January happenings

Well, a new year is upon us!  2012!  I really can't get over how fast the time is flying.  The kids are growing and getting so big and involed in a few things, which is wonderful.  It really keeps me quite busy!  I love it!
-Ethan has taken off in reading...especially within the past 2 weeks- FINALLY!!! We can't be more proud of him!  His new love is 'Goosebump' books.  He informed me today that he even skipped recess and kickball to read the entire time!  I was shocked!  He was really funny though when he told me, "Mom, it was really hard not to think about kickball.  I did play it the last 2 minutes or so!"  What a silly boy!  I can't get enough of him!  We had the missionaries over this evening and he was a great helper: setting the table, used his manners, helped with clean up, straightened up the family room after they left, and picked up all the toys...I thought, "What have you done with Ethan?" ;)  HA!   He is really enjoying Basketball and scouts right now. 
-Alexis is also doing so well in school.  She is coming out of her shell quite nicely!  I love her so much and all her statements she comes up with!  She is quite hilarious actually!  I love that she makes us all laugh and is so patient and understanding with Hunter.  She explains things so well and she can get a laugh out of any of us!  She loves her tumbling class and is getting quite excited for spring soccer!  She is a wonderful sister and a great helper to me!  We are so proud of her and love her so!
-Hunter is as busy as ever....I think maybe he'll slow down one day!  He begs for me to read to him everyday.  He carries around a stack of about 10 books with him..."Read to me Mommy!" he says.  He's getting so big....wears a 3T.  He's 2 1/2 now.  He takes pride in getting himself dressed without any help! He is such a little boy: loves trains, trucks, and cars!  Sometimes in the mornings after dropping the kids off to school, we go and wait for the train to pass us.  He grins from ear to ear in awe at its size and loudness!  It's the simple things!  He keeps us on our toes, but oh how we love him so!
-Chris is working so hard in PA school and unfortunately, we don't see much of him, but when we do, it's a good time!  This past Sunday morning was spent in our PJ's reading the Friend, making a big breakfast, and enjoying being together.  It was priceless!
-I am doing well- busy between part-time work and being a mom at home! I do enjoy it very much!  I'm even picking up a little hobby of learning how to quilt, thanks to my friend, Amanda!  She is AMAZING and is sharing a bit of her talent with me.  I am making an Easter table runner...pictures to come!

Here are a few pics of the past month....

 My dad with the kids playing 'Jenga'

 Ethan and Alexis ice skating for the first time this season!  LOVED IT!

 We had a 30th Birthday party for my sister, Christina!  It was fun! I think she enjoyed it!

 Ethan and Lucky....Ethan's first pinewood Derby Car....finished 7th....a great place to start!  We've got some tips for next year!  This was a fun event Ethan enjoyed!

 Ethan with George, his buddy! Hunter at one of Ethan's BBALL games!  Such a cutie! :)

 Alexis with her curlers I got her for Christmas!  Her hair is beautiful all curly.  I will get a picture next time with it done so you can see!

December to Remember

It's the first Sunday in December....I just love Christmas and I LOVE my kids!  Hubby was studying today, so I decided to ask a friend to see if she could come and take some pics of the kids with her TOTALLY amazing camera (and her totally amazing talent!).  She was available and these are some of the finishing touches!  I LOVE THEM! Merry Christmas everyone!

A wolf in our mist!

Ethan is a wolf now....and he is beyond excited!  I can't believe how much he is growing up!  Ready or not, it's coming!  I'm just so proud of him and his determination to be a scout (he's been asking for over a year on and off)!  Chris and I are thrilled to see what he will learn and how he'll grow!

Here are a few pics of him in his new attire!

June/July summer fun!

WOW! I can't believe how I've let this blog get so out of date, but it happens!!! THIS summer was crazy busy.....I worked alot and played alot....and so therefore didn't get much blogging done. Here are a few pics from the past summer!

Ethan and Alexis did an art camp this summer for a week!  They loved it!  I love the crafts they made!  A pencil holder, bird feeder, bowl, toothbrush holder and an elephant paper holder!  We are sure putting these things to great use! 

We also had so much fun this summer with the neighbor kids, the Chesters.  Gabe, the oldest came to play often.  It was great watching them interact and play!  Lots of 'jam sessions' were going on here too!  So fun! :)

Can't forget about the microphone....thank you Alexis and Hunter using his hand as one!!!!

We also helped a family out in our church this summer by keeping their daughter for a week.  Leah Bell....we love ya girlie!  It was a great time with never a dull moment here!  She took these pictures at a local park on a hot day!!!  Love my kiddos!!!

The kids also were in 2 weeks of swimming lessons at a local pool with the best instructor ever!!!  They both did so great!  Ethan spent most of our pool outings jumping off the low and high dives and doing 'new stunts' as he called them!  I enjoyed watching the kids learn new skills.  Alexis too can jump off the low dive and swim well all on her own!!!

We were able to have my neice, Haley, here also for 10 days this summer!  She is such a sweetheart!  We all loved having her here!  The kids played so well together!  Haley is 2 years older than Ethan.  Most of these pictures are taken at Big Meadows in Skyline Drive!  We love this area!  Absolutely beautiful!  We spent most of an entire day there hiking and climbing, packed a lunch there and saw a few animals...but not a bear! Too bad!! (the kids kept talking about 'what do we do if we see a bear?')
It was funny! :)

 Haley and I went to a cupcake decorating party too!  She did such a great job on her cupcakes!

Service to others

This past Sunday, we had an amazing sacrament meeting given by an 11 year old boy in our stake, a 14 year old girl and our high counselor....all about service and why we are to give service...getting back to the basics! So, naturally, I asked the kids how they thought the meeting went.  I really really appreciated Ethan's sigh with a "Well, OK Mom, I guess I'll do something nice for Alexis this week!"

Monday for family home evening, I challenged the kids, Hunter too, to do something nice for someone else at least once every day for 2 weeks for a little "reward".  I have to say that we are 5 days into it now, and I'm loving how the kids are thinking of "things" they can do for others.  Ethan has helped his teacher this week, made Alexis' bed, has spoken nicer!  Alexis has made our bed.  She continues to be an example of love and obedience.  Both are speaking so nice to each other...for the most part!  I'm very touched by their efforts!  The spirit abides in our home more.  I'm really enjoying this challenge...as I'm trying to do more things everyday for them and for Chris.  Hopefully this will help them see how influencial they can be in someone else's life by giving Christlike service. 

Hunter's haircut...

After pictures:

Before pictures:


AWE! I know it's time to cut hair when it's almost his eyes....I don't know why I was holding off so long, maybe just because it's the 'little boy look', but whatever it is, it's done! I love my kids! Each one of them has such personality and spunk! Hunter desperately needed a haircut....so a haircut he got!

4 plus one...

So, we took back one of my neices to spend some time here with us for two weeks before we head to our huge family reunion in West Virginia! We have had an eventful 2 days so far! Unfortunately, it was raining hard when we entered the 'Valley" we call come, so we did not go to any of the 4th celebrations around our home. We pulled in the driveway and I honestly wanted to sit and rest, but GO GO GO! LOL! We emptied out the van and then enjoyed a 3 mile bike ride. Luckily for us, the rain had stopped for just long enough for us to get home before it begain again! It was cool and nice weather for a bike ride! We came home to popcorn and movie, which was enjoyed by all!!!

Today, we got up, did chores, ate breakfast, went to swimming lessons for Ethan and Alexis ( with Haley and Hunter in the baby pool having fun), lunch, 2 loaves of bread made by Haley ( she was thrilled), homemade pizza for dinner, riding bikes, back to the pool, home for shower, and out for ice cream! Scriptures and bedtime for these kiddos!!! :) What a great day! Here is a picture of Haley with her first bread loaf! It was delicious, especially with Strawberry freezer jam on it! There's nothing like fresh bread still warm with homemade jam! YUMMY! :)