Big News

The same month all 4 of my kids were all in full-time school I found out I was pregnant! Life is so funny sometimes. This wasn't in the plans but we are all so thrilled, after the shock wore off :). It was so fun to tell the kids. We know for sure that this baby is supposed to be here and that she will be very loved. We found out early from a blood test that she is a girl. Everyone was hoping for a girl, except maybe Eli, although he is excited about it too.

We are all hoping for a smooth pregnancy and delivery like with the boys. I've been receiving good care from the high-risk medical group at Stanford.

Joe and I loved this writing sample from Nate's back to school night:

We also loved listening to the girls stay up late talking about baby names the night we told them.

I dealt with sickness for the first few months, which wasn't fun. It was night sickness, more than morning sickness, but it lasted through the day sometimes. I threw up more than with the boys but not as much as with the girls probably. I stopped going to hot yoga because of some of the risks but have been trying to walk or hike almost every day.

We're so excited to meet this baby girl in April!

Back to School + September & October

The end of August rolled around and it was back to school time once again. This year it was off to high school for Elizabeth (9th), 8th grade for Natalie, 4th grade for Nate and all-day school for Eli (1st).

I got walk Eli into his class:

He did fine and adjusted quite well to 1st grade. Elizabeth has done great getting herself up for seminary. She's still been dealing with migraines on and off so sometimes she sleeps in but I've been impressed with how well she's adjusted to high school. Natalie's school has had some scheduling problems so her schedule changed twice within the first few months of school--not fun at all for her--but she's handled it really well.

The kids all missed the 3rd day of school so we could drive to Idaho for Labor day weekend. There was a mini-Atkinder gathering that we didn't want to miss and we were glad we went, even though it was a short trip. I only got a few pictures but wanted to share them.

We had another BBQ at the church pavilion and let the kids play in water:

Isaac striking a pose. It was so fun hanging out with Miranda, Wayne and their kids again.

Maddy and Eric and Jessica's cute little guy:

The adults had fun staying up late talking at Benji & Laura Lee's one night while the kids played an epic game of mafia at Chris and Regina's house. We also had an Atkinder family meeting where those that wanted to shared their thoughts that I loved. It was a great weekend.

A sweet note from Eli:

Another hiking picture:

I love those hills, even when they're brown.

I loved these pictures of Joe reading No Girls Allowed to Eli:

We found this weird-looking critter in our backyard:

One night for FHE we played penny in the flour and the kids loved it:

I forgot how fun that game is!

October rolled around and we had a really fun YW activity making caramel apples to give away:

My calling as YW president has been keeping me busy but it's a lot of fun.

The boys had their Panther Prowl (jog-a-thon). 

I volunteered to help out with the water stations again.

Getting sprayed by Sis. Winmill:

They both did so well! Nate even got the most laps in his class.

My kind neighbor Seema brought me over this dessert that I love when I wasn't feeling well:

I need to learn how to make it.

We got to go watch Conference at Grandma and Grandpa Allen's house with Chris and Lisa and kids. We enjoyed some delicious food, good counsel, and the kids had fun building penny towers while watching:

We'd promised our kids an outing to iFly, the indoor skydiving place, after they all participated in the no-TV-for-a-month challenge. They loved it! Eli was nervous, but was all smiles after his flight. Once was enough for him, though.

Elizabeth figured out the fishtail braid on my hair:

The girls are getting really good at doing their own hair.

Tui T. Sutherland, the author of one of the kids' very favorite book series, Wings of Fire, came to Kepler's for a book signing so we made sure to be there. This was the book series that got Nate into reading so I was so sad when he came down with a stomach bug right before and couldn't come. We got some books signed for him, though. Eli even loves these books because everyone else does and loves the graphic novels.

Eli and Natalie both got their questions answered in the Q&A:

Another fun YW activity practicing face painting for the ward Halloween party:

They also had fun practicing gory makeup:

I went out for ice cream with ladies from the ward for Kim Richards' baby shower:

I sure love those women.

Eli actually lets Joe do his hair sometimes for church:

I wish he'd do it more--he looks so handsome. :)

I started teaching FAME at the elementary school in October and we had a fun lesson on Van Gogh's Starry Night:

Halloween!

This year we had a huntress, Sadie Kane, Grindelwald, and Link.

Trick or treating with the neighbor kids:

Our pumpkins: