Christmas 2013

Merry Christmas!

Due to some unfortunate circumstances this year, t

here was no nativity pageant on Christmas Eve 

but we did do some gingerbread houses. 

Which were very difficult to stay together 

so out came the hot glue gun & voila! 

They didn't budge. 

The boys made theirs into tanks and forts with missile launchers. 

Girls used all the pink & purple they could find. 

On Christmas Eve. 

I thought it was impossible to get everyone to look 

at the camera at the same time. 

Christmas morning before the minions attacked. 

Grandma & Grandpa with baby's first Christmas!!

Littlest Pet Shop.

Some scooters. 

Daddy got a new shotgun. 

Skylanders.

 Hello Kitty was EVERYWHERE!!!!

The only picture of me.....

The aftermath. 

It's all over. 

Here's to another year for planning, 

making treats, Grandma spoiling everyone,

trying to save money, 

and to making it the best year EVER!!

Cute pics

This is a quilt I made for one of Jared's clients. 

Made to look like the beach. 

This one was for Laurie at Christmas. 

LOVE love LOVE the fabrics. 

And Britton eating her first foods. 
5 months I think. 

And her being super cute. 

Thankful Tree 2013

                                                                                                                                                                         

So I didn't take a picture 

of our thankful tree this year. 

Although it was up till mid January. 

But here are the things our family 

is thankful for in the 2013 year. 

                                                                                                                                                                             

Jared- CFE, my wonderful Ellie Bellies, my Priesthood, my crown jewel Britton, my sweet Charly, my Grantman, EQ, my sweet little ones, Great Nate, running red car that will never die, having no job but working a lot, MY WONDERFUL WIFE.

Jennifer- My boys (Jared, Grant, Nate), my workout clothes, parents living close by, Gertrude, my garden space, the gospel, my awesome kitchen, quilting skills, living on a court, Daddy wearing real clothes, exercise, my girls Charly - Elle - Bret, blankets to cuddle with, fruit trees.

Grant- my new bow and arrow, cookies, BOOKS, video games, my toys, ME, Wolf Cub Scouts, Mario Bros. Wii, our house, money, our clothes, T.V., G, UM, great food, T.V..

Nathan- moovees, our house, bugs, trees, my Kendama, cub scouts, the oceans, my brother, my haws, Karate, this world, water & air, cats, the 7 seas, my mom & dad, food, colors, my family, our cars.

Charlotte- scribble, scribble, scribble, M & M's, I love my family, fruit snacks, dresses, cats & dogs, Disney princesses, Jake & the Neverland Pirates, princess on ice, beautiful & pretty things, cupcakes, cakes, lollipops, Halloween candy, my brothers & sisters, horses - unicorns - birds, I love my family - flowers - Jesus Christ, the Temple, deer, ladybugs & butterflies. 

Elliott- Nana, gymnastics, Jesus Christ, scribble, shoes, my pink blanket, my toys, fruit snacks, ladybugs.

Bret is just thankful for mom's boobs, naps and cuddle time. At least that's my translation of what I think she likes.   

Elle turns 3!!

My sweet Bellissimo turned 3!

We had a tiny birthday party with a borrowed bounce house 

& a princess cake. 

Elle loves to be loud, make any kind of noise, 
answers with "SORRY!!" every time you call her name, 
calls herself a minion, plans on marrying Nate, 
and sings the "Trick or Treat" song whenever she gets the chance. 

Beware, she might steal all your underwear. 

 She would rather be 2 b/c holding up 3 fingers while trying to keep your pinky down is a bit challenging. 

Here's to the last day of a 0 - 2 - 4 - 6 - 8 group of kiddos. 

Britton at 6 months

This sweet girl is blazing through her milestones. Crawling at 4 1/2 months, pulling herself to standing at 6. Not quite sleeping through the night, but eats like a champ. She's super happy, loves to play with toys and her siblings. She offers a smile to anyone who asks and is following the tradition of being a petite girl.

Big B comes to our family

Here's me at 35 weeks

And at 37 weeks. 

 I went to the doc's on Friday the 12th for a routine check up. I hadn't been feeling Brett move so they put me on the monitor. I started feeling some pinches & asked if the monitor recorded contractions. Yes it did, & I had 4 tiny ones. The nurse said they were probably just Braxton Hicks. I've never had those before, so I doubted. But too soon to get excited. 

I kept getting the little pinches & feeling a lot of pressure. We drove my dad's truck up to El Dorado Hills to get a rototiller for the garden. The truck was bouncy & the contractions got harder & more frequent. As we got home, they went away. But alas at 4 am they were waking me up!! When they were 4 minutes apart I got ready,  packed my bag,  called the hospital & my Momma and then  I woke up Jared with the good news. 

We made it there in record time. A 45 minute drive in 20 minutes. A few red lights may have been overlooked;) We arrived at 5:30 am. I pulled my "I have 4 kids already" shpiel & was admitted without the usual silly tests. Just say you feel like you have to push. They'll wheel you right up!

Great mid wife, awesome anesthesiologist. The epi only worked on the hard pain. I felt so much pressure that I had a tough time breathing through the contractions. When my water broke, the gushing sound was so loud, and A TON of gross amniotic fluid came out. First for that. Poor mid wife had to change scrubs. 8:20 came around, time to push. One big one & she was out! The mid wife grabbed her fast & held out a bag to catch the rest of the fluid. Again, it was so loud. I had no idea my body could make that kind of noise. 

Head full of dark black hair. Screaming her cute little lungs out.  

Britton Mae Hasleton

7 lbs 15 oz 20 something inches

April 13th 8:20 am

Mae is for Mary, my Grandmother on my Maternal side.

I don't remember how we came up with Britton. We had liked it for Elliott. Who still tries to poke B in the eyes. 

The kids with her as we brought her home on Sunday. Grant isn't very excited. He says it'll be more work for him. 

My sweet little darkie! She is so precious. 

Definitely worth the last 9 miserable months!

Confinement

           

          Although "confinement" is a term more used for labor, this word has been on my mind. I always wondered what was up with women who needed to be "confined" towards the end of their pregnancy. I mean really? Get over it. Sure it's uncomfortable & hard to move around. But get on with life. 

             Boy have I been bitterly eating those words. I'm not sure why this pregnancy has been so much more difficult than the rest. 

Maybe because I'm over 30 now? 
It's number 5 & my body is done with this process? 
Or is it the fact that I've had 5 kids in 8 years? 

Hmmmmmm. For whatever reason, I am frickin MISERABLE & long to be confined. Or maybe just be put out to pasture. 

             These last 8-9 weeks have been complete torture on my mind & body. Terrible aches, pains, spasms, mood swings, crying (more than usual), anger, depression.  I have been so tired that I can lay in bed all day & still feel exhausted. I avoid people so I don't get upset. It seems I've been sick every other week for 3 months. My ears have been clogged for over a month. No clothes fit because I have gained so much more weight than ever before. And I still have 5 more weeks to go. 5 weeks. 

           My poor Jared cringes at the thought. Doesn't like watching me be miserable. He has been my rock through all this. The only person I can stand to be around. I even get tired of my wonderful children. Just give me my Jared, who happens to never be home & have plenty of other responsibilities then take care of pitiful me.  Even though I am being this super crazy woman, Jared still loves & supports me. Even the crazy me. Which is a large part at the moment.  

       Many times I have to look at my belly & wonder who is in there. Remember why I am going through this hell. Remember how bad it was the other times I was expecting, but look to see who came to be in my family. I love my kids. I'd do anything for them. It makes me feel better for a moment. Till I think of how someone looked at me last week & I start crying or go into a heated rage. 

       The boys have asked why I'm so sick & when I'm going to get better. I told them I was this bad when they were in my belly. I tell them I'd do it again just so they can come into this world to be a part of my life. It makes them smile to think I did this for them too. 

        5 short weeks. Or will they be long? Can I make it to church each Sunday where I hear the word "pop" 20 times or see the pitiful looks given my way? Go to the store without wanting to yell at someone in my way. I mean really, you're going to make me move out of the way? I can barley walk & have 4 kids hanging off my cart. You move. How many more times will my middle finger make an appearance as I honk at the idiots driving around me? Will Jared's pajama pants still fit? Will my kids still like me by the end? How much more stretching can my skin tolerate?

        So please, c.o.n.f.i.n.e. me.