Merry Christmas!! Jesus is born!!!!

We are in Lake Havasu City, AZ. It is warm and beautiful!!!
(Happy Christmas to me!)

Our Christmas started at 7am and hasn't stopped. I got a new camera last night and I was able to take pictures this morning with it. So as soon as I figure out how to download everything I'll post the "Jesus is born" celebration!

Merry Christmas all and Happy Holidays!!!!

Belly Picture!

Here I am at 29 weeks.



So far, so good! Yes, I posed for this one.
I have to TRY to look my best at this point, don't you think????? :)
I took about 10 pictures and I liked this one the best.

Happy 3rd Birthday to Davey!

He got to have a Thomas on his cake! He was so excited.
And he blew out all his candles on the first try!

I asked him which piece he wanted. He wanted Thomas' face and his name. Done.

It was a really big piece. He ended up only eating the frosting off and then being done. :)

It was really good frosting.

The UNopened presents...


Happy Thomas birthday! And thanks to the Michigan Corless family for his very first Bionicle. He LOVES it! (so do his brothers!)

The buttercream frosting trick. The picture is a little blurry, but the cake turned out great!

Happy 9 Year Anniversary to us!!
We've been married 9 years today! And we are happier than we have ever been. It really does just keep getting better. It is so wonderful to be married to David and I am so happy and in love with him. I am thankful to be so blessed.
We plan on celebrating sometime after finals. :)

Halloween Pictures... So I'm backwards!

Here are the happy squirts.

Peter, my vampire, won a prize at the Ward Trunk'r'Treat,

Adam, my American Black Bear, in his custom-made suit,

and Davey, my sweet baby leopard.

Then , this is the night we went real trick'r'treating.

They loved going out on two different nights and getting their make-up done for both!

Here is a family picture from the ward activity.

David was a dentist, go figure! :)

Thanksgiving pictures

Thankyou Maureen for emailing these to me!

Here are the boys with their cousins during the week of Thanksgiving. We had so much fun in Michigan.

Jake, Peter, Preston, & Davey





These are the Thanksgiving costumes that Maureen helped the boys make for Family Home Evening. Maureen, you are crafty-amazing. They wore them for a little Thanksgiving play.


So much fun!!!

My Sleeping Babies

Adam

They aren't really babies any more.

Peter

But they are awfully sweet while they're asleep!

David Jr. I love his little foot up on the side.

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Experiences Tag

This one is kind of fun. You copy and paste the entire list below and put the ones you have done/experienced in bold.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Seen Mount Rushmore in person
101. Learned to play an instrument

Thanks Liz, I tag anyone who wants to do it, too!

Blog background changes....:)

I really like the backgrounds I have had, but I recently realized that on different computers, with wider screens, you can see more than I see on my computer (not very wide). I pretty much just see the middle of the background.
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So if you see more on the sides than just the red, let me know if you can still see the sidebar words or if I should change the color!

We just came home from Michigan where we celebrated Thanksgiving. It was so fun to be with Ryan and Maureen and to be with Jim and Vanessa also. All the kids had fun together and we stayed up way too late every night playing games and talking. We were able to go to the temple, out to Famous Dave's (if you haven't eaten there, you MUST), celebrate Tyler's birthday with everyone, and do a little Christmas shopping. David even went out with Ryan Friday morning to hit the sales! It was a great holiday vacation that was way too short!!! Thankyou to Ryan & Maureen for being perfect hosts and for making us feel so welcome and loved!

Happy beginning of Christmas celebrations!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

Hope your holiday is filled with love, laughter and LOTS of
good food!

Love, Jana
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Quirks

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Umeka tagged me. I'm supposed to share 7 quirks that nobody knows about me. Some you might, if you were there...here goes!
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1. I love to throw things away. It makes me feel good, getting rid of trash and things I don't use.
2. If I sleep in I get grumpy. If I sleep in and get woken up by someone, I am really grumpy. It's better if I get up on my own, earlier, and do my own thing.
3. I have a hard time wearing sunglasses. I start having an attitude problem, like I'm all that. EXCEPT for these great dollar store glasses that Kimmy got me and sent in the mail. They are large and in charge and I don't feel cool in them at all. I love it!
4. I'm a sucker for a series, books, movies, tv shows.
5. I love to dip vegetables, fruit, cookies, crackers, chips. I love it all and eat way too much in one sitting!
6. I'm a stasher. Of all things. I almost always remember where I put things, too. It drives my husband crazy, but it also makes me a good finder.
7. I love to teach. Relief society, Young Womens, Primary, Enrichment, visiting teaching, anything. I love to share things that can help other people and I learn so much along the way.

Now I'm supposed to tag 4 more people. Christi, Melanie, Martha and Jenni consider yourself tagged!!!

Time goes by so fast!

So I've been more busy at home. I'm nesting. :) We've been working on our food storage/ year supply, general keeping up with daily cleaning, and trying to get the ball rolling for baby prep!
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We're moving the boys to the downstairs bedroom, but we have to get the window replaced with a more emergency escape friendly window. Then we can move beds, clothes, etc. We moved the bookshelf already, and I am waiting for Chuck to call me back and tell me when he can do the window. He's our fix-it guy. He usually bills our landlord when he's done fixing something, but this one is on us.
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After the boys move downstairs, Davey will be out of the crib and we can get him adjusted to not having it for a while before we bring it out again in February.
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I have also been rearranging our laundry area for more storage space, so I can move boxes out of the play room closet and put food storage in. So, I'll be cleaning and putting shelf paper in. Not to mention rearranging the toy organization in the playroom. Some of it is coming out of the closet. :)

We have decided to build a privacy fence! David and a man from our ward, who used to build fences, are going to execute this project, sometime soon. I am so excited!!!
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So between those things and our normal activites, we've been pretty busy! I'll keep updating as much as I can. I'll get Halloween pictures tomorrow, but YW in Excellence is also tomorrow, so I'll probably post them on Thursday.
Love you all!!!

Stay up all night party!

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This is one of the fun things we do when the kids get a day off of school. We bring all the blankets and pillows down to the playroom, and after scriptures and prayers, we let the boys stay up and watch movies and eat treats! Adam and Peter love getting Root beer and Squirt. Davey likes the M&M's. I manage the mess until they're done. Then I clean up and they just watch until they fall asleep (usually between 11 and midnight).

Repeat Ultrasound

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She's still a girl!

When I went in for my follow-up appointment to talk about the ultrasound, the doctor said she's measuring small. I also have low blood pressure, wierd for me while I'm pregnant. I'm usually low and then when I get pregnant, it goes up to normal. So anyway, he's going to order a repeat ultrasound in about 4 weeks to do some growth checks.
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In 2 weeks I get to have the glucose test. Remember that ladies? :) I actually don't mind it. My blood sugar has been wierd, too. I get light headed sometimes and have these flashes of "wow I have to sit down now". But if I drink juice or eat something, I'm ok. So I'm anxious to see what I can find out from the sugar test.
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Corless Baby

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Think Pink!!! It's a GIRL!!!!


We just had our ultrasound this morning! The due date is still February 20's. We got to see her healthy body and little feet and hands. And little legs, my favorite. Everyone is healthy and happy.

David and I went out to breakfast and then took the boys to their last soccer games. McDonalds was in order, of course! Then home for naps. We are so excited! Now we can say "she"! Lookout pink, here we come!
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Happy Birthday to Adam pictures

Happy 7th Birthday!!

June 23rd

He wanted an Ironhide Transformer cake, so I found a picture online. He also had a transformer table cloth and we photocopied autobot symbles and taped them all over the walls.

Friend party!

David was quite the entertainer that day(he had no school, it was in the summer).

The line-up for balloons!

Jungle Bone Crusher Transformer!

It was a very good day!

Bean Museum in Provo, Utah

It was so fun to see these animals so close, looking so alive!!!! It is the most amazing animal display I have seen. The boys were on cloud nine!

The butterfly display was one of my favorites.

You can click on the picture to see them closer. It's really cool!

They loved it so much we went there twice in 2 days.

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David's 30th Birthday- July 27th

Happy Birthday my sweet love!

Levie Reunion Camping

During our Levie Reunion in Utah this summer, we went camping for a few days all together. It was so fun! There were 15 adults and 18 grandchildren there.

We missed Grant and Scott and Melanie's baby twins (safe at Grandma Madsen's house).

David & Adam

Davey

David with my Mom & Dad

Cousins picture (not including all of them!)

Boys!

Uncle Jeff & Derek

Aunt Martha & Eve

Uncle Todd

Uncle Tommy

First Day of School

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Adam and Peter were so ready for the first day! Adam is in 2nd grade and Peter started Kindergarten.

And this is Davey happiness every day.

3 more weeks...

Since we are scheduling challenged, between David's finals this week (9 week classes), midterms next week (semester classes), regularly scheduled classes, and soccer games, it will be 3 more weeks until our ultrasound. My doctor calls it an anomaly scan, but we know what it's really for.
It is scheduled for October 25th at 9am. It seems like we've been waiting forever, well, we have. We're pretty excited about this one!

Random Things

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So every day things happen that make me laugh that I have to share.



Peter: One thing is for sure, there's no crayons in the spirit world, no markers either, or evil spirits.



Peter: Mom, Adam is getting on my nerds.
Mom: You mean nerves? Like when someone is bothering you?
Peter (earnestly): No, Mom. Adam is getting on my super nerds!


Davey has been saying "bewember" for remember. "I have a Thomas, bewember, Mom?"


I'm suprised that Davey isn't sick all the time, he licks everything. Toys at other peoples houses, my keys, his toys, his fingers, shopping carts. It totally grosses me out, and no matter how many times I try to tell him it's disgusting, his tongue cannot be stopped.


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Feeling the baby move

I feel it now and it's so cool. I think I rarely have time to just hold still and try to feel movement, so when I do, it's pretty pronounced and unexpected. I tried to scan the first ultrasound pictures, but our scanner software isn't downloaded. But at my last doctor appointment,at 17 weeks, when I was expecting to get an order for another ultrasound, he said 3 more weeks. So, 1 down, 2 to go.
When we find out we're having a girl, the world will know. :)

Funny things they say...

It has been a while since I've posted, we've been having some health issues. During this time, however, my kids have said some pretty funny things.


On another post, I wrote about how Davey said "and don't say no" at the end of his questions. So I thought, do I say no that often? Most of the time he asks me things I really have to say no to. Well, here you go. They other day he said, "Can we practice saying yes?" It's sad, so I've been really trying to be better at practicing saying yes.


The other night after the boys brushed their teeth (thank goodness) I heard them saying "What does my breath smell like?" and breathing out into each other's faces.


Davey, instead of saying May I please? says "Hey my please?" I love it.
He blesses all the tranfsormers and trains in the house in his prayers.


The other night, just after Adam asked and I explained why Veterinarians have to go to vet school, Peter said, "I want to be a police man when I grow up."
I said "Peter, you can be whatever you want when you grow up. If you want to be a police man, then you can go to police school when you get older and learn how to be a police man."
To which he responded, " I think I'll just be a police boy. I'll need a gun."
"Oh, Peter, right now you're in Kindergarten and you need to learn about Kindergarten things."
"But Mom, Kindergarten is so boring!"
I told him I loved him and said goodnight. I went right down stairs to tell David. He was so proud. He said to his friend he was studying with, "I never enjoyed a day of school until dental school."
Then he looked at me and said,"Adam came from you, when it comes to liking school, and Peter came from me. Yep, That's my BOY!"
He's going to be a police boy...

Testimony of treated Microfiber!

(Summer 2007)

I love our couches. Duh, that's why we bought them. When we were looking, we told the furniture guys we want child proof couches. We originally thought we'd have to buy leather. Well, turns out, you can have a beautiful microfiber couch treated. We also got a guarantee that if we couldn't get a stain out or mark off, the furniture place (Art Van) would either come clean it or replace the couch.


In the 5 years we have owned them we have only had 2 incidents of serious markage. Once was an ink pen scrawled on one of the arms a few years ago. I was so worried it wouldn't come out, but I got a wet washcloth and it came right out!


The second time was today. Davey had taken a red crayon and drawn heavily all over one of the arms of the couch. He was taking a nap when I discovered it, so I freaked out silently. I held my breath as I tried to calmly get a wet washcloth. It came off like wiping jelly off the counter. I was so happy. Seriously, how awesome. I washed out crayon with a wet washcloth!!!!


Anyway, I had to share. Can I get paid for this???

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...and don't say no?

This is Davey's latest thing. He tacks it on to lots of things he asks me, like, "Can I watch a movie and don't say no?" or "Can I go to Andrew's house and don't say no?" Seriously it is so cute.


It has been such a different experience than I imagined having only him home with me. I can actually still get things done and he is my buddy who just goes along and has sweet little conversations with me. I think I might be lost when I don't have a little person with me during the day. Don't get me wrong. I LOVE nap time and I LOVE LOVE the time after all the kids are in bed at night. There's just something wonderful about having little feet running around and little mouths saying random happy things. I love being a mom.

First Day of School!!!

This morning was awesome and terrible. We woke up early and they continued to wake up while I exercised. Then we ate breakfast and got ready to go. We walked out the door and took some pictures (we're having downloading issues right now, but the pictures are IN my camera). Since we were early getting to the bus stop, it seemed to take forever. David waited there with us, since he walks that way to school at the same time. I watched them climb on the bus and waved goodbye. Then Davey and I ran to the car and drove to the school. :) We saw them get off the bus and go into their waiting areas. They get there 15 min. before school starts. I got to meet Peter's teacher and give the boys their bags of extra supplies. They were just fine and it was time for me to leave. As I buckled Davey into his seat, I almost started crying. I was so thankful that I had Davey with me, to be my buddy so I wasn't alone, and I was overcome with separation issues from Peter. This is a first. He was always the one with me when Adam went to school.


When we got home, Davey and I did some yard work and then went inside and he colored while I looked up some Young Women things on the computer. I'm so glad the boys had a half day today. It seemed to go by pretty quickly and we were outside waiting for the bus to come. The bus was about 40 minutes late, so I had a nice long chat with the current boyfriend of the mother of a little boy who waits at our stop. That's a soap opera for another day. So now it's quiet time and it feels like a summer day. Tomorrow is the first real LONG day of school. I'm trying to focus on the things I can get done with only one little buddy at home. He is soooo cute and is saying the funniest things now. There was one today, but I didn't write it down fast enough and it is gone from my memory.

Pregnant!

I LOVE SUMMERTIME!!

Today, we were outside and I saw leaves falling off the trees. Yellow leaves! LOTS of them! It was so so so sad. I seriously almost cried. Doesn't it feel like the summer just started or that it should last a LOT longer. I need to live where it is always summer time. Any suggestions? I have gotten calls and letters from the boys soccer coaches. I have gotten them more clothes for school. It all just seems like Fall is coming around again too fast.
On a happier note, I did have an ultrasound this morning. I was able to see the little baby body floating around, kicking and waving it's arms. I got some sweet little pictures, too, to bring home and show David & the boys. It was so neat and made it very real for me. So now they're saying March 1st. ( so probably still February twenties) :)

Corless Family Letter

Detroit News
Illinois Outreach Program
August 9, 2008


Summer is not over!!!
Hi everyone! We’ve had such a good time it can’t be over yet!!!!
So I’ll jump right in. We heard a little heart beat a few days ago, IN MY BELLY!! Unofficial due date, Feb. 23rd. I have an ultrasound scheduled for Aug 16th. We’ll find out measurements and see body parts then. We’re so excited!
We spent the first several days of summer in Ohio with Jarom and Nicole and their 3 boys. Then we went on to Michigan, and stayed with Ryan and Maureen. Maureen is such a perfect hostess and took such good care of us. And it was great for the boys to spend so much time with their cousins and it was so fun to go to church and see everyone!! After being gone for 2 weeks, we came home.
During the 2 weeks we were home, David got called to be the Elder’s Quorum President and we decided to go to our Levie family reunion in Utah. The more we thought about it, the longer we decided to stay. So we went for 3 weeks! We got to stay with Kimmy and Todd for 10 days! And then we all went camping together. It was so wonderful to have all of my siblings there, except we missed Grant and Scott who are on their missions. Then we got to go stay with Melanie and Jeff for about 5 days. We got to spend some time with our cousins, Jeff and Julie and their families. And we got to spend some time with David’s sister Rachel. We so enjoyed our time with each person! The boys had so much fun! I got to spend a lot of time with my sisters! It was a remarkable trip.
Now were back into real life. Things have settled down a LITTLE bit.
School starts for David on the 11th. Just a few more days of sleeping in and summer time glory. He has been golfing a few times, surprise, surprise, and has enjoyed it. This could be the beginning of something…
School starts for Adam and Peter on the 20th. Peter is so excited. He got his first backpack and we got them registered today. Davey and I will be home together. It will be strange for me to be home with just one child again.
I’ve been feeling great, just tired a lot. I’m just past 11 weeks. I’ve been working out every day and staying busy. I am starting to show a little. It’s amazing how soon my belly seems to want to pop out. Maybe that’s what happens when the 4th one comes along! I wasn’t ready for that so soon.
Just last week I was called to serve as 1st Counselor in the Young Women’s Presidency. I got sustained and set apart today. I am really excited for this opportunity, although it seems overwhelming when I think about everything else going on at the same time. The Lord is definitely in charge.
Davey got his first Transformer yesterday. He needed to have his own, so the other boys didn’t have to worry about theirs getting taken and lost. He is growing up! He has been sleeping in Peter’s bed with him. Peter says he gets lonely. Anyway. They both like it and they actually stay in bed and go to sleep. It’s very sweet.
Adam lost another tooth, big surprise, and he has another one coming out soon. The tooth fairy has been busy with him! That’s pretty much it! We hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!

We're back!!

It feels like it's been a million years! We were gone for 2 weeks, home for 2 weeks, then gone for 3 weeks. Once things settle down and we catch up on all the things we missed, I'll post all about it! Exciting things are happening in the Corless world. There are lots of pictures to post and updates to share!

My favorite Game

Cities & Knights of Catan

The original game is Settler's of Catan. Cities & Knights is the expansion pack. David bought it for me for my birthday because I liked the first one so much.

David and I play it a lot after the kids go to bed. Our average game time is about an hour and 10 minutes.

I took this picture while we were playing with Jarom and Nicole in Ohio because I noticed that the girls' side of the cards was neat and the boys' side was messy.

With four people the game takes longer, but it is so much fun!

Thankyou David!