Swim Girl!

Makayla just finished her month of swimming lessons and she did awesome!!!  She passed her level and is ready to start the next one.  She had so much fun swimming.  The only thing she didn't like was having to go outside into the freezing cold wet after she was done.  I can't say I blame her on that one.  Kyle and I were usually a little wet too!  

Makayla loves the back float and is really good at it.

As you can see Makayla was the only girl in her class.  Here she is being a little model.  She looks cute even when doing monster legs!

And Kyle was always a perfect little angel during the whole entire time... hahaha!!!

Josie

As most of you know Josie is our little dog.  Ben and I adopted Josie before Makayla came along so we have had her a long time.  We were living in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Ben and I went into a gourmet pet treat shop to look for something for my family dog that lived in Utah with my parents.  They were showing dogs and cats from the Humane Society in the shop.  I turned around and there was Josie.  She was the cutest, sweetest little dog I had ever seen.  They had named her Josie after Josie and the Pussycats because I guess she lived with cats or something.  Ben and I really didn't want to get a dog at that time but the more I looked at her and held her the more I wanted her.  It was a really hard time for us because we had been waiting to adopt for such a long time and we had had prospective babies that fell through.  I was getting really depressed about everything and I just wanted something to love.  Ben and I talked about it and decided to adopt Josie.  The day we took her home she became our baby.  Since that time she is more of a dog than our baby but we still love her just as much.  She has such a sweet personality and loves the kids so much.  She puts up with a lot from Kyle and even though she will growl at him from time to time I know that she loves Kyle and Makayla so much. We love you Josie!!!

Where'd He Go???

The Statement: "Whoo wee Ky you are stinky!  Let's go change your diaper."

The Result...

Happy Valentine's Day

One of my greatest memories as a child was Valentine's Day.  My mom would always get us something special for the day.  Even when I was a teenager and all depressed because I didn't have a boyfriend my mom would always have a special valentine for me.  She now carries on that tradition with the grandchildren. A few days ago when we got the mail the kids were so excited to have a package from grandma Harward.  Inside was a valentine card for each child along with lots of candy.  Thanks grandma!!!  We also gave valentines to each other.  Ben gave Makayla and me flowers and they are gorgeous!  The kids and I got Ben some flower bulbs to plant this spring and I got the kids some candy boxes.  Of course right when we were ready to take the picture I couldn't find Kyle's candy box.  He had it two seconds before and then lost it.  So is may look like Kyle didn't get anything but I promise he did!!!

WE FOUND IT!!!

Valentine's Party

A few weeks ago Makayla came to me and asked me if she could have a Valentine's party with her friends. I thought about it for a few days and then though why not?  She was so excited to help me get ready for the party.  It made it totally worth it when Makayla told me how much fun she had.  Sometimes all the work is worth it and this was definitely one of those times!!!

Here are the girls decorating their heart sugar cookies.  Okay I know that kids love sprinkles but oh my word!!!  Some of the girls put more sprinkles on their cookies than frosting!

I made all the girls little Valentine's bags and they got to decorate them.  They turned out so cute.  Each girl brought valentine's for all the other girls and then they handed them out and put them in their bags.  They loved  it!

Kyle also had a great time!  He colored a picture while the girls colored their bags.  Then he decorated his cookie along with the girls.  I was actually quite impressed that he only ate half the frosting before decorating the cookie.  Kyle loves his big sister so much and loves to do whatever she is doing.  Luckily, Makayla is a great big sister who allows her brother to play with her and her friends.  It's pretty funny when the friends start complaining about Kyle playing with them but never Makayla.  I love that!

Ky Ky

This morning while Makayla was at school Kyle and I made a tent.  We put his couch, books, and a bunny that he has been calling his baby in the tent with him.  He loved it!  It was so cute when I peeked in their and saw him reading to his baby.  As soon as he saw me taking his picture he wanted to see it.  He loves seeing pictures of "Ky Ky".  

Kyle is such a little sweetie.  One minute he will be destroying something and the next minute he is giving you hugs and kisses.  He loves trains and calls them Choo Choos.  He also loves the show The Cat in the Hat.  He loves to sing with them " Go go go go go go."  For Christmas we got a Nintendo Wii and Kyle loves to "play" it.  We give him his own controller and he thinks that he is playing.  Unfortunately he is catching on that his remote doesn't work so that won't last much longer.  Kyle loves cooking with us and climbing on stools and chairs to reach things he isn't supposed to.  He loves playing with Makayla, dancing and singing, and hugging Josie.  He is such a sweet little guy and is so full of energy.  My favorite time of day is nap time.  We snuggle on the bed with his milk and he drinks it until he falls asleep.  He didn't used to do this but since we stopped his morning nap he is so tired in the afternoon he can't help but fall asleep.  He hasn't fallen asleep in my arms since he was a little baby.  I gently take his milk away and carry my sleeping boy to his crib.  He is so precious.  Kyle is doing so much better in nursery.  He is fine until we get there and then he starts screaming and clawing onto us when he realizes we are in the room.  It is torture when they rip him off of us (so I make Ben take him now) but he stops crying within seconds and starts playing.  I love Kyle so much.  I can't even imagine my life without the little guy!

Makayla wants to be...

The other day on the way home from swimming lessons Makayla and I were talking about what she wanted to be when she grows up.  I told her all the things she could be and she has narrowed it down to two... either a lawyer or a queen.  My vote is for a queen!!!

The cutest kids in the world!!!!

I am so blessed to have such wonderful children.  I love them so much!  Here are my adorable children as we are getting ready to go to church.

I just had to take a picture of my handsome little Kyle.  You can tell that he thinks he is pretty hot stuff too!

And my beautiful Makayla who already has a loose tooth!!!  She is growing up so fast.

Who could forget the day that Kyle discovered he had pockets!!!  Awesome!!!

Last Friday Makayla had her best friend over for a play date.  They decided they wanted to learn the moves to a Barbie song called Queen of the Waves.  They did a great job and so did Kyle!