let the pregnancy dreams begin...

So this dream involves Marci Grip and Jen I.

For some reason Marci and I both had appointments one after another so we decided to travel together. The way we got to the apptointments was by flying on a toy helicoptor that drove like a motorcycle. Can you even imagine Marci and I trying to fit on a toy helicoptor? When we got to the off ramp in TEMECULA, the one by the hotel and duck pond, I believe it is Rancho California Rd, we ran out of gas. So Marci and I started to walk up the off ramp to the gas station. When we got there my dad was there with some lady (no clue who she was) and I asked him to please go back and pick up the helicoptor. At that point he disappeared and while I was going to pick up the heavy helicoptor and walk to the gas station Jen I came and picked us up and now my little sister Kendra was in the car.We drove to these weird interconnected apartments that Marci and Corey we moving into and once I got in I was like, "Annamarie and Tyler are going to be you neighbors." There were no walls to seperate the appartments completely so there were hallways to walk into the other apartment. I then poceeded to tell Marci that she was completely crazy and that she was going to end up with other peoples kids in her bed at night! (I'm sure I was thinking that because Allissa and Zander both ended up in our bed this morning, again!) And that also how embarrassing it would be if people were always randomly walking through your messy house. I was like Marci how are you going to keep you house clean all the time. To exit the biuilding everyone had to go through Marci's living room! Then we walk out of the building and get back in Jen I's car. She asks us if it is okay if we go to a different gas station because the gas was cheaper there. When we got there it was totally ghetto and scary. (thanks Jen) even Marci was like Jen next time we will pay the extra 10 cents per gallon. As we were saying our goodbyes Jen said well you better take this day off because days like this won't happen for a long time.

Marci is my good friend here in WI and Jen I lived here for a year and moved away to FL a little over 7 months ago. She has twin boys that are almost one and toddler. In my dream she had no kids.

Pregnancy dreams are so weird. For me they are either emotional affair dreams with ex-boyfriends (nothing sexual) or weird ones like this. The dream I had the first part of the night can't be written on the blog:0) If you made it this far I am impressed, not sure I would have! I was awoken by Zander rubbing my hair saying, "Mommy I want to watch a movie."

Back to reality, my day is beginning.

To apply or not?

There is a job opening in Billings, Montana....to apply or not to apply? hmmmmmmmmmmm

Zach learned that he would be working in both MT and WY so there would be a lot more travel and time away from family. I don't think I like that idea very much. He talked to his boss man this afternoon and his boss mentioned that in March being promoted to a SENIOR MARKETING SPECIALIST here in WI so I think we will probably wait it our a few more months to see what other positions become available in other states besides MT. Basically, the way his job works is if he wants to move up in the company then we have to move. We want/need more money so that means we will move! The position that he is in now is typically a 15 months position and in NOV that was our 12 months so it is only a matter of time before we move on to the next place.

I am anxious to figure out where we will be going next, but Zach keeps telling me I need to be patient.

TONIGHT, we had the missionaries over for dinner. I made country style spare ribs, rice, green beans and bread. There were 7 missionary total so that was a little overwhelming to cook for. In the end it all worked out!

Christmas Celebrations...

This is what our house looked like the morning of Christmas Eve! Zach stopped to take a picture on our way to breakfast!

Since this is probably our last Christmas here in Wisconsin we decided to spend it with my family. We talked about opening presents at home Christmas morning, but decided since it might be our last opportunity to be with my family Christmas morning we went over there. It was CRAZY, fun, exciting, every kids dream as always!!! On Christmas eve we had our 4 course meal as always and then, for the first time, this year the kids opened all the presents from Grandma and Grandpa and aunts and uncles. It helped tame down Christmas morning a bit, but not a ton. All the kids were so excited to get some new outfits and a few toys. Brody was adorable ripping open the package. I think it helps having older siblings because it seemed like he totally got it. We got home at about 11pm and then put the kids to bed. Zach was tracking SANTA on his computer all evening so before Zander could go to bed we had to see where SANTA was. We woke up Christmas morning with both ZANDER and ALLISSA in our bed like we do almost every morning. Any ideas how to break this habit??? I slept with my parents until I got married...I think we are in for it!!!

Zach commented on this being the first Christmas that we didn't have a new addition to the family since we started having kids. That isn't entirely true because Zander was born 5 days before Christmas and Allissa wasn't born the next year. I love my little family and I feel so blessed to have three so far and hopefully 4 little miracles in my life! Every birth is truley a miracle just like the brith of our savior Jesus Christ!

This year we bought our first nativity set, it's from Sam's club. It looks like little Precious Moments but not that brand. While I took a nap Zach and the kids played out the Birth of our Savior. It was so cute to wake up to Zander's excitement about it. They used the fisher price red barn for the stable it was so SWEET! Zach asked Zander where Baby Jesus would sleep in the barn and he said, "In the hay!" So the manger was place on the yellow hay pile in the barn!

So hard to get a good one

Allissa and Brody on the piano bench at my parents house Christmas Eve

Allissa with her cousin Jenna they are two months apart. The two of them together equals trouble!

Brody ripping into his package. It was so cute to watch him!

Allissa and Zander in our bed Christmas morning! Zach woke them up to open their stocking! It is impossible to get a good one of all three of them.All the presents Christmas morning!

Darcy, Zach and Mara my second to youngest sisterZander with his new planet heroes.

Small group shot Christmas morning, missing lots of the kids :(

Super Powers

This is Zach,

Zander had a super hero birthday party yesterday (Saturday) and that got me thinking, what super powers do my kids have? Zander, Lissie, Brody, and I were wrestling in the living room and I think I figured it out.

Zander, you see, is brilliant, for a four year old. Yes, I am his Papi (dad) and so I am supposed to think that, but just the same I think he is really smart.

Lissie, on the other hand is adorable, just as smart but adorable is her super power because man, it is hard to say no to her.

Brody has a very subtle, though no less potent super power. He is adorable and has a way about him that makes him great, but his super power is the snuggle. He just loves to snuggle and when he does there is nothing you can do to get away from him.

So, if ever you are in an epic battle with my children, maybe I shouldn't be telling you their secrets, don't listen to Zander, don't look at Lissie, and keep Brody at arms length. If you don't you will fall in love with them... Just like we have.

P.S. Zander just came in while I am posting this and said, "Papi, that was good battle, who do you think won?"

Baby update!!!!

So today I had my first appointment and everything went fabulous!!! I asked for an ultrasound so I could see the heartbeat and they were able to get me in right after my appointment. When they did the ultrasound on my tummy they could see the sac but no baby. The tech assured me not to worry since I was so early. Once the did the other wonderful transvaginal ultrasound there was baby!!! So far it was just one healthy baby!!! The heartbeat was 108 bpm! The tech said, "I'm grateful we did this today and not yesterday because today is the first possible day to see the heartbeat." I'm pretty grateful, too!! I was sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo nervous that my legs were shaking. Then when she told me that I didn't have to be nervous because there was a heartbeat, I was nervous, my legs were shaking, and I was really giddy!!!!!

Ladies and Ge... Wait, there probably aren't any guys that read this...

Alright, since all of you have taken the time to vote, we the Spafford family, would like to let you know who won the First Annual Ginger Bread House Battle: This year there was a hard won fight, with votes coming from all sides and through most of the contest it was a one vote advantage to House #2.
Well, here is the moment you have all been waiting for..... The WINNER IS..................












House #1................. Presented by .......................................


The MEN!!!!




Woo Hoo "And the MEN GET BACK MASSAGES from the Girls!!!!!!!!!!" Or so says Alexzander.

Moments like these

1. I asked Allissa to take the dirty dish towels and throw them down the laundry shoot that is in the bathroom.
2. Brody decided to follow her
3. I decided to call my OB and pay my remaining balance over the phone so I don't have to waste a stamp.
4. I noticed itwas unusually quite while I was on the phone.
5. Got off the phone and walked towards the bathroom.
6. I was greeted by this....

What a team!

Not so sure this is her color!

How adorable is he?

Allissa trying to clean up Brody

7. I wanted to scream at them for being extremely naughty but instead I did this....

8. Ran and got the camera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zander didn't get in on the fun because he was too busy watching a movie on the computer. Lissie also decorated the back of their necks! Luckily, it was a free gift that I got about two years ago and never used.

I SURE LOVE THEM!!!!

PLEASE GO VOTE!!!!

So this year we have started a new Christmas Holiday tradition!!!! We are going to hold an annual boys against girls Gingerbread house making contest. You my wonderful readers are going to be the judges!!!!!!!!!! Please EVERYONE that reads this take the two second to vote on the right hand side of the home page!!! I know a lot more people read than comments so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

House on the left is number 1 right is number 2

Left 1 right 2

front 1 back 2

Back 1 front 2

Left 2 right 1

PLEASE GO VOTE!!!!!

Christmas outfits

On Friday I realized I had nothing for them to wear for the Christmas Holiday Season!! So while Zander was a preschool on Friday Brody, Lissie and I headed to the fabric store! They had their holiday prints at 50% off so I was able to make this dress for about 7 dollars!!!! Friday night I went back to Joann's and bought Brody and Zander material to make them matching ties! Friday night at about 10 I started to sew and finished at about 1am. It was a GREAT time because I got to talk to Aubrey the entire time I was sewing! Aubrey was up making the same dress for her little girl Brielle! I altered mine a bit. The ties were pretty fun to make and I will be doing a lot more in the future!

Brody with his BIG MAN TIE!!!!
Zander with Santa!

Brody with Santa...he looks trilled!!!

HELP me this man is going to eat me!!!!!

My little princess!

Side view

Back view

I just love having a girl to decorate and I'm glad she love it too!!!!! I'm just sure three more boys are going to come my way!

Here is how it happened...

Zach and Darcy are hugging in the kitchen after Darcy finished making funeral potatoes for the ward Christmas party, then Darcy pauses because she hears a, "hoooo, hoooo, hoooo," over Zander's Jungle Book movie. Zach and Darcy race down the hall and barge into the Grumps room (aka Brody) to be the hero who saves the Grump from his baby cage (nap time being over).

Then, the Grump greets us like this...

"Poop, Poop, Poop" pointing to his diaper area...(apparently Darcy wasn't hearing hoooo,hoooooo,hoooo she was hearing poo, poooo,pooooooo!!!)

Then Zach and Darcy turn around and bolt to the door trying to avoid being the one who has to change him...

End of the story Zach, being the wonderful man that he is, changed the diaper and is currently giving the three kidos a bath so they can be nice and fresh for the Ward Christmas Party!

Unproductive...

So today has has been a day full of unproductiveness. Not sure if that is a real word or not? I am definitely feeling the first trimester woes, I went to bed last night at 6:30, I am sooooooo tired, if I don't eat, watch out her she comes... (worse then usual), and I can't get motivated to do much of anything besides the bare minimum.

Okay, I'm back, not that you were aware of my departure, but Zach got home with dinner and I bolted to the food. I just scarfed down two square pieces of pizza, two pieces of fried eggplant and too many dough sticks, I can't count how many. I now feel over stuffed and hopefully won't regret my choices in the next few hours!

Back to what I was saying...I have the worst time staying focused. This is how it normally goes, I start a task: the kids need something, I meet their many needs: then I forget about the task I was trying to complete. Therefore, my laundry is half done, my dishes are half done, and Zander and Allissa's room are half cleaned. Are you figuring out a pattern yet? This aspect of my life DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!!!! I wish someone with OCD would come to my rescue and rub off on me just a little bit! When am I going to out grow this????

One thing I did sort of accomplish today was I made two bibs. However, I only finished two out of the six I was planning on doing. So once again I didn't finish a task!

Okay not that I have spilled my guts about my lack of focus here are some pictures to entertain you guys with!

Just thought of something I did accomplish today...I finished a bow order!

Now back to the pictures....

Zander being a big helper


Allissa in her witch princess outfit

This yard was a fun one so we stopped for a picture...it was about 20 something out

Zander with his friend Aidan. Aidan lives next door to my parents.

Brody in his new outfit. I just love it so warm and cozy

Hey Buzz

Setting up our new Christmas tree bought with bow money!

Brody and Pappi looking as cute as can be

IT took about 30 minutes to get everyone ready to play in the snow and it lasted for a total of maybe five minutes.

He is so yummy I could eat him!

Me with my new man...

Sorry for the hogpog of pictures! I just realized I never posted Halloween pictures! So here are a few mixed in with our treeing lighting and decorating party. I have a lot more things to post but I will save it for another day. I'm sleepy!!!!

Trip to TN...

This year for Thanksgiving we decided to go to Zach's parents new house in TN!!! It was lovely and we had a BLAST!!!! We took family pictures...everyone in Zach's Family was there besides his sister Sara and her husband and daughter. Total we had 10 adults and 12 children! Us grow up kids had a blast staying up late working on a puzzle and chatting! We thought for sure we were going to get yelled at by the "old guy" for being to loud!

Miss Bayli
MIss Jayci

Kate (Zach big sister) and Greg



The four men, Greg, Zach, Isaac, and Nelson. Nelson is the oldest then kate, Isaac, Zach and then Sara.


Our attempt for a good family photo. Wish Allissa was smiling and my bangs...

Zach and I. I got my hair cut while I was there and ended up with full on bangs...YIKES! It is to trendy for me to pull off. You will see them bobby pined back for the next few weeks while they go out long enough so I can blow them to the side!

The four 3 almost 4 year olds!

Zach's parents with all their grand babies!

Grand kids line up oldest to youngest! I just love this picture! Age 11-7 months

The whole gang!
See the bangs i this picture...pretty scary...YIKES!

So the best but worst part of the trip was.................

My stinky uncontrollable GAS!!!!!

You might be asking yourself why in the world having sticky and uncontrollable gas was the best but worst part of the trip...

Here is your answer...

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I'm finally PREGNANT again!!!

For me my first indication that I am pregnant is my horrible GAS!!! The Late night that we had hanging out doing the puzzle and playing games I kept having to apologize for farting. How embarrassing is that. I kept saying I better be pregnant or else I am going to the doctors when I get home to see what died in my intestines. Lucky, I am pregnant and hopefully soon the gas will go away. In the meantime sorry if I smell, I will do my best to control it. Now that I have grossed everyone out I think I will say good by for now...

Just kidding...to end on a happy less nasty note I am due on August 8th. My sister Robyn is due on July 19th and my two sister in laws are due in April and May. Next Christmas if all goes as planned we will have 4 new babies to love on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And yes I know it is super early to be announcing our new baby to the world since it is smaller then a sesame seed but I am sooooooo Excited I can't keep it to myself. Plus you all know I ovulated so what the heck! Now you know we made a fabulous baby!