2009 Looking Back

It is amazing to look back on everything that happened in 2009.  Every year seems to bring it's own unique challenges, adventures and triumphs.  This year was no exception.  As I look back on 2009 I am so grateful for my husband that was incredibly loving and patient with me  - especially considering I was pregnant 9 months of the year.  Rob always keeps me laughing and living in the present - I love that about him.  I am so grateful for our new baby Lincoln that is healthy, peaceful and just a complete joy.  He melts my heart and when I hold him I forget about all my worries and troubles - he is just a big ball of joy all 16 pounds of him!  I am also grateful for Liam and Lance that challenge me to my brink while cracking me up at the same time.  They teach me so much about love and life!  

Some of my fondest memories from this year are.....

My adorable preschool art class - that was one of the funnest things I have ever done.  

When I turned my house into an art museum with the artwork of all the children in the class!

Staying at the Marriot during Sundance... spotting some famous people, stalking David Archuletta, swimming...

Rob and I went on a getaway to New Orleans.  We fell in love with that city and it's history.  We can't wait to go back there someday!  This picture is of us on a swamp tour.

Me on the famous Bourbon street

Lance and Liam both took music classes from our good friend Jen Thatcher, they had a blast and learned a lot!

My aunts came to town and helped me throw a 50th Birthday party for my mom!  I just love my aunts and we just laughed our heads off the whole time they were here.  My mom's birthday was so special after watching her suffer through 2 separate cancers.  She is now totally cancer free!

We celebrated Liam's 4th Birthday at Disneyland!  It was definitely one of the best days of our lives - absolutely unforgettable!  We also went to the beach while on vacation in California - that was Lance's first time to the ocean!

Lance turned 2 in June and we had a Buzz Lightyear Party!

We had a fun summer full of outings, camping and a lot of swimming.  My dad accompanied us on many outings and helped me keep up with my boys since I was quite pregnant.

We visited a lot of Utah Historical sites in July, it was fun.

We had a great 4th of July!

At the end of July we went on a family vacation to San Francisco and Yosemite.  We went with Rob's parents and brothers and sisters.  It was a really fun trip and a wonderful opportunity to spend so much time with family.

I loved getting ready for Lincoln's arrival and updated his bedroom...

This is a picture of our Primary at our Quarterly Activity in August when we carpooled all these kids downtown to the Museum of Church History and Art.  It was a blast!  I was released from my calling as Primary President right after our Primary Program in September.  Having that calling was one of the absolute best experiences in my life!

I love this picture of Liam playing in the Fall leaves

Liam started his second year of soccer in the Fall.  He loved every minute of it!  He loved having his dad as his coach.  

The birth of Lincoln was the biggest highlight of the year for all of us!

He is so precious!

We had a very fun Halloween!

In November we had family pictures taken....

The month of December was jam packed with fun Christmas activities....  Liam and Lance were able to ride on the Polar Express train up in Heber with their cousin Grace - probably the funnest thing they did this December!

Lincoln was baby Jesus in the family nativity this Christmas Eve.  Grace aka Mary insisted that he was naked just like Jesus was when he was born.  Grace cracks me up she dreamed about being Mary all week and had every detail of the nativity mapped out in her head - down to the shoes she was wearing!

Christmas Eve with our boys in their matching pj's!

This is our adorable and chubby Lincoln on Christmas Day!

2009 was definitely a wonderful year, I can't believe it is already over.  I can't wait to find out what is in store for us in 2010!  We wish you the best 2010 full of love, peace, happiness, adventure and health!

Favorite November Pictures

I thought I would take a minute to share some of my favorite November pictures!  

Liam holding Lincoln while watching tv:

In the next picture Liam is saying, "How did I do that?"  He was so proud of himself that he learned how to climb up this rock wall all by himself.  Lance had to one-up him and climbed up himself too!

Lincoln did not enjoy his first trip to the park...

Liam wanted to spend much of his free time painting and drawing.  Art work is sure messy! 

Liam has a new skill.... crossing his eyes.  I am so proud.

I decided one day that it was time to chop off Lance's long hair.  He does not like getting his hair cut so he would not even look at the camera.  I really miss his hair - I knew it was not a good decision half way through but I had to finish.  

We had a fun over-nighter in Park City.  The boys had a blast swimming all night then woke up and wanted to go right back to the pool!

The boys had fun making Turkeys for their grandparents.

Rob had 2 sleepovers with the boys downstairs - I was not invited.

I took the boys sledding but I think I had the most fun!

We made Frosty in our front yard.  Some elementary kids walking home from school decided to knock it over as I was driving around the corner and pulling into my driveway.  The kids were so scared they ran away as fast as they could!

Liam came home from preschool in this cute little pilgrim hat and holding this cute little turkey he had made.  I love Miss Debra, she is awesome.

If you know Rob and I you know we are obsessed with In-N-Out Burger.  I think we ate In-N-Out every night last time we were in Vegas.  So you can only imagine our excitement when the new 

In-N-Out opened in Draper.  We went twice opening week.  It was delicious, I think about going back every day.

Yummy Yummy Yummy it is hard to even look at this picture without drooling.

The next picture was taken during Thanksgiving dinner, it was delicious.  Lincoln was 6 weeks old on Thanksgiving Day and weighed 14 pounds!  He is getting so chubby!

I don't know how to rotate the next one....  We went and picked out our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving!

Lincoln sure can poop and sometimes it comes squirting at me with no warning!  This picture was taken after an attempt to change Lincoln's diaper in the middle of the night, it went all the way down to my socks!

Liam got spit up on by Lincoln, it was pretty funny.  I had to show Liam a picture of when he spit up all over in my hair when he was a baby, then he laughed and felt better.

My grandma came up from Saint George to see Lincoln, it was a fun visit!

Lance had his second set of tubes put in his ears before Thanksgiving.  He also had his adenoids removed.  It was a rough couple of days.  I decided the pictures of that day are kinda gross and I should not post them, his poor ear just kept dripping blood for 2 days and he could barely talk, poor kid.

Well that about sums it up!

Family Pictures

I have to thank Sarah Hatch and her husband for the adorable pictures they took for us.  You can check them out on their blog by clicking here.  They were the nicest people and there was no limit to what they would do to get my little stinker Lance to smile!  They also try to be really affordable for families which I really admire.  I can't wait until I get the CD and can hang these up on my walls!

Who's Who

When Lincoln was born both Rob and I instantly thought he looked like Lance!  Now we see a lot of Liam in him.  It is fun to look at all of the baby pictures and to see their similarities.  I love dressing Lincoln in the little outfits that both Liam and Lance wore.  It reminds me of how small Liam and Lance used to be.  The other day Rob and I were talking about how fun it is to have 3 boys.  It must be a whole different experience than having girls.  Liam and Lance wrestle and rough house most of the day.  It is impossible to keep them apart and to keep them from wrestling - believe me I try.  They pretty much chase each other around the house, laughing and wrestling all day.  There are a lot of scrapes, bumps, bruises....  They come to me for quick hugs and to wipe their tears and then they are back to their craziness.  Though it is crazy, they have fun together and they are laughing 90% of the time.  It tests my sanity everyday, but at the end of the day I am so grateful they have each other and I know they learn a lot from each other.  Everyday I think they become better friends and love it when I see them sharing their toys just to be nice, or saying, "Are you ok?" when one is hurt.  I love to hear their little conversations.  I love when they play superheros together or build towers together, and when they kick the ball to each other in the back yard.  I know it will not be long before Lincoln is running around with them and I have 3 boys wrestling together all the time.  Well anywho, while I am reminiscing I thought I would post some pictures of my 3 babies.  Can you tell which is which?

1.

2.

3. 

4.

5. 

6.

1.  Liam

2. Lincoln

3. Lance

4. Liam

5. Lance

6. Lincoln