I just couldn't resist...

Painting Alanna's toenails hot pink was too much fun! I love my baby girl!

The Best MULLETT ever!!!

Now, I LOVE Cabbage Patch Kids, but I have to say that mulletts have to be the most hideous hair style ever created! I got a good laugh out of this doll (which happens to belong to my youngest brother Luke) when I was going through old boxes at my parent's house. James didn't think it was as funny as I did, but come on - a Cabbage Patch with a mullett - not to mention the bright neon colored 80's attire. Don't worry, Luke, I promise to give it back. My kids won't be cuddling up to this doll - he's too scary!

Somewhere over the Rainbow...

This nasty inversion will be lifted away! James and I are blaming our cold on all of this pollution trapped in the valley. We are usually above it, but not this time! We did get some rain and snow this weekend, so hopefully it will be clear for a little while.

A Day To Remember...

Even though I don't agree with all of the politics of President Obama, I do love the inspiration for change he has wrought across America. Watching the Inauguration on TV this morning was history in the making, and I was glad to have my kids be a part of it. It don't know that they understood all of what was going on, but they did know that it was an epic event. At one point Jackson and Preston were chanting "Bar-ack O-ba-ma, Bar-ack O-ba-ma", and they were quite serious about it! It was impossible to not feel the buzz of excitement and the patriotism displayed in this morning's events. Obabma's speech did unify us as Americans, and I love how he said (speaking of terrorists) that we will be judged by what we build, not by what we destroy. I think that applies to all areas of our lives, not just politics. I hope that these inspirational and unifying feelings that we have felt as a country will stay with us, and that we truly will have a change for the better in America!

Sweet Baby Girl!

All of the sudden, at six months, my sweet little baby seems to have changed over night. She is sitting up so nicely and giving her dolls kisses (or trying to eat them)! She is now too tall for the safety limits on her baby car seat, so we have to bump her up to the bigger seat that will last until she transitions to a booster seat. I really love having Alanna in our bed, but she is finally ready for her crib. It took some hard work, but she is sleeping on her own now. I experienced her curiosity yesterday when she grabbed a piece of my cookie in her fist and mashed it up and stuck it in her mouth before I could do anything about it! Thanks to dad, she obviously knows what a cookie is, and apparently knows she isn't really supposed to eat them, judging by her behavior! It's hard to believe that in another six months she could be walking and saying her first words. Though it's a joy to see her grow and develop, I feel like I can't enjoy it enough because it happens so quickly. Thank goodness for digital cameras and videos!

Field Trip at Cabella's

We had our second annual fieldtrip to Cabella's today. I think James thought that bear was after him! It looks like we will be going on fieldtrips to Cabella's for the next 4 years, at least, because Paul and Alanna will attend the same preschool. I hope Alanna will enjoy shooting fake guns and looking at dead animals as much as the boys do! She didn't seem to mind it much today.

Our New Year's Celebration

Uncle Luke and Aunt Andrea took the boys sledding across the street, but they have all the good pictures of that on their camera. It was so fun to have them spend the holiday with us!

The boys were throwing snaps in our front lawn with Uncle Luke. They went through two boxes and still wanted more! We weren't as cool as our neighbors across the street who had sparklers though :) Luckily, we live in an elevated area across the street from a mountain range, so we enjoyed a great view of fireworks all across the valley visible from our family room.

Yes, that is a Cheeto...

in the mouth of my 5 month old baby! I don't know what it is with James lately, but he is trying to feed Alanna everything she shouldn't have! She won't even eat rice cereal, and now she has been given pineapple to suck on, graham crackers, a sugar coated gum drop, Danish butter cookies, but I think the worst was the Cheeto. And James's excuse... she loves it! Well, who doesn't?

It's going to be a GREAT year!!!

First of all, HALLELUJAH, James is done with his voluntary 60/hr weeks he has been doing for the past 4 months! He has taken the past 4 days off, and we have done many neglected house hold projects (touch up paint, cleaning out the basement and garage etc. ) You know, all the stuff you can't possibly do on your own with a 4 year old, 2 year old, and newborn in tow! Next, Maryann and I found that our stake does a cardio and Pilate's class for free twice a week. We went for the first time today, and it was amazing! I might not be so thrilled tomorrow when the soreness kicks in, but it will be a good kind of sore. It will help me prepare for the Women of Steel Triathlon my sis-in-law Lauren signed me up for. It will be so much fun! Lauren will be doing the biking portion (she and Caleb are hard core bikers now - I love it!), her sister, Aubrey, will be doing the swimming portion, and I will be doing the running. I still can't get over how great it is not to be pregnant, and it's been 6 months now - such freedom!

We have so much to look forward to this year. Alanna's first year, that's bittersweet. The boys will be learning to snowboard all winter, Jackson will be in his first year of soccer, second year of t-ball. Paul will be potty trained and in preschool. I will be taking a trip (with Alanna), to have a reunion with college roommates this summer. And, James asked me the other day if I would like to go on a cruise for our 7 year anniversary - uh YEAH! (For those of you who don't know James, he is very tight with his money and is hoarding it to invest since the market is at an all time low, so this is a huge deal that he wants to go on a cruise!) That won't be until next January 4, but I'm already looking forward to it. I just think it's going to be a really great year!