today was the primary program in sacrament meeting.
my boy is a sunbeam. i have never been so proud in my whole life.
he was so excited. he couldn't get to sleep last night.
he sang the songs so well and kept asking his teachers if it was his turn to speak yet.
poor kid was second to last in the program. we practiced his line for 3 weeks.
"we know that jesus christ is the savior of the world."
finally it was his turn. he was handed the microphone. he put his mouth right on it.
and then he decided to use his "optimus prime voice" and say his line.
this voice is a deep scratchy monster voice.
"jesus christ can save to world!"
everyone was laughing so hard.
i am serious when i say that i have never been so proud.
he was true to himself. he wasn't trying to be funny. just himself.
i love this kid.

first day ever going to school. ever. i totally cried. thought i wouldn't.

love your mug, boy.

this is my girl. my shoeless, disheveled, barefoot, sucker eating girl.
many have referred to her as "sassy." i like it. and it's true.
she does a full body nod for "yes" and speaks a snappy "nnnnno."
she is everything i ever dreamed a daughter could be. my girl.

tomorrow... my boy.

hi, it's me. today my little sister had a baby. a beautiful little boy. his name is milo. for some reason i feel this funny connection to this little guy and i haven't even seen him in person yet (thanks cold). this is the picture that i received at 2 am.
i cried with joy. love you sis. thanks for reviving my blog. babies have magical powers to do the impossible :)

December was awesome!!

I would like to introduce you to Santa (Lincoln) and his "sled" and stuffed animal reindeer. Almost every single day in December Lincoln would put on his snow hat, line up his toys and sing, "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Then he would stop his sled, and ask for Santa popcorn and a Christmas movie. I miss December.

The REAL Santa came to Grandma Snelgrove's on Christmas Eve Eve. The kids were soooo excited! This hug for the man in the red suit was totally spontaneous.

Uncle Brent and Aunt Dell (Marley Dell's namesake). Love you!

And here is the traditional picture of the three amigas on Great Grandma's couch...

Madeline, Claire and Marley

Charlie, Lincoln, Ella and Claire... Marley was sleeping, I am going to photoshop her in.

Lincoln turned 3 on New Years Eve!

Lyndsay was still in town with her kids so we had a family breakfast birthday party!

Lincoln got a skateboard from Grandma and Grandpa S and a motorcycle with rider from the Cotters!! He sleeps with his skateboard every night.

But I sneak in and take it every night and bust some wicked moves. Sort of.

Here is Lincoln's first (and maybe last) car from Mom and Dad!

We bought this Escalade on KSL, fixed it up and gave it a new paint job (it used to be maroon with gray windows). It was quite an adventure. First, bringing it home, fully assembled, on the top of my suv because it wouldn't fit inside. Then, not working once I got it home. Next, transporting it to power wheels repair for some wiring corrosion issues (thanks guy that sold it to me). And finally back home for a week at the "spa." But the look on Link's face made it totally worth it!

Happy New Year!!

Marley has found her calling in life...

This is exactly how I found her in her crib this morning.  I totally had Wedding Singer flash backs. The picture I found on the internet came with circle and arrow. Hilarious. 

Grace

Today Stephanie Nielsen was on Oprah.  There are no words to explain my adoration for this woman, wife and mother.  I am certain, like anyone who reads her blog, my emotions are brought to my sleeve and I am overcome.  I am overcome with many feelings; love, concern, humility, motivation, and faith to name a few.  I admire her spirit.  When Oprah talked about her great strength and will to survive, Stephanie said that we all have it in us.  Her simple statement meant so much to me. She reminds me to take a breath, slow down and truly enjoy each moment.  I also LOVE that she is proud to be a Latter Day Saint.  She reminds me that I need to be a better person.  I am trying my friends, I am trying.

Last weekend we went to a friends cabin.  It was great to relax with family and friends, eat loads of food and soak up the scenery.  Lincoln went fishing for the first time (this was Cade's fish.. can't take credit). My favorite part is road tripping it with my man.  He has a hilarious selection of music on his ipod.  He put on a concert of random music and we laughed so hard. We have many memories tied to music.  I also bet that you didn't know... we could have an entire conversation in movie quotes.  FYI.

This is sweet chicky's attempt at tummy time. I have to give her props because this was at the end of a long session. 

My sleeping boys. Conference really takes it out of them. It was the endless ChexMix. Ba ha ha

I think she has graduated from being an infant. She is a kid!!

Marley's two favorite things.. her jumperoo and her big bro.  She watches everything he does.  Maybe taking notes?

Brownie batter. Mmmm my favorite.  And apparently Link's, too.

Being a mother is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  It is also the best.

Today was a good day.

WOW

My little sis Cyndi and I went to see Kathryn and her girls in Draper's presentation of Beauty and the Beast. It was heaps of fun! We brought little flowers for our performers and they had netting on the petals that you remove right before you give them away.  Well, Cyndi kept the netting and surprised me when I drove her to her car.  We were so hyper the whole night and the netting was like lighter fluid for the flame.  This picture is but a small snapshot of our immaturity.  We stretched the netting over our heads  and contorted our noses... and then our eyes and then our mouths. Out of control.  It was like being 12 again.  

This next picture is exactly what it looks like.. my gem of a son slurping up his fry sauce at Crown Burger.  He dreamt this up all on his own. I can promise you that I have never actually done this.  Only in my dreams. Every night. 

And then he used the same straw in his Sprite.  That has never been part of my dreams.

Mars loves the tub. I truly think that she would stay in all day.  She SCREAMS when I take her out.  What a baby.  Ba ha ha ha.  I adore her.