SNOW DAY!!!

Well due to all the snow I figured it was time to put all of Linnea's snow clothes to good use. We have tons of snow piles since they have been plowing the parking lot like three times a day :) She really liked the snow, a little bit better than last time we played in it. She kept falling down since she was so bundled and the snow was so hard and she would just crack up every time. We made a little snow slide on one of the snow drifts. We didn't last too long since it was so cold, but we came in, had some hot chocolate enjoyed the morning!!! Some of my favorite memories are playing in the snow and sleding then always finishing with hot chocolate....I love having a kid now that I get to play with and see how much they love doing those things too!

She loves having a scarf on....I don't know why

Loving life!!!!

Christmas

Well we had a fun Christmas this year. We went down to St. George to spend Christmas with Derek's parents. We don't have too many picutres we mostly filmed so sorry not a whole lot of pictures. My sister-in-law and I decided we wanted to make the Christmas Dinner that they do on Christmas Eve so my mother-in-law could just enjoy the grandkids. We had a yummy dinner, and for future reference if you want a good ham, go to honey baked ham...they even cook it for you...they are pricey but worth it. Linnea got to ride the horses ALOT. She loved the horses...one time though I'm pretty sure my nephew and her jumped into a puddle of horse pee...I think her boots may be ruined. Derek and I did a program for everyone on Christmas Eve, we let the kids color these nativity pictures and read a child version of the nativity since Linnea was the oldest kid there we figured they would lose interest if we busted out the scriptures. Then we read Christmas Oranges, we love that story and I tied ribbons around some clementines and had a little saying about charity and the savior that we gave to everyone. Derek's side is a lot more mellow I guess you could say than my family parties so some years it takes some getting used to all the quiet story reading, but it was very nice to see St. George and the Childs' side again. Christmas day we woke up and opened presents. Derek spoiled me so much, he had these beautiful picutures made for me (a picture will come soon) he blew up our favorite wedding picture and had for time and all eternity written on it along with a beautiful picture of the Salt Lake Temple. I have been saying since we got married that I wanted a picture of the temple, like a big one. He had these made months ago! It made me cry a little bit, Derek is the best gift giver. He really does listen to little things that I'll just say I want and then he plans and makes this awesome gift! I love him :) He got a computer that he had to get on black friday so on Christmas I just had some small gifts for him like DVDs and stuff like that. Linnea got spoiled. She got a leap pad with four books to go along with it, other books, a little people Noah's Ark, a my little pony car with mom and baby, coloring books, the Princess and the Frog DVD puzzles and one of the favorite toys of the season...Buzz Lightyear. He is the same size as he would have been in the movie he says soooo much stuff has his wings that light up karate chop action! She loves buzz and has to carry him everywhere! She got buzz a little early since we opened presents with my family before hand so they could see her open her stuff so in St. George all her boy cousins wanted to play with buzz and kept saying it was a boy toy, but she actually was a great sharer. It's funny because she always carries buzz in one hand and her doll from her birthday in the other...funny girl. We had a great Christmas I hope you all did too. I love this time of year, but it comes and goes too quickly.

2 years

Our sweet girl turned two on Tuesday, I can 't believe how fast the time is going. She is such a joy to have in our family. We had a birthday party on Saturday with family and friends, she got her first fish (which she almost killed just like Darla on finding Nemo), she got a stick horse, babies, a kitchen set and so many fun things. We decided this little girl is spoiled and loved to pieces.

Some fun things about Linnea:

She loves horses-

She loves cows

She loves to ask "whats that?"

She loves to show us every trick she does, and yells "watch mama, watch"

She loves coins and money

She loves Mary Poppins, and Belle (beauty and the beast)

She loves to have her blankies wrapped around her from her head to her toes so she can have a "at" (hat)

She loves her shoes

She loves her play jewelry especially her earrings

She loves to pat our faces and ask for "ugs" (hugs)

She loves to read her mouse book and baa book, and basically any book

She loves to help me with chores

She loves to color

She loves to play in her playroom especially when mom and dad come and play too after she says "mock, mama, mock dada" Mock is translated into come on :)

Linnea is such a sweet girl. She is sassy and loves to give the stubborn attitude, but I wouldn't take her any other way. She has such a tender heart and loves to show affection and be with her family. She is going to be such a good big sister in a few months, we love her so very much!!

Potty!!!!

Ok so we finally got Linnea a click on toilet seat since she has shown absoulutely no interest in the big toilet, I'm hoping this helps. I got her to sit on the seat three times now and we have a little kid "going to the potty" book. I don't think Linnea knows what peeing is to tell you the truth. She still doesn't really seem like she wants to go potty, but since I'll be on Christmas break for a few weeks I was kind of hoping to maybe start trying because I won't be able to try again until I graduate (since I don't feel like a babysitter should potty train my kid) and at that time we're going to have a newborn...but whatever we'll try it. I have NO idea what I'm doing though. I gave her a little treat for sitting on the toilet for two minutes, I'm not sure how to teach her what peeing is though. I've thought of buying panties and just letting her wear those so when she had an accident I could tell her that is pee and hopefully she would want to go to the bathroom, or should I get pull ups....what....so mommies or anyone who has insight I would love to learn how to potty train. I understand that it will be pointless if she has no desire, but we are really trying to introduce her to the bathroom so hopefully since she gets rewards maybe it'll be some motivation, but tips will be welcome!!!

Drum roll please......

Well today was the day we were able to find out what our little nugget is and presenting in April 2011 our

BABY BOY!!!!!!!!

we are so excited, honestly I think both Derek and I thought it was going to be a girl so it was such a fun surprise. The cute little guy is super shy, he did not want to show us anything, and actually we still didn't get to see his face because the stubborn little guy refused to move his hands. He seems very mellow, he looked super comfortable and sleepy and didn't seemed to thrilled that we were poking and proding to peek at him!! Once he moved his legs though there was no doubt. We are super excited and can't wait to meet him, now I have to work on making their bedroom generic and loading up on baby boy clothes :)

Ideas

Ok so next week we get to find out what we are having...Derek and I have been surprised at how few names we actually have thought of for this little nugget....so I would like some ideas these are some names we have thought of so far

Girl- Ava, Kaelyn, Makenna or just kenna
Boy-Carter, Hayden, Aiden, Jax, Daxton, Bryton

Most of these are my names that I like, but very few actually feel like "the one" so pass along any cute baby names for this little one so it'll be easier when we find out what it is actually going to be :)

Sweet Reminders

I just wanted to write a quick post about my sweet little girl and how she reminds me of how I always need to be watching what I am doing. As adults I don't think we realize how much young children truly watch our every move and learn by example good or bad. So, Sunday you all know was fast and testimony meeting. I actually felt the urge to bear my testimony...something I unfortunatly rarely do. Anyways as I got up there I look down and see Linnea standing on Derek's lap beaming and pointing and yelling "mama" how can you not smile....after I went to sit back down, Linnea climbed off Derek's lap and went right out into the aisle and headed up to the pulpit...it was her turn to bear her testimony! I know she doesn't grasp the importance of the concept quite yet, but it was such a great reminder that she is going to watch what we do as she grows up. I am so grateful she shows an enthusiasm for the gospel already. She loves watching her "jeezy" movie (jesus) and loves to fold her arms and say prayers, she loves her book of mormon story book...I hope that we can always keep that thought in our minds that she may be young, but she is watching and each day is so important in beginning to teach her the right principles! We sure love her and her sweet innocence she brings to our home!

ps the picture was taken by my friend Kara...so cute I think