Olivia says!

Olivia: what's his name?

Me: what's who's name?

O: his name!

M: who is he?

O: my cousin

M: colt, Lola, Jackson, savanna, hope Spencer, Charlotte?

O: nooo

M: what does he look like?

O: shirt and pants

M: oh! Haha! What else?

O: socks and shoes and a pocket!

Christmas thoughts

Walter's birthday is in 3 days. I love that his birthday is in December right in the middle of all the Christmas celebration. It makes me slow down and really think. My thoughts always turn to Mary and the birth of the Savior. Tonight, Ellanore was baby Jesus in a live nativity. At the end of the performance it said "our world seems vastly different from hers (Mary), and yet, the birth of a child is no less miraculous, a mothers love is no less powerful." And I know that is true. Although I didn't give birth to The Savior I did give birth to a beautiful spirit that has changed my life and saves me every day. 

I love thinking back on the night Walter was born and the nights following his birth. I was in labor all day and we decided it was time to go to the hospital. I had a priesthood blessing and gave Olivia kisses goodbye and I got into the car. We drove to the hospital and everything was so peaceful even though I was having intense contractions peace filled the night. Snow was everywhere and the moon was bright. Even the hospital was still and peaceful, and his delivery was peaceful and calm. After we brought him home from the hospital I remember sitting in my cozy living room with my Christmas tree in the window with snow lightly falling down. The lights were off and only the tree provided light. Soft Christmas music filled the air. Everything was peaceful as I held my new baby. These are the same feelings I feel when I think of the savior and his birth and his life. I'm so grateful for this time of year and the opportunity it gives me to ponder in my heart the life of my Savior just as Mary did. 

2015 family pictures!

My friend Bree Fischer took our family pictures and I am so in love with them!! Nothing brings me more joy than my beautiful family!!

Michael goes to Italy!

This handsome guy went to Italy for a week for work! Lucky guy! So naturally we went to Bakersfield to stay with my family while he was gone. We were in Bakersfield for 2 week since we went up for thanksgiving and came home a few days after Michael got home.

Michael got to take a taxi to Venice!

He was working in the Alps so this was his view every morning! I made him promise to take me there some day! 

Olivia loved going to nursery with Oma! Walt slept through church and the next Sunday they were sick so we only went once.

We played at a jump trampoline park! It made me miss Idaho and all my friends. We haven't been to a trampoline park since we moved to California.

The kids loved it and uncle Dallin jumped with us! We had a blast!!

It's rough not sleeping in your own bed and playing hard every day!

We slept in auntie Ems room and I woke up one morning to Olivia with make up on her face! So funny!

The kids LOVED feeding the cat! They gave that cat so much love and food while we were there, I'm sure it misses us!

She is growing up so fast! This madness need to stop!! Stay my newborn!

Michael turned 30 while he was in Italy so we had spaghetti to celebrate for him.

Gabe visited us and we did lots of crafts with Oma! We made a count down chain to Christmas and a gingerbread house and Gabe brought us donuts!

We visted Santa! Olivia told him she wanted a princess cash register! I better go shopping!

She pretended she was Santa when we got home!

Ahh! These two melt my heart! They ALWAYS hold hands in the car!

I got the girls matching dresses!

Our last night we went to look at all the awesome Christmas lights like I use to do when I was little! 

We ran into Opa as we were getting on the freeway to come home and he was getting off the freeway from work. We were by a dairy so Olivia was covering her nose!

We missed Michael while he was gone but loved playing with Oma, Opa, Dallin, Deanna, Austin, and Emily! 

I had a blast spending time with my siblings and especially painting my nails with Emily and Deanna while watching Christmas movies! I'm so blessed with an awesome family and I get to live so close to them now!!

3 months

Ellanore is the most perfect baby!! She is so sweet and calm. She rarely cries but when she does it's pretty intense until you fulfill her need. She has the cutest cry! It's so girly!! I love it! She is so observant! She follows everyone around the room and stares into your face as if she is learning everything she can about you and your feelings. She loves to cuddle and I love it! I wear her all the time and she falls asleep for hours that way. She sleeps from 9pm-7am!! It's amazing!! She is so round and so soft! I love her fuzzy head! She spits up a lot! More than my other two. Because she spits up so much she smells amazing!! I love the smell of spit up. I could eat her up! She is beautiful and so perfect! I love having her in our little family! Olivia and Walt love her and are always aware of where she is. They take such good care of her and it makes me so happy!