Kali's Shower DAY!

Lyndsay was not able to make it to Salt Lake, but we still had Kali's shower. Kali did mention that it wasn't perfect with out her there, but she was happy she could still have it anyway. My mom and I did a lot of the running while Abbie was working. It worked out nicely I thought. Here are a few pictures from the event.

 Hans watched the girls while my mom and I were getting things ready for the shower. They were still pretty tired from watching fireworks.

 Arlee got a hair cut while we were there and it looks so much better. A lot easier to manage too. Which makes me happier to do it.

 The decor. It was kind of dark, but you get the idea.

 The staple. The diaper cake that we made.

 AH the presents! OH CUTE!!!!!!

 Abbie got Lydia to go to sleep and Arlee enjoyed coloring.

 This was a really cute idea and I haven't seen it done before. They put their presents (mostly clothes) on a clothes line and fastened them on with clothes pins. After that they put them in an adorable hamper. No need to wrap these presents, they are good as is.

 The crowd...

 Story:
We went shopping and found Kali a blue bumbo. They either had blue or pink. Since she chose green- being more neutral than the other two. We bought her blue since it is better for a girl to be in blue than a boy being in pink. She is going to have a girl, but we thought she could go exchange it if she could find it. While we were explaining this to Hans he got on his phone and called a few different places after seeing they may have some online. He found the coveted green bumbo! So my mom and I went out on the town. We had to drive to South Jordan, Utah which is about a half hour away in the 11 o'clock hour. On our way there, we were talking about how tired we were and they better still have it.
Low and Behold they had it! We were going to make one pregnant girl happy. Happy she was as you can see. :)

My camera was going to die so sorry if we missed your present that you gave. Please don't be offended she loved all of them and so did I. I think I said OH CUTE! to everything.

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.

Utah Trip

Getting to Utah: Hans took me and Arlee to the Portland Airport. We decided to head out a little early for one we didn't know what to do with ourselves and two we heard of some sites that we wanted to go and see. We first stopped at a waterfall off the freeway. It is really tall. Hans is the only one that got out of the car since it was raining. It looked like you could see everything that you needed to anyway. Turns out there is more to it that I noticed on the way back home 3 weeks later.

After we got into Portland we decided that we were going to go and see the temple. It is gorgeous.  I have to say I loved taking pictures of this one... as you might be able to tell.

 Arlee loved collecting the leaves and naming them. Mommy leaf, Daddy leaf and baby leaf

 This picture was captured by accident, but I am thrilled the way that it turned out. Notice the heart shape made up by the trees that I am looking through. Hans took a picture close to where I took this one and didn't see the same things that I saw. Pretty awesome if you ask me. It made me think of the song. I LOVE to see the Temple....

Hans and Arlee

Me and Arlee

 Arlee telling us to look at all the pretty flowers while playing in the little puddle of water.

After the temple we headed to the airport. We parked the car and rode a shuttle to get inside. I am so glad that Hans was willing to take us in the airport, because I really couldn't do it by myself. I had a heck of a time just getting through security with a couple of bags, a car seat and a stroller. Let alone you pretty much have to undress to get through the monitors and then get dressed back up.

Once we were through security it was a little bit better. Arlee needed to go to the bathroom after just going so I had to take her and do that plus all our stuff. Then we sat and waited. Once the plane was at our gate Arlee was excited and had a great time telling me and everyone else that was close enough to hear her screaming. "There is our plane!"  That made everything a little bit better.

 Arlee playing hide and seek

 Arlee pointing and telling me about something or other.

It was so nice to get off that plane. I got a bit sick. Luckily Arlee enjoyed every minute of it. By the time that I saw my mom I just bursted into tears. This meant that it was over and I could now go to her house and relax!

I told my mom that I brought Arlee's swimsuit and we should have her and Kasiah play out in the pool since it was almost 90 degrees. Well come to find out I didn't bring it... GREAT... oh well I guess She could just play in her clothes. They had a great time with the dogs, splashing and carrying on like little girls.

My sister in law, Amy asked us to go to Discovery Gateway with her, Brock and Landon. They had a great time playing together and apart.

 Landon and Arlee playing house

 Arlee and Brock playing with the trains.

 Brock playing in the Theater costumes

 Landon and Arlee didn't want to play in the costumes so they just played with some other toys there while Brock was putting on a play for us.

The main reason that we were in Utah was for Hans' brother's wedding. It was a rather cold day so I am glad that we were not outside for too long. Mainly just for pictures at the temple and the reception.

 Hans' dad, Alan, Landon, Hans' brother, Jens and Brock.

 Arlee and me in our reception outfits. Thanks again to my friend, Sara for lending me this dress. It worked out perfect!

 Alan!

 What a handsome looking guy. Seriously!

 Arlee, Hans' sister-Stine and her boyfriend- Jesse

 Me and Arlee cheesing it up!

 Arlee and Hans out on the dance floor.

 We all had a blast dancing and Arlee was really cute doing so. This is after a lot of the people got off.... Arlee was running around in a circle and sometimes skipping.

 Their car all made over. We forgot to do anything for it, but their friends were on the ball. Thank goodness.

 Hans and Arlee with a sparkler.

 Me and Arlee


The Sunday that Hans was in town with us (day after Sven's wedding) we went to some of our good friends' church for their baby girl's blessing. It was great to see them and especially her. This was our first time seeing her. Let me just say that she is so stinking cute. I am even more excited to see what Lydia is going to look like. It was a great reminder of what a little baby looks like. Hahaha! How can one forget? But it seemed like I did. Her dad did a great job giving her a blessing. His emotion about his little girl brought tears to my eyes.  All around a very special moment.

 Arlee, me and Blakely

Hans and Blakely

 Seriously! How could anyone not want to just eat her up? She is adorable! Just saying...

 Arlee and Gage actually let us take a picture of both of them looking. In the past it has been pretty hard.  I think it turned out pretty good.  Just a reminder that Gage is 2 weeks older than Arlee.

 Arlee climbing through the doggy door at Kali's house.

 Kali wanted to see if she could still fit into her wedding dress. Of course she would! She was happy that it still fit. Here is there family picture. Shawn, Meeko and Kali. What a good looking family.

 Kali and Arlee just before she changed out of her dress.

We celebrated my brother in law's birthday a little bit late this year. Abbie was out of town, he had clinicals and then Shawn celebrated his birthday with a bunch of family and friends at their new house. My family only gets together every other week since most of the people live in Utah and so does the spouse's family.  That is why it was late, but at least Hans, Arlee and I could be there. My sister, also had some of their close friends come as well as Matt's parents. Abbie and my mom made his cake. Kali was going to do it, but she thought she should celebrate her anniversary instead. The cake turned out great! I think that most everyone was shocked how well it turned out.

 Abbie, Kate, Gracie, Arlee, Matt and Kasiah. Kate and Gracie are their friend's kids.

 Kali, Meeko and Shawn. Meeko is a complete baby. He loves to be held. We got this picture mainly, because he is wearing sunglasses and looks so smooth doing so.

On Monday, Hans had to go and pick up his diploma. While he was inside getting it I took a picture of his school. It is now called Roseman University, but I didn't really get the name in there. Hans was the last graduating class with the original name.

 Hans left on Tuesday. After he left my mom got Kasiah and we took them to Jungle Jim's.  This is Arlee's favorite place to go I think. I really like taking her here too.

 Kasiah and Arlee and the Merry Go Round

 Now on the roller coaster

 Arlee and Kasiah playing in the slides

 Kasiah is boosting Arlee up each level. There were plenty of times that Kasiah couldn't get her up with out several tries. I am so glad she is willing to do it though, because we had a lot of fun watching them laugh and talking to each other. Let alone I didn't have to climb in there 7 months pregnant. I have a hard enough time when I am not pregnant.

You really have to watch yourself going down these slides because you will go shooting out. Kasiah would try catching Arlee. She would start waiting to catch her, but then she would turn and start screaming as Arlee came down. This was really funny to watch. Have to say that I almost wet my pants a few times laughing at them.

 My mom and Arlee on the bumper cars. Arlee was just barely tall enough to ride, but not big enough to do it herself. My mom and Kasiah took her on them. As you can tell it was pretty tight when my mom took her on them. let alone having your legs jammed up on it when you got bumped by anyone.

 Kasiah's whole body would shake with anticipation when some was about to bump her. She would of course scream as loud as she could too.

 Kasiah being a 4 yr. old... acting like she was picking her nose.

 Kasiah and Arlee

Arlee again on the Merry Go Round. She loved riding on the small horses. Normally it is that she wants the big ones. This was a switch for sure.

We had a great time in Utah. We were there for 3 weeks and enjoyed all the time that we spent there. Have to say that we really missed Hans and our lives in Washington. It was great to get back home and back to the things we normally do.

We don't have that much longer until Lydia gets here and we can't wait. Arlee has been so cute about the thought of having her come. She hugs and kisses my stomach and tells me that she loves her baby sister. I know that she is going to be my big helper and I look forward to having my two girls together at last.

My mom has booked her ticket to come into town and help me. I talked to my doctor and asked her if she would consider inducing me. She told me that if I was at a 3 a week before my due date that she would. If not, I guess she will come when she comes and hopefully my mom is here. This is going to be the first of all the babies to be born outside of Utah. So I guess there is no good way to do this yet, but hopefully it all works out smoothly. That is the part that I am the most nervous about. But, there is nothing that I can do about it.