Rufus

Who knew he would be so huge? Jared kept telling me he wouldn't get that much bigger, yet I feel like he is still growing! Here is Rufus, when we first got him.

And here is Rufus now!

What a beast. Wow, we are so lucky for all the great things we have on our life, including this super cute, huge dog!

Macho Man

Jared can do anything. He can build anything, fix anything, and does all of those things for me. He is really amazing with his abilities to make it happen. He is highly motivated to do the things he feels need to be done. So, he got an itch (he claims from his wife, but I'm not completely convinced), and started looking into a pellet stove. Our basement is sooo cold, and I am always bundled up. Well, Jared finally broke down and bought a pellet stove for the house. He went to every dealer in town and found the best price. Then to buy a hearth to put our stove on, was $300. He built one for $40. Everyone wanted $300 to install it, he did it himself. So here is our stove, and we are so happy, and cozy warm in our basement now!

Thanks babe! You are so amazing!

How to pass time on a Sunday morning

Jared has long hair right now. He has had many offers for others to take him to get his hair cut, or even to just come over for a haircut. But here on Sunday morning we have lots of time until we leave for church at noon. So, here are a few pictures of how we pass the time at our house.

Isabelle is really trying to be independent, and has moved to doing her own hair. I struggle letting this be ok, but she has to have something of her own right? I usually try to help a little, especially on the days that we are going out somewhere, like music or preschool. So she has taken to doing Jared's long hair in the mornings. Nadja usually gets into the mix too. Armed with combs, brushes, elastics, and sometimes a cup of water, they go at it. After about a half hour, this is what Isabelle had done to Jared. She wanted him to go to church like that, but I had to put my foot down. She was pretty disappointed, but taking out the elastics and pulling daddy's hair proved to be equally exciting for the girls.

Junior Jazz

Wyatt started junior Jazz basketball this last saturday. I was really excited, because he loves playing basketball, and I was going to use my new camera to take lots of shots of him in action. I am going to take a minute to brag about my new camera, and to show off Wyatt as a serious player!

And I missed the picture of the ball actually going in the hoop. So, Wyatt tries hard to be awesome at basketball, and I'm glad to have my new camera to play with!

Ballerina

Isabelle is always dancing around our house, and flipping, and jumping and rolling. She is sassy as anything, and loves to make up dances. She was able to take dance from our amazing Aunt Caitlyn, and her are a few pictures from her recital.

She is such a sweet little girl. She is very sensitive, and loves everything she does with all her heart. She is so happy when she is dancing. This term, we are trying Cheer and tumble. She keeps telling me she wants to be a cheerleader when she gets older, and although I've never really thought my girls would do that, if that is what she wants, we will support her! I can't wait to see her doing a cheer at the recital!!!

I love this dancing queen! We are pretty lucky to have her in this family.

Queen Ruler, Supreme!

I honestly think that this is how my youngest should be addressed. I think that Jared and I do a pretty good job of balancing everything for our kids. They probably have too many toys, but they get things that they want, and need. I've always thought that we were pretty balanced until Nadja came along. I'm pretty sure that she is spoiled rotten. Not just by us either! If she smiles, my kids are there, if she screams, my kids run. It is pretty funny, and frustrating sometimes. We are less than gracefully entering into our terrible 2's. I'm really scared to see what 3 brings, as I have always felt 3 is way worse than 2.

She is such a beautiful sweet little monster, who shall ever after be our ruling queen of this motherland we call home! This is her in her chair that she got from santa. No one is allowed to sit in it but her, otherwise we all hear about it. Got to love my little doll!

He's a giant

Our sweet Wyatt has lately become quite the spiritual giant. Not too long ago he told us about an experience with his prayers, and I'm amazed at how he embraces the power of prayer and how his faith doesn't falter. He knows that God can do all things, and all he needs to do is ask.

He is my constant reminder that we are but a breath away from our Heavenly Father, and that accomplishing anything, is possible. How I hope my prayers will be as fervent and simple as his are. Love my little man!