{ Footprints in the Sand sung by Leona Lewis }

Beautiful song...the video is pretty heart-wrenching so you might want to grab a tissue. If you get a chance click on the link and watch it.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=d08X2lN669k

{ Nine Years }

March 20, 1999

Our most recent picture (Hopefully we'll get one this weekend)

Story to follow...

{ Breaking Dawn }

This will be released on August 2nd, 2008. So excited!!!

(4th book in the Twilight series)

{ January month-in-review }

* I got a new calling at church as the primary chorister. It's funny because I had just been telling the current primary chorister how glad I was that she had that calling and not me. Doesn't it always work that way? It has proven to be a pretty fun calling and one that I am sure to grow from.

* Jaidyn had been begging me to get her hair cut short so at the beginning of January she got her wish.

Before

After

* Schuyler and my dad worked on putting a mantle in our sitting room off of the kitchen. It turned out great and really finishes off the room (besides the furniture that we still need to buy for it someday).

* We managed to get some snow. Both times that there was enough snow to make snowmen with we were rushing off to church and by the time we got home it was pretty much gone. But we did manage to go outside and Jaidyn made a little one. Kailey didn't really like being in the cold weather and I couldn't find all the gloves so she got stuck with a sock on her hand and glove on the other and Porter ended up wearing pink gloves. Tells you how often we really get snow. Kailey proud of her melting snowball

I love this picture. I snapped it while Jaidyn was throwing a fit. I can't remember what the fit was about, but it's proof that she still occasionally throws them.

He's just a little guy!

Porter mowing the lawn in the snow.

* Schuyler celebrated his 31st birthday on the 27th. We learned of President Hinckley's passing that night. Here is the only picture I took of Schuyler on his birthday. I did manage to get some video footage of us singing Happy Birthday, but I will spare you from having to hear me sing.

* Kailey walked into our bathroom as Schuyler was getting out of the shower and looked at his stomach and said, "Dad, do have a baby in your tummy?" Schuyler told her no and then she said,"Oh, your tummy is fat because you eat junk food." Schuyler then said to her, "How much did mommy pay you to say that?" I am still laughing about that one.

* We purchased a new vehicle. I say vehicle because it's not a van, a car or an suv. It is considered a crossover and people look at you funny when you say that. After a lot of research we decided on the Saturn Outlook. I am no longer a mini van momma! I have to say that I am thrilled about that although the van was nice and roomy. The van was just giving us way too many headaches so we moved on. I really do not like buying cars. It's a lose-lose situation, but since we need a vehicle I am hoping this one will be around for a long time. I haven't taken any pictures of it, but here are some that look similar to ours that I found online.

*And that pretty much sums up January! Add a couple of dentist appointments, friend and cousin birthday parties, and a few playdates and there you have it!

{ Christmas 2007 }

It seems inevitable. Every year at Christmas time one of us is usually sick. This year was no different. I started feeling sick on Christmas Eve. I had a sore throat so I knew that a cold would be soon to follow. I thought, "I can handle a cold, especially if that's the worst of it." Well, Kailey ended up throwing up twice on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night. She later got the croup and almost 2 weeks later I am still sick. I am hoping it won't turn into bronchitis, but we shall see.

As for Christmas Eve, we went to my mom and Randy's and had ham, fried turkey, salad, garlic mashed potatoes, rolls, and corn. For dessert I had made our traditional Christmas dessert, Mint Oreo Dessert, and my mom made some apple crisp. We almost didn't end up eating any dessert because we were so full from dinner, but we managed to get a little in. I ended up doing the ham this year and I never realized how incredibly EASY they are. Well, at least the ones from Costco. Randy bought a turkey fryer and all the guys had a good time standing outside around the fryer and the fire pit that Randy had made. The turkey tasted amazing! We have had fried turkey at Schuyler's parents house before so we knew it would be good. Schuyler later found a turkey fryer at Target on clearance for $9.98 and snatched it up! Then after dinner we did our annual highlights and low lights of the year and wrote out new goals for this coming year. And then it was time to open presents. The girls got a Barbie townhouse from Lindsey and Brian, Barbie cars from Grandma and Papa, and cute princess pens from Kyle and Jenny. Porter got a punching bag which all the kids (including Schuyler) have had a great time with, a Cars drawing board from Brian and Lindsey, and a mini semi-hauler to haul his collection of cars.

Then we headed home to get the kids to bed. The kids left some cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. In the middle of the night we were awaken by Kailey with the glorious sound of throwing up. I walked into the room and the smell enough had me running to the bathroom. I managed to keep it down because I hate throwing up more than anything! What kind of a mom am I?! You can give me all the dirty diapers you want but when it comes to throw up I have the hardest time! I helped Schuyler clean the mess up as best as I could and then we stuck the girls in our room. I gave Kailey a bowl to sleep beside and sure enough she needed it! The kids managed to sleep in until 8 or 8:30 which was great because Kailey and I were both feeling pretty rough! Then it was time to open presents.

Jaidyn's presents

Kailey's presents

Porter's presents

Later on that day we went to my Dad and Anna's and had prime rib, stuffing, corn, rolls, and sparkling cider. We all hung out and watched football and talked while the kids played. All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas besides the fact that Kailey and I were under the weather.

I wanted to add pictures of the Christmas decorations in our house, being that this was our first year in our new house, and that next year when I pull out the decorations I want to be able to know where to put things.

{ December 2007 }

The week of Dec 9th through the 15th Jaidyn managed to lose 2 teeth. One of her front teeth had been loose for quite some time, but she is a little timid when it comes to loosening them and pulling them out. She happened to be facing the recliner with her stomach on it and her knees on the ground. Porter came up behind her and bopped her on the head. The next thing I know, she's crying and saying that Porter punched her tooth out. My mom and Randy were there so Randy went to go look. Apparently, Jaidyn's teeth hit the chair and I guess the bop was forceful enough that it popped her tooth out. Schuyler and I got quite a laugh out of that despite the fact that Jaidyn was not too thrilled with her little brother. It was high time that tooth came out! Randy told us to get the camera and take a picture of her.

The week before Christmas I honestly think that I lost my brain somewhere along the way. I had it in my head that both of the girls were out of school on Friday. I was planning on making treats for Kailey's class on Wednesday so they'd be ready for Friday, but Tuesday I was going through some of her paper work and saw that her last day of preschool was Wednesday! I then panicked a little and started making sugar cookies and Andes mint cookies. We were having Zac, Brenda and the kids over that night as well as Santa and Mrs Claus so I wanted to get the house cleaned as well. I ended up being in the kitchen most of the day and Schuyler, being the helpful husband that he is, vacuumed and cleaned the house. Everyone came over that night and while we were singing Christmas carols, Santa and Mrs Claus showed up! Mrs Claus read them a story and then it was time for Santa to pass out the annual Christmas jammies. After the festivities, Brenda helped me frost and decorate the cookies.

And here are some pictures from that night

Santa and Kailey

Santa and Jaidyn

Here's Porter trying to get away from Santa

Once Porter warmed up he was willing to give Santa some "bones" as he calls it

Santa and Mrs Claus (Lee and Sue)

The next morning I got Kailey to school with all of her treats and later that day when Jaidyn came home from school she informed me that Thursday was her last day of school. I tried to tell her it was Friday, but she kept insisting it was Thursday so I went online to the school website and what do you know, she was right!

More Christmas updates to come...

{ merry christmas }