Morning at the Park

A week or so ago, we took Makenzie to the park for the first time. We both feel kind of bad that it took us so long to do this but we will definitely make up for it in the future :)

Going down the slide for the first time. She was very indifferent to the whole experience...

However, she LOVED the swing! Have you ever seen a more angelic face?!!!

Daddy warming Kenzie's hands.

Oreo's

I gave Makenzie her first Oreo a few days ago.

As you can see, she only ate the frosting off of the cookies...

She did not learn this from me...

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!!!

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!

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!

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...