December 7th Arrival!

Betsy Joy Westcott was born at 10:23 pm on Saturday, December 7th.  She weighed 9 pounds 1 ounce and measured 21 1/4 inches long.  

Here I am at 40 weeks, desperately hoping to have a baby...but I still had 4 days to wait!

 See how happy I am to FINALLY be in labor!!!

Pictures from our time at the hospital

 Meeting Lydia, Henry, and Mabel 

 We are so blessed to have our healthy, beautiful Betsy in our arms. 

Winter Weather

A winter front moved through over the weekend, following a week with temps in the 70s and 80s!  What change! I stayed home and indoors with the kids for two days...two long days.  Today we cautiously drove to church (the highways were closed, but the side roads were open) for a much-needed outing.  It was fun to worship together with the few other brave souls who ventured out.  Everything should melt away tomorrow afternoon then dry out in time for a Thanksgiving Day in the 60s.  Wonderful!  Meanwhile, we are waiting for our new baby to join us in our arms.  Two weeks and counting down!

 

A few interesting weekends

Back in October, Stephanie and baby Matheson came for a few days to visit.  It was so great because Matheson nursed then napped most of the day, leaving Steph and I lots of time to do my baby prep projects!  Lydia was in love with Matheson and wanted to help with everything.  

I'm hoping the fact that my kids left Matheson alone while he rolled around in the middle of the floor is a good sign they will all let our new baby alone too!

Dan's parents came for a weekend visit in the middle of November.  We relaxed all weekend while the kids enjoyed being spoiled by their Nanny and Pops.

Lunch at the Country Club

 Mabel at the park

Standord 10 year Homecoming Reunion

Dan and I enjoyed a fun weekend in California for his 10 year college reunion.  

We spend a beautiful day on campus, biking around to see all the new buildings.

In the evening, the swim team hosts an alumni meet.  Dan and a few of his classmates suited up for the fun.  They were hilarious and had a great time together.  It was obvious who was single and still had plenty of time to work out and who, let's say, has three kids!

Dan with his coach, Skip.

Even some REALLY old alums came back for the meet.  The man on the left swam with his flippers on!

 The guys goofed around.

 Dan, getting in a few minutes of exercise.

 The end of a successful meet!

 Good times and old traditions! 

Curious?

Check back soon for more pictures and an explanation!

First Day

Lydia enjoyed her first day of kindergarten at Midland Classical Academy with her teacher, Mrs. Bewley, and her 5 other classmates!  The highlight...a gingerbread cookie hunt.

Colorado Part II

For our second week in Breck, Christina and her family joined us for even more fun.  Gondola rides, hikes, crepes, swimming in the river, meals together, fishing, Fun Park, panning for gold, bowling, stories, movies, stick sword fights, and more!

 Dan and I out at dinner with Christina, Brett, and kids 5 and up!

 

The boys took their tradition hike up to the lakes where Uncle Dan had a swim in the snow melt waters.

Brett and Dan took off hiking one morning, leaving trails behind, and climbed up a glacier to the ridge of a mountain.  Brett fished along the way (in the mountain-man pic below, Brett is fishing with a cigar in his mouth!).

 

Christina and I kept are hikes closer to the 9,000 foot elevation level!  

 We took the kids bowling one evening.  

 It was the Westcott's first trip to the mine.  Thanks to the Long's for showing us all the fun stuff.

 Matthew earned a badge (okay, we don't really have badges) this trip by swimming the river.

 

 We spent a day at the Peak 8 Fun Park 

 The kids tried on hats at the historic park in Frisco.

 Relaxing with our sitter, Helen 

 Look what the clean mountain air did to our facial hair!

 My sister and me.  

 Thanks for the fun trip together.

It's tradition.