39 Weeks...

I am now 39 weeks pregnant and 2 cm dilated.  We are all getting very anxious for Baby Girl Sale to make her appearance.  The girls keep asking for her to come out and Ian is constantly asking me if I am in labor.  I was hoping she would have decided to join our world today, but since it is 10pm, I don't think she is going to make it.  Maybe tomorrow...  I was due with Jenna and Miranda on the 15th and they were both born on the 11th so if this little girl is anything like them, she will grace us with her presence on January 27th, which also happens to be my Dad's birthday.  Here are the latest pictures of my belly.  I don't think it can get any bigger!!  We'll see if this is the last of the belly shots or if there will be a 40 week picture- let's hope not!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas Day.  Here is what we have been up to:

On Tuesday we built a gingerbread house together.  It was a lot of fun!  It turned out really cute and the girls enjoyed eating the extra candy too!

On Christmas Eve we woke up to more snow!  We spent a nice day together making cookies for Santa and being together since Ian was able to come home from work nice and early.  After dinner we ventured out in the snow to drive through a few neighborhoods that all decorate their houses with lots of lights and Christmas decorations.  When we got home, we prepared the cookies, water and carrots for Santa and the reindeer.  Then off to bed to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".  When the girls were all settled in bed, Ian and I finished wrapping and played "Santa", setting up everything for the next morning.

We had a nice Christmas Day here at the Sale house.  Thankfully the girls didn't wake up too early and Jenna was the first one awake.  She came into our room and we wished her "Merry Christmas".  She then went to the hallway and was able to see that Santa did make it to our house!  She was pretty excited!!  As soon as Miranda woke up, Jenna made sure to show her the evidence of Santa being there!  Then they immediately wanted to go downstairs!  All that Miranda really "asked" for from Santa was a cradle for her babies.  Of course the first thing she said when she saw all the presents was, "Which one is my cradle".  She was very excited that Santa really did bring one!  I think "Santa" did a great job picking out presents for the girls.  They really seemed happy and played with everything all day yesterday.  With all the snow that we have had over the past 2 weeks, we knew we were going to have a White Christmas.  But, believe it or not, it even snowed yesterday!!!  We got another 3 or 4 inches of snow.  Some of the snowflakes were so big that they looked like cotton balls falling from the sky.  And it even snowed more today!!  We thought it was only supposed to rain, but of course snowflakes were falling from the sky instead!  It was very wet so nothing measurable, but it still amazes me!  Have a nice weekend and enjoy the last few days of 2008!!!

This picture was taken on Tuesday.  We still have about the same amount of snow on the table!
Our Gingerbread House

Setting out the cookies, water & carrots for Santa & the reindeer
White Christmas
Santa really did come to our house!!!

A Razor scooter for Jenna...
A Leapster for Miranda...
And Santa even remembered the cradle she asked for!!
Here are a few pictures of my belly.  I am 35 weeks now.  The baby should be about 5 1/4 pounds and 18 inches long and is compared in size to a honeydew.
Miranda already loves her baby sister...
Jenna is going to be a great big sister again!

Snow Much Fun!!

For the last week, we have had our share of snowy weather!!  The latest storm started about 4pm yesterday and it snowed through much of the night.  The winds picked up too so some of the snow drifted a little.  Ian and the girls have been outside for about an hour so far- Ian shoveling & the girls playing!  They are enjoying the big mound of snow they call Mount Rainier!  I have been able to enjoy the snow from the comfort of our nice warm house & I have been taking pictures through the window.  Enjoy the pictures!

These first few pictures were taken on Thursday when we thought we got a good bit of snow!


The rest of these pictures were taken this morning.
Icicles... Notice the ones on the street light in the distance!

My poor snowmen lights are buried!!!
Austin, Tyler & Jenna buried in the snow!
Miranda






Jenna & Miranda on top of Mount Rainier

More Christmas Fun...

Today was Jenna & Miranda's Christmas Dance Show.  They have both been practicing very hard.  I was a little worried that Miranda might get nervous since this was going to be her first "recital" on stage in front of an auditorium of Mom's & Dad's & other spectators.  The show started at 2pm, but I took the girls backstage at 1:15 to get ready in their costumes.  It was cute seeing them walk hand in hand to get ready.  The show was really good and both girls did a great job!!  Miranda actually sang and danced!!  She looked adorable in her little red tutu, spinning around and tap dancing!  This was a great warm up for her for the big recital in June.  And once again, Jenna did a great job too!!  She looked so comfortable on stage and she sang and danced perfectly.  Can you tell I am a proud mommy right now????  I hope you enjoy their singing and dancing as much as I do!!  Merry Christmas!!

Here is the video of Miranda.  She is the second one from the right, the smallest one there.

Here is the video of Jenna.  She is the first one on the left.

"It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas"...

That time of year is here again!!  We have been busy with a few parties, Miranda's Christmas concert, visiting Santa and the carousel in downtown Seattle.  Tomorrow the girls will be performing in their dance school's Christmas Show.  And next week Jenna will have her Christmas Concert at school.  We decorated the house last weekend and it feels so cozy and festive.  We decided to put the tree in the living room this year and I think it looks perfect!  Enjoy a peak into our home!

Miranda waiting to see Santa at the Flagship Nordstrom store in Downtown Seattle
Miranda didn't want to sit on Santa's lap, but she was happy sitting next to him on the rocking horse!
Jenna telling Santa her Wish List...
Miranda telling Santa she wants a cradle for her babies...

The Macy's star and the carousel...
Riding the carousel...






Here is a video of Miranda singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" at her preschool Christmas Concert. Enjoy!!

"It's a Small World After All"

We took a trip to Disney World for a few days before Thanksgiving. I was unsure about how Jenna and Miranda would do with all the characters, since they are both pretty afraid of mascots and people dressed up in costumes. But they did a great job!! Jenna loved all the princesses she met and even all the other Disney characters. Miranda tried to be brave and get the courage up to see Pluto, who is one of her favorites, but as soon as Mickey waved to her she lost it. At least she was able to handle it enough for Jenna to enjoy getting her picture taken. Both girls loved the rides and were not afraid of anything, not even the Haunted Mansion or Pirates of the Caribbean! They enjoyed the parades, shows & fireworks too! We met Ian's brother & his family there so the girls also had fun seeing their 3 cousins and riding the rides with them. We were at the parks when they opened and stayed all day until about 8 or 9pm. I couldn't believe how well the girls managed the long days and all the walking. Luckily we rented a double stroller there so they were able to get pushed around when they were tired. They sure did sleep good at night!! See you again soon, Disney World!!

Magic Kingdom, here we come!!!



Lindsay was getting tired so Jenna let her lay on her lap and she actually fell asleep!  Jenna was rubbing her back- it was really cute!
Snack time!!  Yummy!!
Jenna & Cinderella
Jenna & Belle
Jenna & Princess Aurora (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty)
Checking out Minnie's House
Getting ready for a 3-D show...
The castle looked so pretty with all the lights...
Jenna & Mickey
Jenna, Lisa & Miranda with Pluto
Jenna & Minnie
Jenna & Donald Duck
Jenna & Goofy
Jenna & Belle

Jenna with Jasmine, Aladdin & the Genie
Miranda after a long day of fun...
Amber & Jenna figuring out what ride to go on next!
Miranda, Jenna, Lindsay, Amber & Allie before the Toy Story ride
The Tower of Terror




Miranda & Lindsay

Jenna & The Fairy Godmother
Jenna & Ariel
Miranda didn't want to ride Dumbo, but luckily there was one for her to sit in & play on!

Jenna loves the outdoors!

Over the last few weeks, Jenna has really enjoyed some outdoor fun with Ian. A few blocks from our house there is a park called Meadowdale Park that has a nice walking trail that leads all the way down to the beach and the Puget Sound. Ian and Jenna decided to hike it one afternoon while Miranda napped and so did I! Here is what they found along the way:


Here is a salmon making its way upstream...



Pretty amazing that they can make it with their bodies this far out of the water!


We also bought an inflatable kayak to use on our boat as well as in the lakes around our house. Just a few miles from home there is a small lake with a nice park called Martha Lake. Ian and the girls ventured out on the kayak, but Miranda wasn't as thrilled with it as Jenna was. Jenna even does a nice job paddling with Ian.

Jenna and Ian all the way on the other side of the lake...