Aquarium

The kids and I took a Friday and went to the aquarium over Christmas Break.  They thought it was pretty cool.  Cole loved the sharks and we were able to see the penguins eat.  Bailee was scared of everything, as usual.  She has to be included in everything though.  If Brooke and Cole are doing it, she has to too.  I'd like to go back sometime when there aren't so many people there.

Christmas

We were able to spend all of Christmas at "home" this year and enjoyed being with our families!  Christmas is such a magical time with children.  I love spoiling them and seeing their joy in every little thing.

Christmas Eve was our traditional party at Matt's parents complete with the Nativity, bell playing, singing, a visit from Santa and the Grinch, Jesus's birthday cake, and bingo!  Karen goes to a lot of work to make it fun for the kids and to be sure they know why we are celebrating and not just focusing on the excitement and presents.  Each year it is tradition for each of us to light a candle and give a gift to Jesus, then we sing happy birthday and the kids blow out the candles.  This year Brooke's gift was to not throw a fit when mom and dad say no.  Cole's was to not kick his dad's seat in the car.  Bailee is going to go nicely to nursery every week ;) (mom helped her).  Matt's gift is to have FHE every Monday and mine is to continue to attend the temple every month.  I love this part of Christmas as it gives us all something to work on, kind of like New Years Resolutions, but they mean so much more.  I love hearing as the kids are getting older that they realize what they are giving Jesus and trying harder to be like Him.  I love hearing each Christmas Eve how our gifts as adults have improved our lives and how each new year brings us something more to work on.

Happy Birthday Jesus

Singing the Christ Child song

Grinch was not such a hit with the kids.  They were terrified.  

The whole nativity

Shepard Grandma and Wisemen David and Cole

Mary and Baby Jesus

Christmas Day

Christmas morning the kids opened their presents from Santa.  Brody and Amber came over and we had doughnuts and opened presents with my family.  We went to Sacrament at my parent's church--- Christmas should always be on Sunday, it was nice!  After we went to Nan and Grandpa's for dinner and more presents.  We were extremely spoiled and feel very blessed to have such a great family!

She only opened one present.
After that if we handed her something wrapped she threw it.
She only wanted toys.

She tore open all her presents and then helped her siblings.

He was content to just open one present and play.
We had to persuade him to open the rest.

Santa baby

Farm

Christmas Day we took the kids out to Blair's boyfriend's farm to see the animals.  They were a little bit scared at first, but Brooke thought it was the coolest thing to see the cows get milked.  Cole liked the baby cows but was terrified of the tractors... they were huge!  Bailee was scared of everything, silly girl.  Thanks Tyler!

Temple Square

Love

**After waking up at 2:00 a.m., not being able to get back to sleep, and then getting text from my mom at 3:00 that Grandpa was gone, I had a bit of a rough night.  It wasn't until I had composed my thoughts and memories that I was finally able to get back to sleep for a couple of hours.  You can see some of my favorite memories of my grandparents here and below are my thoughts on Grandpa.** 

I’m ashamed to admit it, but it took Grandma dying, unexpectedly, three years ago for me to really appreciate my grandparents.  Grandparents are special.  They aren’t something that can be taken for granted because you never know when they won’t be there anymore.  Even though I never thought I was close to Grandma and Grandpa, I realized after Grandma died that they were a bigger part of my life than I realized.  I always knew they loved each of us, I just didn’t realize how much I loved them and how I would miss seeing and talking to them whenever I wanted.

After Grandma died, I promised myself I would do my best to cherish all the time I could with Grandpa before it was his turn to go.  Grandpa changed a little after Grandma died.  We got to see a softer, more spiritual side of him that I never knew existed. 

Grandpa didn’t have a lot of great accomplishments in this life.  He didn’t have a PhD or run a successful business.  He didn’t live in a big house with lots of toys and Mercedes.  But he did have something that makes him special and something that is more important than any earthly treasure.  As I sat in the temple yesterday, I kept feeling drawn to Moroni chapter 7, in the Book of Mormon.  This chapter is one of my favorites and talks about faith, hope, and charity.  Vs. 43-48 really stood out to me.  They tell us that one must be meek and lowly in heart and that we must have charity.  This describes Grandpa to a “T” for me.  He was always doing something to help others.  He could fix just about anything and could most often be found in his workshop building something for one of us or fixing one of our cars.  All you had to do was ask and he was always willing.

Vs. 45 continues, “charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked…”  Grandpa was all of these things.  Grandpa never cared what other people thought.  Having a lot of money or an important social status didn’t matter to him.  He spent his time attending any event his grandkids were involved in, fishing or hunting with his sons or grandkids, or even just making us popcorn as we visited on Sunday nights.  This is truly a good life.

We are taught early in life, not to seek for earthly treasures, but to seek for treasures in Heaven.  Grandpa was able to do just this, by loving his family.  In General Conference in October, Elaine S. Dalton gave a talk called “Love Her Mother,” in which she tells us “The most important thing a father can do for his daughter is to love her mother.  By the way you love her mother, you will teach your daughter about tenderness, loyalty, respect, compassion, and devotion…” 

Grandpa truly loved Grandma.  I don’t remember him ever saying anything unkind to her or about her.  She was his companion and he was devoted to their marriage.  He was so distraught when she died so unexpectedly.  We half expected him to follow her.  But, he was determined to stay a little longer.  I think he knew there were a few more lessons we needed from him first.  At a family party late this summer, he told us stories of when they were young and counseled us to never go to bed without a kiss goodnight.  In a sacred and personal experience, also late this summer, which I won’t go into detail about, he told me that Grandma has been around a lot since she died.  Sitting with him at night and being a source of comfort to him. 

I know this is true, as she’s been a frequent presence in my home too, since Bailee was born.  She so loved holding our babies, I think she just couldn’t stay away.  What a righteous and faithful woman she must have been to have the opportunity to be a ministering angel on earth.  Now, I’m sure Grandpa will be right there by her side, watching over us, loving us, as they’ve always done.

Knowing the end was coming soon,  I made a special trip to Logan Monday night, just to visit Grandpa.  How glad I am that I did.  As hard as it has been to see him suffer through his leukemia the last six months and especially the last few weeks, I needed the closure.  He was laying in bed, frail and weak, but boy was he was full of it.  Story after story.  Each one ending with how much he loved us and what a great family we are.  Memories of Sunday visits, camping trips, Christmas parties, and family get-togethers.  By yesterday morning, he'd gone so downhill, we knew it wouldn't be long.  We wanted him to be at peace, but it is always hard to lose something so great.  Even though he is now gone, his legacy lives on.  He lived a full and good life.  He taught us by example and left us with the knowledge that he knows the Gospel is true, that Christ is real, and that love overpowers all. 

How grateful I am for the knowledge of promise of eternal families.  We love you Grandpa Popcorn!

Another year gone by!

It is hard to believe last year at this time I had a newborn and no husband thanks to KPMG.  We are extremely grateful this year for 3 healthy kids, a mom who gets to stay at home, a company that couldn't be better to work for, family, friends, and countless other blessings!!  Wishing everyone a merry holiday season and a wonderful 2012!

January
Blessed Bailee
Mom went back to work

February
Cole had tonsils out
Mom quit her job

March
Cole had hernia surgery
Brooke turned 4
Put our house up for sale

April
Dad quits his job at KPMG and starts Cafe Rio
Dad breaks his leg playing flag football

May
??Was May really so boring I can't think of ANYTHING??

June
Mom runs Ragnar relay (Dad drives :))
Annie and Nate get married
Brody and Amber get married

July
Cole is finally potty trained!
Brooke takes her first trip to the ER
Lagoon, Hogle Zoo, and camping

August
Dad goes to Vegas for work... Mom gets to tag along :)
TOU Half - Mom sets a PR.
Bailee starts crawling

September
Brooke and Cole start preschool
Cole turns 3

October
Finally sell our house and move closer to Cafe Rio
2 kitties and a fireman for Halloween

November
Bailee turns 1
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Dad's family
Dad passes his 2nd CPA test... 2 more to go!

December
Mom and Dad's 6th wedding anniversary
(and of course) Lots of parties and celebrations for Christmas.  May we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and keep it in our hearts year round!

Birthday Girl

Bailee is 1!  My baby is growing up, so sad!  We had a small party for her on Thanksgiving with Matt's family and then on Saturday with my family.  She liked the attention of everyone singing to her and attempted to blow out her candle.  She didn't want to eat the cake though, just feed it to Grandma. 
At 1 year:

• Has 8 teeth
• Loves to open cupboards and drawers and play in them
• Plays in the toilet
• Likes to help unload the dishes
• Finally holding her own bottle... although she rarely drinks it.  Usually just in the morning when she wakes up
• Still a mama's girl
• Likes anything you feed her... except bananas, favorites are Cafe Rio and Pizza
• 19 lbs. 5 oz.
• Sleeps from 8-8 (unless her siblings wake her up) and generally takes 2 naps, sometimes 3
• Says mama, dada, Cole, Brooke, baby, eye, hi, more, thank you, go, up, out, hello, cheese, Hals, grandpa, grandma, Blair, no, ahhh (for a drink)
• Imitates lots of words
• Usually calls Brooke-- Cole
• Obsessed with cell phones
• Will hold up a camera and say cheese
• Pulls up and walks along furniture.  Can stand by herself, but won't.  Has no desire to walk
• Gives kisses and blows kisses
• Is on an iron supplement for extremely low iron... we're hoping a couple more months will fix this!
• Frequently says go, go, go when we are at church. 
• Screams!  This is a horrible curse of my child.  Anytime we get in the car, if one of her siblings has something she wants, or if she's not getting something she wants fast enough she screams a super loud, high-pitched scream.  Nothing stops it.  I don't know where she learned it, but boy is it awful.
• Loves the tub