Playing in the Snow!

Today was such a good day! We woke up and it was beautiful, the snow was falling and everything was covered in a white blanket. It was perfect. So we made breakfast, and decided to venture outside to have some snow fun! We started by building a snowman family. It was neat because this was actually the first snowman that I have built (at least that I remember). Yeah... CRAZY, I know! After we built our family Jordan and I made snow angels, (it is kinda hard to get up from the snow without ruining it! I don't know how they make perfect ones in the movies). During this time we were throwing snowballs at each other, and then to top off the morning we went to the school behind our house and went sledding down the hill. It was so much fun.


We came home, ate lunch, and then put the kids down for a nap. after they woke up, we cleaned up the house in preparation for the kids to have a babysitter that night. We went on an adult dinner to Ruby River to celebrate my birthday! It was very relaxing. It is nice to have some adult interaction for a change, without the constant pulling and trying to entertain children throughout! My birthday present from Ryan was a WII Fit. I LOVE IT! I have used it everyday since getting it. In fact the whole family enjoys it. Hopefully it will help me lose some weight, or at least get toned. I need it!

Anyways... It was a wonderful day! Thank you all for making my birthday Wonderful!

Christmas continued....

Jordan and Elly Playing Nice for a change!
They are being goofy!

This is Elly and Kayla playing nicely in
the skirts that Aunt Yolanda made for them! (so cute!)


Christmas Morning! The kids
showing off their goods from Santa!


We really loved being in California and visiting everybody. It was so much fun and I am so glad that we were able to squeeze in a family picture (We missed you Todd and family!!!) The kids really loved being able to spend time with their cousins. They sure do have fun together, and boy when they all get together they are filled with more energy than usual (That's saying that they are pretty WILD, because they are ALWAYS filled with energy) We were lucky... We were able to make it to the Harrison family Christmas party as well as the Gardner family Christmas party, so we got to see family that we don't normally get to see. It was nice to get together! Thank-you for letting us come and visit! We sure did have fun! You guys are welcome to come to Idaho whenever your schedule will permit you to! You will always have a place to stay!

Christmas in California

I know I'm a little late, but I figure, Better late than never! I didn't have my camera with me most of the time, so I didn't get a lot of pictures (BUMMER!) But I did at least get some pictures of the kids on Christmas morning! Jordan got Bumblebee from Transformers (just what he wanted) and Elly got a Barbie (what a girl! she was asking for one).

Our Baby girl's room

When we got back from California, I decided I wanted a project. So, I decided to start getting the baby's room ready while I still felt like doing it! I knew I wanted it to be brown and pink, but not too pink. So I decided to do the walls chocolate brown and tan and then have pink accents. I pained and then I looked for a cute bedding that would look good. Here is what I came up with.

It's a GIRL!!!

We just found out that we are expecting another little girl! YAY... We are so excited. Ryan was really hoping for a girl (if you couldn't tell he is kind of fond of his Elly). Anyhow... now we are looking for names so if anyone has any ideas we would love to hear them. I think this is one of the toughest parts (especially being a teacher, we have students that we would rather not have our own kids with their names). Well again, we are very excited and can't wait until April for our little one to arrive.

Happy Birthday Ryan!

We just want Ryan to know that we love him and appreciate all that he does for us! He is amazing and we are so lucky to have him. He takes care of us and we all hope he has a wonderful 28th Birthday!

Testimony

I know it's a little late, but I was just so proud of Jordan last Sunday! He asked if he could bear his testimony. He wanted his dad to take him up there. Ryan did take him but didn't even have to help much. He did an excellent job. What a good little guy!

My long overdue project

So I have been wanting to put up a vinyl saying in Elly's room, but have never gotten around to it. Well yesterday I decided that instead of doing vinyl I was going to paint it. It turned out pretty good, especially since I have never done it before. I borrowed an overhead projector from my school and used it to make a saying! I put glitter all over it so it is shiny! I don't think you can see it in the picture but that's okay, you get the idea.

Movie Night!

This Friday night Ryan had a campout with the scouts and so the kids and I decided we would have a movie night. We went to Wendy's and got some fries and burgers, laid a blanket out on the floor and watched a Christmas movie, "The Polar Express". It was a really fun and enjoyable night! I wish it could be like that every night! The kids didn't fight, there was no complaining, and the kids were calm (Which is highly unusual). It was just plain nice! I really love my kids. They can be so sweet!

What Elly would look like with Hair!

We went to Walmart today and Ryan thought it was fun to put wigs on Elly, she was so cute! He thought it was so fun that he bought her a wig! Here's a picture of t!

Happy Halloween!

Wow!!! This has been one long event! It seems like Halloween has been a month event, but hey... it gives us something to do. On Thursday, I took the kids to Melaleuca to Trick or Treat! We got to go there because Grandma Sherrey works there. It was fun. Candace brought Alyssa and Cole too! The kids just love to hang out with each other. They all looked so cute in their costumes. The kids loved it, but it sure was hot in there! Thanks Grandma for letting us come to work with you!

Carving Pumpkins

Monday night for Family Home Evening, Jordan, Elly, and I carved pumpkins. I was bummed that Ryan had to work, but the pumpkins turned out okay! The kids thought it was great fun to pull out all of the pumpkin guts! They are really looking forward to Halloween, and all the festivities going on in the next few nights. It's gonna be busy, but FUN!

Happy Halloween to Everyone!!!
We love Ya!

Primary Program

Okay... so this year Jordan was able to be in the Primary Program. He knew his parts, he knew the songs, he was ready! Well, this past Sunday was the day that he had prepared for! I was looking forward to it. These Sundays are some of my favorites and now I had someone to watch (my own son). Wouldn't you know it! Jordan got sick. Yep... of all days, it had to be this Sunday! and we couldn't even attend! I was so bummed. I was looking forward to this Sunday for quite some time, and it all came to an abrupt end when he started throwing up, and other things. Oh well... I guess we have next year!

It's done!!!! Hooray!

Well.... After working long and hard, Ryan has finished the playhouse and it is soooo cute. And for those of you wondering.... yes, there is a dog door, so Jess can get in when it is cold outside. The kids love it, and it is the talk of the town.

It's Harvest Time!!!

Okay, most of you know we moved into a new home this summer. Well... the previous owners made alot of work for us. They had planted multiple fruit items and we reaped the benefits of it! Unfortunately I have been overwhelmed with fruit! I had a million raspberries, that I made a ton of raspberry jam with, froze some to put on cereal, and I gave some to friends at work!, Grapes... who knew that grapes grew in our neck of the woods? WoW!!! We have had a ton! Again, we made jelly, and some juice and we are trying to share the wealth with friends and neighbors (and yet we still have some), apples... Holy Cow! Brandy, myself, and the kids picked apples yesterday and boy did we have lots! I am trying to think of everything that we can use apples for, but I just don't know what to do with them all. Here is what I have made and am going to make, and if anyone else has any ideas, I'd love to hear them. I am making apple butter, apple cider, apple pie filling, dehydrated apples, and apple leathers. I have enough applesauce from last year so I didn't need anymore of that. Last, I have plums coming out of my ears. I am not making plum jelly, so I just don't have a lot of ideas of what to do with plums. I am going to dehydrate some and make plum leathers, but what else can you do with them (besides eat them raw, cause we've been doing that )

By the way... If anyone is in town and would like some of our crop, please feel free to stop by (until it is all gone of course!)

Here are a couple of pics of our harvest!!!

Playhouse update

Well... I told you that Ryan was building the kids a playhouse. He is doing such a good job and it is looking soooo good. I want to play in it!!! Here are some pictures along the way. Jordan and Elly LOVE it. Ryan put up the slide and a firepole and both get ALOT of use!

Jordan's first day of pre-school

Jordan was so excited to be starting pre-school! He couldn't believe that he would get to ride a bus and get to eat breakfast at school! It is so fun to watch him grow up! He is such a good little thing. So... last night I told him it was time for bed, and he was getting ready to fight with me like he always does, and I told him he has to get ready to go to school. He just jumped up and said "Okay Mom" and went to bed. This morning when I woke him up to get dressed. He was soooooo happy! He put on his new transformer shirt, and his Wall -E shoes, and was ready to go!

I called him after he had gotten home from school to see how his day had gone! Of course he loved it. He said his teacher was "100 nice" that's ALOT! He said they got to play ring around the bus and they even got to sing songs. He told me that he loved singing but they couldn't sing the "Lamanite" song (that is Book of Mormon Stories for those of you who may not speak "Jordan") He is too cute! I love hearing about his day and everything that he is learning! How fun!

Ryan's new project!

I tell ya! Ryan can't just sit down and relax! That guy is always doing something, he has to be or else he gets bored. The thing is... we are all excited about what he's building. You ready for it.... A PLAYHOUSE!!!! YAY!!! The kids are so happy and can't stop talking about it. It is going to be two stories with a slide coming off the top story, and we already built the sandbox that is going to be right behind it. So far the kids, well actually all of us, had fun playing in it. It was like being at the beach (without the water, oh... and the sun)!! Anyways... here are some pictures of the "kids" playing in the sandbox! Thank you Mark, for the dirt! We really appreciate it!

P.S. Elly got some dirt on her face, the dirt stuck to the boogers she had hanging from her nose. With that said, she looked a little like Hitler. We thought it was funny!