Ice Skating

My sister Jessica and her husband put their daughter in ice skating and invited Emma to join. She ended up falling in love with it and really wants to keep going. We're really lucky because we live so close to the Olympic Oval, where obviously the Olympics were held here, and they have amazing teachers. She only went to 3 lessons and past the test to move onto the next level. We're really excited that she found something she loves and hope to start up again in January. (I just wonder why she picked a sport were I get to freeze while she has fun? The sacrifices we make.)

Carving Pumpkins the Lazy Man's Way

Okay, so it's not really that we're lazy, it's I'm mean and hate the mess carving pumpkins make. I think they turned out cute though. And the kids really loved them. They got to help a lot more than if we were using our sharpest knives to carve them. There was a lot less yelling, don't touch that, and don't poke your sister with that, and don't throw that crap on my carpet! I think this will be our new tradition, plus it takes like 5 minutes (perfect FHE)!

Catch Up

Okay I'm playing catch up, although this isn't everything I'd like to post it's the most current. Next year I will be much better, well hopefully! I didn't set the standard too high this year so it shouldn't be too difficult to beat it next year right?





We went to a pumpkin patch this year and it was so much fun. As you can see the kids had a blast, well Grady had a blast when he wasn't face down in the dirt. Steady there little man.

I know I never post

So for all you have been nagging me about posting something here you go. I know it's been a while. I've felt really shut down lately. I'll use my other journal for that entree. Anyway we're doing well and living life. Nothing too exciting has gone on lately.

Jared's doing well at work and we're hoping it's just gonna get better. There's a lot of details that go along with his job, I can hardly keep up, but he's gotten some really good leads and if even half of them come through we'll be doing really well. He's such a hard worker and I'm so glad I married an ambitious man.

Emma spent last weekend with her cousin Kristen. She had so much fun. They love each other so much and I really hope their friendship continues through out their lives.

Ethan has spent a few days playing with his cousin Chloe. They fight and love each other like they're brother and sister. He loves her so much and I'm glad they can hang out so much. The other day Ethan was talking to me about how he doesn't want to hit or be mean to Emma anymore. I've been trying to teach him how boys are to treat girls. He of course has now made a comparison with princesses and how their princes treat them. He told me he was going to treat Chloe like a princess when I dropped him off to play with her. It was so cute. He said he would treat all girls like they were princesses and he was their prince. I told him that he has A LOT of girls in his life that he can treat like princesses and he can be a prince to them all. He was really excited about that and promised he wouldn't hit anymore. So far so good. (I still believe he wishes he could be a princess as well, one day he'll get over that, right?)

Grady is getting big and is about to crawl any day here. He gets on his hands and knees and lunges forward to get where he wants to go. Whatever works I guess. He's eating like crazy and loves bananas. He said Dad about a month or so ago and just said Mom on Tuesday. He says Dad all the time, but only says Mom when he's crying. Huh, why do we teach them to say anything? I'm not sure I'm ready to have someone else yelling, Mom at me. I think I'm gonna change my name. Ha!!!! At least they're really cute. oh, and he claps.

Hope this caught you up a little bit and didn't bore you too much!

GROUNDHOG DAY

I know it's not really a celebrated holiday, especially since the dang thing saw it's shadow again, does it ever NOT see his shadow? Anyway, Emma and Ethan's best friends Jessica and Ryan came over and we decided to make a cake. It was a lot of fun. They also made paper groundhogs and we used toilet paper rolls for the groundhogs to hid in. Hope this is making sense. Anyway it was cute and they had a ton of fun.

GRADY GRADY GRADY

So I know kids find ways to play with their binky's, but I've never seen a kid do something like this. Grady is so funny! He makes me laugh everyday.

SCENTSY

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It's Been A Year

A year ago today I found out that one of my mission companions, Kristy, was murdered by her husband. I thought about her a lot yesterday, hoping that her family felt our love for them, and their daughter, sister and friend. I can't believe it's been a year. I look at my kids, especially my boys because she has two boys, and am grateful I'm here to see them grow up. I hope that her boys will know one day what a wonderful mother they had, and I pray that they will be able to have the life she would have given them. She would have been 31 yesterday so happy birthday Kristy and know that we all still think of you and your family.

A NEW YEAR

I hardly ever do just a journal entry but I don't have any pictures to go with this. We had a great New Years Eve. We went to my sister-in-laws for a family party with Jared's family. We played games and ate, and ate, and ate, and talked, and ate some more. It was so much fun. I actually stayed up to see the new year come in. I am so excited for a new year. As you all know it's been a rough year for us, and I am looking forward to putting all of that behind us and starting over. I don't think I've ever look so forward to a new year like I am this time. I'm grateful for the lessons learned, the trials we overcame, and the strength found that I didn't know we had, but I'll take those lessons, and be happy to leave the struggles behind. I know I'm dreaming if I think this year won't bring it's own challenges, but I'm glad to be out of '08's. I hope this year brings all of us the things we're hoping and dreaming of! Happy New Year!!

CHRISTMAS DAY

We went to my parents house for Christmas day. It was a lot of fun. We were the only ones there so we got to be all alone with them, that never happens. The kids were happy to have their undivided attention. By that I mean, Emma talked so much to my Dad that he fell asleep in his chair, and I'm not quite sure she even noticed! We played games and ate way too much! Needless to say it was much quieter than the night before.

TOO MUCH EGG NOG, i mean the good stuff

I had to put this picture up, I thought it was so funny

Chirstmas Morning

Here we all are opening presents in the morning. Santa was very generous, and the kids got everything they could imagine. It was a lot of fun this year. The anticipation bottled up in Ethan and was so much fun to watch him bursting at the seams. It brought the fun back into Christmas. Grady was excited although he wasn't sure why he was. Emma was bursting too, and I've never seen her run to go to bed. I love Christmas Eve. We can always get a great night sleep. We are so grateful we were able to have a wonderful Christmas. It wasn't as big as some years have been, but I was happy to see our kids were grateful for everything they got. They got less stuff this year, and seemed happier. It reminded me of a Christmas I had ad kid where we handmade all of our gifts. It's one of the best Christmas memories I have. I'm thankful it was more about the thought than the gift. Thank you to everyone for your Christmas gifts, cards, and well wishes. We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Jared's family has a Christmas Eve party every year. It's so much fun. Emma and Ethan each have a cousin their age so they have a blast, as you can see in some of the pictures. It's always hard to get them separated when it's time to leave. We wish they lived closer!!! Grady loves hanging out with Grandma Bowers. It's always a ton of fun to be with them, and it always reminds me how quiet my family is. Ha!

Christmas Outfits

Don't they look so cute in their new outfits. I love Grady's hat!