Warning: Watching this is actually good for your health!

I totally stole this from my friend Andrea, but I just couldn't resist! Check out this trailer....bet you can't do it without smiling:) Looking forward to its release in April.

One More Celebration....

That's right, the busy holiday season has officially come to a close. No, not because the New Year has arrived, but because Jaelyn is now six! Every year she gets the longest celebration, because it usually begins with grandparents while we are still in Oregon for the holidays, then celebrated on her actual birthday, which is New Year's Day. It doesn't stop there though, as her party is usually the following weekend, since no one is up to a birthday party on New Year's Day. Finally, the first day back at school is the last hurrah as we take in brownies or cupcakes (brownies won out this year). That's the longest birthday I know of!

This year we had out of town company on her birthday, so we celebrated by going out to her favorite Chinese buffet and putting the Cupcake Maker to use again (it didn't work so swell this time, but they still had fun).

Jaelyn then opened some gifts, and especially loved the Cat book Uncle Pat and Aunt Tonyia gave her, and the adorable doll we had made for her. We found a lady who makes custom dolls for children with physical disabilities and had one of the dolls made for Jaelyn. At first she thought it was just a doll, but it was priceless when she realized it was her, same arm and all! I only wish I had my flash on at the time!

Jaelyn chose the pool as her birthday party destination, and a great time was had by all. If you know Jaelyn, you can guess that she choose "Dogs" as her birthday theme...

Five Years!

Two days after Christmas we celebrated five years since Kaia joined our family forever! We put the new cupcake maker to use and had a tea party with Grandma. This followed our annual tradition of Chinese dinner. Mike and the boys had already gone back to Washington for work and wrestling.



Look at this picture from the priceless first moments holding Kaia. I will never forget that moment!

Our four day-long Christmas celebration!

I'm feeling old....

I got a phone call from my niece Tiffany this week, with the news she is engaged! How can that be, wasn't it just a couple years ago that she was a 2 year old in our wedding??? Wow, how time flies when you're having fun!

I want to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Tiff and Nate, and looking forward to their wedding this summer. Thought I would post a picture of her and I at my wedding, and one of her and Nate the night they got engaged. She's changed a bit, but tell me I haven't aged at all....right?

Making Memories...

My favorite time of year has arrived, so I put our early Christmas gift to ourselves to good use and snapped a lot of photos and video while we were out getting our Christmas tree. This is the first year that Jaelyn has got anywhere near Santa without crying, so that made for good video:) The girls delivered their handwritten letter to Santa, which was filled with creative spelling. Here's what they asked for, along with the interpretations (every line began with Santa I want....):
~ a keD....a kitty
~a b geb....a Barbie Jeep
~a dog....no explanation needed
~and a picture on the back of the Barbie Glamour Camper




Santa with his letter....

Having fun....

Who's the Scrooge in this picture...

We want this one...

Josh showing his skills....

That's better....

Timber....

Cheap labor and a beautiful view of the harbor...

Great family fun....

Our Veteran's....

Spent our Veteran's Day thanking our own veteran in our house. Thanks Mike for your years of service! Josh called my grandpa to interview him for a class assignment, as my grandpa served in the Army during WWII. He was thrilled that Josh wanted to know about it, and shared some stories from the time he was stationed in India. I love hearing my grandpa's stories from when he was younger, and I hope my children cherish those stories as much as I do.

In honor of the day, Josh had his Pass and Review this week. He was selected to be the Guide-On for his platoon, which is an honor, and means he gets to carry the flag.