Brooks, Shelci, Landon & Elliot
This was taken Christmas Eve. It is my first profile shot looking pregnant. Cute, huh? Since this is my first pregnancy I am not really sure what to expect. I am just over 4 months along, but have nothing to compare this pregnancy to (size of my belly, various feelings, etc). We found out just a few days after this that we are having 2 boys. We are so excited!
We went to the doctor today for a regular checkup and to see the gender of our babies. I am now 18 weeks along. The doctor almost immediately saw the first baby, bum in the right picture taking position, and knew it was a boy. The second was a little harder. He had his cord between his legs, but after some searching it was easier to tell. Brooks and I are thrilled, but we would have been happy no matter what. I really thought it was two boys so I wasn't too shocked. They look healthy and are growing just the way they should. Both boys are about the same size. The first picture is of their heads and the second shows one baby curled up in a ball. Not sure about the third picture other than that it looks like a baby, and Brooks said the last picture is showing that it is a boy. I can't figure that out very well, but I bet he is right. After the appointment we called a long list of family and friends to share the news. We also had a video tape that was supposed to record the ultrasound, but when we went to watch the tape we were disappointed. It hadn't worked right for some reason. Our next appointment is in four weeks and we can try the tape again at that one. Maybe we will get a little more confirmation about gender as well just to be sure. I really like having the ultrasound every time. In the evening, we went out to eat with my family. Carl & Evonne's family is in town for Christmas and we visited with them at dinner. It was a spicy Mexican restaurant in Mesa that I had never been to before. Afterwards, Heidi and I went to Old Navy and I celebrated the news of having two boys by buying a few boy things. We are so excited and are looking forward for May to roll around. My due date is June 1, but I like to say May. 
We drove up to the cabin on Christmas Day and enjoyed Christmas dinner with the Crandell's. On the 26th all the boys went snowboarding and skiing. Brooks decided to get all his stuff on the night before because he was excited I guess. While the boys were gone, the girls drove to Show Low for lunch and shopping. Ian was the only boy along for the trip. Poor guy!
That evening we played Settlers. Sterling decided to give it a try for the first time and got pretty close to winning a game. Besides playing Settlers, we watched movies, did puzzles and of course, played Rock Band and other video games for the boys especially.
When all four dogs are at the cabin, it gets a little crazy. Cole is a little, or a lot, too active for the other dogs and they get irritated with him. Here is a rare shot of Lucy & Cole relaxing on the couch together. 
Brooks got new snowboarding pants for Christmas. Sometimes he figures out what I am getting for him, but I think this was actually a surprise. He seemed to really like them. The pants he had before were pretty stinky. He also got a gift certificate for a pair of nice sunglasses. He spends a lot of time driving and is excited to get some good glasses. We also got a camcorder for the two of us which I am very excited about!
Brooks got me a few kitchen things. I got my first gravy boat with some nice serving platters, a toaster and an ice cream/sorbet maker. He also listened very well and bought me grapefruit spoons. Grapefruit and Serrano's have been my two most common cravings this pregnancy and I wanted some grapefruit spoons. Simple, but exactly what I wanted. Brooks also went all out and got me a gift certificate to a spa. I can go get pampered for the day. I am looking forward to getting my first ever facial! Good job honey!
Cole didn't get any presents for Christmas, but I did wrap him up with one of our bows. He didn't really like it:(
After Christmas morning at our house, we went over to my parents. Max was calling from his mission in Brazil at 9:00 am (actually we called him, but whatever.) We had one hour to talk to him. Mom and Dad took most of the time of course, but we each got a turn to say hi. It was nice to talk to him. He sounded homesick, but I know that he is enjoying the mission. He has had a crazy past few months with multiple changes of companions and everything constantly changing. Hopefully he will get a little consistently back in the schedule. I think that will help. He has been out for just over 5 months now. After his call we opened our gifts from mom and dad and gave them the gifts from us. We got a very nice copy of the book The Holy Temple, a cookbook and gift cards for Black Angus and the movies. We got them a nice cooking dish, a book about Joseph Smith, and family videos. I spent quite a bit of time over the past month or so recording most of our home videos from various forms of tapes to DVD. It was a lengthy process, but well worth it. It was fun to watch while I recorded and it was great to see Mom and Dad's reaction. They both really loved it and were a bit emotional! After breakfast with them, we watched a few of the home videos. There were some great ones of Max that were fun to watch after just talking to him on the phone.
Dallin got a tricycle from Nana and Papa. He likes it! It is actually a gift that will stay at my parents and be for all the grandchildren over time. For now, Dallin doesn't have to share though. He doesn't quite have the pedaling figured out, but he does like being pushed around.
After the Crandell Christmas party yesterday, we all went over to the Crandell's to open gifts. They were getting ready to head to the cabin and wanted everyone to be there to open gifts. Even though it was two days before Christmas, it still felt like Christmas to me. We did our sibling gift exchange and then opened ALL the other Christmas gifts. How fun!
After all the other gifts were opened, Mason opened a gift with a clue that led him to look in the bathroom for a gift. It ended up being a XBox 360 and gave him another clue. After being led to the bathroom, freezer, playhouse and pool table, he ended up with an Xbox 360, a Tony Hawk game, Guitar Hero 2 and Rock Band. None of the boys knew about any of it, and they were all super excited!
We did our sibling gift exchange first and then gave Mom and Dad C. their gifts. Brooks got a snowboarding helmet from Taryn, which came a few days early in order for him to use it when he went snowboarding the week before. He loves the helmet and I love that it helps keep him safe while he is boarding down the mountain. After my concussion snowboarding last winter, we decided helmets would be beneficial. Thanks Taryn! I got a prenatal massage, or pampering of my choice, from a spa out in QC from Kelley. I am super excited to use it! It really was a great gift and I totally wasn't expecting it. The babies and I appreciate it.Thanks Kelley! Brooks had Preston and gave him $$ for a lift ticket, the one thing Preston asked for. I had Kelley's name and gave her a necklace and an apple peeler/corer. The one at the cabin comes in so handy and I thought it would be handy to have.
Mom and Dad gave each of the married couples a nice framed picture. I got one titled "Peace Be Still" where the Savior is calming the sea. What a nice gift! I already have it on the wall. Thank you!
Ian got dressed up, hat and all, for Christmas. He really likes being with Grandpa.
Sterling and Taryn brought a Santa outfit and Ian and Emery took pictures with Santa, or Uncle Mason dressed up as Santa. Better than paying for pictures at the mall. 
The Crandell Christmas party was at uncle Don's this year. We had lots of good food and as always, a white elephant gift exchange. Brooks and I forgot about the exchange until that day and Brooks came up with a couple of ideas that wouldn't require shopping: a $1 bill and a five minute back massage courtesaey of Brooks. Great, right? Max Willis (Brooks' cousin, Kim's, husband) ended up opening up the back massage which was pretty funny. A few turns later it was stolen by his Aunt Debbie. Brooks took it back on his turn and gave it to me. The back massage was then a "dead" item and could no longer be traded. Good for me and him. Everyone was complimenting him on how he played getting it back so he wouldn't have to give the massage. The picture below is of him taking it back from his aunt. We had a fun night. It is always fun to see family that you don't see all the time.
Preston and Kelley are still living with us waiting for a few things to go through on their house. Brooks was trying to get Emery to smile before they left for church. He was successful a few times, but he ended up scaring her a bit as well.
Brooks has been waiting for it to snow since last March and it finally did. They got snow two weekends in a row at Sunrise and Snowbowl. Brooks was checking the ski report daily waiting for them to open. Snowbowl, in Flagstaff, opened Dec 13, and Brooks was there for opening day. He went with Mike Peterson, our family friend and chiropractor. He had to borrow a board because all his stuff was in Heber. He missed his board and boots, but he still enjoyed the experience. On Tuesday, Dec 18, he went snowboarding with Preston, his brother, at Sunrise. 
He took a few pictures at the top. I went boarding with him last year, but never actually took the lift all the way up to the top. I like the easy runs. The view up there is nice. Kelley, Preston and Emery and Brooks and I drove up to the cabin in Heber Monday night, and then the boys went boarding the next day. Brooks says he likes Sunrise a lot better. He also enjoyed using all his own gear for the first time since last spring. Kelley, Emery and I hung out at the cabin all day and did a puzzle, read and relaxed. I think this was Emery's first time in the snow. 
Brooks, Cole and I went outside for a picture in the snow when Brooks got back from boarding. After a long day of boarding, Brooks was a little tired. I don't know why he is wearing shorts and t-shirt in the freezing cold, but he did humor me by at least taking the pictures.
