Updates for NOVEMBER... and Lydia

Well lets just call this one catching up. This isn't something that I am normally doing as you may have noticed. However, I think I got caught up in the Thanksgiving holiday as well as waiting for Lydia to get here.

This was the first time that it snowed here in Yakima. I have to say that I have kind of missed it to a point. Especially since Utah had already had so much. Hahaha okay, not really but I am glad it snows here too.

Hans and I were able to dry apples as well as make apple sauce. We finally got all the necessary stuff for it and I have to say that we had a great system down. I was quartering the apples, boiling them and Hans was cranking them through the strainer and putting them into bottles. Then I was in charge of sealing all of them. On the second day of apple saucing we probably bit off more than we could/wanted to chew. I realized that Hans was going to be going to bed early and we had over 30 bottles to seal up. I didn't have enough room in the fridge for all of them so I had to stay up and seal all of them. Now keep in mind 30 bottles doesn't sound like a lot until you have 7 spots in each sealing batch and times that by the 30 minutes it takes to seal them. MAN!!! I was in for a long night. We finished the apple saucing on Tuesday (the week of Thanksgiving). One dilemma that we had is where are we going to put all those bottles? Well... they are all nestled under Lydia's crib. Turns out that under beds is a great place to hide anything from packing boxes, toddler mattresses and now food storage (apple sauce) in the guest bedroom we have the dried apples in the closet. They make a delicious treat while you are on the computer and hungry for something. : )

60 quarts of apple sauce and 7 gallon bags of dried apples. I am so thankful that my mom taught me at a young age to make apple sauce, even though I wasn't happy about it then. I would have rather played with my friends. When you are the ones paying the bills it is a really nice break knowing that it doesn't cost all that much to make and eat it. (except this year when we bought everything, but the dryers and some of the bottles)

For Thanksgiving we- Hans made a dutch apple pie. It was delicious... the second time around. The first one had too much cinnamon. Anyway, the apples that were used were granny smith apples that we had picked at the same time as the ones that we dried and sauced. After making 2 pies with them we probably have enough to make 2 more. Something that we will be doing shortly I am sure.

I made the pumpkin pie and it was delicious!

For Thanksgiving my long time friend, Tanya came down from the Tacoma/Seattle/University Place area. She came down with her husband, Kevin, daughter, Alyia (who is 15 days younger than Arlee) and their son Abram who just turned 1 the day before Thanksgiving.
They got in around 11am on Thanksgiving. We talked and they got settled and then it was time to get the turkey ready. I told Hans that this was all up to him since I hate to handle the meat. Let alone one that still on bones of the animal.  As you can tell Hans and Kevin both tackled this and it turned out great.

Hans is about ready to start carving the turkey. Nice huh?

Here is our table. Looks fancy doesn't it? Arlee loves using the glass cups like us she does a great job at it. I know it just might be a matter of time before something happens that I won't want to let her, but that is why I don't by the expensive kind. Talk about a good plan. We bought them at IKEA when we were going to announce the gender when I was pregnant with Arlee.

I have to say that I love our new table and it was great being able to have everyone (7 1/2 of us) sit at the same table comfortably.

Hans with the drum stick.

Arlee and Alyia ready for their sleep over. They did so great last time that they had a sleep over at our house. Not this time. It took about an hour of telling them to go back to bed and stop playing with their toys before we decided to split them up. Arlee was not happy about this. However, she did finally go to sleep. That is all that matters. Right?

Hans had to work Black Friday in Richland (Tri-city area- 1 1/2 hours away) so he went to bed early while we watched a movie. Tanya and Kevin got up and went shopping in the wee hours of the morning while me and the three kiddos stayed nice and warm in our beds. After all I did want to take advantage of sleep since I wouldn't be able to soon. Not to mention I was done with the shopping. FELT GREAT!
After we got up and ready for the day Tanya and I took the kids to the park while Kevin did some studying. We ate lunch and then took Alyia and Arlee shopping while Kevin and Abram stayed home. This we did without strollers which was a big mistake with two 2 year olds

After a day of shopping and hanging out Hans got home and we watched a movie and went to bed. The next day we got up and ready and headed out to lunch at one of our favorite places here in town, Bob's Burgers and Brew. They have awesome food! You always leave full too.

Hans and Arlee at lunch. We took the Bohmans here and they loved it too.

After lunch they weren't ready to take off yet so we took them to the Yakima Greenway (walking path). We went for a walk by the water and then took the kids and the BIG boys to the playground.

Arlee ready for the walk in her new pea coat.

Abram, Kevin, Alyia, Arlee and Hans trying to throw rocks in the water. It doesn't look like it is to far from them, but it is. We were up on a hill. The girls kept throwing them at each other on accident. I have to say that I thought for sure Arlee or Alyia were going to end up crying despite our efforts to correct their throwing habits.

Arlee and the playground doing the usual picking up leaves, sticks or rocks. She is a silly girl this way.

Like I said earlier. We took the BIG boys to the playground.... Hans and Arlee love going down the slides together. Honestly, I love to go to. But you would never know I am always holding the camera. Maybe sometime I should be in a picture. HAHA probably not going to happen. It is okay though. I am good at capturing their moments.

Tanya and Abram on the slide.

Pretty much right after I took this picture we loaded back up in the cars and headed to our house so they could get the rest of their stuff and hit the road before dark.

On Sunday Arlee wore her new dress. She looked so cute. I had to get a picture. All of Arlee's dresses she had either out grown or they were for the wrong season. So we got her a couple of new ones and this is one of them. She said it was her big wedding dress and she was going to go to the temple- not church. She has told me on more than one occasion that this is what she wants to do, just like mommy and daddy, Kali and Shawn, Patti and Sven, Grandma Woo (my mom) and Papa, etc. Arlee is so funny. We have pictures of us from our wedding around the house and she always talks to us about it and says that she wants a pretty white dress so she can go to the temple and get married. I love to see how much she grasps and how she relates it back to us.

After dropping off some Miche stuff (www.mymichebag.com/chelsey_hoge) at a friends house she gave me some cupcakes among other goodies from a party that they were having. Arlee was very grateful to get it and the picture below is her enjoying the cupcake. Have to say SAIMI- Arlee seriously loves you. : )

This picture I took today. Arlee and went to the mall and walked about for a little bit. We met up with some friends, ate lunch and came home. Arlee was playing on the bed (guest bed-set up for my mom coming into town for the delivery. She will be watching Arlee for us) and all of the sudden she rolled off (probably because it is an air mattress and gave out) and fell in between the bed and the computer desk. Normally this wouldn't make Arlee cry, but today it did. This was a huge hint to me that she was tired and needed a nap. I laid down with her and with in about 5 minutes she was out. Got to love when they are ready for a nap and just fall asleep so fast. Naps don't happen very often with Arlee, so it was welcomed. I got a couple things done too. YAY!

Doesn't she look so cute and calm. This is a good feeling as a mom. I gave her a blanket after I took the picture. Just and FYI. She wasn't sleeping like this because she was cold. She was cuddled into me. 

I love when she cuddles with me, this also doesn't happen very often. 

I went to my doctor appointment on Thursday and she said that I was at a 2 and still softening up. She checked my fluid and it is now at a 7. I asked her if she was going to induce me and she said that she thought it would be a good idea since it is getting on the lower end and I will be 39 weeks and 2 days when it is set for. She said that it shouldn't be a problem. She asked me about doing it Monday and I said Tuesday would be better. I was to be picking up my mom on Monday night. She checked with Labor and Delivery and they had an opening so I am set for Dec. 6th at 7am. This is going to be weird since I went to the hospital last time, because I was having contractions, now I think I will be going in before that can even happen. I am happy though. However, it is nerve racking to think about having a baby and going through that process not know what it is going to turn out like. She doesn't think that I am going to need a C-section, because I delivered Arlee fine, but it all depends on how things are when the time comes. 

We would love any and all prayers on our behalf. I think that it should be okay, but I always hate going to the hospital and everything that comes with it. The recovery, but a new baby girl will make it all worth while. I love her so much already. When I see her and hold her I know that love will grow as it did when I had Arlee. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us and I am leaving it up to him. He knows best and the best is yet to come. 

I am so thankful for Hans and the father that he is to Arlee and soon to Lydia. I could not have asked for a better partner to go through all of this with. He is so calming and makes sure that we are all doing well. I have to say that he is my rock and I love him. I know that this sounds cheesy and all, but I really do love his guts.

Arlee is another great person in my life and I am so glad to call her my daughter and know that Heavenly Father trusts me with her. Honestly, she is great and a joy to have. I am so happy I can be at home and raise her and Lydia. It is a joy to see your child grow up and learn new things. 

The thought of having two is blowing my mind, but I look forward to all the craziness and love that comes from having them. Now we just wait for a few more days. Hopefully she comes quick. 18 hours with Arlee was a long time.... but worth it.

Next time I am going to be a mom of two! YAY!!!!

Chels-38 weeks and 6 days...and counting.