the next post of Eryn Jane dancing is hilarious. She must have picked up some breakin' moves from her father. Well, we think it's funny, every time we watch it we find ourselves cracking up. Maybe it's only the kind of thing that parents find so funny. She's pretty crazy and we're pretty crazy about her, how could we not be...

I Feel Like Dancin

EJ was just so excited to be getting ready for the snow! She couldn't contain herself any longer! Sometimes you just "GOTTA DANCE!"

Will Waves

one of his newly learned tricks....
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE......Turn your Volume DOWN before you Play this video. TRUST ME, you really, really DO NOT want to hear my voice. It's "LAME!" It's just plain ridiculous!

Milestones...

My baby turned 8months old on the 17th of this month. We were up in Flagstaff enjoying the snow at the time. So, we introduced him to snow for the first time. He wasn't too thrilled, especially when mom sat him in it to take pictures and he fell face down in it! I'm such a mean mom!

(EJ said- "Mom, Will looks like a gingerbread boy!" and that he most certainly did!
I'll post more on our trip soon!~)
Also, this past Wednesday, our little buddy started Waving & Crawling, all in one day! Crazy! I have video that is SOO CUTE! I'll post it as soon as I can figure it out!
I'm not ready for him to crawl!
I am, however, ready for him to produce his first tooth. How long do we have to suffer the grumpiness and the slobber with no reward?

Happy 11th Briggs...

I can't believe I have an 11 year old son! One more year and he'll be in Young Mens!?!? He'll be recieving the priesthood??? Crazy Insane!
He didn't get any presents today, but he had a great birthday even so. I made him his favorite breakfast, scrambled eggs & bacon and we had Supreme Nachos for dinner and Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream for dessert. He also got calls from both his Grandma and his Oma and his bishop. Yeah, lots of love comin' his way today!
He is so excited for his birthday party next Friday! A Lego Building Party with some of his friends! He's just sad that his best friend Craig won't be there, but he'll be with us in Spirit! We miss you Craig!

Happy Birthday Buddy! We Love You SOOO Much!

To all the Rabid Anti-Dentites

Listen,

It ain't easy being me. I just do. All you haters out there you best recognize. I will share my secret only this once.....MILK. I drink it like it is water and with almost every meal. The Doc's can't believe how good my teeth are since I have not been to a dentist in 3-4 years....."MILK lad" is the answer I always give. They give me some spiel about genetics, I say "MILK". Now, I might get teased because I am a bit more relaxed in the tooth-brushing area. Please don't interpret this as not brushing my teeth. I brush...most of the time.....my breath does not have a funk and my gums are "Very nice" whatever that means. Now if only my kids had the same genetics...I mean drank as much milk as I did, we would not having any more family teeth issues...

JD

What Did I Tell You???...

What Did I Say??? Huh???
Luckiest S.O.B. (pardon the french) on the planet!
NO CAVITIES!!!!
Ours is a very Passionate Love/Hate Relationship! I shouldn't say Love/Hate, cuz that's not really true...he can't help it!
I'll say Love/Jealous Relationship, Yeah...that fits much better!

Kirk will be soo disappointed in us...

Eryn and I went to the dentist today to get our teeth cleaned and xrays taken. It wasn't fun, although Eryn Jane was so very good.
Now, before reading the outcome you must know that Jens is always telling me to chill out when it comes to teeth brushing. I'm a freak about it. I help my kids ALL THE TIME to make sure they're doing it right. I do have trouble getting them and myself to floss regularly, but we never miss brushing!!!
Well, Eryn has 4 cavities and I have 5..... Crazy! Disgusting! and So Embarrassing! Jens was so shocked! I reminded him how much soda I drink and how long it's been since we've been to the dentist, then he wasn't so surprised any more! Yes, I'm horrible!
Jens has an appointment on Monday...he's acting scared, but knowing my husband and how freakin' lucky he ALWAYS IS (p.s. it's frustrating! ) He wont have ANY cavities! I won't even comment on how often he does brush his teeth, because I love my husband very much and I think he has so many admirable qualities!

a little tid-bit from Jensy's blog...

Since I haven't blogged in a while, and obviously not planning to terribly soon, I thought I'd add this funny story about Eryn Jane that Jens wrote in his blog. She is constantly cracking us up...

We have been doing some house cleaning this week and Eryn and I went down to the dump the other day. Eryn likes to hang with me and she is at a fun age where she asks really honest questions and begins to care about things more and more. Well, we have a plan to purchase a puppy when William turns 3. The kids always talk about it and I have asked that they do there homework to see what kind of dog they want to get. I guess Eryn has made up her mind that she wants a Husky. Here is the conversation we had on the way to the dump:

Eryn: Dad....Do bee's sting dogs?
Jens: Not sure. I guess so.
Eryn: But what if the bee stings our HUSKY?
Jens: We have a husky?
Eryn: No...when Will turns 3.
Jens:Ohh...well you don't need to worry about that until a few more years
Eryn: (Crying softly)
Jens: What is wrong?
Eryn: Now we will need to get a new HUSKY when our other one dies!!!!

I could not help but laugh that she was worried about replacing a husky we don't even have with another husky due to a bee sting. The way she was saying "Husky" was also funny. Like a friend told her about this type of dog and she is not really sure what it is.

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!