Sunday, December 16, 2012

Jay's Birthday

Jonathon's birthday was on November  27. We celebrated it a few days later at Steve and Carole's and had a wonderful time together.
Some great gifts were given including this framed picture of Jay, Steve and Shane at  a Bronco's game they went to a couple of months ago. 

Allyson made a delicious cake with strawberry filling. Yum!!!

28!!! Another year older and wiser too! 

Jay had brought a gift for Shane to open... I guess he didn't want Shane to feel left out :) Jay got him a little Lego set, a packet of bouncy balls, and a Batman figurine. Shane LOVED all of them. It was a very thoughtful gesture from Jay.

Steve took our family photo in front of their beautiful and wonderfully fragrant tree.  Soon we'll be a family of four :)  I can't wait!!!

Thursday, December 13, 2012

A California December

It has been raining off and on for the last couple of weeks. This morning, when I woke up, I looked out the window to the field across the street and it was the greenest it has been all year long... and it's supposed to be winter! I have got to admit, I have loved the cool (but certainly not COLD) rains we have been having, but I can't help but miss real Idaho winters too.


My longing for the red leaves of fall and the sparkling snow of winter reminded me of a poem my grandmother, Sharon Christensen, wrote titled "Sylmar, California" She was a lovely poet and I think I will try to share more of her poetry in future posts.

I would so much rather have lived
where snow and autumn leaves
tell me of the changing years.

But the desert and the hot summers
with winter's changeless scene
have been my lot

Once I complained, but now
I count not the brilliance
of the air around me,
but tell the season's change
by the loved faces
that surround me.

I love this poem because I can relate to it. I love the changing seasons, and you don't get those at all in this part of California. When it comes to true joy, however, the bright leaves and glistening snow can't shine a light on the joy that family and friends bring to our lives. I am so grateful to have been able to live so close to family, mine and Shane's, these last two years. I am so blessed to get to spend this time with them. And I would choose being with them over a life-full of seasons any time!

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving, Shane, Makenzie and I flew to Idaho to be with my whole family for the holiday. It is most likely the last time time we will all be together before Andrew gets home from his mission in 2 years. For those of you who don't know, Andrew was called to serve a mission for our church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) in Santiago, Chili, and is leaving in January. We are all so excited for him and so proud of him.

Lounging with the uncles.

Andrew put these glasses on Kenzie and she LOVED them. She didn't even try to take them off. She just walked around sporting her new accessory.


With her Uncle Andrew






The football got thrown onto the rof of Katie's neighbor's house. Even on Andrew's '6 "2 shoulders, Emma couldn't reach the ball. 


So Shane tried next... 
                                                                              and failed.
Luckily, the owner (who we thought was not home) came out and said in her best Idahoan accent, "I've got a latter?!" Genius!

.
Sweet Auntie Em



Katie found poor, sick Zachary asleep on the floor of her bedroom like this. 

I love these girls!

Kisses!



Shane and I believe that every child should read "The Power of Positive Thinking" by age one.

Cute Mallie put this sleeper on her had and walked around with it like it was her new hat.


My wonderful family! I am so blessed to be part of it!

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Yogurt

A few weeks ago I let Makenzie feed herself with a spoon without any help at all. Since then, she loves to eat with a spoon and sometime won't even eat unless she is holding whatever utensil it is we are using.



She's still figuring this whole spoon thing out :)

My sweet little girl, who is getting so big...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Dirty Face

Makenzie and I brought Shane lunch a few weeks ago and Kenzie had a blast walking around his work parking lot. She had fries in her hand that got smothered all over the ground every time she fell. Finally, after they were all gross and grey, I peeled them from her tiny fingers.

She was NOT happy about it. Her feelings were so hurt that she fell on her bum and pathetically lay her sweet little face on the asphalt, her body folded in half, and she cried and cried for her french fries. Needless to say, that whole side of her face was filthy with asphalt muck.

Sad...

getting happier...

HAPPY! Phew! Luckily it doesn't take too much to make this baby happy :)

Monday, December 3, 2012

Holloween

Because my computer charger has been broken for the last month, I am way behind on posting pictures. So expect lots of great new post in the next week :) Here are our pictures from Holloween.
We were the Nutcracker ballet.


We went to Carole and Steve's ward party (our old ward) on Holloween night and Kenzie loved walking all over the gym floor.

She had started walking a little bit before then but this was the first night she REALLY took off, and she's been going ever since. It is exciting but I can't help being sad at the same time. I am going to miss that sweet little crawl...

Carole, in her traditional costume :)

Isn't this the cutest little mouse you have ever seen?

This is at our real ward party the weekend before. Shane was such a trooper and let me paint his face. I have such a great husband!

Just look at him! How many husbands do you know would go out in public dressed up like this for their wife?! He is so cute!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Big Sister

For those of you who don't yet know, Makenzie is going to be a...

BIG SISTER!!!
Yes, that's right! Shane and I are expecting our seconds child on April 9th. I am 22 weeks along now and found out a few weeks ago that we are having a boy! We are so excited and blessed to bring this sweet little boy into the world and we cannot wait for April to get here!

Here is little Henry (I thinks that's what we're going to name him) at 15 weeks.

 And this is us at 22 weeks. I feel him move and kick all the time now and I love it! He is especailly active when I nurse Makenzie. He already loves his sister and gets so excited every time she is near.