Finally!

Okay we are back from hiatus, at least for now. Sorry for being so boring and not keeping everyone updated on what’s going on lately. We will try to do better. Try is the word here people. I can’t guarantee anything though.

 

Here are some random pics from the last few monthes.

 

Elijah and his first drive-thru car wash. He was scared, but we kept clapping and acting really excited. He did actually make it through without crying, but by the look of this picture you wouldn’t know it. LOL

 

McKayla and Abbie on their new trampoline Christmas morning. Of all the years to have cold nasty weather on Christmas it would be this year. Usually it is balmy and nice, but oh no not when the kids REALLY want to be outside playing on their new present. (And poor Santa! I know he had quite a time out in the cold snowy weather, putting the thing together.) Yeah they lasted all of 2 minutes before they were ready to come in.

More Christmas pics.

And here’s few from a day at the park.

Look at that concentration!

Wow, he sure was having fun! Can I tell you how much I absolutely love this age. So fun!

Okay I’m done! Hope that keeps you all happy for awhile. Take care!

McKayla’s Baptism

A week ago yesterday McKayla became an official member of the church. It was such a great experience for her and our family. We are so very proud of her, and her decision to be baptized. She is such an amazing person, always trying to CTR when and wherever she is. We are so blessed to have her as part of our family.

I love this picture, but am sad because it turned out so blurry.

Good advice

We were at the kids school this evening playing on the playground when I came upon this sign in a secluded entry way to the school. Sometimes the best advice, is the advice you get in elementry school.

I sold the Jeep today…

And yes, I am filled with many mixed emotions. It is rare that you can find a possession that brings you closer together as a family. The jeep was just that. Between the geocaching trips on a dusty road, to an evening ice cream run with the top down. We as a family grew closer together. We will always have great memories of the four of us (mom, dad, Kayla, Abbie) in the bouncing around in the jeep.

Unfortunately the jeep had some downsides. One of which was that it only seated four. Granted, 98% of the time it was just me in the jeep, but once Elijah came along we no longer could have our family trips. I have a friend that asked me why? And I told him that just like the MC Hammer pants I had in 1992, I had to at some point grow up and put them on the shelf of no return. So it is with the Jeep. Our family has grown, and our needs and desires are different. I would never trade those wonderful memories we had in the Jeep, but I love where our family is right now as well. Elijah has changed all the rules in our house…I wouldn’t have it any other way.

RIP Black Jeep…

Facebook

Thats all I ever hear about anymore. What is all the hubbub with Facebook? I have always considered myself a young, hip, tech savvy person. But this facebook thing is just foriegn to me. I always thought it was like myspace, and I knew I really didn’t want to be in that crowd but I also did not want to be left in the dust in the whole social networking thing.

So I finally checked it out. I was amazed how many people I knew and respected already had profiles on it. It seems many people use it as means to keep track of business colleagues, social acquaintances, as well as friends old and new. I even found groups that were related to me personally such my mission, my favorite book, and my favorite toy. So I took the plunge, and created a profile. As I see it, Facebook is to a email what email was to snail mail. Its sort of like a living blog. I am just on the cusp of really understanding what it does, and how it keeps you in touch with people, but so far I’m intrigued.

Mike’s first helecopter ride

I never know what I am going to end up doing at work. Sure, most days are spent hour after hour in front of a computer. But today was different. As I walked past my bosses office he told me that he wanted some new pictures of the development. Not just any pictures but a birds eye view. So he told me to meet him at the airport at 1:00 with my camera at the ready.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of flying with me knows that I am not the most comfortable flyer. I don’t have a phobia of flying, I just don’t like being belted into a vehicle that I don’t have control of. About a year ago my boss aquired a small 6 seater plane, and thus far I have been able to weasel my way out of having to fly in it. I know how I am in a 747 let alone a small plane. So as you can imagine I was quite apprehensive most of the day leading to the flight.

As it turned out, we ended up going up in a helecopter. At first I wasn’t sure if that would be better or worse. As we started up the chopper and lifted off the ground, I was pretty curled towed. But as the flight went on I found myself quite enjoying it. I was amazed how smooth the ride was.

I took this picture of myself as we were taking off. Can you see the fear in my eyes?

My two new favorite pics

These two pictures are my favorites right now. I know they are both at the top of the main page of our blog, but I just have post about them.

This one sums up how we all feel about Mike. Abbie adores her daddy, and so do the rest of us. We all get so excited every day when we hear the jeep rumble into the driveway. Even Elijah starts to say dada when he hears the key in the lock. We just really enjoy his presence in our family. He is such a family oriented person, and is happiest when he is home with us. I know I can count on him anytime I might need him. He is home at the drop of a hat if I need him, no matter what is going on at work. Sometimes I really want to take advantage of that just so we can have him home more. He makes sure to take the time to let everyone know that they are loved and important to him. We love him very much, and feel very blessed to have him as our daddy.

And this one? I just love being a mom to my kids.

Elijah and the cat

So initially I felt the need to keep these two apart. However they had a different plan in mind. They have both been very curious about each other, and are drawn to one another. I can’t seem to keep them apart. So I resorted to keeping the cat outside most of the time. I just didn’t trust her with him. Turns out I don’t need to worry too much. She has been very patient with Elijah. He’s been plenty rough with her, and she just takes it, and keeps coming back for more. Now for the task of teaching him how to be “soft” to the kitty. Or dity as he says it.

And this one I just have to throw in cause it’s cute.

A trip to Costco

I think we are at a more refined level of white trashery in our family. We used to find recreation in browsing the isles of walmart, now we do the same at costco. We figure it’s our right as card members to do so.

And the hot dogs are a bonus treat.

Here is a picture of the girls getting a free ride on the massage chair. Best $40 bucks we spend all year.

Abbie

Abbie is amazing.

There are so many words that describe Abbie. Loving, beautiful, passionate, stubborn, caring, confident….and a thousand more.

But something about Abbie that I think is amazing, is her ability to attract and make friends quickly. We have so many pictures of her just like this one of her just hanging out with a friend. When we go places, the park, swimming pool, school functions, Abbie always makes a little friend with someone and is off playing. She has this incredible ability to do that. People are just naturally attracted to her energy. She is very non-judgmental, and I think people can feel that.

I really think she is going to have a special role in life.