Angelice Loses a Tooth!

Lastnight, after she'd been in bed for awhile, Angelice called out "Mom! I heard a snap, and I think I broke my tooth out!" I went to take a look, and sure enough, her previously wiggly tooth was just hanging by a thread. There was a little bit of blood, which sort of scared her, and she didn't want me to help her get it over with. I had her rinse out her mouth, and told her to keep wiggling it, and that it would come out on its own.

A few minutes later, Ted went in to kiss her goodnight, and she was holding her tooth in her hand with sort of stunned expression on her face.

"It came out? IT CAME OUT!!!" She's so precious! She was so excited that a real fairy was going to visit her room, that she could hardly sleep! But eventually she did, and sure enough, the tooth fairy brought her a dollar in change. She's a big kid now!

Thanksgiving Pics Late!

Here's a few from our Thanksgiving trip to Pocatello, enjoy!

More Christmas Day

The kids loved their new BYU jerseys from Grandma and Grandpa Frank. Thank you so much!

Here we are enjoying Christmas breakfast. Everyone heartily approved!

Thanks to both sets of Grandparents for their kind and thoughtful gifts this year. We really enjoyed our Christmas at home, with our little family, but we so missed our extended family, too!

Christmas Day

Our favorite Christmas Tradition is Dad's special cherry french toast with whipped cream, and hot chocolate with candy canes in it. I serve it on our snowmen stoneware, because it is color coordinated, and looks so pretty! Isn't it beautiful?

Christmas morning started at 5:30 am, when Ben crawled into bed with us. He went back to sleep, but unfortunately, I could not. So I went out onto the couch. Ten minutes later, Jacob got up to use the bathroom, and saw the gifts laid out around the tree. I told him to go back to bed, and he tried, he really did. Finally at 7:30, he came out and said "MOM!! I can't wait." I told him to go play video games in the playroom until his siblings woke up. He came back out at 9 am, and the whole house was still soundly sleeping. Well, he just wasn't going to take it anymore, and he marched right into our bedroom, woke Dad and Ben, and then went strait into Angel's room to wake her as well. Ben's face was priceless as he walked into the living room! I wish I had a camera then! Here's a few pics of what the kids got!

My mother was so kind to stand in line for so long to get an autographed copy of Glenn Beck's "The Christmas Sweater" for Ted. He was absolutely jazzed to get it, it's probably among his most prized possesions, now.

Speaking of Being Pregnant!

Here's my first belly shot with this kiddo. I am 22 weeks here. Don't mind the bad hair and lack of make up. Yikes. I am rethinking posting this! Oh well!

Fun In the Snow!

Apparently, here in Boise, snow is only supposed to come in intervals of 2 or three inches, and not stick around for very long. That is what everyone told us when we moved here. However, last year, we had snow pretty much from Halloween to Valentine's Day, including a storm that dumped 8 inches all at once. This year so far, we have had three big storms, each dumping 2 or three inches at a time, all within about 6 days. Right now, there's about 6 inches on the ground! Here's some pictures of our day in the snow yesterday!

Jake and his friend from next door made a little snow fort by shoveling the driveway and the walk and piling the snow up. Then, they dug a hole in the middle, and used a sled for a door! This served two purposes: It kept all the kids busy ALL afternoon, so I could put my feet up and rest away some fun contractions; AND, the walk and driveway got shoveled, too! Woo Hoo!

Happy Birthday Ben!

Ben turned three on December 14th. What a blessing to our family. How do I describe such a unique, and fun little person, whom we have just come to know? His little personality is infectious, he is brave and affectionate. His favorite past times include tackling and sitting on his sister, and bonking his noggin. Throughout his short life his health problems have tested me. His contracting rotovirus at about 18 months, and becoming so sick that he didn't grow for half a year was probably the scariest, and most trying challenge I have had with a child. I thank God every day that he is now healthy and growing, and keeping me on my toes!

We all love you little guy!

Anyone Know Where to Buy These Big Bows?

Because we are going to need them! We have been blessed with another beautiful baby girl, which makes two of each. I cannot believe how the Lord has blessed us in this department. I NEVER get what I want. NEVER. But in the children department, I must say, I think the Lord has definately heard my prayers, and He happens to agree with what I think I need.

In all seriousness, though. These types of hairbows were not in style when I had Angelice, so I have no idea where to get them. I haven't seen them at my usual discount store haunts. So, if you know, or you make them, or whatever, PLEASE post, and let me know. I can't wait to buy some!

Taking a Little Break

Sometimes you just have to focus the little energy and emotion you have into the things that count. This is one of those times. I won't be posting for awhile, because we just cannot afford to keep our internet connection in more ways than one.

A prophet of God once uttered a perfect word to describe what our family is trying to do at this moment: Simplify. Simplify our needs and wants, simplify our lives, our families. What is most important to YOU? To YOUR family?

Sheri Dew once said: "We no longer have the luxury of doing anything that does not lead us or our families to Christ."

For our family, luxuries like satellite tv and high speed internet connections, do not lead us to Christ.

Perhaps in the future, we can revisit this blog. Maybe after things settle down a little bit.

Thanks for listening!