A New Addition...

Today we added a new addition to our family...

I am one happy camper right now!!!

Winter Blues...

 It was predicted that we would have a bad Winter, but what exactly did a bad Winter mean? What I didn't know in the Fall I know now.  Utah's bad Winter means: Long periods of freezing temperatures, inversion that won't go away, good snow storms, and bad ice storms. Yesterday we had quite the storm.  One that I have never seen before. They called it freezing rain.  It was the strangest thing, it was rain until it hit something then it would freeze instantly.  It was as if Frozone from the Incredibles came and covered everything in a sheet of ice. The main streets were ok to drive on, the smaller streets were a little harder, but parking lots were insane!   Last night I had a soccer game followed by a basketball game and we were lucky enough to not turf it on our faces at either place. The kids just stood while we pulled them on the ice.  Of course I am married to a Rich so we had to spin doughnuts.  Once our doughnut was done we would just keep sliding backwards never really coming to a stop. Although it was quite fun I am ready to see the sun! I am pretty much done with being cooped up in our house.  I want some spring weather!

Another Adventure...

Last night Maddie found a car bed at the DI and bought it for Connor.  So today I took the plunge and put away the crib, with help from the kids of course.  And put Connor in his big boy bed, and he loves it. Whether it's that it looks like a car or that he now has freedom and can get out I'll never know.   But when I put him down for his nap he only came out once before falling asleep.  I hope it stays that easy!

Where did my baby go? Next thing you know we will be potty training.

Month of Love...

 I realize I might be a little early but I was getting a bit sick of looking at my snowmen, I needed some new color in the house, so what better than a little bit of pink and red?

I am excited to show and express all the love that I have for my sweet family and especially for my HOT husband.  I love him more and more everyday.  In February I am going to post 14 things that I love about each one of them.  I am so blessed and it's all because Nic and I fell in LOVE!

Fun and No Fun...

 On Saturday Payton had another friend birthday party to go to.  One of the reasons why I love the new ward so much is because of how many kids are Payton's age, more specifically how many girls.  There are 10 girls her age and Payton loves each and every one of them.  Saturday was Daisie's party and they were asked to dress up as princess'.  Payton really wanted to be Merida so we improvised with what we had in the dress up box.  I thought she looked super cute as Merida.  Payton had so much fun and the "real" Ariel was at the party too.

 Connor hasn't been feeling to well over the last week.  All day Friday he just wanted to be held and kept fighting a temperature. Finally that night I had Nic take him in and sure enough he caught the dreaded RSV.  He has been extra cuddly but so sick.  Today he is getting back to normal and finally ate breakfast and lunch.  He hasn't eaten since Friday so I am very happy about that.

Saturday Nic was able to go snowmobiling with Chad and Sam and from the videos it looked like they had a lot of fun.  The sun was shining and there was a couple feet of new snow.  I was in awe of how beautiful the views were.  I'm glad that he was able to go and to have such a fun time.

Me At My Best...

 Yesterday morning I had a small surgery done. I have been having some female problems for quite awhile and have just kept telling myself that it would fix itself. Well one day while I was at Walmart I started to bleed quite heavily and didn't have anything with me.  When I got home I soaked my stained pants and called    
my doctor to schedule an appointment because I had had it.  I hated this! I have been wearing a pad or a tampon basically every day since July. With those few rare occasions where I hadn't bled for a few days so I figured I was good. The soonest that I could get in was December 17 and at this point that was a month away.  I figured what the heck what's another month at this point.  December 17 came and it happened to be  the last day of my regular period.  So the doctor checked me and there was still a lot of blood in my uterus.  He said that I would still have several more days of bleeding.
I left with not really any information as to why this was happening and was prescribed, "the mother of all birth controls" a few days later I got a call telling me that my doctor wanted to schedule a procedure. Monday I went in for my pre-op and Housel sat down with me and said he didn't like what he saw and wanted to get me back to regular so that I could get pregnant.  So early the next morning I went in to have my procedures done.  I had a D and C and a hysteroscopy he also took a biopsy so hopefully we can get answers in the next week or so.  Or hopefully I can just get back to a regular menstrual cycle.

I'm so proud of myself.  I am getting better with needles and did pretty good while they were giving me my IV.

 I realize these pictures aren't the most flattering but what do you expect from a hubby that I documented his in-grown toenail removal of.

 I obviously knew he was taking this picture but I do not remember this at all!

New Curriculum...

Our Sunday went a little differently than I am used to.  Instead of rushing to eat and get the kids and myself ready for church it was much more relaxing.  We fed the kids without even mentioning the words "hurry or faster".  Instead we enjoyed the morning and got ready with out feeling rushed.  We were ready to walk out the door by 10:00. So we sat and sat and sat until it was time to go to church for our 11:00 meeting.  It was a little difficult though because Payton isn't feeling well so we kept her home.  Nic stayed home with her while Connor and I went to Sacrament. Connor loves nursery now! He has been so good and will basically run from the chapel to nursery all while yelling "choo choo".  His favorite is the train table. I arranged for Maddie to skip out on some church to watch Payton because I needed to be in Young Women's and Nic needed to be in Elders Quorum to teach.  That's a little difficult to have a sick kid at home and not be able to miss church.  Oh well it all worked out and I know Maddie didn't mind.
This year the church came out with a new curriculum of teaching.  Since everything is digital they want us to use the technology that is given and teach with it. We no longer have lesson manuals but just a small out line of things that should be discussed and different videos that can go along with it. The church wants the youth to be more involved.  It is going to be challenging but amazing.  Yesterday was the first day of us teaching this way and it will be a lesson I will never forget.  The spirit that was there was so strong and I know all of the girls felt it.  Several girls shared personal stories of things they have been through and experiences they have had to testify to them that Heavenly Father is real. 
I shared an experience I had on Saturday night with Payton.  She had a fever and couldn't sleep because of her cough.  We were in our bedroom laying on the floor when Payton grabbed my hand and said, "We need to say a prayer, but you better say it."  We sat up and prayed together.  I asked for her cough to subside so that she could get the rest she needed.  It was only 5 minutes later when Payton was sound asleep.  I laid by her staring  at her perfect little face and said a silent prayer thanking my Heavenly Father for the blessing that just took place.
I know that this new curriculum has come forth at the right time and that it is not only what our youth need but what I need.  I am excited for this challenge to feel the spirit more and to be more in tune with what the girls need to hear.  I am excited for the testimonies that are going to grow and be strengthened I am excited for our relationships to become stronger and to grow closer to one another.  I am excited to see what experiences the girls will have every week when they receive new challenges and goals.  I am so excited for this Gospel and progress that it makes every single day.  And finally I am so excited to have a part in all of it.

2012-2013...

 We had a late visit from Santa Claus at the Rich family party.

This is as close as Connor wanted to be...

 We went for a drive to see some beautiful lights...

 On New Years Eve we played games as we waited for the clock to strike midnight...

 Payton put herself to bed while Connor fell asleep around 11:30...

 Then we celebrated with some bubbly and fireworks...