Christmas Cookie Making

Finally some Christmas posts from the Hartz house!!  Paige and I cut out and decorated Christmas cookies for the big man in red.  Paige had so much fun helping me with the process.  We cut them all out before nap time and then frosted after nap time.  My friend Brittany helped us with the frosting and sprinkles.  Enjoy all of the pictures!!

Snow Day in Iowa!

So as most of you are aware since you live in Iowa, but for you out of staters Iowa received a TON of snow.  It started Wednesday night on the commute home and by Thursday morning Ankeny had 10-12 inches of snow.  Rob and I both decided it would be dumb for us to go to work so we stayed home and kept Paige home as well.  Rob started snow blowing at our house at 5:30 AM.  He ended up snow blowing almost all morning as he went to help our friends who still live in our old duplex.  I think he was pretty pumped he got to use his new snow blower he got last year and only got to use it once!  Paige and I had a craft morning while Daddy was outside.  We had so much fun.  I can tell she's getting older because she just did her own crafts and could have cared less what I was doing.  We turned on Tangled the movie and just had a blast.

I started another yarn wreath for the winter months.  I got a good chunk of it done yesterday.

Paige did a little Play-Doh after she colored with markers at my craft table with me.  She ended her morning with water color painting.

I get to work on this fun project for my sister, or I should say my nieces.  Heather and Tony are building a new house and it's almost done!  But the girls get new rooms and they couldn't be more excited.  So when Heather thinks of a craft idea or sees an idea she likes she calls her loving little sister to actually execute the plan for her.  So I'm helping make this really cool corkboard for each girl.  I'll take after pictures when it's all done.  Yesterday I was focused on fabric covering the cork pieces so these were the pictures I was updating Heather with.  Carly is having a spunky room just like herself with zebra print!

 Here is a picture of our backyard. I thought all of the snow looked so pretty.  You can tell how heavy it is and how much it blew since it's stuck on EVERYTHING.  Paige was so excited this morning when she realized that everyone had snow.  She wants to go out and play in it so bad.  I told her she has to wait until it's warmer then 8 degrees outside.

Rob and I finally wrapped presents so we are ready for next week.  Can you believe Christmas is next week?!  Paige is so excited to see all of her cousins and of course to have Santa come!  She's very particular on what he is bringing, including a little present for her new baby.  Good thing Mom and Dad planned a head on that one.  We hope everyone has a safe and Merry Christmas!!  I can't wait to post pictures of everything that happens this weekend and early next week.  This year is going to be so much fun with Paige.  She's really into it!!

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow

Hello There!!  Hope everyone is doing well.  I'm trying to go back to taking more pictures and blogging for everyone.  We were home in Newton this past weekend.  My high school friends had our annual Thanksmas party (forgot to take pictures).  Rob and I had a blast and this Mama made it later then she thought she would.  Paigey spent the afternoon/night with Grandma Greta.  She had so much fun helping Grandma with her Christmas cards and playing piano.  We all got great sleep and when we woke up it was SNOWING!  Paige was so excited.  She started saying Santa is coming Santa is coming!!  So I guess we've been telling her that Santa wont be here till there is snow.  Way to go Mom and Dad because now we have to explain why there are no presents under the tree.  Oh well!  Paige was running around my Mom's driveway as we were loading the car she was so excited!  Then when we got home she asked Rob and I probably 40 times if she could go outside.  So after naptime Daddy took her outside.  They were out there for probably an hour, basically until it started to get dark and really cold.  She had a blast!!

New snowpants!!

 We also were able to see Rob's parents for a little while when we were home.  I don't know if I told you guys but Rob's Mom Gail had knee replacement surgery a week ago.  Everything went very well and the doctor said it was good timing to have it done.  After finally getting her pain meds figured out she is now home.  I can't believe how active they want her to be considering what she just went through, but it makes sense.  We found out Paige is going to be a really good mom and probably a nurse.  She was so involved in helping Grammie.  She was in their room helping Rick give Gail a shower and Gail said she was a great help and not in the way at all.  She was also making sure Gail had her water and a bowl of grapes.  She's so funny!!  Lord help us when this baby gets here she's going to be like don't worry guys I can do all of this for you!  We are praying for Gail to have a good recovery.  She's very determined to get full mobility back or as much as she can!  So keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Update about me since I haven't done one in a while.  The job is going great!  I am loving seriously every minute of it.  It's so much fun and I'm learning so much.  I feel like this is what I went to school for and it's great.  I told them when I interviewed I hate being bored and I love looking at the clock wondering how it became that time already.  Well that is happening and it's amazing!!!

As for the baby we're both doing well.  My next appointment isn't until December 31st and I'll be 17 weeks.  I have felt the baby move a couple of times now and it's nice to know that he/she is there.  As you can tell from the picture below it's a good thing I told work right away.  There is no hiding it anymore.  That picture was taken this morning and I am 14 1/2 weeks.  I think my belly is the same size as it was at 16-18 weeks with Paige.  But I still feel amazing so I can't complain about that.  I'm not overly tired.  I'm tired at night which is good because it makes me sleep.  I haven't been sleeping well so it's nice to get sleep every once in a while.  Next appointment will be a pretty easy one except I'm going to see if they will get me on the schedule for my csection date as Rob and I would like to be the first one of the day.  So fingers crossed on that.  Then the end of January is when we'll find out if it's a boy or girl!  I'm so excited!!  I'm ready to start working on the room and getting clothes out.  Might actually motivate Rob and I to get our stuff out of that closet!

14 1/2 week belly

Rob and Paige are both doing great!  Rob is busy at work as usual but he doesn't mind.  Paige is changing everyday.  She asks so many questions and talks so much.  The other night Rob looked at me and goes is this what our parents would call pay back?  I told him yes I think so.  So we have 3 "talkers" in our house.  Will be interesting to see what the next one will be like.  Paige is more and more interested on when this baby is coming.  She asks me all the time about stuff we need for the baby or when the baby is coming.  She's very concerned that Rob and I understand how things need to be done.  She told me the other day after asking me what we were having for supper that I need to make sure to cut the chicken very small for "her new baby".  The other day we were driving to daycare and she asked me if her new baby was still sleeping in my belly.  I told her yes the baby was still in my belly probably sleeping.  She then looks at me straight faced and goes, "WAKE UP BABY!!!"  I couldn't help but bust out laughing at her.  I didn't mean to but it was the cutest and funniest thing I've ever heard.

That is pretty much a long but much needed update on our house.  My nesting if you will has set in much earlier and after Christmas I will be cleaning out closets and getting things ready for this baby.  I couldn't be more excited.  Hope all is well with everyone.  I hope everyone has a great holiday season!!

Love you all!!

13 Week Baby Update

Hi family and friends!!  Well I went to the doctor on Friday.  Everything is great!  I heard the heartbeat again and it was a strong 166.  The doctor told me I'm easy which is good.  I'm healthy and the baby is healthy.  I go to the doctor again on New Years Eve.  We find out the gender the end of January.  So we have one more appointment before.  We're all including our family and friends assuming it's a girl.  Rob and I will take either option.

Work is going well.  I've been there 2 days and it's a lot of fun.  Just trying to learn a new work environment and everyone's names.  It will be great!!

Enjoy the pictures of Paigey!!

Paigey and Daddy watching Netflix on his phone

Rob cuddling with our friend's twin daughters

Paigey and Daddy making paper airplanes

Hartz Family Chaos

Hello there family!  Well once again some of you are aware and some of you are not.  On November 1st I was let go from my current employer.  It was a shock to me and I was very sad.  However I believe God had another plan for me as today I just accepted and picked my start date for my new job and I couldn't be more excited!!

The story starts 2 days before I was let go.  One of my best friends told me about her company she works for and how I would be an amazing fit for them.  I told her that due to the cute little baby growing in my belly I wasn't going to leave my current job.  Two days later I was let go from my job.  Rob took that Friday off and we created a game plan for our family as sadly this is not my first rodeo looking for a job pregnant.  My sister has jokingly informed me I cannot have anymore babies and I totally agreed with her.  My friend called me that day and said please get me your resume ASAP.  So I went home updated my resume and got it to her and her boss immediately.  Flash forward a week or so and I had two interviews back to back and was offered the job a couple days later.  I got the call today that everything is finalized and I start on Thursday.  I think I'm still in shock haha.

I'll be working for a marketing company (FINALLY!) in Des Moines called Sundog Studios.  Their huge client is Hy-Vee.  They do all of their ads, shelf signs, etc.  They do the entire process from photographing, making the food to assembling and printing the ad.  I couldn't be more excited to finally be in a marketing company.  I'm starting out as an assistant to the two art directors, but there is a career path for me.  They are very excited that I have a degree and a marketing degree at that.  I have NEVER had anyone care that I have a marketing degree let alone that I went to college.  So wish me luck as I jump into this new adventure!!  Rob and I are very excited and also thankful that things worked out so quickly.  Now we can move forward and prepare for this little baby!

Decorating for Christmas

Today we decorated for Christmas.  It was so much fun this year!  Paige was so into it.  We are enjoying all of the festive decorations in our house!!  Enjoy the pictures!

Rob fluffing the tree

Paige helping out Daddy

Paige and Mom needed a little hot chocolate while we worked on the tree

Paige got her own Nativity Scene.  She thinks it's great!!

Daddy helping Paige put the angel on the top of the tree

Someone was tired of helping out...guess she didn't realize it took some time to get all the lights on the tree

Showing off our final tree

Loving Daddy's old Big Bird ornament

Thanksgiving

WOW!  Well Thanksgiving has come and gone and I can't believe it.  Rob and I successfully hosted 22 people at our house.  We had my Mom's side of the family up which included 15 adults and 7 kids, which is a house full.  I wish I could have gotten a better picture of all of the tables.  The kids were able to play outside and actually ate Thanksgiving dinner on our deck.  They were all thrilled, and so were us parents.  We also had my sister and her family and my mom stay with us all weekend.  It's been a busy weekend needless to say. Paige did pretty well, she got a little tired and ready for everyone to leave.  She just tries to keep up with the big kids.  I enjoyed all the time with family this weekend.  It was a nice time to get together with all the stress Rob and I have been under.

Friday we went to see Rob's family.  It was so great to catch up with his cousins and to see Grandma Chapman!  Paige got in some good time with Great Grandma!  We didn't get to spend as much time as we would have liked our little girl needed to go home and take a nap.  

Paige taking a break from all of the people

The kids eating outside...who would have thought it would have been so nice!

Paige and Great Grandma Chapman

Paige and Mason

Things are going well with us.  I will do an update on all of the happenings in our life soon!!

Breaking News From The Hartz Household

It's official!  Paige Hartz is going to be a big sister!!!  Rob wanted me to put all of the pictures first for shock value.  I am 9 weeks today and we had our first doctor appointment.  Our appointment was great!  Everyone is looking healthy and the baby has a strong heartbeat at 165 which is what Paige's was.  We just told Paigey tonight and she hasn't stopped talking about her new baby.  She's so very excited as we are too. We know some of you have guessed this or already knew and I greatly appreciate you all keeping your mouth shut.  It was nice to sit there today and hear that everyone is great!  So now we start our new adventures!  I'll keep everyone updated and I will put of course belly pictures and appointment updates on here.  Love you all!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

 Happy Halloween everyone!!

Last night was our trick or treating so we are all nice and warm inside tonight.  Paige had so much fun!  She's been talking about trick or treating probably the entire month.  So when she found out yesterday was the day man was she pumped.  After Daddy got home and we had some dinner it was show time.  Here's Paige in her outfit!

Daddy and Paigey were walking to our old duplex to go see Brittany and Justin.  There didn't seem to be very many kids out this year unlike last year.  But Paige still had fun.

We were out for probably 30 mins or so.  Paige likes handing candy out to the other kids.  So we always try to get home so she can do that.  A new game Rob and I have created is seeing what the neighbors will give her.  We have one set of neighbors who are now 2 for 2 on weird pass outs.  Last year they gave Paige a bag of fritos and this year they were handing out poptarts.  Rob and I were laughing so hard.  I'm sure this will be a continued every year stop now just to see what they are giving out.  Poor Paige though had a terrible cold and has NO voice tonight.  She had her halloween party at daycare today and told me it was a lot of fun!

Here is Paige checking out her stash

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!  We had a lot of fun in this house!  Now we get ready for November which is us hosting 25 adults and kids for Thanksgiving!

Long Sad Weekend

Well we were in Newton this weekend even though it wasn't planned.  As many of you know my best friend Graham's Dad has been fighting some health issues for quite a while, but you would never have known it recently.  Graham was scheduled to give him a kidney in about a month and we all thought he was going to be on the up and up.  Well Wednesday while I was at work I got some very sad news.  I had saw I missed two back to back calls from Graham but thought I need to finish this one thing up with my boss and I would call her back.  Then someone came into my boss's office saying my best friend Graham was on the phone.  I instantly knew something was very wrong.  When I got on the phone all she could say was, "I don't want to tell you this".  I knew exactly what was coming next.  Terry had lost his battle.  His heart just couldn't hold on anymore.  I went home Wednesday to be with what I have always called my adopted family.  Then when I got home that night Rob said we're going home all weekend, we'll pack tomorrow.  He knew I needed to be there and I just needed to be with them (thank goodness he's been around as long as he has).  So I spent the weekend with my amazing second family, and catching up with some of their family I just saw at the wedding a couple months ago and some I haven't seen since college.  So much sadness and happiness in that house this weekend.  Terry was one of the greatest men I knew.  He was so loving, and caring.  He always treated me like his 3rd daughter and even introduced me to plenty of people (including nurses and doctors) as his daughter.  Now if you've seen his daughters I look nothing like that family but I didn't care!  He loved my smart mouth but always kept me in check if I said something he didn't think I should say.  I love that man so much!  I'm glad he's not in pain and I'm glad he's in a better place.  But I know his family as well and myself weren't done with him.  His funeral today was a hard day, but an amazing celebration of a great man/husband/father/papa.  I love you Rose girls with all of my heart!! 

Paige got in some play time with her favorite person Laek (Graham's daughter) she also got to help cut out and frost cookies with Grammie.  

Watching movies

They are so silly

My boyfriend Seany

Rolling out cookies

Daddy helping with the cutting

My future pie baker...she loved the flower

putting on the sprinkles

Pumpkin Patch!!

Last weekend we went to the pumpkin patch with our friends Brittany and Justin.  We went to one close to Ankeny and it was so awesome!!  We were there so much longer then we thought we were going to be.  They had animals to feed, corn pool, giant pillow to jump on, big slides and tons of pedal tractors.  We pretty much played on everything before we went into the store to get some of their family apple donuts and an apple slushie.  Paige had a blast!  She still talks about it to this day.  We then went back to our house and carved our pumpkins and had supper.  We are so thankful to have friends/neighbors who love doing these types of things with us.  There are a TON of pictures!!!  I can't wait to take her trick or treating this week!  She has been talking about it for 2 weeks!!  Going to be so much fun!!

Paige and Brittany in one of the three little pig's house

Justin was making Paige laugh when she came out

Yay tractors

Trying to pedal this but her legs were just not long enough

CORN POOL!!!

Daddy and Paigey on the jumping pillow.  This was the funniest thing I've ever watched.  Britt and I couldn't stop laughing

She finally got the hang of it

Paige and Mom on the big tractors

Mom's leg muscles were burning at this point

Riding the train

All by herself this year...she has so much fun

So much fun on the slide

climbed the big hill and did it again!  A certain little girl wanted to go by herself

apple slushie while we waited for the apple donuts

Paige showing off everyones pumpkin

Paige putting her pieces into her pumpkin

YAY it's Woody!!

Helping Daddy with his pumpkin...Britt brought over gloves so Paige had fun with those

So much fun