Exciting!!

For those of you who don't know, we are expecting our 6th baby!! I am in my 13th week, and I feel great! I think this has been my best pregnancy I think. I have not had very much morning sickness, and I have more energy than I remember with the last ones. I have been tired a lot more lately, but that could have to do with having 5 other kids too. All in all, everything is going really well, and we are excited to be having another one! And we are due in October!! This will definitely be a whole new experience being pregnant and huge all summer. :)

Tragedy....

On Saturday night, Katie and Vern's home caught fire. The whole family was able to escape the house safely, thank heavens!! The house was completely engulfed in flames in just about 5 minutes. They had to stand and watch in horror as all their memories were burnt to the ground. I can't even imagine how they were feeling in that moment!!! When I heard the news I bawled. All night. It is such a scary and devistating thing to think about. It was an electrical problem and started at the water heater out the back door. They could smell smoke, and the kids came running saying there was smoke. Vern looked out the back door and saw the water heater in flames and told everyone to get out immediately. They all moved quickly and were kept safe. That is obviously the most important thing, and such a blessing that they all made it out together without any injuries! I am so grateful it wasn't just a couple hours later when they would have all been sleeping, and I am grateful that Vern was home, and his mom and sister were there also to help. It was truly a blessing!!
It is also so wonderful to see how a family and a community pulls together in a time of such great need. I know that they will be taken care of! The Lord loves them, and is blessing them with such wonderful people around them. I love you Katie and Vern!! I am still crying about this all. Every time I think about it I bawl. I am SO grateful that you are alive and safe and healthy! You are amazing people, and you are such great examples to everyone around you. Hang in there! There is a lot of love coming your way!!

this is the piano in the living room...

the kids' bedroom...

the living room...

another kids' bedroom shot...

Rebekah's birthday

I can't believe my baby is ONE!!! She turned one on January 31st. The year has flown by, and it's so crazy!! She started walking at 9 1/2 months, and she didn't get teeth until she was almost 11 months. She still only has 4 teeth, but it's adorable. She is such a happy baby, and a joy in our family. We are so blessed to have our little Rebekah!!

No one was feeling good on her birthday, so when Molly and her girls came down for a visit a week later, we decided to have her party at Granny and Papa Bundy's house. It was a lot of fun!
Rebekah was giggling and just loving all the attention. She was so cute!

She actually put the flame out on her candle by pinching it between her 2 little fingers, and then she looked up and giggled, it was adorable.

All the cousins had a blast together!

Trying out new things...

I seemed to have gotten into a rut for a while there and made all the same few meals and rotated them every night. Lately I have been experimenting with new things and it has turned out pretty good! I like making it kinda fancy and putting some special time into my meals. It makes me feel better about myself, and a lot more excited to eat. My family doesn't mind either!

This might not look good to others, but it was healthy and yummy!

Girls night out!!

Molly came to town to visit for a few days, and so we decided to go to dinner with as many of us girls that could go. It was so fun! I loved getting to go and hang out with my sisters and my mom. It was such a nice break, and I wish we could do it a lot more often!!

Here is 4 of us waiting for the rest of them to show up: I have such beautiful sisters!! Love you all!!

Still updating...

Okay, so before Emma and Natalie's birthdays, it was Briallen's birthday! She turned 3 years old on December 30! I can't believe how fast time flies! She is so fun to have around, we love her to pieces! Happy birthday beautiful girl!

Briallen's 1st birthday:

age 2
age 1
about age 9 months... (sorry, they are out of order)
There is never a day that Briallen doesn't make us laugh, she has such a fun personality, and keeps us on our toes! We love you, Briallen!

Looking back...

Just over 7 years ago, Randy and I were just about to have a new baby any day...

And then Emma was born at home on January 4, 2004.
2 days shy of a year later, Natalie was born on January 2, 2005. (Look how much they look alike!)


Emma, age 1
age 2
age 3
age 4
age 5
age 6
Natalie when she was born
6 months old
age 2
age 3
age 4 (she dresses herself a lot!!) :)
age 5

Natalie and Emma just turned 6 and 7 this year. I can't believe it! They are growing so fast! We love you girls!

Hare Christmas party...(only posting a month later....)

On December 27, we had our Hare Christmas party, and it was a blast! We opened lots of presents and the adults played the gift exchange game.... It was a lot of fun!

Emma and Naomi from behind....

These are out of order, but this year, Margie's boyfriend, Matt brought a rooster for his white elephant gift. It was SO funny!! Caren opened it and got quite the shock. Everyone had a good laugh...lol

Don and all the girls, including the in-laws

Briallen took down all of Zolene's stockings to check for candy... it was so cute!
being goofy, having fun:

CHRISTMAS!!!

This year for Christmas, we went to my parents house again. We decided we would head down Christmas Eve and have the party down there with them, but Randy had to work, and didn't get home until really late. We got there, ate, let the kids open their jammies and put them to bed. It worked out great!

Being Santa's "helpers" was fun too. Stetsy, Mom, and I had a great time together. At 12:30 (officially Christmas day), Mom finally convinced Stetsy and I to give her the gift from all the kids, and it was well worth it! We all went in on a western rug for her living room. She was SO excited, and SO happy! (pictures to come).

Before we went to bed:

Christmas morning:




Briallen got the "Tismas sooter" she has been wanting for months! She was pretty excited!

Randy was able to sell some car parts a few month ago and get these little motorcycles for Emma and Natalie. He fixed them and the Jeep up, and the kids rode them all day. It was definitely the highlight of Christmas! I think he might have been more excited than they were at first!! :)



Every year we are so blessed, and so spoiled! We had a wonderful Christmas with the family, and made lots of fun memories!