Christmas Fun

(Turn off my music so you can hear the videos)

Our Christmas Eve tradition is to get together and play games, read stories, trivia and eat, eat, eat.  Up until 5 or so years ago, we used to get together with the Nichols and go to the LDS Church gym in Lovell.  Thats how many of us there were but we are all scattered and dont do it anymore.  That was so fun!

This year, it was just our immediate family, but we still had a great time. 

Here are the kids doing a Christmas songs lyrics game.  Looks like they are thinking so hard.

Hope and Casey and our grandkids (still love saying it) spent 3 days at our house.  Robb and I were in heaven.  Kymbre and Kempton, who live in Mesquite also, came over every afternoon and we played games and ate big dinners.  I swear I've gained 20 pounds.

Here is Bentley Christmas morning opening his first present.  He really didnt understand but I'm very excited for next year when he will be so fun. Christmas just isnt as fun when they kids stop believing in Santa.

Our favorite past time.

One of the games we played was reverse charades.  This is when your whole team does the actions and one person guesses.  It gets pretty amusing at time.  I dont know if you cant hear but this is the order of the clues: Nutcracker, snowman and jingle bells.

Jazz got Just Dance 3 for Christmas and we played for hours and hours.  Even Robb joined in. He's such a good sport.  I know he will get crap for this but I think he did an awesome job.  Hes a pretty excellent dancer for being an old, white guy.

Might have to turn up the volume to hear the song.  Robb wanted an 80s song and they are dancing to "Take on Me."  Boy, I love this man. 

I've said it before and I'll say it again.  Having my family close is the best Christmas present I could ever ask for.  I love love love my kids and I feel so blessed that we all adore one another and truly love each others company. 

Robb and the Kids

Robb had a service in Riverside, CA last week and since the kids are out of school, Jazz went with him.  I think they had a pretty fun time except that Robb must have had a horrible case of road rage and almost got in a couple fights while driving.  Thank heavens we dont live in CA or my husband would most likely be in jail a good percentage of the time.

Then, on Thursday, Robb and some friends took their boys to the Maaco Bowl.  Boise State vs Arizona St in Vegas.  It was coooold for us Nevadaans that day.   I think they had a good time too.  Anywhere you go with Robb is going to be an entertaining time.

Someday maybe my husband will actually blog his own adventures, but for now, I will do it and talk crap about him while doing it.  I love you honey.

World. . . Meet Kai Lyn

On December 18, at 1:30ish in the morning, the Pulvers were blessed to add another beautiful member to their steadily growing family.  Meet Kai Lyn. 5 lbs, 13 0z, 18 inches long. Kai has been stubbornly trying to come meet her new family for a few weeks now and luckily, she only arrived 3 weeks early.  We are so happy to have her in our lives.  Hope was a champ. Jasmine, Kymbre and I were allowed to witness this little miracle being born.  Hope made it look too easy. Kymbre and Jazz both mentioned that it looked waaay worse on tv and movies.  

(The pics are all jumbled.  Sorry.  I tried to do it a little chronologically but it didnt work at all.)

Grandma snatches her right up.

Proud grandpa.  This big, strong man teared up the second he saw her.  Its crazy how much you can love someone after just meeting them for the first time. 

Big brother on the way to meet his little sister for the first time.

Pretty curious. . . .

We have this exact picture with Bobby and Bentley.  Pretty neat.

I love this picture of Kymbre.

Shes so tiny.  She looks like a little doll.  I think even smaller than a doll.

 My most favorite thing to do in the whole wide world.

First "brain squeezer", as my dad disgustingly calls them.

This little girl sure gave us some scares these past few weeks.  We are so so happy that she and mom are healthy and perfect in every way.  What a precious, precious Christmas gift we have been given!

Mary, Did You Know

(Remember to turn off my music before you start the video.)

I love music and nothing tells a story or makes you feel something deep in your soul more than a song.

This is my very favorite Christmas song.

 I can't imagine the anticipation, joy and tremendous responsibility Mary felt when she was told she would give birth to this perfect person. What an amazing woman Mary must have been.

 I love this Man with all my heart and soul and dont know where I would be or what kind of person I would be without him. I yearn for the day when I finally get to see Him face to face, so I can look into His eyes and put my arms around Him, embrace Him and tell Him thank you for everything He has done for me, personally. He literally has changed my life.

 I just love this time of year when we get to celebrate His birth and life. 

Merry CHRISTmas!

Family Pics that Missed

Last weekend, my wonderful friend, Heather took some family pics for us.  She had never done it before and we'd really never done outside shots, so it was a new experience for all of us. All in all, it was really fun and we ended up with some great shots. 

These, however, did not make the cut but I thought it showed what a good time we had. We always have a good time when were all together.

Life would be so boring without Robb.

How I love my family.  I am thankful that we are the exception and that we legitimately get along together. Im also thankful for good friends who arent afraid to try new experiences with me.

Thanks Heather! 

Update on Hope and Kai

This is mostly for my own journaling purposes. 
Hope is still having contractions.  They did what is called an FFN test on her and it came back positive, which means this baby is most likely going to come early.  Hope is only 33 weeks along.  She has been in and out of the hospital with contractions. They thought maybe it was a kidney infection. . .negative.  She was severely dehydrated and they thought maybe that was causing the contractions but after 2 bags of fluids, she was still contracting.  They have given her steroids to aide in the development of Kais lungs.  The Dr did say that if Kai is born right now, she has a 90% chance of survival.  Poor Hope.  Shes been stabbed, pricked, poked and swabbed more times in the past week than you should be in a lifetime.  She is on bedrest but she is a little like her mom and thats virtually impossible to do when there are things to be done around the house and you have an 18 month old running around.  She has an amazing boyfriend who is a great help and support to her.  She has to go to the hospital everytime she starts contracting to get evaluated and monitered.  Thankfully these contractions arent making her dilate yet.  She did have a beautiful blessing from her daddy and I know she has positive thoughts and prayers coming from many people.

6 Weeks and Counting

My dear friend Amy threw Hope and Kai a wonderful baby shower last night.  Only 6 weeks until this little one makes her appearance.  (Hopefully, its that long.  Kai is already showing her stubborness and isnt growing like she should.  Last week, Hope had an ultrasound.  She is 31 weeks and Kai is only measuring 26 weeks in everything but her legs.  She measured 29 weeks there.  Hopefully she will have those long Marchant legs.) 

Doesnt she look beautiful? She looks like she has a little volleyball in her dress.

Thanks Amy for everything.  It turned out perfect. 

Halloween Happenings

October is one of my favorite months of the year.  The weather is finally cooling off, the trees are changing colors and, lets face it, when else do I have the availability to watch a scary movie every night, the excuse to dress a little provocatively and a reason to forgo my diet and gorge myself with my favorite Halloween treats, candy corns!  Our family was busy with many extra activities this month.  Here are a few.

Here we are at the Staheli Corn Maze, which is a must with the Pulvers in October.

Robb and I were invited to an amazing Halloween party.  The theme was celebrities.  There were probably 75 people there and not one person dressed the same.  I loved it! These were some of my favorite couples.  I thought the sunset in the first pic was just gorgeous. As you can see, they had a red carpet and paparazzis even. The second picture is a girl wearing "holly" and her date wearing "wood".  Pretty clever. Then we have Cher slapping Kim Kardashians bodonka butt. And my favorite couple, Burt and Mary Poppins. 

Robb and I won the prize for best TV personalities.  We were Dog and Beth from Dog the Bounty Hunter. I had many a women envious of my breastesses that night.

Then, there was my "Witches Night Out".  There were 22 witches and we all went to a Mexican restaurant and ate, cackled and just had a blast.

And, at work, this year, we dressed up as "worker bees".  We had our boss be the Queen Bee, with her tiara.  One girl had worked there 11 years and she informed me that they had never dressed up.  Not one stinkin year.  Na-ah. Not acceptable. Not when Jem is around.  I probably wasnt the favorite co-worker that day, but I think for the most part, we had a good time. (Its okay to step outside of your comfort box once in a while, ladies.)

And, finally, my family.  This is Kymbre, Kempton and Bobby.

And Hope and Bentley.

So, I bid fond farewell to candy corns, scary 80s movies and 30 something mothers dressed in slutty costumes.  Until we meet again next year.

Its Your Day

My baby girl turned 15 today.  Last night we threw a surprise party for her.  This was the look we captured when we yelled surprise.  She really had no clue.  Theres nothing much better than scaring the crap out of  your kids. 

They went swimming and played the kinect and then went to the movies.

What do you get a 15 year old girl? I didnt even want to chance it.  She got money and can get whatever she wants with it.

It took me a good hour to put the money into the balloons.  Took her about 1 minute to pop them all.  

I have learned that youre kids grow up so fast and then they are gone.  Enjoy the time that you have with them.  Relish every second. Laugh, cry, talk, sing, dance, love and try not to miss a thing.  Im so thankful that I get her for at least 4 more years. 

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!! I love you!

Side note:  On her birthday she had 3 different boys bring her gifts. One brought her roses and a balloon, another a box full of Mary Kay and the last brought her a cupcake with a candle and sang to her.  Oh my. . . Im not ready for this.Shes going to be locked in her room for the next four years.