happy 13 love!

DH and I have been married for 13 years today. Wow, it's been an amazing ride and I can't wait for the next 13 years! I love him more than I thought I ever could! Thanks for being an amazing husband and father. I love you DH!! Here are a few pictures of our family.

13 years.
4 kids
2 homes
1 motorcycle accident
many mini accidents by me. :)
a couple of vacations
too much fun to count!!

has it been a year already?

Our little bo-bo turns one year old today. It's amazing how much they change their first year of life. He has 3 teeth, is choosing to crawl rather than army crawl most of the time now, he can get himself to a standing position by himself, he sucks his thumb, and is generally a happy baby. He has an ear-piercing scream that definitely gets your attention, and has wonderful hazel eyes. We love you little one! Happy Birthday {k}!!

update

So I know it has been way too long since I updated, so this post will be lengthy! scroll down to the bottom for commentary on the pictures. :)


































































































































































































































































































































I have caught {A} reading to his brothers more lately, and I think it is just wonderful! His class performed Fairy Tales recently, and also, I have put in a pic of {A} and his wonderful 2nd grade teacher! She has been fantastic for {A}!!


{K} graduated from kindergarten today, and I also have a pic of him with his teacher. She is also a wonderful teacher. I am pleasantly surprised at how well he is reading! {K} was chosen as Citizen of the Month for May. His teacher said he was such a good boy and definitely earned this honor! They performed a kindergarten "informance". It is where the kindergarten students show what they have learned this year. He was quite shy and embarrassed by all the attention. But, that is {K} all the way! They made enchanted eggs with his 3rd grade buddy. He was so proud to place it in the place of honor next to my enchanted egg that I made in kindergarten! {K}'s teacher taught with my kindergarten teacher at the same school for a few years while I was still in elementary school. I remember her being there... :)


I signed {a} up for a little "Dance Class". It was 4 classes long, and super cute! I tried to download a couple of videos, but it didn't work. I will try again later. She loves to climb in {k}'s bed and torment the poor guy! I put in her first picture of a person. She was drawing on the details, and said "finger, finger". I am amazed at how much more she wants to color and draw than either of the boys wanted to at that age. We bought an atv recently, and the kids are loving it!

she is FINALLY pottytrained!

Yup, about a month ago, she came running upstairs and announced that she had to go potty. We ran, put her on the toilet and sure enough, she went. Ever since then, she has done a wonderful job! A few accidents here and there, but for the most part a very seamless training. It just took her a bit longer to get started, but she is even night trained. HOORAY!

Recently, she climbed on the wood box that I keep by the fireplace, and announced in her sweetest girl voice, "I'm here for a dance, if somebody will pick me."

update on {A}

{A} has had a busy couple of months. First, he turned eight in Feb! He had his first friend birthday party. We had 3 friends over, and those 4 boys were crazy and noisy! But, boy did they have fun!



















Because he turned 8, that means he gets to join Cub Scouts.














He quickly earned his bobcat award at the first pack mtg.













Next, he chose to be baptized. He had lots of family join us for this special day! Congratulations {A}! We are so proud of your choice to be baptized!















The next pack meeting was the annual Pinewood Derby! {A} and his Dad built a really neat Hummer car to race! He raced very well. While he didn't win first, he did get the "Best Big Rig" Award. Way to go!































Finally, {A} and his 2nd grade class had a program entitled "Think Spring".





















I just had to add these cute pictures of {a} and {K}. I am sure there is more I need to write about, but this will do for today. Enjoy!

{a}'s birthday

Sister had her 3rd birthday right before Christmas. She was so cute about the whole thing. She got a high chair for her doll...
a rocking horse...a dump truck.
Here she is telling us that she's 3!

I LOVE this picture. She is blowing out her candles. But, what I love most is the expression on her brothers faces... :) HAPPY Birthday Sister! We love you! We love your crazy, funny personality and can't imagine our little family any other way!

Here is a video of her dancing and singing with some Christmas ornaments. Sorry it's sideways. Can't figure out how to change that...

ETA: I thought I would add a few things about what she is into right now. Her favorite song is Twinkle Star(twinkle, twinkle, little star). She LOVES her little brother, and her doll. She is in Sunbeams now and absolutely LOVES it. Her teacher is Sister Smithee and she calls her Sister Smoovee. I love the way she says it. She enjoys reading books at night especially her "sandwich book" and Silly Sally. She can be bossy at times. She still uses her hair as her lovey and twirls it to no end. She also sucks her tongue and has since she was very little.

COMPLETE

Ok, it's time for me to share my word for 2011. COMPLETE! At first I had chosen BEGIN, and then I decided that I have begun lots of things, but hardly completed any of them. So, this year, I plan to complete!


COMPLETE[kuhm-pleet]adjective, verb,

come or bring to a finish or an end
bring to a whole, with all the necessary parts or elements
perfect and complete in every respect; having all necessary qualities


My goals for 2011:
to COMPLETE the New Testament. I have never read it, and am well on my way to reading the entire book.
to become a more COMPLETE wife, mother, and friend. How? By BECOMING and WHISPERING, and listening.

I am thinking that if I keep my goals simpler this year, that maybe I will actually COMPLETE them. :)

christmas 2010

These are from Christmas this year. We didn't take too many pictures, but here are a few. We had a wonderful season, and a Christmas day was full of wonder! We had a great day!

zoo

Recently, we went to the zoo. I took my camera along (shocker, I know) and the condor was spreading his wings. They were enormous! I am guessing atleat 6 ft across.

Then the kids climbed on the komodo dragon and camel. We enjoy going to the zoo (with a zoo pass) on even rainy, or cold days. An hour is great fun if you don't feel like you HAVE to see everything this trip. Just the other day we went and the lions were out and very close to the glass. The male is HUGE! Their zookeeper came to the glass, and it was quite obvious that those lions knew just who he was. The zookeeper just had to wave his arm toward the shelter door and the male went right in. It was neat to see.