Kinley

 We were so excited to welcome Kinley Jo into our family on Tuesday, January 15th at 2:21 pm.  She weighed 6lbs 14 oz and was 21 1/2 inches long. She was four weeks early, but I was happy to be able to make it that far. I woke up that morning with contractions which wasn't to different but they didn't go away. I had a doctor's appointment that day so I had them check me. They said I was to a six almost a seven and thinned and to head right to the hospital and don't sneeze :).  We checked in about 12:00 and she was born two hours later. She was a really easy delivery. Because she was early, she had a manditory stay in the NICU. However, right at first she started gurgling which is a sign of problems with breathing. They took her away and I didn't get to see her until that night. She also had really low blood sugar and when you combine the two it could mean an infection. This started her week in the NICU. After spending, six days in the NICU, lots of tests, and making sure she was eating enough she finally got to come home on that Sunday.

 We were so glad to get her home and happy she was doing so well. Hannah and Hayden were beside theirselves being so happy to hold her. I don't think Chloe really knew what to expect until she saw that baby and then her face dropped. She was so happy. She has been so attentive all week to her -  wanting to give her baths, change her, feed her, hold her. She is the first person she asks for in the morning. She is in baby heaven. We are so happy that she has adjusted so well to her. Hopefully, they will be great friends.

Kinley is just such a happy relaxed baby so far. She has been really fun to have here. You forget how precious they are when they first come home. We have really been enjoying snuggling her. She has had a few good nights sleep and a few not so great. I have recovered really well just tired from being up at night. We have had so much help from family and neighbors it has been an eye opener. We are lucky to have such great people in our lives. We have recieved flowers, gifts, blankets, dinners, and lots of people helping out with the kids. Chloe has loved playing lots of different places. The older three's favorite thing was to receive a big bag from the Hillcrest secretaries just for them. They were full of great little toys so didn't feel as left out. It really was nice of them.  We are blessed to be able to enjoy this last little addition to our family.

Christmas 2012

 I got to help in Hannah's classroom the last day of school. It was really fun to see their excitement. They had a great time with the games and snacks. Chloe loved being their also.

 Hannah had a Christmas recital at a retirement home. She played Silent Night. It was beautiful and she did a great job. We love how brave she is becoming.

 The Huls family spent the weekend with us and it is always fun to have them around. We had a Christmas party at Grandma's. Aunt Laura provided great music to go with the program.

 
 The kids are always so excited to get their treasures from Grandpa Thornton. Hannah got a jewerly box. Chloe got a frog pull and Hayden got a catapult. We spent Christmas Eve at Laura's with dinner and games. Then we came home to open our Christmas jammies. They left Santa a note, cookie and diet coke and were off to bed.

On Christmas morning - Hayden with his stash.

 Chloe so excited to get her dollhouse. She wouldn't leave it all morning.

 Hannah with her fun stuff. Lots of projects to do.

 She was so excited to get her ipod.

 Hayden couldn't believe he got a BB gun. If only it would warm up so he could try it out.

 The rest of the vacation was relatively quiet. We spent a lot of time at home working on projects like painting, making volcanoes and model cars. We played a lot of games and didn't leave the house much.

 We did go sledding at a park. Hannah and Hayden loved it. Chloe just wanted to swing and slide on the park playground.  They really loved going to Cody's house for sledding behind the four-wheelers. They spent a lot of time out their and loved it. I couldn't believe they could spend so much time without freezing. We had the Jackson Christmas party that weekend which I apparently didn't get out the camera for. It was a really yummy dinner, gifts and then sledding.

 We finished out the vacation rolling in the new year. It was a quiet one this year with just our little family. We had fun with lots of snacks, games, air hockey tournament, dancing, a movie, and pots and pans at midnight.  Here's to a great 2013.

Christmas Card

Santa's Coming!

 We had one of our favorite annual Christmas traditions at the first of the month. We love going to Aunt LarRene's house. This year instead of decorating Gingerbread houses we made Christmas trains out of candy. They loved this and came up with some great creations. They were easier to eat afterwards too. Chloe had a great time bossing Laramie around decorating hers.

 Then we had one of our favorite visitors come. Hayden is looking a lot older sitting on Santa's lap this year. He was excited to tell him what he wanted for Christmas. We liked it that Santa told him to make sure he was nice to his parents all month.

 Hannah told us on the way over that she was too old to sit on Santa's lap but when the time came she just counldn't pass it up. She surprised us by changing what she wanted. We are glad the magic of Christmas is still alive.

 Chloe wanted nothing to do with Santa. She cried if she even got close. She was happy to get the treat and toy. She did blow him a kiss goodbye. She has been talking about him ever since though. She sings "Santa Clause is coming to my House" and then she tells me she won't cry this time. She seems really excited about Christmas and has loved everything from decorating, wrapping presents and looking at lights. I'm sure she will love it when the actual day comes.

Thanksgiving!

 We started the week out with Cody's wedding. We were so excited for the big event.

 What a cute family.

 It was so nice to have the whole week off for Thanksgiving. We went shopping, to a movie and then the Huls family came and stayed with us. On the actual day, we went to my sister Laura's house. My kids love going there. We had a delicious meal and lots of fun games. They were so excited when they got to spend the night. They had a great time.

 Both of the kids tables.

 Decorating sugar cookies later that weekend before we watched our first christmas movie. We are so lucky to have so much to be thankful for.

 I got a white elephant gift at a party that Hayden had too much fun with. He looks pretty handsome with a "stache". Then he had to try them all on. Let's hope his facial hair doesn't grow in this way in the future.