In Memory...

11 years ago today Mom returned to our Heavenly Father. She was the sweetest, caring, most sincere person in the world. She had some many wonderful attributes. For all the pain she endured in her life she always had a smile on her face. I never heard her raise her voice and she was always doing things for others no matter what challenge presented itself. I look up to her so much and want to follow in her every footstep. She was the BEST Mom anyone could ever ask for. I miss her SO much but know that she is in a better place! I know she is watching over me and my family. I will never forget all the fun times I had with Mom...going to lunch after doctor's appointments, shopping, chatting, learning to cook, doing service, laughing, Christmas traditions, her beautiful singing voice, etc.. She will forever be in our hearts! I love how Cooper and the other grandchildren know who Grandma is even though they never met her in this life. She had such a love for children. Every time we drive on 100 south past the cemetery Cooper says, "There is Grandma's grave." He love to go "visit" her and take flowers or little notes. So, today not only do we celebrate Mom in our hearts, but Justin & Dayten's birthday!

We love you Mama Angel!

Merry Christmas Card

Pictures...LOTS

Ok can I just say, I have the most talented friends/family ever!! Teria (my neice in-law) hah that sounds funny...she is Mike's wife, took our family pictures and some pictures of Kallie for her blessing. Thanks Teria...I LOVE them. Here are some of my favs.

Kallie

Family Pics

I don't love this one of Nick & me but love how Coop is looking at Kallie

The Mr. & Mrs.Mr. Mischievous

Sweet Baby

Holy Cow it is hard to get a good picture of all of us. Coop is either trying to run off or looking for his next adventure spot. Kallie would sleep and then wake up and look around but, I love how each picture has a story.. i guess that's what makes it ok! Thanks Mike for trying to keep Cooper entertained and to look at the camera.

Two Months

I can't believe it was already time to go back to the doctor. Two months flew by! Kallie has defiantly chunked up since her last visit. She was only in the 16 percentile for her weight but now she is up to 48%. Her weight is 10lbs 11oz. She loves her milk! Poor girl had shots and it was the saddest thing ever! She cried louder than she ever has in her whole newborn life! This was pretty much her expression all day besides the pouty lip which I couldn't seem to capture.

Somethings Kallie is doing at 2 months

• Starting to coo
• looks for Nick when she can hear his voice
• smiles at him more than anyone else
• gets lots and lots of kisses and hugs from all of us
• only wakes up twice during the night
• naps best in her bassinet
• will only fall asleep on her tummy
• constantly kicks her legs when you lay her on her back on a blanket
• loves to suck on her hand
• loves bath time
• does not like to be rubbed down with lotion
• likes to be held facing out to see everything or over your shoulder

Cooper never seems to amuse me with the things he does! I walked into the bathroom a while back (11.23.09) and there was a cut up pile of paper on the floor. I asked him what he was doing and he replied, "Mom, it's paper. I put it in a pile!" Oh, what a kid...well then to my dismay as I lifted him up on the counter to do his hair I noticed this.....I asked him if he cut his hair? "No" he said as his eyes got all big. I asked if he was lying and again, "No"...eyes getting even bigger. I showed him his hair in the mirror and he quickly said, "well maybe I cut it just a little" Oh geez...what a stinker!

We had ANOTHER talk on giving yourself your own hair cuts and telling lies. Sometimes I wonder if I am even getting anything through to him!

Gratitude

I am so overcome with emotion and my heart is so full I had to record my feelings (this blog is my journal) So, I know this may not be interesting to any of you. I am so grateful for all of the many things in my life. These last few months I have truly realized what is important in life and how blessed my little family is. Fist off, I am so thankful for the gospel and my savior Jesus Christ and all of the sacrifices he has made for each one of us. I really don't know what I would do without the gospel. I rely upon it everyday and my faith just keeps growing through every experience I have. It is amazing to look at things in your life and it seems as if your world is crashing down, but after much prayer and doing, something always come to cheer you up or help you out...and I know that is our Heavenly Father. He really loves us and cares about us and knows exactly what we need. Our wonderful ward, Bishop, and church callings have blessed my life so much! Our ward is so kind and seriously the greatest ward ever. Our Bishop is an amazing man. He is the most thoughtful and caring person and always so happy and did I mention...hilarious! My calling has helped me in more ways than I ever thought it could. Since having the baby I haven't been to church very often. Nick and I usually switch off going every other Sunday but this last month he has either had to teach, primary program, and sharing time so I haven't been able to go. It didn't realize how much I would miss church! It sounds funny but, it really seems like something is missing when I don't go.

Second, I am so thankful for family. For my wonderful husband and the firm testimony he has and the priesthood power he holds. He is amazing and I am so lucky to be with him for eternity. Every trial we have gone through has caused stress and confrontation but has defiantly made us closer and stronger as a couple and makes me love him more and more everyday. He is one of the most serviceable and caring people I know. He really cares about people. I love the way he loves our children. I am so thankful for them and the joy that they bring to my life. It is sure hard sometimes, but I don't know what I would do without them. My parents and siblings are such great examples to me and are so caring. I am so grateful to have such a good relationship with all of them and love them dearly.

Third, Friends and people who serve. We are so blessed to have so many friends and people who care about us. I can't even express how much gratitude I feel towards people who are so selfless and listen to the spirit and help those who need it. They are truly amazing people and I have come to see how the Lord really works through people. He know what we need and he prompts us to find those people who need it. Fourth, for all the things that make life enjoyable...warm house, toilets, running water, washer/dryer, bathtub/shower, comfy bed, cars, food, etc..

I was at wal-mart a couple weeks ago picking up some milk and as I walked out there was a little boy ( boy scout) selling popcorn balls, he was probably 9 or 10. He came up and asked if I would buy a popcorn ball. I pulled out my dollars and gladly accepted my popcorn..ok well Cooper did! As, I walked away I looked back and he continued to approach people and most just walked right past without acknowledging this boy. I teared up thinking of how even a simple "no thank you" would be nicer than to just walk past pretending he isn't even there. It made me want to be a better person just by this little experience.

Christmas Tree Hunting

The day after Thanksgiving we went out to cut down our Christmas tree with Bennett's Family up in the Kiabab. We love doing this, it is our tradition every year. This year was a little more difficult than years past. We got up to the mountain around 2:00. Ben & Haley found their tree first so we cut that one down and continued to look for our tree. Now most of you who know Nick know that he is very much a perfectionist so we were in search for the perfect tree although it was mostly just him looking because I was in the truck with Kallie looking from the road so, I really wasn't much help. Cooper was helping, but every tree was his favorite! :) So, finally at 5:45p.m. Nick found it! Nick had backed up to the area the tree was at and him and Ben got out to go cut it down. Haley yelled over to the truck and said, "Holy Cow, did you see the tree he got?" I turned around to see and I saw a tree, but couldn't see the guys. Well, they were behind the tree that was laying there. That is how big of round that thing was!! I swear the tree was like 80 feet tall ;) The trimmed it down and got it to fit in the truck. Here is our massive tree............. Notice how dark it is? Ya, we were lucky to find one before it was too dark! Here is our finished product. Our tree was so big that it barley looks like I have any ornaments on it. haha

smile, bath, goof

Sweet little Kallie started to smile last week. She is a hard one to get to smile on demand, but Nick has found a way. He lightly blows on her face and she gets the biggest smile ever! What a cutie!She absolutely LOVES bath time. She kicks and splashes the whole time she is in the bath.

Cooper is just a GOOF!! He makes us laugh constantly with the things he comes up with. This was one night while getting ready for bed. He decided he wanted to read his books by the front door with his "glasses". :)

These two little kiddies make life so fun! Love them!

Funny Boy

Cooper has been such a funny boy lately! He says the silliest things. Last week He was sick with the flu and was sleeping on a little bed on the floor in our room. It was about 4 in the morning and Nick notices Cooper sneaking in our bed. Nick told Cooper to go get back in his bed and he replied, "My bed is messy!" (The sheets and blankets were all messed up and falling off his little mattress.) Nick got up and fixed his "messy" bed.

One morning he came into our room and said, "Psst.. dad, it's morning time. I heard my bus drive by! (The garbage man was driving down the street)

I asked Cooper to go do something and he didn't want to so he said, "I can't. My legs are crackin'...it's in my bones!

When he can smell food cooking - "MMM....what is that? It smells good! I think I am hungry!"

If you ask him if he is hungry - "Ya, I could eat an elephant!"

Where he comes up with these things....I don't know, but it sure puts a smile on my face and makes me giggle!

Trick or Treat

What a fun and busy Halloween we had this year. It all started on Thursday when Cooper got to wear his costume to preschool for his Halloween Party! He was so excited! Friday he woke up and put his costume on and asked, "When are we going trick or treating?" He was one sad little boy to find out it wasn't today so, he played Pirates! Saturday came and we made Halloween cupcakes for G-ma & Gpa's. We started our visits around three o'clock made it home for dinner at six. After dinner we went trick or treating around the neighborhood and then headed over to the Brooks' Halloween House for donuts & hot chocolate...YUM!

My little Pirate

Showing off the sword

Arrr...Halloween outfit...Thanks Aunt Toni!Cute little flower- thanks Aunt KarVisiting with G-ma & G-pa Great LOVE these baby blues!! (I hope she keeps them)

FALL

I absolutely LOVE this time of year! The smells are my most favorite...the crisp air, pumpkins, and my hot wassail smelly that is in my warmer right now...mmm so yummy! Everything about this time of year is so fun...sweaters, the glowing fireplace, hot cocoa, thanksgiving, fall colors, etc... I could go on and on. Last night we carved our pumpkins. Cooper had so much fun deciding what to carve on his pumpkin..it turned out cute as for Nick's...the headless pumpkin horseman...hmm not so sure! ;)Cooper is getting so excited for Halloween! He tries on his costume everyday.
I can't believe how fast Cooper is growing...it is happening way to fast! He is such a funny little guy.Today he went outside and came back in and said, "Brrr.. it is so chilly out!" Haha I love the things he says.

Some of his favorite things right now are:
Playing swords
shooting hoops
playing his computer game
school
helping me cut up vegetables (with his sword)
apples
hold kallie
obsessed with telling everyone we have a dog in the backyard (we don't). When told that we don't have a dog he says, yes we do...Daisy! (that is the neighbors dog, apparently it is Coop's dog too :) )
picking up dead spiders
looking for "hairy trianchulas"

Kallie is 4 weeks old today! I can't believe how fast time has flown by. She is such a sweet little babe. She is starting to stay awake for longer periods of time. I just love to hold her...I don't get much done but, I figure they are only little once right? Poor little girl has had such bad gas. It is so sad to see her in pain and then once she gets those toots out she is much better.

As for Nick and I we are just keeping busy with two kids and have appreciated all the help from everyone so much!!
I am starting to feel back to my "normal" self and thanks to Nick i am staying sane by getting out of the house for a bit! Thanks babe! :)

Love these

My friend Staci called me a few days after I had Kallie and asked if she could take some pictures of her. Of course, I said yes! She came over and took pictures when Kallie was one week old. She did AMAZING!! I LOVE them ALL!