The newest Gass-ling

Though I will let Andrea give a full account of the last 18 hours in all their glorious detail when she deems appropriate, I was entrusted with putting a few pictures of our newest addition on the worldwide web for all to see. So, without further ado, may I proudly present (drum roll please), straight from our third floor hospital room (the one with the broken thermostat), Tanner Beckett Gasser: The first extra-corporeal (at least Mom's corpo) meeting of my beautiful Andrea and the man cub. Gotta love the erythromycin eye drops!

The littlest buddy stretching out after living in cramped quarters for a good long while. The whole flock of Gass-lings fawning over Beckett. They were all getting rather impatient with him and yelled at him several times a day for the past week that it was time to come out.

Makinzie loving her role as the biggest sister. And just in case you missed it, she is really growing into a beautiful girl.

Addellyn was very concerned about her holding technique, but was really excited about finally seeing baby brother.Coleson was more concerned about showing everyone, including the near blind 8-hour old, the Robin (as in Batman's sidekick) toy he just got at McD's. He wasn't too worried about sitting still long enough to hold a little lumpy bundle. And here are some of the details the omission of which would bring down the wrath of all posessors of the double-X chromosome pair:

Born March 14, 2011 at 8:09 a.m.

Tipped the scales at 7 lbs. 6.1 oz.

Stretching those legs to 21.5 inches

He came out ready to eat. The other kids took a little while (at least a good 12 hours) to figure out how to best get something to eat. Not this little man. Before the eye goo even settled in, he had mastered the art of sucking his own fingers. Baby breakfast was not too far behind.

oh BOY!

This kid is ALL personality, ALL the time! It makes us wonder what this next little boy might be like??
A few days ago Coleson was struggling to get out the back door (he couldn't figure out the lock). He started to throw a HUGE fit about how his muscles weren't strong enough. So dad said: Coleson, just calm down, sometimes "Super Coleson" can't just use his muscles, you have to use your head. Coleson: My head can't open the door! Dad: Just think about it, use your brain to figure out what you need to do. Coleson: Like, cut open my head and pull my brain out with my hands???
WOW!

And can you tell who the "ham" is at preschool?? (this is MAD face)

If not, then this picture should clue you in... (this is HAPPY)

He came home the other day and started giggling to himself when I asked him how preschool was. I asked what was so funny? And he said: Well, Paul's mom wanted us to close our eyes and just use our ears, but I peek-did. She said, what was that sound? And I saided it was peanut butter, but it was really a whistle...HAhaHAhaha (he laughed pretty hard) then he said: and everyone else laughed-ed. (at the end he gave me his HUGE, I am so proud of myself look). Nice! Sorry Paul's mom!
I'm pretty sure this shirt fits...Especially if that brown patty that the monkey is eating happens to be made of chocolate like this s'more!

This is his "usual" look, no matter where we are. Well, either the boots, sword and shield, the superman or batman cape, or ALL of the above. And yes, that is Iron Man on his boots. He has become obsessed with super heros of all kinds.

This particular shield HAD to be made after Addellyn came home from her preschool with a card board shield. And he was so thrilled to be making a shield of his own, he took quite a bit of time on the design. However, after I cut it out and put a band on the back like Addellyn's, he was pretty upset (screaming and crying--he's either one extreme or another these days) because it needed a handle for his hand, like a REAL shield!

(I had only put an arm band on the back, like Addellyn's, however, his definitely needed another smaller band of cardboard for his hand to grasp on to...SILLY me!)And, every once in awhile he becomes quite the helper. He really likes to follow me around the kitchen, ALL the time, helping to unload dishes (especially large utensils that can be used as swords), but mainly just talking, sweet talking especially. Like yesterday...Coleson: Mom, do you wear flowers on your dresses because then everyone will think you are beautiful? Me: Yeah, I usually try really hard to make everyone think I am beautiful (with my sarcastic smirk). Coleson: Well, I think you ARE beautiful. --Melt my heart, as he looks up at me with his huge brown eyes---but then, Coleson: So, can I please have some apple juice with a straw? (super huge grin on his face).

PA-thetic!

Addellyn: "Mommy, why do you don't want to sleep with daddy anymore?"

(I really hate taking pictures of myself, this is 34 weeks, but I thought it might help me get some sympathy, especially since my mirror is FILTHY!)

But, apparently this HUGE, dropping belly isn't enough to convince Addellyn that I really love and want to be in the bed with daddy, and I am not happy about NEEDING to sleep in this nest of pillows, bean bag and rocking recliner every night (for the past 5 weeks!): It's hard to explain to a 4-year-old that my hips collapse and then my pubic symphisis snaps and pops (causing horrible amounts of pain and paralysis) any and every time I try to lie flat or on my side in a bed...no matter how many pillows I try to wedge around myself! Oh how I miss my nice soft bed! My body is having a LOT of extra painful problems trying to carry baby number 4, I guess it is trying to tell me something??But, at least this pathetic, waddling, nest sleeping mommy is still awesome enough to take her kids to the NEW park! (so, at least they know I still love them, even if I am not too into daddy anymore :))

Thank goodness the weather has been soooo warm, it really helps keep us all much happier!

Science Center

GIANT DINOSAURS (that roar)

INSIDE play areas.

FARM ANIMAL petting zoo

WALLABY

TIGERS

OUTSIDE play areas.

They got to see and touch aquarium animals, birds, reptiles, soft and furry animals. There were LOTS of fun places to play.

But what were they most excited about???

The giant plastic cow that you can "milk" (which, we found out, only works during the summer, so they were VERY disappointed)

Ty could NOT believe it...apparently we really don't visit his hometown enough!

a FUN day!

Most Saturdays are spent doing chores, enjoying "down-time" as a family, and preparing for Sunday...But not this one! We did our chores Friday night so that we could RUN with excitement to a very fun concert!

It was a kid's concert put on by the local symphony. This one was ALL about Beethoven. So, of course, we got to meet the man himself! (but only Makinzie was brave enough to get very close)

They had LOTS of stations set up where the kids could try out different types of instruments before the concert... (no, Addellyn did not get a hair cut and glasses :) she was glued to my leg the entire "interactive" time)

and to get special instrumental instructions from symphony members!

(Coleson's violin instructor found him to be quite funny! And Addellyn refused to try any instrument because that would require her to get too close to strangers and to try a new thing in front of lots of people, not her thing!)

Coleson found it a little tough to sit still during the actual concert, but, as soon as we thought to tell him that "Beethoven's 5th" was really SUPERMAN music, (and we whispered: this is the part where Superman is being sneaky to get the bad guy OR the bad guy is trying to attack, etc. based on the way the music sounded :)) he began to REALLY enjoy himself.

From the concert, we went to "Daddy's work" and took a look at baby boy...and boy was he BIG!

Then we headed to the grocery store and let them each pick their FAVORITE food to create a yummy picnic dinner at home.

It was quite the BIG "babenture!"

celebrating the New Year

Daddy had to work a lot, LOT the week of New Year's. So what better way to celebrate, just me and the kids, than to get dressed up and "walk like Egyptians" to a friend's Birthday party?

the BIG day...

Just before Christmas, these 2 adorbale people were married!We are so HAPPY for them!
But, not so happy that we couldn't be there.
So, I spent the day crying... And apparently those tears reached LA! (It was the rainiest week EVER)
So, I guess they got the message that I REALLY wanted to be there...
in the temple as they were married for time and all eternity. We love you guys! Congratulations Nate and Lyndsey!

All I want for Christmas...

Addellyn ONLY wanted a "ticket" to take to the Build-a-Bear to be able to choose her own "special soft animal" for Christmas. So, we caved! (especially since we actually got a $20 certificate for free because of some points we had earned through groupon)
The empty Build-a-Bear box she opened Christmas morning had a "ticket" in it, and a promise from Mommy and Daddy that we would take her the next week to pick out a special animal.

She LOVED every second! It was quite the fun adventure...

Winter Wonderland

The snow began to fall Christmas Day and didn't stop...the kids got to go out an play for a few minutes after dinner before it got too dark and cold.
But, all that snow meant the roads were too icy and church was cancelled.
So, we were able to spend a quiet Sunday at home together. It was a special experience to hold "Sacrament Meeting" in our own living room and to share our testimonies of our Savior's birth and the impact that birth has had on the world and in our own individual lives.
We spent part of our Sunday watching the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. The beautiful music really seemed to lull Coleson to sleep...that and his new warm sleeping bag may have helped.

It was hard for the kids to look at all of that beautiful snow all day and not go out to play...but it made Monday morning almost as exciting as Christmas morning!

However, they weren't out for long before they were knocking on the back door and begging to come back inside to get warm and drink hot chocolate. The wind was chilling!

Christmas Day

Waiting for some children to come down and enjoy the magic!

A TENT in the dining room??? Santa was very kind to us this year!

And the sleeping bags he brought were perfect for snuggling up and watching our new movie after the excitment of opening gifts had settled. Nothing like waking up Christmas morning and noticing that your eye seems to be allergic to your contacts all of a sudden so it is bright pink and sore...

Opening her "Build-A-Bear" card "to pick out just what she wanted at the store" was quite the dramatization! I assume that means she is happy??

All he wanted was a "gEEtar." And he would NOT put this thing down after he opened it!

This girl got JUST what she wanted: a sewing machine, that's just her size! (too bad Grandma doesn't live just a little bit closer...)

Can you see how excited that litttle boy in the background is??? He LOVES that Nana and Papa just sent them "Despicable Me" for Christmas!