Look who's 1 today!!

Well I just can't believe my little princess is already one. Boy how time flies!! Well unfortunately we didn't' get to celebrate today as Peter worked a 12 hour shift so instead we plan on celebrating tomorrow and my friend Rita from MI will be visiting us for a couple of days... an added bonus to the celebrations!! Here are some pictures that I took of her today!



Today we also had our "get to know your teacher" primary breakfast which the children thoroughly enjoyed!! This was Ethan's first official primary activity and he had a blast. Currently he is asleep on the couch, and as you can tell from the picture primary is apparently exhausting!! My little cuties pies are getting so big!! Almost tempting to have another one.....ummm....no!

Visiting Santa!

Today we took Ethan and Chloe to see Father Christmas. Ethan was a little nervous as first, but soon got over it when he got chatting about what he wanted! Chloe on the other hand freaked out and as you can tell from the picture doesn't care what she gets as long as she could get off his lap! Maybe next year we'll get a smile!

Christmas Quiz

Tis the Season to have a little fun! Feel free to post this quiz on your own blog to spread some Holiday info about yourself.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper...keeps away the temptation to peek!

2. Real tree or artificial? Real all the way...I absolutely love the smell and it can be tossed out when it's dried out!..no storage needed!

3. When do you put up the tree? We try to find places(Christmas tree farms) where we can chop down our own tree so whenever we have the time we usually drive out to the boondoo's!

4. When do you take your tree down? When the iguana has demolished it from climbing up and down! Before new years for sure!


5. Do you like eggnog? NO! Although I had some good eggnog last night!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I think when I was about 11 I got a cute pink camera from my aunt Tracy which I loved! Drove my family insane taking pictures!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? No but I would love to start collecting a beautiful set that I saw the other day. Pretty pricey so probably a piece or two each year!

8. Hardest person to buy for? Peter's parents!

9. Easiest person to buy for? Ethan, there are so many things he loves and he can never have too many Geo Trax!

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever got? I can't think of one.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? If I have your address, you're getting mail otherwise it's e-cards!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Charlie Brown!


13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Throughout the year!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Fresh nuts using a nut cracker!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear!

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home for sure. Love having guest though!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? NO!


20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We generally open one on Christmas eve and leave the rest till the morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Advertisements for deals everywhere I look!! So so annoying!

Back again!!

Last night I was given a hard time about having not blogged in a long time, so I thought today I would make an effort to spend 10 minutes updating y'all on what our family has been up to! So here goes...

On Halloween Ethan started with pink eye and of course Chloe followed luckily we nipped those in the bud and moved onto colds and coughs and are finally over with all illnesses!! I personally rather be on my death bed than have sick children. As you can see Ethan will kill me when he's older and sees these pics!

One of many multi-uses for breast pads!(Thought you would appreciate that Rachel!)

Luckily we were all well when Thanksgiving rolled around and we had a wonderful time with friends and enjoyed a very yummy lupper. Sadly though, I totally forgot to take pictures so there won't be any in Chloe's album for a first Thanksgiving. Maybe I can twist Rachel's arm into redoing it! Ok I admit it, I just love to eat!!

So Thanksgiving has come and gone. Ethan is getting really excited for Christmas and so am I! I am obviously a glutten for punishment as I have enlarged my at home care and have started taking care of a 6 week baby! She is so sweet and Ethan loves to help out. Chloe on the other hand...not so sure. Layne spends alot of time up out of Chloe's grasp!

Ethan started pre-k this year and is absolutely loving it! He and Blake are in the same class so he really looks forward to school! This picture is from Ethan's first day of school. We were in South Africa for the first few weeks and I was worried that he would be a little shy, but alas I was wrong...he was so excited and joined right in!

As well as taking the regular pictures his school also had a professional photographer come in and take pictures of the kids outside playing etc etc.. so here are some of those...


I can't believe how grown up he looks...my little boy...not so little anymore!!
Chloe has also just changed so much too! She has 6 teeth, 4 on top and 2 on the bottom. She looks a little silly when she smiles because they are all at different stages of breaking through! For my South African readers she would fit right in with a Cape Coloured family!!


She loves her daddy's caps!
As I mentioned earlier last night we had our Enrichment Christmas dinner which was wonderful. I had a great time and enjoyed testing all the yummy homemade soups as well as the delicious dessert! The program included two musical numbers, a reading of the Christmas story from the scriptures and we all got to sing a couple of Christmas carols. There was also a neat "Gratitude Tree" which was decorated with little notes of gratitude for each member of the relief society. Mine mentioned serving in primary which I am truly grateful for. I love serving in primary and love to watch the children learn and grow. Ethan will be a sunbeam next year and I am so excited to be able to watch his knowledge of the gospel increase because of the wonderful primary program.
I am also grateful for a wonderful family and of course my wonderful husband who always reminds me how important our eternal family is. He spoilt me yesterday with a bouquet of beautiful roses!

Thats about all our family has been upto these past two months! I am really looking forward to the next few months as my dad will be visiting and so will Peter's parents. But before all that takes place I plan on enjoying the Christmas season, keeping our Saviors birth first and foremost in my mind. Have a great weekend and I promise I will be back soon!