Lookie what I got!!!!

Out with the old!

And In with the new!!!!
(Don't mind the bottom, we hadn't put the bottom panel on yet)

but isn't it purty?

bummer

Craig is leaving tomorrow..

We're going to miss him.. but We are SO excited for him to come back next week with his wife Merry.. We can't wait to meet her.

The girls and even Mattie have become quite attached to him.

Blogging: computer required.

So Having my brother in town has been great don’t get me wrong, but I have just one thing to say to him..
“GIVE ME BACK MY LAPTOP!”
He’s a total computer hog! I mean really, I think I’ve had it an entire 15 minutes in the last week and a half! He even wrote half of the two posts I made! (Hence the “beautiful wife Merry” part)
What a bum!

Okay, so I really have enjoyed having Craig here. It has been years since we’ve been able to sit and talk like we have this week. Having him here has really instilled my beliefs in the importance of family support and of spending time with the people that are important to me (like, My family!)
It thrills me even more that he and his wife have decided to move here from Washington! He’s already gotten himself a job (yes in the first week he’s been here!!) and has already looked at places for them to live. I’m seriously impressed by his initiative and drive to support his family and to get things done. He and I have a lot in common that way. It is really awesome to watch. I’m hoping that a little of that might be inspiration to my own dear loving husband….


Christmas aftermath…
Ali has already broken her ipod earphones and LOVES singing in her microphone;

Megan has already broken her crystal Cinderella carriage Grandma bought her

, and LOVES her Next Generation doll. They have both gone through every one of their new outfits (and yes in only two days), and exhausted themselves to sleep by 9 O’clock last night.

I finally saw Pirates of the Caribbean 3 and The latest Harry potter!
We’re still in love with this

(thanks to grandma) its really quite cute! and fits perfectly in Matties Tonka truck!!
And Megan's talking My little pony keeps going off all by itself……. Spooky!
I played Mancala with Ang all day yesterday………
And my brother got one of These and Its really fun to play… Although I still don’t want one in my house….(cuz, I DESPIZE video games!!!!)

oh, and I'm thinking about doing this.........
Well, My time is limited so I must go.. But I’ll try my best to post some more this weekend

More Christmas

The Girls are home!!!!! hooray! We've missed them SO much. After many hugs and kisses, we dove right into the presents. They were thrilled with their gifts and just look at this mess!

Aunt Merry and Uncle Craig got the girls dress up tutu's with hair pieces. Megan wasted No time going from one gift to the next

Ali is such a rockstar with her new Ipod shuffle and her microphone and speaker White Christmas in Utah and home made snowflakes (rubber cemented to the window!) (that was from Craig)

We spent the evening at my parents house opening loads of presents and eating the best Turkey dinner I've had in a LOoonng time!

the girls are still over there finishing up a game of "life" with Craig and Steph.

(Taylor and I brought Mattie home to put his tired butt to bed)

The girls were so Happy to be home, and this has been an absolutely wonderful Christmas!

Here's' just one more of Ali belting it out on her microphone at my parents house.

This is one of the many outfits 'Aunt Stephanie' bought her

from "Justice for girls"

Merry Christmas

My brother Craig and his beautiful wife Merry gave Mattie a sit and spin.

Taylor's been waiting MONTHS to give him this big Tonka truck.

And Mattie also got this great Car rug to play with his "Gucks" on.

The girls get home in approximately 60 minutes, and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!

Hope you're having a very Merry Christmas!

This is from our Summer party.. bobbing for soda pop in Ice water.....

I believe in Santa Clause………….

A week or so ago, Ali came into my bedroom obviously ready for a serious talk.
She climbed up onto my bed, and jumped right in.
Ali- “mom, some of my friends think there’s no Santa Clause”
Me- “well, what do you think?”
Ali- frustrated “I just don’t know!!!!”,
Me- “Well, what do you want to believe?”
Ali- “ Well……. I WANT to believe, but even Michie and Emmee said there is no Santa Clause, so I just don’t know”…
Me-….. silent thoughtful pause…..
Ali- “ I just want to know Mom….”
Me- Silent conflicted pause…… “Well Ali, You’re right.. There is no Santa Clause… BUT isn’t it FUN to believe in it?”
Ali- Smiling “yeah, it is!”
Me …relieved …..
This Picture is from two years ago. You can still see from the look in her eyes, that she really believes..............
My little girl… growing up right before my eyes. The first to stop believing.
I did remind her that she got to believe it for this many years, so she was not to ruin it for her little brother and sister.
I think she felt important knowing that she knew but could still let her siblings enjoy it.

Girls School Program

Today we got to see the Girls School program. Megan was so cute all serious and no smiles.

Ali has a definite Height advantage. I had no trouble finding her in the Humongous rows of children! She looked completely bored most of the time, but was still pretty darn cute.

I love to make funny faces at them when they're on stage.

Ali can't help but Smile, but Megan kept a straight face.

So Big!

Beautiful

Gingerbread houses

We Made our Annual gingerbread house.
I always take the easy route and buy a kit. Call me lazy, I say Save me the stress!
Craig helped too. It was a great mess of fun!

Baking

Did I forget to mention that Mattie likes to help me bake?

checking in.

We're going to be busy around here for the next few weeks.
My brother Craig came into town for the Holidays and is staying with us for two weeks.

We're excited to have him here and have lots of fun things to show him.
He hasn't been home for Christmas in 15 years!

Today we went sledding at the school

It was SOOOO cold, but the kids loved it.
As I pulled the kids up the hill,
I looked back and they seemed to be enjoying the ride.

then I looked again!

Isn't there anyone who Knows what Christmas is all about?

Yep, thats me!

Cash Advance Loans

Fire Alarm!

I was awakened from a dead sleep early this morning by an annoyingly loud ring. I sat up confused and looked at the clock thinking it was my alarm. It was 12:30.. not my Alarm.. As I woke up a bit more I realized that it was the Fire Alarm in the hallway outside our bedrooms. I glanced to the spot next to me and noticed Taylor was not in bed. I jumped out of bed and opened my door.
There was smoke, it was loud, I was scared.
I ran into the girls’ bedroom as they were sitting up in their beds confused but waking up very quickly. Their room was filled with smoke. My eyes darted around their bedroom wondering if the cause of the smoke was in their room. I was relieved when it wasn’t.. I encouraged them to come on, and quickly ran to Matties room where I scooped him out of his crib.
We headed toward the stairs.
More smoke.
I wondered if I was going to be rushing my children through a fire to get out of the house..
Through Thick Smoke and choking breaths we hurried down the stairs.
That’s where we found Taylor, standing in very smokey kitchen holding a very charcoaled pan of Ramen noodles!
He had apparently fallen asleep while making himself a midnight snack.
It was a very short but tense situation, me gathering my children in thick billows of smoke ready to carry them outside to safety.
Sleeping afterwards was not easy for any of us. After the excitement wore off the smell and remaining smoke in the house kept us awake longer.
I’m afraid the smell has still not improved.
This morning I asked Ali about it.
I said “well At least we know our smoke alarms work”
her reply….. “And that Heavenly Father is watching over us!”
I whole heartedly agreed.

This morning the girls drew pictures of the event for show and tell.
Here is Megan’s’ interpretation of it..

Another one!!

Busy week! Here's a sneak peak of last nights session...

Family shoot

How cute is this family? Definitely more my style than the 'formal' sitting... So fun!

Jake at Jessica's house!

yes!I did it!I took the pictures woo!hoo! look at the picture aren't they cute! I like the red the best! yo! Jake did this even the typing too! isn't that awesome! email me back at jangojake@gmail.com

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Above written by Jacob......

(I watched Megan's littles tonight while she went to work. We finally got the matching Christmas jammies that I've been waiting for, and I asked Jake to take our picture in them. He did a FABULOUS job! you're going to have to wait to see them though.... No sneak peaks here!.

Jake took a few minutes to blog his success on my site before he left.. I think he pretty much rocks! He did the whole thing himself, just like he wrote!

Thanks Jakey for being so cool!!!)