Bowling

New Year's Day the Pollard clan headed to Moberly for some bowling. After eating out we headed to bowling alley for some fun! Leslie, Megan, Chelsey, & I bowled in one lane with Justin, Jason, Chase & Allison in the lane next to us. The boys got the bumpers put up for Allison, but I'm not sure who used them more...Allison or the boys!!

Chelsey- Miss Graceful Leslie showing off her mad skills

Jason, Chelsey, & Allison posing while taking a break Chase- the stud

Justin helping Allison bowl

Megan taking a practice run Jason getting ready to bowl

Megan thought Rhett might be her lucky charm- I can't remember if it helped or not

After bowling we headed back to Macon for the night. Megan graciously let me borrow her maternity clothes- after starting to sort through them I ended up just taking everything because we weren't sorting many things out to leave behind. I'm super lucky to have such great sisters-in-law because Leslie is letting me borrow her maternity clothes as well. Chelsey & I had fun looking at the clothes...some of them will not be worn, but I did find quite a few things that I kept out and might be wearing in the future months. When I showed Jason one of the maternity shirts he asked..."are you really going to get that big?" WOW!! I guess only time will tell, but I'm guessing the answer will be yes! Thanks Les & Megan for letting me borrow the clothes!

New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve we partied at mom & dad's house! Mom & dad's big present this year was a Wii- I'm not sure if they have played it much, but I loved it and played tons while we were there and I hear Kyle has been practicing while he is still on Christmas break.

Anyway, that night we had some great snack food with supper and played Wii. We also played Rook for many hours- until dad & I were tired of beating mom & Jason. Then we were back in the living room to play more Wii. It is fun especially since I had a couple of days inside while everyone else was at work or outside to practice! We ended up staying up until 2:30...I think there may have been one or two in the group snoring by then, but mom & I were up bowling until then!

Jason & dad playing Wii Mom getting serious as she took on dad Jason & I playing tennis...couldn't you tell by my form?!?

Pollard Christmas

The Saturday following Christmas we had the "big" Pollard Christmas for lunch at the Golf Course in Shelbina. There are just too many to have it at grandma's house anymore! We enjoyed visiting with all the family that we only see once or twice a year.

Following lunch and a few hours of visiting with the extended family we headed to Ed & Lola's house for the immediate family Pollard Christmas. We enjoyed soup & finger foods (one of my favorite parts of the holidays is snacking & munching all the time) for dinner and Chase brought over Guitar Hero for us all to try. It was lots of fun and I have to say the girls definitely did better than the boys (minus Chase). Megan & I both made it through our songs long before Jason & Justin. They actually got booed off stage they were so bad! Chase showing us all how it is doneAllison & I hanging out waiting for my turn Jason showing off his inner rock star Justin- moments before having things thrown at him and the crowd booing him off stage! Megan- proving she is better than Justin & Jason

After eating and playing guitar hero and making sure everyone who needed one had their nap we were ready to open gifts. Pollard Family Christmas 2008 Chelsey & Rhett Rhett tearing into one of his gifts Chase with a new Xbox 360 game Ed & Lola opening their calendars Jason with a framed picture of him & Blaze Leslie opening a gift Jason with the camo fleece blanket we got for the baby

After opening presents we were back to playing games and hanging out for the night. We all spent the night and had a lazy Sunday hanging out before everyone headed home.

Jason & Allison bumming aroudn on Sunday

Eckler Christmas

We made it to Shelby County about 2:30 Christmas Eve morning- luckily the roads were not bad until we decided to cut through the country at LaPlata and we ran into ice and slowed us down a little, but we eventually made it to my mom & dad's for a few hours of sleep before our Christmases started.

Christmas Eve we had lunch with my family and following that we shared our big news. We gave everyone gifts and they were surprisingly slow at catcing on. I guess I can keep a secret, much to Jessi & Kyle's (and my own) surprise! After spending more time with my family we headed to Shelbina to Jason's mom & dad's for Hunolt Christmas. Unfortunately it didn't work out for us to share our news with Jason's immediate family before this event so we didn't get to tell his mom's side of the family in person. Finally, after what seemed forever and all of the extended family was gone we were able to tell Ed, Lola, Justin & Megan (and Allison & Rhett) our exciting news.

Christmas morning we stopped by Jason's grandma's and sister's houses to tell everyone else the good news before heading to Middletown for the day. Jason already got Chelsey to agree to be a cheap babysitter, though her dad told her she shouldn't sell herself too short I'm still hoping she will be available if we need her!

We then headed to Middletown to spend time with both sides of my family and shared the news with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, & cousins. We concluded Christmas night at my mom & dad's house with everyone (mom, dad, Travis, Jessi, TJ, Andi, Kyle & Stephanie) there. After listening to the Christmas story we got to open one present, then we all retired for the night and got up the next morning to open presents! Sadly, it was Kyle & I sitting at the table asking mom if we could please go wake Jessi's kids up so we could get started. Everyone finally woke up and we were able to open gifts and enjoy a lazy day hanging out and playing games together.Jason & I Christmas morning (our last just the 2 of us-crazy!)

Kyle with his movies (I think I have given him movies for the past 3 years!)

Andi helping TJ open a present

Jason with the boots he wanted for Christmas- he was almost childlike with the number of times I heard about the boots that he wanted. I almost went crazy finding them, but luckily Travis was able to find them in Hannibal for me at the last minute! Thanks Travis!!! He was surprised and definitely excited since I had been told before "Those boots are all I want for Christmas and I probably won't even get them"

One of my favorite gifts- it is already hanging up and yes Kyle- it fit in our "shanty"

We had such a lazy day at mom & dad's that I don't think we even got out of our pajamas until that evening. Since we didn't have anywhere we had to go we never really got dressed up and we didn't get any group pictures this year!

Christmas in MN

We made it back to Minnesota last Sunday night and have been recovering. I finally got the last of our things unpacked yesterday and the suitcases are back in the closet. So today I am hoping to get our blog updated! Jason & I had Christmas in our aparment the weekend before Christmas. Here are a few pictures. I couldn't post these before Christmas so I thought I would post them now that I am finally going to get this caught up from our extended vacation.

Jason with his stack of presents! Jason opening one of his gifts some warm socks and a bib

Jason with "his" bib I was taking the pictures while we opened presents- Jason took a few of me, but they were blurry and in one he cut off my head, but he took this picture after we were done opening gifts.

Showing off my baby bump- this was at 13 weeks. I know it's a little sad.

Surprise

We are having a baby! I am due June 23rd and we are very excited. It is exciting now that everyone else finally knows too! We told our immediate family on Christmas Eve and grandparents on Christmas Day. With our aunts, uncles, & cousins finding out at our family Christmas celebrations. I think most everyone was surprised and excited, but the best reaction award goes to my sister. If only I would have asked Travis to video tape them opening their presents. There was screaming, jumping, running, an "I love you", hugging, an "I hate you", hitting, and then crying so I'm pretty sure she is excited. The "I hate you" came only because I haven't been sick, except 1 afternoon and I'm due 2 weeks before she is.

Coming back to Missouri for Thanksgiving and not letting the cat out of the bag was especially difficult since Jessi is expecting also, but I have been lucky that I haven't been very sick. I was nauseous a lot in the beginning, but just had to eat all the time to keep something in my stomach. Poor Jason has been doing all the cooking- even making me toast first thing in the morning.

I will post more when we make it back to Minnesota, including pictures from Christmas. Jason & I have been having a great Christmas break (minus being sick all day Monday) and are so thankful we decided to stay this extra week.

Even Better News

We are going to be back in Missouri for a week and a half! Instead of driving back to MN on the 28th we decided to stay in Missouri for a while longer. Since I have the week off from work Jason decided to talk to his boss and is not going to work that week either. We are excited that we will be able to stay longer and get a chance to hang out more with everyone. Our first 4 days consist of us "running" from one Christmas to another so it is exciting to have some relaxing time back in good ole MO!

This weekend the weather is a little chilly. We left for church this morning and when we got there realized we should listen to the radio once in a while because it had been cancelled. We needed to run to the store anyway so we got our groceries and found Jason a shovel so he could clean off our steps at the apartment. The bank sign said -4, but we have been downgraded to a Winter Storm Warning instead of Blizzard Watch so things are looking up.

We were going to take our gifts back to MO and open them on Christmas morning, but after sitting around in our cozy apartment all day yesterday we decided to have our Christmas. I got some nice shirts that I'm thankful to have before we head back for Christmas- they will take up less space in my suitcase and now I know I have clothes to wear!

Today we are watching football, making chocolate covered pretzels and packing for our extended vacation in Missouri. I know it is "cold" back home, but Jason & I have agreed it isn't cold unless it is below 0 so enjoy your "warm" weather. Hopefully the ice will be gone by the time we get there and it will be even warmer than it is there now.

Good News

I just talked to Jason and after talking with his boss this afternoon he will not be working on Wednesday or Friday next week (even though the business will be open). Luckily, his boss was generous enough to let him have those days off even though he doesn’t have any vacation days to use. We are very thankful that we will be able to travel back to MO on the 23rd and be back the entire weekend! We will be leaving after Jason gets home from work Tuesday night and arrive in MO around 2 am! I am home from work for the day and only have to go back for my Christmas party on Tuesday next week from 8-2 so I am done with work for the year! Yippee!!

By the way, for those of you not already counting only 5 days till Santa Clause comes! I had a phone call this afternoon to remind me- thanks Andi!! But I may be even more excited with the countdown of 4 days until we leave for MO!!!

We are expecting blizzard conditions this weekend so we will probably be stuck at home. Oh well, I think I will spend most of my time packing and getting ready for our trip home anyway!

Brrrr!!!!!

I didn't go outside at all today and I am not looking forward to leaving for work tomorrow morning. According to weather.com....

Right Now for Redwood Falls, MN Snow and Windy -7 F Feels like -35 F!

I didn't realize it even got that cold! I guess things are looking up for us later this week... (for a while at least)

Here is our 7 Day Forecast

Thank goodness we are headed back to Missouri for Christmas- I would like a white Christmas, but really just want to thaw out a little!!!

Oh Christmas Tree

Our trip back to Missouri for Thanksgiving was great. Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures while we were hanging out with everyone. Jason was successful on his hunt in Illinois and I had fun getting to visit with my co-workers from last year. We stuffed ourselves at each of our Thanksgivings and had a looong trip back to Minnesota. The weather was not very good and the roads through Iowa were pretty bad and traveling was slow. We ended up spending the night in northern IA and drove the last 3 hours home on Monday morning. The total driving time for the trip back was around 11 hours. What fun!! Hopefully the weather won't be like that for us when we are traveling for Christmas.

Jason's doe from Illinois

We don't really have room in our apartment for a big tree and I didn't want to dig through the warehouse at work to find our Christmas decorations so my mom let us borrow one of her "Charlie Brown" trees. We decorated it and now our presents (what few we have) are underneath. Don't worry these are just our presents to each other...I got all of our shopping done on Black Friday and wrapped before we left Missouri so they are all stashed away at my mom's house. Hopefully no one is snooping! And it isn't your eyes playing tricks on you, our wrapping paper is pink and orange. I left the wrapping paper at mom's and have tons in storage- so instead of buying more Christmas wrapping paper I used what we had in our closet. Of course the only thing we had was the leftovers from our wedding....I guess it was time to use that paper up anyway. So yes, we have a smaller than usual tree and different colored wrapping paper than most people, but we definitely have snow and cold weather!

We have been counting down the days until Christmas for quite some time now. Jason will hopefully find out for sure this week his work schedule and if he has to work Christmas Eve. We are hoping to leave on the 23rd and arrive in MO late that night. (We are keeping our fingers crossed that Jason doesn't have to work the 24th!) And our days are chock full of Christmases. I can't wait to see everyone and spend time with our family again.

Today we were under a severe winter weather watch for all of today and into tomorrow so we have been hanging out at home and we actually made some chocolate covered pretzels and peanut butter crackers. I can't promise anyone will get to try them because they might be all gone by the end of this week. Hope everyone is staying warm and is ready for Christmas- only 11 days!