I'm baaaaccckkk!

Ok, totally aware I've been quite late in my blogging, but you know- life gets crazy sometimes :) So- here's some pics from Christmas to enjoy- it was a pretty great one as usual.  I had to work, but managed to fit that in with all the festivities. The kids loved everything they received and they really loved giving this year even more! I took them shopping for each other and they went to the mall for my present while I went window shopping on the other end :) However, I was called to the store because they had "almost" enough money....the sales lady was very sweet to hide my present while I paid for it. Well, life on Xmas break is always a little insane. We are on sleepover number 3 or 4 tonight...I'm sure there will be more to come this week.  We are going ice skating this weekend, hit the library later this week, went and did all our returns a couple days ago and got better-fitting clothes and slippers, and replaced a broken remote control car. So, all in all- pretty good stuff! Now to get through this next 2 weeks and I start school! woot woot.  Loves and hugs and kisses to all my wonderful, amazing family!

 Putting on the Star- Clark Griswold would be so proud! 

 Baby KJ (Kiara Jane)  in her outfit from Auntie Amy! 

 Cousin Night with Ty Ty and Sierra

 I love my infinity scarf from Calli and Teags! 

 Ummmm.  I love Christmas!  seriously! 

 I love Christmas too!  get the camera out of my face Mom :) 

 Presents from Grammy! 

 Teags and her new best friend- the Ipod

 Calli got these from Teags- she's pretty blingin' 

 Calli's awesome new desk! 

 My beautiful girl....so grown up 

 Teags and her new artist easel! 

 Stephen is rocking his new pj's tucked into his socks :) 

 Sweet Alyx and Kiara 

General good things :)

Life is good, isn't it? Baby Kiara is adorable and we get to see her quite a bit....Teags still seems a bit intimidated of holding her, but I'm sure she'll come around.  Let's see- Halloween was super great- we have waaaaay too much candy!  CDA does a great downtown trick or treat, and then we usually hit a friend's great neighborhood.  Callista Bobista had her 1st real school dance this last weekend! She looked so gorgeous, but too grown up for me!  I'm so not ready for a tween....

Lastly, I would like to report----- I aced my Compass test (okay, aced in the English/Comp part- 100%! ) Now, the math not so much an ace- but if you know the Guthrie girls, not really our strong suit! It wasn't abysmal, just in the lower range.  Looks I'll be starting out in General Math- no worries.  So- looking forward to enjoying my last couple months of just work, work, work.  Once the holidays are over, it's hitting the books for me!  I can't wait.  Love you all mucho!

This one's mine- skeleton prison

Demonstrating the "puking pumpkin" 

Callista Bug ready to head to the 6th grade Harvest Dance! 

Check out my new boots! 

Ahhh- too pretty!! 

I should explain this one...it's our family night project- bulbs! we get to watch them grow all winter right in the kitchen :) Gotta love Pinterest

Teagyn the Tennis Great! 

Isn't Kiara Jane just precious? seriously....

Please note that Teags is stuffing her face as she thinks I'm not looking

Love the sky this day...

Welcome Kiara Jane Bingham!

Well everyone- the newest member of our family has arrived! And boy, did she keep us on our toes all day. Technically, Alyx was in labor for about 18 hours- she arrived to the hospital at 6 a.m. to be induced on Monday morning.  I got the girls off to school and headed there about 9:30.  By that time, she was starting to have some pretty good-sized contractions.. enough to make her shed a few tears. So, she decided to go with the epidural.  After that, life was just peachy again :) We kinda hung out all day- Stephen's family was there and we all watched TV, ate snacks, laughed with Alyx, braided her hair, etc.  I brought the girls back later to see her and that's when about 10 other people showed up so it was super chaotic.  By about 8 p.m. she started really getting good contractions again and was dilated to about a 7.... slow going!

All in all, she finally picked up the pace and was finally dilated and ready to push by about midnight.  At this point, I got to support one leg and Stephen got the other :) She pushed for about 2 hours and did soooo amazingly fantastic- even laughed through about the first 45 minutes- then everything got quite painful and serious, and at 1:50 a.m. on the 23rd of October....sweet Kiara Jane popped out into the bright world.  She is huge!! Seriously- Alyx would've had a C-section if they had any guess she would be... 9 lb 12 oz! And 21 inches long.  Ooof!! Poor Alyx had to get quite a few stitches, and she and Kiara had a fever, so they were put on antibiotics and will be in the hospital until probably Friday.  Things are going great now and they are looking fantastic! Alyx is super woman- she's been up and showering and cleaning her hospital room, changing diapers, wandering around the unit, you name it.  I can tell she's ready to get out of there though- thanks to everyone for all the love and support and well wishes and phone calls! Love you all- can't wait until you can all hold her.  Oh, and of course Calli and Teags are being excellent little aunties to her- they cannot wait until she can play with them.  Here's the pics!