Neff Snowman Family!!!

My kids have been waiting for-ev-er to build a snowman. It hasn't been good packing snow until today. They built a huge snow man and then we were having so much fun that we just kept building!!



Here is Snowbaby Jackson.
Oh yeah you see it right- Billy gave my snowwoman some snowcones!!!



My sons are full on BOYS. They could hardly wait for me to take a picture before knocking them down. - BOYS :)

Santa Baby...Hurry down the chimney....

The kids were so excited for Christmas! They were able to open 1 present on Christmas Eve. (Their jammies from Grandma and Grandpa). They tracked Santa on the Internet all day and wanted to stay up to see Santa come. We made cookies for Santa and Austin wrote Santa a letter.

Dear Santa,
Have one cookie, give one to Rudolph, and leave 4 for us.
Why is Vixen always always wet? Because he is a reindeer!!
Love, Austin Jacob Neff





Carson has been so fascinated by Santa this year. He was so excited to see Santa and sit on his lap. Both times he was so happy and just kept looking at Santa.
The only thing he asked for was a pterodactyl, and was very excited Christmas morning to open up 3 pterodactyls. He also got a "Woody Doll" that has a sleeping bag and lantern. It is fun to see him carry it around.
The boys also got a race car track. It is tons of fun for all of us!
We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. I know we did!
Oh yeah, Billy got me a trip to Mauchu Picchu. So if anyone wants to watch my kids - PLEASE let me know!!!!!!

I cut my hair and LOVE it!

So, I could not take it anymore. My hair was falling out in clumps! (It does everytime after I have a baby.) This is the shortest I've ever cut my hair. It is so freeing and I don't know if it was the hair or not, but I lost a pound and a half! YEAH!! I love it! Billy - not so much- .

Winter Wonderland!

Every chance Carson gets, he wants to be out playing in the snow!
He has had a blast! I love getting him all bundled up. He gets so excited and has a hard time waiting for me to put on his gloves and boots.




Yesterday we took the kids sledding. We had a ton of fun. Mia and Maddi came with us and had fun sledding down the hill and then we went to a big open field and played "fox and geese".



Maddi getting snow down her neck! BURRRRRRRRRRR!



Best Buddies! Mia's grandma told me that after we brought her home she slept for 16 hours straight. I didn't realize it took so much energy to keep up with the boys. They definitely played hard!
I have really been enjoying the snow this year. (We usually don't get this much) The first night it really snowed, I stayed out til after 1 a.m. shoveling snow. It kept snowing and I just kept shoveling!
The kids had a 2 hr. delay for most of last week. It was so nice to have time to make a real breakfast and get all bundled up with the kids and walk to the bus stop and have snow ball fights while waiting for the bus. Yes, I know I'm a dork, but the kids loved it! Carson thought he was really big by being able to hang out at the bus stop.

For those of you who need your Jackson fix.....

Crabs, Crabs, Crabs....

Billy took the boys to the coast to go crabbing. They went with the Hansen's and Scott's. From the looks of it, they had tons of fun!!
I wish I could have gone, but I didn't want the baby to be cold.
We had a crab feast and it was GREAT!
Carson is pretending to be sicked out, but really he couldn't stop touching them.




Austin was so proud of how many they caught.
Carson was a trooper. Billy told me that after the long drive to the hotel, the kids were all sleeping, and Billy asked "who wants to go crabbing" - Carson woke right up and was so tired and said "I do, I do!" In the morning they had to get up really early to head out, Billy asked the same question and Carson was out of bed and putting on his shoes saying "I want to go crabbing.. don't leave me." All the other kids were still sleeping...hahahaha
He is such a sport and ready for anything!






And of course I had to post this pic of Maddie! She is so cute!

Thankful

Today I made a 2nd Thanksgiving Dinner for my family, as if making it once all by myself wasn't enough. But, we are so blessed and have so many things to be grateful for. We went around the table and said things we were thankful for. Here are few things:

Carson- Thankful for food, juice, family....
Austin - Thankful for our house, mom, plants, gospel....
Amanda - Thankful for ALL my boys, water to play in (I asked the boys what we do when we go to North Carolina and at the same time said "Jump off the dock!"), good friends....
Billy - Thankful for family, all our freedoms, gospel....

We are all very thankful to have Jackson in our family. He is still the best baby. Every time I look at his perfect little face, my heart swells. I just love him so much!!!!!! Too bad he couldn't have some yummy food on Thanksgiving!

Life is good

I just got the news that I have been dreading to hear since last night. My uncle Mike's plane was found and he did not make it. Since I use this blog as part of my journal, I thought I would write about it. Mike Loveless is the real person who coined the phrase "Life is Good". I would hear it dozons of times each time I was with him - way before all the t-shirts, hats, and coffee mugs had it printed on them. I am going to miss him so much, but I know this is exactly the way he would like to go, doing something he loved and living life to its fullest. I am amazed at the comfort I feel. I have been fasting and praying since I heard the news and I knew this would be the outcome and it will be ok. My heart goes out to my cousins Spencer and Mika, and my aunt Colleen, I have never seen a couple show affection so openly. They are like a couple of newly weds non-stop!
Mike has taught me many things like:
*how to waterskii
*that it is possible to eat food off a street corner in Mexico and not get sick
*that it is a lot more fun to hang out on a beach on Christmas instead of doing presents
*really take in the moments around you and live it up
*find the true beauty in Lake Powell
*that a 50 yr. old can do more back flips in a row on a wakeboard than his 20 yr old son just to prove he can - what is Mike's record 8 ?!?!
*and most importantly to live each moment to its fullest and show the ones that mean the most to you that you love them and love the time you get to spend with them. I know there isn't one person that he knew that doesn't know that he loved them, because I know he loved me. I love you Mike.

Dancing

I think in another life I must have been a dancer. I wish I could do it more and just LOVE watching REAL GOOD dancing like this. I was watching this and Carson started watching with me. He said "I like the mom best, because your a mom and your beautiful." OK, can you not just die when you have your best buddie tell you that!! I love you so much Carson! You are such a little sweetheart and made your mothers day!

Columbia River Temple

So guess who forgot about the time change on Sunday? Yes, you guessed it. US!!
When there were no cars in the church parking lot it dawned on us. So we went to the temple and for a drive to over look the city and see all the leaves changing colors. It's amazing what you can do with an extra hour!

Jackson's Blessing

I am so lucky to have such an amazing husband that is always worthy to bless our family! Babe you mean the world to me!

Billy gave a great blessing and we had fun having both our parents and our friends over to celebrate. Thank you everyone for coming!

My Aunt Carol and Uncle Lee made the trip down from Zillah. She made this beautiful cake. I really think it was the best cake I've ever had! Thanks Carol! So good to see you, Lee, and Becca!




Jackson, you will never understand how much you mean to me. I am blessed beyond measure to have you in my life. Thank you for your sweet spirit and for being such a joy in our family. I lova lova you!!!!!!!!

You can't beat a good donut game! I was wondering why all the kids had white powder on their faces - too funny! Marshall ( a young man in our ward that my boys adore) had way too much fun teasing Austin and Carson!



Carson's 2nd attempt!
The little cheater!

Halloween!!!!!!

Stoneridge Resort

We went for a mini vacation in Oct. to Stoneridge in Idaho. It was last minute and we were only able to stay a day and a half, but it was wonderful every minute. Even the drive was pleasent. I never knew that having the 3rd row to seperate the kids would be so great! It was very secluded and beautiful there. We played wally ball, pickle ball, twister, mini-golf, and horse shoes. The kids were swimming most of the time, they also did a craft and played air hockey. We took a walk before we left. The trees were so beautiful. It was so fun hanging out with the Hansen's! Thanks for the invite guys! Can't wait for next time!

Smiling Baby! :)

Lots of Energy!

Pumpkin Patch

Jackson's growing before our eyes!

Our sweet little angel is growing and I know I have been hogging him all to myself.

3 cute boys!

What a concerned baby!

Loves to hang out with Dad!

Air Show

Carson went with Billy to the air show in Pasco. They said it was LOUD, but a lot of fun.

Automatic Sprinkler

Yep, you guessed it - he got me today! The funny thing is that I had this onesie ready to put on him after his bath. I think it is jinxed. Thanks Sonja!

Win a handbag!

I'm all for trying to win a handbag .
Check this out! You can enter to win a free handbag and they are cute! http://www.handbagplanet.com/

Jackson's Pics

It has been so great to have this little bundle of joy in my life. Jackson has the best expressions and I love to look at him even when he isn't doing anything. My neck will start hurting from looking down at him and I wonder why I don't just relax while I am feeding him. But I can't, he is just too precious. I love to sit and cuddle him. My house is really lacking in the orderly department. But amazingly I don't care that much ( sorry Billy). I hope you enjoy the pics!

I am soooooooooo excited about Jackson's pictures! Tiffany took them and did an amazing job! Thank you so much Tiff! (Check out her web site at www.tiffanyparrishphotography.com.)

All about the big day!

On Sunday night, I was scheduled to go in to be induced. Time seemed to slow down. I was all packed and ready to go and still had 5 more hours. It was very hard to wait, I just wanted to go have my baby. We checked in about 10:00 pm. They started me on cytotec which started contractions. The contractions were getting more and more uncomfortable and they told me I was in active labor. Then they asked me if I wanted a sleeping pill, which I happily accepted. When the nurse came back to check on me, she asked me my pain level. I said "zero". So then I had to wait til morning for the Dr. to give me pitocin. When the Dr. came in, he broke my water (yes! I love my Dr.).
Well, things progressed really well and the contractions were getting painful. I have been scared to death of an epidural. With my other 2 boys I opted for the pain vs. having a needle in my back. Yeah, I know, I'm not the smarted girl. The pain started getting bad and at 10:00 am Dr. Gabe came in to give me an awesome epidural. It was not as bad as I thought it would be.
After an hour, I started feeling some of the contractions. So I pushed the little button and felt much better. The Dr. checked me and I was dilated to an 8! The Dr. and nurses left to start getting everything ready. They thought the baby would be coming in a few hours. Well, a few contractions later, I felt some pain and "something" "down there". My good friends Annette and Sonja were there helping me and I asked Annette to look. Yes, she is a very good friend! She was very surprised to find that his head was out! Billy came walking in from telling a nurse to come in and he saw the head as well and yelled for the nurse and came over and caught little Jackson on his way out. Jackson had an arm up by his head and the cord over his head. Everything happened really fast and by the time Dr. Morrison came in, they were cutting the cord. He had said at one of my previous appointments that it would be easy-peasy-Japaneesy. Boy was he right! It was hard to watch them clean him up - I just wanted to hold him. He is everything I could ever dream or wish for! He is such a special baby and I love him more than I could ever say. Welcome to our family Jackson! You have made our family complete!
I can not tell you how excited the boys were to see their new baby brother. Austin said he wanted to show me how excited he was, yes a picture is worth a thousand words!

I could not sleep or stop smiling for a whole 24 hours after he was born. I am so excited to be a mom again. I love all my boys sooooooooooo much! They mean the world to me and am so thankful that I get to spend eternity with them. I love you Billy, Austin, Carson, and Jackson!!!