Christmas presents

Just a few favorites from the Christmas festivities.

 

 

 

Christmas Sunday

 

I love that Christmas fell on a Sunday this year.  We only had an hour of church and it didn't start until 11am, so we had time to have a nice breakfast and open one gift each and the kids got some time with Santa's presents.  Then we got to go worship and take the Sacrament and sing beautiful Christmas songs and see people we love.  Stone and I sang in the choir and it was just a great day. Merry Christmas from Japan!

Christmas Eve Jammies!

Ken and I decided that the kids didn't need new pajamas this year so we opted to forgo the annual tradition of opening new ones on Christmas Eve.  Foolish parents!  The kids love this!  Ken's folks to the rescue!  They sent the coziest pjs for the kids.  They were beyond excited! (Pepper was quite sick this Christmas so her happy face is missing most of the time.)

 

 

 

 

 

First trimester--check!

Disclaimer: I wrote (but did not publish) the next three posts over the last few months. I didn't want to forget my thoughts, but I thought they'd publish when I wrote them, not when I published.  Anyway, they are out of chronological order and it bugs me but I don't know how to fix it.

 

 

Today marks the last day of my first trimester! Finally. I've been so sick and miserable, I'm happy to celebrate the completion of this trimester.  This ultrasound was taken on November 23, 2016.  It's a cute little teddy bear a-growin'.  The doctor pegged my due date as June 20, 2017.  Hooray for another June baby! 

Rice and a bump

I won't publish this post until my pregnancy is common knowledge, but we have almost made it to 12 weeks along.  This pregnancy thus far has been awful.  I'm so nauseous all.the.time.  I've had a headache for at least the last six weeks, it has been bordering on migraine for probably over three.  I have puked more times that all my other pregnancies combined, so needless to say it's been pretty rough.  My sweet friend Kristin invited Pepper and Grey and I over for lunch this week and fed us the most delicious chicken fried rice.  Well, apparently that was just what I needed because I couldn't stop obsessing over my need for some fried rice.  I've never made it before, but I attempted and it was amazing!!! My day was crazy, but I had to have my rice!  I took this picture on my way to pick up the big boys from the bus stop. I didn't have time to eat before we left, so I ate on the road.  Check out the growing bump!

We are crazy!

When I was pregnant with Little P, we had pretty much decided that she was going to be our last baby.  Being pregnant and nursing sooo many babies had really taken a toll on my body and we felt like whether she was a boy or a girl, she'd be the last.  Fast forward to two months after she was born. The moment I realized that my beautiful baby was a girl, my heart swelled to bursting.  I finally had a girl!  She was so mellow in the first couple weeks (sleeping through the night), long enough for Ken and I to realize that we'd probably have to start discussing birth control sooner rather than later.  I wasn't sure whether I felt done, but Ken was.  I set the appointment, got the Rx for the iud, but couldn't do it.  After much fasting and prayer and soul-searching, I discovered that in my heart of hearts, I wanted one more baby.  On the fast Sunday that we were fasting about it, there was a little girl being blessed, and I started bawling during the blessing because I knew I wanted one more.  SO, I canceled the appointment for the iud (the day before) and we decided that we were going to try to have another baby.  We are crazy.  I began trying to get my body healthy again.  Blood tests, hair analysis, supplements up the wazoo, exercise.  You name it.  After still not cycling 15 months postpartum, I started going to an acupuncturist.  He said my body had "no power" because of all my babies.  Well, it only took three sessions, and I find myself pregnant yet again!  I am so happy and so scared that I will lose it.  My tummy is already huge because that is just what it does when I get pregnant.  No one knows yet because I just want to keep it to ourselves for the moment (although, let's be honest, I'm sure everyone here is speculating).  I can't wait to meet this last bundle of joy.  I can't wait to feel like my family is complete.  I can't wait to finally stop looking around for the missing child who isn't here yet.  I already love this little sesame seed so much.  I am so excited, and beyond grateful, that I get to do this one more time.  Yay for another baby!

Visit to Santa

A visit with Santa is hand to come by in these parts. We took the opportunity to go see him yesterday at the MCX.  First up was Grover.  He asked for a dog.  What?! Quite a shock to us.  We can't have a dog here so we are hoping he's not too disappointed with what Santa brings...

 

 

Ollie wants a remote control car.

 

 

Stone said he wants lots and lots of books, but in his letter to Santa he asked for an electric guitar.  We will see which request Santa fills.

 

 

Grey was totally nervous, but he didn't cry and he asked Santa for a car. We were so proud of the fact that he talked to Santa!

 

 

Peps was not super thrilled to be on the big man's lap, but I think because her brothers were there, she was ok with it.  Yay for a year with no tears!!

 

Busted chin and a new nursery recruit

It finally happened.  Five kids and it took until my fourth boy was 3 1/2--a busted chin in the shower.  A common occurrence.  Ken still has scars on his chin from when he was little and did the same thing repeatedly.  Grey was being a little stinker the other day and running away from me.  The shower was still wet since we'd just gotten out and he biffed it.  Split his chin opened.  I debated for a while whether or not to take him to the clinic to get it glued, but decided to forgo that experience and do my best to patch it up here at home.  It's been a handful of days and it is healing up nicely.  While on the subject of Grey, I started reading lessons last week with him!  He loves it.  It is interesting to see how the small motor control in his hands isn't where it would be if I waited another year or so--the writing part is hard, but he's progressing and having fun, so we are just going to see where it takes us.  As long as it stays fun, we will keep it up.  If it becomes a battle, we will pause for a bit.  I love this boy so much.  I was telling Ken just last night how grateful I am for my boy #4.  When we were getting ready to have his ultrasound to find out whether he was a boy or a girl, I didn't tell anyone.  I wanted to have time to process if it was in fact another boy.  I was disappointed at the moment.  I think I may have even teared up a bit, but I moved on and embraced and began to love my role as the mother of four boys.  To this day, he is the happiest person I know.  His smile is as big as the moon.  This boy is my light and I wouldn't trade my boy #4 for 100 girls.

 

This week, Miss Pepper turned 18 months old!  Yesterday she was nursery-bound officially!  Of course she loves it and doesn't mind leaving Ken or I at all.  I snapped this picture in the morning before we left for church.  She had on her new squeaky boots and I just couldn't stop smiling at this most perfect little girl.  She's so fun!  And determined!  She's like a smiley Grover.  Wow does she have a mind of her own!  She LOVES dresses (what?) and shoes and dessert.  When she sees dessert coming, she gives what her brothers have coined her "dessert alert".  It is the loudest, happiest scream you've ever heard.  She (still) adores her brothers.  She and Grey have so much fun playing together while the big boys are at school.  Her vocabulary is starting to take off and she will respond to most verbal cues and instructions.  This is a huge step considering we were worried about developmental delays about six months ago.  She's a delight.  She's taught me (and triggered me!) so much since she made her debut a year and a half ago.  As grateful as I am to be the mom of four boys, I am equally grateful to have the chance to raise a daughter.

 

Native American skills, Santa, and a flood

Tomorrow, Stone has a huge project due at school.  In social studies, they have been learning all about the Northeast region. He chose to do his project on the Native Americans.  Ken was a rock star dad and taught him all sorts of amazing skills this weekend.  Stone learned to hand sew leather, use a knife, and make a fire with sticks.  He made his own little medicine bag and his own fire starting kit. Tonight, he did his presentation for us and did a fantastic job! I'm so proud of the young man he is becoming.  His prayers are becoming so much more meaningful. He's learning to play the guitar. He is helpful with the little kids (when he wants to be). He is a self-motivator when it comes to his homework. Earlier in the year, he was chosen by his teacher to join a peer leadership group to welcome new students when they PCS to Iwakuni. He's just amazing.  I'm so lucky to call him mine!

 

The kids are all looking forward to Christmas of course.  This is Grover's Santa letter this year.  He just wants to understand where Santa parks his reindeer.  :)

 

 

Grey is old enough to start understanding Christmas and it's like everything is new to him. His most exciting discovery this year is that Rudolf has a light bulb nose. I'm not sure what his letter to Santa says, but Grey was pretty excited about it. This kid cracks me up. He is so intelligent. Almost every day, he asks me to define words for him. These words are not words that I used that day either. They are words he has tucked away to make sense of at a later time. Some of the words I can remember off the top of my head are pioneer, foundation, ignore. I'll update with more of them if I can remember.  Suffice it to say, this kid is hilarious and bright.  Love him!

 

 

Oh, and because we've been too lazy to switch out the clothes, this kid has been wearing 18-24 month pants for the last while.  I've been just rolling them up and we call them "man-pris"--capris for a man.  Anyway, men here wear capris and Grey is cute so he gets away with it.  Last weekend, before I would approve of setting up the tree, I insisted we switch out clothes. Grey is now a 2T (! We are all very proud!) but when he wears normal size pants, he rolls them up because that's where he is used to them hitting. Cracks me up.

 

 

 

 

November

Well, apparently, November has come and gone.  It was a crazy month.  The kids didn't attend a full week of school the whole month due to holidays, end of the quarter, and parent teacher conferences.  It was nice to have them around so much.  Rather that dedicate a post to each picture, I'm just combining it into our month. Here it goes!

The weather has been fairly pleasant lately. The rain finally eased up. We took the opportunity to get out for a quick hike amongst some of the craziness.  It was the first time Grey actually hiked instead of rode on someone's back.  He did awesome!

 

Ken and I sent off our absentee ballots.

 

 

Stone made Principal's Honor Roll for a first quarter report card of all A's!

 

 

Ollie disguised his turkey as a sheep! The turkey made it safely through the Thanksgiving season safely!

 

 

Stone's class had a friendship feast where they got to bring a traditional food that represents their family culture and present to the class and all the parents about that food. He chose to bring a family favorite--poppy seed bread.

 

 

And for Thanksgiving, Ken and I made our very first turkey!  Take note of the Billings' grimace in the first picture. 

 

Stuff that turkey baby!

This picture makes me sad--doesn't do the turkey justice at all.  It wasn't browned on the outside because we had to cook it in the roaster because we don't have an oven big enough for a turkey.  The turkey did look good (before the trip in the car) and it tasted excellent.  We were quite pleased with ourselves.

 



 

After Thanksgiving was over, we went to the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on base.  Terrible picture, but, hey proof we were there.

 

 

Bring on December!