Romney, Grandparents, and Cousins

We had a great weekend in Idaho! We drove through a blizzard (just part of the way, but it was still awful) on Thursday to go to a Mitt Romney rally in Idaho Falls. Micheal's sister offered to take the kids, but we were running so late they came with us! It was a huge crowd! They had to divide it into two rooms and he spoke in both. We were lucky to be pretty close to the front, but when he came around to shake hands, I felt like people were trying to jump over me! It was fun, although I don't think I will ever take my kids to such an event ever again!!! They did not appreciate the long wait!

At one point Samantha was so tired she started yelling, "Stop! Stop!" While Romney was talking. Oops!!! She loves to retell the story. Needless to say, Michael took her off his shoulders in a hurry.

After the rally, we stayed at my parents house for a night. The next night the kids stayed again while Michael and I stayed in Idaho Falls. It was a late anniversary celebration. We watched movies and ate yummy food and didn't have to pause the movies once to take care of kids!!! It was so fun!!! The kids had fun with Grandma and Grandpa. Samantha did some "Sweating to the Oldies" with Aunt Eliza. Read books with Grandma. And helped Grandpa plow the driveway! Loved to push the button to lower the blade.

The next night we stayed at Suzie's house (Michael's sister). We had a fun get together with all the siblings in Idaho. Samantha loved playing with her cousins, especially Erin (I wish I had a picture)!

Five Years!!!

Top: Micheal and Heidi's engagement pictures!
Bottom: Five years and 2 kids later, and we're still smiling!!!

Last Weekend

I will forever be thankful for last weekend. On Friday night I didn't want to make dinner, so we called Lawrence and Melissa and met them at Olive Garden for dinner with our kids. Then, Saturday, we swapped baby sitting at their apartment while we took turns going to the temple. I kept meaning to leave so we wouldn't get home late, but I decided that Samantha and Ethne were having so much fun, we could stay a little longer. All the kids had a bath, Ethne went to bed and yelled good bye to us, and that was the last time I heard her sweet voice.

I had a sister-in-law say once how amazed she was at the love she automatically has for her nieces and nephews. I've thought a lot about that this last week. It is so true! I am so thankful for a wonderful family. I am thankful for cousins for my daughter. I am thankful for happy memories. And I am thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. We would all be lost without it!

I Have a 3 Year Old!!!

Last Thursday, for play group, I threw Samantha a little birthday party. It was a lot of fun. We decorated cupcake, make necklaces, opened presents, and played! It was the most kids that have ever shown up to playgroup, and we had a blast!

Then, on Friday (Samantha's actual birthday), we invited Lawrence's family over and ordered pizza and had cake and ice cream!

Samantha was so nice! She let Ethne help open a couple presents!

She got 2 pretty princess dresses to wear to church! At church on Sunday, one of her little friends just wanted to be with her the moment he saw her. He kept hugging her and trying to get her to play with him. He thought she looked like a princess. She thought he should not touch her, so she kept shoving him away! Good girl!

A Week of Christmas

Christmas lasted a week for our family. We started off at Micheal's sister Suzie's house where we had a Robbins party with Jon and Theresa's families. The kids had a blast! Samantha loved playing with her cousins, especially Seth.

Christmas Eve we went to my parents' house. We spent Christmas day there. In the morning we opened presents from Santa, had rice pudding and egg nog for breakfast, and went to church.

Zach got a stocking full of cars and loved it!!! He also had a runny nose, yuck!

Papa and Grandma Sally gave the kids a rocking horse.

I didn't plan on matching outfits for church, but it hapened anyway! It made for a great picture!!!

My sister Kathryn took this picture and had it printed for me! It is now on my family room wall.

Kathryn is working on mission papers, which means she got luggage!!!

My mom made quilts for all four grandkids. They are so neat!!! And they match the kids' rooms perfectly.

Samantha loves her Great-Grandma Burt. We went to her house for a party Christmas night.

I don't know how many kids have played with this rocking chair, but we can now add Zach to the list!

On Monday, we went home and my sisters came with us. On Wednesday, my parents followed and we had a party with my brother's family at my house.

Thursday we all went to temple square then out to dinner to celebrate my brother's birthday.

By the end of the night, everyone was grumpy and tired!!!