Christmas Festivities

We spent 8 days in Monticello with Tige's family for Christmas. Tige covered call at the hospital there, so it was double-duty (except that he didn't get called in one time the whole week). It was snowy and freezing cold, so we spent a relaxing week staying indoors and visiting and playing games. One of the highlights was when we shared our news with Tige's family that we're having another baby. We told his parents when I had my appendix surgery, but we waited to tell his siblings until we could be there in person. Their reaction was priceless. No one noticed Abby's "big sister in training" shirt even though Tige was practically waving her in front of people's faces, so I finally told Calvin to go look at Abby's shirt. When JaNae saw the shirt, she screamed "you're pregnant?" Everyone was surprised and excited. It was fun. Here are some other highlights from the week: Kason's absolute favorite part of Christmas at the Hazleton's . . . Grandma's train! She let him set up the village and he ran that train around every single day. He could have sat and watched it all day (if there hadn't been younger kids around who touched it, derailed it, and ruined the fun).

Making sugar cookies. They had coconut frosting and were very tasty.

Kason reading a story to Abby. I can't believe she actually sat on his lap and listened. It melted my heart and was truly adorable!

We played this hilarious game where 2 teams each made a nylon reindeer headpiece and stuffed the legs with balloons for antlers. My team won the contest. It was so funny.

Abby snuggling up to her Aunt.

Tige's sis-in-law and her cute boy, 11 months old.

Us on Christmas morning in the new pajamas Grandma got us.

Tige's mom also made us two amazing blurb books. One was a scrapbook of what our family and Tige's siblings did throughout the year. The other was a biography of her father. She spent months on this book and literally thousands of hours. I proofread most of the pages for her, and both finished books are priceless.

Abby checking out her sweet ride from Santa. Her daddy didn't think she needed anything at all. Good thing Santa disagreed. Kason has been pushing her around on this the past week. It's too cute. Abby thinks it's fun to climb up on it and stand on the seat. I'm sensing an injury in her near future.

Santa brought Kason a lego city set and a pogo stick. He loves both. At first, he couldn't really even jump once, but now he's up to 7 jumps in a row. There may be an injury in his near future too!

Grandpa reading a new book to Abby. She walks over to you and holds up the book, and you simply can't say no.

A new dolly from Grandpa & Grandma. Her toothy smile is just too precious.

Tige's only surprise gift--and the perfect gift if you ask me--for the man who grew up as a BYU fan, but graduated from the U, and just can't quite decide who he's rooting for! He also got a bunch of running and biking stuff, and I got jewelry and a set to my Willow Tree Nativity.

Abby learned all kinds of new tricks in Monticello, such as going DOWN the stairs and climbing up on furniture. She also got her 4th molar while we were there. She's growing up so fast. Thanks to Tige's family for putting up with us for so long (especially our annoying, yappy dog)!

Abby's Big Announcement

Abby's shirt says "Big Sister in Training." Yep, it's true, we're expecting our third baby the end of June. I know what you're thinking...the answer is 21 months apart.

It took us several years and multiple fertility drugs to get pregnant with both Kason & Abby, so once Abby turned one, we figured we'd better get going. I was stunned when the very next month I was pregnant. This all complicated my little appendix emergency 2 weeks ago, but thankfully both baby and I are doing fine.

We're very excited, but I still find it hard to believe that it's really true!

Christmas Lights & Program

I can't believe Christmas is in just 1 week. Last night we went to the St. George Temple to see the lights and nativity. It's no temple square, but it was fun to be together, and Kason especially enjoyed the blue lights. Afterwards, we got a doughnut and hot chocolate. This morning, we went to Kason's little Christmas program in his kindergarten class. He's such a ham, and it was so funny to watch him sing. I've included a video of him singing "Feliz Navidad" as I thought it was hilarious!
Today is our 12th anniversary, so happy anniversary to my sweetheart. I'd marry him again in a heart beat. He's everything I ever dreamed of.

Appendix

So this has been a stinky week. Last Sunday morning at 4:30 a.m. I woke up with pain in the right side of my stomach. 4.5 years ago, I had my a cyst, ovary and fallopian tube removed from that same side, so all that's left there is my appendix. I laid around in bed all morning hoping the pain would go away, but it didn't. In the afternoon, I finally had Tige take me into the ER, and after several hours of waiting, blood work, and an MRI, I had an emergency appendectomy Sunday evening. I was released from the hospital on Monday.

Our friends in our neighborhood have been so great to us. Several different people babysit both Kason & Abby on Sunday & Monday. Grandma Bev came and spent part of the night with them Sunday. Tige took Tuesday and Wednesday off work, so he could be home taking care of me. He was so fabulous, fixing all the meals, changing all the diapers, getting Kason off to school, giving all the baths, etc while I recooperated. Thursday Char took Kason for the afternoon so I could rest, and she brought dinner. We've had someone bring a meal every day this week.

6 days later, I'm up and around and feeling pretty good. My stomach is tender, but I feel very lucky that it's not worse. This has put a bit of a cramp in my Christmas plans--we're leaving to Monticello in less than a week so I'm probably not getting a Christmas card out this year, my shopping isn't quite done, my neighborhood friends probably aren't getting gifts, but I'm just thankful to be walking around again and feeling ok. Thanks to everyone for your thoughts, prayers, and phone calls.

Santa!

Tonight was our ward party at church. Santa made a visit as you can see. Abby wasn't scared--she smiled, but she just kept looking at him so I couldn't get a picture of her face. Kason asked for a fish tank, which might be pretty tricky since we'll be traveling to Monticello for Christmas. Hmmm. Last week he asked Santa in Cedar City for a train to go around the tree. Anyway, it was a great party with good food, and the primary did a little nativity program.

Kason is the little shepherd right in the center with the navy blue outfit and maroon head piece. I need to buy him a bathrobe so it's easier to dress him for future ward parties.