Let it Snow!

The first (and only so far!) big snowstorm of the year was near the beginning of November.  The kids watched the snow fall all day long and were just dying to get out and play. 

 

 

When Spencer got home from school a bit early, it was time. 

 

We bundled all up and headed outside to make some snowmen. 

 

The kids could not get enough of the snow! They loved throwing it, sitting in it, and making snowmen. 

 

 

Two of their friends, Lucy and William, came by and helped out with making the snowmen too. 

We attempted some group photos with our snowmen but it's pretty impossible to get 4 kids looking at the same time! 

 

After all the cold fun, we headed inside for a warm cup of hot chocolate. 

Sadly, it melted the next week and we haven't had any since! Maybe in time for Christmas...

Sammy 2 1/2 Years Old

Sammy hit 2 1/2 at the beginning of November.  This little man's personality just keeps getting bigger and bigger - I'm not sure how it all fits in his little body!

He talks super well and says the funniest phrases.  He'll say to me, "Hi Mommy. How are you doing today?" And he has learned how to put annoyance or displeasure into his voice as he says, "Uhh! Mommy!" It's pretty cute and yet exasperating as well at times!

He loves all things boy now, though you will occasionally still find him in one of Lucy's dress up tutus, wings, or hats.  He loves trains, balls, and cars. He also loves to just carry around little toys and to take them to bed with him.  Right now he's got Rex and Buzz from Toy Story with him.  Last night he asked for his Percy train. 

He and Lucy play a lot together now.  They also fight a lot together now.  So they're pretty normal siblings. :)

He's started to show an interest in potty training.  We've got a couple of books from the library that he loves reading and we've gotten him some train undies.  He almost always says yes if we ask if he wants to sit on the potty and once even suggested it himself.  Spencer and I are thinking we'll actively try over Christmas break. 

 

He has kind of hit the terrible twos as well - getting more demanding and physical if he doesn't get his way.  This is a new fun challenge for us! He is a sweetheart as well though and freely gives hugs and kisses. We sure love this little guy! :)

A Tangled Halloween

Now that it's December, maybe I'll get our Halloween pics up, huh? ;)

 

Lucy decided that she wanted to be Rapunzel from Tangled this year. 

So, in keeping with our matching costumes, we all dressed the parts.  Sammy was Pascal, the chameleon; Spencer was Flynn Rider; and I was Mother Gothel, the mean lady.

 

 

We had lots of parties to attend - the ward party, Lucy's Preschool Party, a Halloween themed birthday party, Spencer's school parade, and, of course, trick or treating. 

 

 

However, there was no point where all four of us were in costume when it was light outside for a proper photo shoot. Sad! Maybe we'll have to put them all on soon just for some photos!

We had a fun Halloween though - carving pumpkins and trick-or-treating.

 

 

 

And the costumes were awesome! My mom made Lucy, Sammy's, and Spencer's costumes, with a little help from me and Grandma. They turned out awesome.  I borrowed a cape from my Aunt Kay and found a red dress from Goodwill. The only photo I have of me is less than awesome. Oh, well - I can blame it on pregnancy hormones, right?! :)

Announcing Number 3!

Van Hoose offspring number 3 is brewing! We've announced it on Facebook and told pretty much everyone but I realized I haven't announced it on the blog.  So, even if it's just for my own records (as this has become both my scrapbook and journal), here's the big announcement. Also, a couple of photos. :)

We've been wanting to have another baby for a couple of months and were disappointed to find out near the beginning of September that we weren't pregnant.  I was really sick and ended up going into Instacare and while there they ran a pregnancy test that came back negative. A week and a half later I had my annual OB/GYN appointment and was really weirded out because my period was really late and it is usually never late, though it had been the month before too. The sweet nurse decided to run another pregnancy test, just to be sure.  Not five minutes later she came in the room with the positive test results! I was so relieved and excited that I started to cry.  The first test had just been too early.  I was only 5 weeks along.
 

 

We kept it to ourselves for a couple of weeks but we are both just so horrible at keeping secrets.  The kids and I made these shirts for them to wear and that's how they announced it to my mom, Spencer's parents, and my grandparents.  We didn't see my dad for quite awhile and I wanted to tell them in person.  The first chance I got was on Halloween.

At the beginning on November, I had my first baby appointment and got to glimpse this little one for the first time.  Here are the ultrasound pics.  The best one is in the middle. You can see the profile of the baby with the head on the left of the photo.  The baby is growing right on schedule. Oh! And the due date is June 6th! My 31st birthday! How cool is that!?

 

 This has been my hardest pregnancy so far - I have been a lot sicker than I ever was with Lucy or Sammy but they have been patient with their "boring Mommy." I've also had some help from friends, family, and, of course, Spencer. Now that I'm in the second trimester, I've noticed the nausea and stomach pains getting less often.  I've lost 11 pounds since I found out I was pregnant too, which is actually kind of a nice side effect.  I started way higher than I wanted to and higher than I did with either Lucy or Sammy so it will give me a bit of a cushion. We are excited to meet this little one. Lucy has already decided it's a girl and has started picking out names. ;)