Primary

Kiana started CTR 5 the beginning of January, and my baby girl, Maile, started nursery. Thanks goodness. With her walking since she was 9 months, she has sure been a handful to chase around during relief society. Maybe I can actually sit and enjoy a lesson now, though it hasn't happened yet, since I am always subbing in primary.

Kiana had a talk on Jan. 10, which is when Keeley was scheduled to be born, so Daddy helped Kiana in case Mommy had to leave early. She practiced a few times, but she still had a hard time saying all the words. Daddy would say the sentence and Kiana would only repeat the last word or what she could remember after that line. She is learning though. She only did one talk last year, and so it is hard to learn how to do it since there are so many in our primary that need the opportunity.

Here is her talk:

When Joseph Smith was a boy, he prayed to Heavenly Father. Something wonderful happened, Joseph saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. They came and spoke to Joseph. Joseph saw that Havenly Father has a body like we do. Heavenly Father has arms, we have arms (point to arms). Heavenly Father has hands, we have hands (show hands). Heavenly Father has a face, we have a face (feel face). Heavenly Father created our bodies like His body. He loves us and He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to teach us and to die for us. We are His children. I am a chid of God and He has sent me here, has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear. Heavenly Father knows me. He knows my name is Kiana. He loves me and I love Him.

I am grateful I can teach my children the gospel principels and take them to church to learn more and to gain their own testimonies.

Baby Keeley

The girls have a new cousin!! They have been so excited for this one to come. She was born Sunday, January 10, 2010 at 8:02 pm!! She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20 inches long. We weren't sure on the sex, but we are so happy to have another girl cousin. The hospital had a lot of restrictions because of sickness so Kiana and Maile couldn't come out, but we have went out to see her a few times since. All they can talk about is how we need a new baby, sorry, not for awhile. Here are some fun pictures. Congratulations Dondi and Jimmy, she is beautiful.

The Big 30!

Steve's 30th came and went. It's hard having a birthday so close to Christmas, and I feel bad we didn't do more to celebrate this BIG day. I think he was kind of nervous about being another year older, looking back at all that has been accomplished so far in his life. We think he has done awesome and are so grateful for him in our lives. He does so much for us, works so hard, and we appreciate everything, though we miss him when we can spend time with him.

He worked the night before his birthday, so we hurried and got breakfast ready for him, his favorite, biscuits and gravy. We also aren't big cake people, so we got some doughnuts and put candles in it and sang to him.

I think the girls were more excited about the day and the Happy Birthday song than he was. He just wanted 2 pairs of shoes and the Wii fit game for his birthday. I'm sure he wanted more, but we spoiled ourselves for Black Friday, so that was our Christmas and his birthday.

His parents take good care of him and also spoiled him with an alarm docking station for his ipod and a digital frame. They were here when we got home from church and had a sign and balloons, it was nice of them to do.

Steve shares a birthday with my nephew, and so the rest of the day was filled with a party for him. I hope Steve wasn't too disappointed about the day. I wanted a big 30 bash, but we are under construction at my house with finishing the basement and it's small and things are out of order during the process. He'll just have to wait, one day, least expected, we'll do something awesome!!!

Christmas Magic

We enjoyed such a wonderful Christmas at our house this year. I felt like a kid again. I have been so excited for the girls and their joy and excitement filled the house. It is a fine line between Santa and all the magic, and our Savior, his birth, and all the gifts he has given to us. I tried to stress the real importance of this Christmas season, but really, how much does a 4 year old understand?!? I have tried to bring in traditions to help us remember, and hope they will stick out in the girls memories. Being split at Christmas time between my fathers home and my mothers, it was hard to form traditions and take the time to remember the Savior, but one year we stayed with my mom, and I recall the special feeling as we read the Christmas story in the Bible together. It is such a fond and special memory and I hope I can instill that in my children.

After my Dad's Christmas Eve Party, we were able to get home, start Santa's cookies, open our jammies, and read of the Savior's birth. It was so neat to experience that with the girls.

Christmas morning, the girls came down in awe. They were just so happy with what they saw, they didn't care about the rest of the presents. Maybe sometimes we overwhelm them, they would just be as happy with one or two things, it is us that go crazy and get more and more. Kiana was thrilled about the kitchen while Maile was just content to sit at the table forever.I had to beg for them to come and sit with me and open the rest of their presents!!

Kiana was really excited that Santa ate all the cookies she made for him and he even drank all the milk.

Look at my bakers, so cute! Maybe I won't have to do all the cooking anymore, they have already made me some very nice meals. The grandparents also came over on Christmas to see all the presents, and were also treated to some goodies.

It was such a nice, peaceful day. We got to stay home for awhile, play with toys, get naps in, and then go to my mom's to spend time with my family. My mom has worked all year on an "I Spy Quilt." It turned out so beautiful and is a lot of fun. I think it is a 9x8 block quilt with all of our favorite things and you play I spy with it. There are blocks of Star Wars and Peanuts Characters for Steve, Cows and dolphins for me, horses and princess for Kiana, and Winnie the Pooh and ballerinas for Maile, just to name a few. We love it and will have to take special care of it so we have it forever. I don't want to keep it out or it will get ruined, maybe just bring it out to play games and put it up again. Thanks for all the hard work and hours put into it mom, we love it!

We are so blessed with such wonderful families and have been blessed so much this year. We are truely grateful. Thanks for everything!