Happy 2009!

Wishing all our friends and family a happy new year!!!

Christmas, Finally

I spent the last two days cleaning my house--the first "real clean" since Christmas. So even though I am very slow posting Christmas pictures, I feel like I am finally emerging from the holiday madness and ready to get back to normal life. And normal life may even include some blog posts now and then! We had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve with Darin's family (and Darin got to break out his "party shirt"), then Christmas day with mine. Santa found our house and the kids have been entertained with the new selection of toys. Wyatt got a "museum-quality" dinosaur skeleton replica. He and Darin put it together on Christmas, and now I have been moving it all around my house trying to find a place where it isn't in the way. It is four feet long! He also got a Buzz Lightyear, a light saber, a few new Pixar cars, movies, play-doh, games, crayons, clothes, etc. Madison got a play laptop, a dog that grows and knows her name, clothes, a jacket, shoes, movies, games, books, play-doh, crayons, and some pink Pixar cars. Levi has been loving his bouncing horse Christmas present that showed up in mid-December. Santa didn't have much left to bring him, but I don't think he minded too much.

Adventures in Africa

Madison and Wyatt are getting to do fun things and meet new people! Take a look...

Future Missionary Wyatt with Elder Hutchison after Zone Conference.

With Grandpa and Grandma by the pool at the hotel in Arusha.

On the bed in the hotel room.

In Primary with the kids in the Arusha Branch.

Visiting Santa at the mall in Nairobi. I love this one. Good thing Grandma and Grandpa are taking them to see Santa, because Mom and Dad haven't taken them!

Madison and Wyatt Go To Africa

After a long journey, Madison and Wyatt finally arrived to visit Grandma and Grandpa in Kenya. So far, they got to see Grandma's office and kick back and watch a little TV with Grandpa. Grandma has promised them lots of fun adventures, and Grandpa is thrilled to have them there (as you can see). Keep checking back to see what fun things they get to do.

The Bestest 7 Ever

"Mom, he just made the bestest 7 ever!" Madison and Wyatt have decided Levi is ready to learn how to color.

Child Labor

It was time...It got that bad...I decided my floor really needed a hands and knees mop. So I got all of the stuff ready, and was down on the floor ready to start.
Madison walks in, "Mom, what are you doing? Can I do it?"
I try not to turn down the help (even though it's sometimes easier to do it myself). "Sure, grab a rag."
"No, I want to do it myself."
Okay, I'm sure I can find something more entertaining to do. She later allowed Wyatt to help. It kept them busy for an hour and a half. Can't beat that--a sparkling clean floor and two kids entertained for that long!

Keeping Up With His Cousin...

Levi is practicing his "making friends" smile, kind of like Katelyn's. He doesn't quite have it down as good as her, but he's getting there. We've been able to get some little laughs out of him, but it never lasts long because he always gives himself hiccups. He doesn't have the cutest picture clothes on. I really should try his clothes on him before I get to the picture place. This was the spare outfit I carry in the diaper bag because the shirt I brought was way too big. And his pants aren't really 80's stonewashed, they just look that way in the picture. But for all the work it takes to make the appointment, pack him up and drive 20 minutes, and try to time it right so he isn't hungry or asleep...we were going to take his pictures in cute clothes or not! Maybe that's why the photographer suggested we do some diaper shots (which turned out really cute, too).