Lorelei Turns One!!

On February 11 our little ladybug had a birthday!

Happy Birthday, Sweetie!!

Love having this little bug living with us right now.  She always has a ready smile and a smooch!

She loves to explore and find new things to fix for dinner....this cupboard's her favorite.

She also LOVES to spend time with Mommy and Jimmie

And sometimes life can get pretty exhausting...especially when you are so darn cute!!

"Can I help with anything else, Grandma?"

Here she is in her birthday dress.  Look at that smile!!

Mommy even made a sweet little birthday tutu for my high chair!

So much personality in these monthly photos...so fun!!

Here are some of the things I love...I'm getting so big

We made ladybugs and tons of other bugs for the party...

....and these fun little push cakes.  YUMMY!!

Lorelei's "smashing" birthday cake

Ladybug crackers and grape caterpillars

How about some ants on a log or some butterfly pasta salad?

Yummy!!  Thanks, Mommy!!

She started out daintily, but the smashing came next  :)  Such concentration!!

Emily and I wanted to do a little photo shoot with Lorelei for her birthday. 

Jimmie just wanted to get in on the action and give her a few pointers....  

...and she's totally taking it all in!

I think she listened.  Love this baby doll!

Happy Birthday, Lorelei Elizabeth!!

The Blizzard of 2016

Sometimes the best laid plans go slightly awry.  I had made reservations in New York City for Steve and I to go up and stay and maybe see a Broadway show for his birthday. Sounds fun, right?  But Mother Nature had a different idea. As the week went on we realized that we were going to have to cancel.  Thankfully we hadn't bought any Broadway tickets and the Wyndham people let us change our reservations to another weekend.  It was a good thing.  We spent a lot of time clearing snow in our driveway and a few others.

But at least it was beautiful!!

This is what Steve got to do on his birthday instead.  Such a good guy!!

Always taking such good care of our family...even clearing a path for Ginny.  :)

Happy Birthday, Hun!!  We love you!!

Christmas and New Year's Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We had Geoffrey, Emily and her kids, Megan, and Evan home and then Janelle and her family came for New Years.  Lucky to be able to spend time with so many family members.  I love each of these wonderful people so much.

Emily actually took this photo at Thanksgiving time since all the the grandchildren were here then.

There is a story that goes with this picture...but suffice it to say that although it was tough to get it, it turned out in the end.  We chose it for our Christmas card this year.

A cool house in Medford that we went to visit during "light viewing"  time

Lights at the DC temple

Megan and Dad at the temple.  

We traveled down to attend the wedding of one of her former roommates

Gingerbread houses at Great-Grandma's house.  I am not a gingerbread house maker. 

So glad she has made this a tradition with our children and now with our grandchildren!!

Waiting for the traditional Nativity Play

The stars of the show

A shepherd with a less than excited sheep  :)

There's a smile

Christmas morning

Daddy Jim came to share the morning with his kids

Megan liked her new clothes

She really did have fun....just having a little serious snack

Great-Grandma, Jimmie, and Grandpa

Evan and his loot

Trying out the hamburger he created

Jimmie making sure that Santa got his treat!

The traditional taking down the stockings photo

We were missing our tallest helper, Nate, so Meg had to help

Checking out the stockings

Mommy and Daddy with Jimmie and Lorelei

Evan, Steve, and Grandma

The best part of my day (and probably everyone else's) was getting to talk to Nate.  

He looked great and right away challenged us to set goals for ourselves to improve our own lives and share the gospel.  We were able to have everyone join on the google chat which was so fun.  Even Chloe had permission to join the call.  Love this boy so much!!

Geoffrey had to go back home the Monday after Christmas.  It was so good to have him here, though.  The Robertson family came for New Years to join us.  They were supposed to come on New Years Eve, but because of an upcoming storm, they came a little early.  We had a great celebration including our new addition to the "fondue" party...the chocolate fountain!!  Not sure how I don't have pictures of that event.  Ha ha!!

Here's Jamesy telling some kind of story!!  Love him so much!!

Unfortunately, the darn stomach bug came and got us again the day after our big celebration.  Not everyone got sick, but quite a few did.  Sorry guys.  Even Meg got sick after going back to Utah.  But, in spite of it all, we loved being together and had a wonderful time.  

Happy New Year 2016!!!!

Elder Foulk: Fun times in the MTC/Arrival in Russia

I thought I would post some of the photos we have received from our favorite missionary.  He learned  so much in the MTC about missionary work, people, and a lot about himself.  It is a fun journey to watch.  Love our sweet Elder Foulk!!!  Most of the captions are Nate's words.

"All of us doing Brother Oxborrow impressions"

(Bro. Oxborrow is one of his teachers...red tie/white shirt)

"Our district"

Companions

"Elder Hansen"

Elder Gardner

"At the Provo Temple"

Elder Memmott

Elder Gardner

"Elder Memmott (our class clown)"

"Elder Gehring"

"Elder Gehring and I in our respective glasses"

Lunch time

Hansen and Memmott

Laundry time

"MY RUSSIAN TAG"

"All the missionaries in several districts going to the Yekaterinburg Mission"

"Elder Gehring and I at the temple"

"Elder Gehring with the same car he had at home"

Elder Foulk and Elder Turner

This photo was actually sent to me by a lady that works at the MTC.  She saw them walking on the way to exercise and asked if she could take their picture.  Then she got my cell number from Nate and texted it to me.  Such a fun surprise!!

Arriving in Russia

Nathan with President and Sister Christensen in Yekaterinburg

We love you, Elder Foulk!!!