Hot Tub Time!!!

Garret and I felt like sitting in a hot tub, so we made a hot tub and the kids joined in.

Brock Adam Matthews

At 1:45 pm Thursday the 18th of February Brock Adam Matthews was born. Krista started having cramps the day before, but they never amounted to anything until 4 am that night. Her contractions were about 10 minutes apart until 7:30 then they all of a sudden were 3 minutes apart so we rushed to the hospital in Highland Park. She was dilated to a 5 on arrival, so the nurses rushed to get an IV running and she quickly go an epidural. From then on out it was smooth sailing. Krista only had to push twice and Brock came right out. We stayed at the hospital for two days so Krista could get some good rest. Krista's mom had gotten into town the night before so she was able to watch Andee for us. Andee was able to visit in the hospital a couple of times and seems excited to have a little brother. She loves to tell everybody that Brock is "My brother." We're home now and Krista's mom is staying for another week, so it will be good to have the extra help. We are so happy to have Brock safely here.


Krista just after she got the epidural. She wasn't this calm a few minutes ago.


Brock just seconds after he was born.


The proud parents.


Brock getting all the guck washed from his hair.


Father and Son


What a cutie.

Grandma at the hospital.


The whole family. It sure changes the feel of things having a fourth member.


Andee holding Brock when we got home. She was so excited to have us all home.

Christmas in Chicago

This year I didn't have a Christmas break so we had to stay in Chicago for the Holidays. This was our first Christmas away from home, luckily Krista's brother Karson and his wife Bridget couldn't go home either so we were able to spend the whole weekend with them. Karson and Bridget and Thatcher arrived at our house Christmas eve morning and they stayed until Saturday. We had a lot of fun. We were able to make some good meals, play some games and just hang out. It really was a good time.



Driving around looking at Christmas lights and drinking hot chocolate on Christmas Eve.



Putting out our stockings on Christms eve.

Andee was excited to open a present on Christmas eve (one of my childhood traditions).

We recieved a lot of great gifts from our family's.


The Howard's checking out their stockings.

Isn't she a cutie.

Andee and her new doll.

Andee received some disney princess dress up that she loved.

We attempted to go sledding, but there wasn't very much snow and it was freezing.

Decorating the Tree

Here we are decorating. Andee loved to decorate the tree. She still decorates it everyday. She pulls off the ornaments and then puts them back on. She can't keep her hands off the tree. Luckily she hasn't broke any ornaments yet. It was really fun to watch her decorate. She had a lot of focus and concentration in her face. The first thing Andee does every morning is go turn on the Christmas Lights. She loves Christmas Lights. If we drive at night she points them out and wants to see "mo mismis ights" (More christmas lights).

Adam's the big 3-0!

Adam is 30 this year. I asked him what he wanted to have for dinner and this is what he chose: a HUGE steak and shrimp. We then had some friends over to play games and have cake and ice cream.

Opening presents, The Office season 1.

Jeff Zimmer sang the prettiest Birthday song we had ever heard!

Happy Birthday Adam!

Thanksgiving!

This Thanksgiving was in Chicago with my brother Karson and his fam. I made my first apple pie. I tried to make a turkey in the crust. I also made my first rolls. It was fun to have Thanksgiving with family. This is the first time in the four years we've lived in Chicago.

Andee loving the food eating on her chair on the floor. We only had four chairs.

Eating dinner.

Thatcher and Andee played all day long! They love eachother!

Andee's 2!

Andee is 2! We had two parties this year for her. We had one early while my parents were here that was combined with an early one for Adam. Her second one was later after she was actually 2. She liked being sung to. She is growing up too fast. Here are some pictures of the partay. They are out of order. I couldn't get them to move.

My cute little 2-year-old!

Kissing Grandma Howard, Thank you!

Andee cheesing it with Daddy.

Andee's Birthday Cake. Adam made a two tier cake for her. It was cute. I did the writing. We forgot to take a picture before so here it is half eaten.