What a vacation!

We went to visit my parents for a week over Thanksgiving. It was a really good visit, even with getting the flu. My brother was able to come down and spend most of that week with us and so were all 6 of his kids. I feel bad, some of them got the flu too. So most of the time was spent at my parents home, just relaxing. We did go a couple of places with all the kids, so I will post a few pictures later.
When were able to travel and weren't sick the kids and I spent an evening with Shawn's parents and some of his siblings and step siblings. The girls were able to run wild with few of there cousins there, so all is all the whole trip was good.

Thanksgiving Thoughts!

Ghost of Thanksgiving Past

I thought it would be fun to share memories of past Thanksgivings.... Feel free to go back in time however near or far you like, include experiences with your current family or your in-laws or your own family growing up.

MINE:
1. I remember the years we were living in Guam and had just gone through a Typhoon! (actually a couple of them back to back). We were will out power after this particular storm for 6 months. Well mostly with out power, they filtered in power in 2 hour shifts. So this particular holiday we had missionaries for dinner (all of the ones on that half of the island, about 6 or so) and we made spaghetti on a camp stove in great big pots. It was very interesting and a lot of FUN!!!
The next year we had to cook the turkey in our oven for 2 hours and then high tail it to a neighbors that had power for another 2 hours. We went back and forth all day depending on who had power to bake different things. It was an interesting couple of years worth of holidays.

7 Days and Counting!

In the 7 1/2 years we have lived in Oregon, we have been home once for Thanksgiving and not at all for Christmas. This year we are going to go to my parents house for Thanksgiving. I just wish Shawn's parents were in town for the Holiday, then we would be able to spend time with them too. I feel like we are the Prodigal children, returning home for the first time in a long time. Granted we do go home at least once a year, usually in the summer. (I don't like to travel in the winter and we can't afford to fly.) I am looking forward to the celebrations, especially since Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

Halloween!!

All of us after trick or treating at the local supermarket strip mall.

Cadie dumping her load the next day after Trick or Treating.
We weighed one of the bags of candy and it weighed in at 8lbs. All of the girls got about the same amount of candy.

My friend and her little pirate. She always has the best ideas and they all turn out perfect.

Naomee getting ready for a party (I mean trick or treating.)

Madie getting ready to go to a party with a friend. She decided not to wear the wings or the headband for Trick or Treating.

This is our kids and my boys at Shawn's work party. Way too crowded, but the kids like it.

We actually had a lot of things to do for Halloween, so the kids got to spend quite a bit of time in costumes. I ended up freezing 90% of the girls candy. Can you image 24lbs of candy between them. The worst part is I can't eat any of it. Well I guess that is not the worst part. It is a very good thing for me.

Collecting clothes for Payton!

I had gone to Fred Meyer when they were having clearance sale and bought some new clothes for Payton. I hung them up so Shawn could see them and I have not been able to bring myself to take them down. That and I don't know where to put them all.

Pumpkin Patch with Naomee

Naomee on the bus!
Naomee and Mom on the bus!

Naomee before we started our pumpkin hunt!

Naomee and mom on some bales of hay!

On the train back to the farm!

Naomee was done with pictures so she took this of me instead!

I made her stop and take pictures so often that she was getting annoyed with me.

On the boat ride to the field of pumpkins

Naomee and a little friend in her class and from church, Emma!

Naomee had been very excited about Halloween starting all the way back in Sept. So this trip to the pumpkin farm was just the cherry on top. She loved being there, but didn't like me taking so many pictures. Which is funny because she will bring me the camera and say "will you take a picture of me."

Just for Fun!!

Just for fun!

Your ROCK STAR name (first pet & current car):
Bandit Acura

Your GANGSTA name (favorite ice cream flavor & favorite type of shoe):
Vanilla Tennies

Your NATIVE AMERICAN name (favorite color & favorite animal):
Yellow Cow

Your SOAP OPERA name (middle name & city where you were born):
Ann Las Vegas

Your STAR WARS name (first 3 letters of first name & first 2 letters of last name):
Heaha

Your SUPERHERO name (second favorite color & favorite drink):
Purple Water

Your NASCAR name (first names of your grandfathers):
Robert Ralph

Your TV WEATHER ANCHOR name (5th grade teacher's last name & a major city that starts with the same letter):
Hoffman Houston

Your SPY name (favorite season/holiday & favorite flower):
Spring Tulip

Your CARTOON name (favorite fruit & an article of clothing you're wearing now): Apple Sweats

Your movie star name (name of favorite pet and name of street you grew up on):
Sandy Lyndon

Naomee's new talents!

Naomee has decided she wants to be a hairdresser. She has discovered that she likes to do her own hair. This is just one of her creations. She really wanted me to take a picture of it.

She has also started to write, but she doesn't know what she is writing. She can just copies letters, which to me is pretty surprising. She can duplicate them almost perfectly.

If you look carefully you can see the words "Tillamook Premium Ice cream" written among other letters.

She asked me if I had written on this bucket, (which I had when I put oatmeal in it), and then asked if she could write on it too. I said sure, thinking that she would just color on it. When she showed me her work, it shocked me that she had copied the words that were written on the bucket, even the ones I had written. (Quick Oats). She had been very excited about writing lately, and learning all her numbers. We have finished of several workbooks, between Sacrament meeting and home time. She will go far in school I think. I don't see her having some of the same hang ups as her sisters have had to face. At least that is my hope.

Shawn's Recent Campout!!

The five boys that attended this campout. All deacons!

This is a 4 1/2 boy tree. (As Shawn says)

One of the cool mushrooms that Shawn captured for me!
They got a lesson on what was poisonous and not.

One of the cool features on there backpacking adventure. It rained continually on this thing.

Shawn is now the Scoutmaster and Deacon's quorum advisor. So he can't miss any of the scouting trips, not that he would willingly. This place that they went was a last minute choice, but turned out to be a new favorite of Shawn's. He was fascinated by this place. He says that next summer he will make sure we as a family go. (They had to hike into camp about 4 miles) I told him we will see. But he loved it, so that is what counts.

Heather A-Z

Heather from A-Z

A-Attached or Single: Attached!! (Gratefully)
B-Best Friend: I have too many to name, including my husband.
C-Cake or Pie: Right now neither, but on a normal occasion it would be a toss up, totally dependant on my mood.
D-Day: Most days are good, but I think I would say Wednesday, it is the middle of the week.
E-Essential Item:
F-Favorite Color: Natural greens, I love purple, pink, yellow and tons of brown shades.
G-Gummi bears or gummi worms: Gummi bears
H-Hometown: I was born in Las Vegas, but only til I was 1 1/2 or so, then moved every couple of years, my parents live in Mapleton Ut.
I-Indulgences: Usually ice cream, but right now I am loving on the apples
J-January or July: July, except for the heat. But I am loving January right now, I will be close the end of my pregnancy then.
K-Kids: 3 beautiful girls and one handsome boy on the way.
L-Life is incomplete without: My family or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
M-Marriage Date: Sept 20th, 1996
N-Number of Siblings: 1 brother, and tons of friends I call sisters!!!!
O-Oranges or Apples: Oh man, apples. I love apples!!!
P-Phobias or Fears: Roller Coasters, and heights in general, but I LOVE to fly!!!
Q-Quote: "A family is a little world created by love"
R-Reason to Smile: My favorite moment of the day is when Naomee (my youngest) runs down to the garage when Shawn arrives home and he reves is motorcycle and she squeals in delight. No matter what kind of mood I am in it makes me smile.
S-Season: Fall and Spring equally!
T-Tag: Jen, Becca, Melody, Laura D, Lauri T, Stephanie G, and Robie S.
U-Unknown fact about me: I don't know I am usually an open book
V-Vacation destination of choice: A cruise anywhere!
W-Worst Habit: Getting upset too easily with my kids!
X-X-Rays or Ultrasounds: Had a few of each, but I would have to say ultrasounds are funner.
Y-your favorite food: Right now anything that keeps my blood glucose levels under control.
Z-Zodiac Sign: Cancer (and yes I am cranky)

BOY OR GIRL?

THUMBSUCKER!

BOY!

Ok yesterday I found out what I was having. Shawn and Naomee went with me, it was a very fun afternoon. I can tell you I had tears in my eyes when the technician said we were having a BOY!!!! He is very active, he was doing flips galore. In the course of about 2 mins he had flipped over 4 times. The technician had to "chase" the little tyke down just to get measurments. He is very healthy and right on schedule. His name will be Payton Shawn Harbert.

Conference weekend!

I decided that this year to try and get the kids more involved with listening to conference. I didn't have any printer ink so I couldn't print of any of the numerous packets that we received plus that doesn't keep their attention for long. So I pulled out a puzzle that we received a couple of Christmas' ago. It was the perfect puzzle for a conference setting, it was a Greg Olsen portrait. It kept Cadie's attention for all of one session and part of another. Madie's attention was much less. Naomee just played with the pieces like they were cars. Shawn even helped a little here and there. We started it on Saturday afternoon session and I finished it up Monday morning. It was great.

RESULTS ARE IN!

Ok, so I got my results in from my long glucose test.... Drum roll please.....
Just kidding, I didn't pass. I have been told that all the tests came back too high, even the one they took while fasting. My only one that came back within normal range was the last draw at the 3 hour mark. But they did say even that was on the high end of normal. I have been scheduled for my education classes to teach me what I need to do to take care of this. Luckily for me I have done this before and know what I am in for, but it is good that I have to do the classes again. It has been 7 years since I have done it, I have forgotten most of the details.
On a good note, I have just to wait until Monday to see the baby. Shawn and I are getting really excited to see the baby. The girls have been making predictions and they keep changing according to what they prefer at the moment. So if you have not made your prediction and voted yet you still have 3 days.

More Sugar!!!

I unfortunately did NOT pass the first glucose test, so I am on to the four hour. I go in tomorrow at 9 am to start this really grueling process. I had gestional diabetes with Madie, but had to have the 4 hr test with all pregnancies. I will just bring a book and lots of water. I just pray that the headache that will follow will go away before I have to take Cadie to violin lessons. Ugh, can you imagine sitting through violin lessons with a headache.
Again any and all wishes of luck and prays on my behalf will be accepted and appreciated.

Quirky!!!! I was tagged and so are you!!!

I was tagged by my good friend, Laura.
Rules:Link the person who tagged you. Mention the rules on your blog.
Tell 6 unspectacular quirky things about you or your family.
Tag 6 fellow bloggers by linking them. Leave a comment on each of the tagged bloggers' blogs letting them know they have been tagged.

1. I don't know if I am quirky at all. At least to me I seem normal. I guess one would have to be I have a really hard time finishing projects. If I get busy, bored, sidetracked or anything else I have the hardest time picking that project back up. I have started HUNDREDS of little projects and not one of them is finished. Ok, maybe one or two.

2. I have to have lines on my carpet. (Thank goodness I don't have carpet anymore, at least not in visible areas.) I would vacuum up to 5 or 6 times a day just to see the lines. Shawn used to walk in circles on the carpet just to see my reaction.

3. I don't like to go places by myself, but I like to be away from my family. I will beg and beg for some alone time and then when I am able to go, I flake out and ask if someone wants to go with me.

4. I love to read, if I get into a book, I will not do any chores or anything that I need to do until the book is done. If it is a really good book, that could be 24-72 hrs, if it is an ok book then I will be more willing to put it down on occasion. Unfortunately for my family I read a lot. Lucky for them, I will take a break between books.

5. Everything in my fridge has a home. I don't like anything out of place. My sister-in law refused to put anything away for me for a long while, now she knows where everything goes and so she is good now. (I wish that habit would carry over to the rest of the house, but alas I am not that blessed.)

6. I don't mind doing dishes or laundry, I just don't like to put it away. I will wash dishes till the cows come home as long and I don't have to put it away. Same with laundry, as long as I don't have to fold and put it away I am good.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look into my quirky life!
Now it is your turn, I tag Jen, Ariana, Lauri, Becca, Melody, Sarah and Gayle.
I hope you all are well and up to the challenge!

SUGAR, SUGAR Oh HONEY, HONEY!!!

Wish me luck I am off to have my Glucose tested today. They are doing this test early because I have had Gestational Diabetes before and I have been close with at least one other. I am praying that I won't have to do the 4 hour one. Oh GAG me!!! I can suffer through the 1 hour.

Tune in Oct 6th

We scheduled the ultrasound for Monday Oct 6th. Shawn and I are pretty excited to see our baby. Getting the sex is pretty exciting too. I just really want to see it. I wouldn't mind seeing it every month, but that is just me. So tune in soon after for the big announcement!!!!

ME!!! PREGNANT?!!

Here are a couple pictures of me pregnant. I know you can't really tell, I am just looking a bit more chubby than normal.

I am 16 weeks and due Feb 27th. I get to find out what I am having in about 3 weeks. I am so excited about that part. Shawn is even more wanting a boy than ever. He won't let anyone forget that, that is what he wants. I hope for his sake his hopes aren't dashed if it is not. I just want to see the baby and make sure it is healthy before I get my hopes up for anything in particular. I am a bit worried about the health of the baby since I have not gained any weight. Which is not normal for me. I am sure it will be fine, but still can't help wondering why.

Naomee and her new Clothes!

I don't know why she thinks she has to tilt her head so far, but she loves to pose for pictures!
Here is one of the new set of clothes she got, this one is her favorite of the 3 outfits that my mom sent.

Naomee's First Day of Preschool!!!

Preschool!!
Here is Naomee getting ready for the first day of Preschool. She started on Monday!
She has been more than excited for a while.
She loves to pose for pictures!!
So funny!!

Naomee with her new backpack!!

Here is Mom with Naomee!
(not the best of mom but oh well)

Naomee picked the computers to play on first.

Just in case your wondering what is up with the smile, she put on chap stick and so she smiles funny when she has that on. It is strange, you would think she would smile more.

Naomee has been counting down days til school started since some time in August. She received a letter saying when school would start and then Mommy bought her a new backpack and so that probably is why she was so much more excited. I had a little bit of a hard time as we left the house, she is just growing up so fast. (I was really good and held it together at the school though.) She has has so much fun with school and comes home so happy!

A new school year has begun!!! YEAH!!!!

From new shoes....to new school supplies...

and new clothes

these girls are ready to rock and roll!!!

First day of school, how exciting! Madie woke up at 5:30 AM and was mad that I wouldn't let her get up and get ready for school. She called to me at 6 and again at 6:15 and then again at 6:30, all with the same question "Is it time NOW?" Finally I relented and let her out of her room just before 7am. Luckily they were so excited to get ready for school that they were done and fully ready to walk out the door by 7:15. With one hour to go before we could leave, we did all of our chores and then did pictures and still had time to spare. Madie was the most impatient, but we worked it out.

Here are the girls walking to school,

past the construction that is still going on at there school.

Madie thrilled to be in here class.

Madie was even more excited to be in school, so much so that she came into the class room and dumped her supplies on the floor (literally) and then got distracted and left them there while she went off to do something else.
Cadie on the other hand had a little bit of a hard time adjusting to a new class and a new teacher and new kids. She did eventually calm done, but not enough for me to get her picture. Now she loves school, her teacher and doesn't hesitate to leave for school. She just gets nervous when change happens.
The first day the girls were in school I took the day off, mostly because I was woke up at 5 something in the morning. Shawn came home sick too, so nothing got done Tuesday. Yesterday I didn't sit around, I had too many errands to run. By the time I got home I was really tired and the headache started. But I got a lot done. Today I don't know what we are going to do. Naomee has an open house at her preschool today and so she is thrilled to be going to her school today. The ward Daddy/Daughter is friday and so Shawn is taking the girls out of school early so they can spend most of the day together, and because they have to leave camp at like 6am to get to Madie's soccer game. (We would just let her miss the game, except Shawn is the coach. So they both can't miss it, besides it is the first game.)
Well that is enough for today.