January 2015

Vance put on some fake mustaches. Lauren wouldn't do it, but she thought when Vance wore them, he was so funny.

 

Lauren got a new Playdough set for Christmas. It is a Dentist Drill n Fill. Lincoln was playing with it one afternoon while Lauren was sleeping. Here he is practicing drilling on the patient! I thought it was hilarious/scary when he spent a few minutes drilling directly in the tongue. It looked really playful... ha ha ha

 

My little Lauren and me. She has brought so much joy and light to our home. She loves books just as much as her brother. She is happy almost all of the time.  I am so happy that she is my daughter!

 

Vance and Lincoln went to Utah for the funeral of his Grandma Thompson. Lauren and I had a few days together--just the two of us for about 5 days!!! It was wonderful! I felt like that I got to know her better and loved the one on one time. Above she is coming down the slide at the mall play area.

 

We went to the Arboretum. Here were 20 or so levels of flowers (can't remember the type) in the shape of a Christmas tree. We just saw the indoor displays and shopped the gift shop.

 

For Christmas she received this backpack from my parents. She is absolutely in love with it. She wears it at the play area, on walks, and even while she shovels! She wears it when we drop off and pick up Lincoln from preschool.

Look at what my kids designed all by themselves. They came and found me and said, "Look, Mom!" What a great surprise.

Vance's grandmother, Shirlee Thompson, passed away in January. Vance took Lincoln on a road trip to Utah. They travelled with Scott, Rachel and their kids. Above is Lincoln at a rest stop.

 

Lincoln in front his great grandmother's home

 

Lincoln in front of the stairs to the basement.

 

Vance took a picture of part of her home. It reminded him of her.

Vance has memories of many Tree Top apple juice cans in her home.

 

Lincoln was pretty impressed with the mountains.

 

Lincoln with his cousin Christopher and Aunt Taylynn.

 

Nancy and Vale Hale hosted Vance and Lincoln (Rachel's parents). We are so grateful for their generosity. They made them feel so comfortable and welcome. Making cookies with "Grandpa Val!"

Lincoln playing bowling with cousin Ivy and Uncle Steve.

 

Vance and Lincoln met with Josh, Vance's brother. It had been a long time since they had seen each other in person. They had a great time together! Lincoln was so happy to be with his Uncle Josh.

 

Aunt Taylynn, Aunt Karissa, and Uncle Kayden (at least to my kids:)

 

 

Hot tubbing in January at the Hale's!!

 

Lincoln on the street Vance grew up on in Orem.

 

Rachel is my hero. She sat with these kids ALL the way from Omaha to Utah. She comforted and entertained my child. How can I thank her enough? Love you, Rachel!

Blue man at a rest stop

 

Lincoln and his cousin Miles totally hit it off. Here they are after the funeral.

 

 

Bowling with Ivy and Uncle Steve

 

 

December 2014

 

We had a miscarriage this month, which was very difficult. We were 11 1/2 weeks along and didn't expect it to happen. But we felt so much peace and we received so much kindness from others that was overwhelming.

 

A couple of weeks after the miscarriage, my mom told me to not let my happiness depend on having another child. I thought that was such wise advice. We still find joy, of course, every day! 

Lincoln often has asked if he can send letters to his grandparents. This photo is upside down, but you get the idea. He is so loving and affectionate in his writing:)

 

Occasionally, Lincoln asks to do "experiments." I am glad that he is busy with a good activity, rather than coloring on the walls or floors. I think this experiment involved sugar, flour, apple cider vinegar, pink sprinkles, pepper, food coloring, and more!

 

Each child in Lincoln's preschool class got to take home Noodle, the class mascot, for a weekend. We were supposed to document what we did with Noodle. Lincoln really wanted to make sugar cookies with this stuffed elephant. I remember feeling like I made way too much dough and the cookies must have been too small, because it took ALL afternoon. We had a good time, though.

We had doughnuts with Santa one morning at our community center. The kids even got to meet Santa at the end of the activity. Lauren was willing to see him, although a little nervous. This certain Santa looked really young!!

 

This year he got close to Santa. Last year he kept at a distance of 30 feet or so, even after our half hour wait in line to meet him.

 

 

This was the photo that made it into the Southwest Metro magazine! We are famous, would you like our autograph. We stayed until the end of the activity, and many people had left.  A lady took our photo and names. It was kind of fun to see our photos in a magazine sent to hundreds of thousands of people (maybe not that much, but a lot1)

 

Lauren loves to be a "big girl." If we ever talk about babies, she says "Lauren big girl." She doesn't go to preschool yet, but wears a backpack when we drop off and pick up her big brother. She is so sweet. When he is at preschool, we have time to play, read, and do a little alphabet practice as well.

We had our friends Jaxon and Hudson over. Their mom, Maegan is one of my really good friends and occasionally we swap kids. It works out pretty darn well, I'd say.

 

 

 

Lincoln is third from the right, top row. This was one of the songs his preschool classes sang. The two classes were together for this performance. It was darling and hilarious at the same time. He was so proud of how well he did, and we were so proud of him.

 

 

 

Lauren found her rainboots and a backpack that is way to big for her, but she's so proud of being a big girl.

We joined Lincoln at preschool for a family day and decorated cookies for his Christmas party. He has had such a great experience with preschool and his teacher Miss Sandy this year. He is in an afternoon class that had 7 kids!

 

This picture was taken when we were warm and eating inside a heated tent. We went to downtown Minneapolis to enjoy Hollidazzle, a fun Minneapolis tradition. There were several vendors in wooden little "homes" with German names for their businesses. I think we'll go again next year for sure.

 

My sweet boy. I am so grateful to be his mother. I love him with all my heart!

 

Our friends and neighbors, the LeSueur's, invited us and a couple other families over for a Christmas Eve dinner. We brought a dessert for the kids to enjoy. I made this Rice Krispie Christmas tree. It was super fun to make and I thought it looked pretty good!

 

Our Christmas tree of 2014. We got this tree that looked sooo full from Home Depot. The top was a cut off, but we thought it wasn't a problem really. We would just put a star on it! All December I kept noticing how our tree didn't have much of a top! Ha ha. It'll make a great memory.

 

 

 

Lincoln and Lauren on the stairs on Christmas morning. This is right before they found their letter from Santa! As of June 2015, Lincoln still has this letter on his dresser.

Opening stockings

 

They played most of the morning with the cardboard boxes and the wrapping paper. No need to spend lots of money next year:) This was the first Christmas that Vance and I and our kids were alone. We LOVED it! I was so worried that it wouldn't have that magical feel. But it really was magical and we enjoyed it. Of course, we would love to spend a Christmas day again with extended family. But we realized that we don't NEED to do that to make it special.

 

Post present opening walk.

 

We went to Wisconsin for a few days after Christmas, and over the New Years.  We went to Oak's Candy store. This was the same store that I went to growing up. When I was a youth, I remember mom giving Kelsey, Joe and I coins and we road the city bus downtown, somehow eventually found the candy store and spent about a dollar, found the right bus back miraculously, and then walked home. We felt so grown up and loved those days.

 

Lincoln leading the music during a Family Home Evening at my parent's home.

 

When we were grocery shopping, we just happened to pass by the bakery. Lincoln picked out this Green Bay Packer cookie! I'm a proud mama! I'm not a big pro football fan, but at least he's loving himself some Wisconsin teams:)

 

My brother Peter, is so good with Lincoln and Lauren. Here they are doing Ring around the Rosie. I love how patient Peter is with them.

 

 

We went to a store devoted to making cakes and cupcakes. Lauren was positive which cupcake she wanted, as you can see!