She's making a list, and checking it....twice...

Yep, I am going to toot my horn for just a minute. This past week was crazy busy but I am proud to say that I have completed most of my Christmas shopping/to do list. Here are just a few things that I have been up to:
Home made gifts for grandparents. Check.
Home made ornaments for the tree. Check.
Send off Christmas Cards. Check.
Joy School Christmas program. Check.
Deliver H.T./V.T gifts. Check.
Deliver friends/neighbors gifts. Check.
Deliver Y.W. things. Check.
Take the kids to see Christmas lights. Check.
Get gifts for my side of the family. Check.
Get gifts for JR's side of the family. Check.
Pick up J.R.s' gift. Check.
Pick up myself a gift. Check. (I've been a good girl this year.)

Hope your holidays are off to a good start. We are off to UT/Vegas for Christmas with my family and then ID for New Years with JR's family. Hope you are all enjoying this wonderful time of the year. See you in 2010!!!

Thanksgiving.

As I reflect on the past year, I am filled with lots of memories. November is a hard month for me. I lost my mother, grandmother, and third baby all in the month of November. It is a time of year that we should feel grateful and happy... but sometimes I feel biter, angry and hurt. When these powerful feelings enter into my mind, I can't help but be reminded of my Savior and His sacrafices for me. I miss my mom and grandma, and I think about Chelsea everyday. I feel like something is missing...like there is a void in my life. But after the turkey is eaten and the day is coming to a close, I find myself pondering the upcoming holiday. The birth of our Savior. I am reminded of a book that my dear friend sent me after Chelsea passed away. It's message is simple and yet very powerful to me. It is that He lives. Jesus Christ died so that we might live again!!!!!!!! When I read those beautiful words, (which is a tradition in our family now)I can't help but feel an overwhelming warmth in my heart and mind. I KNOW that I will see my mother and daughter again. I know that there is more to this life than what our mortal eyes can see. And I am grateful. I am thankful.

Carving the Pumpkin

Here we are digging out the seeds of the pumpkin. I always hate this part.


This is so gross!!!



Caitlynn had fallen asleep before we started carving the pumpkin. When JR got home, she woke up and wanted to see what we were doing. Here she is checking it out...


You can see what a tight grip she has on JR. She was very nervous.


And she hated it. It was so funny to see how scared she was of it. JR kept trying to get her to touch it and she was freaking out!


We couldn't decided if we wanted a happy face....


Or a scary face!!!


In the end, we decided that we would wait until tomorrow to carve the face. We were too tired to finish it.

And guess what??? The pumpkin never got a face. He was so gross and moldy that we just had to throw him away. I guess that is the lesson I get from not buying my pumpkin from the pumpkin patch.

It's Autumn Time!!!

I LOVE this time of year!!!! Watching the trees change color, pulling out those warm sweaters, the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming holidays, and lets not forget the trips to the pumkin patch. While the fall in California is not comparable to Michigan's, they still make it a pretty good time for the kids at the local pumpkin patch. We had fun and got to take some cute pictures, and really that is all that matters. In the end, we still went to Safeway to purchase our pumpkins.

Carmel Apples

For FHE one night in October, the kids and I made Carmel Apples. They didn't look very pretty but they sure tasted pretty yummy! The hard part was getting all those wrappers off of the carmel without Caitlynn trying to eat them. I felt like for every one wrapper I would get off, the kids would have already eaten two. (Note for next year-take the wrappers off the caramels beforehand.

Here is the final product. We added too much milk so that is why the caramel melted off the apples. Brooke and Luke wanted to dip their's in chocolate chips. Notice how they all dripped to the bottom??? I definately get docked for presentation.




I love how Luke lookes like he is going to pounce on the caramel apples in this picture.

I guess he did. It reminds me of the show coming out in a few weeks from the Twilight series-"New Moon". Can't wait to see it with my girlfriends. Looks like Luke found himself something to sink his mouth into. And guess what he is going to be for Halloween???? Yep, a Vampire.


At least one of my kids has some manners!

Happy Birthday Caitlynn!!!

We had a Rubber Ducky Party for Caitlynn's first birthday. She loves getting in the bath and playing with her rubber ducky so we thought it was appropriate. It was fun celebrating with our neighbors and friends. Thanks to everyone who came.

Because Caitlynn loves balloons, I went to the dollar store and bought 25 of these happy face balloons. Everyone got to take one home and they were a hit. (I was just glad I didn't get hit while I was trying to drive with those stuffed in my van).


Here she is getting ready to open her gift from us. It is a pink and purple Little Tykes car she can ride in outside. She and Brooke love playing with it in the backyard. I don't have a picture of her in it but they look so cute!


More presents to open! Thanks again to everyone who brought presents. She is loving them all!!!


Yay for presents! She got so excited she started clapping from all the excitement. She does that alot actually.


Here she is "thinking" about eating the cupcake. She isn't totally sure.


And then she finally started tearing into it. "Thanks Mom!!!"


Our family LOVES having Caitlynn around. We still can't believe what a joy she is in our lives. She makes us smile and laugh all the time. She is the sweetest little monkey ever. We don't know what we ever did without our little Caiters. We love you!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Caitlynn Rose!!!!!!!!!!!


Hope you had a fun first birthday!

1 Year of Caitlynn Rose

Caitlynn just turned 1 and I wanted to show how much she has grown-up. I can't believe she is already a year! I was almost in tears as I looked through all these photos. Lots of good memories and special times for our family. Caitlynn has brought so much happiness to our home. We sure do love her! Here are some pictures of her through-out her first year.

Here you are just minutes after you were born. Oh, how happy I was to get you out of me. You were a joy from the first minute you came into our lives! Welcome to the world!!!


Here you are about 2 days old. This was after we got home from the hospital. Welcome home Baby Caitlynn!


About one month old at my baby shower. You look so precious and small! I loved that pretty pink dress on you.


Here you are lying on Luke's bed and smiling for one of the first times. You were about 2 months old. Luke was so happy to see you smile.


We went to Grandpa Mac's house for new years and here you are sitting on Grandma Kay's lap with their dog Bella down below. (I think Bella was jealous of you)


I made this HUGE ugly bow and put it on your tiny head and just had to take your picture. I thought it was cute at the time, looking back it looks hideous!!! Sorry Caitlynn. But you still look cute at 4 months old.


I loved dressing you and Brooke in matching outfits and this is one of my favorites! I actually ended up taking you in that afternoon and got some pictures done of my girls. I love being your mom.


Here you are on Easter morning. You LOVED the Elmo basket! (7 months)


Aunt RiLee is holding you here and we are trying to get packed to move to Palo Alto. But we still had time to take pictures of Caitlynn. I remember when Brooke wore that shirt. Gotta love the hand-me-downs! This was about 9 months old.


This one was taken on Mom and Dad's weekend getaways in the city. Since you still nursed like crazy we had to take you. But you looked so cute in that Elf jacket that we weren't too upset. (Luke, Brooke and Caitlynn have all used this jacket)


This was the morning after our campout in the Crystal Springs 1st ward. We weren't technically in the ward but we wanted to join all our old friends and have one last campout in August. You slept the whole night and kept me pretty warm in my sleeping bag.


I love this picture of you!!! You were using that tricycle to help you keep your balance while you learned to walk. You would get so excited to see it and then when we had to come inside you would cry. Eventually I just let you bring it inside and push it around the house. Just look how happy you are! You are almost one year in this picture.