Fun in a box!

Who didn't do this? I wanted to crawl in there with her. Fun never ends when you have a big, empty box. Now if only she could instal what was in the box...!

It's a little to late for COLD FEET...

 You're in it a little to deep, now!! We love you, and your cold feet!!

Tal's first hair cut

He's 9 months and already needs a hair cut (we didn't cut Emma's hair until she was 3!!!) The hair right on top just kept growing and growing until I was going to use a barrette to hold it back... just kidding, dear! And so it was Daddy to the rescue. He promised he was a pro. He had had plenty of practice cutting missionary's hair while on the mission, so there was no doubt he could getting Tal's right!! 

I think he decided it was a little more tricky cutting a squirmy, Cheerio eating, little boy then a 

fine, responsible, mature (because they all are right...) missionary. But in the end Matt was right. He did a great job. And Matt, great news. You're hired! You've earned yourself a new, full-time responsibility, babes!!!

The finished, happy product!

Nighty-Night

Being Emma is pretty exhausting!

Sweet dreams Em's!

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!

We got all our pictures and files back!!!!!!!!  Matt went to get the hard drive taken out of the computer, because we were going to send it to California to a place that thought they could retrieve our lost "stuff." Well, while at Mac head quarters in St. Louis, they told Matt they would try to get our "stuff" with their equipment. They weren't too optimistic, but it was worth a try. Those bless-ed, smart people found EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!! I cried... again. We lucked out. But know we bought a back up drive, not cheap, but so worth it. 

SO know I've finally been able to post about Christmas!! Enjoy, I know I did!

My five:

1. Smart, smart computer people. 

2. Smart, smart computer equipment.

3. My brother that's on a mission in Montana. He's so great.

4. A warm home. The high today has been 5 degrees, but with the wind chill it's -20 degrees.

5. The knowledge that our Heavenly Father has a plan, even though it may not be how we think things should be.

Santa came to town!

Christmas Eve

Spending Christmas Eve with Matt's parents was wonderful. Aunt Dita and Bro. and Sis. Yocum were there as well. We ate a wonderful dinner and had a beautifully prepared program of scriptures, stories, and testimony. Feeling the spirit testify to me of what happened that night so long ago felt so good. With each year, that passes I tend to put myself more in Mary's shoes. She was a mother. She had dreams and feelings. Those feelings she had must have been so powerful yet peaceful. I'm so thankful that I have the knowledge of the restored gospel, so that I can reap the blessings from what Mary experienced and gave to us so long ago.

Emma told was the Nativity story with her Nativity set.

Tal's new past time! What a monkey!

Me and the monkey!!

Emma has inherited Matt's love of trains. Choo Choo!!

This is for all our Utah friends. Although Jell-O isn't an everyday meal item, we do right when it is served. This was almost to pretty to eat, but... we did... and it was good!!!

The Big Day

Christmas morning is my favorite! Excitement, joy, surprise, and breakfast!! I must say that my Christmas present cam early. My mom flew out to surprise me, and that was the best gift ever. She just showed up on my doorstep one night. I couldn't believe it. Matt keeps secrets really well! Thanks for coming mom. I love you!

K- so now for pictures:

Emma and her doll house

Tal eating the wrapping paper (of course...)

What a cute present

All dressed up

Merry Christmas everybody!!

Emma's school party.

K, this was funny. Emma had been so excited for her Christmas party at school (and yes they still called it a "Christmas" party... thank you very much!!!). The morning of the big day she was bouncing around the house, she bounced into the car, she bounces all the way into the class where the bouncing continued when she saw all her friends. So cute. Anyway, all the bouncing came to an end when the "special visitor" came through the door. REALLY?! The two other times she had seen Santa this year she couldn't get to him fast enough (the line always takes too long, doesn't it)!!

Well, you can tell how thrilled she is to see him today: (That's her friend Shelby loving her Santa time... Emma's the one sitting on the ground trying desperately to  not even be seen!) Silly girl!

Well, Miss Karen, Emma's teacher, came to the rescue! As long as she was there Emma could talk to him!

"Do you want to touch me?" says Santa. And on the hand was as far as she got!!

"I'm 4," she says. Short and to the point today I guess! (and yes, that's me in the background after my work-out. Thanks Heather for squeezing me into the shot, I really appreciate it)!

Thanks Miss Karen.

Even after she touched him and told him she was 4, she still wasn't quite sure after Miss Karen left:

(she's peeking around her arm warmers making sure she's far enough away, so he can't get her)!

Oh well!!! Merry Christmas kids!!

Ward Christmas Party

What a great ward Christmas party we had. Don't you just love to see the kids in the nativity?! It's wonderful to see the true meaning of Christmas in the eyes of our children.

Emma made a lovely little angel!!

Here's my kids. Cute, huh!! What great singers I have in primary!!

Hi Emm's!

Yep, Santa came too!

Update... that's all it is

Without giving to much info (cause it'll make me cry) our computer crashed. The hard drive went ka-put which means we've lost all of our pictures, documents... everything.

So for now... we had a great Christmas spent with friends and family, and the New Year looks bright (except with no computer). More to come... And just a word of caution: ALWAYS BACK-UP EVERYTHING!! This is not fun.

Tis the Season...

For:

Stockings

The Tree

("It's not going in our yard, Russ, it's going in our living room!") The perfect statement! We love our BIG tree!

and the Big Guy!

My Five:

1. Medicine! All four of us are sick. AAAGGGHHH!

2. The dishwasher

3. On-line shopping

4. Hair straighteners

5. Christmas stories

Taking a moment!

I can't help taking a picture of Emma when we straighten her hair. Plus, she had on her favorite overalls (she would wear them every single day if I'd let her...) and her fun leg/arm warmers. These are such a good idea, especially since the girl still loves wearing her short sleeve shirts and skirts! She did not get that from me, that's for sure. Wrap in up in a sweater any day!!
I kept wondering why she wasn't giving me a big cheesy smile, and it was because she had a mouth full of gummies. I should have known!

And of course my little buba's!

I know that I may have a slightly biased opinion, but I feel so blessed to have the sweetest, best kids. Tal is so innocent and full of life, so excited to learn and do. He makes my entire insides shine when he smiles at me. Emma is kindness and love down to her core. To watch her interact with her friends at school, makes my heart swell with joy. She lives to please her daddy, and listen to  her primary songs as loud as she can on her CD player.

I could have never imagined the kind of love I could have for another person, until I met Matt. And adding Emma and Tal has given me a glimpse of what our Father in Heaven's love for us really is. I love being a mother. It is the hardest thing I've ever done, and would never trade it. I'm so thankful for this life!  

Let's Eat!!

We had our first snow already this last weekend. Emma was beside herself excited! The first thing she asked was if she could go out and eat it. I caught her outside on the deck eating the snow in her church dress on Sunday, and on Monday she got herself into her snowsuit and had a healthy breakfast of snow!! And throughout the day I kept feeling drafts of very cold air due to the open door out to the deck... I wonder why!

What a stinker!

Tal prefers something warm and indoors!!! He gets so excited for every bite!!

My Five:

1. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin. He gave us many wonderful and insightful glimpses of his eternal testimony of the gospel.

2. Black Friday... you know you love it to!!

3. A loving, hard working husband! He does do much for us.

4. My mom and sister. I just love them!

5. Warm sweaters... it's been really cold here. Brrrr!

Give Thanks!

Don't you love this time of year! It's wonderful to take the time to celebrate the things we've been so blessed to receive. I find myself at times taking for granted the little things, and I'm reminded of the scripture story of the 10 lepers: "Were there not 10 cleansed, but where are the 9?" Let's not fall into such forgetfulness as the 9, and thank our Father in Heaven for all He so freely and willing provides.

Emma's little class had a Thanksgiving feast. Such cute little pilgrims and indians they were!

Emma, Elsie, and Shelby (of course the cupcakes and the chocolate covered pretzels were eaten before the cute little turkey sandwiches I brought! Can't say I blame them!)

And we had a very 'full' Thanksgiving Day spending it with Matt's parents and his Aunt Dita who so bravely invited us to use her home. These are the cute table decorations Emma and Grandma made for everyone!

Ginger Bread House

This is such a special tradition. When Matt and his brother were growing up, their mom would make them each a ginger bread house to decorate (Matt always gave his to his teacher at school. Ah, what a sweet boy!). And now she's carrying it on with Emma. We feel very lucky! They are such beautiful houses (and they smell so yummy!). It's quite a time consuming project, but, oh, so worth it. 

Matt's mom invited Emma and a couple of her friends to join in the festivities and sugar rush. The kids loved it, more for the candy at times, but each house couldn't have been cuter! Such a fun day.

Before

"One for the house... one for me..."

After

Arwin, Alaura, Emma and Cooper

The windows are crushed-up, melted Jolly Ranchers. There is also a light on the inside, so when you plug it in it lights up the windows. I know, I know... too cute, right!

Beauty Shop and Gator!

Emma loves to play with Tal, and not surprisingly, Tal loves Emma!!! So she always begs me to let her watch him. So I gave in and let Tal play with Emma in her room while I did the dishes. I kept hearing Emma's cute little giggle and Tal's squeals of delight, so I assumed all was well. When I finished I went in to join in the fun. But as I walked in I realized I was going to make an appointment, because I had walked into "Emma's Beauty Salon!"

She was having such a great time. Tal was soaked, but still thinking whatever Emma was doing was pretty funny!

The finished product! What do you think? She's got talent, huh. What an imagination this little girl has! I love it! Hey, Slick!

Gator

Tal is such a funny guy. He LOVES his big sis, and he also LOVES his gator.  If Emma's not around, Gator can always put a smile on his face. Such a silly boy!

Love this kid!!
My Five:

1. Thanksgiving Dinner... tis the season!!

2. De-Junking... I really do have a love for it. Makes me wonder why I wait so long in between sessions :)....!

3. My car. What would I do... seriously?!

4. Shopping alone. I forget how much you can get done in just 2 hours. It's really kind of amazing. 

5. An afternoon with Grandma and Grandpa Coleman... which provided me with my very productive 2 hours. Thanks!