Unanswered Prayers

Lately we have really been teaching the kids the importance of prayers and how you can pray anytime and anywhere. We always say a little prayer before they go to school and they ask me to pray that they can do good on their math. (Macee has not enjoyed Kindergarten math lately). We went to Fairfield this weekend to watch Tate play basketball (by the way good job Tate, we had fun watching you). On the way home last night we had some sour patch kids in the car and Macee really wanted some. I was trying to divert her by trying to get her to eat a granola bar or crackers. This is how our conversation went:

Macee: Mom can I have some sour patch kids?
Me: No, why don't you eat something else.

a few moments of silence follow

Macee: Mom can I please have some sour patch kids?
Me: No
Macee: GRRRR. You were supposed to say yes.
Me: Why is that?
Macee: Because I just said a prayer that you would give me some.
Me and Nels: Laughing to ourselves (I guess not all prayers are answered).

Dylan's Baby Blessing

We blessed Dylan on the 28th of December. Most of our family was here so we decided to go ahead and bless him. My sister Amanda blessed their little girl Addy also. It was fun to get to do it together. Here are a few pics of the big event. I couldn't get Dylan to cooperate for the camera. He kept pulling funny faces on me. So here are a few of the better ones.

My four kids, can you believe it!

My sister Amanda and I with Addilyn and Dylan

Mom and dad with their 2 new grand babies.

These two don't look alike do they!?

After sacrament meeting we all came over to our house for some snacks. It was fun to be able to visit with everyone.

Just a few pics of Dylan's first bath awhile back. It is so nice when those umbilical cords fall off! He didn't seem to mind it too much.

Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas this year. We obviously stayed here in Billings and it seemed like one party after another. We were all here except Jon and Ashley (we really missed you guys!) To start things off, Tuesday before Christmas Nels brought the 15 passenger auto auction van home and we all went to look at lights. I must say they were a little disappointing. Nels and Ben were navigating and it was a little interesting at times. I stole these pictures off of my sister Amanda's blog (thanks manda :)).

Taylor and Annie out by the van

My sister-in law Lauraleah, Amanda, me, Mom

After lights we went back to mom and dad's to have hot chocolate and cookies. This is Amanda trying to contain all the kids by reading them Christmas books.

The next night on Christmas Eve we went back to mom and dad's for dinner and had a surprise visit from Santa. They were all on the good list so he gave each of the kids a little toy. Then we came home and read the Christmas story (it was too crazy at mom and dad's to do it together) and talked about why we celebrate Christmas. Then it was off to bed.

Christmas morning was great with the kids. Carter was especially cute this year, he really understood what was going on and kept telling us he wanted "bad guys" for Christmas. He is getting into the little action figures. I think the girls were pretty happy with what they got. Dylan pretty much slept through the whole ordeal, but was happy with his diapers and formula :).

Christmas day we hung out for awhile and played with the kids. Then we went to mom and dad to exchange our gifts with them. We stopped out at Jim and Marjie's and played games and visited with the Stott fam. Thanks guys for letting us crash your party! :)

Friday we went all over town to find a sleds and Nels took the kids sledding across the street on a super fun hill. Saturday we went to mall and returned some Christmas stuff and Charles and Janis came over for pizza and to see Dylan. Tate brought his wii and got Nels hooked on it so after listening to him beg for one for a week I gave in and surprised him with one the other night (I must say, I don't like video games, but the wii is totally fun). Sunday we blessed Dylan because everyone was here (next post). Monday we had a costume party for my little nephew Griffin. He insisted we all dress up so my kids wore their Halloween costumes, Nels was Kung Fu cow (I forgot to take a picture of him, but I will get one from Chelsie), mom was princess Leiagh (sp?). Griffy really wanted dad to be Darth Vader so dad went all over town and found a costume. It was a really cute party and fun to see everyone dress up for Griffy. Tuesday night (the 30th) we celebrated my other nephew Quests birthday at GodFathers Pizza. Wednesday night we went out to Em and Kelly's for New Years Eve and partied with them until about 8 (I know we are really lame, but these last few weeks of no sleep has really caught up with us.) New Year's Day we took the kids to "Bedtime Stories." Then last night we took the kids to Applebees for dinner and went and watched Nels's cousin Dallin play basketball. So as you can see, it has been a busy few weeks and literally one party after another. I am sad that the kids have to go back to school tomorrow. We have had a great Christmas vacation!

A Few More With the Eyes Open

Dylan is doing great and doing everything a baby should, especially sleeping all day and awake all night. :) Thank goodness for a wonderful husband who is so willing to help out with the night feedings (thanks hun!) All the kids are adjusting well. Carter has really surprised me with how well he has done. He loves to hold Dylan and wake him up, but is pretty soft (usually). Annie has been great help and loves to help hold and feed him. Macee had a few rough days in the beginning, but has been doing better the last few days. She also loves to hold him and we have had some fights over who gets to hold him first. So far he has been really content and an easy going baby.

As for me, I am on the mend. Labor and delivery went really well. I went to my doctor last Friday feeling crappy with sporadic contractions. I was just curious to see if something was going on so my doctor told me to come in. He checked me and I was almost at a 5 so he sent me up to the hospital. Long story short I got to the hospital and hooked up by about 3:30 in the afternoon and after some pitocin to get my contractions regular my doctor came up after work to deliver the baby (he wasn't even on call, through my whole pregnancy he said he would be there to deliver this baby he almost missed his wife's Christmas party just so he could deliver Dylan, nice guy) He came up at 5:30 and I was a 7 he broke my water and immediately I was wishing I had gotten an epideral. So within 20 minutes and a quick entrithecal I was ready to push. Thank goodness they let the entrithecal start working before they made me push. So Dylan was born at 6:21 P.M.

We came home on Sunday and have been staying in the house all week. Tuesday we did go out for his first doctor appt., but other than that it is too darn cold to go out. I did get to go to the girls Christmas program this morning. Chelsie came and sat with Dylan and Carter so I could run down to the school real quick. The pictures I took didn't turn out very good, but the girls both sang great. We could hear Macee in the back row and Annie was a little more reserved with her singing.

Thank you to everyone who has totally spoiled us with dinners and taking the kids this week. I don't know what we would do without such great family and friends. We love you all! Thanks a ton!

Dylan Spencer Pearson

Here are a few more pictures of the new addition to our family. Enjoy!

Our Early Christmas Present!

We just wanted to share some pictures of our early christmas present with everyone. He was born 12/12/08 at 6:21 p.m. 7 lbs 11 ozs 20 inches long. Mother and baby are doing great. His sisters and brother were excited for the new arrival also. Name is to be determined, we will let you know as soon as it is finalized with mom & dad. Enjoy!

Lots Going on!

We decorated for Christmas for Family Home Evening on Monday night. I always love this time of year. We were jamming to Christmas music and the kids had a good time decorating the tree.

We had a great Thanksgiving! My Grandma and Grandpa Griffin, Uncle Steve and Aunt Cheri with their 7 kids plus 2 grandkids, and their Grandma Mitton all came up to visit. Then my sister's in-laws also came. Thanksgiving Day we all went to the Auction to eat. When you have almost 50 people, 4 Turkeys, 2 Hams, 10 dozen rolls, and everything in between, the auction kitchen works great to get everything done.

This is my Grandma Griffin and cousin Katlin working hard in the kitchen. Grandma was in charge of the rolls and pies.

My sweet Grandma and Grandpa Griffin

Nels and my cousin Chase hard at work in the kitchen

Dad and Uncle Steve. Steve is Dad's little brother. Sometimes I look at Steve and for a brief second think he is my dad. I think they look a TON a like.

Dad and Grandpa Griffin

My cousin Laura, Katlin, Grandma Griffin, and Aunt Cheri

We had a great day! Lots of food and later on we all went swimming at the Billings Hotel and Convention Center with the water slides. I of course forgot my camera. Nels and the kids had fun in the pool and I decided to spare everyone the view of my 9 month pregnant belly. Friday we all went and watched Bolt, then on Saturday it was bowling. I stayed home with Carter and Macee during bowling. They both were having melt downs and I needed to work on my Relief Society lesson and get groceries for dinner on Sunday. I had to make dinner for a lady in our ward who just had an emergency C-Section and major open heart surgery in the same day. That is an amazing story in itself. We had a full house with 7-8 people here every night. We had a great time and I was able to get to know my adopted cousin, his wife and kids a little bit better.

Monday and Tuesday Carter and I worked hard to get everything cleaned so today we are chilling all day. I am still in my pj's and hope to get all the ironing and Christmas wrapping done. After that I think that this baby can come any time. I am not due until the 18th, but a little wishful thinking can't hurt right? I am getting a little anxious and nervous. It will be sad to see my one-on-one time with Carter come to an end. I think he has really enjoyed having me all too himself. Till next time!