Merry Christmas!

My friend Tammy posted a Christmas letter on her blog. I thought it was so cute so I decided to do the same. This has been an amazing year for us. Rory is stilling working for the Sheriff's office and is also on the SWAT team. He loves all the training he gets to go to and I love the pager going off at 3 in the morning scaring me to death! Ok, that has only happened twice, but it scared me to death both times. He really enjoys his job and so I really can't complain, if he has to work he might as well do something he loves! He also loves hunting so the kids and I had the opportunity to go with him to Wyoming antelope hunting. I can't say I liked the hunting part, but it was so fun to be together as a family. We had so much fun we decided that we are going to take the kids on some sort of vacation every year, so next year we are taking them to California for my family reunion.

Connor turned 4 this year. I can't believe how big he is. He started preschool and is really loving it. He is so smart. Since this is my little brag letter I guess I can say that! He already knows his phone number, how to spell his name, his address, and can identify most the letters in the alphabet. He is a sunbeam and loves to learn about the gospel. Him and K fight over who gets to say the prayer and I love that they are so excited about it.

Kadee turned 2 this year and is a little handful! She is too smart for her own good. Anything Connor does she wants to do and so we have some fights. I am really proud of her though. She decided she wanted to go potty on the toilet and has been completely potty trained for about 6 months now. She knows her birthday, her colors, and loves to draw. She is our little princess and she knows it!

I have been doing really well myself. I started on Remicade treatments for my Crohn's disease and am a whole new person. I had forgotten what it felt like to be healthy and am so grateful for my health. I was called to be the 2nd counselor in the YW presidency in our ward about 3 months ago. It has been an amazing experience.

The most exciting thing to happen to us this year is the building of our home. It took us about 7 months and we couldn't be happier with how it has turned out. We love everything about it. I thought I would hate living by the river, but I have really enjoyed everything about the house. I love having property for the kids to run on and room to put all our stuff.

We have had so many great experiences this year and look forward to next year and all the exciting things that will happen. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thursday we went to Salt Lake to the Jazz game. Our seats were really good and it was a fun game. Rory always finds the best deals for Jazz tickets. The Jazz won, which is great because I have never been to a live game when they have lost. The kids stayed with my grandparents and I thought they would go to bed early, but they were up until almost 11. My poor grandma.

Friday we went to Provo for my Remicade treatment and then did a little bit of shopping. We are FINALLY done with all our Christmas shopping. We then went to my dad's house and C and K got to play. I only see my dad about every 6 months, so it is always nice when we get to visit with them. Saturday we went to see grandpa Wally and Kristene. My kids love their house. They have a son that is 9 and so of course Connor adores him. They played and then we headed home and the weather was ridiculous. We saw 31 accidents. I was so nervous. The canyon was a mess, trucks were stuck, people were stopped in the middle of the road. I wanted to turn around and stay in Salt Lake another night, but Rory had to work so we toughed it out. It took us 4 hours to get home from Salt Lake.

Today I had to speak in church- yuck. I was so nervous. I really don't mind teaching, but I hate speaking in sacrament. Here are my cute kids in their Sunday best. They really are good kids. They are so well behaved in church. Kadence is going to be a Sunbeam here in a couple weeks and I can't believe how the time flies by. I guess it is time to have another one :)

One Proud Mama... and Foxy Roxy

I have to say it has been a week of firsts and the week has just begun. Yesterday Connor had his first Primary Program. He did so great. He was the only sunbeam who didn't need help with his part. They were all so cute though. Each of them got up there and said "My name is..., I'm a Child of God and He Loves Me." Connor had practiced so much and was so excited to say his part. He didn't really know many of the songs, but when they sang "When Jesus Christ was Baptized" he jumped right up and sang with all his might. When he didn't know the songs he would curl his tongue or try to walk around or talk, he isn't the most reverent kid, but he sure loves primary.

After church we went out to the farm and got a dog. Don't ask me what kind because I have no idea how to pronounce or spell it. It is a bird hunting dog (of course) and we named her Roxy. This is Kadee's first dog... and she hates it. We had 2 dogs when Connor was little so he loves the puppy, but Kadee isn't used to dogs and is terrified. She seriously SCREAMS whenever the puppy comes near her. I'm hoping she lightens up a bit since we are planning on having this dog for the next 15 years.


Finally, the most exciting news of the week... Connor learned how to ride his bike with no training wheels. Rory took the training wheels off his little bike and within about 10 minutes Connor had it figured out. He rides all over the place and loves his helmet. I can't believe how big my babies are getting. Time flies when you are having fun. It is so nice to have a house and some land for the kids to run around on... now if I can get Rory going on the backyard.

Wyoming here we come!

I know I haven't posted in awhile, but we have been super busy. We got moved into the house and then took a family trip to Wyoming to hunt antelope. The drive was a nightmare. My kids had to stop about a million times to go to the bathroom, but we finally arrived in Saratoga. We went to dinner and stayed at a historical hotel. Kyle and Candee weren't too impressed, but we loved it. It was very old fashioned and quaint. We then went to the hot pots and swam, it was really hot!

The next day we headed to Laramie and spent the remainder of our trip there. The kids went swimming every day and we had to practically drag them out of the pool to go do other things. Antelope hunting was really cold, but Rory shot a really nice buck. We also went to a historic jail in Laramie and tried some of the local diners. It was fun but very exausting. I'm so glad to be home!

Potty Trained Princess

I've been waiting for a week to post this because I kept thinking I was going to get a picture, but I never did so... Kadee is potty trained! She has been doing great with #1 for a month now but was having some problems with #2. So this past week it just clicked and she hasn't had an accident since! This is the first time in 4 years that I haven't had to deal with diapers, I love it. I can't believe how big she is! She is such a good little girl. She was really excited because I bought her a barbie doll for pooping on the potty. She LOVES it and tells everyone all about it.

Saturday was our 6 year anniversary. I can't believe how the time flies! Rory was on afternoons, so Candee watched my kids and I surprised him with dinner from the Cowboy Club. He was so busy he didn't really get to sit down and eat but it was nice to spend a little time with him on our anniversary. Some things I love about Rory are:
He is an amazing dad. My kids absolutely adore him. He takes care of us. He is one of the hardest working people I know. Everyone loves him. He is so funny. I can't ever stay mad at him. He loves his family. He is very handsome. He looks so cute in his work uniform. He has built the kids and I a beautiful home. There are many other things I love about him and just wanted to say he is awesome!

I thought for sure we would be in the house by now, but we still don't have a railing. They were supposed to come and put it in today, but didn't show. I really hope they come tomorrow because I am so tired of living in 2 houses. The brick is almost completely finished and it is gorgeous. They did such a good job. I am so glad we decided to go with full brick, it will be a lot less maintenance in the future. Well as soon as we get in I will post some pictures. Until then, keep blogging!

Peek a Boo Preschool

Connor had his first day of preschool today. He loved it! His teacher is Miss Sandy and she is so cute. He didn't even care that I was leaving him and Kadee wanted to stay. She sat down at the table and I had to bribe her with a new backpack to get her out of there. He was so excited to bring his backpack home and show me all his work. He learned the nursery rhyme Humpty Dumpty and how to draw a square. I think it is going to be a great year and I am so happy we found a good teacher for him.

I'll fold my arms, I'll bow my head

Connor had his first talk in Primary yesterday. I found it on the internet and it happened to be the same topic as the sharing time lesson. He really enjoyed it but when he went to sit down a little boy in his class had stolen his seat and he was so upset. He started crying and ran back into his dad's arms. After that I had a hard time getting him to go to class. Once I got him to go in he was fine, but he was really upset there for a minute. Here is his talk:

When I take the sacrament, I renew my baptismal covenants
Each Sunday, before the bread and water are passed, a priesthood holder says a prayer. If you listen carefully, you will learn that the sacrament is a very special way to remember our Savior.
When the sacrament is being blessed and passed, we should do our very best to be reverent. We should bow our heads and quietly think about the love that Heavenly Fatehr and Jesus Christ have for us. Here is a little poem that helps me remember how I should act during the sacrament.
I'll fold my arms, I'll bow my head, and quiet, quiet be; As the sacrament is blessed, I will remember Thee.