Valentines Day

I have the most thoughtful hubby in the world! Knowing that I can't eat any sweets he went for a practical Valentines gift. He found me a wireless printer/copier/scanner/fax machine! I absolutely love it. He wrote me a sweet poem for V-day and had it printed sitting on the printer this morning. What a great guy! I love you Bart!!!

It's a .......

So Tuesday was our ultrasound. Bart hadn't talked me out of finding out what this little peanut is. So, we tried and tried to get this little one to cooperate. The cord was between the legs for a long time and for a while I thought I'd just have to wait until June to find out. After some poking and proding we were able to get her to move. YES HER! It's a girl! Colette is so excited to have a little sister. She jumped up and down when she heard the news. Gabe on the other hand was very disappointed. He cried! He wanted a little brother. Bart told him that they were now out numbered and they had to stick together and go and do guy things. I think that made him feel a little better knowing that dad was going to take him to do guy things. Now to start finding frilly, cute, girly things!

Any One Heard of Dymonite?

So yesterday, Gabe and Grandpa Johnson were playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. Gabe decided to add a new one in the mix: Dymonite! (Dynomite!). So funny! We laughed for a long time.

Update from the Smith's!

Here is an update from the Smith's. July through December. Also, another new addition will be joining our family in June 2010! We are expecting #3 and are very excited. The kids can't wait!

Gabe's B-day cake.

Gabe got a side dump truck for his b-day. He

was so excited!!!

Colette and her stash from Christmas.

Gabe and all his Christmas goodies.

Gabe's Nerf Gun.

Colette and her new guitar.

Dec 25, 2009. Christmas 2009. We had a very fun Christmas. Bart had keyless entry and remote start installed on my car! That was a fun surprise! I got him some things for camping - binoculars, portable fire ring, bacon press. The kids both got new sleds, games, clothes, and more toys than they needed. Colette got a guitar and Gabe got a huge nerf gun. We had a very nice Christmas. That afternoon, we went with some family members to go see the new Chipmunk movie. Then it was off to celebrate Gabe's 7th birthday. We had lots of family and friends that came over for a BBQ. Gabe opened his presents and blew out his candles on his cake. He had a great birthday.

Gabe

Colette

Colette in the school choir.

December. Colette joined the school choir this year. She sang in the Christmas choir concert and a few days later both Colette and Gabe sang in their school Christmas Sing. It's always fun watching the kids perform.

JoLynn, Bart, Colette, and Gabe.

Colette and Gabe got a King Size Symphony bar

from Aunt Susie and Uncle Jonathan.

Oct 31, 2009. Halloween! Colette dressed up as a veterinarian, Gabe was a vampire, I dressed up as a witch, and Bart dressed up as a Pimp.

October. The kids helped me bottle applesauce. I had never made applesauce before. For a first try - we did pretty good!

The dogs had a the time of their lives!

Oct 15-18, 2009. We just couldn't get enough camping. One last trip had to be made before the cold weather moved in. We went with Bart's parents just outside of Delta, UT. It was primative! We took the 4-wheelers and rode until we couldn't ride anymore. Campfires, riding, eating, camping.... nothing could be better!

Sand Mermaids!

ME!

Colette and Gabe in the sand.

Sept 4-7, 2009. Labor Day. We were invited to Bear Lake with our friends Lee and April and their family. We stayed in a rental house and spent a lot of time at the beach and on the water. The water was very shallow for a long ways out. The kids could wade out in the water and splash around for hours. What a fun weekend we had!

Aug 20, 2009. School starts! Colette started 5th grade and Gabe started 1st grade. We were all so sad that summer was over so soon.

Aug 7, 2009. I took the kids to the zoo with my friend, Heidi and her kids. Well, at least I took Gabe and his cousin. Colette decided she'd rather stay with her cousin and hang out. They had a lot of new babies this year at the zoo. Our favorite was the new giraffe.

Bart, JoLynn, Gabe, Colette in Yellowstone.

JoLynn and Bart hanging our heads over the river.

Bart waterskiing on Hebgen Lake.

July 30-Aug 2: We went back to Yellowstone National Park for the Smith Family Reunion. We camped out, went to Hebgen Lake, and went back into the park for some sight seeing. Of course we ate fabulously! Dutch oven cooking was so yummy!!!

July 17, 2009 I took the kids to the Oquhirr Mountain Temple Open House. We went with Susie and Jonathan and their family. What a beautiful experience to share with the kids. I had just had PRK (similar to Lasik) and it was a very sunny day. Everything was so bright!

Grandpa Nielson, JoLynn, Colette, Bart, and Gabe

The buffalo were really this close!

Bart, JoLynn, Colette, and Gabe.

Bart, JoLynn, Colette, and Gabe.

July 5-12, 2009 we took a vacation to Island Park, Idaho and Yellowstone National Park, MT. We stayed on my Grandma and Grandpa Nielson's property in Island Park. It was so relaxing spending time with them and not having a schedule to stick to. We just woke up and decided what to do that day. When we went to Yellowstone Park the buffalo were so close! I love this place - I think it it my favorite place in the world!

For the 4th of July I took the kids to the Stadium of Fire to see the Jonas Brothers. They sang along to all of the songs and had a great time! Notice where Colette's eyes are - not on the camera!

New Addition!!!

Spanky and Diesel

Diesel

Here's the newest addition to our family! He's a Chesapeak Bay Retriever and he's 1 year old. His name is Diesel. Hopefully he will adjust well hanging out with our other dog- Spanky who is a little jealous at the moment. The kids are so excited to have him here. Gabe wanted him to sleep in his room until Diesel jumped up on his bed and took over the whole bed! (I think he's a little spoiled!) Gabe tried sleeping on just a corner of his bed but that didn't last long. Diesel got the boot and had to sleep on the floor.

Ok, one last post for today. I was looking back at some posts from a few years back and saw that I had posted pictures of our new house while it was under construction but not any of the finished product. So, here they are.

Colette and her cousin Keysha

Gabe and his cousin Chantze

Fathers Day weekend we went out by Oak City camping. We took the 4-wheelers, Barts parents and his brother and their family. We had fun despite the downpour of rain here and there. (Thank goodness for the 5th wheel! I couldn't go camping without it!) There were so many trails to go riding on. We didn't see much of the kids. They rode from the time we got there until the time we went to bed.

Hello all..... I am back!!! I realize it has been a while since I posted, ok - over 2 years! I really don't have any excuses except for I have been busy, busy, busy. First grade has taken over my life and I am now trying to reclaim it. I just finished my 2nd year teaching. I love every minute of it. We moved into our house 2 years ago and have been busy trying to get the yard, fence, and cement (RV pad) done. The kids have been busy too. They have been taking gymnastics lessons for the past 2 years and are doing great. Colette just finished the 4th grade (YIKES!!! As of August I will have a 5th grader!!!). Gabe just finished Kindergarten. :) 1st grade better watch out 'cause here he comes! Too much has gone on in the past 2 years, too much to post here anyway. Hopefully I will keep up with this blog thing and not take 2 more years to post!

I know I'm behind, so, here are a few things that have happened in the past few months. Colette was baptised, I graduated from UVSC with my bachelors in Elementary Education, Colette had her dance concert, and we are getting a new house! Yea!!!! Here's some pic's of everything.