10 Weeks

What about 10 weeks? Most of you can probably guess, have already guessed, or already know that we are 10 weeks pregnant with Baby #5. We had our first ultrasound 2 weeks ago to "date" our pregnancy at which point our Due Date was changed to August 25th. It was nice to see Baby and watch his heart beating. We will be having another more extensive ultrasound on February 15th which we are looking forward to as well.
At 10 weeks we can no longer keep it a "secret"... besides being excited for our new arrival I am feeling very pregnant and beginning to show as well. It's early but it doesn't take long after the first few pregnancies.
We are currently planning for this to be my last pregnancy and though 1st trimester is my least favourite of the 3 I really can't imagine doing it again at this point. So whether it's "Snakes and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails" or "Sugar and Spice and everything nice" this will be the last melon!
Here is our ultrasound picture from 8 weeks, 3 days....

After testing positive we celebrated by making pancakes... we hadn't told the kids at first but when it came time for my first doctors appointment David asked "Do you have a Baby in your tummy?" I wish I would have recorded his reaction... he was excited! Angeline is excited too... she says she also has a baby in her tummy.

Samara's 1 Year Picture

Fun in the Snow

Yesterday we were finally able to get out in the snow and play. I took David and Angeline down the hill (our street) in the morning... and back up so I got my work out in. We also attempted a Snow Man but the snow was so powdery that we didn't have much success. After rolling the bottom of our snow man back and forth for what seemed like hours I gave up. We have 2 balls stacked in the front yard so we might have a chance to make a head later. It is actually snowing as I type so we might get out to play again tomorrow but it is a bit hard with Samara.
I was surprised how long the kids lasted in the snow. In the end I had to promise David some hot chocolate just to get him in. Besides our attempt at a snow man they also made snow angels and rode their run bikes in the drive way. I had so much fun playing in the snow when I was young... it is wonderful to enjoy a snow day now with my children.
Let it snow!
PS- Thanks Great Grandma Evelyne for the Lion Scarf!

Christmas 2011 (In a Nutshell)!

Happy New Year...

I was going to end 2011 with a blogged Christmas letter but somehow the New Year has already found us. I will post Christmas pictures hopefully in the next few days as Jonathan has a few days off. We did have a lovely year end filled with lots of visits with far away family including my brother Ryan  (and Ashlin) from Grande Prairie and Jonathan's sister Lauren (and Brent)  from England. We are looking forward to a trip to the Island in January as well.
2012 is fairly brand new at this point but it is always nice to have a fresh start with each New Year. I am looking forward to going back to church this morning after missing a few Sundays before Christmas. I am looking forward to beginning school again with David after a few weeks off. Samara has been very cautious with her walking (mostly because of her brother and sister running circles around her) but she has been walking her way into the new year quite literally.
We are all looking forward to Winter changing into Spring and Spring into Summer. Another season of walks to the park, endless hours of play in the backyard,  and another garden to plant. Angeline will soon be 3 and I am starting to feel like the 2's have mostly stayed in 2011. By the end of this Year Samara will turn 2 and we will be tested in new ways through her unique self. David will turn 6 and in September we will begin another year of homeschool with Grade 1!
I'm not sure all that 2012 will bring but I am looking forward to each day filled with new experiences and new memories to cherish.
As far as New Years Resolutions??? Jonathan and I recently started MacArthur's Study Bible for reading the bible in 1 year... it's not so much that we finish it in exactly one year but that we make the time to sit down together and spend time in God's Word. I hope to continue in Bible Study Fellowship on Wednesdays with the kids studying the book of Acts... it is amazing what we have learned since September (and I have studied Acts before). I think we will put the kids in some swimming lessons, Jonathan plans to play soccer this Spring, and I am hoping to sign up for an exercise class of some sort.
From our family to yours we wish everyone a year filled with Strength and Peace to endure hard times and Love to make this world a better place.

The Neufelds