Go Diego, Go!

Carson loves watching Diego these days. When it is his turn to choose a show he almost always selects Diego. At the end of each episode there are questions regarding what the show was about, usually facts about the animal the episode was about. There are two choices for the answer. Carson always chooses the wrong one, on purpose! Kind of funny.

Blog title

At the beginning of December, I had an ultrasound after having a pregnancy complication. Without going into too much detail, one of my doctors was concerned about the baby's bowel when viewing it on the ultrasound. So I was sent to a high risk OB for another US the next week. It was a nerve wrecking week, but honestly I really felt at peace about it. During that US, Chad & I were able to see the baby who at one point gave us a thumbs up! The high risk OB wasn't overly impressed or concerned but didn't say that it was perfectly normal either.

We don't do the genetic screenings that are offered during pregnancy. We feel like these screenings just tell you your risk & aren't very definitive. Plus it wouldn't change how we would proceed in the pregnancy. The high risk OB suggested we have another US in 4-6 weeks to have that US to compare with the first.

I had this US this past week. We decided to also find out the baby's gender at this time. Chad would have liked to wait and be surprised....I was ok with this but at times really wanted to know. That is the planner in me! So Chad said "I think you want to know more, than I don't want to know." So at my US last Tuesday, I didn't look while she was checking but had the tech right down on a piece of paper the gender of the baby & put it in an envelope. She actually printed out a few pictures as proof and included those in the envelope as well.

The high risk OB told me that everything looked great, nothing to be concerned about! So thankful and a wonderful answer to prayer. What a relief!!

That evening after dinner, the four of us sat down and opened the envelope....it is a boy!! We are all excited and can't wait to meet this little guy in about 14 weeks! So no need to change the title of this blog, we just need to start thinking more about little boy names! Carson likes to suggest names such as "Buzz Lightyear" & "Brittany". Andrew was quick to tell him that Brittany was a girl name, so Carson then suggested "ALVIN!!" :) I'm thinking that it might be a bit wild with 3 boys, but it will be a few years before this little one can mix it up with Andrew & Carson.

Kauffman cousin time

These cousins have so much fun together. Often they don't even need adult intervention or suggestions.

Here they are playing a game with Grandma, I think it was Bingo.
Here they are all bundled up to head outside for some sledding. They spent several hours outside sledding each day. Anna & Andrew were usually the last ones to come in.

Here is the whole crew on the couch with Bradley. I'm thinking Andrew was up to something in this picture. Pretty sure it was pure and honest orneriness!

Christmas with the Kauffmans

Sunday evening Dec. 26th we headed to the Kauffmans. We shared a late evening meal together, sang some songs, listened to scripture and a Children's story and exchanged gifts.

Below you will see Grandpa Byron, Grandma Barb, Chad with Carson, Bradley's arms holding Rowan, Renee & Lucca. Leah, Andrew & Grandpa Byron. Andrew enjoying his new tablet and pens.

Anna opening her sweater and beads to make jewelry; Tisha, Emma & Leah

Grandma Barb holding baby Rowan. He was born Nov. 5th. Fun to have a little one around again to hold and snuggle with.

We attempted a cousins picture. Oldest at the top (holding the youngest) stair stepping down to the youngest. Leah with Rowan, Anna, Andrew, Emma, Lucca & Carson. Carson held the title of youngest in the Kauffman family for 4 years but has passed the title on to Rowan....at least for a few more months until our little one is born. After attempting to get a nice picture where everyone was looking and smiling (not sure we accomplished that) we let them do whatever they wanted. Which meant crossing your legs, doing different gestures with your hands and silly faces!

Anna & Leah, with Tisha accompanying, did a little piano recital for us.

Carson holding Rowan.
I think someone is going to be a good little helper!

Christmas with the Shorts

While at my parents we were able to attend the Christmas Eve service together as well as church on Sunday morning. My Dad was chorister Sunday morning and was also asked to get some special music together. Our family and my uncle LaVon, cousin Darin & his daughter Morgan all sang that morning. It's always enjoyable for me to sing in a group, especially special with family.

Everyone in my family was at Mom & Dad's after church on Sunday for a meal, fellowship and gift opening.

My brother Ben & his little girl Abby

This twirly ribbon was really a present for Abby but Andrew seemed to really enjoy it.

The boys each received a Toy Story sleeping bag for Christmas that came with this alien eye sleep mask. Too funny.

My parents celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary Dec. 26th. My siblings & I each wrote down some favorite family memories and things we appreciated about our wonderful parents. We also gave them some money for a weekend away to celebrate. So thankful for two wonderful parents!

We were sad to miss my Mom's extended family gathering that Sunday evening but it was time for us to head to the Kauffmans. It seems to get more and more difficult to get every one's schedules to jive at Christmas!

Sledding on Christmas Eve

The boys thought it would be fun to go sledding while at my parents at Christmas. It had warmed up a little and the sun had melted some of the snow but they still thought there was enough snow on the hill to sled....that is debatable!

Andrew was all smiles and full of comments like "This is so AWESOME!"

Carson heading down the hill. Usually when he went by himself he wiped out at the bottom. One time it was really bad...head over heals, snow covering his little face and even up his nose. He wasn't too pleased with this but managed to go up the hill again. I think from then on he always recruited someone to sled with him.

Andrew was loving it!

Chad usually went down with Carson,

but he did convince Tric & Grandma to go down with him too!

Wish I had video of that! There was some screaming.

Merry Christmas!

Here are two of the pictures our friend took for us. We hope you had a very Merry Christmas spent with family and friends remembering the true reason for this wonderful season. Peace and Joy to you in this coming new year!

Fort

The boys & I made this fort. Aren't they so cute laying inside watching TV?

Ice skating party

A good friend of Andrew's had a birthday party in Columbus at The Chiller. Andrew had lots of fun with this Stinger mascot for the Columbus Bluejackets hockey team. Carson on the other hand wouldn't go near this large green bee. But later the white bear, I believe Chiller mascot, came by and Carson thought he was ok. Andrew had his first experience with ice skating. He did pretty well with Chad's help. (Carson didn't want to try skating which was ok with me - not sure I should be ice skating right now espically helping a little one who might pull me down.)

I think these pictures were taken at the beginning of the skate time. By the end, Andrew was skating alone a lot of the time.

Andrew turns 6!

Andrew is now 6 years old. His birthday was on November 16th. Here he is enjoying his birthday cupcake.

He was excited to take cupcakes to school to celebrate with his kindergarten classmates. He decided that he wanted both white & chocolate cupcakes because some of his friends didn't like chocolate cupcakes. I told him I would just buy them then, which he was fine with. I was relieved because after baking for Carson's class birthday party & then for their birthday party with family, I really didn't feel like baking again so soon & two different kinds! But isn't that thoughtful of him? He was a bit disappointed because at school he had to have a white cupcake but really prefers chocolate. I was glad I saved some chocolate ones from the container for at home for him.

Batman Birthday Party

Back on Nov. 13th (boy am I ever behind!) we had a joint Birthday party for Andrew & Carson. I had thought Andrew may want his own party this year with friends but he surprised me and said he wanted to have a party again with family and next year he can have one with friends. I was actually quite touched cause I know how much he loves going to friends' birthday parties.



It was decided that the theme would be Batman. Here is the birthday cake.





and the boys with the Batman birthday cake. (impossible to get them both looking & smiling)

Carson blowing out his 4 candles (love his curly blond locks)

and Andrew blowing out his 6 candles (how can that be?)
next November, we will have a 7 year old, 5 year old & 6 month old!

Some cousin time with the new DS, Leapster & a pinball game.

At least they are all together, right?

We had a great Birthday party with family. Thanks for making it so fun for us all!

Christmas pictures

We had family pictures taken this fall outside. I really was pretty pleased with the way they turned out. Lots of beautiful fall leaves and the day was perfect to be outside. The boys did pretty well. Carson is not one to look at the photographer, no matter who it is. And neither of the boys smiled their natural smile but over all did well.

We considered ordering our family picture from that photographer for our Christmas card but decided it was just too expensive. A friend of ours enjoys photography and has taken pictures of his own kids as well as other families but became too stressed out doing it professionally, especially weddings because you can't really do a re shoot if the couple isn't happy. So I asked if he would be willing to take some pictures for us.

We went over this past Saturday and had a great time with them. We took pictures in their basement where he had back drops and lights set up. The boys did really well, I think it helped that his wife and kids were getting the boys to look in the right direction and smile a natural smile. He also took pictures in rapid fire sequence, one right after the other, which I also think helpe a lot. We shared a meal together and some playtime/conversation.

We ordered one of the family pictures for our Christmas card - which you will see at a later date. Here is one of the two boys.

And here it is after a little editing. He gave the boys alien eyes. Andrew thought we should definitely send this one out as our Christmas card!

Bribes

I can remember bribing my younger brother to do various tasks for us. "Tim, will you please go get the ______? ...... I will time you!" And off he ran.

Well this morning I witnessed the bribery beginning between these two little siblings. I walked out into the living room where Andrew was getting dressed. I saw Carson pick up Andrew's pjs and carry them into Andrew room. I followed Carson and asked what he was doing. He very excitedly told me that Andrew had paid him to do it, as he proudly held up the wadded dollar bill in his hand. Too funny.

Lots & Lots of Leaves

Chad has worked out in the yard a few nights now getting all the leaves back into the woods. He uses a blower for a lot of it. The boys were out with their ball bats and were swings at the leaves as he blew them out of the yard.

This is a big pile of leaves they put together. If you look really closely you can see the tip of someone's head....
surprise! It is Carson.

Halloween 2010

Carson was Batman and Andrew was Robin for Halloween this year. They (well Andrew) was a bit disappointed that we didn't get to go Trick or Treating around our neighborhood like we have in years past.

Halloween weekend we were in Goshen, IN for a cousin of Chad's wedding. We love being back in Goshen, seeing friends and family. I told Andrew as we drove passed Goshen College, that this is where Mommy & Daddy went to college and where we met. His response was something like "you mean it is still here?!" It was a beautiful weekend weather wise and the wedding was simple yet beautiful all at the same time. Julia & Josh have some very talented friends and we enjoyed the music at the reception so much. The boys were showing off their dance moves. One particular song I really liked was a song sung by three young ladies, One Voice by The Wailin' Jennys. Again so simple, so beautiful. One of the young ladies that sung this song at the reception I used to babysit! This made me feel really old! She was the youngest of the three siblings I used to watch.

So back to Halloween, we found some alternatives to Halloween. The Children's Garden in town had trick or treating the week before. The students who attend the career center were dressed in costumes, which I think was a bit puzzling for the boys. They were really quiet when getting candy from the students...kind of dazed. We also went to a local nursing home the night before leaving for Goshen. The boys received candy from the residents there, had some cookies and played a few games. They each had parties at school as well on the Friday before Halloween.

Here are some pictures of the dynamic duo.

Look at those muscles

At the children's garden parking lot

I guess the sun was a bit bright!

On the way to the children's garden

At the children's garden