Happy Ground Hog Day!

I would be really happy if spring came in 6 weeks (not that I wouldn't mind having it now). Please just don't keep snowing through May again this year.

Wes has enjoyed talking to the paper ground hog I made him.

January

Wow. This is a long post.

My brother left for basic training in the Army at the beginning of the month so Wes and I went down to spend some time with him before we saw him off. Wes loves his uncle, and I love my little brother. We'll miss him, but we are excited and proud of him.

Wesley still loves books. He now calls all animals "woof woof."

If you listen fast you can hear him bark right before he falls.

Brrrmmm is his word for anything with a motor or wheels.

I am obsessed with taking sleeping pictures of him. He loves to read his books and play with his toys before going to bed. I go in and readjust him so that he can sleep a little more comfortably.

I kept the door cracked a little one night so I could watch him. He pushed his seahorse doll so it would make music, and then sat on he knees and started barking at the projection of animals on the ceiling from his mobile. That kid makes me laugh.

We had several days were the air was clean and it wasn't too cold outside. What a nice surprise for January. Wesley LOVES playing outside. Days when it's too cold ("too cold" means under 20 degrees) or the air is too polluted the poor kid runs to the door making his asking coo all day.

I love this picture of my cute little boy, and in an attempt to be a little creative I turned it into stationary. I was happy with how it turned out.

My little basketball player. He's pretty good at shooting the ball.

Here I am with my kitty.

What is it about kids waking in grownup shoes that is so cute? What is it that draws kids to put the shoes on anyway? I don't know the answers, but I sure have to giggle a little.

I made homemade play dough.

Another day playing in the snow. Wesley loves to crunch the snow. Oh, and he also loves to run in the road. Luckily his giant dump truck distracts him a little.

Can you believe that I wouldn't let him play on the step stool that is about 4.5 feet high?

While I was busy making a new and involved recipe for dinner Wes thought he would help out.

The kitchen floor that was clean when I started. Wes not only dumped out drawers, but brought all types of things to add to his pile.
Wes likes to throw anything he can get his hands on down the stairs...not my favorite game of his.
Still he likes to help clean up.

He thought he was so smooth drinking his milk with no hands.

My videos are never ever even close to as good as real life, but they're still cute. My little dancer shows off his new dance steps before getting distracted by the cat.

I have to watch the garbage like a hawk and check it every time I throw something away. (The impressive thing in this photo is that Wes has kept his hat on inside.)

Wes loves to crawl and sit in any nook, cranny, or hut type place he can find.
My little sleeping angle.
Since the temperatures dropped Wes loves sitting and standing on heater vents. I have to watch him because he likes to pull off the cover and stand inside. It's so cold, but he will not keep his sock on.
I like how Ivory follows us around. Even as Wes practices the stairs. And look they are pretty clutter free. I realized that I take pictures of the mess, but not after it's cleaned up.

And a cute laughing video to finish it off.

Happy Birthday, Nonnie!

Happy Birthday, Punka!

Happy Birthday, Punka

Behind the scenes it was a bit of work to get the picture. To put the hat one and snap a photo before he pulled the crown off.

I had to act way goofy and crazy to make him smile.

At least in this picture he's trying to put the crown on instead of taking it off.

2010 Recap

So here is a little recap on 2010

January:

Bret was hired at a hospital out of county.

I quit my job on the last day I could without having to pay back insurance premiums.

We moved.

February:

Wesley was blessed.

My birthday.

March:

Wesley learned to roll over.

Wes had a little cyst that I thought was the start of a tooth until it disappeared.

Bret's Birthday.

April:

We went under contract for our house.

Wesley started eating rice cereal.

Wesley was diagnosed with torticollis, and started physical therapy.

There was a little earthquake up here.

May:

Wesley got his tooth for real this time.

Wesley started sitting up.

Continues watching the progress of our house.

My 1st Mother's Day.

June:

Moved into our 1st house!

Wesley becomes an army crawler.

I started selling Shelf Reliance Food Storage and Shelving Systems.

Bret's first Father's day.

July:

Wesley started waving.

We had a little vacation with Bret's side at Wolf Creek.

Unpacked and organized a lot.

Camping at Bear Lake with my side.

August:

Wesley's 1st Bee's game.

We adopted our two little kittens.

My sweet grandmother passed away.

September:

Wesley started standing on his own.

Wesley took his first steps.

Got family pictures.

Bought Wesley's first Halloween costume.

October:

Put our yard in.

We went to Lagoon twice (once with Wes and once without).

Wesley won an award for Scariest Costume.

November:

Wesley turned 1!

Got a gym membership at the rec center by my house.

December:

1st meeting of my new book club.

Wesley was not happy about meeting Santa.

My mom had surgery.

Christmas was so much fun!

2010, thank you for being so good to us.

2011, welcome!

Reflections

It seams like there have been so many anniversaries of sort the last couple of weeks. We had Christmas, our wedding anniversary the 27th, when Bret was hired and I quit my joy on the 28th, New Years, and today it the one year anniversary of moving up here. So I have had many opportunities to reflect on my life and the year.

I am so happy that Bret got a job up here. This is such a wonderful place to live (I can't believe I am saying this in January). I love my neighborhood and ward. I love the farms and the all around good feeling up here.

And of course, I am so happy to be able to be a stay at home mom. It is such a blessing. I love being around my child all the time and seeing the little and big changes every day brings.

I am also glad to no longer be working as a social service worker. I am glad to no longer be dealing with child abuse and neglect. When I watch the news I don't have to worry about seeing my current or potential clients. I don't have to worry about removals, graphic details of child sexual abuse, or any of the many secondary trauma inducing things I spent 3 years doing. I am grateful for the experience, the amazing people I met, the resilient children I watched overcome the greatest of trials, and the opportunities I had. But I am so grateful that chapter of my life has closed. I respect the people make a careers out of a high stress job where the pay makes teachers look rich. I was growing so bitter and worn out by the end, and I am so happy to be free.

I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter what changes or challenges occur, and I know that Christ lives. I know that he will provide help, comfort, and guidance. I am so much happier when I am following him and doing the things that keep me close to the Spirit. I am grateful for my calling as a Sunday School teach of 12-13 yr olds. What a wonderful age where they are really starting to have a better understanding, and where their questions are deeper and more thought filled . I am grateful to be able to go to church every Sunday. One year ago we were taking turns staying home with the baby, but we've been able to go as a family for awhile now. I love being able to take the sacrament every week and be up lifted by the wonderful talks and lessons.

I am so grateful for temple marriage. It is such a joy to know that I will be with my family forever.

I am so happy for my home. I love being able to decorate it. I love working in the yard. I really like that my house is green. I love that it is the perfect place for my family.

New Years Eve 2010

So I didn't realize it at the time, but I didn't get any pictures of us on New Year's Eve. Oops.

I got this picture because this cat makes me laugh. She is getting braver because she is only hiding half way under the couch.

Wes had a lovely time while I showered. The bathroom was clean before I got in.

Here's a picture of our Christmas tree.

All of the round ornaments got taken down because Wes thought they were little balls. I am not a fan of how the bow on the top turned out. I should have folded the branch in half. No matter. I found a tree topper that I like just fine after Christmas.

Our next door neighbors came over for a little while that evening which was nice ending to a great year.