Yesterday I, Ariel, was attending my 7 p.m. class when my sweet lil' friend from Brazil, Carolina, sat down next to me. She was all bundled up in this big puffy coat and she had a scarf around her neck, a hat on, and hot tea in her hand. Considering we were inside I kind of assumed that she was sick and her coughing and sneezing only confirmed my suspicions. She asked if she could have some of my Gardetto's (for those of you out there who haven't lived life yet... Gardetto's is this amazing snack mix stuff... my favorite are those brown crunchy pieces). Well, me being the person that can't say no to anyone agreed, knowing that she was sick and that me sharing my snack with her would probably get me sick too.
Whelp, needless to say, I am writing to you now from the comfort of my bed. I've got the down comforter pulled up to my neck and and bowl chicken soup in my hand. Oh the joys of being sick.
Well, January has been a fun month! My mom and dad are just being mom and dad. Ashley and Reid are having fun taking care of the most adorable nephew in the world. :) (so Far) So, I will start my updates with Amber and Caleb!
This is Amber with her adorable baby belly! She is now 31 weeks pregnant and is due on March 24th, only 9 weeks left!!!! Amber and Caleb are very, very excited! They have had 3 baby showers this month celebrating this new baby boy, Emerson Paul Gutshall! Her and Caleb have also found a duplex that has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. They are remaining in Fayetteville, Arkansas and Caleb just got a job with some company called Garner I think???? Anyway... Amber is such an adorable little pregnant lady and if you ask me she is still way to motivated! Over Thanksgiving Break she ran a 5k with her Hubby and her In-laws.... CRAZY! I can't run a 5k now and i'm not even pregnant. Sheesh!
HERE IS SOME ADORABLE ITEMS AMBER HAS GOTTEN:
Cute Personalized Pacifiers from her friend Natalee!
A Burp Cloth! "E" is for Emerson!!! Made by Ashley and Dina!
"WOOOO PIG SOOIEEEE!!!!"
It's a little razorback onesie that is also courtesy of Ashley and Dina (two of Amber's college friends)!
Wooden decoration with the words "Emerson Paul Gutshall... welcome to the world" engraved into it. Also, Courtesy of Ashley and Dina!
Asher had joined Upward Basketball Program in January. After going and watching him play, I must say it was the cutest thing I've ever seen! These little kids are all running down the court in one big herd. One person has the ball, nobody is even trying to steal it from the other team, they don't know how to dribble, therefore traveling is accepted, and the teams don't keep score. It cracks me up! :)
Meanwhile, when Asher is not playing basketball he is at home with Clay. Their normal day consists of attempting to be the karate kid while try to chop the coffee table in half, or dressing up as spiderman or batman and rescuing the damsel in distress (a.k.a. their sister) from whatever "dangerous" situation she is in. Sometimes I come home to two little football players, sometimes it's two baseball players, sometimes it's a cowboy or a fireman, sometimes its a power ranger, sometimes its a lion, a clown, or a pirate. There's really no telling what I'm going to come home to each and every day! My personal favorite is when they dress up in their spiderman costumes that have the built in Arm/Ab muscles and then they attempt to put clothes on over them since they are "in disguise." It is adorable!
As for me, I am keeping busy with school, relationships, and coaching cheerleading! God has most definitely been answering some prayers of me and a few other people about the possibility of a "Jones Center" type facility combined with a "New Life Ranch" type facility opening up in Joplin. I am so blessed because God has been working out everything so perfectly! I am so blessed to be able to be a part of God's story! He is completely and utterly amazing! I can't give too many details about this new center! But hopefully I will be telling you more about it soon!
That's all for now folks! :) Have a blessed end to your 1st month of the New Year!
Sleepy boys... waiting to see what Santa brought them...
Caeden's first view of all the presents Santa brought him! 
Asher dressed up as an army dude...
Clay with his glowsticks (it's the little things)
Amber and Caleb with Emerson's new Razorback Piggy Bank! 
Caleb's big present from santa!! He's been a good boy! :) 
But the very best presents were scarves and hats knitted by Amber and Caleb (shown in the picture above)! We were all so shocked, as you can tell by my mom's face, and very excited! I do not have a picture, but the hat they made me is greenish-blue with a cute silver button! I love it! They kept it a secret this whole year that they had taken up knitting and I must say they do a very very good job!