I Looked out the Window....

...and what did I see?
(can you guess what song I'm singing? Just change the words a little)this is the view from my bedroom window this morning. Brrr!

I woke up in snow this morning
I woke up in snow this morning
I went to bed with sun on my mind!

(anyone recognize this song for 10 points?- different lyrics, of course)

Luckily, the plows are very dilligent and keep our sidewalks, parking lots and roads very clear!

Time With Daddy

Whether it's playing follow the leader...or just having a snuggle....We love spending time with our Daddy!

I'm not so Unique

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 4,694 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Mission Calls, Ice Storms & New Carpet!

Highlights of this past week:
1: Grandma & Grandpa B have finally gotten their mission call! They report to the MTC on June 1, and they will be going to...... (this is where you'd hear a drumroll) Barcelona, Spain!!!

2: We now have carpet on our stairs and it's fabulous! Now our stairs are so quiet the kids don't wake up everytime we go up or down. And doesn't Brett look hunky/handy installing it?3: Winter has finally arrived in Michigan. It's been so cold I don't even like to go outside to get the mail anymore. On Sunday we had this freak "ice storm" that left the trees and everything else covered with a thick layer of ice. Although beautiful, it's very annoying to have to chisel your way through 10 inches of ice just to open the car door! The temperature right now (according to google) is 10 degrees. It's supposed to get up to 27, but I kind of doubt it. Tomorrow it says high of 32. Yippee! I knew it was cold, but I didn't think it was THAT COLD!! I guess I've been blissfully ignorant staying inside all day, thank goodness for heaters. I did have to go out to the grocery store this morning and I had to put Kody in the car through Mollie's door because his was frozen shut. Brrr!Anyone want to come for a visit?

Happy Birthday Jul

It's my big sis' birthday today! Here's a great pic from our family reinactment of the Nativity this year. Isn't she beautiful? All I can say is, she still look like she's 15! By the way, doesn't my fab bro-in-law (Jul's hubbie) look great in a pink bathrobe?!

A Good Day

We had a pretty time the other day, the kids were playing well together and being very happy and cute. Days like this don't come along too often so I took advantage and snapped some pictures. Kody was so funny, he kept asking me to take pictures of his toys. Mollie is starting to interact a lot with Kody, trying to copy what he does and it is so funny! I was laying on the floor (out of sheer exhaustion but they thought it was to play) and they kept blowing raspberries on my tummy. We were all laughing so hard!

Merry Christmas!

What a great Christmas we had this year! My awesome sisters sacrificed their presents from my parents so that they could buy plane tickets for us to fly home from Michigan, and we made the most of it! We packed in as many activities as we could, working around illness and a few little side trips (Brett went to the Vegas bowl with his parents and my brother-in-law Kenny, while I went with my parents and the kids to visit my Grandma in Boise for her 88th birthday - doesn't she look fabulous?!?) We were also able to hook up with some of our friends from San Francisco! Christmas Eve was a blast with the annual "Christmas Pageant", exchanging gifts with the cousins and our new (I hope) tradition of a white elephant gift story/exchange! Kody was a wise man, giving the gift of frankinsence - or was it myrrh? and Brett played the duel role of donkey/camel flawlessly! I was the official co-photographer with my sister Ali, and Mollie had the role of poor sick kid. It was awesome! All other parts were filled by various family members too numerous to mention! We were laughing so hard from the reinactment it was hard to concentrate during the white elephant exchange - did Jul just say left or right? Later that evening, my little family was able to open one gift, new jammies that I actually sewed with my own two hands (and lots of help from my awesome neighbor)! And did I mention they match?!? I know, I'm amazing. Really, it was such a good visit and we took turns being sick so the rest of us could have a good time! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, spent with those you love. Merry Christmas!

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear...

Our church has a Creche (Nativity) exibit every year in our building and people from the area come to see it.  There are thousands of Nativity sets from all over the world!  These are some of the ones we liked and/or thought were interesting.

... See my Tabblo>

Just to Catch Up....

These are some pictures we took this fall when Grandma & Grandpa B visited us. I kept meaning to blog them but never got around to it. I know it's taken a while, but I hope it's worth it! Fall in Michigan is so beautiful, but I found out the hard way that it doesn't last long. Next year I will be more prepared!

temper temper

Mollie's first big tantrum, it lasted at least 20 minutes going full force! This moment was actually when she calmed down a little. She wanted to play with the phone and I wouldn't let her. I think we're in for a bumpy ride with this one - it's a good thing she is so cute!

It's Coming...

Are you ready for Dumbledore's Army?!?

Turkey Day!

We had Thanksgiving dinner with our neighbors this year, what a fun experience! We were also lucky enough to have Auntie Brooke with us from Maryland! We each provided part of the meal. Our assignment was rolls, stuffing, sweet potatoes, salad and a pie. Brett made the rolls and an apple pie and a candy bar cheesecake - yummy! I made the other stuff. I used my mom's sweet potato recipe and it was a hit! I even had seconds and I don't usually like it!

While the adults were eating, all the kids just played in the living room. They had a hard time eating with so much going on, so we just let them run wild!

Brett's Birthday Bash

Brett didn't want a big deal made of his birthday, so we had some friends over for dinner and cake the Friday after.

The highlight of the evening was when all the kids dogpiled on Brett - even Mollie joined in!

Kody and Brigham had a blast in this diaper box, I'm surprised the bottom didn't fall out!

I'm Thankful For...

my family, good friends and an apartment where we don't have to pay the electric bill (especially as the weather gets colder and colder). I'm also thankful for a husband who is always striving to be the best that he can be (no, he didn't join the Army) and who will someday get as far as he can in school and finally have a job! I'm so thankful for my 2 beautiful (even if they are a little high maintenance) children who make me laugh, cry or want to pull my hair out every day. I'm thankful to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for the knowledge that I am a child of God. Most of all I'm thankful to be alive in this world where miracles are happening every day! I love you all...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Happy Birthday Princess Mollie!

Can you believe it's already been a year since our little princess joined us?! This year has been filled with so many changes and new adventures. Mollie is now standing, crawling, climbing, trying to walk and feeding herself every chance she gets! She even has a little bit of hair (even though it's so blond you can hardly see it)! She's talking up a storm and she is quite an independent little girl. It will be interesting to see what the coming years will bring! We love you Mollie, happy birthday baby!

Go Blue!

I know the game is over, with a sad ending, but isn't this a cute picture anyway? I am pretty impressed with the Wolverines this season, regardless of this last game. At least they lost to a good team and only by 3 points. In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, today was the big game between Ohio State and University of Michigan. Both teams were undefeated to this point. It is definitely an experience to live in a town with a top-ranked college football team! For example, at the grocery store you can buy UMICH food items like Wheaties, potato chips, mustard (it is yellow you know!), bottled water, etc. There's even a house near the staduim that has a giant "M" painted on the front. I'll have to drive by and take a picture sometime it's hilarious!

Happy Birthday Papa Bear!

Wow, can you believe it?!? Papa Bear turns 30 today. He doesn't want me to make a big deal of it, says it would embarass him, so I just thought that I would put it on the blog and tell the world!
I just want to say, I sure am glad that I let my little sis talk me into working in Alaska with her, and I'm even more glad (?) that Brett didn't listen to me when I said there's no way I could date him, a mere 22-year-old kid! These past several years with him have been the best!
He doesn't want a party or anything, but I'll at least make a cake. If it turns out, I'll post pictures. If not, just use your imagination!

Boo!

I'm having a hard time positioning these pictures, I hope you can see all of them! We had a fun Halloween, even if it was way too cold for our California blood! Our neighborhood has a parade with all the kids going through each complex to show off their costumes! We didn't join the parade this year, it was too cold and the kids don't understand anyway, so we just waited for it to come to us and watched all the kids go by! Our neighbor really loves Halloween and he decorated his yard and trees and dressed up like a scary pumpkinhead holding a crow. At first he jumped out at the kids and growled, but some started crying so he toned it down a bit!






Then Kody and I went trick-or-treating while the parade was finishing up. That way, he didn't get lost in the crowds of kids at each door! Mollie is a little bit sick, so she stayed with a neighbor. The highlight of Kody's evening was when Daddy came home all dressed up like Mr. Incredible!

Halloween Preview

We had our ward Halloween party this weekend, here are some pictures!It's Super Kody!

"I really don't feel like cheering today"

"Okay Mom, we're standing together - now what?""I know I would feel much better without this silly bow!"

"I'll save you!"

coloring a Halloween picture with Daddy

bowling with gourds

and don't forget the "knock over the cans" game!