Ice Fishing

Today we headed north to Lake Minnewaska for some ice fishing! It is a little crazy to drive out on an 8,000+ acre lake, park and spend the day on ice, but it was a lot of fun and I'm really glad we got to experience it this winter! A couple of my friends from work go to this lake and Celeste & her husband had some extra room so we spent the day in their "lodge". We left home a little after 7 and made it to the fish house around 9:30- just in time for the fun to begin.

We hadn't been there very long before we (Al) reeled in a little northern. It was only 2 lbs so he tossed it back. After that we hung out watching for more fish- they have a camera that goes down in the lake and you can move it around to watch everything that is going down below the ice. When we weren't watching the fish, we watched a movie (yes, they had a tv), ate, and even got to ride a snowmobile. We spent 7 hours out on the ice before leaving to come home. We only got stuck once trying to leave- not bad compared to others who were out on the lake with 4 wheel drive and got stuck multiple times! Who said people from Missouri can't drive on snow?!? Driving onto the lake- the snow made it look just like land once you got out thereA view of some of the fish houses on the lake- one guy told us there were 3-4000!More fish houses. All the white ground is the lake. The fish house we stayed in is the red one on the right. Celeste & I in front of "The Grand Lodge". Al's mom & dad have an "Ice Castle"- pretty fancy

The back side of the lodge- getting ready to go in

The front half of the house- kitchen, tv, and bathroom to the right The back half of the lodge- the table turns into a bunk, they are using the top bunk for storage and you can't see from the pictures there are two bunks that fold down one on each side

Looking down into an ice hole- the ice was 30 inches thick- we fished down 4 holes- they can have up to eight at a time. It is pretty cozy because they are just on the floor of the lodge so we were fishing while watching Mr. Deeds!

The big northern Al caught later in the day- he had reeled it in to the ice and was getting ready to pull it up through the hole

Jason posing with the keeper- shortly after Al was weighing it and it got away- it was flopping around all over on the floor before Celeste finally caught it between her feet! It ended up weighing 7 lbs- not bad, but no record.

Jason at Jim's fish house getting the low down on how to drive the snowmobile

Jason snowmobiling

Getting ready to go snowmobiling for the first time- it was pretty rough so we didn't ride very long or go to fast

The end of our day driving off the lake

Jason & I had a good weekend back in Missouri visiting everyone this past weekend. We actually had an extended stay since Jason was in St. Louis for meetings during the week. I drove back early and got to hang out with the Belts on Thursday night and Friday morning before heading to Shelby County. We got to watch a very exciting Jr. High basketball game in Monroe City, spend time with most all of our family, and even watch the sheep one night because mom & dad had a banquet in Columbia. They didn’t get home until after 12:30 and I had forgotten how much fun it is to work with baby lambs all throughout the night (a little bit of sarcasm- we had a set of twins that were not real smart)! We are hoping next time we are back we will get to see Kyle. He was in Columbia all weekend celebrating his birthday and we didn’t make it down there to see him - sorry little brother!

Our drive back was good and we actually made it back Sunday night before 10:00 so it hasn’t been bad getting back in the swing of things. It got up to 45 this weekend so some of the snow has melted. Today has been single digits- low teens, but it is supposed to warm up Thursday and maybe even be in the 30s all the way until Sunday! I miss the warmer weather we got while visiting MO!

Baby Update – I am 20 weeks today- halfway done! We go for my ultrasound on Thursday and back to the doctor next week. We aren’t finding out what sex the baby is so no boy or girl announcement until we have him or her.

Hope everyone is having a good winter- since we are in for 6 more weeks of it!

Update

Jason left this morning for St. Louis, he has sales training the rest of the week so I am on my own. Just for two nights because I am heading back to MO Thursday afternoon!! Jason will finish up with his meeting Friday around noon and then we will be back in Shelby County (or around there anyway) for the weekend. It will be nice to be back at a decent time on Friday and not driving all night to get in around 2am. I'm not looking forward to making the drive by myself though!

Everything is going good in MN with us- the weather is finally warming up and we were in the teens today and looking forward to temps in the 20s the rest of the week. It might even get above freezing over the weekend!

It's hard to believe January is almost over, but I will be thankful when it starts feeling like spring around here. We are a little less than 5 months away from my due date which seems really far away, but at the same time it seems like it is rapidly approaching with very few plans being made so far, but then again Jason & I are both last minute people and not big planners so it shouldn't surprise anyone, right?!?

I am eating like a crazy person right now and have started cooking again which Jason is happy about. Jason is a little crazy, overprotective still- always asking if I'm eating enough - I'm sure when I tell him I had frozen pizza tonight he will question my choice. He doesn't let me carry anything, and I am still able to get out of doing dishes and cleaning for the most part. - I'm not really sure why, but I'm not going to mention it to him! I hear I better enjoy it while it lasts and it won't be this way next time! I'm definitely enjoying the special treatment even though sometimes he is a little over the top! This morning he brought McDonalds to me at work so I can't complain one bit! He has been amazing (so far) even putting up with my out of control emotions. Who knew that Biggest Loser could make you cry so hard you couldn't see or hear the TV?!?

I'm guessing we will see a number of people that check out our post this weekend, but I have a picture update anyway. I guess this way you can be prepared for when you see me!

Stuart, IA

Yesterday Jason & I headed to Stuart, IA to visit one of my best friends and a roommate from college and her husband. The roads weren't the greatest to travel on, but after the five hour drive we were excited to arrive at Austin & Mariah's house in Stuart. After hanging out for a while we headed to West Des Moines to eat and ended up at Chili's! After trying a bowling alley nearby we found out that it is a very popular thing to do on Saturday night and headed back to Stuart. After a quick tour of the town we decided to try out the local bowling alley and found out it was really nice. About half way through our second game the lights went out and Cosmic Bowling started. It took us a while to get used to, but it was a lot of fun. Our second game ended just in time...as Austin's students started piling in after the ballgame.

We headed back to their house for some cards and Guitar Hero. A couple of their friends came over and we ended up staying up past 1:00. Okay, I fell asleep on the couch a little after midnight, but we definitely had a lot of fun and are glad we braved the wind and roads to drive down yesterday. We left this morning and got home in time to watch the end of the NFC Championship we are currently just bumming around!

Mariah & IJason waiting for his turn Austin- Cosmic Bowling

Week 17

Last week Jason & I went to the doctor for our 16 week checkup. My blood pressure and the baby's hearbeat were both good. We scheduled our ultrasound for February and will go back for another checkup then as well. Thankfully, I am still feeling good, except a sick day home from work yesterday. No, Jessi, there won't be any bare belly shots on this blog, but here is an updated picture!

Week 17

Jason's Birthday

Yesterday was Jason's birthday. I was reminded of it a couple of times when I asked him to do something for me. We spent the day at home besides running to the grocery store. Jason didn't want to go out to eat so we (he) made supper and ate at home!

Jason on the phone with one of his many phone calls of the day Jason with his cake

Jason with his birthday dinner and part of his present- all he wanted was a six pack, but got a 40 instead...Jason made a delicious supper and I set the table!

Jason blowing out his candles...I couldn't find the birthday candles so we lit two little jar candles for him to blow out to make his wish. I think the birthday candles must be in storage!

Jason got a few cards in the mail for his birthday and I got him a fleece

Trying his fleece on The birthday boy/old man

He turned 25 yesterday and is a quarter of a century old

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!