It's beginning to look alot like Christmas

Messy=Happy

We snuck in a family trip to the Columbia, South Carolina Temple on what our stake refers to as "White Friday."

Setting up the nativity in their "Thing 1-3" shirts

Oh Pookie...

Giving Santa some snuggles as big sister Hannah serves as supportive backup.

Hannah June and I got a special treat and were able to go to The Nutcracker. We both absolutely loved it! And I am glad the month long obsession is dwindling.

Piggies!!!

More visitors!

How do I manage to get so few pictures of the most anticipated weeks of our lives? Anyway, here's another glimpse of our visit from Nannah, Aunt Jenna, and (future) Uncle Mark.

Nannah playing games with the girls. 'Course the circular motion made her sick after 2 seconds:)

The (future) Mr and Mrs Day. For those who don't know, Jenna (my one and only best sissa) got engaged 3? weeks ago!!
*Gotta tell the little story here. Just skip to the next picture if your kids are playing in the toilet or something.

Mark Day is one of Nate's BFs from Rochester, MN. When we were visiting Minnesota last Christmas both Nate and I (separately) decided that Mark and Jenna needed to give-er-a-go. Slight problem being distance. Jenna is a nurse in Denver...but hey, we live in a digital world? Anyway, after much prodding and encouragement in January, the emails began to flow (like two a month - whoa!). We returned to MN in July and had gone ahead with "The Setup." Yeah, they're engaged now. Those Roch boys are hard to resist. We are so excited for them both!

Girls can't get enough of the iphone action.

Hannah developed a little crush on Uncle Mark so she helped make sure Jenna and Mark got very little alone time. Sorry guys...she means well:)

Jen ran the Thunder Road Half Marathon!!! Mark met her at mile 10 and Hannah and Ellie at 13 miles and helped her run the last .1 miles. AKA, she had to carry Ellie across the finish line. She did awesome and it was very inspiring to see. Mike, Heather, and handsome little Anders Kofoed also came to cheer her on and it was so fun to see them!

WHAT? I have to run BACK?!?

Oh Pookie...

Other activities included:
painting our kitchen table black (love it)
Trip to IKEA with lunch and lots of fun new things
Toddler Time at the Library and a whole new wardrobe for the girls from our favorite consignment shop
The Lion King (projected on our house)out on the trampoline
Dinner at PF Changs
The Concord Mills Merry-Go-Round.

So fun to have y'all here! Thanks so much!

P.S. Spencer is also engaged! He got engaged to Brooke Cather from Lolo, MT a month ago. She is adorable and perfect for Spence! You guys can score some blog space if you come visit:))) So this spring will feature 2 weddings and a baby for my family! Jen and Mark have set April 14th in the SLC Temple. Spence and Brooke are tentatively April 6/7 in the Billings Temple. So save the date folks...it's gonna be a party!

G&G/Blake Visit

Grammie and Grandpa came in Oct!! We had a great time, as always...

Aunt Brittney helping teach preschool

The ripping up of our carpet

Riverbend Farms (Pumkin Patch)

Hannah June turned 4 and we had ourselves a princess party complete with a pinata which was a "hit."

Cinderella sure to get in on the action

Ariel...not happy?

Make your own photo slideshow

We were able to get a few family pics taken while my mom and Jenna were available to a) be included and b)help with the girls:)

Halloween

Jocelyn was in true form this Halloween with a nice black eye resulting from a little tumble down the stairs on Sat.  Ah, whadya do? Happy Halloween folks!

new floor

Okay, I'm sick of trying to get these pics in "before/after" form. But do you know what I'm not sick of??? My yucky old carpet....because it's GONE! We got these brand spankin new floors installed today and I'm in love. My inlaws were here this past week (will post soon) and they helped us rip out the useless bar and up the carpet and linoleum. (thank you Steve and Alan!) Quite the improvement I do say:)

Befores...like way before

Aaaaaaannnnd: it's another girl for the Walbruchs! We are thrilled. Alot of people assume that we (esp Nate) were hoping for a boy this time. Both Ellie and Jocelyn could have been boys as far as I was concerned but this time, that little longing was just not there. So when missy finally allowed the tech a little peek, I was overjoyed. Baby girl is due March 1st and her three "big" sisters can't wait to meet her. They already set aside a sucker/marker/balloon espeically for her:) Could be a long 5 months.

oops

My sincere apologies for not updating. Must. Get. Better. Okay, let's see...what did we do between June 20 and Sept 22 besides lose my cell phone?

Well, tried to parent these two Yay-hoos for one.

We were lucky enough to have Masha (the middle girl) stay with us overnight on her way to and from Liisa's house in Moab. She is just the sweetest girl and every time the girls hear the word "Russia" or see an airplane they talk about Masha from Belarus.

Our big vacation was to lovely Minnesota to see Grammie and Grandpa Walbruch and meet our new cousing Halle. I scored big points by only getting....ya ready???? <strong>1 </strong>picture. I will refer you <a href="http://alandbrittblake.blogspot.com/2011/08/nate-and-ashley-came-to-visit.html%22%3Ehere%3C/a> for a better documentation of our time. Thanks Brittney for being on top of things. Although I would not recommend taking 3 little girls on a 24-hour-each-way road trip, we had a blast being with family and especially going to my inlaws' beatiful cabin in Wisconsin.

Sisterlove?

50% at the Consignment Store. "Go choose ya a dress girls!"

Our friends Danilo and Juliana were sealed in the Columbia, South Carolina Temple! Over a year ago these two were able to learn the gospel in our home. To see them dedicate themselves to this completely new religion and make the changes necessary to be sealed together and make very sacred covenants with Heavenly Father was very humbling for me (life long memeber of the Church) to observe. Juliana has since given birth to a beautiful baby boy, Sergio. This day was so special to be a part of.

Princess it up girls!

Hannah started ballet. With Nate's grace/poise and my long thin legs, I think her chances of making it on Broadway are pretty darn good.

Our sweet  little (she's 3 lbs less than Ellie) Jocelyn Karin turned ONE!!!!

Yep, this is how much trouble I went to: clearance cupcakes at Walmart and a couple presents. I'm a minimalist, what can I say? The night of her bday, she walked across the room and hasn't stopped since.

Nate took the girls to a parade while I was working. I can barely get this circus act through the grocery store ailsle and he's rockin it at a parade with em... What the?

Guess who can get dressed ALL. BY. HERSELF?!?

Pookie headed for the big leagues. We are doing a preschool co-op this year and the girls (and moi) are LOVING it. Two days a week for two hours. I teach 4 times in 12 weeks. For $40/kid, can't beat it!

She knew she was in trouble alright.

Me: "Why did you make such a big mess with Mommy's mascara?"

Ellie:  (innocently) "Put on my eyes?"

Bring a Friend Week at ballet. Glad Hannah didn't have to deliberate too long on who she would take.

Nate is doing swell. He went back to school to get his masters in Educational Administration. He's excited, which makes me excited. So, with me working and our church callings etc, most nights we are passing ships, which is not preferable but....all for a good cause:) And to think we are adding to the bedlam? Don't fall out of your seats folks: Ash is pregnant. We find out boy/girl next week! So so fun!