Christmas

After a Christmas eve bath, the boys were ready to open their one present, PJ's!

I think we got spoiled this year.

 Christmas morning we had breakfast in moms and dads room, a special treat.

 Then the boys lined up, youngest to oldest to go find their stockings

Colin, 

 Kyle,

 and Adam

 The weather even dumped more snow to make it a very white Christmas

 the boys all got each other gifts and were very excited to have them be opened.

 Grandma and Grandpa Bassett came over to join in the festivities

 Adam got a bigger bike, Kyle got minecraft, and Colin got a big pillow lion. Colin is such a funny little snuggle bug. Dad will, on occasion, throw pillows right in his path, usually knocking him over. Instead of getting mad or frustrated though, he always stands up and flops himself right back on the pillow, with a contented sigh, and just snuggles it. This lion has already proven to be a huge favorite with this little kid and he enjoys taking his naps on it.

The boys also got working controllers for their trains. Now all three of them can pull their own little set of cars around with working engines. 

Another big gift from Dad was a new over-range microwave. That was a big surprise. Also the kids got a backyard playset, but we will have to wait until the snow melts a bit to set it up. It was a great Christmas birthday party for baby Jesus.

sledding

Christmas eve is the perfect time to go sledding right? we have a great kid friendly hill right up the street and the boys had a blast. Mom had a fun time taking pictures and being out of the house. The last 12 days some kind neighbors have been giving us the 12 days of Christmas, that along with meals from the ward every other evening has made us feel so blessed for living where we live, surrounded by so many wonderful people. we really don't feel deserving of all the blessings we have received this season. Thank you kind neighbors!

shoveling sidewalks

Adam has been so helpful, today he asked me for something to do while his brothers took a nap. I suggested he could shovel the sidewalk and he thought that was a fantastic idea. He "plowed" the side walk all by himself while the snow kept coming down. He then enjoyed a nice cup of hot coco while his fingers warmed up again.

Colin is a snuggly goof

Gingerbread house

 I hope he is still this snugly after baby Bennett gets here 

 Some one has been giving us the 12 days of Christmas and yesterday it was a gingerbread house kit. We had so much fun putting it together.

 Colin wasn't too sure about putting all that yummy candy on the house

I think the end results were just fantastic.

Busy week

This last week has been fun. Friday night was the ward Christmas party and it was Hawiian themed. Adam sang Away in a Manger with the Primary and Colin even went with him.

On Saturday Adam had a friends birthday party at Chuck E Cheeses.

 And tonight we picked out our Christmas tree and decorated it. We even stopped by subway to say hi to Aunt Donna at work.

 Kyle wanted to take a picture of mom and dad. It is feeling more like Christmas now.

Being thankful

I'm not going to try to deceive anyone here, this Thanksgiving season has been rough.  I (mom) have been to Labor and delivery twice to get my crazy contractions to go away and to make sure baby Bennett is going ok. The first time The first of the month, they gave me Terbutalene to take the contractions away, the second time on the 11th, they found a UTI and gave me antibiotics to make the contractions go away. That was at 27 and 29 weeks along.I was put on modified bed rest whech meant anytime contractions started I had to rest. Then earlier this week I had my OB appt and told the doctor how crazy the contractions have been, he sent me over to the hospital to get steroid shots for Bennett, and put me on full bed rest. The Cooks have been here this week and we have had three Thanksgiving dinners, I have been contracting like crazy and often they are painful but unless I really feel like they are progressing towards labor I wont go into the Hospital again.  It has been really hard for me not to be able to do everything I want to do or even the things I rather not do, like cleaning. Just not being able to do those things without risking my baby coming way too early is difficult for me. However, I  really have been trying to keep an attitude of gratitude. I am very grateful that Bennett is still safe, I'm gratful I have been able to spend a lot of time with family and for all they do for me. I am thankful Dad works from home and is so helpful with changing diapers and such. I'm thankful that we have wonderful neighbors and a wonderful ward that are so willing to be helpful. And most of all I am thankful for my Savior who eases my burdens and strengthens my faith. I don't know how long this will last but maybe I have something to learn yet.

The boys had fun with Grandpa and RC cars, Mom made snowflakes for decorations and the green flakes were used for goofballs.

Shaggy

The Boys were in great need of haircuts, and baths

Mom and Son dates

Before this baby comes, and we have no clue when that might be, Mom has been making sure to spend time with the boys individually.  Mom and Adam went to McDonald's for breakfast and then to a friends birthday party at the dinosaur museum. The next weekend Kyle wanted to go to the museum too so Mom and Kyle went there and had lunch after. We loved spending one-on-one time together and talking about everything we saw and did.

 Adam made a cast of a claw and dug a toy dino out of a mold

 Kyle loved spending all the time he wanted digging for dinosaurs and bones.

I love my boys so much. Colin and Mommy get a lot of snuggle time together. I hope you all know how special you are to me and that I love you each so much. You all have such wonderful personalities and I enjoy spending time with you. Thanks for going out on dates with me!

Once there was a Snowman

Adam and Kyle worked together to make a little snowman (you may have to click on the picture to see it bigger)

And then they knocked it over. :)

First Snow

Today it snowed for the first time this season... Donna was a wee bit excited, and the boys went and danced in the snow with her.

Chili-mac

Yum, I think Colin is a fan