Me in my running get up (today I had another hat, a scarf, mittens, and lots of warm stuff not pictured)
Here is my Hero (Charles) with the lovely kiddos
Today was interesting. It snowed here a few good inches and that means - people do not know how to drive! It has been really cold too. Today I had to run and get Sammi from school because I did not have a car for that time. So I got out there, the first time in a week (I have been sick). It was SO cold! They do not plow the streets here either so there was snow all over the road. I plowed through as best as I could, I was so cold! Besides being frozen I felt ok. I got to the school and I was early so I kept moving trying to stay warm. I went in and out of the front office area since our double stroller would not make it through the front door. Meanwhile, Daniel was coughing his head off - he almost threw up! Again, did I mention I was SO cold! So then finally I got Sammi and bundled her up and put her in the stroller to head home.

Running in the cold then stopping is bad because you are sweaty, then it freezes and you are a popsicle. All the moms kept asking me if I wanted a ride, and they thought I was crazy for being out there. I wanted to say, "YES! Take me home!" but there was really no way for them to fit 3 extra bodies and a stroller. So, I started my frozen journey home. I kept praying in my mind, and almost swearing out loud (quietly) cause I was so frozen even my positive thinking was ice (I think swearing may cancel out prayer!) I was just so cold I could barely move forward, but I did. Then I started swearing less in my mind and praying hard that I could find some relief in my body - I needed help! I needed an angel to come and help me push my handcart!

So, not moments later I hear a honk, honk! I did not look up I just waved and kept going. Then the big truck stopped, and out comes Charles! Hooray! He was going to save me! My angel had come to rescue me! He knew I needed him at that moment so he came for me. I never called him or anything - he just knew. So we got the kids in the truck, and easily threw the stroller in the back of the mother-load truck (there is something to be said for big trucks!) I was so relieved and grateful! I really was at the point of being very weary and just hoping I could make it. Anyhow, I am alive and well and warm now! Thank Heavens for the power of prayer - it is real and it works! It works best if you limit the swearing! : )

Then when I got home I had 15 minutes to shower and get ready to go help at a Christmas function as the Church. I did it somehow and sped my way off to the church. Then when I got home I tried to get in the door, but it was locked! Charles said he would be home all night so I did not take my house keys. I stood at the door with the kids freezing and I was trying to figure out what to do. I had no way in, the manager was gone, and I had no where to go but back to the truck. So I waited just for a minute and started walking the kids down to the truck so we would go and do something (who knows what) for awhile. Then I heard Charles pull up in the car just before I would have turned the corner to leave for the night. He went looking for me to swap cars. Anyhow, divine intervention prevented me from going crazy twice today! I am so grateful for answered prayers - especially when pregnant!

Heavenly Father is there, even when it may seem silly or even useless to ask for help. Sometimes it seems things are impossible and out of reach or that relief may never come, but it can! I am so grateful for prayer and having a close relationship with my Father in Heaven. He hears me (an often silly person) and I am so grateful!

More Pictures. . .

Baby Stephen

Commentary by Kary: On November 5, 2006, Stephen Joseph Hafen was blessed by his father Ray. He was 6 weeks old and full of peace and joy that day. My heart was so full of joy as he was blessed. I have waited for this day for so long. I remember watching other babies being blessed over the years and I just hoped for the day that I could see my husband bless our little children. I thank Heavenly Father for this marvelous miracle of life every day. He has brought us more joy than we've ever known. Babies are the best! You can see why Jesus loved the little children. One of Stephen's favorite songs is "Jesus Once was a Little Child"; it makes him smile. It's as if he's remembering the time he spent with Jesus before he came to earth when he hears the words. I'm so grateful to know that He knows and loves his Heavenly Father and our Savior. The greatest desire I have for my children is for them to know that they are a child of God and that they need to stand as a true disciple of Jesus Christ so that they can return to His presence. P.S. afghan made by Emily ..........it's amazing! I love it. thanks Emily!

Oh Danny Boy. . .

Here are some pictures of Danny boy. For some reason they got out of order. He is my good sweet boy, and such a good listener. He brings so many smiles into my life. I just think he is so fun! I thought I would add these pictures of him because it is usually Sammi who finds her way to the front of the camera. : ) Oh, how they grow so quickly!

I went to my new baby doctor today. He is a pretty nice guy. He is LDS and has been in the business a little longer than my previous doctor - I appreciate experience when it comes to these things. It went well. I have an appointment in 2 weeks to find out if is a boy or girl. Any guesses? I think it is a boy - I have always been wrong but that is my call this time. Anyhow, the doctor said all is well. However, the nurse who weighed and measured my height said I had shrunk two inches! She said I was 5'6' instead of 5'8! Silly nurse, she also said I had gained 9 lbs when my home scale (which is right) says I have gained only 4-5. Sometimes I think in their rushing around the nurses get a little excited and confused? Beside that I am doing very well and the babies heart beat was good.

So our car is in the shop getting the deer repairs fixed. $2200.00 later (all covered by insurance). We had to get a rental car this week for me (also insurance covered). So, Charles goes to the car rental place and brings me home the biggest 6 passenger truckster he could find. It is HUGE! I am not a big fan of mother-load cars that hog up the whole road. Anyhow, that is what I get to drive all around the town. It is pretty funny. I feel so high up when I drive. The kids love it though, they said they feel like they are flying! Me too!

We are all getting better(ish) from our illnesses. It stinks to be sick but it sounds like it has been going around everywhere and to everyone! Start taking your vitamins!

Anyhow, all is well here for today. Hope all is well for you and yours!

Happy Sunday

I hope this Sunday has found you all well. I know that Mom and Dad had talks and Kary had a lesson. I got to teach the Sharing time today for primary. It was tons of fun - except, I was sick! The kids have been under the weather all week long both waking up with coughing snotty fits in the middle of the night - which means I was up with them. As a result I got myself a lovely sinus infection, which I have not had for a long time (thank goodness). Anyhow, I prayed that I would be ok to teach the Sharing time lesson and guess what - I was! I had energy and strength and I felt good the whole time. Of course, now I do not feel so hot. It is amazing how the spirit can strengthen you when you are doing good works. Anyhow, it went really well and I had lots of fun with the Senior Primary. I love the chance to be creative with fun stuff like that. I miss the days of being the primary music leader - that calling is so great!

It is snowing here today. It is quite pretty. It usually snows and than goes away. That is my idea of winter. It is helping with the holiday mood. : ) Our giant tree is so fun. It sure drinks water like crazy. When we are gone to Utah we are going to have to get a baby pool and set the tree in it or something - we will figure it out. It is so nice to have it though, it smells so yummy! Like Christmas!

Well, we are 3 weeks away from seeing a lot of the family. We are sure looking forward to it. I sure hope the weather is good for our journey. I am not too interested in driving through icky weather - as fun as that is. It is coming very soon.

Tomorrow is a doctors appointment for me so I will see what the low down is. Monday is 18 weeks for me - almost half way through! Hooray! So far things are good. I sure hope that all will be well in the future with baby 3. : )

Lots of Love from me!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The picture turned out a little weird but that is our tree
Here is Dan eating his turkey leg - YUM!
Here is a picture of the tree when we were unsure about keeping it
Here is the tree lot that we got the tree from
The kiddos ready for dinner!
So we finally got our tree and when we brought it home we set it up and it was huge! It was so big that we were concerned about it fitting in the space that we have. We let it sit for a day thinking we might take it back and exchange it for a smaller one. It sat and sat and we kept looking at it thinking how pretty it was, it was a pity to have to take it back. So anyhow, with a little furniture adjusting we made it work and the big, jumbo sized tree is staying. It was the same price as the others just a different type or something. It is so pretty and it smells good too. The kids are just glad we finally could decorate it!

Thanksgiving has been good. We both took turns running in the morning since the turkey was in the oven and at about 1pm we ate our Turkey. It was really good. Charles does a great job! The kiddos have been a little under the weather so we have just been lounging today watching Christmas movies and just relaxing. It has been really nice. Either the baby was in the way of my stomach or I was just not so hungry but I was not able to pack the food away like normal. Oh well, that leaves lots of leftovers. Thanks to Ray for the yummy recipe for the cucumber salad - it turned out great! We also got pumpkin cheesecake pie and that was really, really good!

I hope you are all having a marvelous Thanksgiving day!!! Lots of Love!

Here is a picture of my 17 and 1/2 week baby gut. My jeans are about to kick the bucket. They are all good standing up but when I sit down - I can feel it! Ouch! Next doctor appointment is next Monday.

Anyhow, I just got back from parent teacher conference at Sammi's school. I was very surprised with what her teacher filled me in on. The first thing he said was she is blowing him away with her reading and that she is the best reader out of all of the kindergarten kiddos - including the other classes! I was shocked, but happy to hear this. I suddenly felt this motherly joy that some of my work was paying off! Sammi has never attended preschool or any other sort of kindergarten prep - just Mommy prep. I have been working hard with her and it has been worth the effort. We read every night out of the Book of Mormon and she reads out loud to us. I pick hard words and have Sam and Dan raise their hands everytime they hear the hard word - destruction being their favorite! Anyhow, it really helps. He said she is his best student, and I asked if he says that to all the parents. He told me he didn't and that Sammi was really his best student. Anyhow, to not go on too much about it (I do feel a sense of motherly proudness) I am very excited for her and proud of her work. I told her teacher I was not worried about her being the President of the United States or anything - my goal is that she is happy. He said she seems very happy at school. Meeting with her teacher was a little weird because he is only 1 year older than me. He is a good teacher though, lots of energy and the kids love that. Anyhow, that was my fun time at my very first parent teacher conference. Yea for Sammi girl!

Holidays of years past. . .

Not so fun run

So yesterday was fun. I went to start the car to take Sammi to school and I found that the key would not even turn. I had the kids in their car seats and all ready to go and I said, "Come on we gotta run!" So I ran back up our three flights of stairs threw on my running clothes and got the kids in the stroller. I then had to run (as fast as I could) to get Sammi to school on time. I had less then 10 minutes to get to her school that is over a mile away. I barely made it. I was hauling bootie! It was so cold I kept praying for the weather to work with me because I did not have the time to get properly dressed for the cold (which I normally do). Anyhow, I decided since I was out I would finish my run, so I did. Then I got home and realized I had to turn right back around to go get Sammi. School was a half day (an hour and a half) for parent teacher conference. So I got home got inside looked at the clock and said, "Come on Dan, we gotta go back right now!" So we did. I was so freezing and sweaty. I prayed for the sun to come out because it was really cloudy and windy. Guess what happened? The sun came out just for me! Better yet, it was warm sun, not cold sun. I was SO grateful! Heavenly Father does watch after us. Especially when we are in desperate need, trying to do something good.

All I know is running stinks when it is done out of neccesity! It was not so pleasant to run full speed ahead pushing the stroller (weighing 90lbs plus heavy blankets) and being pregnant. I normally go at a good comfy pace which does not inflict pain and I can still talk. There was no talking yesterday just heavy, heavy breathing! Oh well, I am alive and today I feel great - so far!

All of this running around was done 17 weeks pregnant and though I am not pooching too much, I still can feel the effects of things moving around in my gut area. I did it though, and I was grateful I could. Oh, and the car, well it was nothing serious at all. I guess if you turn the wheel all the way to one side it locks up and it also locks up the ignition. All you have to do is turn the wheel and turn the key and all is well . . . you learn something new everyday! However, the deer damage to our car was $2200.00! That is about the value of our car now! Anyhow, we pay a deductible and State Farm pays the rest - thank Heavens for full coverage insurance!

So, we went to get a tree yesterday because they had just barely put them out. We had been watching the lot, waiting, waiting and finally they were there last night! We got the kids all excited and vroomed on over to the lot. We did find a perfect tree but because they were just taking them out they did not have all of their tools. They needed to cut the buttom off of the tree trunk so it is fresh and will suck up water. Keeping these live trees in good health is all about water. Anyway, that meant we had to leave empty-handed. We picked our tree (that is important)and we will pick it up tonight. It is really pretty (will take pictures). We almost went for the 13 footer because we have a huge vaulted ceiling and it would actually fit. However, we decided to be reasonable people and went for an 8 footer instead! : ) We had to console the kids since we could not take the tree home and that was their plan, so luckily there is a McDonalds right by our house and ice cream did the trick -always does! I will take picture tonight and post them tomorrow!

Lots of love. By the way to John and Mindy - little Ben looks so cute! He looks so sturdy for being early. Charles saw the pictures and was amazed at how much he looked like John and how he looked sturdy like Daniel when he was born (he was over 9lbs - we called him tank). Anyhow, I am sure he looks like Mindy too. It is amazing what changes happen over time. I think our kids ended up being a good mix of the both of us somehow. Good luck you guys. Try to sleep as much as you can. Sleep - what a wonderful thing! We are so excited to see little Ben in a few weeks (and you guys too of course!)

Love to all!

Baby Ben. . .

Here are some photos for those of you who do not check Mindy's blogsite. John and Mindy had their baby on Friday. 8lbs 13oz (3 weeks early!) Baby Ben has joined the world and he is ready to play! We are all so excited for them. Lots of love to them! I believe the full name is John Benjamin?

Sammi with her flag used in the primary program

Daniel with his creation made in nursery
Sammi in her new coat from Grandma - it is finally cold enough to wear it!
The kiddos saying Hello everyone!
Just a few photos of the kiddos. We are looking forward to hearing the scoop on John and Mindy soon. We are so excited for them to bring another life into the world - how great!

Called to Serve. . .

Here are some pictures of where Ma and Pa are heading to for their mission. We are all so excited for them. I know I am excited to hear all about the place and new people! Fun! It looks like a beautiful area. It looks about as different as you can get from the climate in Alaska. Good luck with staying cool and dry! Ma and Pa feel free to add your thoughts and comments to these pictures. . .

Commentary by Kary:
Stephen is now 7 weeks old and really starting to develop a cheerful personality. He loves music, dancing, playing with Sage and being cuddled by aunt Beth, Grandma, Grandpa, mommy and daddy. Grandma and Beth picked out these overalls for Stephen a few weeks ago. He has grown into them now. Aren't they adorable? I was even inspired to put on my overalls to be twinsy. Overall, newborn babies are full of adventure. You never know when they are going to smile, cry, get hungry, poop their pants, etc. It's quite a trip. A wonderful gift of these newborns is that they truly have celestial spirits. Just take time to look into their sparkling eyes and realize how close to heaven we really are. Smiles! Kary & Stephen

PS. John and Mindy, you are in our prayers. We know Friday will be a day of gladness for you. Breathe deep and press forward with faith. Your little one will fill your hearts with joy! May the force be with you Mindy!!!! : )

Oh Deer!

First we saw this. . .

Then this happened. . .(the pictures do not do the damage justice)

So we were going for our normal Sunday night drive -where we talk and solve all of life's problems. Our conversation was rudely interrupted with an "Oh NO!" a loud crash and a very hard jolt. Yup, we killed Bambi. She jumped right in front of the car at full speed and we were also going full speed at 55 mph. I was so amazed at what an impact an animal could have on a car! Charles got out and tried to see the damage but it was pretty dark. I found I could not open my door very far, it was smashed. The deer somehow made its way down the entire side of the car denting and scratching the whole side! It was so weird! Anyhow, we are all fine. The kids were a little worried about it because they saw the deer. We went back to try and find the deer to make sure it was dead and not suffering. We could not find it anywhere. We decided it went straight up to heaven! So last night we had to have a FHE lesson on the resurrection. We explained that even though the deer is dead its spirit is alive and living with Heavenly Father and one day the deer will get its body back just like us! They seemed comforted by that - as was I! It was so sad to kill something! Poor Bambi! For now we are working with our insurance company to see what they can do for us. We will find out if "like a good neighbor, State Farm is there." Lets hope so!

Family First Continued. . . (see below)