2009 in Review

2009 Was an amazing year. As I thought about it I just wanted to go through and refelct, record, and count my blessings. It's been quite an adventure looking back and it's taking longer than I thought, but here are the pieces as I get to them...
My life is definaltely more organized and recorded from Easter on. That's when I started blogging. I am grateful for this blog. It has been a great way to keep a "journal" and keep in touch with my close family and friends. Through it I have learn the value of keeping a record of my family.

January...

February...

March...

April...
we had a great Easter at Bear Lake with Tressa


May...

June...

July...
found us in Palm Springs for a T family reunion

Sam had his first moving-going experience (Ice Age 3)

and James first steps

August...
brought us fun trips to Lagoon

family passes to fun places around (like Thanksgiving point)

play dates outside

sleepovers with cousins

James' first haircut

and Seth's birthday


September...
brought morning walks

James' first birthday

and great times in Bear Lake, including the boy's first boat ride


October...
Grandpa M introduces the boys to his train collection

our first Pumpkin Patch experience

Sam's first play date

and a great Halloween with Thomas the Train and Donald Duck


November...
Makiah's Baptism

the chair war

and an amazing week at Disney world with Seth's family


December...
Sam's third birthday

our first visit to the Festival of Trees

drives all over to see Christmas Lights

making and eatting lots of yummy treats

parties and Santa

and a wonderful morning of family and presents

New Year's Eve (from a horizontal point of view)

Well, it's New Year's Eve and I am still flat on my back. It's been almost a week and my back is still out of commission from whatever happened to me on Christmas day. Thankfully I have the most amazing husband in the world who has completely taken over and been the best Mr. Mom and husband ever. I can't believe how great he has been...and it's not because of him that I haven't realized that, it's because of me.
I have learned a VERY VERY important lesson from all of this. Not just the obvious "take better car of yourself", but the more important one...I need and love my husband even more than I've realized lately. I have just gotten myself so busy that I have done everything myself and not allowed Seth to be the amazing man he is. My love and affection for him has grown so much this week.
He has picked up, carried, cleaned, done laundry, bathed the kids, run errands, made food, did dishes, helped me dress, brought me anything I could possibly need, scolded me whenever I tried to get up and do something.....
I am so blessed to have such a wonderful, worthy, strong man love me. He is the best man, friend, father, and husband. I am so grateful I have eternity with him, because anything less wouldn't be enough.

Christmas in Idaho

We had an amazing Christmas with Seth's family at his sister's house in Idaho. It was very relaxing and fun. We adults just hung out and watched movies while the kids played and annoyed each other. It was great.
We threw in a few of my family traditions to make it feel a little more Christmas-y for me. (the picture on the bed, the picture on the stairs, the big yummy breakfast...) But the truth was, I really didn't need any of those things. It was Christmas just the same.



The only bummer about it was that my back went out (thankfully after we opened all the presents and ate breakfast). It was a little embarrassing for me at first, having that happen in front of Seth's family, but it really was a blessing. Jaime's husband is a doctor and took great care of me, and the whole family was there to pitch in and take care of my boys. The only thing I can say is that on this trip "Seth's family" became "my family". I love them so much!

Here's a little look at our Christmas. We are very blessed with many things that you don't see in these pictures. We have a wonderful, healthy (for the most part) eternal family, the gospel, a beautiful home that is full of the Spirit, Seth has a wonderful job, great friends and neighbors, and we are happy.
We are so thankful for all that we have.
We are also very thankful for all these gifts too! They are fun!
Our loot...
Remotes...wow, I wonder what Santa will bring Karen?! :)

It's a good thing Santa came through so we had something to do with those remotes! I also scored the new Toy Story Mania Wii game. It's the reason I wanted a Wii. I fell in love with the ride and Disney World and had to have the game. I lived up to all of it's expectations. It is supper fun and was a blessing to have as it was something I could do while laying flat on my back all week. I got Are you Smarter then a 5th grader, and beautiful jewel watch and a beautiful frames monogram for your house.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars season 1. Awesome!

I guess Seth's dad got tired of loosing all his fingernail clippers to Seth...

Did you really think he'd get any other games?

This year's Christmas blanket. I tried to throw him off this year. I thought I did good. I smashed it in a tiny box with heavy rocks...I think he still knew!

Here's what Santa brought Sam. He was happy with the box. We didn't even need to open it, but we did get a better reaction when he saw that there was something in there. These trains came with a fun track all laid out for him!

This is what James got from Santa. It took a little warming up to. These puppets went with a cute little puppet theater.

When we were in Disney World in November Sam got an alligator that squeeks and James was so jealous. We picked this up there and saved it for him. He loves his squeeky "Wheezy" and carries it around and constantly shoves it in our faces to make it squeek for him.

Whenever we'd go to the store and be in the toy section (which is more frequently then I'd like to admit) this is the only thing James would want to play with. He was so excited when we saw it.

More trains...I love his little face in this one. Thank you e-bay!

A tool belt I made for my little handy-man

A Mickey Pirate Ship




I love that Jaime got Dad M a new blow up matress since that's what he sleeps on when he's there! :)






Mom M got the Harry Potter series on blue ray. We found mom a little license plate for her scooter that says "Grandma" with a frame that says "Speed Deamon"! :) We all got a good laugh out of it.




I made Jaime's family a personalized yahtzee game with their pictures. I hope them liked it. It was fun making it for them.



The scene of the crime.... :)

It's Christmas Eve Eve and we're.....

...in Dinosaur caves,



finding treasure,

sailing in Pirate Ships,


playing in the snow,


and spinning like crazy!

Decorating Ornaments

I go this great kit from my friend this year and it was perfect for us.


James, Sam, and I had a great time decorating these ornaments for our tree this year.

This is about the Coolest thing I've seen lately...

We went outside to this:

And they were doing this:

Just one of the many things I love about my neighborhood. This is just a couple of classes from the elementary school down the street caroling around the neighborhood!

Sam's Party

We had a fun, little party with Grandma and Grandpa M for Sam's birthday. Early that day I let Sam go and pick out his cake (sorry I was too tired to make one bud!). We then came home and made his brithday shirt, decorated, and talked on the phone to Grandma and Grandpa T.






And so it begins...Sam got his first pair of Ice Hockey Skates for his birthday. I told Seth's Dad that he had to wait until Sam was 3, and he didn't miss a beat! :) Sam is so excited about his skates. He wants to be just like Dad. We were going to take him skating for his birthday, but ran out of time...as usual. We will have to take him soon. I think James will be soon to follow suit. He already carries Sam's hockey stick around the house hitting everything he possbily can!

The big 0-3

Sam is 3! I can't believe I have a 3 year old. Old...that's what I am! :)

Sam, you are a cute boy. You are very sweet and kind. You have more energy then a dozen other 3 year olds put together. You always say please, thank you, and sorry. You give great loves (hugs) and even better smiles.

You love:
dinosaurs
trains
telescopes and binoculars
watching shows
helping Mom clean and do chores
going for rides in "Sam's car"
going to Grandma's house
going to stores with Dad to see trains
animals
chicken nuggets
red spaghetti and "white spaghetti" (Alfredo)
bologna sandwiches

you like to do things yourself now:

you love to go find treats in the pantry and bring them to us behind your back like you are hiding them

you think really hard, get an idea and say, "I know" really loud while pointing your finger up

you love your "big blankie" (the one Mom made when she was a senior in high school)

you love to watch movies and have treats in mom's bed

you know all your letters and numbers 1-20, you can even read your numbers 1-12

you can say your own prayers, with a little help here and there

you can almost sit through family night

you LOVE nursery

you love to see the temple out your window

your roar is the best around

you love to read books, especially non-fiction ones with real pictures

you love to "play with friends" and cry when ever anyone leaves your house

you love cake and parties

it takes you a while to wake up in the morning, you like to cuddle up and watch a show before you start your day

running is one of your favorite things. you love to run and chase and play hide and seek

you love to go on rides in Dad's car before he goes to work

James loves you because you are such a good big brother who helps and shares (most of the time)

Your Mommy and Daddy love you so much. You are the best biggest brother ever. You keep us on our toes and help us to laugh everyday!

I got what I wanted for Christmas!

I just couldn't stop laughing when I saw Sam scrunch himself into this present box. This truly is a great Christmas present. I couldn't have asked for anything better. We should have found another box to put James in, but I think he's too big to fit! :)

I just love my little contortionist! Happy Birthday Big Guy! We love you!