Christmas 2009

Okay, so I'm a little late getting this post done. But better late than never, right? We had a fun Christmas, here are a few pics of what we did!
Christmas Eve.
V. making chocolate milk to set out with the cookies we made for Santa. At one of her visits with him, she asked him what his favorite cookie and drink is. His reply was Chocolate milk and chocolate chip cookies.

Christmas morning!
Santa drank all the Chocolate milk and almost all of the cookies! The key next to the plate is one that we hang on the doorknob outside the front door on Christmas Eve. Since we don't have a fireplace or chimney, this is how Santa gets into our house!

Last year V. asked Santa for a Momma and a Baby bear. Which she got. All V. asked Santa for this year, was a Papa bear. Which she got!

Dumping out her stocking!

V.'s excited face as she unwraps her toy story Woody and Buzz. For some reason, this year, she really has been into Toy Story and really wanted the toys for Christmas!

Playing with her new favorite toys!

We went to Steve's parents for the rest of the day.
Steve's parents gave V. a sleeping bag, compass,and flashlight for Christmas that match the theme of her gifts this year!

V. wearing her cousins crazy hat! We all had so much fun hanging with family!

Oh! And I better add that the week before Christmas, V. and I went to the Nutcracker ballet here in Blackfoot. This was V.'s first year going. My Grandma used to take my sister and I every year when we lived in Utah. Anyway, V. loved it! The entire first act she couldn't take her eyes off the dancers! She says she wants to go again. YAY! I love the Nutcracker, and I'm glad she does too. Now we can make this a yearly tradition!

Our trip to the North Pole!

This last weekend, we went to Boise to see Steve's new nephew! He's had two new nephews born in the last week and a half! But one lives down in Phoenix, so we won't be able to see him for a couple of months. But we had fun going to Boise and seeing the other cute little baby!
While there, we rode the North Pole Express! It took us up to the North Pole to see Santa and get milk and cookies. Then, it brought us home. It was perfect! It was snowing the whole time, there were carolers, we were able to get some hot cocoa, and just so much fun!
Here are some pictures of our trip....
Steve reading V. the book,"the Polar Express".

V. and Steve sharing secrets!

But most of the time, she was content just to stare out the window at the passing scenery!

We didn't get a pic of V. with Santa at the North Pole, because Steve took a video instead. But we did get a couple of pics of us at the North Pole.

V. catching snowflakes on her tongue while waiting to see Santa!

Me and V.

Steve and V.in front of Santa's workshop.

On the way back to town, Santa came on board the train. V. ran up to him. No matter how many times a year she sees Santa, she's always excited to see him!

My Little Angel

Just thought I would share the pic. I took of V. in her Christmas dress. I took pics today so I can send some to all our family members. Isn't she a darling? I love her to pieces!

The Christmas Tree Fantasy

On Friday, I sang at the Christmas Tree Fantasy in Blackfoot. Steve took some video of it, but I'm not going to post it! I hate singing in front of people. But I LOVE singing Christmas songs! Luckily for me, there was hardly anyone there to hear me. So I was relaxed and enjoyed my self.
Yesterday, we took the Primary to sing at The Christmas Tree Fantasy. It was my idea, so I was in charge of getting it all set up and everything. However, we found out that some of the kids wouldn't be there because they had basketball. Our pianoist was at basketball as well. So the primary music conductor played the piano, and I ended up leading the kids in song! They sang well, but quietly. But I think they had fun anyway! Steve took a picture, but all I see when I look at this photo is my big butt! HAHA!
{V. is in the front row!}

And, of course afterwards, the primary paid for everyone to go thru and look at all the trees. Well, the kids got in free, because they had been singing. But we paid for the parents to go as well. Then the kids went downstairs and had story time with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Then they got to sit on Santa's lap, and they offered free pictures. Which we got. But I also took some of my own!

it was very fun! After everyone left, Steve, V, and I sat down in the little cafe they have and got some hot cocoa and a cinnamon roll to share. It was all very tasty!
That night, we went to the Blackfoot Performing Arts Center where they were having the Annual Community Church Choir concert. Different churches from around Blackfoot participate in it. My Stake choir was singing, and I sang with them.
It was a long day, but full of fun and got us in the Christmas mood!

You want what for lunch?

The other day, V. and I were trying to decide what to eat for lunch.
"Do you want a ham and cheese sandwich?", I asked. "No."
"How about a grilled cheese sandwich?" "No."
"Well, how about mac and cheese?" Again, she said,"No."
"What do you want?", I asked.
" umm...Can I have a case of diarrhea?"
......................"What do you want?" I ask confused.
She replies,"You know, it has cheese and sour cream on it."
"Oh!", says I, " Do you mean a Quesadilla?"
"Yes," she says," A case-of-dilla ." { she has a look of concentration as she tries to pronounce it right}
Boy, this one sure got me laughing!

The end of the month

This past month I have had this Thankful list on my side bar.The goal was to add something I'm thankful for each day of the month. The Month is now over so I need to remove it, but I didn't want to lose the list. Each day, as I wrote down one more thing I was thankful for, I realized how very blessed I am.
Some of you may not know that we have been trying to have another baby for about 2 1/2 years. In the last 14 months I have had three miscarriages. They have been very sad and emotional for me. But I'm so grateful that because of what the gospel teaches, I know someday I will get to meet those three little spirits that I lost. I don't know if this is the way it happens, but I choose to believe that those pregnancies were those spirits' chance for a mortal body. I believe the spirit enters a body at the moment of conception. For some reason, God took those spirits home. Maybe they were too good for this earth, I don't know. But I believe that they are now in Heaven, with Him, waiting for us. Because Steve and I have been sealed in the Temple for not only this life, but here after, any and all of our children are sealed to us. Even if I didn't carry them full term. And we will always be a family. Like I said, when it comes to miscarriages, I'm not sure how it happens and works out. But this is what I 'm believing. That those spirits aren't lost to me forever. That this was their chance to come to earth. And now they are watching over us and waiting until the day we can be reunited again. This has given me hope, so I don't despair over the failed pregnancies. I know this is not the end.
I want to thank all my family and friends. You all mean so much to me! I'm grateful I have each and every one of you in my life!
Now that I've gone off onto a different subject, the main reason for this post is so I can copy down all the things that I have written on the side bar that I'm Thankful for. Now I can come back and read it anytime, and remind myself how very blessed I am. Because I am blessed.

I give Thanks for...
1. My Savior, Jesus Christ
2. Eternal Families
3.The love of my Daughter
4.The love of my Husband
5.My home {Thankful I have a roof over my head!}
6.My husbands job
7. Being able to be a Stay-At-Home mom
8.The gift of being able to be a mother. I'm thankful the Lord has given me such a beautiful angel to be my daughter!
9. My Parents
10. Modern Medicine
11. My Talents
12. My Freedom
13. Music
14. Laughter
15. Friends
16. The gift of Sight
17. The gift of Sound
18. I know this will sound cliche, but I'm thankful for the pitter-patter of little feet! I love hearing my daughter run around the house!
19. Chocolate!
20.Our food storage
21. My wonderful Husband!
22. The Priesthood. And I'm grateful my husband is worthy to hold the Priesthood.
23. A warm bed to snuggle in!
24. Modern transportation.
25. Steve's, V.'s and my good health.
26. Memories!
27. I'm Thankful for the gospel principles I believe in. They give me such hope and comfort
28. I'm grateful for the nights I get a good nights sleep.
29. I'm Thankful that we have food. We have never had to worry about where our next meal will come from. We've always been able to provide for our family. I'm so Thankful that we can take care of our daughter.
30. Love!

Snowmen and Hot Cocoa

Well, we stayed home from church today. Nobody was really sick but..........I think I might have had another miscarriage. I'm not positive, but pretty sure. I thought I was just having a normal period this week. But then I started passing some good size blood clots. Then yesterday afternoon I started feeling sick and getting cramps. I almost had Steve take me to the hospital last night because I was bleeding VERY heavy. But then I passed another clot and the bleeding slowed down. I was afraid to go to church this morning and possibly start bleeding heavy again, so that's why we stayed home . I know, too much info! Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable! But yes, I think it was a miscarriage, but I would have been barely pregnant, only four weeks. So I'm okay emotionally, very sad, but I didn't even know I was pregnant so I feel okay. Does that make sense?
Anyway, I woke up this morning feeling much better and having more energy then I have had the last couple of days. We had a nice morning eating breakfast together, watching 'Miracle on 34th Street' and watching the snow fall. This afternoon I thought I would let V. out to play in the snow since she's been such a good girl the last couple of days while I was tired and she was so excited to see the snow!

We made a snowman. The first one of the season, and the snow was perfect! The balls grew so fast!

Then we finished off with a cup of Hot Cocoa and cheese and crackers! What a fun afternoon we had!

Sometimes I really struggle with how hard it is for us to have another baby. But days like today make me so grateful to have such a beautiful, healthy daughter. I love V. with all my heart. And I'm so glad she chose to come to our family. She is my angel and such a blessing in my life!

'My heart is hurting'

V. was sobbing to Steve,' You're hurting my heart! You're hurting my heart!'
'How am I hurting your heart?' he asked.
She replied,' You're not letting me watch Thomas the train engine! And I really want to! That's how you're hurting my heart!'
Ohhhh, that makes me want to cry to hear her say something like that. But it also makes me want to laugh! Am I a bad mom for thinking that? It's just that sometimes she amazes me {and makes me laugh} with the things she says!

Family photo shoot

Our friend Danica took some family photos of us. She did a great job! There would have been more photos if we were a little more photogenic! It was hard to get a picture where we all look good. But we are very happy with how they turned out. We haven't ever had a really nice family photo done, so it was fun!
It was frustrating at first, because each time we had a time set up to take the photos, the weather would turn bad, or the wind would really start blowing! And the pics were being done outside. So we had to reschedule a few times but in the end we had a beautiful afternoon! Although we about froze getting them done! It snowed the day before, but most of it had melted by the time we went out. We would snap a few pics then jump back in the car to warm up before taking some more.
So anyway, I hope you enjoy these photos and a BIG thank you to Danica for doing them for us!

Steve's Elk

So here's Steve's first elk! He went out on the desert with our friend Nate. He shot it at 600 yards. He had alot of fun and was glad Nate helped him out. We owe him and his wife some steak one of these nights!

Great job honey! I love the fact that our freezer is full of meat for the winter! {Even though I'm still trying to get used to eating wild meat!}

Another Victory!

Well, Steve called to tell me he shot his elk at around 4:00 this afternoon!
{we were supposed to be getting family photos done at 4:00}
I'm so glad he got his elk. This means he'll be able to spend more time at home the rest of the season since he is now done. Unless he decides to go out with friends....
I'm so glad that we are going to have a full freezer of meat this winter! I'm not a huge fan of wild game, but hey, it's free meat! So I'm not complaining!
Steve has had alot of fun this year with his hunting. It makes me happy to see him doing something he enjoys.
Hopefully he has taken some good pictures so I'll be able to post them later!


P.S.
Our photographer had a family thing that lasted longer than she thought it would, so we couldn't do photos anyway. Still, Steve didn't know that! He was supposed to be home before 4:00! He's lucky the photographer couldn't do it, or I'd be mad at him for putting his elk hunting before family!


I'm just kidding! That's one way we show our love for each other. We tease each other sooo bad!

No panties in the morning?

While getting V. ready for bed, she started laughing. I asked her what was so funny and she said," What if you wear all your panties now? That would be funny! HAHAHAHA! Then you wouldn't have any to wear in the morning! HAHAHAHA!"
......uhhhh.............
Where did that come from?
But it sure got me laughing!

My Thankful November

I added a new button/list to my sidebar. I got this idea from a friend. Although, you're supposed to join a little group and all that, I'm not going to. I thought I would just share with you all the things I am thankful for. I will add something each day, during the month of November.
It does one good, to sometimes stop and remember all that I have to be thankful for. Sometimes I wish we had our dream home, I get sad at our having a hard time having another child, I get frustrated with finances. But, I really do have so much! I have been very blessed! And this month, I'm going to recognize those blessings, and have a grateful heart!

One of my favorite times of the year!

Here are a few things I love about this time of year~
Halloween! I love handing candy out to all the cute trick-or-treaters! I love seeing V. all excited! This year she went as Spiderman. I don't know where that came from....
We were trying to talk her out of it until one day she came home from pre-school all sad. When I asked her why, she said that the boys in her class told her she can't be spiderman because she is a girl. Well, I told her she can be whoever she wants to be, and it doesn't matter what anyone else says.
But I have to say, I've never seen a spiderman with such beautiful eyes!

We picked up V.'s cousin to go trunk-or-treating with us. She was dressed as a ghost. She was in a good mood and all cute until she saw Steve. He scared her! She didn't know it was her uncle!

Another thing I love about Fall is the trees changing colors! So beautiful! And I love watching them fall to the ground and crunching them beneath my feet. We had a good pile of leaves in our backyard that I raked up and V. loved playing in!

Swimming in the leaves.

She had so much fun! I love hearing her laugh and seeing her so happy!

Another thing I love about Fall is all the fresh vegis we get from our garden. But we also have four apple trees that ripen at different times. From about August thru the end October we have them coming out of our ears! This past week we were able to pick the last of our apples.

We got a big bowlful of apples and made some Apple Crisp later that night!

I LOVE Fall!!!

Another emotional morning. I feel like crying....

My baby is now a little girl

Well, today V. turns four. I can't believe it! I remember her birth like it was yesterday! She arrived by emergency c- section at about 3:30 in the afternoon. She weighed 7 lbs.and 8 oz. and was 21 1/2 in. long. She was a perfect baby!
We didn't have a digital camera until she was about 5 months old. This is one of the only few pictures that I have scanned in. It was her first Halloween! She was 12 days old! So tiny and cute!

This was the first photo we took with the digital camera.Right after a bath. She's about 5 months old.

This is her first birthday! She loved her cake! She ate it and finger painted with it!

This is when she was about 2. I was canning and she had fun playing in my stockpot!

Here's her 3 year picture. No longer looking like a baby!

And this was yesterday. She is such a little lady now!

She has grown into such a smart, loving,sweet, funny girl! We love her to pieces and I think time is going by too fast! I want her to stay my little girl forever! She always keeps us laughing, she can tell when I am down and I need a hug and an 'I love you mommy'. She is smart and already writing not only her name, but ours as well. She loves being around other kids. She loves her daddy so much! When she plays with her baby dolls, she plays that she is the daddy. She loves hunting, digging for worms and 'working' on her bike.

But she also loves to sing, play the piano, and dance. She helps me bake and do the dishes. And I love when she picks me a fistful of flowers!{even if they are dandelions!}

We feel like she is growing into a well rounded person. Not too girly, but not too tom boyish either.

Anyway, I could go on, and on. I Love her! She is my angel. Happy Birthday my little stink bug!