Christmas with the Michels

Okay, so it's been a really long time since I posted last so I apologize. The holidays made life really crazy for us, in addition to remodeling a home which was another HUGE project. So, this threw things off for our family and we're just getting back on track. So, expect to see a number of new posts all put up within a matter of days as I attempt to "re-document" the things we have experienced the last few months.

So, I guess I will just share a few of the biggest events since the last post, in order of when they happened. In the middle of December my sister Candice flew over from New York with her family and it was such a priveledge to spend some time with them, although it is always too short when you don't get to see eachother very often. This would be the third time this year and she's thinking she probably won't be coming over at all next year. They came down for Cory's brother's wedding (A lot of weddings this year.) We got to celebrate Christmas with the Michels a little early- on Dec 13th. We exchanged gifts and did our little nativity scene with the kids, had a traditional German dinner (yummy! Glese, Rouladin, routkohl (probably spelled wrong)- I look forward to that every year.) Erika and Kyle enjoyed spending time with their cousins Lucy and Logan. We also had the opportunity of going to the Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert at Temple Square with Natalie Cole singing with the choir. It was great! I just want my family to know how much I love them and how grateful I am to have such positive influences there for me.

Exciting News!!!

We just wanted to let everyone know the exciting news in our family. We are expecting our fourth baby! I just had my first doctor's appointment last week and that made it so much more real for me. There was actually a heartbeat and I could see the little "peanut" on the ultrasound. We didn't want to tell anyone until we knew FOR SURE. So, now it's official. My due date is June 11th, so it will probaby come at the beginning of June or very end of May. I am currently 12 weeks along. We are all really excited. The kids are looking forward to having a new baby in the family. So far, I have been feeling pretty well with not too many adverse symptoms. We'll let you know when we find out what is is! What a wonderful thing to be grateful for this Thanksgiving weekend!

Kyle's Birthday

My little boy turned four years old on Nov 10th. We had such a fun day together! In the morning before daddy went to work, Kyle couldn't wait to open some of his presents. He was thrilled to get some new CARS, of all things, and a backpack to put them in. He also got a few other odds and ends. It was fun just to watch him get so excited about a few little cars. He got his birthday present early this year- a bike, which we gave him in August so he'd have a chance to ride it a little before it got too cold. That's the challenge of having a November birthday. He also got a new helmet and knee pads (Lightning McQueen, of course.) It was really cute- when he opened the knee pads, he said, "Yes! Now I can go work with you, dad!" He had seen his dad out building with knee pads on and figured that was what they were for. He loves to be daddy's little helper and has been out back "helping" Aaron build the garage in our backyard.

I got to go with Kyle to his preschool and talk about the four years of his life and how much he's changed and learned during that time. It was fun to watch him interact at his school, and to help the teachers out. Heidi got to join in the fun, too.

Kyle had requested to go bowling on his birthday so later that night we went to "Wild Bill's" bowling alley where we enjoyed pizza and hamburgers. Kyle was so into the bowling he hardly had time to eat. The best part for him was that he got to have his own bowling pin with his name on it. He got to color on it and put stickers on it. We all wrote a birthday greeting, too. We all had a great time! Then, we went back to the house for some cake and ice cream. I had spent HOURS on the Lightning McQueen cake for his birthday. (Before, whenever we asked him what he wanted, all he would say was, "I want a Lightning McQueen cake." That was it) I think it turned out okay.

We love our Kyle. He is such a fun boy and adds so much life to our family. Thank you, Kyle, for letting us love and teach you. You bring us so much happiness!

Halloween

We had a great time this Halloween. Erika decided she wanted to be a mummy for Halloween so I made her costume. It ended up being a bigger project than I thought it would be so I was up until 11 pm the night before, gluing and cutting. She got to wear her costume for the Garland Elementary parade the day before Halloween and it was fun to go and watch her at the school. It is fun to see all the kids dressed up and having a good time. Erika ended up winning an award at the end of the day for "The Best Mummy in the School". Yeah!!! (There was more than one mummy- I promise.)

Kyle wanted to be a skeleton this year so I made him a costume and he got to wear it to preschool the Thursday before for a little Halloween party. I was going to paint the bones with "Glow-in-The-Dark" paint but got too busy and so he wasn't quite as cool as he could've been but I don't think he cared.

Heidi, of course, was an adorable bunny and just happy to wear whatever we put on her. She was smiling so big. (I think she knew she looked dang cute and wasn't afraid to flaunt it).

Halloween night, we went out as early as we could and the kids had so much fun, they didn't want to go home, even though it was well past bedtime. We have a great trick-or-treating neighborhood with most everyone home and people we know so it makes things easy. Also, the weather was simply wonderful. We brought Lucky along and he had fun saying "Hello" to many new people. Aaron and I took shifts with the kids and each took a block. I took Heidi in the stroller and she kept climbing in and then wanting to get out at every door. (This made it a long process!) At our house, we had over 100 trick-or-treaters and hardly much time to sit down in-between. It was a great night. My favorite part was just how excited my kids were to get out, especially when they saw all the candy.

My brother's wedding

On October 24th, 2009, my brother Nathan was married in the Salt Lake temple to his sweet wife Jordan. She is so great for him and I am so happy for him. I could tell they were both so happy and I think they are at the start of something truly wonderful. There is nothing like a wedding to bring so much excitement and joy, especially when it is under such good circumstances. I am so proud of them for the good choices they have made to make this such a special event. There is no other decision more important in this life. They had an open house the night before the wedding at my parents' house and that was a lot of fun. I enjoyed playing the piano for some of it. The kids had a great time playing with their cousins Lucy and Logan from New York. I was glad my sister was able to come down for the wedding with her kids. They are so great! The wedding day was truly wonderful! The sealing room was packed full of family and close friends and the spirit there was greater than I have ever felt in a temple sealing. It was a really neat experience for me. Afterwards, we got some pictures in front of the temple, but it was quite windy so we had a hard time getting the kids to take off their jackets. We walked around temple square for awhile and then had the wedding luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. It was a truly wonderful day that I was glad to share with my family.

A new baby nephew!

A few weeks ago we got to down to Salt Lake and see our newest little nephew. His name is Colton Ullrich Michel and he was born on September 17, 2009. We saw him the next day in the hospital. He is adorable! I am happy for John and Madison in the start of this new little family and hope that they can find joy in the adventure of parenthood.

We also had the opportunity of attending my cousin Chris's temple sealing in the Salt Lake temple and that was really neat. I don't think there's any way my kids could not know how important the temple is to us with how many times we have been there together. I am so glad to have the knowledge that we CAN be together forever as a family! After the wedding, we got to go on a tour of the roof of the conference center and also walked through a very inspiring art display there. After that, we got to spend some time with grandma and grandpa Parkinson, Aaron's brother Thayne and his lovely wife and daughter at Liberty park. It was soo great to see them! What a great weekend!

A trip to Boise

September 25-27th we headed up to Boise to spend the weekend with Aaron's parents. We had such a great time! We enjoyed the Boise zoo and rode the paddle boats on the duck pond. Mom and I went to the Women's Conference at her church with a nice dinner served just before it. She is serving as the Relief Society President in her ward and keeping very busy. Dad is also very busy being on the road so much with his job. We are so glad that they are doing so well in Boise and we are always grateful when we get a chance to spend some time with them. They are such great grandparents.