Book of Mormon Challenge

This Sunday all the ladies and Young Women in our ward are starting a 40 Day Book of Mormon Reading Challenge. I don't know why, but I am so excited to start and make this commitment to read everyday. I usually do pretty good at reading (not always from the Book of Mormon), but this will definitely be more time than I am used to giving to scripture study. I think it will be a little bit of an awaking for me. It will make me refocus on what's important and what things I can let go and not worry about. I am totally stoked! I know it is going to be hard, but only because I will make it hard (by doing non-important stuff first). So I am really excited to make reading the Book of Mormon a priority in my life. Wish me luck and feel free to check up on me and ask me how I am doing! It is going to be GREAT!!!

Private People

To all those out there who went private too quickly for me to get invited, I would love to be. Or at least tell me you don't want me so I don't keeping hoping I will be invited one day. (Sarah L., Jaimie, MOM!) :) The e-mail I use for the blog is gappbay@sfcn.org. If there are others out there that are private and I haven't commented in awhile invite me and then leave a message. Thanks!

Ultrasound Results

No, we didn't cave and find out what we are having. Even though it was REALLY tempting. We did find out that we have a healthy baby and that was really good news. Not that I was expecting something to be wrong, but you just kind of forget all the things that could be wrong. The kids didn't quite understand what was so exciting about seeing pictures of the baby on the black and white screen, but they still enjoyed it. Now only 19 more weeks to go!!!

New Years Eve

We spent New Years Eve with the Allred/Wright families at Eric's aunts house. It was so much fun!!! We all brought our favorite pizza toppings and made individual homemade pizzas. We played games and just had fun being together with family and friends. The kids had tons of other little friends to run around with. Tade, especially, loved the air hockey table, even though he lost one game 30-1. I didn't get any pictures from the night. Too lazy I guess. It was really fun though and I am looking forward to 2009 and all it will bring to our family!

I did want to post my recipe (actually Sharalyn Birches) for Texas Caviar because even though Eric hates it, it was a big hit at the party! (Chersten will you make sure your mom gets it? She was the one that asked. Thanks!)

1 can Corn
1 can Black Beans
1 can Black Eyed Peas
Drain the above ingredients. Chop:
1 Green Pepper

4 Tomatoes

1/2 cup Cilantro
3/4 cup Purple onion
Mix everything together with 1 cup Zesty Italian Salad Dressing. Mix well and refrigerate. Serve with your favorite kind of chips.

This makes quite a bit. I hardly ever use what it really calls for on the veggies. You can decide how you like it to taste.

Christmas

Here are some pictures of Christmas morning. We had fun opening the presents under the tree and having two kids that got really excited and pretty much understood what was going on. Christmas Eve Tade asked me, "Is Santa really going to come to our house?" I told him yes and that he needed to get in bed so that he could come. Both kids went to bed really quickly so Eric and I got everything set up and went to bed ourselves. Neither of us slept well. I think we were both too excited to see what the kids would think. Around five thirty in the morning, Eric finally went downstairs to watch TV until the kids woke up. At six I heard Tade run in to the living room and then run back in to our room. As soon as he saw I was awake he yelled, " He came! He really came!" It was so cute. I loved his excitement. We got Ashlynn and Eric and opened up presents before heading to my parents house for a delicious breakfast and more presents. We also got to talk to my sister on her mission. She is doing great and we are so proud of her! Then we headed home for a little nap before heading to Eric's mom's house for dinner and more presents and a pinata. I opted out on picture taking at the grandparents so what you see is from our morning. It was such a wonderful day. I love spending time with family and celebrating our Savior!

Snow Days

Here are some pictures of the kids playing in all of the snow that we have gotten over that last month or so. I have to keep reminding myself that I prayed for all this snow/moisture and I need to be grateful that my prayers are being answered. For the most part I am. It is just when I have to drive in it that I start second guessing myself!

If you will note in the background of this picture, we did get a new minivan, a Chevy Uplander. It is really nice and the kids love the built in DVD player. We constantly have to remind them that they only get to watch a movie when we are going very long distances. So far they have been pretty good about it. I have been meaning to take more pictures of it and make a really post out of it, but now it is so dirty from all of the slush that you'll just have to do with this view!

Santa 2008

This year both my kids loved seeing Santa. We usually get to see him at Eric's extended family Christmas party, but Grandpa Great decided that was getting to be too much so he stopped the tradition. RC Willey here we come! We needed a new video camera and one just happened to be on sale the same weekend that Santa was coming to visit and they were having hot dogs for lunch. We made an afternoon out of it and the kids loved the big guy.