An Almond Joy or a Mounds????

So I have hit 18 weeks and I'm finally not so sick anymore! This pregnancy has been a bit different than the others and I have been twice the size than I usually am at this stage, I am mostly showing sideways this time :(

We had our first ultra sound this afternoon to see how far along I really am, to see if the extra weight might be an extra baby, and to see if we are having a boy or a girl.

Turns out it's only one baby and that I am just extra fat...awesome....and that it is an "Almond Joy" and my kids will be having a little baby BROTHER!!

I love this man

Happy 8th Anniversary!

"How sweet is the assurance, how comforting is the peace that come from the knowledge that if we marry right and live right, our relationship will continue, notwithstanding the certainty of death and the passage of time. Men may write love songs and sing them. They may yearn and hope and dream. But all of this will be only a romantic longing unless there is an exercise of authority that transcends the powers of time and death."--Gordon B. Hinckley

Maciers~ 2 1/2

All A'board!!

I love that my family has always made holidays HUGE and a Big deal. Maybe a little over the top...but I have to say that my best memories are of the times like these. This year since the kids are at just the right age my dad had the greatest idea to start a new tradition, and maybe one of my favorites!
The week leading up to Christmas Eve my kids worked extra hard to do nice things around the house for each other to earn money (pretend money) not knowing what it was for.

When Christmas Eve came we headed to Grandma and Grandpa's house in our PJ's and first did the usual Christmas things like making Borax ornaments and having a gingerbread house competition with the Macdonald family.

Next, as the kids were out of the room Grandpa fired up the popcorn machine and set up a little candy store. When the kids came upstairs they were so excited to get to spend their money on some goodies and popcorn and....a ticket!!

Then they had to take their ticket and treats to the "gate" and get their ticket punched by the ticket master. Next they boarded the "train" and settled in to watch The Polar Express.

Making sure they stoped for a hot chocolate break when the movie did too.

After the movie the kids were all given a special gift, their own Christmas bell. It was a night of so much fun and happy smiling faces.

First annual ugly Christmas sweater party!

We had an ugly Christmas sweater party and I want to do it every year. SO FUN!

The pictures (and Scott's mustache) speak for themselves....although I forgot to start taking pictures till we were halfway done.

Ward Cowboy Christmas Party

Friday we had a ward Christmas party that was western themed and it was so fun.

The ladies on the activities committee did a great job putting it together, and anything Suzanne Stewart is in charge of turns out fab!! I think all the decorations came from her home.

The kids got to sing in a skit and Santa even came. We ate yummy delish soup and all different kinds of breads.

We are lucky to be in such an awesome ward here in Klamath!

Fun and games

We have been Christmas crazy over at our house. I LOVE this time of year, everything is so exciting and full of magic.

We have been wrapping presents, drinking hot cocoa, making snow forts and having snowball fights. This year I have 2 kids in school so making treats for their friends and teachers has been major time consuming! Connor has 12 in his class and 25 for Ellie. I have made A LOT of these!!So we needed a break! Scott and I went out on a date night with our friends Scott and Cassie and came home to play games. I thought I would just put the kids to bed so we could have a quiet night... but did I mention that Scott and Cassie are some of my kids favorite people!!

And for some strange reason :) they like our crazy kids too. So we all played games together. This game is a long time tradition in the Mortenson family. My Dad has played it with all of my sisters and I and all of our friends. If you ever had my dad for seminary, you too may have played this game.

It's called the Flour Game and you have to make a tight mound of flour and put a piece of candy on top. We used whoppers this time. You each take a turn shaving off the flour with a knife without making the candy fall. If it does.......You have to get it with your mouth!!! No hands!





We love you Stevens!!! Thanks for being such good sports!

snowflake festival 09

We braved the freezing cold another year for the snowflake parade downtown. This was the second year in a row my 2 older kids have been able to be in the parade with Grandma and Grandpa Mortenson and ride in on the Sheriff's Dive Rescue boat.

A plus for Scott and I because we got to enjoy the parade trying to keep only one little munchkin warm. We headed downtown early and went to Dinner on Main street and then headed out just in time to watch the crazy shirtless runners finish the race before the parade.

(yummy pretzels in her teeth)

This pic's were taken within seconds of each other, for some reason the floats that usually inch past people at 2 miles an hour flew past us!

The kids were cold but had so much fun.

Already???

It's DECEMBER already!!

We are all excited over at our house. We put up the Christmas tree and all the decorations last week. We have been reading a new Christmas story every night and had our Christmas music going since October.

And what's this time of year without a ton of treats!! We have started our stock pile and it's hard to stop. Best time of the year!

Ellie is in a music/ singing class here in town that my friend runs. Last month they had their first recital and this month they were in a talent show in 4th Ward for their Christmas Party.

Here are some pictures of the class singing, and a pretty serious faced Ellie...who is bravely singing with 2 ear infections.

And then there is the inseparable Connor and Isa, dancing to piano music and getting a little snuggly!