Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Christmas Spirit


Our Christmas cuties!


Look at that face
I have had the hardest time getting into the Christmas spirit this year.I think just all the pressure of making it a perfect day and doing fun things with the kids to make it a special season was really getting to me.Then Jaden and Megan sang at the Nativity Festival. Our church puts this together every year here, and it was so cool. There were lots of nativities from all over the world. I wish I would of taken pictures of my favorite ones. The kids sang some wonderful Christmas songs .(and Megan loved her new sparkly dress.) Then I started to get in the Christmas mood , then I decorated the tree with Megan and she was so excited. It made me remember decorating the tree with my mom and loving every minute of it .I could hardly wait until Christmas. Then we had some pretty carolers come to our door that brought a tear to my eye. And we have been doing something different this year. Our friends gave us a Christmas scripture advent this year. You read a scripture and then listen to a song . With the days being so hectic and long it's been great to sit down and reflect on the real reason for the season.

So Much


Happy First Thanksgiving!



Megan is so sweet!




Waiting for the feast!



Cooking the Big Feast




I am so glad when grandma comes





Cousins are the best!
We have so much to be thankful for. I didn't want to pass up this chance to tell how much fun Thanksgiving was this year. We had a great time with my parents and did lots of fun things. Eating ,shopping,movies,eating,playing,going to Yosemite, laughing etc.. We are so glad they came to see us.We made some great memories. I am so thankful for families, and friends,Jesus Christ , and good health and a warm house to live in.(This is such a crazy time of year so I wanted to take a minute and reflect on our many blessings.)Happy Holidays!





Sunday, November 30, 2008

Yosemite!


Boy are we glad...

We moved to California. There are plenty of reasons good and bad for living in California. This post is about 1 reason why anyone would love living in Central California. YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK!

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis visited us for Thanksgiving so we decided to make the 100 mile drive to Yosemite the day after Thanksgiving. It was a breath taking drive and that was before we even entered the park. The scenery inside the park is beyond words. I think we found our new happy place in which to escape. All of a sudden we are ready to become hikers (okay at least Ben is). These pictures don't even do justice to what it looks like in person. As you can see the weather was perfect. The one picture we couldn't get were of the rock climbers on the face of El Capitan. They were getting ready to spend the night on a 3,000 foot rock cliff! We can't wait to go in the spring when the falls are roaring from the melting snow!

If anyone decides to come visit we would love to be a tour guide.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Sweet Potatoe Casserole

Sweet Potatoes

3 c. boiled sweet potatoes-mashed
1 c. sugar
1/2 c. melted butter
2 eggs- well beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1/3 c. sweet milk (eagle brand)

Mix and put into a buttered dish. ( Use mixer to mash the potatoes until smooth).

Topping:
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans)
1/2 c. flour
1/3 c. melted butter

Mix and sprinkle on top. Bake at 350 for 25 mins.

It is not Thanksgiving until I make these. They are sooooo yummmyy!!And easy to make.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Jaden lost a tooth



Jaden was so excited to loose his first tooth. It has been wiggly for a couple of weeks now. He wanted to loose it at school because you get to wear the tooth necklace and put your tooth inside . But since he has been out of school almost a week and a half and not going back until after thanksgiving that was not going to happen.( sorry buddy). SO on Monday he started playing with his tooth a lot and it was really sticking out. So when dad got home I got a napkin and gave it a good tug. And of course jaden cried a little. Then he said he wanted to try and out it came. We had to call grandma and tell her!!And now he talks with a cute lisp. And it is in perfect spot for a capri sun straw to fit thru it .So he thinks he is pretty cool. And the tooth fairy was also really nice to him!! So that is the story of the lost tooth more than you wanted to know I'm sure.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Elder Wright's Message

Visiting Elder Wright


waiting to surprise Elder Wright


walking laps around the nurses station

Elder Wright and Lanie



ouch! 24 staples!



Happy Camper








The Bishop what a sweet sweet man







We made the two hour drive to Napa yesterday to visit Elder Wright. He was doing great. It was kinda weird to see him at first since it had been 18 months since we saw him last.But then again at the same time it felt like yesterday. He was pretty shocked to see us at his the door. He is doing very well considering he erupted his spleen and bruised his kidney,from falling off a rope swing. He has had many visitors and seem to be in good spirits since he missed his first baptism on his mission the the day of the accident. We are so thankful that nothing else happened to him.We had a great visit with him and got to spend a few hours at the hospital. Megan kept saying to me "mom I though Shaun was on a mission". One day they will realize how lucky they were to see Uncle Shaun on his mission.We love you Elder Wright!!!






Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Lanie Laughing

We have been trying to get Lanie to laugh for a few weeks and she finally did. It was too cute so I had to share it!

Friday, October 31, 2008

Happy Halloween!


Happy Halloween everyone! We did the Trunk or Treat last weekend at church so tonight we are looking forward to some Trick or Treating! Yippee, Yummy CANDY! HOpe everyone has a safe and fun holiday.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Primary Program


All the children in our church gave talks and sang songs at church this past sunday. It was so very sweet to hear them sing about Jesus. This was the first year Jaden actually participated after 4 years of being too afraid to go up there. ( way to go dude) And megan was so cute and sang with the sumbeams and said her part too. At the end they sang a song that went like this:

If the savior stood beside me,would I do the things I do? Would I think of his commandments and try harder to be true? Would I follow his example? Would I live more righteously if I could see the Savior standing nigh watching over me?

Megan started to cry when they were singing this song, and wouldn't sing anymore, and we asked her why she was crying and she said because "I was feeling good inside." It is in these sweet moments that help us remember our Savior is really there watching over us.

Special Award


Jaden got a special award this week at school. He was given the most outstanding First grader award in the whole school. Which is only given to one student from the Principal. This is what his teach wrote about him: Jaden is an outstanding first grader! He is funny and sweet, a good friend to others and a very responsible student. He is always on task! He is a wonderful reader and he loves to write -especially about his family.He joined our class last month, and we are so glad and proud that he is a member of our classroom family!
I am so thankful he got such a great start at school in Texas. He really loves school and has made lots of new friends! I did video tape it but there was a baby in the background crying so I will save every ones ears for now. Super job Jaden!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Little Lanie


Wow where has the time gone. It seems like the days and especially the weekends are just flying by. Our little lanie is just doing great! I can't believe that she is 4 months! She does not like being on her tummy .Probably because most of her life she has spent in a car.So the other day I put her on a blanket and she rolled over.The kids are still enjoying her and I love that she is such a good baby. She brings a smile to my heart everyday. She does love attention though.Anyone that talks to her is her new best friend.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Happy Birthday Jaden!

Seven years ago I became a mom. I didn't know what to expect. But I am so thankful I am Jaden's mom. He keeps me on my toes. There have been many ups and downs to figuring out motherhood but I am very blessed. I don't know where the time has gone,but it really has changed my life for the better. Jaden is such a sweet spirit and is very kind to his sisters and friends and family.We are just so thankful that Heavenly Father sent him to us. We are glad you are apart of our family Jaden. We love you so much. Don't forget we are all in this together!! When ever I tell him this he gets the biggest smile on his face.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Megan Boogie Boarding

This is when we were at the beach,she is trying to

boogie board. she was so cute! I just had to share it.

Home Invasion

The cute little Gecko
Now trapped in a bowl!!

SO the other morning I was cleaning up the kitchen and went to throw something in the garbage. And I looked down and saw something move. I said what was that? I looked down and it was a lizard. It moved a little ,and I knew I had to act quickly so it wouldn't run away. I ran to the cupboard and got a glass. I came back and tried to catch it. It then ran fast under the piano.My heart it racing so fast at this point. So Megan And I got on the floor trying to see if we could see it. We could. So I called Ben at work. The conversation went like this. Um what are you doing? Working... oh well ,Megan and I are trying to catch a lizard. Really ,you mean a gecko. Yeah sure ,whatever it is will you come get it? I don't want to loose it somewhere in the house then it would crawl on Lanie or the kids. I will see if I can get away. 10 minutes later.... Called Ben again, are you going to come and get it? Megan the whole time is on her tummy staring at this gecko under the piano. She would yell, mom it moved his head!! When Ben got home he got the broom and wept it out and trapped it with a Tupperware bowl.( I could of done that, but I was too scared!) We then got it outside thank goodness. So Am I the only one who would of called their husband to come and get it? What would you do if a gecko got in your house?


When it was all over, I said oh we should of kept it as a pet. It was kind of cute!


Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Sunset Beach

Cool surfer dude!!
Jaden and Ben

Jellyfish



making new friends



Megan boogie boarding!



Jaden playing baseball on the beach.





Our first trip to the Beach! We had a fun day at the beach. It was a church activity and we are so glad we made the 2 hr trip. We got to see some more sights of California and it was beautiful! It was a little cold and windy but nothing you couldn't handle. The kids were funny when we told them where we were going they didn't want to go , because they didn't want to see a Shark or a Whale .There is just something about being at the beach that makes you happy. The kids had a blast with their new friends they have made. They didn't want to leave. Jaden was jumping in the waves and fell down and got some water in his mouth. He came running to me and almost crying said" I didn't like that water mom, it was yucky!" Gotta love the salt water. We saw lots of dead jelly fish that were washed up. And we did see a whale that was far away. Our car was full of sand when we got home and we were so tired and sunburned the next day . But lots of good memories were made=)






Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Home Sweet HOme

Well, we moved again! I can't remember if I said anything about us moving to another rental. The first one we were in just gives me the chills. It just did not work out. The rocks in front and back and no carpet were only a few reasons why we left. But thankfully that is all behind us and we endured a long 6 weeks there. We are now in a much better place. It has Carpet and Grass and is painted cute inside and we added an extra bedroom for guests. The neighborhood feels much safer and we already feel more comfortable here.It is amazing how the small and simple things make it feel like home. What makes your home feel comfortable? We got an offer on our home in Lubbock so we feel very blessed.Moving is not very fun but I am slowly unpacking and organizing our stuff.I am excited about fall coming I saw pumpkins at a local market yesterday and was thrilled. Can't wait to decorate with pumpkins and smell my apple Cinnamon plug ins again and get a Pumpkin Pie Blizzard from Dairy Queen but I have a feeling it will not taste like the ones in Texas!

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Happy 4th birthday megan!

Her new Pet Shop Clubhouse!
Her new Barbie scooter!

I love this girl so much!


Finally she is four!





Daddy's little girl!



Having fun at Chuck E Cheese....




Megan turned 4 years old! We can't believe how fast time is going by. She seems so big and grown up, probably because she is 4 but going on 16! She is a funny girl and we are so blessed she is in our family. Here are four things we love about her.

1-She is just so cute to her new baby sister. She adores her!(sometimes too much)She is always singing to her getting a blanket for her or changing her diaper.
2-She is really good at sharing.
3-She is all girl. Loves to sing High School Musical 2 ,play dress ups and with her Little Pet Shop..And loves animals.oh and can be very dramatic.
4-She can say the sweetest prayers and is mostly happy and lights up our day with her loving personality.
For her birthday all she wanted was to go to chuck e cheese. So we spent a Saturday afternoon there along with everyone else in Modesto.we are so very thankful that Heavenly Father sent us Megan. We love you so much!







Friday, August 22, 2008

First Day of First Grade


Jaden started first grade last week. It is kinda weird here in California the campus is huge! It looks like a college campus. Everything is outside. He goes to a different building for everything. Kinda crazy and hard to get used to. We unfortunately had a hard time getting him into a school. They only allow 20 kids in each class up to third grade. So the school next to our house was all full and all the other schools in the district except one was open and yep it is the furthest one away. Oh well. He is liking it. He loves that he gets recess, and his new favorite thing is teather ball. And he loves fun Friday, because you get ice cream! What more could a first grader want right! It's the mom that is having a hard time sending her baby to such a big school. Hopefully we can get him into the school by our house. He is on a waiting list so we will see.Ahh! As a lady at our church told me Welcome to California!


Thursday, August 14, 2008

She did it!

Lanie slept all night! Wahoo. I know it may not happen again tonight, but I will still take it. She slept from 9pm-6am. what a good girl! I feel so refreshed today.If only I had someone to do something with. I guess I will take the girls to the park .I did go to playgroup last week but no one came so maybe there will be one person today. I did meet a nice lady from our church. she has two kids the same age as megan and Jaden but she has five kids so she is busy busy. I miss my lubbock playgroup!

Monday, August 11, 2008

OUr lIttle Lanie







Little Lanie is now 10 weeks old. I can't believe it! Wow, what a crazy 10 weeks it has been ,but she has been the calm to our storm. She is such a sweet baby and so cute. Jaden and Megan still love her and want to hold her every second they can. Megan last night was saying" oh you are the best sister ever". We are going to be Sisters forever. She is starting to smile and coo. And is almost sleeping all night yeah! We love you so much lanie!



Thursday, August 7, 2008

pictures from the park!

This is our new favorite park Freedom.
Oh they love it when I ask them to take a picture together
for mom.













What cutie pies!
























This is a fun new toy at the park .



















Even lanie likes being outside in california, THere is NO wind!


























Lanie is warming up to daddy now, she wasn't so sure of him for
a couple of days . After he was away to california.



















Jaden loves the water at this park and gets all wet so he can get some good air off the
big slide!