Our Sunbeam and Nursery Disliker

Lauren LOVES Sunbeams! I was a little worried it might be a problem with us sitting right behind her (we teach the 4 year-olds now,) but she barely even notices us. It's been fun to watch her! (Couldn't get her to smile for a picture though.)

Gavin used to love nursery...until he actually turned 18 months and church changed to 1:00. Not good combinations for nursery loving. He turns into a screaming bear with no nap at 1:30. Hopefully he'll adjust soon!

Handy Man

We're finally getting started on finishing our bathroom downstairs! Chase and my dad put in the tub last week and then Chase and Cal finished wiring and plumbing yesterday. It feels great to finally get started on something we've been planning for a long time!

To aid in the process Chase got a tool chest for Christmas and built himself some workbenches. I think he did a great job on them!

He's also been on a quest to find the truss that creaks and wakes Gavin up every.single.morning, and tighten it back down. I didn't know before there's special screws so the head breaks off so they can be screwed right in the carpet into the truss beneath.

Frosty the Snowman

A few weeks back we finally got enough snow to make a snowman. Lauren was quite thrilled; she's been wanting to build a snowman for months!

Gavin didn't enjoy the experience quite as much since he refused to let me put gloves or boots on him.

But I think our little snowman turned out pretty cute!

Out With the Old

Thinking about 2014 and what to write...not a whole lot came to mind. 2014 was just...meh.

Not that it was particularly awful, but just meh.

2014 in Review

- Got a new niece!
- Got a new nephew!
- Car died.
-Got "new" van.
-Van died.
-Got second "new" van.
-Got new truck.
-Chase's mom had a stroke.
- Released from Primary presidency.
-Got another nephew!
-Lauren started preschool.
-Gavin started walking.
-Killed the lawn mower
-Got a swing set and trampoline
-Planted a garden, that lived! mostly

So for 2015 my goal is to "DO!" because, "Motivation comes with DOING!"

I want to:

Refinish our table and chairs
Make a rainbow quilt out of my mountain of fabric scraps.
Clean sewing room so I can get to the mountain of scraps.
Read through the Book of Mormon again.
Read and study through Preach My Gospel
Finish the basement bathroom.
Make it through all 3 hours of church without having to go out in the hall.
Go camping at least once in a tent with all 4 of us.
Learn how to knit.
NOT kill a vehicle... or anything else with a motor.
Grow a sweet meat squash.

Southward Bound

After being home for a few days we packed up again and headed south this time. We spent New Year's Eve at my parents and had our traditional Japanese dinner that my dad cooks, it's really yummy! Lauren and Gavin tried their best to eat with chopsticks. :) Then we were party-poopers and went to bed at 10 because little kids make you tired. :)

New Year's day Chase and I headed to St. George for a little get-away and to see a good friend's new baby girl. I wasn't looking forward to the drive, but it was actually nice to be together in peace and quiet for an extended period of time and get a nap in. And I actually convinced Chase to stop at Ikea on the way down!

The motel we stayed in was...an adventure. Next time we'll splurge a little so we can get a room where the wallpaper isn't peeling, all the walls are the same color, the toilet doesn't leak, and the previous occupants clothes have been removed. Makes for good stories! :/

We met up with my two good friends growing up and their hubbies and went to dinner, we saw Meet the Mormons at the St. George Temple Visitor's Center (it was great!), went to Iceberg for shakes, fixed the taillight in the van, and shopped a little bit.

It was a fun little vacation despite the accommodations being less than relaxing!

Santa Claus Came to Town

We made it through Christmas! Parties, presents, friends and family...phew. It was fun!

All the pictures are out of order...oh well.

The Sunday before Christmas we had my family party, we played pin the nose on Rudolph and opened presents. Grandma and Grandpa gave Lauren and Gavin a basketball hoop. It's been a favorite around here and I think every toy has been thrown in it at least once. :)

Christmas Eve we headed north. We talked to my brother over skype, we couldn't join in on the call so he called right after talking to the rest of my family so we could talk for a minute. Then we opened jammies and nativity sets for the kids. I've wanted one for a long time so I was thrilled that we got one from Chase's aunt and uncle!

Christmas morning was great. Lauren got her kitchen from Santa/Grandma and Grandpa, a table and chairs from us, and Aunt Callee gave Lauren and Kami her matching Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls.  (For awhile Raggedy Ann took George's place, but no worries, George is still beloved around here!)

Gavin got his racetrack from us, (it's almost too tall he can't quite reach to put the cars in at the top!), a tub of dinosaurs, a toolbox, and a batmobile. I got a wheat grinder, a new cutting mat and rotary cutter, a Kindle, and a new bedspread. Chase got a tool chest and a mouse. We were thoroughly spoiled!

The day after Christmas was not too fun, Chase and I both caught the stomach flu and spent all day sick. I have never been that sick before! It was so nice that Grandma could take care of kids for us. The next day we felt somewhat better so we took the kids bowling. That was a hoot! Gavin was so funny yelling wow and yay! for everyone. Sunday church was cancelled so we packed everything up and came home while there was a break in the storm. It had snowed at least a foot while we were up there!

Since then we've had lots of tea parties and meals at Lauren's little table, basketball games and car racing. New toys are the best!