Duke

It has been a sad couple of weeks for us. First, our tiny turtles were buried.

Now we have said a sad goodbye to my parents dog Duke.

Even though he was almost 15 years old, he still had a little puppy look. I think that we will all miss him getting a haircut each year and looking like he was only a year old again.

He was such a great dog for my kids to grow up with. Kadie has known him her whole life!

Up until a few months ago he would do all he could to get up and play with my kids every time we were up at my parents. Even in the last couple of years when he struggled to walk and run.

He just couldn't resist playing with kids!

I will miss watching my Dad tease Duke with his squeeky toy.

My Dad would repeatedly stomp on the toy (squeeky squeeky, squeekeeeeeeee...)

and Duke would bark and bark and bark and run around barking more.

He loved it. Well, I think that they both loved it.

I feel like this post isn't complete because I didn't take a picture of my Dad with Duke.

They were like the two musketeers when it came to keeping the cats out of the house and the deer off the lawn.

We miss you Duke!

Goodbye Cuddle (and Freckles)

For some reason, we are a curse on pets.

We just can't keep them healthy or alive!

Except our frogs that we got for free on Craigslist, they are still a hoppin'.

Kadie's tiny turtle that we only had for about 2 months just died.

We learned that turtles as small as ours were, are not supposed to be sold for pets.

They usually die because they are too small.

Kadie decorated Cuddle's box with a bow, a note and pictures.

If you look closely, you will see that Kadie wrote "Cuddle" on a paper with a sticker of Jesus.

I just love her sensitive little personality.

We buried him to the side of the house with a circle of rocks to show his special spot.

Kadie has been out there several times to visit Cuddle.

Josh felt so bad, that he took Kadie on a little fieldtrip to get an older more sturdy turtle.

So we now have a 1 year old turtle that is a little bigger named Cuddle-2 now.

Sadly, last week there were a stretch of very cold nights. Laney's turtle couldn't stay warm enough, and so her turtle Freckles didn't make it either.

We still have Cuddle-2 and our frogs.

Paintings for Mamacita

This was my mom's Christmas gift this year.

She always wanted a rustic painting with texture, hills, and poppy's.

Wish. Granted. Finally!

I think she has been hinting for a few years.

Here is a small step by step.

I didn't start taking pictures until about half way.

Merry Christmas Mama!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!

Merry late Christmas. This year took me a while to get back in the swing of things after the Holidays. Hence, the Christmas post of 2010 is being posted half way through January 2011.

Christmas Eve festivities!

Included the usual get together at Grammy's house.

We swapped our family gifts, and the kids had a blast "helping" opening presents, or playing with the gifts they received. Almost everyone was here! But we missed Ky and Mike and Sky who couldn't come because Kylie was close to due with tiny soon to be born Harper. :)

New clothing always brings out the inner model in Uncle Nick.

Crew kept following Grandpa and trying to drink his drinks and eat his food.

He even got a shoulder ride!

No fair! Next year it's my turn Dad! ;)

Christmas Morning!

We slept in until almost 6:00 AM this year!

Laney freaked out with EVERY present she opened.

Giant eyes and opened mouth for each and every one.

We probably could have just given her toys she already had

and she would have acted just as excited.

The most popular gift 2010, SQUEANKIES.

Even Josh played with them.

Crew boy slept in until about 7:30. When he woke up to chaos and presents, he joined in the fun immediately. He even knew that this car was for him!

Laney had asked for a phone, computer and a camera.

She got a leapster explorer and I think she was pleased.

Christmas night, my family came over. Since Nick will be turning 16 this year, he took a test drive in Crew's car.

Crew didn't like it.

I decided to try out long hair for a few minutes.

(Courtesy of Alex's clip-in hair extensions)

Laney tried it too!

And got embarrassed when I took pictures. :)

After everyone was gone...this is what was left downstairs.

A big mess and tired people.

(Laney is peaking one eye at everyone, I love it).

Laney's new best friend.

I am not sure if we have narrowed her name down yet...

It is either Jewels 2 (Kadie's is Jewels), Cynthia, or Flowerly.

Pre-Christmas Fun!

Every year, we bring out the gingerbread decorating extravaganza.

This year, Kadie made hers into a darling little Toy Shop.

She even put a penguin in front because her Toy Shop is in the north pole,

and penguins live in the north pole. She is very detail oriented like her Daddy.

Laney's was a Bakery with overgrown plants on the front of the building.

I am guessing those plants are food for the pet dinosaur out front.

While we made our gingerbread village, Crew practiced climbing up and down on large boxes.

He also has learned to pull his pants down. You probably remember that from this post.

If his shoes are on, he can't them off to throw them in the trash, so he just waddles around with them around his ankles.

Merry Christmas!

This last year of 2010 was one of the fullest we have known!

Crew Boy!

• learned how to walk and immediately began RUNNING and JUMPING!!!
• words so far:

mama

daddeeeee!

Dee Dee (Kadie)

Nay Nee (Laney)

Mineeeeey! (Mine)

no no no! (while pointing his finger and smiling)

awe (putting his head to the side when something is cute)

joo (juice)

ha dah (hotdog)

• Crew also knows to fold his arms in prayer and he dances to all kinds of music
• He gives the sweetest little kisses, and he has a baby doll.
• He is a monkey and climbs on EVERYTHING, and breaks most things he throws.
• Crew stole the title of Messiest from Laney, and probably also owns the title of best tantrum thrower. We will continue watching him closely in 2011. :)

Laney

• Learned to write her first name as well as f-o-x, c-a-t, l-o-v-e, n-o, y-e-s, t-o, and m-o-m and d-a-d. She leaves notes everywhere in the house.
• She is always right at my feet when I am upset about something telling me she loves me.
• Laney LOVES flash cards. Any and all kinds!
• Laney discovered the world of girly toys and things this year. She still has a special love of dinosaurs, but she and Kadie play all sorts of princess and fairy games.
• Laney has also started "crafting" with her sister after school.
• Laney still owns the title of Most Curious child, but Crew is a close match!

Kadie

• Kadie became a big kid in my eyes this year which really makes me happy and sad at the same time. :) :( But mostly happy. :)
• Kadie was baptized this year, she pays tithing, and she reminds me now of family prayer, scripture study and family home evening. I even put her in charge of one lesson and she is a natural at teaching!
• Kadie's favorite thing in the world is NATURE. Anything and everything about it.
• Kadie changes her brothers diaper sometimes, she even offers to vacuum on occasion.
• Kadie is a WIZ at math and loves it almost as much as her Daddy. She rarely comes home missing more than one problem on her math or spelling tests.
• Kadie has even dabbled in jewelry design this year, and wears one of her most recent bracelets almost every day.
• She wants to be a mom when she grows up, and I think she will be such a patient mother.
• Kadie still wins the award for Most Dramatic in our family, and she can add a touch of Sassy to the mix most days.

Josh and Leisa

Leisa started a few new hobbies this year including party throwing and her Sassy Pepper blog. She discovered a new obsession with organizing, which doesn't last long with an 8, 4 and 1 year old. Instead of trying to be the perfect mom this year, she tried being more fun, and the kids voted to keep the fun. :) Leisa is also in the Primary Presidency as an intern... I mean, counselor. She now knows the secret to making it all work at church is just that...a SECRET that she hasn't discovered yet! :) Leisa wins title of Most Crazy, but a good crazy, not "crazy" crazy,

at least not yet.

Josh was so blessed to be given the opportunity to go back to what he loves again for a career. Josh is now an Audit manager with a full staff at PWC and absolutely loves it. His engagements include Twitter and Zip Realty! Somehow, he still finds time to play the Wii with Kadie, bake cookies with Laney and wrestle with Crew. We are back to our old schedule of working hard in the week and playing twice as hard on the weekend! I think Josh deserves the award of Most Thoughtful because although he is overworked and underpaid...he does anything I ask, even without the asking.

This upcoming May will mark 10 years in our marriage! And we plan on celebrating in style.

We want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that your year to come is full of joy and happiness. We also are so thankful for all of you, and most of all our Savior.

With Love,

Josh, Leisa, Kadie (8), Laney (4.75), and Crew (1.5)

Every Day

Every Day...

actually several times a day, when I open this fingerprint decorated garbage can,

I find a surprise inside!

Crew's pants!

Whenever I see he has taken off his pants, I check in the trash and sure enough...

Other items included in this search (but are not limited to);

Bottles, sippy cups, silverware, school books, stuffed animals and DVDs.

Another Everyday Occurrence...

Crew's Clubhouse as I like to call it.

Also know as my shower.

When he finds things he likes, he takes them and hides them in my shower.

Similar to how a dog hides a bone.

Crew is the "new" puppy.