A New Year

Another new year. I know most people hate January, especially here in Utah, but I love it. I love to get rid of the Christmas decor and all of the clutter and get back to a normal routine. Chris and I had a wonderful Christmas. We've been so blessed this year, I can't complain. My grandma passed away before Christmas, which was really bitter sweet. We will miss her dearly. On a lighter note, I have to admit that I scored big this Christmas. On both sides Chris and I were given a group gift; one being a Bosch mixer and the other a toaster oven. Chris really lucked out to get such awesome presents! We spent Christmas night at our cabin. What a great memory...all because of the endless hours my dad spent hauling everything up there. Its something my kids will never forget. On Christmas eve Chris pulled the kids on a sled behind a four wheeler in our backyard. The kids loved it. The biggest news this year is that Chris and I stayed up until midnight on New years eve...something that rarely happens...and yes we stayed up till midnight playing games, some of our favorite past times. We are really proud of ourselves. Here are some pictures from our holiday. We went to Richfield to cut down a Christmas tree. What an adventure!

One highlight was taking Chris' grandma's to dinner.

The three babies, Sam, Kate, and Cooper, all born within 3 months of each other. We all felt so blessed to have Sam with us, after fighting his battle with Leukemia.

We took all the girls to see the Nutcracker.

Ella almost made it to the end. She fell asleep the last 10 minutes.

The girls got frilly p.j.s They aren't the cutest things, but the girls love them.

Family Pictures

Yes, it is true. After 10 years of marriage Chris and I finally got our family pictures taken. It is a miracle. There's nothing we both hate more (sorry about my language). So here's the result!

Halloween

My girls just left to go trick or treating. I wanted their grandmas and grandpas to see pictures of them so here they are. Emma is a vampire, Ella is tinkerbell and Kate is a lady bug.

This is at the pumpkin patch.

Kate loved to carve pumpkins with us. She tried to cut the pumpkins with a pretend knife and throw crayons into the pumpkins.

Right before it was time to go trick or treating Kate decided to grab "something" out of her diaper and spread it all over her body and crib. What a treat for mom!

Sam the fighter

I had to post this picture of Sam. I can't believe how far this little guy has come! I can't also believe what this boy has gone through to survive. He is such a fighter. When I feel like I am having a bad day I look at him and realize my problems are pretty small.

Soccer, Harp, and Birthdays

I have to be honest, there has not been anything real exciting to blog about in our family. Lately, no news is good news. Our entire family, except for myself and Ella has strep throat this weekend. That is as exciting as it gets. Somehow we always seem to catch what is going around. I am just waiting for my throat to start hurting.

Ella turned four. She could not understand why she couldn't have a friend's birthday party this year. She did get to go to kangaroo zoo, Cheesecake Factory with Stella and Lara, and have a family party. She had a Mermaid cake. She's already planned her next birthday.

Emma had her Book 1 Harp Recital on Sep. 13th. She did such a great job. She practiced so hard to be able to play her songs in front of her family. We were so proud of her. The hardest part was picking the dress. We went to three different stores, and every dress had something wrong with it. My mom started to laugh because I used to be the same way when it came to clothes. That night I called my mom and apologized for every single time I gave her a hard time about clothes. I guess what goes around comes around!

Soccer has ended. I can't believe how busy soccer can make your life. We tried once again to get Ella into soccer. Her favorite part was to run really fast with her arms while smiling at the crowd. We did get one or two kicks out of her this season. It makes me smile, while testing Chris' patience. Emma has found her passion. She loves soccer. She had to play against 3rd graders, which was a challenge. She arose to the challenge. She stuck with them the whole season. For some reason Emma is totally different on the soccer field than at home. She can get smacked in the face with the ball and it doesn't phase her. I wish it could be like this at home:)

Chris' new office finally got started after 9 months of a nightmare. It will be so nice to have it done.

Ella started harp lessons. It has been so much fun, but a challenge for mom to practice with 2 girls. It takes all of my patience to do this. Ella is all about the treats and prizes. A little bribery never hurts!

Kate is now standing and taking 1 step. She still prefers to crawl. She LOVES animals, especially dogs. She calls them boo woo's. I am amazed how many times she can watch Baby Einstein animals and not get sick of it. She went on her first boating trip and amazingly did okay with the suffocating life jacket.

School Has Started!

This week Emma started 1st Grade and Ella started her 2nd of 3 years of pre-school. It has been an emotional week for us all (except for Ella, who was just "dying" to go to pre-school). It has been hard for mom to have Emma gone all day. I miss having her around. Emma is still trying to get used to school lunch and being at school all day. She loves her teachers and having 2 recesses. I've learned that life never stays the same!

Ella and her boyfriend, Boston. They got married the other day.

Emma and her friend showed up in the same outfit.

No Time to Blog

It is crazy how fast time goes by without thinking about blogging. Hailey keeps reminding me that it has been a long time since I've updated my blog. This has been the strangest, hardest, most exhausting summer. Summer is my most favorite time of year, but for some reason I just want it to end and for a new season to come. Chris and I have been just fine, but others around us have had the most trying summers. From Sam being diagnosed with leukemia, my sister Meg having several collapsed lungs and surger, my brother David having surgery on his kidneys, my other brother moving to California, it has flipped our lives upside down. My mom kept saying, nothing else could possibly happen this summer, and then it does! I think we have jinxed ourselves. The thing I've learned from this summer is first, it is family that helps us get through anything; it is the way Heavenly Father reaches out and strengthens us. I've also learned that it is the small and simple things that makes life sweet, and might be the only sweet things to enjoy. I have had a few "sweet moments" the last month that have kept me going. Here they are:

Nothing makes me happier than kids dressing up. These kids always put a smaile on my face.

My dad being with Kate. He is magic with kids.

Another sweet day was one we got to leave the city and drive up Farmington Canyon with our little family. We had such a great time eating subways, making a fire, roasting marshmellows, and just talking. It was one of our favorite memories this summer.
Chris tried to teach Emma how to build a fire.

Emma and Ella are best buddies. Some day they will realize just how lucky they are to have each other.
Pickles are such a blessing. Kate was so fussy this day because of her teeth. The pickle did the trick to sooth her. I've never been so grateful for a pickle!

We went to the county fair. The only thing Ella wanted to do is ride this really fun baby train. You would of thought she had died and gone to heaven!

It was fun to be able to have their cousin, Ethan come with us to the fair. My girls had to dress up like cowgirls. They spent all day finding a cowgirl outfit, even if it meant wearing cowboy boot 2 sizes too small.

Some of our sweetest days are when Emma and I get to go be with Sam. Sam loves Emma. She just sits and plays with him for hours. I think he kind of has a crush on her. It makes Emma feel good.

We went with all our favorite friends for a sleepover at the cabin. They got to make hats, play outside, watch shoes, and of course, not sleep.