And She's TWO!!!!

ok...i do have a better picture than this...but she's been doing this lately and its so cute, she walks around with puffed up cheeks and "swims" around the house.

JAN. 8, 2010

She's 2! This is her princess cake...the eggless effect was harder than I thought, and I ruined a few good cake mixes...but this finally turned out ok.

I can't believe she's TWO! She's getting so big now, talking in full sentences, with hair past her shoulders, telling the boys to "leave my toys alone!", and singing "I am a child of God" to me at night. She's full of giggles, kisses and loves to play the piano! Happy Birthday Tae-Bug!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Back: Corey, Kelton, Jacob, Dad, Ryun, Beau, Bryce, Kyle, Me

Front: Katey & Merlin, Lindsay & Rylin, Mom & Talea, Courtney & Chase, Kimber & Taelin

K. So many picutres, but when you have everyone in one picture, why not?!?! We flew back New Years Eve from Florida to spend New Years Day with the Choffin Family ALL together for our Christmas exchanges!!!!! It was fun to be together again and play games. We had a great day, and at the end of the night got some great family pictures with everyone. Half of us are married, and the other half are growing up way too fast.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM US TO YOU!!!!

A Floridian Christmas 2009!

We have never spent Christmas in Florida yet. Always before or after, or usually for Thanksgiving break. This year we went the next morning after we got home from Boise, and flew out to Jacksonville, Florida to see Jacob's family. Nathan (jake's brother) was there and we all had fun. We got there Sunday, the 20th, went to Sea World and the temple on Tuesday, the 22nd, and then headed up to Marie's house late that night and stayed Wednesday the 23rd. We drove home late that night to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with the Jansen's and the kids were SOOO excited to open gifts. This year Santa brought just stockings to Florida, and when we got home to Idaho, the rest of the presents were waiting. After Christmas, we did some shopping, Jacob and I stole a day and went together. We went to a Japanease Steakhouse (Taelin and Kelton LOVED the fire, Chase not so much), an arcade, another place called "Adventure Landing" with go-carts, and puttputt + arcade, fed ducks, rode on the golf cart and hung out and took it easy. A few days before we left, Aunt Susan (oma's sister) came to visit! We all love her and the kids (especially Taelin) had a blast with her! Thanks again for the books! The boys would disappear at different times from playing computer games and board games with Oma...always emerging with happy smiles. It was fun to be there at Christmas, and we enjoyed the 70 degree Christmas, and cooler days too!

jacob, opa, nathan

us at the shamu show, + nathan at sea world

the kids were in awe at the dolphin tank

jake with taelin and emilia

Tae and Meela (as the kids call her)

My bestest in the world. love you girl.

Dad and Kelton, then Dad and Chase, and then just Daddy drove. It was fun to see how excited they got about "really" driving.

Chase and Kelton both got 2 holes in 1!

Tae, Aunt Susna, Nathan, Chase and Kelton

Kyle's Boise Graduation 12-18-2009

So, on an early clear Friday morning, we headed Boise State University to see Kyle (Vanessa's older bro) graduate from college. We had a great time there and later that night went and saw "The Christmas Carol". It was fun to hang out with Kyle and Courtney...we heart them. Taelin kept walking by the hotel pool and just starring at it. My kids LOVE the pool.

This minus that equals a first!

THIS

minus this

Equals this:

oh well...couldn't turn the pic. but there it is!!!

Her hair as been past her shoulders for quite a while, and its so thin and fine that I decided a 1/2 inch would do the hair some good. I just evened it out, since the center was longer across her back, and it really looks a ton shorter now! Her hair just bounced right up...but its a tab bit fuller...so we'll just wait and see!

My big girl...gonna be 2 soon!

Oh Christmas Tree...

jacob's fav. ornament and taelin's new favorite one!

my sweet sweet boys.

yes, she reorganizes them everyday...and carries them around. she's only broken 1 so far.

Since people had to work, we did Thanksgiving on Friday, and had Thursday at home (we ate stronganoff with the elders and jake played games with them). We set up the tree that day, and then next morning Courtney and I hit the sales...but we didn't get out until around 7:30 and only stood in a couple lines. It really wasn't that bad. We didn't have any screaming kids...so we just stood and talked. Right after lunch the kids made ornaments with Kyle and Courtney and then we made our food and met at mom's around 2:30 for a very yummy dinner.

Belated Thanksgiving!

We made turkey cookies with our neighbors this year....the kids loved eating them more than making them...but isn't that what the holidays are for?!? :)

We stayed here in Idaho for Thanksgiving this year (our first in a long time) and I didn't take any pictures...but we ended up having EVERYONE home for Thanksgiving (except Katie) and a huge spread of 2 baquet tables full of people. It was a great day!

VEGAS BABY!!! 11-12 thru 11-15

We took an anniverary trip (our first alone w/o kids since we've been married) to Vegas! Jacob planned the whole thing! We did a TON of things that were replicas of what we did on our Honeymoon...and it was super romantic (gondala ride, effiel tower ride, etc.).

Overall it was just fun to be together and hang out! What a relaxing time! And thanks-a-million to Courtney for doing an AMAZING job with the kids! Couldn't have done it without you!

Autumn Smiles

This will be our Christmas card this year...unless we get a family picture soon! :) I've been dying to get family pictures taken...but haven't been able to since Jacob has been working double shifts and over time like you wouldn't believe! The time we do have together...the weather is usually icky. So, just got some of the kids. But I figure people really only want to see the kids anyways!

One of the best days ever!

So, I feel the need to blog (altho no pics) about a GREAT and AMAZING day we had last week. It was a wierd day that I don't usually like, filled with chaios and bouncy kids waiting to go trick-or-treating.

We did all the errands on Friday (since Jacob had it off) and I cleaned the house. We woke up Saturday at 8:30! We ate yummy chocolate chip pancakes and sat in our pj's watching fun cartoons as a family until 11:00 ish. We had carved pumpkins the night before...so we got into a pumpkin craft for the kids to do. It was so fun to sit around the living room with papers, glue and scissors and do things together. Taelin's pumpkin even looked cute! Then we put Taelin down for a nap, and the boys and Daddy played games. We ate lunch, took showers and got ready so that by 3:00ish we headed to the mall to check out the Old Navy sale. Shopped for an hour while Jake had the kids at the play tree. Then....all of a sudden, people started coming out of the stores with bowls of candy! We trick or treated since we were right there...lucky the kids had their costumes on! We were out of there by 5:30 and headed to TEXAS Roadhouse cause we had a year old gift card! We all ate really well and enjoyed the food! Chase danced to "thriller" while eating chicken (it was halarious!) and the kids all ate. We were outa there in 50 minutes and then headed home to trick or treat about 7:00. We changed the kids' costumes to their "outside" costumes which were warmer and I headed out. After Jake being home for 15 minutes, decided he wanted to come with left the bowl of candy on the front porch. We trick or treated for 1 hour, came home and seperated the loot into bags. Taelin just wanted to hold hers from each house. And everytime someone would give Kelton chocolate...he'd say, "ahh..I can't eat that!" so we learned how to politely take it and then we'd trade at home with our milk-free stash.

The kids all zonked so quickly and Jake and I enjoyed our favorite T.V. show from the night before and an early bedtime! Seriously, it was a perfect day I just had to document to remember. I went to bed that night feeling SO happy.

For Meela

My best friend's little girl LOVES to see babies on the computer. Last week she tattled on her mom for not letting her see more. I thought it was halarious and remembered we did this video a while a go for her. Here you go Emilia! We love you and miss you!

p.s. we don't always let the boys be naked...they were "boxing and wrestling" and apparently you can't do that with shirts on...who knew.

Halloween Preview

So, tonight we went to a carnival put on for the primary kids by the young women. Those young women are amazing! Kelton really had a blast doing all the fun activites and getting his candy bag full. Last week we went to a pumpkin patch for Family Home Evening. Altho the first one we went to...was ghetto and only pumpkins on grass. We scouted out and finally got to this real patch by dusk. We tried to get a few pics before it went too dark, but it was fun for the kids (and jacob who loves variety) to pick their own unique pumpkin. Last night the kids decorated their pumpkins with mr. potato head-like pieces.

A few weeks ago, the kids and I played around and wanted to make sure their costumes fit. Here is a preview and possibly what pictures will be taken this year. They tried them ALL on (kelton even fit into his 2 yr. old costume...well, tried to fit anyways) and it was fun to get into the halloween spirit. Its fun for them to enjoy it.

jake's "unique" pumpkin, kelton tells EVERYONE it has a butt.

Mr. Kelton: storm trooper.

Miss Taelin: Kitty cat

Big Boy Chase: A dragon

Washington Trip

The beginning of the month, Lindsay and I went to Washington to see my friend Ashley McMinn get sealed for time and all eternity in the Seattle Temple.

She was a gorgeous bride! Congrats again Ash!

But, we were SUPER fortunate to get to see our Grandparents, Aunt Sue and Uncle Ted. While also getting to have a great visit with some old friends. It was great to see everyone again and we loved the trip. It was strange to drive around Bremerton and Belfair again...but we sure enjoyed everyone there we got to visit with (thanks again Hendricksons for welcoming us into your house) and all the gorgeous scenery we miss. I just had my point and shoot...but the skies were amazing!

uncle ted and me

me, aunt sue and lindsay

lindsay, darrell, grma, me and grpa. (congrats darrell on graduating the apprentice program!)

friends from back in the day! the franklin bunch and us at the reception

the puget sound marina...too pretty not to take

me and lindsay at the temple before bro. hendrickson offered to take a few for us! :)

haven't been back since we were sealed here. its a gorgeous place.

congrats ashley and jeff!