Christmas

This year was a very different year but a good time to reflect on our blessings. My parents were here for 10 days after the baby and we had a great time with them. We were able to have a Christmas eve with them before they let. Grandpa taught the children using a small nativity scene. We had a secret Santa this year who gave us a piece of a nativity scene each night and on Christmas Eve they brought us the baby Jesus. It was the Bruce Frodsham family in our ward. They are great people. So the kids learned about Jesus' birth from Grandpa and talked about Bethlehem and the star after. It was a neat experience. We ate finger foods and played cards. We didn't get to play cards as much as they would have liked but we had a good time. They left on Christmas Eve which was a very sad day for us but Jerry made plans with two families in our ward who came over for dinner that night. The Childs' made all the food and the Jensen's brought a salad. We had a good time. Christmas morning was great. The kids has such a great time. Landon got crashy, crashy race cars and Lauren got a kitchen. They said Santa brought Mommy a baby and Daddy a video game. We were also very spoiled by Uncle Rod. He did way too much for us but we appreciate it. They LOVE Santa and can't for him to come again next year. We were very blessed and so happy to be together as a family.

BYU Game

Thanks to Michael Groberg (and Natalee), Jerry and my Dad were able to get tickets to the Las Vegas bowl. They had a great time eating at In and Out.....TWICE and running into Lavell Edwards. You couldn't ask for a more exciting finish to a game!

Anniversary

Today we have been married for five years. It has been an amazing journey and I am so grateful to have Jerry by my side. We were able to go to dinner ALONE...thanks to Grandma and Grandpa and also to pick up a few things for Christmas...this is the usual routine for our Anniversary. After we went to Maui last year...I told Jerry this would count for the next few anniversaries. This day is also my Dad's birthday, Kevin and Lindsay's anniversary and Brent and Jill's anniversary. It is a very special day. I know for sure the Lord had a hand in helping me to find Jerry and I am so grateful. I am also grateful for my three beautiful children. They are truly each a miracle.

Our New Addition

We are so excited about our new little girl, Avery Noel North. We took one trip BEFORE she came to the hospital and were sent home but the night we went in to have her, our wonderful doctor was there and allowed us to stay! Dr Chad Lunt was our OB/GYN and did such an excellent job with little Avery. We went to the hospital about 5 am and had Steve Bingham come over and stay with our children. My friend Mary Jane then came and took Landon and Lauren for the duration of the day. She is the best! We were mission companions and she continues to look out for me. My parents were on their way down to St George. The doctor had told me he would start me on Friday the 14th if I had not had the baby yet and they had decided to leave to be here for that. I was able to get my full IV for strep B and then I was put on PIT to get my contractions started again. I had the baby about one hour later. She was born at 11:13 am on December 13th which should help me to remember. She weighed 8 pounds 12 oz and was 2o inches long. Her father and I were so happy to have her here. She was born on Clyde Barson's birthday and the anniversary of my return from the Germany, Duesseldorf mission in 1998. What a wonderful day!

Avery Noel North

Avery Noel North was born December 13th at 11:13 AM. She weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is a beautiful baby. Landon and Lauren love her and are so cute with her. Grandma and Grandpa came from Idaho and are taking great care of us and the kids.

Baby...not yet

No, we have not had the baby yet but hopefully soon. I am feeling like it could be this week. My doctor says I am progressing well. I am officially 37 weeks and would welcome the baby anytime. I have been having contractions and feel like it will be soon. I just get nervous about being at the hospital in time. I am strep B positive which means I need 8 hours of an antibiotic before the baby comes. I am praying I will know when to go in and everything will be OK. The young women threw a surprise baby shower for me on Tuesday. It was so fun. I really appreciated the things they gave me and I was truly surprised. Jerry officiated 3 games yesterday in Cedar City in the snow. I didn't feel well but my friend Mary Jane came and got me some medicine I needed. We went to the Oak Ridge Boys concert on the 29th with Glenn and Jolynn Carpenter. Glenn works with Jerry and they are a great couple. Jerry won tickets to a Travis Tritt concert in Mesquite and a two night stay at the Oasis (thanks to Glenn's suggestion) but we were unable to go because it was two days later. Glenn's nephew used the tickets so we were happy about that. Jerry is doing awesome at work. He just got a work cell phone so this is awesome for me because now I have a phone. He is working very hard and I know his bosses are pleased. I am so grateful for him and for his great job. I am still working and doing what I can. I enjoy the people I work with. Hopefully, our next entry will be about the baby! We are anxious to get her here.

Nikolaus Tag

We did our German Christmas tradition ( a day late) on Thursday morning. I don't know if the kids or Jerry had more fun. Landon had been talking about traditions at preschool and told them about this tradition. On the 5th of December the kids clean their shoes and put them out on the doorstep and Santa fills them with nuts, fruit and treats. If your shoes or not clean or you haven't been good, you get a potato in your shoe. So we did a day late and I can't decide if Jerry or the kids had more fun. St Nick came and Jerry had Christmas music playing as he woke up the children before work. He really wanted to see their reaction. They were very happy and we had a fun day. We also got a fun Christmas package from the Robb's. They are so generous and take such good care of us. It contains gifts for the kids to open as needed throughout the month. Mimi remembers their ages and knows how difficult it is when you are nine months pregnant! Thanks so much Mimi and Poppy!