Since the cat's out of the bag...

I guess I'll just continue to open my large-o mouth and announce here too that I'm pregnant! I'm sure everyone that looks at my blog is also a facebook buddy, but I thought I'd announce here as well.  I'm about 7 1/2 weeks (not too far along) and I don't usually open my mouth this early in the game, but I have been so miserable and anti-social I thought I should explain myself.  I don't remember having morning sickness this bad with the other three, maybe that's just because it's been almost 3 years since the last baby! My patience is thin too, poor kiddos.  Cinnamon used to help me when I felt sick to my stomach, but it's not cutting it so far.  So to all you mamas, what were some things that helped cut the sick feeling? Don't say ginger because just seeing that word makes me sick (I just gagged).  I'd appreciate any suggestions!!!

Get ready for some awesome pictures!!!

NOT! I was so excited to put some Christmas pictures up here now that David had some time to upload them to the computer.  Almost EVERY picture is hideous!

Yikes...

 

Really Hallie?

 

 Right before Hal threw-up all over the floor...her expression says it all!

 

 Claire and I alone on New Year's Eve.  I sent Dave and Hallie and Emma to his parent's to spend the night because his brother and family were in town.  The picture? Wow...no words...

 

 Seriously, we had a good day.  Betcha can't tell that from my parent's expression!

 

 Yikes again!

 

Guess this one's not quite so bad...

 What did I tell ya? It was just an interesting Christmas overall.  Definitely one to remember...I think we'll call it "Have Yourself a Barfy Little Christmas!" Despite everyone getting horribly sick, it was a nice holiday.  Claire and I were able to spend some time together on New Year's Eve - we had poppers played with out on the porch.  I carried her in her blankie outside and we both really had a good time! We shared a little sparkling cider (Emma saw the bottle the next day and asked if it was wine and did I have a little secret!) and watched Kung Fu Panda together, and when she went to sleep I watched Stardust (love that weird movie!).  I fell asleep before the clock struck 12 too! 

We each got sick this holiday season, but we made the most of it and got through it! So, even though our pictures aren't pretty, we were able to spend the holidays together and get a little something special that I will reveal in the not too distant future!

It's been awhile...

Wow! It's the 20th of January already! Time flies, and that's just fine by me because January kinda stinks.  I realized I never wrote about Christmas except that we all got sick.  And Dave's been so busy our camera still needs the pictures moved to the computer! His new job is going well and his old job still needs him so he's getting some extra moola! Yay!

Anyways, Christmas was good.  We got the girls way too much even though we said we wouldn't.  Here's a great shot of the girls with Santa at the ward party.  LOVE Hallie's expression, she looks a little wary! Guess that's it for now! Some update, huh? :) That's January for ya!

A Look at the Past Year!

Wow, I was at first going to post a woe-is-me post about being sick over the

holidays and missing my family (they're all in Chicago with my sis Jamie and her family).  And not just sick, last night Claire threw-up all night and now Dave and I have the "Are we getting sick?"... nauseas feeling.  Aw, psychosymatic symptoms how I love thee.  But then I got to thinking about all the fantastic things that have happened this past year to us.  Here are just to name a few:

 

CHINA!!! Dave and I got to go on a trip of a lifetime in May courtesy of Ma and Pa Coleman.  That was such an amazing experience that left us asking ourselves, "Are we REALLY in China right now or just China town?" Know what I mean? It was terrific with the only thing scary happening was being on the plane and shot at with these temperature guns and told that if anyone on board had even a slight temperature we were quarantined! Oh, and my father-in-law left his backpack with passport and wallet on a bus in Beijing, only to have some kind Chinese person take in all the way to the American Embassy who in turn delivered it to our hotel the next day! Miracle I tell ya!

KINDERGARTEN!!! I know everyone feels the same way when their first goes off to school.  I was no exception.  The only thing that made me feel better was Emma smiling standing in line waiting to enter her classroom.  She is one amazing little girl.  I'm in awe of her every day.  She is kind, reliable, talented, happy and such a wonderfully kind little person.  She's off on a new adventure and hopefully David and I have prepared her enough to handle being on her own a couple hours Monday through Friday.

PRESCHOOL!!! Claire Bear started preschool at a new montessori school.  I was a little apprehensive at first simply because I loved Emma's school the previous year and didn't know much about montessori.  But she has just flourished! She comes home with new Japanese words which thrills me and especially David that both went on his mission there an school.  She is such a kind lovey little girl.  She loves going off to school with me and asking questions like, "mom, what makes the car move? Does it have a brain? How do we move and talk and think?" Which I reply, "Ask your daddy these questions little miss!" ...because I have no clue! ;)

Hallie is my little buddy.  She has the most amazing vocabulary for 2.  She says things like,"No problem mommy!" Or "It's ok, I'm good!" She's is stinkin' hilarious! She's so athletic too! That girl can do a flip in the air and land on her bum! Silly little girl!

NEW JOB!!! David got a new job for a contract company called General Dymatics that works exclusively for the Federal Government.  A Federal job is being created for him too, so the paperwork on that has been pretty intense.  He will be working on a computer program that keeps track of the mental health issues for all military personnel.  He is thrilled to start in January, and I'm so very proud of him!

HMMMM...me.  Well, I've done a lot of personal growing this past year.  I've struggled with PMDD since having children, so I've had to pretty much rewire the way my mind thinks and processes things.  As long as I tell myself positive things I do ok.  Which brings me to my New Year's resolution for 2010! I want to try to stay more positive this year.  I want to do more things for other people.  I want to find the time to start volunteering at Emma's school more and Claire's, I want to attend the temple with David more, I want to be more consistent with FHE.  I want to lose the weight I need for me to be happy having one more baby.  I want to be healthier both physically and mentally.  And I'm changing all the WANTS to WILLS!

So to all of you, Happy New Years!!! I pray that it holds much happiness for all of you, happiness that YOU create, not just the kind that can randomly happen.  And I pray that I won't throw up tonight... ;)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

Well, it's Christmas Eve and we're about ready to head over to my grandma's house for dinner and a program (bet you wish you still had to perform in a program in while in your thirties! Early thirties I might add!).  We've tracked Santa and he's heading to the Falkan Islands.  I think it's so cute that Norad has a tracker for Santa Claus! I wanted to let all of you know how much we love and appreciate you! I was really crummy with cards, so some people got them and some didn't (address problems and such, and I ran out of cards for the first time!).  So even if you didn't get one, you are loved!

I pray we can all remember the true meaning of Christmas.  Christ lived and died for us.  We need to always remember His love for us, but at this time of year we are blessed to feel it and spread it to those around us.  I hope and pray that all of you have a very Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas (love how the English say that instead of Merry).  To all of you that we have not seen in so long, we love you and think of you often! Happy Holidays! 
Love,
The Coleman Family

 

 

 

 

 

(The top two pictures are of Claire's preschool putting on the Nativity for the ward.  She was the Inn Keeper and LOVE it!)

Merry Christmas Salvation Army! Nephis and a midnight donut!

So yesterday for Claire's preschool snack, I was in charge of buying donuts for after the field trip.  The darling kids sang Christmas songs and acted out the nativity for a group of elderly men and women at a local retirement home.  I skipped out a little early and headed to the grocery store with Emma and Hallie.  Once the shopping was done, I went outside with the kids and saw a lovely cheerful man singing and ringing his Salvation Army bell.  I reached into my bag and pulled out some loose change and told Emma to put it in the bucket.  Watching her and smiling, she reached over and put not only the change in, but a wad of green bills.  "Emma! What did you just put in there?!" I looked through my purse, but I have no idea how much she put in! A couple dollars? A couple $20's? I had just gone to the bank and cashed a church check, plus I had gone to Costco and gotten cash back too, so usually I know exactly how much I have (because it's not very much very often!) but right then I didn't know.  And I had to be careful what I said to Emma because it was money for those less fortunate.  So I told her to stay out of my purse and let mommy handle the money.  Oh well, the money could have been thrown away or lost, so to you Salvation army, I say a big fat Merry Christmas!!! :)

I have to throw in something else kind of funny.  I've told many of you about Claire's aversion to undies an tights.  Well finally I found a couple pairs she'll wear (I just have to wash them every night) and believe me, she knows if I give her another pair! We've fought and fought about tights , so finally she agreed to wear them to ballet (it's required).  I discovered that she loves knee highs.  So the other day I told her to put on the clothes I had gotten out for her.  She comes down,"Mom, where are the Nephis?" "Nephis? You mean Nephi?" "No MOM! Where are my Nephis?!!!Finally Emma, the translater, tells me,"Mom, she means her knee highs!" Of course, how did I not get that?

And speaking of translating... about a month ago my girls spent the night with my sister and a friend.  Apparently Hallie woke up in the middle of the night crying and mumbling.  Laura tells her, "I'm sorry! I can't understand you!" Emma rolls over and says,"She wants a drink of water."  A couple hours later Hallie wakes up again and starts crying and mumbling.  Once again Laura can't make out a single word.  In her sleep Emma says, "She says she wants a donut." Laura says, "Hallie, did you just ask for a donut?" She nods yes.  What a hoot, a midnight donut and a translator.

Sorry this was a bit long, but I had to record my kid's oddities! Gotta look back and remember these things to make fun of them with!!!!! :)

Merry Christmas!!!

The other day I decided to do Christmas cards, even though I just wasn't feelin' it, ya know? But how can I not, when I've got such cutie pie girls to take pictures of and send to family and friends...gag, I know...

 So the above picture is the one I chose.  Emma's not looking really thrilled by then, and Claire was exhausted from preschool and would only smile when I offered hot chocolate with marshmallows and a candy cane.  Hallie pretty much was the only happy chick for the entire photo shoot.  There were definitely cuter pictures, but they all were blurry (I thought I'd turn the dumb flash off to get a prettier picture with the Christmas tree behind them...yeah, didn't work.)

 Pretty cute...darn it!

 

This was my fav, but way too blurry! Double darn it!

Benadryl and a Birthday!

Oh Emma, my little Emma -Lemma -Lou.  When she was born, so were a handful of silly nicknames.  Emma-Lemma-Ding-Dong, Emma Pooh Bear, Emma Lou Who, Emmie, Ems, Sister Suzie ...the list goes on and on.  Emma is truly a delight in my life.  She is full of compliments, she loves to dance, she loves special occasions.  She is a little social butterfly! I love to see her run to the playground before school, her little friends flock to her and begin chasing each other around.  So darling...

For Emma's birthday this year, we had a "friend" party.  She wanted a few friends from school, a few friends from church...pretty much a "few" friends turned into 14! Sooo, what to do with 14 children? I brought up having a pajama party with breakfast and she loved it! And yeah, I was crazy to have 17 little girls running around, but it was worth it!

Backing up a bit, Emma had gotten an ear infection the week before her birthday.  The doctor put her on Amoxycilian, and up until the 11th, HER BIRTHDAY, she was fine on it! Ummm, let's just say she woke up that morning with hives covering her body.  The hives were even in her ears! The poor girl! So, in my frantic state (the party started in one hour), I gave her a heaping dose of Benadryl.  Once the party started, she got really glassy eyed and quiet.  All the girlies were running around having a blast, and she leans over to me and says very quietly, "why are they so loud?" I didn't get it until chatting with my friend Heather who stayed to help out, that the Benadryl was knocking out my baby...on her birthday! It must have taken her quite a lot to not fall asleep, because that night I gave her another dose and she was asleep within 10 minutes.  Oh well, at least I have pictures to prove she had a birthday party, I'm sure she doesn't remember much of it...

 

Looking a little out of it here, hmmm, wonder why? :)

 

Em opening her presents.  After each present was opened, the girls would all clap, it was SO darling!

 

All the girls cozy watching the new Tinkerbell movie (CA-UTE movie by the way!)

 

All the girls plus my friend Crystal and sister Laura.  Both my helpers, couldn't have done it without them!


E: Energetic! That girl is like the Energizer bunny!
M: Magical.  She still believes in Magic.  Fairies and Santa DO exist!
M: Mannerly! Sounds silly, but that girl has the best manners! I never worry about her at other's homes while I'm not with her.
A: Adorable!

New Member of the Fam!

Congratulations to my baby sister Jamie and her hubby Ben! Charlotte Mary was born early this morning.  She is so beautiful, I just want to hold her and kiss those cheekies! Good job Jame, we love you!!!

What a Weirdy...

 

I need a laugh today, so I thought I'd post these silly pictures of Claire and her imagination.  She's is such an interesting little girly...

I love the middle picture, maybe if I tried that with my scarf I'd get a lovely butt lift! ;)