Memories of Christmas, 2017 || Part 2

We woke up Christmas morning knowing we wouldn't have to leave our pajamas all day long. For the first Christmas day ever, we would be spending the entire day in our own home - our families coming to us. Considering I was still in my first trimester of pregnancy and still wasn't feeling my best, this was a blessing. Mom was bringing over a breakfast casserole, Cody was preparing a lasagna for Christmas night, and the boys had three different shifts of present opening to look forward to. We placed baby Jesus in his rightful spot on our advent calendar... and got to work on the gift opening!

We were all very good to each other! Jaden's favorite gifts included soccer goals for the backyard, a big electronic scoring basketball hoop for the basement, a model of a Lamborghini car for his room.. and plenty of new PS4 games of course. Brandon loved his golf green for putting practice in the basement, his 1,300 piece Lego Millennium Falcon, and his design a roller coaster board game. All the grand kids received new matching snow boards, and Cody and I received an outdoor bar table, a new area rug for our sun room... and movie projector for backyard movie nights! Baby Ubben also received some nice gifts, and that was my favorite part of the day. Opening little presents filled with sweet little baby clothes.

The day dripped slowly, and it was so nice to have a home big enough for all the presents and playing and family. And - the night ended with a "snowball" fight in front of the fireplace and in the basement. We're still finding "snowballs" in the corners of this home. ;)

Our day in pictures...

That's a wrap on Christmas! I'm ready for summer. ;)

Memories of Christmas, 2017 || Part 1

Finally... a Christmas post! From last year. ;) The news of our third baby and everything else that's been going on has put me really behind in my updates! But I thought before we celebrate Valentine's Day, we might as well re-live a bit of Christmas.

So finally without further adieu, my top memories from a Christmas spent in our new home.

//My favorite Christmas cards yet - images taken just about a month before conceiving our babe. I'm so excited to see what next year's cards look like as a family of five!

//My favorite delivery every year. Our completed 2017 memory book. Time to start the book for 2018!

//Christmas Eve, Eve. A quiet day at home for board games around the Christmas tree... and a Christmas lights drive with chocolate shakes and pajamas.

//Christmas Eve morning. Fresh snowfall, coffee cake for breakfast... and some play time in the snow.

//Prepping Baby Jesus' birthday cake - and our Christmas Eve dinner table.

//Christmas Eve lunch at James and Cassi's. A gift exchange with Grandpa Don and Grandma Alda. New tennis rackets for the boys since we are within walking distance of the brand new tennis complex up at UNI.

//Christmas Eve church service. My favorite hour of every December. The way the candlelight glows on their sweet faces, how Brandon very seriously mouths the words to every worship song... and this year... knowing I had my own little secret of a growing babe inside me.

//Christmas Eve dinner at home with Mom and Dad. Tracking Santa's sleigh. Fresh presents under our sunroom Christmas tree. Warm soup in our bowls and chocolate cake in our bellies.

//Prepping for Santa. A big hearth perfect for cookies and letters and milk. The Night Before Christmas and The Christmas Story read before sleep. Kids tucked away in their beds before Santa got busy...

Stay tuned for Christmas Day!

Pregnancy || 16 Weeks

5/52

"a portrait of each of my children, once each week, in 2018"

Jaden: What a big weekend you had! You joined your fellow Outlaw teammates for a sleepover/birthday celebration on Saturday night - and then had company all day Sunday for your birthday. The Grahams brought you a really thoughtful gift on Sunday afternoon - perfect for your new room, and we had our family celebration fill up most of Sunday afternoon and evening. You loved your gifts, including your very own cell phone from Mom and Dad, and put it to good use calling Aunt Sally in Florida to thank her for the card and money she sent you in the mail. But my favorite part of the weekend was when Aunt Sally asked you on the phone if you were hoping for a baby brother or sister and you answered her so genuinely, "You know... I really don't care anymore. I'm just really excited for the baby." Good answer bud - and I know you mean it! I'm so excited to see you with this baby!

Brandon: You finally received your Cub Scouts uniform this past week and you look so official in it! It was so fun taking you to our church's Family Fit Night on Saturday night and watching you wow all of the volunteers that were helping kids in the Ninja Zone activities. You are one strong kiddo... that now also wishes he had a phone of his own. You are about to officially become the "middle child," and we're going do our best to make sure you continue to feel special every day!