Winter fun...

This winter we have had a couple of good snow storms.  The best one they even cancelled school for!  (The kids were sick for that one so I have no pictures)  But the one before we played in it lots!  These are from 12/27/12.  The snow was so powdery that you couldn't even make a snow ball with it.  The kids LOVED it!  They went sledding on the hill next to our house with some of the neighborhood kids.  Brody (age 12) was so cute with Easton!  He absolutely loved the attention and it was so sweet of Brody to play with him and sled with him.  Madi had fun using Eden's sled since she doesn't like ours.  (Eden's was higher up and meant for little kids)  She has asked us several times to get her one like that.  Here are a few of the pictures from our day in the snow...

Easton was so frustrated cause he couldn't walk through the snow.  It was too deep and he kept getting stuck.  He didn't want to walk around it either. 

He LOVES to eat snow and picks up a chunk every time we are outside.  It doesn't bother me when it is fresh but when it hasn't snowed for a while and he picks it up I don't love that. 

 

I wish I had pictures from the snow storm a couple ago.  We had at about two feet in 24 hours.  CRAZY!  I loved it though! 

It's a new year...

I know, it's actually 24 days into our new year, but I am just getting around to posting my resolutions, one of which I've obviously failed at already.  When I made my resolutions I thought about past years.  I am great at setting goals and even sometimes make the effort for a day or week or month and then it drops off.  Not this year.  This year is a year of "doing" for me.

1. Lose 100 pounds.  That seems like such a HUGE goal for me and one I seem to make every year.  I downloaded an app called Lose It that helps me count my calories.  (I can track my exercise too, but then it adds to the calories I can eat in a day and I am not discipline enough yet to not eat those, so I just don't enter the exercise stuff yet. :D)  I really like it.  It has help me become more aware of the things I am putting into my mouth, how many calories I was actually consuming in a day and how quickly they can add up by drinking calories, picking off the kids plate as I clear the table, snacking with the kids through out the day and things like that.  I really like this way because I don't feel like I am on a diet.  I can still have a treat and not feel guilty about it.  It is going to be a new way of life for our family.  We are eating healthier and smaller portions.  There are several reasons I want/need to do this but the biggest one is for my kids.  I never want them to be embarrassed of me because of my size.  I want to be able to run and play with them without needing to rest and I want to watch them grow and have families of their own.  If I were to die at the same age as my dad, I would have 18 years left.  The way I am right now, I am right on track for that.  I want to be healthy.  I want to be able to shop for clothes without being embarrassed by the size as I go to check out.  I want to feel beautiful again. 

A little funny... Madi is such a good girl to share.  She is very generous and wants you taste everything she has.  She was eating some M&M's she got for Christmas last week and wanted me to have one.  I told her a few times I didn't want one but thanks anyway and after a couple of persistent tries she asked me why.  I said I was trying to lose weight.  With a very concerned voice she said "No, don't lose weight."  Of course she has no idea what that even means but I liked it anyway. :D

 2. Increase my testimony and draw closer to my Savior.  My beautiful children are so precious to me and I feel the weight of all that I need to teach them and how wicked the world is around us.  I feel like I need to set a better example for my kids and be a better teacher for them.  Derrick and I have committed to go to the temple at least once a month and to have a "planned" family home evening every week.  There are so many principles to teach our children and I feel like I am already behind on all the things I need to teach them before I send them into the filthy world we live in.  I want to be more diligent in my scripture study, be more in tune to receive personal revelation and promptings and serve others more.  My mom has set a great example for me of those things and I want to set that example for my kids.

We went to the library the other day and I want to get Madi interested in reading and learning about new things so before I left I told her to think about something she wanted to learn.  While we were sitting at a table after picking a few books, I asked her what she decided.  She said "Jesus.  I want to learn about Jesus."  Good answer my sweet little girl!

3. I want to be a better mom and get on a consistent schedule.  I feel like my life is lacking structure right now, like I have the wrong routine going.  We watch way too many movies and don't get out as much as we should.  Part of this is because your nose hairs freeze when you go outside.  The other day I realized that I hadn't left the house for an entire week!  So, we are going to have a library day each week (both my kids LOVE reading and books) and make sure we have a play date at least once a week.  I will be starting scouts up again which will be nice and hope to get Madi enrolled in swim lessons in the spring and dance in the summer.  I am trying to keep my house a little cleaner (even though my kids seem determined to make this impossible:D) and trying to work on my personal goals too.

4. I want to update my blog at least once a week (See I told you I already failed at one:D).  I want to remember the sweet things my kids do and say and if I don't do it more often, I never remember when I go to blog.  I want to be better about taking pictures of them.  They are growing up so fast.  I don't have a baby anymore.  I have a little girl and a toddler.  Where did the time go?  Madi only has a year and a half and she'll be going to school.  I need to capture every precious moment I possibly can as they grow so I can cherish them forever. 

So there you have it.  My goals for the year.  If you see me not doing one, kindly remind me. :D

Merry Christmas...

Christmas morning we planned to open gifts at seven.  As soon as we opened the door to our room, Easton was out of there and down the stairs faster than we could grab him.  So, we have no pictures of his face when he saw everything.  Madi wasn't as fast.  She was content to lay in bed and watch cartoons.  Derrick helped her down.

Excited at what Santa brought!  (I didn't take a picture of everything before we got into it.  I thought I had, but I guess not.)

Santa brought lots of fun stuff and left it in their stockings.  He also got them both a ball.  Grandma and Grandpa got them some treats too! 

Easton's favorite part of his stocking was "keen" (McQueen) and "may" (Mater).  He LOVES them! 

Showing off Red... 

We got Heidi a U of U fleece blanket.  The bag I put it in looked a little more wedding than Christmas.  :D  

Opening the goods... 

Easton's big gift was the Little People Wheelies Race Track.  He was totally excited as soon as he started opening it!  He wanted it out of the box!!! 

Madi really wanted Cinderella dress up, so we got her a chest of Princess dress up stuff.  She was pretty excited. 

Cinderella... 

Waiting for daddy to put together his new toy... 

Look at the car aunt Heidi got him... 

The track is a hit!  They both love playing with it and we have had lots of fun with it since Christmas. 

Here is Madi's pile of gifts.  Some highlights:  Grandma Shar made her a doll.  Grandma and Grandpa Hawkins gave her a Disney Princess art kit and some dry erase books to help her practice her alphabet and numbers.  Aunt Heidi gave her a princess Color Wonder kit, Belle, Aurora and lip gloss.  Santa brought the Lorax, a Cinderella watch, candy, and lots of "lip sticks".  She got 25 different lip things.  Mom and Dad gave her My Little Pony's, dress up stuff, books, Barbie movies, the mermaid Barbie clothes and some other little things. 

Derrick and I got spoiled too.  Derrick got screwdrivers and a waffle iron.  I got some books, Cd's, jewelry, a game and spatulas.  Heidi gave us a gift card to Applebee's.  Mom and dad gave us a stocking and two lanterns to add to our camping stuff.  Ty & Jodi gave us a new game. 

Easton's didn't all fit in one picture.  Grandma Shar gave him an outfit.  Grandma and Grandpa Hawkins gave him a zoo book that makes noises and a wooden stacking train.  Aunt Heidi gave him two Cars, a Finn McMissile flashlight car and a Cars book.  Santa brought him McQueen, Mater and Red, a bunch of Hot Wheels, treats and a football.  Mom and Dad gave him lots of clothes, books, a movie and some other little things. 

Aunt Heidi also got a Play-Doh Candy Shoppe for the family.  It is a hit!  We have played with it a lot!  Thanks Aunt Heidi! 

Christmas Eve...

Since mom and dad didn't go to California this year and Heidi was here from Cali, we decided to go to their house for Christmas.  We are glad we were able to be with them and make some memories.  Every Christmas Eve, the kids get new pj's.  Madi got Cinderella jammies and slippers.  She was excited about them and looked so cute in them.

Easton got Cars jammies and slippers.  He thought they were great, especially the slippers! 

This kid is growing up so fast.  He has such a fun loving personality.  He loves to laugh and have a good time and loves attention. 

Look at that scowl.  He wanted to get off the chair and I told him he had to stay there for a picture. 

Happy Christmas Eve!!! 

Easton was doing something he wasn't supposed to and we told him to go put his nose in the corner.  He walked over and threw himself on the floor and then scooted under grandma's skirt.  He stayed under there and sulked until grandma said no more.  Silly kid! 

Sporting his new pj's... 

Hanging out with aunt Heidi and Grandma... 

Derrick's family always opened a few things on Christmas Eve growing up.  We have always just done the pj's, but I talked Derrick into letting them open their puzzles too.  :D  

Madi in her "pajammies"... 

Easton has fallen in love with his aunt Heidi over the last couple months.  She is his new best friend and is totally going to miss her now that she has gone back home.  We will have to plan a trip to go see her someday. 

Madi got a princess puzzle and Easton got a Cars one.