Our Little BIG Announcement

We are going to have a BABY!  Yep, that's right... #3 for us is on the way.... Our due date is August 23rd, 2012.  We are all very happy and will be glad to have a new addition to our family this year.

Just like the the other times that I was pregnant we will NOT be finding out if we will be having a boy or girl.  We like to be SURPRISED!  And, it does not matter to Eric or I the sex of the baby... we just want a healthy baby.  For all of you that may be wondering or may want to ask us if we have names picked out... just like the other times, we do already have names picked out, but we are NOT telling them.  It will be a SURPRISE for all of you.

Here are a few pictures from my sonogram today.  The baby is small, so pay attention to the lines and arrows.  That is the baby.  The sonogram provided measurements that helped to project our August 23rd due date.

Sarah keeps telling me she is excited, and that she "will be a big sister again, and that Phoebe will be a little sister and a big sister".  I am not sure that Phoebe understands yet that there will be a new baby... When we told her she tried to pull my shirt out and up to see my belly, trying to see a baby.

Please keep our family in your prayers for a healthy baby and an easy pregnancy and delivery.  Thank you all for your support!

Quilts For My Girls

And here they are... the two twin-sized quilts that I made for my girls.  The first quilt on the left, with the zig-zag pattern around the edge, is Sarah's.  The one on the right, with small rectangles around the edge, is Phoebe's.  I finished the tops over the summer and had them quilted in the fall.  A friend from church helped me do the binding.

This is the flower and butterfly pattern that was used on both girls' quilts.  (a close-up view from the back)

This is Sarah's quilt on her bed.  It looks great and she likes it!  When she makes her bed in the morning she likes to leave the top folded down just a little bit.... to show some of the brown back fabric... she says, "I want some of the chocolate to show".

This is Lindsee's second t-shirt quilt that I made for her.  This one has t-shirts from activities that she was in from elementary school through high school.

This is Matt's first t-shirt quilt that I finished for him.  It has t-shirts from when he was in high school.  It turned out big (38 different t-shirt pieces) and would look good laid out across a double bed.

December Papers

This month at school Sarah learned to write the letters k, l and m. 

She also learned to write the number 10.

k is for kayo kangaroo.  Here is Sarah's kayo kangaroo hand puppet that she colored and cut out.

Matching and counting activities.

Sarah got to be the line leader once this month.  She also participated in the school Christmas program, "An Old-Fashioned Christmas".  Her class sang "We Three Kings", and then sang two more Christmas songs all together with the other preschool classes.

l is for lizzy lizard.  l and m hand puppets.... m is for missy mouse.  "Welcome Jesus!" Christmas wreath made by Sarah.

On the last day of school before Christmas break Sarah's class had a Christmas party.  I went to help with the party and Phoebe got to join in.  They had a snack of cheese, Christmas marshmallows, and a Christmas cookie.  Sarah liked the cheese and pink marshmallows.  Phoebe liked the icing off the cookie and the marshmallows.

Then the class listened to a Christmas story and played a game of "Reindeer, Reindeer, Santa" (played just like "Duck, Duck, Goose").

Sarah brought home a gift and card for Eric and I that she made for us... Here is the card and the Christmas ornament with her picture on it.  She was very excited for us to open it, but insisted we wait till Christmas.

Merry Christmas To You!

We want to wish all of our family and friends a MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Take a minute to slow down tonight and tomorrow.... enjoy your time spent with family and friends, listen to the beautiful Christmas songs, look at the twinkling lights, enjoy some hot chocolate and a delicious Christmas treat, and remember the night so long ago when the tiny baby was born.  What a night it must of been!

"Oh, holy night. The stars are brightly shining.  It is the night of our dear Savior's birth."

"Silent night.  Holy night.  All is calm, all is bright, round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace."

Old Fashioned Christmas

Sarah's school had their Christmas program last week.  It was called An Old Fashioned Christmas.  Each preschool class got to sing a song then all the classes sung a couple songs together. 

Our girls wore some cute Christmas dresses!

We arrived early, but the sanctuary was already filled up, so sat up in the balcony.  My Mom and Dad however, walked right into the sanctuary, right up front, and sat down in the two remaining seats, in the front row, together...

Sarah's class wore crowns that they each had made and sang "We Three Kings".  Then all-together they sang "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas".  (Sarah has on the red dress on the left side, standing next to a boy with tan/khaki colored pants.)

It was a good program and Sarah's class did a great job singing out so that they could be heard!

Santa happened to be visiting the school that night, so Sarah and Phoebe sat on his lap and Sarah told him what they both wanted.... "I want a hula-hoop, chocolate kisses, and bathtub crayons.  My little sister would like a book and some candy."  Then she asked me several times... "Was that the REAL Santa?"

"We wish you a Merry Christmas.  We wish you a Merry Christmas. 

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!"