Our New Year's Eve Puzzle

We actually did two puzzles on New Year's Eve, but this is by far the funnest one I have ever done. There are 12 quilts on it and Kari, Danielle, and I did everyone. These might be the only quilts I'll ever finish. ;)
It was alot of fun hosting Kari's Annual New Years party. We had lots of food and family. The men played video games and helped with the kids. The kids played and played. The women did puzzles.
We rang in the New Year by watching "The Ball" drop on television...and of course a kiss from our spouses.

Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010!

My Men of the Shovel...for now.

Who needs a snowblower when you have these strong muscles!!
Ethan usually last all of 10 minutes helping Corey shovel the walks, but today Corey somehow got him to stay out the whole time and help.
Ethan was so proud that he helped clear the walks. Corey was exhausted and sore, but he wears the Man Badge proud. I don't know how much longer he will be a Man of the Shovel...he is all for the snowblower thing.

Really funny, Izzy!

Izzy found a marker in the backseat of the car {don't ask me how it got there} and decided to decorate her pretty face. I couldn't be mad because she wouldn't stop laughing. Oh, the joys of being 2! So we all laughed and she went with me to run my errands and such with this adorable face.

Note to Self...

...don't park the highchair next to your purse next time.

"I couldn't ask for a better Mom..."

Ethan and I attended sacrament without the girls or our Daddy today and it was a great experience! I was able to put my arm around him the whole time and hug him. He loved it. When we left he said, "Mom?" I knelt beside him and he said, "I couldn't ask for a better mom because you are always doing nice things for me." I hugged him so tight and long and got a little emotional. I said, "Thank you so much" and kissed his forehead (the only place I am allowed to kiss my big boy). Then we walked to the car and continued our great day at home.

Ethan is such a sensitive boy and I love it! His emotions are always right at the surface which means he can get quite angry and frustrated when things don't go just right, but it also means he feels a great capacity to love. Ethan has always shown great empathy. I love my tender hearted son.

He made my whole year with that sweet, tender comment he made while walking to the car hand in hand with his ol' mom.

Pierced Ears for Izzy

I didn't intend to pierce Izzy's ears on my recent trip to the mall, but when she saw the jewelry boutique she kept saying "i ant (want) eawwings (earrings)." She kept saying it for the whole hour and a half I walked the mall with her. So finally I stopped in front of the boutique not knowing if I should just do it or wait. I told her over and over that it would hurt. She kept saying she wanted earrings like mommy. Finally I just did it. Izzy picked out these cute little princess crowns. Yes, she cried a bit, but was quickly showing anyone who would look how cute her princess earrings were. She would make anyone who looked at her ear also look at the other one.
We had a ward gathering that night and she again showed everyone!! I love this photo because it shows how excited and proud she is of her princess earrings.
Now if she would just pee in the potty!

Makin' Cookies

Ethan is off-track from his year-round school right now so we have to find things to do to pass the day a bit easier. We made cookies!! I am not a chef, cook, baker or anything of the sort. This woman's place is definitely not in the kitchen, but today we attempted and succeeded at making some yummer chocolate chip cookies.

Look at the effort Ethan is putting into stirring in the chocolate chips.
I am sure he got quite a workout.

This is the extent of Izzy's contribution. :)