Sweet Spirited

Tonight was such a cute night with the girlies.  Out of nowhere Laney wanted to watch "The Testaments".

She found it all on her own in our DVD cabinet and brought it to me.  She said we should watch a Jesus movie.  I didn't hesitate because honestly I hadn't prepared anything for Family night.

We watched the whole thing, and both girls were so "into" the video.  Crew was even screaming "NO, oh NO!" at the bad guys.  Laney looked like she was about to cry afterward, and when I asked if she was okay, she just asked me, "why did they have to nail His hands mama?"  It was so sweet.  She was genuinely upset, and compassionate, and it was an amazing opportunity for me to bear my testimony to them, and have a heart felt conversation about the Savior.  Kadie said a sweet prayer blessing us to be together forever.

We had such a special moment together.  I love that my little girls are sensitive and "sweet spirited".  I have decided that it is a very good thing to have a sweet spirit.

Harper Rose

This is my new niece!

Harper Rose Comfoltey

Born January 12th, at 5lbs 2 oz tiny.

I am going absolutely bonkers not being able to see or hold her yet.

She is so adorable.

We love you Ky, Mike, and Sky and of course teeny tiny Harper. :)

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.