Ta-Da!

You would think all home improvements would be done prior to or shortly after moving in. Not in our home. I think we've done more in the past 6 months than our whole married lives. (Ok, so in all fairness, most of our married life has been spent in apartments!)

Pete has had a little more time off this month, so we embarked on replacing the tile in the upstairs and downstairs entryway. I have HATED this tile since we moved in. Pete tried removing it when we moved, but decided that nothing short of an earthquake was going to do the job. Luckily, for a Christmas/Birthday present, Pete got the next best thing - an aircompressor with a tool on it like a mini jack hammer. It really isn't a big area, but it took a whole day to get the tile scrapped off the basement floor. The upstairs entryway was much easier.

Here are a few before and after pictures!

Merry Christmas

This Christmas I was reminded why I rarely take pictures of my children. It started out with trying to take a Sunday picture in front of the Christmas tree. I finally got so frustrated Pete took over. This picture shows how the process went. At least Abbie and Josh were both looking at the camera in this picture.
For Christmas Eve, we were invited over to some friends house for a Scandanavian tradition.

We talked, sang a few carols, and then were visited by Santa. The kids were all told before we started caroling that if they heard bells they were to be as still and quiet as they could, and Santa may drop by, but if he heard them he would leave. We had a room full of kids and I thought for sure there would be plenty of noise. However, there was not a peep from the kids. They sat in awe as Santa dropped by and left them each a present. You would have thought Abbie had won the lottery from the way she acted. Her night was made!
After the visit from Santa, we went back home and read the Nativity while the kids acted it out using the Little People nativity. Then we exchanged sibling gifts and got our new Christmas Pajamas. After watching The Grinch, it was off to bed. I tried telling the kids that Santa wouldn't come until they were asleep, but Abbie reminded me all they had to do was be quiet like at our friends and Santa would never know they were there. Try arguing with that!

Christmas morning, Abbie woke up with the flu. After throwing up, she felt much better and perked up as the day wore on. Josh and Kelly slept until about 7:30am which made for a nice relaxed morning. The kids enjoyed themselves, while Pete and I enjoyed them. We spent the rest of the day playing with toys, talking with family, and snacking on food.

Thanksgiving

First, we started off the holiday with the kids making turkeys! This was something I remember from my childhood and is a tradition I hope my kids will remember just as fondly. Pete was on call, so he didn't get to join in the fun with us but the kids did a great job and enjoyed eating their turkeys almost as much as making them.

For Thanksgiving, Pete actually had the day off! After not celebrating last year, it was nice to have a Thanksgiving dinner again. We got together with some wonderful friends and enjoyed both the food and the company. Thanks Jamie and Nick for including us in your family!

I am so thankful for all my blessings. I have a wonderful family, both immediate and extended. We are blessed with great friends and all the temporal things that we need. Most especially, I am thankful for my Savior. I have always thought it so appropriate that we start off the Christmas season with Thanksgiving because it puts me in the right frame of mind for celebrating the birth of Christ. May you all have a wonderful Christmas season!

Behold Your Little Ones

I have been reminded lately what wonderful children I have. Each of them have made me very proud and I am truly grateful for them.

Abbie was chosen to receive the Character Acheivement Award at school by her teacher. She was chosen because she showed great teamwork and was a good example to her peers. She also gave her first talk in primary today. She worked so hard to try and memorize her talk. I would find her in her room or in the bathroom practicing all week. We are so proud of her and know that our Heavenly Father is as well.

While Joshua loves preschool, he has continued to be a homebody. No matter what we are doing, he always wants to know when we get to go back home. He has turned into such a big helper. He loves to surprise me in the morning by getting ready for the day without me having to ask. So, he will get up and get dressed, make his bed, brush his teeth, and say his prayers all on his own. He also loves to help me cook and help keep Kelly happy.

Kelly is growing quickly and has found out she can do things on her own. She is talking more and can even say "yes" now (everything used to be answered with a "no")! Abbie and Josh claim she is the best at playing tag and horsey (she rides on their backs). Her favorite past time however, is reading and taking off her pajamas. Oh the wonders of being a child!

Pete's Projects

Since Pete only ended up working 74 hours the last 3 weeks he was able to complete some projects around the home. He made the following home improvements.
-New coat rack for downstairs
-New fireplace mantel downstairs
-New light fixtures in the bedrooms

Here are some pictures of the mantel

Happy Halloween

Halloween seemed to last longer than one day this year. Abbie and Josh both had Halloween parties at their schools. Abbie's school does a Halloween parade where they walk from room to room wearing their costumes. Abbie got to lead the parade and was very excited.

Halloween day was filled with anticipation for the kids and a little bit of dread for the parents. It always seems to take forever to get the kids dressed in their costumes and out the door only to have the kids want to head home because they are tired or cold after only a few houses. This year, the kids actually held up pretty well. Even Kelly insisted on walking and did pretty good at keeping up with her older sister and brother. After trick-or-treating we went to some friends house for a little Halloween get together.

All in all, it was a fun night enjoyed by both the kids and adults. And like most Halloween's, we will still be eating the candy for months to come!

Abbie as a Ballerina



















Josh as Spiderman (yes, again)



















Kelly as Little Red Riding Hood

A Month of Firsts

What an exciting month for Abbie.First, five years ago on September 1, we added a beautiful baby girl to our little family. Abbie Marie has always had a happy temperment and kind heart. She is such a good big sister to Josh and Kelly and my little helper. She is always willing to do whatever is asked of her and tries her hardest to do what's right. She continues to be a bright spot in our lives who will accomplish whatever she sets her mind to!














The day after Abbie's birthday, she had her first dance class. She and her little friend Madi are in a creative dance class which she absolutely loves! She asks everyday if she has dance and just beams when she comes out of her class every week.














The biggest moment (for me anyways) was Abbie's first day of school! I had a harder time than she did. I cried the night before and while she did get a few tears in her eyes when we left, that was it. She came out of her first day excited to go back. Her teacher is due to deliver her second baby in just a few weeks, so I am hoping having a substitute doesn't change the way she feels. My baby is growing up!