Top Golf Date Night

The Top Golf date night was something I looked forward to all year. With some of the early labor I was having I wasn't sure we were going to make it but we did. I had contractions 5 minutes apart all the way down to the event and Matt and I teased that we may need to pit stop at the hospital on the way home but after a couple hours they stopped. I love date nights with Matt. He is 100% my person...always has been and always will be. He just loves me for me and brings out the best in me.

Ryan and Nat joined us this year and it was super fun. Nat and I just visited while the boys did most of the golfing. They served BBQ, sides, and cookies. Since we didn't really know anyone we just stayed in our little slip and enjoyed dinner and good conversation.

This is me attempting to golf. After hitting about a dozen balls it started to hurt so thats when I decided I would be a better spectator than a participant. I look forward to going again next year and getting to be more fully involved and maybe a little competitive with Matt.

Until next year Top Golf 

36 Week

I'm doing pretty well. Matt is part of the bell choir in our ward this year for the Christmas program. They practice every Sunday shortly after church which means we rush home and eat and then he heads to practice. He seems to really be enjoying it and it certainly is right down his ally. Anyways this week when he went to bells practice the girls and I decided to make cookies and banana bread. One of my favorite things is to turn the music up and just bake...I really love that about our new kitchen. Anyways I had the Christmas music going and a couple songs came on that really touched me. I had a dream years ago about nursing a baby in front of the Christmas tree. When we miscarried our November baby I thought it must have been the baby in my dream but then this baby came along and is due in December I couldn't stop thinking about that dream. So as the music played I thought of the dream and how long our little family has waited for him. I became really emotional. I have kept myself pretty guarded this pregnancy I have been afraid to get to excited for fear something would happen. As I stood in the kitchen the tears came easily running down my face faster than I could catch them I realized just how excited and scared I am to have this little guy. For so many reasons. This little guy marks the end of us growing our family, it's our first boy(do I know what to do with a boy?), my health, and so many worries about if we were going to be lucky enough to get all healthy kids. It was definitely one of those moments that helps grow my testimony that God is aware of me, he loves me, and cares about my concerns. I really do love the feeling at Christmas time and preparing to welcome a baby during it makes the feelings even more.

Emy's Preschool Thanksgiving Program

Emy was so excited to take her rolls to her Thanksgiving feast with all of her friends. She has been loving preschool. All the parents were invited to join them. We had ham(lunch meat), potatoes, yams, rolls, popcorn, fruit, salad, veggies, and crackers. They had made cute hats and set the table before we arrived. It was a fun way to spend the afternoon with Emy. I can't believe how fast she is growing up. She thinks she is so big and wants to do everything by herself. She definitely isn't my baby anymore.

Primary Program

Matt's parents do a really great job of being supportive and trying to be present in all their kids and grandkids lives. The girls were so excited when they came to see their primary program. The girls both did a great job Hallie was asked to share an experience where she knew that God loved her and Gracie was given a part about how God helps in our lives everyday.  I'm so grateful for their love and support.

Date Night-Massages & Dinner

Matt and I have been trying to make the most of our date nights before this baby joins us. A couple weeks ago I found a groupon for a couple massage and we decided to give it a try. It was a good time but I missed being able to lay on my tummy and have my back rubbed but they did have some pillows to help me get comfy just different for sure. After we received foot soaks and rubs with apple cider and chocolates. I love that no matter how long Matt and I have been married I still love spending time with him. Im looking forward to getting this baby here and being able to feel like myself again and doing more fun things with not only Matt but also the whole family. Im grateful for JOy and her willingness to keep the kids for the afternoon so we could go and do this.

Date Night & Christmas Already

Matt was able to take Joy to see a play at the Hale Center Theater and to dinner after the baby shower. Im really glad Matt got to spend that time with his mom. They loved the play and said the food was pretty good.

After the shower I had mentioned to my sisters that it would be helpful if they would could help me put up my Christmas so it was one less thing I had to worry about before the baby came. My cousin Linnie even stuck around and helped us. My mom is not one to sit and visit so it was a good excuse to be productive and not have the awkward silence that sometimes happens with my mom around. They did such a beautiful job and Im so grateful for their help. 

Baby #4 Shower

When Joy had originally asked about throwing me a baby shower I was a little hesitant. This is our 4th baby and I'm the one who like to throw parties not be the guest of honor but after I talked to Matt we decided it would be fun. Thank heavens for Teann she graciously offered to host after asking if there was anything she could do. Krissy put together the invites. Brit, Joy, and Teann did the decor and the food. We had soup and dessert. I was so busy visiting with everyone I barely remembered to eat. It was so fun to see everyone and catch up. I really enjoyed it and was supper honored that everyone put so much time and effort in my behalf into it. We got mostly clothes and now we can figure out what we need to be all ready for this little guy.

My cousin Linnie came up from Saratoga Springs and after the shower came over to help us put up my Christmas stuff. It was so fun to just hang out. At times she has been more of a sister than a cousin especially since her family is crazy!

Matt had come over to bring us some more folding chairs and Emy wanted to stay and when we opened gifts she was like a little Vanna White holding up everything so people could see 

Shar is due 10 days before me but she always has her babies about 37 weeks so Im sure Ill be super jealous when she has her baby and Im still very much preggo but it has been so nice to have someone going thru the same thing as me this pregnancy. 

Teann has become such a great friend and someone I can count on when I need something or someone to talk to. She was a great host and I realized after the shower that I didn't get many pictures of the people in my ward that have become more like family. I told Matt I feel like this is the first baby we've ever had that I felt like the whole ward was invested in getting him here which I love but I also feel like when we decide to take him out we better be prepared to share him so we'll be staying home for the next several months.

Oh my gosh where to even start with these amazing sisters of mine. They are my best friends and I can talk to them about anything. They are always there for me and there aren't words to describe how much I love, admire, and cherish my relationship with them.

It was so fun to see some friends from high school. Somehow I missed a picture with Mindi. I felt so special that they would travel so far to be part of our special day

Oh Holly, like our 2nd mom

Part of the awesome group that put the food together