEET OB brought me this little gift bag. (We didn't know yet that we would be having a girl!)

 Some of the finger foods at our Halloween party.

 Dad won the jello slurping contest, with a close second by Alex.

 Alex was at work :0)

 A gratitude turkey I designed, printed out and laminated.  

 Dad racing around the basement with you kids.

 After a Young Women leader and a few YW came to help clean our kitchen for an activity!

 Mac pulling a PB & H.

 On a date with my sweetie at Chili's.

 16 week baby bump.

 Brie & Eden at Fay's ChuckECheese Bday party.

 Brie snuggling with little Roo.

 Getting ready to deliver some pineapple turkeys.

 Alex helping me make an autumn wreath for our front door.

 The kiddos giving away part of their Halloween candy for Operation Smile...

 ...on Veteran's Day.

Hot chocolate at breakfast for the first snow of the year!

"Snow balls" from Grauntie Elaine.

Getting in the car after picking Alex up from preschool...can we say WINDY?!?!

 Getting bundled up to go drop off some warm treats on a very cold Monday night.

 Roo using the Republic Wireless boxes for a train.

 Roo, you LOVE to be outside.  Even though it was sunny this day, it was SO cold, but you insisted to go out for a minute.

Roo & Alex sporting sunglasses during a particularly long stop at Walmart.

Halloween '14: Baby Crew.

I promised myself that I would blog something before we leave on our trip for Utah.  So here's a short and sweet post about our Halloween.  Brie's OBGYN costume inspired me to be a very pregnant patient which inspired Alex to be a maternity wing construction worker, Bry to be a good looking nurse and Roo to be the big brother.  It was fun to easily pull off coordinated outfits :0)  We all went to Brie's Kindergarten class for a party.  That evening we had some pre-trick or treating finger foods for our neighbors (the Burchetts) and a couple from our ward (the Seaders).  Once bundled up, we headed out to knock some doors and get some candy.  We lasted 10 doors tops, it was SO windy and cold!!!  Afterwards we came back home for a jello slurping contest and a few rounds of donuts on a string.  It was a great Halloween.

1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

 (1) Mémé

9-13 September 2014

Mémé took over all of my responsibilities while she was in town.  She took care of the kids (colored with Brie, read books, played grocery store), made meals, kept the house in order, dishes & laundry done, got groceries, ran errands, played chauffeur.  All while I rested on the couch.  Bless you, Mom!

(2) Uncle Tim

16-30 September 2014

Uncle Tim was a trooper!  He was here for two weeks during a time when I was starting to feel a little better, but was still grumpy and nauseous and not much help.  He was so great to come to my aid when I needed to lay down or didn't feel up to playing with the boys or putting them down for naps.  He whipped up some great meals, brought gifts for Brie & Alex, showed Alex the animals at Petco, had a tea party with Brie (with very cutely cut out sandwiches)...earned LOTS of uncle brownie points!  He even entertained the kids during our road trip to Nauvoo.  Some other highlights were dinner at Meatheads (I thought I was going to barf on the drive over, but was able to stomach the food), bringing home our first ultrasound to show him & having ice cream to celebrate, skyping with Matt & Erin and Rach during their cooking competition, going to the Nauvoo Temple, Bry & Tim doing game nights, and late night cereal.  Tim, thank you for spending two weeks to come help out your grumpy pregnant sister and play with your niece and nephews!

 (3) Grandpa & Nana Julz

1-7 October 2014

This was Grandpa & Nana's first time to Normal, Illinois!  We tried to get the house spic 'n span for their first time seeing our house (we shoved everything into our disaster of a bedroom ;0)).  Unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate and it was COLD and rainy for a lot of the time, but that didn't stop us from making fun memories.  There were treasure-finding and corn husk collecting walks, grocery store and construction, LDS General Conference weekend, painting nails, making Grandpa's chili and Nana's marinara sauce, a super fun early Christmas (presents all boxed up under the tree, Christmas breakfast and all!), magazine cut outs and vision boards, great heart 2 heart conversations, lots of yummy fall food, an early birthday breakfast, crafts, fingernail painting, muffins and cookie baking.  Wowsers, it's amazing what you can squeeze into five days!  Not to mention what GREAT help Grandpa & Nana were!  They kept our kitchen clean, helped with shopping and meals and played with you kiddos so I could rest.  Thank you, thank you!

 (4) Bompa & Mémé and Grauntie Elaine

7-14 October 2014

This was Grauntie's first time visiting us in the Midwest AND in our new house.  Dad & I were so grateful that you kids got to have some special time with her and with Bompa & Mémé.  They blessed out with a few beautiful days while they were here, one of them we spent at Rader Farms & Pumpkin Patch.  Aside from that there were walks, tractors up close and personal ;0), a Princess Date to Olive Garden, a Prince Date (for Alex) to the Aviation Museum (with a souvenir plane that Grauntie got you), McDonald's and popcorn & "Planes" with Bompa.  Grauntie & Mémé helped me to decorate for Halloween, Bompa was our home maintenance man (repairing things, installing others, mowing & edging the lawn), drawing and coloring, Halloween costume finding, stocking up from Sam's Club, pushing Grauntie around in her wheelchair, dance parties, pumpkin carving, and even a tea party for the grand finale.  Thank you for coming out to visit, for the great memories and for taking care of us!

(5) Aunt Emmie

15-19 October 2014

Em was our last visitor, but not least.  As has been tradition, she came out and spent every last minute of her Fall Break with us.  What big sister spends ALL of her time of from teaching to take care of her little sister and play mom to her nieces and nephews?  Mine :0)  I was amazed how she had everything planned out.  She had a special breakfast to make for each morning, yummy dinners, LOTS of outings and projects with the kids (food color fun, Tipton Trails and Zoo with Alex, volunteering in Kindergarten and lunch in the cafeteria with Brie, church bazaar and fair), a double date to Bandana's BBQ with our little men, GNO to Peoria to see "Meet the Mormons", date in with the kiddos (hot dogs, homemade mac 'n cheese, carmel corn and "Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin") while Bry & I went out on a date.  Oh and we can't forget the Chicago Pizza Buffet with GF pizza :0)  Em, thank you for seeing us to the end of first trimester and making it so much fun!

Can we say BLESSED?!  Thank you to EACH OF YOU for coming all the way out to lighten our load and brighten our days.  WE LOVE YOU and truly couldn't have made it through so joyfully without you!