400

This is my 400th post! I can't even believe I've posted that many times. I have so much I need to post about too. I haven't posted about Christmas, New Years, updates on the kids and pregnancy and a few other happenings.

I guess I'll start with Christmas. This year we were privileged enough to make the trip to NC where all our family lives (well pretty much all of our family). Family is extremely important to me and I love spending time with them. I had a new nephew to meet and an aging grandmother that I want every memory I can get with. So, there was plenty of reason to make the long drive. Yes, I said drive. The drive is around 1200 miles. When we left I was 32 weeks pregnant and of course in the backseat we had our 5.5 year old and our 3.5 year old and their dog Razzle. We left out around 2pm. When we got to Arkansas it started down pouring, I mean like monsoon like rain, that's when I got to drive. So from 7pm-11pm I drove in the pouring rain at 70 mph! The only other driving I had to do was from 4am to 5am, Kevin did the rest. As soon as it got dark we moved the booster seats to one side so Lathen could sleep on the seat and Kieralee slept in the floor board. It was glorious, they slept all night!!! (Don't judge me for not having them in seats, it was survival mode) When Lathen woke up we were in Tennessee and there was snow on the ground, he was thrilled. We finally arrived at Kevin's parents house around 9:30am EST. We made fantastic time.
We first had Christmas eve at my Granny Piatt's. She would be the aging grandmother that I don't want to miss a chance to make a memory with because I know my time is limited with her.
My Granny is an only child, who had two children. Those two children each had three children and now my Granny has 13 great-grandkids with one on the way (that would be my little one!). Here we all are!

Then it was back to Kevin's parents house. When we woke up Christmas morning, Kevin and I took some time in our room with the kids to have a Christmas morning devotional. We talked about the Savior, His birth and how he is the ultimate gift. Then we joined the rest of the family in the living room. There the kids received lots of presents, which made them gleeful.


We spent the next few days at Kevin's parents house. Just hanging out and enjoying time together. When the weather cleared up a bit we headed up the mountain to visit Kevin's grandparents, affectionately called Papaw and GrannyM. There had been a blizzard the weekend before we arrived in NC that dumped around 20 inches, Christmas day there had been freezing rain. So the snow that hadn't melted yet now had a nice slick surface on it for sledding. The kids finally got to go sledding. Some of my favorite memories as a child are of sledding and our kids have never been. They loved it!




Even Kevin got into the fun, racing Lathen down the hill. Lathen won!





Here the kids are with their great-grandparents, Papaw and GrannyM.



Then it was back down the mountain for a little more time with Kevin's parents.





This is Papa and Granny with three of their grandkids.



Then it was time to head up the mountain and spend some time with my parents. Playing outside is always a must and my Dad thinks of some fun stuff to do. Since it was cold and there was still plenty of snow topped with ice, Dad decided to make an ice house.




Of course with the ice on stop of the snow the kids could actually sled on the butts, no sled required. That's exactly what they did at my parents house. And then they took some time to jump on the trampoline, what is a trip to Gigi and Pap's without jumping on the tramp?!



Lathen accidentally took Kieralee out...

Kieralee milking some love out of Gigi

Pap getting in on the sledding action!




The kids also got some presents from my parents.



Another favorite of the kids when they are at my parents house is the hot tub. It doesn't matter the weather, be it hot or be it freezing the kids will play in the hot tub. They had a lot of fun getting chunks of ice off the deck and seeing who's chunk melted faster.


This is Kieralee getting the chunks :)


Mom, the kids and I spent a day out and about. We drove down to the city. We had to get Lathen new glasses because well his broke. While there we picked up some Krispy Kreme donuts and visited with Granny Piatt. Krispy Kreme is sort of a special thing for our family because my grandfather Perry Piatt was the engineer that designed and built the machine that makes the donuts!




Then on New Year's Day my mom's mom, Grandma came up to visit. My brother Ammon and his wonderful wife Jess and our two adorable nephews, Noah and Griffin came up for the day as well. We had a lot of fun.

Here the kids are in their new church clothes.

Kieralee and Aunt Jess

Uncle Ammon watching cartoons with the kids

Grandma and Kieralee, who is holding her new baby doll

I love this picture of Lathen!

Gigi with her grandkids
Cousins playing in the giant ball


Family shot


One day while at my parents house Gigi set a game that the kids loved. Bowling. Both with a ball and with their bodies!




That pretty much sums up our Christmas trip. On the return trip to Texas there was a lot of tears from the kids about leaving. They love their grandparents (both sides) so much, it was hard for them to say goodbye.

Since we've been home:
I saw the midwifes for my 34 week check up. They said the baby is measuring around 5 to 5.5 lbs. I measured 35 weeks and everything else looks great! I'm so excited to meet his little guy. And I can't wait to be able to bend over easily again!

A week after we got back Kevin got laid off. It came as a shock. We didn't see it coming at all. Not to sound like I'm bragging, but Kevin works hard and is very good at his job. Apparently it simply came down to numbers and with three lay-offs that came before Kevin all the people in his job position that got paid more had already been laid off. He was just next on the chopping block. Thankfully before he knew this he had used his frequent flier miles to make a trip to Utah. He got a wedding invitation and decided he should go. With hindsight I can see why. This trip has been so good for him. Although I am insanely jealous because he is getting to see all our friends and I'm not!

He comes home tomorrow and the kids and I are super excited!

Oh and as of today, 30 days till my due date!!! That's right I'm almost 36 weeks :)

(if you didn't get enough pictures and you want to see more, go here)