Sunday, November 30, 2014

Family and Christmas Pictures

I've been wanting to get pictures taken of all the kids and our family for a while.  We finally bit the bullet and went to Portrait Innovations for family pics.  The kids did alright in front of the Christmas tree, but as soon as we went into the other studio and the curtain went down they just flipped.

Too bad I don't know how to take pictures myself.... but these turned out super adorable, so it was well worth the money that we spent!  I believe that it will be a annual tradition.  Well worth the money to do it once a year or so.

Evan didn't believe that was really Santa.
Ham


This is a typical perplexed Evan face.
Our family.  Logan's eyebrows crack me up.
Evan's glasses!! 
We were pretty done at this point.  
Poor Evan.  But Logan and Sadie aren't too happy either.
Happier times. 
Look at how cute these three adorable children are. 
Logan was ready to leave. 
Logan was so confused.  And a little mad that they weren't real cookies.
Mischievous face.
Cutie.  This is the print we got of Logan.

Profile pic.  Seriously, such a cute kid.
I don't mind a nice picture with Rick.

Love this one.

What are you doing?
Seriously, who the *beep* are you? 
Oh my.
Under the tree.  So cute.
She had no idea what was going on.  I don't think she was a big fan of the camera.
Kind of smiling in this one. 
Sitting in a chair like a big girl!
What?
I'm done. 
I was pretty pleased with how the pictures turned out!  Super adorable and sweet. My family is amazing.  I can't wait to start framing them for my hallway on the stairs.

Thanksgiving 2014

We were super sick last Thanksgiving, so this year was ten billion times better because we were actually feeling great!

My sister Sarah came to visit us again this year.  The kids just lapped up all the loving attention that she gave them.  I made some really yummy food.  I tried a new recipe that was a homemade (completely from scratch) green bean casserole that I really enjoyed.

Sadie loved eating all the food as well.  I took a few pics but they're mostly on my instagram, so I don't want to post them on here also, cause I'm kind of lazy.

Things have been pretty norm lately.  I've tried to think of something everyday that I am grateful for, and I thought that I would put it here.

Thirty things that I am thankful for:
1) Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ and a very loving Heavenly Father
2) The temple
3) My family, near and far.  Especially Rick and my three babies.
4) The Book of Mormon
5) Latter-day prophets and their wise, timeless counsel
6) Personal revelation
7) My body...it can do so much, even when it's not in the best shape.
8) My focused and clear mind
9) Food--We are able to feed our family.  That's important, right?
10)  Food and family storage (especially Thrive Life that I am getting addicted to!)
11) Air Force--great benefits, and Rick's job provides for all our needs and a little extra.
12) Modern day medicine--antibiotics, vaccinations, epidurals, etc.  I'm all for home remedies when they can be used, but I really love myself some of the good stuff
13) Our current home.  We're renting,which I really don't love, but we have a roof over our head.
14) My current ward, especially all the amazing people I work with in my calling.
15) Volleyball!
16) Education--grateful that I had a great education and I learned how to work hard.
17) My sewing machine.  It's so lovely.
18) Books, books, books
19) Internet, so that I can keep in touch with friends and family a lot easier.
20) Clothing
21) Indoor heating in Ohio
22) The beach
23) Disneyland
24) Disposable diapers
25) Indoor, running plumbing
26) Running shoes
27) Two running cars
28) Evan's preschool and teachers
29) Date nights with Rick (they are starting to become more regular!...)
30) Winter clothes and accessories

Friday, November 7, 2014

Halloween


This year for Halloween, we wanted to do a family costume.  We decided on Ninja Turtles.  Back in July, I found a Rapunzel dress for Sadie for about $4, and I bought that.  So, she dressed up as a Ninja Turtle for the Trunk or Treat at the church with the rest of the family and then dressed up as Rapunzel and actual Halloween.  So, Rick was Leonardo (we found a t-shirt for him), Evan was Mikey (his favorite color is orange), Logan was Raph (he's got a bit of a temper), Sadie was Donatello (because of the purple), and I was April O'Neil.  

My costume was super easy.  I just wore a yellow shirt and then used the temporary hair paint to color it red.  I tried finding a wig, but I look a little bit too much like a member of Def Leppard to pull it off.

The turtle costumes were easy.  It was a pain trying to find green sweats and sweaters that matched.  So, we bought pajamas instead.  It worked out really well.  The masks and belts are just jersey/polyester that I cut.  The shells roasting pans from the dollar store that are spray painted brown. It worked out a lot better than I expected.  

These little dorks.
Donatella
Turtle shell
Mikey.
Donatella crawling everywhere.
Our family together at the church.  
Once again, the family together.
Raph. 
Sadie pulling her Rapunzel wig off.
Trying to stay warm.  It was pretty cold out. 
A look at the boys with their turtle shells.
Rapunzel with one of her ninja protectors.
Trick or treating.
Evan leaving the house, wanting more candy.
We got home, checked over our candy, tried our best to get warm and then watched "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad".

Evan's Birthday


Evan turned 5!  He's such a big boy now.  It's strange to think of myself having a 5 year old.  I love the kid, but oh man, he can be a hard little guy to get along with.  

I love him so much, and we're so grateful for him.  His speech delay is getting a lot better.  He talks more and more each day.  We're trying to get him as caught up as quickly as possible.  

Evan got a bike for his birthday, along with a helmet and a light to supe it up. 
Evan with his lego cake.
He loves riding his bike.  He's such a big boy.

Wrapping paper love.  This girl loves paper.
Logan liked the lego cake as well.
Lego kit from his Nana and Papa.
Such a natural on the bicycle.

Holding his Rubble from Nana and Papa as well.

Getting ready to open up gifts.
My sweet little man.  So happy to have him in our family.
Chasing each other on the bikes.  
Cute little Logan, now he wants his own big boy bike for Christmas.