A few updates...

 

So are you telling me that this tiny little bum will turn into this giant size monster bum? I don't believe it. Ben is a tank. That has become his nick name lately. He's huge. Heavy, chubby and huge.

Last weekend we went on our 2nd annual mini vacation to downtown to see the lights, shop, pass out homeless kits, and stay at Little America. We had  a great time. Well, minus the huge mess of loosing Caleb at City Creek. Yes, people. We lost our 3rd child for over 45 minutes. It was one of those experiences I will never forget. Nor will I forget the depth of prayers that were said. Miracles happen and yes, prayers are answered. And yes, tears of joy were shed when he was found! (These pictures are all before getting lost...all the fun died after he went missing, no more pictures)

Mini M&M's

Candy Windows

Family photo, minus Ben. (He stayed home with my parents) And Andrew was in the stroller bundled up nice and warm.

 

Last picture taken..my battery died.  We had a great time.

Baby face pictures. He's starting to grow. He will be 4 weeks old in two days. Oh, what a joy he has been.

 

I love his face!

And I love this kids face too. I made 9 batches of toffee...and Ben came around just in time when they were finished. Let's just say that the batch he found became our families batch to enjoy!

 

Yup. He's hooked and he loved it!

If you love my toffee you better tell me now because I'm heading out to deliver them tomorrow!

Baby Andrew

So today, the little dude had his eyes open...SHOCKER. He has been so super sleepy as all newborns are. So I thought I'd hurry and snap a few photos. Nothing fancy. Trust me I wish I knew how to use my fancy camera, let a lone how to take photos. Maybe in my next life I'll have time to learn how to do it all. But until then I'll just capture the moment of this sweet little dude. This picture cracks me up. He looks so chubby. But man alive this is a tiny baby still. 2 weeks appointment he weighed in at 7 lbs. 1 oz. 20 inches.

I think this is the look I get all the day long from him. He is a sweet heart. I couldn't be happier to have him here. Honestly, he's a doll. It's the other kids that cause me to have headaches everyday. Not you little one.

I'm a cute baby!

I love his long feet and toes. I love to watch how each little toe curls up. So cute.

My boys always have these darling wrinkly little foreheads.

These pictures make him look like he has red hair...not the case. It's brown. And this picture really doesn't look like him at all. Funny. Seriously, do pictures even capture his look...I think not. Each picture it looks like a different baby.

Cute sneezing baby.

Side profile.

 

Recent Holiday Happenings...

First year hanging Christmas lights on the new house...Thankfully, last year for Christmas Jared got that sweet tall ladder for his gift. He couldn't be happier he owns it now that our roof is MUCH taller. We also inherited some extra "lawn ornaments" from the family members that have too many lights. I have to admit our lights look much cuter than we expected.

One of my favorite places in the house. I LOVE having this board in our dining room. It is a constant changing thing, depending on the holidays, scripture study, FHE, job charts, etc. It's been the BEST thing ever. Maybe a little busy and cluttered, but it is so well used I love it! That was our darling gratitude tree, it was FUN.

Pretty flowers that were delivered a few days after we came home from the hospital. They were beautiful!

Hanging up ornaments on the Christmas Tree...a little super glue was used to fix all the broken ornaments from the year before.

Caleb was so happy to be reunited with his stocking again....the kids LOVE their stockings.

The kids were excited to find a small santa hat that fits Andrew.

Alayna and Jake are taking Piano. They couldn't be happier. Alayna is looking at Jake's new piano book with him.

Andrew took a bath...he has fun curly fuzzy hair when it's wet.

I love this baby!

And if these SMILES don't just make you happy...Seriously, these BOYS are CRAZY...and since we normally do showers instead of baths, they were in HEAVEN when Jared let them take a bath. I think it was a first in the past 6 months. They loved the bubbles and wrestling each other.

Silly Ben

Smiley Caleb

Jazz 3 Dance. Alayna is in a Jazz dance class this year and LOVES it.

She had her Christmas performance over the weekend. She looked darling and LOVED it.

 

The gang that came to watch her performance.

 

 

This cute baby face is changing and growing everyday. We love you our sweet baby.

Ben LOVES you and loves to kiss you and touch you and attack you. I'm so sorry!

The past two weeks

Happy Thanksgiving one and all. Well, this year was extra special because we "hosted" Thanksgiving in our new home. Crazy, I know because I just had the little baby one week ago. BUT it worked out beautifully. Honestly it couldn't have gone any smoother. We moved the furniture around, opened up the family room, put up some tables, and viola! It was ready. My assignments this year was to do all the table settings. The kids (Alayna & Jake) helped all month of November getting things ready, easy stuff to be done BEFORE the baby arrived. They helped purchase the plates, napkins, name cards, etc. We made some cornucopias out of sugar cones and runts candy. We also had them make grateful turkeys from their hands. The other darling thing was a grateful book the kids made for all the cousins to fill out and color. It honestly was adorable. Which, made for a easy Thanksgiving. Because my kitchen stayed clean and everyone else brought the food to us. It was heavenly!

 

The Peck family was in attendance. We loved having them here this year with us!

Some darling girl cousins

Caleb asked for a picture of himself...This outfit is award winning. Not to mention his pose and smile! This outfit was something my mother sewed for her supposed baby "boy" that never came to her family. So one day my mom found it in her treasures and gave it to Caleb. He ALWAYS wears it!

The Howell family was also there.

Madsens were also there.

The fam around the table.

It was such beautiful weather that games were played all afternoon outside. The kids were in HEAVEN.

 

There really is nothing more fun that human rock paper scissors game.

Our newest family photo of all SEVEN of us! Crazy.

Oh, the happy parents.

The night before Thanksgiving is the annual Light Turning on Ceremony at the Madsens home. It was fantastic. Baby Andrew and I escaped from the house and attended the party. It was great to eat some awesome food and watch the annual family favorite movie, Family Man. (on clearplay of course)

Well done again!

Some baby photos...It's so hard to capture this kid on camera. I swear every picture looks like a different baby.

 

I must be honest I sure love a mad baby picture...Not so happy it was going to be bath time! Oh, sad little baby! Baby Andrew is 11 days old and we couldn't be more happy with him. Today all the kids went back to their regular school days. YEAH. Which means we have a routine again. Hip Hip Hooray! It was heavenly. Not to mention this little baby has been so awesome at sleeping at night. I'm afraid to even type out how great he's been because I'm sure tonight will be terrible!!! But either way, he's been a dream baby to add to our family. Now, if I could only kick these ridiculous head aches I keep getting each night. I don't remember having them? Am I alone out there moms? Can anyone relate? I'm trying to take meds but NOTHING seems to take the edge off...anyone? Either way, I'm so thankful this healthy little boy has arrived. I'm grateful multiple times a day I can bend over! Yeah!!!