Christmas Funnies....

Briggs bought his friend, who happens to be a girl, a little present for Christmas. A little penguin ornament and a cute box to put it in. Today was their last day of school before the break so he was excited to put it together and take it with him to give it to her. He came to me and said,
Briggs: " Mom, I signed the card and put the ornament in the box, now I'm going to put it in my backpack, kay!"
Mom: " Well, you need to wrap it in tissue first! "
Briggs: " Oh, Okay! "
When I came downstairs, I was curious and looked inside the box...
Briggs had filled the box with Kleenex Tissues and set the ornament carefully on top! I did say Tissue!

...aaannnnddd...THEY'RE OFF!!!!

The million dollar smile that only cost us a thousand!

Isn't he handsome? It was worth EVERY PENNY!

Fine Motor Skills...

He's usin' 'em!


Hooray For Cheerios! Jens and I are soo excited to take baby snacks to church again! How come there's nothing tastier than Cheerios at Church?

Christmas Funnies...

The following is from last Monday when we went to the temple lights with my family. My niece Alyssa met us there, but her husband Jakob couldn't come because he had a class that night...
Eryn looks at Allyssa, puts her hands on her hips and says, "Where's Your Lover !?!"

Over this past weekend Reagan invited her friend, from school, Jaden, to play on Saturday and then to come to church with us on Sunday. She also came to Activity Days that same evening. All the primary girls ages 8-11 met and we went caroling to a family in our ward. They care for 4 elderly people in their home. They are the nicest family. After we sang Christmas Carols (and Eryn danced, I brought her with for fun!) the family had made us hot chocolate and homemade cinnamon rolls, YUM! Then, we went outside to see all their sheep and goats! We had lots of fun! Eryn loved the sheep and tried to feed one of them, but it bit her on the finger. She was quite upset.
After we dropped all the girls home, I asked Reagan and Eryn if they had a good time...

Reagan - Yes! I had fun with Jaden! It was a weekend well spent!
Eryn Jane - Well, I didn't play with any friend and I got BIT BY A SHEEP! That's how I spent MY weekend!

C'EST LA VIE!!!

An Early Christmas...

Jens's mom is traveling to Germany on Wednesday to spend Christmas with Oma Anni and Tante Marina (her mom and sister) She promised the kids that she would give them their presents early. I think she went overboard, but it's a Christmas, I'm sure, my kids will Never Forget!

Will, of course, just played with the paper...


I think Briggs actually started crying... (don't tell him I told you!)

Reagan and her Webkinz...

Then she took the kids and I (Jens stayed home with Buddy the Stinker!) to meet my Mom and niece Ryann at the Hale Center Theatre for the showing of A CHRISTMAS CAROL! It was so much fun! Very entertaining! The actors were fantastic and the singing was beautiful! It got us all in the Christmas Spirit! Briggs even gave a standing them a Standing Ovation! We all had a great time! Reagan's favorite part was the Disco ball and Eryn's favorite part were the bubbles! The special effects were Awesome!



Our Oma spoils us ROTTEN! We love her so much, not for the things she gives us, but for the way she loves and cares for us! For the wonderful example she is to her children and grandchildren and for the happiness and blessing her presence in our lives brings! Thank You Oma for being OUR OMA! We LOVE You! We hope you have a Merry Christmas! We will miss You!

Dear Santa...

Eryn Jane was so excited to be going to see Santa! She kept touching Will's face while we were in the car and making him cry.
Mom - Please stop bothering him and let him go to sleep, Eryn!
EJ - (almost crying!) but, Mom, then he won't be able to take a picture with me and Santa!!!

Aunt Kaci met us at the mall and Eryn was just as excited to see her as she was to see Santa....she loves her aunt Kaci! Then she got right up and told him exactly what she wanted! A CUPCAKE MAKER! My little girl LOVES to bake and cook! I think Santa is going to make good on his promises this year!
And Will was Awesome! What a sweet little boy I have! He didn't cry or get scared. He looked back and forth between me and Santa with a little bit of confusion on his face. It was cute! I'm betting next year he won't be so willing!

Family Night Temple Lights

Family Night Temple Lights...

We just spent a great night at the temple for family night! It's becoming one of our beloved family traditions. We met with the Bonham Family to see the temple lights and after enjoy hot chocolate and donuts. YUM! It was fun to get together and what a great place to get together at. Even though it was VERY crowded and you could hardly walk, there was NO STRESS, which is rare for my fam! The lights were beautiful and the company was as good as it gets! I love my family and I love living near them again!
I've been SOO happy with the weather lately! The cool weather just lifts my spirit up! We were able to wear jackets tonight! YEAH!
I have so many really cute pictures to show, but it's late and I'm tired! I'll try to put together a slide show and post it soon!
FUN! FUN! FUN!

He Sits...

Look at my baby boy... he's sitting!

putting up the christmas tree...

Jens bought us a new Christmas tree this year. Pre-lit, yeah! We've had his grandmas tree almost our whole married life...it was dirty and smelly and disgusting. I couldn't bear the thought of having to put it up again this year. Don't get me wrong, it's been a good little tree and we've loved it, but it's just time!
Jens actually woke up on Friday morning and went shopping. He got a $180 tree for $50. He got back home when I was still sleeping, so, when I woke up and saw him in bed I thought he had given up on the shopping idea....then, I walked downstairs and saw the tree in our living room. It felt like Christmas morning. It was so fun!
Don't I have a sweet husband. Especially, if you know Jens, he HATES shopping!!!
The kids have been waiting all weekend to decorate it. I think I'll have to go back a rearrange a few ornaments. Eryn Jane put them all around the bottom.

an apple a day...

or two, or three...
so I ordered a box of Utah apples, like, FOREVER ago... and even with Eryn Jane eating one to two apples every day I still had a full box... I needed to do something with them. So, for the first time I made applesauce and apple pie filling and I think it turned out pretty good. I'm excited to try them out on pancakes or to make an apple crisp.
I couldn't have done it without my friend Allison. I have to say how lucky I am to have moved next door to such an awesome family. Allison is so nice... quick to help out, quick to lend a hand and some kind words. She always makes my day with a nice comment. Very organized and talented. She's a great example to me of the kind of mom and person I'd like to be. Among all that she is a great cook and has ALL the Gadgets. She's my food storage Guru. I've learned so much from her and thankfully she is selfless and let's me borrow all her cool kitchen stuff.

So, this time, along with borrowing her water bath canner, once again, I borrowed her apple corer, peeler, slicer. It was SOOO much Fun!!! My kids and I had a blast using it! It's on my wish list now!

Go Devils...

Jens and Eryn Jane took me to the ASU football game on Friday night. Eryn has gotten to go with Jens before, but this was my first time going this season because Will is finally taking a bottle. It was fun for Jens and I to share some one on one time with Eryn Jane. She was such a trooper. We parked pretty far away and she walked there and back, the whole way and kept up with Jens better than I did. It was chilly that night..we had fun snuggling with her in the stands.
It was a great game. For those who know me, you know I don't talk sports.... all I can say is that the Devils Defense is AWESOME! Oh...and I got a new ASU SunDevils T-shirt too!

Crazy 8's

I found this on my friend Rachel's blog and thought it looked like fun! Right now I'm doing everything except the things I should be doing and so, taking time to do this fits perfectly into my schedule today!!!

CRAZY 8'S

8 T.V. SHOWS I ♥ TO WATCH~
1.} 30 Rock
2.} The Office
3.} Lost
4.} Amazing Race
5.} Americas Funniest Home Videos
6.} Extreme Makeover Home Addition
7.} The Hills
8.} TV Movies
8 of MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS~
1.} Cantina Laredo
2.} Pete's
3.} Ned's
5.} Cafe Rio
6.} Paradise Bakery
7.} Chipotle
8.} Chili's (their salads are my fave!!!)
8 THINGS THAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY
1.} Made waffles
2.} did some laundry
3.} went running
4.} played soccer at the park w/Jens and kids
5.} took pics of kids at the park
6.} ate at Pete's
7.} went to the ASU football game w/Jens and Eryn Jane
8.} snuggled with my baby boy!
8 THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO~
1.} the cool/cold weather
2.} drinking hot chocolate
3.} making blankets for my kids..shhh....
4.} seeing the Christmas lights
5.} visit's from best friends
6.} our Germany Trip,next June!!!!YES!!!
7.} all the fun things we get to do at Christmas time
8.} seeing Will smile when he wakes up, which should be any minute...
8 THINGS ON MY WISH LIST~
1.} iphone
2.} new microwave
3.} house painted
4.} new carpet
5.} backyard landscaping
6.} craft room
7.} cool weather ALL YEAR ROUND!!!
8.} loose 30 pounds!!!

having a baby around...

just some shots of here and there and hanging out with my sweet little baby boy! He's getting soo big and learning lots of new things! He grabs all the things he shouldn't and spits up on everything! But, he's soo much fun and we love him!
bouncing around...

into mischief...

he reached over and pulled out all the paper towels when I wasn't looking.... he's so proud of himself!

Mother/Son Bonding in Tucson, AZ...

Well, Briggs and I spent all day yesterday together. We drove down to Tucson to watch Jens ride in the Tour de Tucson while Oma stayed at home with the girls and little Will. The hard part for him was that he was grounded and couldn't bring his DS game system. I was nervous, but I think he had a good day. I LOVED it! We had fun together.
Back to the race! Jens was AWESOME! 109 miles in 6 hours! He rode the race last year with his buddy Chris and this year he finished the race one hour faster than last year! I'm so proud of him! Especially because he has not had that much time to train and he was sick most of the last week! I think he was also a little sad and bored without Chris there, but he pulled through!! He's a ROCK STAR!!! And it was so fun to cheer him on and scream for him at the end! Way To "Lace 'Em Up" Babe!!!

Feeling The Spirit...

I want to share a "proud parent" moment that Jens and I experienced in fast and testimony meeting this morning. I was sitting next to Briggs, holding sleeping Will, and listening to all the wonderful testimonies when, out of the corner of my eye, I see Briggs get a thoughtful look on his face. He then, sat up straight, set his scriptures down on the chair beside him and stood up. He stood there for one brief second and then a look of determination set in. He started off down the aisle putting his hands in his pockets, walking very reverently up to the podium.

..... Now, have all parents experienced this, or is it just me, when you kids start walking up to bear their testimonies and you're thinking to yourself...okay...oh no....what are you going to say??? and you're really, really nervous .......

Well, what came out of Briggs's mouth shocked us all... I mean the whole ward. People came up to us all morning, commenting that as soon as he started speaking the congregation WOKE UP!
He said (as well as I can remember),
"People think that when you come up here you have to have a special experience to share or all the right words to say, but I've been thinking and have noticed that you just need to speak from your heart. As long as it is from your heart it's good. I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet. "
I believe he said more, but I was crying by this point and it's hard to remember. I was so overwhelmed by the Spirit and as I'm typing this I'm trying to think of the last time I have felt it so strongly.

The things that spoke to me and touched my heart about his testimony were...
First, just being able to see Briggs sitting next to me and to watch him feeling and hearing the Spirit speak to him, watching him recognize it and react on it... determined to obey the prompting.
Second, his speaking skills. He relayed to me afterwards that his heart was pounding, but you wouldn't even know it. He got up there and spoke clearly and strongly and I wondered and hoped that I was witnessing him practice being a faithful missionary and disciple of Christ.
Third, the message his testimony relayed to me. Being someone who has a very hard time with words...with getting across all that I want to say. If you know me best, you know it takes me and hour to tell a 5 minute story... and that stops me a lot of times from sharing my true feelings and testimony...because I'm embarrassed that I'm not so eloquent. I felt like his message was for me.
Fourth, his example to me! I was able to muster up the strength and obey the Spirit's prompting to me to bear my testimony. It is a simple testimony and one that I hope I can continue to grow and strengthen. It was strengthened today by my son being and example to me. When I got back to my seat he said, "I'm never an example to you!" I told him, "you just were!"
The Spirit does teach, and all those times when we've had Family Home Evening and read scriptures and I've thought that he wasn't listening, all those hours laying awake in my bed scared for him and hoping and praying that he makes good choices and listens to the Spirit. I know Heavenly Father hears my prayers and that he is hoping just as I am, if not more for His children to choose the right and come home.

Now, I know that this doesn't mean he'll never yell at his sisters again, or that I will never get a note sent to me from his teacher, or that he'll never sass me again, or that...or that....or that.... But, my faith and my testimony have been strengthened this morning from feeling the Spirit and I wanted to share that with you.
I know my Savior lives. I know the Gospel is true. I know the Book of Mormon is true and that when you read it to your children the Spirit will enter there and teach them that it is true. How grateful I am for the temple and that Jens and I could be sealed there and our children to us. I love my family so very much. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Celebrating...

Today we celebrated Eryn's 5th Birthday. Jens and I took the kids to see Madagascar 2 (pretty funny!) then went to coldstone where Eryn got to pick out her very own birthday ice cream cake.... to Jens's dismay and my pleasure, she chose the triple chocolate....ALL CHOCOLATE! Yummy! Then we picked up some pizza from Barro's. Oma & Paul, Dena & their kids came by and celebrated with us having dinner and cake. They also brought Eryn presents. She was so excited she was jumping all around... much to our embarrassment she ended up grabbing and shaking my belly and kicking Jens in the "hmm-hmm". She just couldn't contain herself.
Finally, she gets to blow out her "5" candle...

Will, Davin & Dominic...

waiting for cake...

Sweet Jaida Rose..

Will & Davin, best friends in the making...

Will partied just a little too hard...

Eryn Jane Turns "5"

Happy Birthday Baby Girl....

Is this the same girl ? Jens and I can't believe it! We just want to say how proud we are of this "not so little anymore" darling, how much we love her and how thankful we are to have her in our family! How lucky are we to be able to live with that beautiful smile...

a day at a play...

Today Oma took the girls, my mom and me to the Hale Theatre showing Cinderella. We've never been before and we loved it. We'll definitely have to go again. The actors did a great job and Eryn loved meeting them after the show and getting their autographs. She kept asking me after when we were going again and what plays they'd be doing...Beauty and the Beast is next year and A Christmas Carol after Thanksgiving..."Mom, maybe they'll do Barbie, The Diamond Castle!?" Well, we shall see!

A BIG Thanks to Jens for giving up a riding day and for taking such good care of my boys so I could have some special time with my girls!!!

a day at a play...

All Hallows Eve...

So many Halloween Posts...I know....but I just wanted to thank all our friends and family for hanging out with us on Halloween. We had a great time. We ate the traditional chili and cornbread with sugar cookies and lots of candy. The kids ate about two bites of their dinner before they ran out the door to go trick or treating. One of the most exciting parts of the evening was when the Chandler Fire Dept. fire truck drove through out neighborhood handing out candy and hats to the kids. It was cool! At first, we thought it might be Jens's brother Jason, but he works for Gilbert. We also taught Gary, Kaci & Danielle how to play Schnoutz betting our candy!

All Hallows Eve...

The Cowardly Lion...

Rocker Gary

Trunk-Or-Treat Fun...

Another "I DID IT!"...

Although this accomplishment is more mental/creative/crafty than physical, I'm still quite proud of myself. Eryn Jane wanted to
be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz and I dared to sew her a dress.


I was nervous but, I FINISHED and ON TIME! She was able to wear it to our ward's Trunk-or-Treat party tonight. It was fun too! Of course, I did have to stay up until about two in the morning last night, but who hasn't done that for their kids before....right. Especially when they end up looking as cute as this little girl does...

FHE Pumpkin Carving

My Little Gangsta...

A cute onsie that his Aunt Kaci bought for him FINALLY fits...so cute!

I was able to capture Will's " turtle-face " When he makes this face we call him Turtle

He Sleeps...

This boy FINALLY fell asleep on his own.. with out being rocked, bounced, swung, etc....

Eryn's a cute little helper

I DID IT!!!

The Chandler Challenge...

I ran my first 10K! It was AWESOME!!! I can see myself getting addicted! Of course, it wouldn't have been so great if my lovely sister, Danielle, hadn't done it with me. She was awesome! It was a lot of fun spending time with her and having her there to push me along! Thanks Dan, I love ya!

Dani & I running in. We were almost the last ones, but we didn't care. I was just thrilled to finish! Lovely picture, I know!

Jens was a great support as well! He came, with all 4 kids in tow, to see us off and watch us come in. He was there to cheer us on and congratulate us. It felt good to know that he was proud of me and it was great to hear my kids say that they were proud of me as well. I think their favorite part was all the oranges, apples & bananas. (I've NEVER seen my kids eat so much fruit before!) My mom was there also with Ryann & Max. Thanks Jens, kids & Mom for being there!

It's been a great day! Very empowering....Dani and I are looking for the next 10K, then, maybe I'll be ready for the half marathon in February with Kaci & Dani? (Are you with us, Christine?)