Disney on Ice

John's parents got Bella tickets to Disney on Ice! We have never been before and were really excited to go. Much to our surpirse we all loved it!! It was a ton of fun and really entertaining. Bella was at the edge of her seat the whole time. They had 4 acts. Mickey and Miney of course were leading each one but there was Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Lilo and Stich. She couldn't wait for tinker bell that was her favorite then the little mermaid. The skating, acting and lights were great. John even had a great time.

Thanks grandma and grandpa we loved it.

So I really haven't had a ton to blog about lately. WE have been busy but lazy a ton lately. I have been sticking closer to home: 1. beacuse it's getting colder and I like being inside. 2. Trying to keep the kiddos healthy for the Christmas Season. 3. I am so TIRED 4. And we have been buys planning craft days, ward parties, Christmas etc and it all requires me to be home. Which has been great. We all like staying in our jammies and lounging. Who dosent'?

I did venture out though for a little while on Thursday with some friends from church. They had an ornament exchange and we had to make 17 ornaments. So here is what I came up with, what do you think? I will have to take some pics of some of them that I got. They were amazing. It was a ton of fun and am glad I went.

We have an Offical Date!

July 11th is when our next bundle of joy is due to arrive! So I am predicitng it will be the end of June!! Lots of summer babies.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING~

I just wanted to take a moment to reflect on all of the things that I am thankful for: There is way to many of course to list but a few that have hit home this week that have made it

a great week to reflect!!

1. A husband who is a worthy priesthood holder who is able to preform blessings on our family. It's such an amazing blessing to have. It helps comfort us in our times of need, helps with healing and helps us know and see so many things! We are also so grateful to have friends that are able to help in these ordinances too! We thank you.

2. For family~ Nicky came to visit for a few hours yesterday along with John's parents and it made me realize how important family truly is and how they play such a big role in ou lives. I'm truly greatful for all of our family in good times and bad of course! But I love my 2 little ones and can't wait to bring the next one into the world! And John too! He's a great husband and dad!

3. Friends: They lift us up all the time. They make us laugh, they listen, they are there for our whole family. They support us and and our children know that many others love them. Friends are great! Thanks to everyone for being such great friends to us!

4.Food and Shelter and HEALTH: and the medical technology that is out there to help us feel better and to help us overcome our illnesses!

5.Our Savior and his plan for us. The Gospel and all of it's teachings. The temple and the peaceful feeling that comes when you are there!

AND SO MUCH MORE! I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope all is well.

Bella's Ear Tubes are in...

Bella with her new Monkey at the Hospital

Parker's Truck Jammies...they are so soft and CUTE!!

Bella's New Tinker Bell Jammies

So we have survived the day! And we are glad it's almost over!! Bella had to be at the hospital at 7:30 this morning, it wasn't to early. She had no idea what was going on so that was good. She let the doctors so proudly take her temp, hear her heart beat, etc. She even sang the one nurse a song. So we were sitting pretty good. But when I went to sign Bella into another area, dad some how missed the memo on NO DRINKS OR FOOD!! So I turned around to find them coming back from getting some water. I panicked and was like did you miss that along the way?? He had no clue. So of course I was worried that they wouldn't do it so we had to wait of course to talk to the doctors. But he ended up being okay and they did it any way!

Thank goodness.

As soon as we were heading back to the prep area they let Bella pick out a stuffed animal so she picked this cute little monkey. It's so soft and cuddly she loves it! She was pretty excited to be getting all this attention and people waiting on her etc. It was really nice to have such a great staff. Everything went great with the surgery. Poor thing had 2 horrible ear infections though, so she has a lot of puss and drainage. So we are hoping that it will drain fast. After her surgery and through out the day today she has cried a lot, been tired, and has had good and bad moments. We think tomorrow will be a lot better for her.

We just want to THANK EVERYONE for the prayers, and for all of her fun little gifts that she has received. She has felt very loved today and has said it more than once. We all have appreciated the phone calls and visits too! It has meant a lot to us to know that she is so loved and that she is cared for. She got new jammies, color boards, movies, paints and more! Parker even scored himself a new pair of Turck jammies and a book.

Thanks guys! He feels pretty speacial too!

You know your daughter is...

Really not feeling well when you leave the doctor and she says" Mom thanks for taking me to the doctor." I felt so bad for her. Bella has been struggling on and off for the past year and a half with Ear infections. She is scheduled this Wed for her tubes to be put in but I need to get her over this ear ache first! It's always the same. She gets a cold and then within a night or two she wakes up with a fever and is crying and now can tell us her ear hurts. I love that she can now communicate to us but we both feel so bad for her. So we are hoping that after Weds. we will be doing a ton better!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree~

They both were so proud of the tree

Bella couldn't even barely finish putting one bulb on before she'd go and grab another.

Parker on the other hand had fun taking them off and throwing the BALLS~~

But when dad stepped in it was great. She wanted up every time..plus it helped so that not every bulb and ornament were on the bottom. Almost all of them are but we thought hey the tree is for them so let's keep it the way they decorated it.

And I know it will keep on changing with the 2 of them around:)

Parker giving daddy an ornament.

Ok, so some may think I am crazy because it's only Nov. 17th and we already have our tree up with presents wrapped under it. But it's such a great feeling though.

I love this time of year. A time of giving, love, faith, family, friends,

Christ's Birth and so much more. It's a time to ponder and think of our many blessings that we have. A time to be thankful and a time to be with those we love and care for. It's such a warm and peaceful time, even when it's cold outside!

I love creating new traditions with our family. I love the music going and taking all the decorations out and just seeing the kids' eyes light up with joy and excitment.

As John and I sat putting up the core stuff yesterday we reflected on why we love this time of year and one of the things that stuck out was John saying, "how he loves to see the kids sit and stare at the tree and to see the lights glisten of their eyes." It's such a peacful feeling and such a joyous feeling for us as their parents to be able to be blessed with a house over our head, food on the table, clothing

and so much more.

I sit and think back to the day after our wedding and how we sat and opened all of our beautiful presents and I remember opening this small Christmas tree that one of my mom's friends gave to us. I was excited but didn't put to much thought into it.

Well not to long after that we ran into her at the store and she got teary eyed and said that she was shopping at Joanns in May and only had a few dollars to her name since her husband was sick with cancer and she prayed and told Heavenly Father that she really wanted to give us a nice gift but she didn't have much. So as she searched the isles she came across this tree that was only $3.00 and she had a feeling that this was it! So as she sat and told me this I had such a warm feeling inside and told her that it was the best gift ever. It has been the perfect size in our apartment and small home. We have enjoyed it more than she will ever know. And tonight as we finished things up we came across the tag from our present (the tree) and it just made me so thankful and so Happy they we tuly have been given much.

I can't wait to continue doing all of the fun family things we do over the next month.

{Baby #3 is on the way}

~Due some time next summer~

The Dentist~

Today was Bella's first time at the Dentist. I had an appointment first so she reads some books, colored, observed a little and of course enjoyed her view of the lovely snow that is falling! It is so pretty. They were super big flakes and she was enjoying watching them hit the cars bellow. Our dentist is on the 2nd floor of a building off on Main St. in Anoka. They have a really neat view so that part was great. But when it came to her time she was hesitant. She let them count her teeth and make sure there was no problems but that was it. So for the first time she did okay. I am hoping next time she will let them be cleaned. We'll see in 6 months. She enjoyed getting her new toothbrush and treasures though. So maybe that will help with the next visit.

~~HaPpY HaLLoWeEn~~

Driving the truck and talking on the phone

We love our Uncle Kyle!

All Parker could say about everything was Hot, Hot (looking at all the pumpkins)

Everyone on the trailer.

Heading to their first house!

Showing us his candy!

I'm done...these rocks look fun~

Trick-or-treat
Trying to get them both to look and smile, no luck

Teasing Bella by taking apart her pumpkin~ He knows exactly what to do to get her!

Halloween time in MN is always a busy time for us. Since we live in the Halloween Capital of the World it seems to last the whole month through! We love it though. There is so many fun events to go to, parties, pumpkin patches, parades and more. People really get into decorating their yards. Which floors the kids! They probably think we are stockers. Since we drive past their homes practically every night...sometimes 2-3 times. They kids yell pumpkins, pumpkins I want to see them. Then of course there is trick-or-treating. We first started off in our neighborhood. All of our neighbors love seeing the kids and were waiting for them to come by. Bella was on a mission. She wanted candy and couldn't wait. Parker thought it was fun but pooped out on us at the 2nd house. He decided the rocks looked like more fun then getting candy. What can you do??

We then made our way over to my moms and had to get candy there and then we headed up to a friends house. We ate some yummy soups and then headed outside to where my brother had his truck and trailer filed with hay! We all had a great time walking around and riding in the trailer. It was so nice to have on the ride back! Thanks Kyle. Parker even got to drive for a little while which he was in heaven. Then of course we went back and the kids had to go through their stash of candy! They each had a piece or two and then went off playing! Thanks everyone for a great night and for all the help watching and carrying the kids. We had a wonderful time!