18.5 weeks and counting

I suppose I could have settled for just "18 weeks" in the title but why would I do that?  I'm going to count every second of every day I've bypassed with this pregnancy.  It's a great accomplishment, yes?

Anyhow....thought I'd post a few more pics.  For posterity (and curiosity's) sake.  No worries, the dirty mirrors are also part of it.  These types of things MUST be documented for future generations.

 
And, also for posterity's sake, proof that I do actually shower and get dressed every once in a while (despite what MOST of my children's memories will most likely recall someday).

 P.S.  Ultrasound coming SOON!  I'd tell you when, but I don't want to.  :)  Yep, I'm that mean.
 

Angry Birds...yummy cookies...and the best "hide and seek"-er EVER!

I'm not gonna lie.  Now that this blog has gone private I feel a whole lotta weight off my shoulders.  I'm so glad to be able to share some of the more mundane, yet important and fun thing in our lives without worrying about overexposing myself and my family.  And...I get to use the kids real names.

Can I hear a hip hip HOORAY, if you feel the same way!

We've had a lot of fun stuff going on at our house lately (when mommy is not on the computer, that is).

Yesterday just happened to be one of those really enjoyable days.  I'll show you why.

First, the winner of "The Best Christmas Gift in the Gillespie Household 2011" goes to:

"Angry Birds--knock on wood" game.

It's seriously AWESOME!  We play it at least once a day.  AT LEAST!  It's Isaac's favorite.

First Mommy sets it up.  I've become quite the master builder.

Then they try an knock it down. (they are much better at this than I am.  I'll stick to the building)

Then when they get tired of missing...they bring out the big guns (Angry Bird stuffed animals they also got for Christmas).

Even Kian gets in on it.  He's pretty good...actually.  He usually sits on the side and "builds" with the block we don't need at the time.

 Then the kids played a rousing game of "CTR guy" combat...

Yeah..the cape is a little hidden.

...shield and all!

Yeah...I still need to tell that story.  I will.  Hold your pants on.

We made some SUPER yummy cookies.

 Recipe here...I just swapped the Cadbury Eggs for peanut butter chips.

And even had the sense to ball up the rest and put them in the freezer

 (instead of cooking them all and eating them all in one night.)

We ended the night with an exciting game of "hide and go seek" in which the WHOLE family participated.

I don't want to toot my own horn...but I think I won for best hiding place.

And yes...I did get up there by myself.  Skirt and all.  :)

Although, Rob insisted on being chivalrous and helping me down...with the boys in the other room.  For privacy sake.

All-in-all it was a pretty fun night.  We don't have a TON of those around here.  Mostly we just try to get through the day without pulling our hair out and then get the kids in bed A.S.A.P.

Okay...maybe I exaggerate.  Then again, maybe not.  

3 days to private and this and that

3 days to go until T.O. will become "private"....only 3 days.  Makes me kinda bummed (sniff, sniff)....but, it's time.

Don't forget that you can still follow along with me and mi familia at Methodical Musings of an Unbalanced Woman and Adventures in Frugalness.

In the meantime, check out some of these random going ons in our household.

Roberto and I FINALLY got the coat rack up and useable.  YEAY!  It's been awesome

(I will be posting more details on AIF soon)

Little Red's Painted Lady larvae arrived

Sometime in the next 2-3 weeks we will have beautiful painted ladies flying around in this net here.  We'll keep you posted.

Uncle Caleb and Aunt Holly came to visit for a few days after the new year.  It was good fun.  We like having them around (even if Caleb did put his big foot though the side of our tub)

Here the kiddos are enjoying "quality" time with him---"G" family style.

Holly also got a shot of Roberto and I hanging out on the floor while the monkeys were otherwise occupied.

As she took this shot she said, "See....proof you guys still love each other."

Yep....we do.  We just don't always have the time to do stuff like this. 

I thought it was a super funny statement coming from a newlywed.

Give them 10 years and 4 kids.

She'll understand then that having an opportunity to even hold hands is a novelty.  :)

Anyhow...so that's how it's going with us.  How are you?

Better late than never...

Yeah...we did have Christmas at our house this year.  You would think we didn't...because I haven't blogged about it yet...but, yeah....we did.

Here's the proof.

But first....our visit to see the reindeer.

BTW, did you know Santa's reindeer like raisins?  I had no idea.  

G-McBabe informed me before we left...so we brought 

some along and...sure enough....

I'll have to remember that for next years "reindeer food".

Now for the main event...

  
Christmas Eve Photo's

(my parents used to make us take these on Christmas morning...

pure torture if you ask me.)

"Hey...what are you guys smiling at?"

"Come on [Mr. Golden Locks]...smile!"

Pretty typical going ons at our house.

"Okay....FINE.  I'll do the monkey face."

Christmas Morning

Notice how tired they are?...yeah...cuz it's 6:30AM

G-Mcbabe came into our room twice in the middle of the night.  "Is it time yet?" he would ask.  "NO!....go back to bed!!!!!!" 

Oogling over Pokemon cards...

and...my "supers" in their "CTR guy" capes

(that I spent hours and HOURS and lot of

in-the-head swear words on)

yeah...that's the best on I got.  Don't they look ecstatic?

(and they've barely worn them since....sniff, sniff)

I didn't take many pictures.  But...lucky for me the kids got a camera of their own and took plenty (mostly Little Red....over 250.)

Mr. Golden Locks "playing" with the angry birds

Little Red's feet...Mr. GL's new baby doll. A baby doll?  Yeah...what of it?

our breakfast...SO YUMMY!

Our new game....angry birds

Mini Rob's new "Batman" (Super Hero Squad) movie

We played it pretty low key this year.  We forgo-ed our annual "invite a few neighbors/friends over for Christmas Eve soup night" and ate pizza instead---just the 6 of us.  We stayed home all Christmas day (besides the 1.5 hours spent at church services) and made Christmas dinner all on our lonesome--just the 6 of us and then Skype-d with our Utah family that evening. 

Was I sad?  Lonesome?  Not really.  Not as much as I thought I would be.  In fact, it was quiet and relaxing and just plain nice.  We left for Spokane the next day to spend time with our Washington family (and friends) and that was really nice too. 

I'm kinda sad it's over.  :( 

However...there is ONE thing I am not sad about.  Saying "goodbye" to "Homer Clause" for one more year. 

 (although I can't complain too much this year...Roberto took him to work and left him there for the "season".  I only had to endure him for one day.  The kids were bummed but I was VERY happy.)

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I've been playin'...

Okay...so I have been a bit busy playin' around with my new found hobby (as in, I was in my flannel jammies until after 4:00PM yesterday. Whoops!) 

I'm quite enjoying myself (although I did tell Roberto LATE last night that, "I don't need a new hobby. I can't keep up with the ones I have." True story.)  But...sigh...it's too late.  I'm hooked.  (I got several Christmas gifts brewing up top.) 

All I need to do now is to exert a little restraint. 

I've been rehearsing some self-given commands..."MELANIE, STOP!"...."TAKE A SHOWER"..."FEED THE CRYING CHILDREN"..."USE THE BATHROOM", etc.  You know...just the basics. 

Sigh....

I'll get a handle on it.

So, for now, let's just forget about my compulsive behavior and self reprimands for a minute....

Look-y what I made.

(Remember...I'm a total novice at this. That's how easy MMS software is.)

Background paper is from North Pole Express Pack
embellishments were included in the My Memories Suite v3 software (Holiday Snows)

All page elements from kit Comfort and Joy, designed by Jenn of Dancing Princess Designs.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS KIT!

Aren't my kiddos so cute (and crazy)?

If you are interested in this digital scrapbook software, first, check out my GIVEAWAY (ends December 10, 2011) or visit you can visit MyMemories.com and check the software out HERE.  Use the code STMMMS10850 at checkout, giving you a $10 discount (making it ONLY $29.97).  Plus the software itself comes with a $10 coupon to use at the MyMemories.com store.  That's like a $20 savings.  Awesome, yes?

"I'm pretty sure we'd better like it!"

This was definitely the case at our house last night...

"What are we having?

We are having the result of the past three hours I've spent in this kitchen slaving over a hot stove in order to provide nourishment for my family!  

Not THAT again! 

Yeah, and I'm pretty sure we'd better like it."

Only I wish my kids were as wise resigned as theirs are (yes, I know it's a comic strip).

I tried a new recipe.   GASP!

Butternut squash soup (recipe found at Our Best Bites...my favorite cooking sight).

It was really good.  (Although IF I made it again, I would probably leave out the brown sugar....it was just a tad bit too sweet.)

Let's just say there were a lot of tears, and gagging...uncultured swine.  :)

At least we got some good use out of our "table manners behavior cards". 

I don't think I've posted about those yet....I will...soon.  

They are genius!

Anyway...for now, unfortunately, I don't think the squash recipe is going into our "go to" recipe pile.  It's too bad....it was cheap...and tasty.  :(

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"Thriller Flash Mob" Zombies and my little crew, too.

I'm still "geeken'" over how much fun I had last night.  These ladies ROCK!  If you haven't seen our "Thriller Flash Mob" video yet, be sure and check it out HERE.

"Thriller Flash Mob" Ladies

L to R: Amy, Jauna, Brandaige, Melanie L., Melanie G. (me), Jeanne

"Unleashing the inner Zombie"

Amy, Jauna, Brandaige, Melanie L., Melanie G. (me), Jeanne

Me and my follow dress-er up-ers

G McBabe (ninja), Little Rob (Sulley-from Monsters Inc), Mr. Golden Locks (froggy), Me (El Zombie), Little Red (Darth Vader)

Where's Roberto?  Being a party pooper.

He told the kids he dressed up as "a dad with four boys".

Clever Rob...real clever.

Happy Halloween!

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