picture taking

Jenny and her best friend Ashlee agreed to let me take their pictures. It was more like practice for me. But teenage girls love to get their picture taken, so it was a win win for everyone :) I like this one, so I dared myself to put it on here. Ok Stacey, be nice. Just kidding Stacey....I appreciate all of our photography chats.

Aren't railroad tracks cool?

happy days

Can't you just bite this little face? I can't believe that in ONE month Sophie will be a year! Wow.

In other news, Filippo got his haircut (hallelujah!)

Evan is on the volleyball team at school.

Spencer did his heritage report on Germany and learned that beer is brewed in most major towns and cities....important stuff for a 2nd grader.

A little boy in Bridgete's class gave her a ring to show his love for her.

Jenny started working for Dave.

I am perfecting my homemade pizza...it's almost there and Dave is one amazing hubby who loves me no matter what. I am so thankful for that :)

Whew.

The Sun is Out!

Yesterday after church, we went for a big walk.

The sun was shining,

the birds were chirping

and it would have been just plain wrong if we stayed inside.

Sophie had her first official swing ride at the park.

She giggled the whole time.

I perfected my spiral (sort of).

Dave and Filippo love when I refuse to catch the football because it is going to fast.

They both get a look like "Who does that?"

It's funny.

Can I just steal these eyelashes?

Why do boys always have the most gorgeous eyelashes?

Imagine

Imagine if cankles were considered adorable?

Imagine if you had a friend to eat all the food you didn't like?

Imagine if a dirty face charmed the pants off everyone?

I imagine if I got away with all of the above, I would think that Life is good. Life is very good.

A Flurry of Activity

Christmas has come and gone.

I am sad.

I am still listening to Christmas music and enjoying my tree (just don't bump into it or the needles go all over :). Christmas is such a magical time of the year.

We helped out a family this year and the kids helped with the cause by donating some of their new toys. They LOVED helping a family in need. They still talk about it daily. Dave and I usually do it ourselves, but this year I thought everyone could join in.

Service is great.

And we are fortunate to be in the situation where we can help others. For that I am VERY thankful.

We have had two birthdays in our home. Filippo is the big 13 and Evan is sweet 16. They are wonderful boys. They are a delight to be around and I am so proud to be their mom.

They are really cute, too.

I get told that all the time and it worries me a little bit.

Our So Cal trip was a blast. Busy, busy busy...but that is how it always is. I wish I could talk to everyone more, but that is just how it goes. We caroled, we went to Disneyland, we ate and ate some more (paying for that now!), we played and we opened presents. I love seeing my brothers and sisters and all their kin. They are all so cute. We stayed with my parents and we filled there spare bedrooms to the max.

When the heck did I become a mom to six?

Our car was filled with eight people, a dog, luggage on top and luggage on the back. Six hours there and six hours back is just about all we could take! I am still recuperating :)

Life is good.

2009 has brought some sweet blessing and bittersweet trials. My heart still aches when I think of the numerous times we almost lost Sophie. But then my heart leaps with happiness when I see her standing in her crib grinning at me. I love that face. She greets everyone with a smile...I believe that is her way of saying, "Thank you for praying for me." My husband is back to his same old self. My heart hurts when I think of how his body started shutting down of him that Saturday night. But then I see his smile and I smile back even bigger. Love that man. He is everything I ever dreamed of. He is mine forever. So are my kids. Lucky me.

So here is to a New Year. I can't wait to see what 2010 brings my way. (Hopefully good things :)

Tis the Season

Life has been so crazy. No joke. I am trying hard not to feel overwhelmed with trying to get everything done, so this evening before dinner, I told Bridgete we were going to take a walk. It is her favorite thing to do. I put dinner on hold, loaded up Sophie in her stroller asked Filippo and Spencer to join us and we were off.

Twenty minutes of feeling carefree.

It was heaven.

I skipped with them,

galloped,

hopped on one foot,

ran

and gave a piggyback ride.

(Filippo was running along kicking the soccer ball...no piggyback ride for him :)

It was almost dark so we hurried home. Everyone was happier. I was happier. So I have decided when I am feeling completely overwhelmed, I am going on a walk with my kids.

Thankful

Count your many blessings

name them one by one,

and it will surprise you

what the Lord has done.

Dave (my hubby)

Jenny

Evan

Filippo

Spencer

Bridgete

Sophie (extra tears with this one:)

home

My Savior

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

music

good health

food

the vacuum

Ok...I realize I can list a million more things. I am thankful that I get to reflect on all my blessings a little more today. Everyday should be a Thanksgiving day. I am going to work on that :)

Happy Thanksgiving