Dinner with the Missionaries

We were able to feed the missionaries on Saturday night. We don't get the opportunity to feed them very often, so when it's our ward's turn we try to have them over. It's so different from my mission and Miles' mission. They serve the whole Valley View stake plus two wards in the North stake. Miles and I only served in one ward at a time and so we would really get to know the members well. We know it is good to have the missionaries in our home to set a good example for our boys. Scotty was really excited for them to come. He was downstairs cleaning up when they got here and then when he came upstairs he became totally shy and wouldn't even look at them! Grant was excited to show them his toys and to growl like a dinosaur at them! Elder Nelson is from Alaska and Elder Roley is from Washington. They were nice, fun Elders and we had a good dinner. Scotty got pretty silly after while. He wanted to tell them things but would tell me to tell them for him. We asked him what missionaries do and he yelled out "Nothing!!" They got a good laugh from that. When they were ready to give their spiritual message Grant came over and was stinky, Collin was screaming and Scotty was tying to sneak off to play. A normal evening for our house. They gave a message about the importance of the scriptures and then gave us a Book of Mormon and challenged us to give it out to someone we know. Now we have to decide who to give it to. Any takers??

Memories

We took Grant and Collin to get their pictures taken today. We are so lucky that a children's photography studio, Little Grins, opened in Stansbury Park a year ago. They do a great job and are fun to work with. We didn't have our hopes too high because both of these guys are usually hard to photograph, but it turned out great. They both started out very somber but we were able to get them to warm up and start smiling. I put new pictures on the side bar and here are a few others that we liked.

These are Grant's 2yr old pictures. We had to cancel our original appt just after Christmas because he was sick and it has taken this long for him to be well enough for pictures. He looks so big in these- and so cute!! And the bruise on his head is perfect for 2yr old pictures. He didn't want to put down that car either so it appears in his pictures too.

This is how Collin started out the shoot:

"You want me to do what? I don't think so!"

He warmed up and started crawling all over. We love this candid shot above. These are his 9 month pictures- even though he is 10 months!

We also had our nephew Logan come get his 2yr old pictures too. His mom is Lissa that is still in the hospital and I'm sure she'll be happy to see his cute shots.

It was a fun day. After pictures, Grant went with Logan to Grandma Geri and Grandpa Steve's to have lunch and Collin and I went to lunch with some girlfriends. We went with our friends Sharon and "little" Miles yesterday to the I Am A Child of God museum and to lunch at McDonald's. The boys had a lot of fun and Sharon and I had great adult talk. It was really nice to get out and do something fun with the kids. It's been awhile since we have been able to go anywhere and it was definitely time. I had two days in a row with adult interaction- what a treat!

I always feel like somebody's watching me..

I went in to check on Grant tonight and I found this:

I stifled my giggle and ran to get the camera!

Simple Minds

We are easily amused in our house!

Jammies

We noticed one night that all three boys had red and blue pajamas on. We thought it'd be cute to get a picture of them together in their matching jammies. I was trying to make them smile and as you can see, when they get laughing too hard it doesn't make a great picture! And Grant was all over the place. But these make us smile and laugh, so they're keepers!

Grant was knocked over in hysterics by my antics! This is my favorite!

I love these boys!!

Happy Birthday Miles!

Today is Miles birthday and the kids were so excited to celebrate it. Scotty made him a cute sign and a really cute card. Grant made him an adorable card too. Scotty wanted to buy him some licorice for his birthday, so we did and then the kids ate it! We went to dinner and the boys behaved themselves. Then we came home and had ice cream and brownies cut into star shapes because Miles is our star! We are so thankful for Miles and what an awesome husband and dad he is. We're very lucky and we love him so much. Happy birthday gorgeous!!

Everyone but Daddy enjoying his present!

Notice how everyone has a candle? Blowing out candles is so exciting Scotty begged us to have a candle too to "help" daddy!

Miles is the best!

Grant's birthday party

It's been a month and I'm just posting about Grant's birthday- oops! Well, he is the middle child so we might as well live up to the middle child expectations, right?? December has been more than crazy, so I'm pretty sure he'll forgive me!

Grant had a fun birthday. On his birthday we gave him our presents- a stuffed Elmo, a Buzz Lightyear and a stuffed dog with a blanket. He loved them. We went to McDonald's for dinner and had fun playing. Mel and Urban were able to join us at home to sing and eat chocolate muffins. Grant ended up spitting his candles out and it was so cute! It is now the kid's favorite video to watch!

We had his party a few days later and his family came to celebrate with us. He was a little overwhelmed with all the people, so he stayed by me and was pretty quiet. He blew out his candles like a champ! Miles made him a dump truck cake and it was adorable- as always.

Grant is such a fun little boy. We love him so much!!

He was excited to open his presents, but was very nice to let us get a picture first.

He loved the Elmo and even said Elmo- which was amazing!

He loved Elmo until he opened up Buzz, then it was all about Buzz. Elmo knows how Woody feels!

Having fun at McDonald's.

Pointing to his awesome dump truck cake. Miles is the best!

Aren't those lips adorable??

He takes present opening seriously!

He always finds interesting ways to use his toys!

2009

This is a little long, but it's fun to take a look back on the year and remember things. I love to read other's so if you haven't already do one for yourself on your blog!

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Rode in a helicopter.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I'm pretty sure I didn't, but I don't remember. I'm not a big resolution maker. I pretty much know I won't keep them and I don't want to disappoint myself!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Me!! My friend Jenny.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, thankfully.

5. What countries did you visit? None- I did make it out of Utah a couple times though.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Uninterrupted sleep!

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 12- the day Collin surprised us by being born 6 weeks early.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Hmm...taking all 3 kids somewhere by myself!! Breastfeeding Collin is a big achievement this year. I had such trouble with the other two and I was glad to be able to have this experience with Collin.

9. What was your biggest failure? Stopping my exercise routine. I only did it steadily for a few weeks but I was doing better than I had ever before.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had the flu. It sucked.

11. What was the best thing you bought? The Roomba!!!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mother in law, Geri. When Lissa went to the hospital she stepped up and started taking care of everything- Mark, his 3 kids, keeping family and friends updated on Lissa's progress, Mark and Lissa's house, coordinating everyone who wanted and needed to help. She is amazing and we're so lucky to have her.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Nobody I know personally.

14. Where did most of your money go? Regular bills- mortgage, groceries, etc. And, until they betrayed us and closed the Tooele store, Bajio!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Grant saying ma ma.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Single Ladies. The best use of Single Ladies in 2009 was the Glee episode where Kurt auditioned for the football team. Classic.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner- I was 6 months pregnant this time last year.
c) richer or poorer? Same

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercising.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying.

20. How did you spend Christmas? At home with Miles and the boys in our pj's.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? With another little, tiny man- Collin.

22. What was your favorite TV program? Only one?? Impossible to narrow it down! The Office, Survivor (didn't you love the last season??), The Biggest Loser, Glee, Modern Family, The Middle, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, The Amazing Race, Desperate Housewives...I could go on. I have a slight tv addiction!

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't hate anyone. That is a strong word. There are some people who annoy me though.

24. What was the best book you read? Geri lent me a series about a group of pioneer widowed women going west. I can't remember the name of the series, but it was good. I didn't read too much this year and I missed it.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don't really listen to much music anymore. It makes me sad when I think about it.

26. What did you want and get? A healthy baby- after a shaky start.

27. What did you want and not get? Sleep!

28. What was your favorite film of this year? Saying this quietly- Star Trek!

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 33 and I went to dinner with Miles and had chocolate pie with the kids.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Casual- very, very casual.

31. What kept you sane? Chocolate and tv.

32. What political issue stirred you the most? Healthcare

33. Who did you miss? My sister and her family. I'm glad I got to visit them and she got to come visit me this year. Two of my sisters in laws, Michelle & Mel, and their families moved this year and I miss them very much.

34. Who was the best new person you met? I'm racking my brain tying to think of anyone new I met this year!! That's what happens when you are a hermit.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

Who needs sleep?  

Well, you're never gonna get it.  

Who needs sleep?  

Tell me what's that for?  

Who needs sleep?  

Well, you're never gonna get it.

Be happy with what you're getting.  

There's a guy who's been awake since the second world war.