My baby's not a baby anymore!

My Landen baby is 20months soon which mean almost 2. He has such a great personality and gets a bit moody but overall he is a good kid. Not so much a baby anymore, he's a toddler. We got him off the dreaded binky for the most part, sleeps in his own bed, and goes potty(when he wants of course). He is eating at the kitchen table with us every dinner and always makes us laugh, just watch the video. Remember you'll have to on the blog to watch the video.

I love you all!

This last Monday was Valentine's Day and Tristen's 14th birthday. I thank God everyday for my beautiful children and I pray that they are always safe and healthy, unfortunately I can't always keep them from getting hurt. Last Sat. one of Tristen's good friend's dad died in car accident. He came and talked to me about it yesterday and about how everyone at his school is sad. I personally have not had to face death too much but I told him what I knew in my heart and what I could as a mother trying to comfort his child. I said " dying was a part of life, good people die all the time for no reason. That's why it's so important to say I love you to the people you love everyday because you never know when they will be gone. It will be hard for his friend but with time his heart will heal and he will always have his memories of his dad and he will see him again I know that for sure." I gave him a hug and told him I loved him and to remember this so that he doesn't take anything he has for granted. Death is hard but knowing that Heavenly Father made it possible for us all to see each other again makes it a bit easier. I did tell him I constantly dread the day that my Mami and Papi die because then it will be easier said then done to handle it, so yes, I pray that I get at least 20 more years with them =0) Selfish I know but it could happen. Anyhow, I wish I could take away any heartache my babies could ever feel but that too is part of life.

Miracles do happen.

So it was miracle but it happened, my brother Sal drove all the way from Sacramento,Ca to Orem, UT and lived to tell the tale. They came last weekend and it was great. The teens went snowboarding w/Jon and Sal, Mel, Maddy, Landen, and I did some bonding time. We went sledding the next day and Landen slept through the whole thing. The cousins hung out Sat.night while the grown ups went out dancing. Sunday was our post Thanksgiving, Xmas Dinner. Jon and Melissa came up with a feast that was gone in second with 4 teenagers and 4 adults. It was such a memorable fun experience for everyone. We hoping enough to have them back someday. If anything they feel our pain now when we make the long drive to California. It's always worth it though. It was nice to have family around.

Xmas at Disneyland

So we decided this year to take the kids to Disneyland as their Xmas present which ended not being the only thing they got but I guess it's the season of giving so it's all good. Maddy was with her dad for Xmas, Hannah was with her mom for Xmas and Tristen was w/Grandma which I think I mentioned in my last blog so anyhow, when we got them all back our real Xmas started. This was the first year that they all bought presents for each other so we brought them all and had them open them at the hotel when we got there. It was great, they all were excited to see each others faces when they opened the presents they got for each other. Plus, we had Grandma and Grandpa there to share the Xmas spirit with us.
So now Disneyland, well the first day we spend at Disneyland was in pouring rain but it was bearable. We bought ponchos and tried to stay dry. We spent most of the first day at Disney's California since our princess lunch was there (lunch with all the princesses of Disney) and we saw shows and got on all the small rides that Landen could go on. We were pretty pooped that day. The next day it was beautiful, sunny, a bit of a cold breeze but dry. Only bad thing was that it was sooooo crowded because the day was so nice. We started in Toon Town and had the girls meet Minnie Mouse. We got on the tea cups and did so much at Disneyland. It was a great time and great memories. We can't wait til Landens older so we can go back. This was Hannah's first time and I know she will never forget it. When we came home we watched the home videos and laughed so much at all the memories we made together. The trip all together was pretty pricey but it was worth every penny.

Lonely Xmas this year.

This year we had only Landen. No Tristen, Maddy or Hannah. Let's just say it was a quiet Xmas which made us lonely. Landen liked his presents which was cute but just not the same without the other kids. At least it makes me grateful to have them when they come back. Hope everyone had a Merry Xmas.

Tristen's Xmas Choir Concert

Tristen's been in the concert choir for his school for two years now and to our surprise he actually likes it. I guess it's in the blood. I love the video where Landen is singing along , he too likes singing. We are so proud of Tristen for doing so good in school and all of his extra curricular activities.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ahhhh, Thanksgiving once again. it was a good day with friends to share it with. We are thankful so such good life long friends we have.

Bye Bye ugly floors!

So the one thing I hated about this house was the carpet. If you ever talked to me that was the thing I complained about the most. That ugly dark blue carpet. It stunk, it was lumpy, it was put down very badly and did I mention it was ugly! It took almost 2 yrs but we finally got wood (fake wood) floors. Landen likes it, do you?

Mini Jon

If there was ever a picture that looked like Jon, this is it.

Maddy's special day!

Sat. 11/6/2010 is a very special day for my baby girl Maddy. This is the day she was baptized. She was very excited and did great. She has a special glow about her now. She been going to church since she was 2 and has spent the majority of her life learning about the gospel. We are so proud of her decision to get baptized. Today in church she bore her testimony and recited the second article of faith "We believe that man will be punished for his own sins and not Adam's transgressions." For those of you that aren't Mormon the Articles of Faith outline 13 basic points of belief of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These are:
1 We ^abelieve in ^bGod, the Eternal Father, and in His ^cSon, Jesus Christ, and in the ^dHoly Ghost.

2 We believe that men will be ^apunished for their ^bown sins, and not for Adam’s ^ctransgression.

3 We believe that through the ^aAtonement of Christ, all ^bmankind may be ^csaved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4 We believe that the first principles and ^aordinances of the Gospel are: first, ^bFaith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, ^cRepentance; third, ^dBaptism by ^eimmersion for the ^fremission of sins; fourth, Laying on of ^ghands for the ^hgift of the Holy Ghost.

5 We believe that a man must be ^acalled of God, by ^bprophecy, and by the laying on of ^chands by those who are in ^dauthority, to ^epreach the Gospel and administer in the ^fordinances thereof.

6 We believe in the same ^aorganization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, ^bprophets, ^cpastors, ^dteachers, ^eevangelists, and so forth.

7 We believe in the ^agift of ^btongues, ^cprophecy, ^drevelation, ^evisions, ^fhealing, ^ginterpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8 We believe the ^aBible to be the ^bword of God as far as it is translated ^ccorrectly; we also believe the ^dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.

9 We believe all that God has ^arevealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet ^breveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10 We believe in the literal ^agathering of Israel and in the restoration of the ^bTen Tribes; that ^cZion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will ^dreign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be ^erenewed and receive its ^fparadisiacal ^gglory.

11 We claim the ^aprivilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the ^bdictates of our own ^cconscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them ^dworship how, where, or what they may.

12 We believe in being ^asubject to ^bkings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in ^cobeying, honoring, and sustaining the ^dlaw.

13 ^aWe believe in being ^bhonest, true, ^cchaste, ^dbenevolent, virtuous, and in doing ^egood to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we ^fhope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to ^gendure all things. If there is anything ^hvirtuous, ⁱlovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.