The Great Pumpkin!

This weekend we celebrated my 29th birthday, even though I felt horrible from a very bad sinus infection, I didn't want to let the boys down. So Friday night we went to Applebee's for dinner, then to 'Where the Wild Things Are' with the boys. Then the plan was to go to the pumpkin patch on Sunday after church.

We had a lot of fun, but planned our trip for the wrong weekend because it was supposed to be the busiest weekend at the pumpkin patch! In fact they were offering free shuttle rides to and from the patch to help elivate traffic, but they didn't do a very good job of advertising it. So after sitting on HWY 370 for over an hour with bumper to bumper traffic of people trying to get into the patch, with at least probably about another hour to wait and then trying to find parking, we decided to try out the shuttle. Wish we would have done that sooner because we ended up there in 10 minutes dropped off at the front door even. The only positive of waiting for an hour in traffic was that the boys slept that whole time, making them ready for the patch.

We only hung out for a couple of hours. I wasn't feeling great with my sinuses and my back was aching from walking around, so I was ready to go by the time we did head out. However we ended up with some great pictures! So those are posted below.

Frosty the Snowman...

I loved it when I heard that we were supposed to get a rain and snow mix this weekend. I know all of you think I'm crazy, but I get excited for the winter time and the snow that comes with it. This year I am really looking forward to the snow because even though I will be BIG and pregnant, the boys are all old enough to REALLY enjoy playing in it.

I figured that the rain and snow mix would be mostly rain with only a few flurries....so as you can imagine I was totally surprised (as were the weathermen) when we woke up this morning to find at least 3 inches of snow on the ground and it still coming down!! YAY for snow!!

I have been feeling neglectful of the boys lately with all I feel I need to get done and our busy schedules, so I prayed before bed last night that God granted me the time to just play with my kids more, and today has already been great! He listened...

This morning we woke up and made french toast for breakfast and then got all bundled up and went and played in the snow for about 45 minutes. When we got cold and tired and wet, we came back in where we made some hot cocoa and then the boys started a game on the Wii which I will join in in a few minutes after I finish my cocoa. I told them maybe we can have a board game and popcorn night tonight too. I DO have to work on the house some today, but we are having a good day just playing together! So below are the pictures from our outdoor adventures this morning. Happy first snow everyone!

Our pathetic attempt at a snowman...we need some more practice.

Looking Ahead

Well now that I got Raymond's birthday out of the way, I can start to concentrate on planning for everyone coming to Omaha for Thanksgiving (which no matter how stressful it sounds, I am VERY excited to host it again this year!) and getting the house moved around and ready for Tess.

On my big to do list I have my birthday next Friday (which we are not doing anything for that day but will go to the Pumpkin Patch the Sunday after), then Halloween and all that this entails (parties at school, costumes, decorating, candy, etc.), then getting the downstairs bedroom wall fixed and the room painted before Halloween (and the room cleared out), then moving our room downstairs before Thanksgiving guests come, getting ready for Thanksgiving, my baby shower, Christmas and all that this entails, then Tess arrives! After that I will still have a list of things to do, but not as many major events for awhile. I can just work on my day to day to do list for the most part.

This year to help out for Thanksgiving, we have my mom and dad, both my sisters and Kimberly's boyfriend Todd and their dog Rigby, me, Tony and my boys, Tony's mom and husband Verlyn, and Tony's brother JB and wife Amanda and baby Blain. Granted JB and his family will stay at Holly's house and my mom and dad say they are getting a hotel this year, I will still have my sisters and Kimberly's boyfriend as overnight house guests and am excited to plan for breakfasts and other meals. I am also having each person pick a side that they want and are willing to make, to help de-stress big pregnant me and Holly who is not feeling well from time to time. We will be having our actual dinner at Holly's house that day because she has a lot more seating and space then I do.

It will be fun and will be the last time I will have everyone together before Tess comes. Christmas will be a quiet at home one, because I won't be traveling anywhere two weeks before my due date and everyone else is pretty well inclined to go to my mom and dad's which is totally fine with me. It will be a quiet couple of weeks before she comes. Plus my mom will then be coming to stay for a short while when Tess comes to help out and be here for the birth.

Anyways, I'm sure you all don't care about my to do list. But it's really the only thing on my mind at the moment. Every little thing that I can get done is one more step closer to having her here! YAY!

I think I've said it before but I'll say it again. I finally feel like my family will be complete, because never before have I had a pregnancy where I felt anxious to be done and not be pregnant anymore. Usually during my pregnancies I get sad that it will come to an end and immediately following the birth of the baby I think to myself, I can't wait to have another and be pregnant again...not this time. She is most definitely the LAST! I'm glad she's a girl because it draws an even more final conclusion to our family, which I like things to be tied up all nice and tidy like that...and even though I would have been happy with 4 boys, I will never have to wonder now what a little girl would have been like. So we are very happy.

Raymond's Birthday Part 2! Complete...

After a rough week last week, we have finally finished celebrating Raymond's 4th birthday. We worked hard all day on setting up for his Pirate party and it went well. I have to honestly say the 10 birthday parties total I've put on for my boys has never been as chaotic as this one, but still fun. The kids were distracted and not interested in the game or Raymond opening presents or anything, but everyone still had lots of fun.

Raymond's funny too. He always wants to be outgoing and the center of attention when he "shouldn't" be, but when the spotlight is on him he doesn't want it and gets really shy and a little anxious about it. He opened his presents and then kind of had the attitude like, okay you can go home now everyone. He also had begged me to draw a Pirate and make a pin the hat on the pirate game, and then REALLY did not want to play it when the time came. Good thing I nixed the treasure hunt for their loot bags and just gave them their bags too, cause he and all the other kids were not interested in scheduled events at all. Which is fine, but Owen is the opposite. He wants the games the structure and the steps of a party and is very outgoing at his birthday parties, so I just need to remember that difference between the two boys when planning their parties. I just never want Raymond to think I am putting more effort into Owen's parties then his, but it's just the way he likes it.

So here are a bunch of pictures from the party. Tony's mom and husband were in charge of bringing the Pizza from Little Caesars Pizza for us, and when they showed up they were dressed in full pirate garb costumes! That was hilarious. My mom has been here too and she has been a big help since I hurt my back for a second time this week. I was a baby on Tuesday and called her crying about my back and she left Wednesday afternoon to come stay through the weekend to help me with everything while I mended. I wish she could stay longer to help me get organized, but she'll be taking off tomorrow.

So on with the pics. Enjoy a 4 year old's Pirate party! Happy 4th Raymo!

Sisterly Love....Arrrr Mateys! A typical day at the Coffey house!

A typical family portrait at the Coffey house!

Judd sporting a Pirate bandana.

This is how my mother in law and her husband surprised us at Raymond's party tonight!

The Pirate duo, they surprised us and showed up dressed up! HA.