Highlights of the past few months

Since I haven't posted for so long I have done a quick overview of the last few months.

ME

- In February I fell off a chair in the garage and hit my head against the corner of the cement stairs. OUCH! It all happened like it was slow motion and I could see that the only thing that was going to brake my fall was the corner of the stairs and I turned my head so I wouldn't hit smack in the face. Instead I hit the back of my head. Everything seemed okay except for the headache I kept getting in the afternoon. Finally after a few days when it wasn't so tender to touch I was feeling around and that is when I felt a CRACK. I knew that wasn't a good sign so I went to the doctor and x-rays showed I had a small crack in my skull. So after about 6 weeks of "taking it easy" (I always think it is kind of funny when a doctor tells a mother of small children to take it easy like that's really possible)I am doing fine now.

- In March I turned 30, WOW, kind of scary!

SHARI

- Also in March Shari turned 7!

It was a fun day. The night before we went to "Tangled" then that day we went to her school and had lunch with her. That night we had grandma's, grandpa's, aunts, uncles, and cousins over for b-day cake! (we love living close to so much family!)

Below is her birthday hat from school!

Gymnastics birthday cake. (2 of Shari's favorite things- gymnastics and polly pockets!)

-Shari took gymnastics this year from the best teacher around, her Aunt Jenn! She really enjoyed it! Below are pictures of the their end of the year recital.

JAMIE

-With Shari at school all day Jamie has become Jonas's best friend. They love to play together Jamie with her polly pockets and Jonas with his tractors and boy polly pocket. Jamie is a great big sister!

-Last week Jamie graduated from pre-school.

Jamie had an amazing teacher who made an especially big deal out of their accomplishments. Pre-school was such a great thing for Jamie. She has learned to be a little more independent and not quite so shy. And she made some wonderful friends.

JONAS

-Yesterday Jonas turned 2! What a fun day it was. After the birthday party and everyone had left he kept saying, "want more birthday!" He was having so much fun we couldn't get him to bed until almost 10.

-Jonas is talking so much, it is so fun! He is starting to put small sentences together. Just last Sunday at church he was going to walk over to where dad was and said, "mom, you stay here k." He also tries to say everything his sisters say and can count to 6. He is so much fun and keeps us laughing.

- In April we went on a little vacation. We went to Utah and stayed in a motel (which is about the kids funnest part) did some shopping, had lunch at Chucky-Cheese...

Went to the zoo...

And went to build-a-bear, this is the monkey that Jonas made! He calls it his ooh, ooh, ahh.

Below is Chucky Cheese

- And of course in April there was the Easter egg hunts! This is at the park.
- and the easter egg hunt on the farm. This was one of my favorite traditions growing up. The younger kids would decorate eggs at grandma's while the older one hid the eggs around the farm

Busy Month

Valentines Day we enjoyed pink heart pancakes, with pink applesauce, and pink milk. YUM After breakfast Josh and Jamie headed to Utah to buy a car. Now for those of us who know us well know that we change cars ALOT but Jamie thought it was pretty cool that for Valentines Day her and daddy gave me a new car!!
Fun Fact: Josh and I added up all of the cars we have bought since we got married and it was 22 but that was over a year ago so there is at least 4 more. He likes to find good deals, fix any needed repairs, and then sell them. The fun part is we get to try out alot of cars to see what we like and don't
Jamie's Pre-school had a Pajama party and they made princess hats and wands. The boys were pirates. She had a GREAT time!

Shari going to school on Valentines Day

Jonas having fun with his cousin he calls Keke (Brookie)

Silly kids
Jonas runs to the door every morning and cries to go to work with daddy. "Daddy go, daddy go," he says. In the last 2 months Jonas has started talking so much. Some of my favorites are: Rari (Shari), Sheea (Sheila), Sno (snow), Doe (Joe), Diego, Bonge Bob

He also says things like: coat, hat, socks, shoes, hair, eye, ear, papa, gain (agian), nana (banana), eat, bite,
If you ask him if he wants something he will shake his head yes and say -K-

The Little Things That Count

The other day Shari was having a hard time getting ready for school. She had stayed up late the night before and was really tired. When she was about to walk out the door the idea came to me that I should leave her a note in her lunch box. So I quickly wrote, "Have a fun day at school. I love you, Mom." Then I sent her on her way and thought nothing more of it. When she got home later that day I asked her how school was. GREAT, she said. Which she never says (unlike Jamie who always says school is great but hey she is still in pre-school!), usually I get a fine and then I have to ask alot of question to get her to tell me more. Anyway I was surprised by the GREAT and asked what had a made it so great. "The letter you put in my lunch box," was her reply.
If you are not teary eyed yet keep reading there is more.
The next day just as she was headed out the door she grab a paper and handed to me and told me not to look at it until she left. It said, "Mom I love you very, very much. You are the best mom I ever had. Shari
Now you might ask how was my day... GREAT!!

Fun in the Snow

Last weekend we got to spent 4 days in Island Park enjoying the incredible snow there. It snowed everynight so we always had fresh powder to play in. Jonas even loved the snowmobile. When we took Jamie and she was Jonas's age she screamed when we tried to put her on because she hated the noise.

Jonas on the other hand didn't mind the noise at all expecially since he fell asleep everytime we took him on a ride. Now all three of my kids have fallen asleep at least once while snowmobiling.
We were there on Sunday so that day we had alot of fun playing old, like original, nintendo games. We had a competition to see who could get the highest score at tetris. Josh won, I think Sheila came in second. Doesn't Joseph look thrilled!

We also put together puzzels and wrote letters to Grandma and Grandpa on their mission.


Shari can't wait for it to be her turn.

Shari and Spencer playing SPOT. Remember that one?

The snow was so deep and so BEAUTIFUL. The trees were covered. This is Shari right by our cabin showing the snow over her head. I wish I had better pictures of how pretty it was but it is hard to have a camera out in the snow all the time.

Jamie and Spencer sleding down a hill

We also spent alot of time swimming. I don't have any pictures but it was fun because it was Jonas's first time in the pool when he could really enjoy it. And enjoy it he did. They had a kiddie pool that was to his shoulder and he walked around and around with mom close behind because he was not scared at all. Which makes me alittle scared. The girls got to play in the big pool with life jackets on and Jamie kept going back and forth from the big to the kiddie, she just couldn't decide what she liked best.

As always it is good to be home though.

Christmas

Since a picture speaks a thousands words I have included a plethora of pictures. This is was taken after putting the christmas tree up.
The week before Christmas we were able to go to Temple Square, it was so beautiful. It was a perfect night, clear and not really cold. The kids loved it and have talked about it alot since. However, on the ride home we asked what their favorite part was they said "rolling down the hill." We had parked the car up a hill and to release some energy before making the 3 hr. trip home we let them roll on the grass down the hill!

Jonas was in the stroller and the entire time yelled, "mom, mom, mom." When I would get down to see what he wanted he would point to the lights and talk jibberish.

The kids were playing on the couch and Jonas had to join in. He would hold Shari hand and say "gooooo" and run to the couch.

A couple days before Christmas we had our annual "pop the pinyota" party. My Grandma started the tradition when we were little and it was always our favorite Christmas tradition. Below we are playing some "minute to win it" games.

Jonas was the first to take a swing at the pinyota. Although he had not seen anyone do it before him we handed him the bat and he knew just what to do. He is such a boy!

Then he cried while he had to wait for the others to take a turn before he could have another one.

Jamie was a pretty serious batter and she was determined to make a dent. She did a pretty good job too.

Shari loves the pinyota as well. If you look closely she is actually jumping off he knees here.

Christmas morning Jonas got a little car that he spent most of the day in. And again he would say "mom, mom, mom." When I would ask what he needed he would take my hand, take me to his car, get in, and start to jibber again.

Shari and Jamie also had a good Christmas.Shari and Jamie got these adorable matching hats from Aunt Lisa!

We also got a Karaoke machine and the kids had fun singing some song. Jonas doesn't know that his mic wasn't plugged in but he didn't seem to mind!

Jamie looking at her stuff from Santa.

We also spent Christmas Eve with Josh's family but I forgot the camera. At their house the kids get to open one present before Christmas, also a favorite tradition.

We had a great Christmas and are still enjoying the break and playing before Shari has to go back to school next week.
We hope your family had a good Christmas and wish you a happy new year.