Happy New Year!

I so rarely find myself without my camera...but I happened to leave it home on Saturday. The weather was great so we went to Bringle Lake and took the kids on a bike ride. They had a lot of fun and it was the first time that Regan has been big enough to actually ride the little trike...she absolutely loved it...being outside is her thing. Well, we really have had a fun little Christmas break- I didn't know how it would be this year but I am really going to miss the girls when they go back to school and Tod when he actually has to work a full day again. Anyway, here's wishing everyone a happy 2008. Don't you just love a fresh start? I am really wanting to improve some things about myself. I guess it's never too late to try again. Looking back on 2007, I really can't complain (though at times I have!) It had its ups and downs, but all the important things are still in place and that's what counts!

Christmas Eve, Christmas Morning

I thought this might be a bit of a long day with two anxious little gals nipping at my heels....it was a little lengthy, but we managed to get through it. We rearranged bedrooms which we have wanted to do for awhile and cleaned out old toys (with the hope of getting some new things!). We also made chocolate dipped pretzels for Santa and took a trip to the park- gotta love Texas weather! We finished our day with our traditional Christmas Eve Italian dinner and the girls opened their new matching pajamas. We then read the books that my Dad and Pat had sent which helped us think about the true meaning of Christmas. We ended with Tod reading "Twas the night before Christmas". The copy we use is one that my parents had when they were first married and we had read it every year for my entire life. I'm glad to have that book now for my own family...the cover is labeled with a price of 49 cents. The girls actually fell asleep quickly which gave us time to get to work! Even as an adult, I still get so excited. What a special night!!!

Merry Christmas Y'all!!

We had a wonderful Christmas Day! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the morning. The girls were soooo excited this year....even Regan got into the fun. Poor Ashton was awake most of the night waiting for Santa with hopes of getting her American Doll- she has wanted it for months and months. As usual, we had to wake Jordan up to get in on the celebration!

This Christmas was different for our little family because it was just us...no extended family and no friends around either this year (out of town visiting their own families!) Earlier this week, Ashton asked why everyone else got to go to Utah for the holidays, except for us! To be honest, I was kind of dreading it...but it turned out to be so nice and relaxing. After the girls opened their gifts, we just enjoyed! We all sat together and opened everything and played with everything and tried everything out. For once in our lives, we were not in a hurry!!!! We had a nice breakfast, snacks in between and a Christmas dinner. It really turned into a perfect day for us, and I found myself feeling really thankful for the Tod and the girls....also thinking back on all the great Christmases of my life...and yes, missing my family, especially my mom, a little bit. Some of my favorite moments of the day...seeing Ashton get her doll, playing Leapster with Jordan, and seeing Regan run from gift to gift checking things out. I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

Happy Anniversary

Seven Years

Eight Moves

Three States

Three Kids

Best Friends.....

Happy Anniversary to us!!!

Grandma Wanda

Earlier this week, Tod's grandma, had a stroke, and she passed away peacefully yesterday morning. I have a soft spot in my heart for Grandma Wanda because she was the first person in Tod's family that I met. In fact, at the time Tod and I started dating, he was living with Wanda in Layton, Utah. The summer of 2000 is one I will never forget. I enjoyed getting to know Wanda- her spunky personality, her love of her dogs, and her funny stories. I can still picture her with a can of Diet Coke in her hand. She seemed to really understand how "in love" Tod and I were...and she was an awfully good sport about our late hours and comings and goings. We had a lot of fun times together going to the Star Cafe, working in her yard and just visiting. Since that time, we had kind of lost touch with us moving far a way...but I will still always remember Wanda with love and good memories. This picture is of Wanda holding Ashton when she was about a month old. I wish the girls could have gotten to know her. I wish that I could have known her better.

A Special Guest

Last Saturday, my baby sister (aka Aunt Katy) came for a visit. We had soooo much fun! We picked her up in Dallas and stopped at the American Girl store- quite an experience. We then headed to Texarkana to show her our life here. Katy is so easy to have around- sleeps whereever, eats what you're eating, and does what you are doing. This visit that meant she sang in the choir at church since we were short-handed, helped me take Regan to the dr., and helped with Ashton's school Christmas party. Some of the fun things we did were eating lunch at Olive Garden, going to Jordan's gymnastics, browsing at the craft store, working on last minute Christmas projects, and seeing Santa at the mall.

The girls love their Aunt Katy and look forward to the fun little personalized gifts she always brings. Katy has always made a big effort to be a part of the girls' lives, and since we had always lived away, that has meant travelling (usually with her own resources) to wherever we are living.

When we first moved to Texas and I was feeling a little blue, Katy said, "you know I'll come see you" and I took great comfort in that! The worse part of having her come is when she leaves...I always miss her so much, but she always departs with the phrase, "I'll be back..." and I know she will! We love you Aunt Katy! Thanks for coming to see us.

Jordan Marie

Something has been on my mind...after taking these pictures of Jordan last week, I was stunned to see how her birthmark has changed and nearly disappeared over the last four years. As many of you know, when Jordan was born, she had a strawberry hemangioma on her lip. This baby picture was taken when she was 8 months old (the date on the picture is wrong). While we were in Iowa, she had 3 laser surgeries and we were told that over time, the birthmark would fade and diminish. I could never have guessed how good it would look now. Since moving to Texas, no one has even asked about her lip... and it makes me happy to know that now when people look at her, they see Jordan and not a mark on her face.

Things I love about Jordan:

-Her fun personality- she is almost always happy and giggly! She thinks everything is funny and will even laugh at my silly jokes and actions.

-She is a great sister- puts up with Ashton's orders and takes such good care of Regan.

-She is very independent- I have joked that she could probably survive on her own if she had too- she gets dressed herself, bathes herself, gets own snacks, etc.

-Jordan has great nicknames- J0-J0, Beanie, Chunk-a-Monk, etc.

-She can chat with just about anyone who will listen

-She helps me around the house and sticks with chores until they are done

-Jordan has learned lots of Bible stories at school this year, and when I pick her up she retells them and it is so cute...last week, "God told Jonah to go to Ninebah- He said NO- God made a big storm come and the men threw him off the boat...a big shark swallowed him and he was in his belly for free (3) days and free (3) nights. The then he pit (spit) him out on the wand (land). Then he listened and went to Ninebah!" Quite accurate!

I just adore this girl...by the way, she made this darling Christmas tree at her preschool out of a flower pot and paper towel rolls. They do the neatest projects.