it's FINALLY over!

my little hockey man

What seemed like the longest hockey season EVER is finally over. 6 months for a sport season is too long for me (especially if it is hockey!). I have to admit though, what a fun season it was. The team was great, the parents great, and the kids ended up winning the banner in playoffs. Great ending to a LONG season!

I never thought I'd have a kid wearing a RAYMOND jersey, but ya do what ya gotta do, right?

the team, what a bunch of ragmuffins!

I was so mad because at the final game last night, my camera was having issues, so I ended up getting NO pics of the kids and the banner. SO SAD! Oh well, I know how fun hockey pictures are to look at right?

So now I'm very happy to hang up the skates and say goodbye to hockey, at least for a few months. Oh yah, and can I tell you how happy I am to wash all that nasty hockey gear - seriously, is there a more awful smell?

And of course I have to throw in a few pics of the little munchkin that keeps me company all day every day.

maysa and her best friend/cousin, Claire. I caught them watching a movie like this.

it's a ...

BOY!!

Yah - we're a tiny bit excited around here!

   Ryder was starting to wonder if he'd ever get a brother (and so was I). And I totally thought I was gonna have a girl this time, so what an awesome surprise. Of course we would have been happy with a girl too - who wouldn't want another one of these

 Anyways, I was so excited I had to pull out all my boy clothes today and see what I had - after all it's been 8 years since I've had a boy. That only got me more excited to see all the little blue onesies and sleepers. 

  So I've been thinking a lot lately about finding out the sex of the baby while you're pregnant. I have some friends who gave me some flack about finding out. These are my thoughts on the topic. Finding out, for me, kind of breaks up the pregnancy. 9 months is SUCH a long time, and it's nice to get that little surprise half way through. It kind of refuels me so I can get through the rest of the pregnancy. I'm so excited now to start making blankets and shopping for the baby. I feel like it is so overwhelming and life-changing when you actually have the baby, and that finding out the sex then, just kind of adds to that overwhelming feeling. Plus, I kinda like knowing what's growing and kicking inside me - it kind of feels a little less alien-ish. It's also nice to be totally prepared when the baby comes- cause seriously, who wants to shop for baby clothes the weeks following giving birth (especially with 4 other kids tagging along)? Not me. Finding out isn't for everyone, but I love knowing what I'm having. 

 This is the good 'ole belly at 20 weeks. It's funny (well actually pretty sad) that I have next to no pictures of me when I was pregnant with my other 4 kids. How does that happen? That's like over 3 years of my life that I've spent pregnant. And maybe 4 or 5 pictures. Maybe it's because the maternity clothes back then were hideous (believe me, they have come a LONG way since then), and mostly I just wore the hubs clothes. So attractive I know.  So I guess it's a good thing there are no reminders of that. So this pregnancy I told myself I would take lots of pictures, since this could very well be my last. Don't expect to see my head in the pictures though, that would require me to actually put on makeup and do my hair, which, lets be serious, doesn't happen everyday. 

 just another one and an outfit change. Thanks to Sadie, my little photography assistant.

 so this pregnancy has been going good except for the first half being spent on pins and needles and thinking I was gonna miscarry any day. A couple previous miscarriages will do that to you. It was pretty nervewracking but it's definately made me appreciate the total miracle of hearing a little heartbeat for the first time. And now to feel every kick is so amazing. I don't think I fully realized how incredible it was with my other four. So I guess losing those babies has given me such a greater love and appreciation for this pregnancy and this little babe that's inside me. Seriously, SUCH a miracle! I can't wait to meet him!

 Here's a few more pics of my little Maysa. The poor child gets so tired of me constantly taking her picture (not that you can tell that from these shots - she can sure turn it on it a second). And I promise I have more kids that just this one. The others are just lucky they are at school all day while the lighting is optimal. I'm am so aching for spring so I can go outside and take pictures. I'm SOO done with winter!! Ugg.

ok now I want another girl. Maybe this won't be my last :)

one year ago

one year ago we were here

I've been looking at these pictures a lot these days. 

And craving summer. 

Bad.

how can you not crave summer when you look at beach pictures.

Especially when I look out my window and all I see is

snow, snow, and more snow. 

And just when it starts to melt and get nice

it SNOWS again.

don't get me wrong

I love living here

BUT

these pictures make me wish I lived somewhere else

at least in the winter.

Lately...

So here's a little peek at what we've been up 

to lately 

just growing another little human, that's all

christmas

Merry very late Christmas everyone!

I know, I'm a terrible blogger. 

But in my defense, we are on limited internet use(telus key) and Jimmy's informed me that I've been  

going way over every month, so I've had to limit my use. 
So crappy!

We are in the process of getting switched to unlimited WiFi but knowing my

hubby, that won't happen for a while.

But I decided to blog anyways because it's the middle of the winter,

and since it's too cold to go outside these days, 

I am stuck in the house. 

So here are some pics from Christmas - it's always a good time!

These are pics I took of the kids after church one day before Christmas.

Maysa was lovin' the camera at first

 But then she started pulling attitude

But it actually made for some cute pictures

the kids were DONE by the time I got to Ryder so this is all I got

Now on to Christmas

the weather was beautiful on christmas eve so the kids got a hockey game going on the pond by grandpa's house

For the nativity that night, Maysa was Mary and took her role very seriously.

She wouldn't put baby Jesus down all night and got mad 

at anyone who tried to touch him.

My cute Joseph.

(Sorry Deb - I didn't get around to doing your maternity pics

so here's a lovely one for ya!)

Dan as the donkey. Love the ears.

Exactly half of the Balderson grandkids in their Christmas jammies.

 We missed you Californians!!

So now on to Christmas morn. 

I always have intentions of taking some great pictures

and documenting every moment on Christmas morning.

But then when it's here, I don't want to be stuck behind

a camera all morning.

I want to witness it all with my actual eyes, and just savor and enjoy it.

So we got a few. 

And most of them were blurry( didn't think to get the settings right)

But that's ok.

Boo-y'all!

What a crazy weekend we had and I have to admit, I was very ready to say goodbye to Halloween. On Friday the kids got to dress up in their costumes for school, then Ryder had a hockey game and right after that we went to a family Halloween dance that was put on by the school. It was pretty fun and the kids had a blast. Then the next morning at 7 (ouch!) we had to drive to Pincher Creek for Ryder's hockey game (gotta love hockey). Later that afternoon we drove to grandma and grandpa's so they could see the kids costumes. Then we drove back home and trick-or-treated here. Did you get all that. Yah it was crazy and I'm happy now to put the costumes away and move on with life.

my cute little bumblebee

ryder was a rodeo clown if you couldn't figure it out (don't look too closely at the makeup job!).  I knew someday my favorite pair of overalls that I couldn't bear to get rid of would eventually come in handy.

Sadie changed her mind about what she wanted to be about 37 times. So in true Sadie fashion, she dressed up as a cowgirl (always our last resort costume) for her school party and dance and then changed her mind and whipped up an indian costume for trick-or-treating the next day. And she seriously made the indian costume 100% by herself and it's even sewn and stuff. Yah, the kid's got some serious craftin' skills. 

gracie the jailbird

THE LOOT

So there you have it. I'm pretty sure that the whoever invented Halloween was neither a mother or a dentist. So I guess I'm kind of a Halloween scrooge. I love the fall season, but Halloween kinda stresses me out. I'm not the best thinker of costumes and I'm usually scrambling last minute to find costumes for 4 kids. I used to be able to buy a costume a little big, and the kids could wear it for at least 2 years in a row, but not anymore. The kids are getting smarter and pickier. The aftermath is not fun either. Crazy, hyper, grouchy, sleepy, and stomacheached kids are not my favorite type of kids. And if I have to pick up one more candy wrapper... 

OK I'm done. Bring on CHRISTMAS!!!!!