Thanksgiving

These girls (and joe and the kids) came for Thanksgiving!!!! Besides the raw turkey, the week was perfect. I didn't want it to end. These girls bring out the best in me- I love love love them!

Mac and gray were both fighting over McKinnely. At lunch Gray was sitting by McKinnly and Mac said " McKinnly you can never trust gray, he hurts people." It was hilarious!!

Southern lights. Mac and gray rode the camel. Mac awkwardly held on to the camel and yelled " is it over yet?!"

Keeneland

Mj playing the ukulele while the kids dance

The kids were a dream. They played perfectly! Annie loved her girls and so did the boys.

Miscarriage

I've debated posting this here on the blog but I feel like I want this in our family book. 

Drew and I have been trying to have a baby since June of 2012. After 9 months of no luck we both had test done and everything looked fine- nothing wrong. I remember last August being a super hard month. I so desperately wanted a baby and had always thought I would have a spring baby and finding out yet again we weren't pregnant was hard. After more priesthood blessings, I was reminded that we would have a baby in the near future, and God was aware of our situation.  Well, in September we got good news. We were pregnant, we would have a baby around may 7! I needed this. A week later i started feeling sick and man was I happy! I usually don't enjoy this time but the year of wanting, made me excited for all the things pregnancy brings. 

As the weeks went on I noticed some spotting. Around 9 weeks, it got worse but I wasn't too worried, this isn't abnormal for me. When we went to our 10 week appointment things didn't look so good. The ultrasound found that the baby did have a heart beat but was only measuring at 6 weeks. The doctor said I must have my dates wrong or it wasnt developing right but to come back the next week and see if the baby had grown. I knew right then we would miscarry. It was just like my first miscarriage. I was devastated. Logically I knew this was part of life and the baby wasn't developing right and it's better to loose it now than later. But non of that was comforting. 

A couple of friends knew I was pregnant out here. They all checked in on me to see how the appointment went. I'm blessed with good friends that stepped in and comforted me and cried with me. When drew got home from work, I asked for another blessing. The blessing confirmed my feelings and we both knew we would miscarry. My parents came into town that night. We took the week slow and I ended up miscarrying  Friday night October 11. 

It was a blessing that my parents were there. The kids never knew anything was wrong. They took care of them and kept me positive and out of the "sorry for myself" funk. The next couple of weeks were hard. I would think I was fine and then totally loose it and cry myself to sleep. Once the hormones leveled off I was better. 

Things like this are hard to go through but the comfort and love I felt going through it brought me closer to my Heavenly Father and I'm grateful for that. 

A quick visit with my parents during their 2 hour layover in Cincinnati.  

Visitors!

Back in November grandma Rita and grandpa Bret came to visit and boy were we excited. Drew was getting ready to go to trial so it was really nice to have them around, they couldn't have come at a better time! (For me- poor drew was stuck in West Virginia a lot of the time). 

Lunch at Wallace Station 

2 different days we ate lunch with the boys. They loved introducing their friends to their grandparents. 

We decided to make a quilt for Annie. I have never quilted before but had always wanted to learn. Mom was a great teacher and I now have a new hobby:) 

Keeneland...being so far away from family is a huge sacrifice for everyone. I'm grateful we have family that make it easier on us by coming to visit! Thanks for coming grandma Rita and grandpa Bret!!!!!

Mac

This Sunday Drew got a new calling. I was overwhelmed. Sunday morning we had a big meeting so we dropped the kids off at a friends house.  After a long emotional morning, I sat in stake conference, with the kids while Drew sat on the stand. I was wrestling with Annie and after taking her out 3 + times, I asked Mac  to take her to get a drink. 5 minutes later he came back and said "I lost annie" We both got up to look for her, she was right in the foyer with a friend. But as we were walking out together I thought, "This is going to be a crazy couple of years but it's ok, I have Mac." At only 7 years old, Mac is wise beyond his years and so helpful! He's always trying to do what's right. He knows how to smooth situations over and seems to know exactly when I need him. I'm going to have to rely heavily on him, especially on those long Sundays but I have a feeling that he will rise to the occasion. 

Annie

Drew has been in trial in West Virginia all week. When he goes out of town I usually  A.  get into a cleaning frenzy B. become the crazy craft women C. become a book addict or D. redecorate the house. This week I became all 4. Read all day monday and cleaned out my cupboards. Tuesday started a quilt and brought out the Christmas decorations. Wednesday and Thurday I spent the days/ nights finishing up those projects. The whole time I had Annie a long for the ride. She's my little sidekick, when I cleaned, she cleaned. When I read she played quietly next me. When I decorated she undid everything I did. She's crazy but I love having her around.

Annie is still passionate about life. - that's a good way to put it right? She's into that "hiding when being naughty" stage. She loves hiding with my makeup bag and applying as much as she can before being found. And when found saying "mommy, I look pretty!" When she knows I'm upset or getting after her for doing something wrong she looks at me with a big smile and says "mommy, you beautiful" and then i can't help but smile and laugh. she must have done this 10 times today. Seriously, she knows how to smooth things over. She still adores her brothers but when in trouble or has to go to bed or time out, she cries- "I want Mackie" if Mac is home he cuddles with her and tells her what she should have done or what she should do. It's probably the sweetest thing ever and something I try to emulate. He's so patient with her and loving. She's lucky to have him around:)

I love my little Annie girl!

She helped me collect pine cones for a christmas craft

wearing my boots and making us laugh during FHE

During one of our many trips to the fabric store.

Cheering for Mac during his basketball game

that's orange chapstick! she loves make-up- oh boy!

She loves babies, especially this one.

Annie is also in that "mommy" stage. She has 3 babies at all times. Usually she's putting them down for naps "shhhh they're sleeping" This is Scarlet she's a good sport, Annie carried her around most of the morning cause "scarlet's a baby, she needs me"

Waiting for the cookies to finish- still loves her sweets

 

 

 

Halloween

Ward trunk or treat. 

Pumpkin carving FHE 

Halloween story time at the library  

The weather was suppose to be really bad so the city of Lexington postponed treat or treating to Friday. I knew the kids would be sad so we had a Halloween party with just our family. We made "grave yard" pudding, Spider Oreos, skeletons out of Q-tips And explosive eyeballs. 

Trick or Treating 

" handing out candy"