Valentines

Zach has been so excited for Valentine's Day and the party at Preschool. I couldn't resist taking a picture of him and Cort in their Valentine's glasses. Look out ladies!!

For Valentine's Day when I was little my parents would take us kids to the book store to pick out a book. I think the four of us kids do it now with our own families. Caeden took time to look at the books, Zach chose the first one he saw so he could go to the Thomas table and play, and Gabby gathered every book in sight. For Andrew and I's book we bought a family Book of Mormon so we can start reading each night with the kids.

We also had an Elder's Quorum party on Valentine's Day. Not as many people came because of the day it was on, but it was successful none the less. Andrew and his presidency set up the primary room like a bowling alley and we played Wii bowling. It was fun to see the older couples who had never played. We had 7 Wii's set up and everyone had a lot of fun. The Bishop told Andrew what we need to make it an annual party!

Meet Lidetu

He is finally here!! We have waited months to meet Lidetu and now he is finally here. We were so excited all day, we could hardly wait until the cousins came home from the airport with our new cousin. Everything with Kristie and Dave's adoption of Lidetu is final and as soon as they touched down on US soil, he became a US citizen. What a blessing he is, he has such a bright personality and a huge spirit for such a tiny guy. You can see him glowing even when he isn't smiling. He barely comes up to my nephew Ben's knees. He is 10 months old, but he is still in 6 month clothes. He is tiny, but will grow like a weed now that they have him home. He even gained a pound the week that Kristie and Dave were in Africa with him. Zach and Caeden were thrilled to hold him and tell him who they are. Zach had been waiting all day to play with D2 (that is how he says his name). After several cookies, Gabby finally found Lidetu and rubbed his fuzzy head and gave him lots of hugs. He was quite overwhelmed by all the people, but after a while he started to warm up. We can't wait to play with him some more, he definitly was worth the wait!! Thanks Ben, Cari, Nick, Noelle, and Sarah for letting us play with him tonight, now he is all yours.

First Haircut

Today Gabby got her first haircut. We got rid of the curls so that we could get rid of the mullet! When she saw the boys getting their haircut, she was insistant that she should get hers done too.

I keep looking at my blog hoping that somehow it is updating itself, but it hasn’t happened yet. Life has been crazy the past few months with a lot of overtime at work a 3 week in office training (thank you to all for helping me out with the kids), prep for Christmas, and just life with 3 kids.

November flew by, but Thanksgiving was nice. At preschool Zach’s teacher asked him what he was grateful for and wrote it on a pilgrim hat. He said he was thankful for his “pet”. His pet is a 6” dinosaur named Santa Indiana Jones who goes with him everywhere and does everything with him.

Christmas came and went way to fast, but we had a lot of fun. The kids are at such fun ages, Caeden is questioning everything Santa, Zach wants everything from Santa, and Gabby is just happy with steeling the ornaments from the tree. We got to see Santa Claus several times which the boys loved, but Gabby wanted nothing to do with him. We have had a nice Christmas break playing with all the new toys, playing in all the snow (I love it and since the van is awesome in the snow I don’t mind driving in it), and just hanging out as a family, but I think I am ready to get back into a routine and have the kids back to school.

At the end of the month we get to go and stay at my sister’s house with her kids while they travel to Ethiopia to pick up their little boy. They have been waiting for several months for the Ethiopian courts to okay the adoption. Two days before Christmas my sister got a text saying they were through the courts and they would be able to travel to get him soon. There have been so many little miracles on behalf of this little guy and I am grateful my little family could be a small part of the process by praying, fasting, and talking about him. I know that it has strengthened our family. Whenever Gabby see’s a black baby she says D2, that is her way of saying his African name. I can’t post his picture until they bring him home, but I am grateful he is finally coming home. From his picture you can tell he is super sweet, and a little bit mischievous. We are excited to stay with the kids, but it will be interesting being a mother of 8 for a week!! They are good kids, but we will see how it goes!!

Halloween

Happy Anniversary

Nine years ago today Andrew and I were married in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful day especially for the end of October. I used to make Andrew watch our wedding video every year on our anniversary, but last year we decided that we were to embarrasing and so we put it into hibernation.

I can't believe it has been nine years. In some ways it seems like a long time, but mostly the time has flown by. I can't imagine not having Andrew in my life. He is there to tell me when I am getting to bossy or grumpy and I am there to tell him when he is being to passive. We are a good yin yang! He hardly ever gets mad (except the other day when I tricked him. hehe) and is very patient with me and all my crazy ideas. I am really proud (in a good way) of how much we have both grown individually, and together. We have come a long way from two 21 year olds with big ideas to where we are now. I love you Andrew and appreciate who you are and everything you do for me. I look forward to the next nine years! Remember, you better be planning something good for next year, 10 years! (anyone want to babysitt? j/k)