An end of an era-goodbye blog

After much frustration over the past few month of my blog having no storage space and with me learning new ways to go around that (which take far too long in my opinion), I have decided to shut this blog down.
My blog has always been private and private means you don't get too many readers. Readers shouldn't matter, but when my blog is open to readers I feel like I should be getting lots of comments. I have tried to keep my blog going for my scrapbook and family history purposes, but I have noticed this year fewer and fewer blogs being written and even fewer people actually reading blogs. I appreciate those who have commented and validated my feelings or made comments about my pictures. It made blogging fun, but the lack of comments would sadden me sometimes. I know we are all busy so take this opportunity to have one less blog to read. You can thank me later. :)
We all have our roles. I am a mother, a wife, a friend, a housekeeper, an entertainer, a nurse, and a taxi driver to name a few things. I often feel like I'm failing in one or all of these roles at any given time. I can't seem to catch up on my to do list. And my to do list is not even that long or complicated. It is just day to day things that I barely cross off these days.
Having a baby has really complicated my time for reading blogs and/or writing them. I have a small window to get anything done. So for now I am not a blogger. I would love to be but this stage in my life will not allow for it anymore. And besides we have Facebook and Instagram and Pinterest so who needs blogs, right?
I will continue to write a blog, but it will be private to only me and it will become mostly my journal. I will write in it when I feel I need to and not feel the pressure to keep it up to date (one can hope right?). I have started it with another account so I have all new storage space and maybe pictures will  upload fast again. Fingers crossed. I will continue to write and document things for my family. They really love to look back at the books that I make. So for now, goodbye little blog. It's been real.

New Years

For New Years Eve celebrations this year, we met up with Marty's family. First we went to Brick Oven Pizza. Afterward we went back to Cody's house in Herriman for games and food and fun. We all had a good time, but a few of us fell asleep before midnight. However, we all were awake to welcome 2013. Most of us went outside and did a few fireworks. I stayed inside with Lincoln because it was FREEZING outside! The girls had fun staying up late and being with their family! We were all ready go go home and go to bed though!

2012 was the year of being pregnant for me. I found out I was pregnant on January 29th. I was sick for most of the time, but it's nice to look back and know it was all worth it! We are so happy to have Lincoln a part of our family.
Marty started his 3rd year as Bishop and continued to do well with work and move his way up the Zions Bancorporation.
Brooklyn started graduated from Kindergarten and started 1st grade at a new school. She loves it now and has many new friends. Though we still miss Beehive Elementary and being connected to our neighbor friends.
Eliza started preschool and dance and is learning to enjoy doing things besides stay home all day. She has made new friends. She has had a big adjustment with me being so sick most of the year and with becoming the middle child. She has changed a ton in 2012.
Lincoln, of course, was born so 2012 was a good year for him. He's has grown so much!
We had our challenges and trials as well as many happy times and blessings. 2012 was a good year for us!

Goodbye Christmas

We took down Christmas pretty early it seemed this year. We took everything down inside on December 27th. Everything outside took a little longer because it was frozen. I felt a little Ba Humbug by taking everything down so early, but we were trying to get our house prepared for Lincoln's baby blessing on January 6th so why wait?!

Lincoln was just being cute and I love his shirt. It says "Mommy needs a date night!". Hint, Hint, Dad!

Brooklyn thought the tree skirt was pretty cute!

I decided to take a few pictures of the things the kids made this year so I could throw them away. This is Brooklyn's art projects from school.

And these are Eliza. They made for cute Christmas decorations, but they were ready to go.

And I love to take a picture of the Christmas cards we get each year. I LOVE getting Christmas cards! I love seeing the pictures and reading the letters people send. I love getting Christmas cards instead of boring bills and junk mail. But mostly I love that we were thought of! We had a good Christmas season! But for now it's nice to have my house back to normal. :)

Sledding

We decided to go sledding as a family the day after Christmas. Marty had the week off between Christmas and New Years. We even had a little snow suit for Lincoln so we brought him along. He fell asleep almost immediately.

The girls love sledding so they knew right what to do.

Poor little baby. Makes me think of The Christmas Story. "I can't put my arms down".

I went down once with Lincoln and Brooklyn.

Eliza had fun playing in the snow.

Marty held Lincoln while I sled with both girls for a bit.

It didn't take long for me to feel guilty about my little guy being out in the snow and cold before I brought him to the truck so she could sleep while Marty and the girls had fun!

It will definitely be a little more fun next year!

Christmas Night-Temple Lights

One of our family Christmas traditions is to go see the Chirstmas lights at Temple Square on Christmas Night. Last year it was busy but I realize now that it was because it was on a Sunday. This year it was back to the normal not busy crowd. At least in comparison to other nights during December.

Marty and Angie

Marty usually brings the tripod to get better pictures with, which also allows for us to get a family picture. Eliza was freezing! Lincoln stayed nice and warm, but it would have been more enjoyable for the rest of us had I thought to bring Eliza a blanket. She wasn't moving like the rest of us so she just stayed cold and complained most of the time.

It's always so beautiful!

This picture makes me laugh! We had to get a picture of Lincoln, but the flash made his eyes go big! He stayed covered most of the time so I don't think he enjoyed the lights very much.

Brooklyn and I had a fun time walking around holding hands and enjoying each others company.

It was fun, but we were glad to be back in our truck to warm up afterward. This winter has been way too cold!

Christmas Day

For those of you who actually still read this blog, I am sorry. I am slacking on my blog responsibilities. I think it has something to do with a certain baby boy who only sleeps 20 minutes at a time. It's hard to get anything done and I feel behind in every area of my life! So though I am dating this blog right after Christmas (for blog book purposes), I am actually writing it on February 19, 2013. Yikes! So let's see if I can remember Christmas from two months ago. :)

The kids slept in until 7:30 am. I woke up before them because I was so excited! I will admit, it was nice to not have Christmas fall on a Sunday this year. I remember last year being so hectic to get up and do everything before Church. This year it was on a Tuesday so it was nice to have a whole day to be together as a family.

  The girls were excited to see which gifts had their name on them.

Let the madness begin!

We had a few matchy type gifts to keep things "fair" in the world.

Lincoln was even happy it was Christmas morning! The girls loved how his stocking had a tie attached!

They also loved being able to help open his presents!

They said he was lucky because he got the BIG presents!

Thanks to a suggestion from a ward member (Thanks Camille!), we started a tradition of having siblings gifts that are handmade. Brooklyn worked very hard on Lincoln's picture and drawing of a bear and a baseball (which she HAD to laminate). She was so excited for him to open it!

My younger kids obviously couldn't do this very well. Eliza made Brooklyn a card with a few pictures. Lincoln was supposed to do something for Eliza, but looking back now I don't believe we ever did what we told her we would do (which was for dad to draw her a picture from Lincoln). Oops.

One of the highlights of our day was Skyping with Grandma and Grandpa on their mission. We saved the presents from them so they could watch the girls open them.

We also had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Nowling and Facetimed another Grandma.

The rest of the day was spent playing with all the new toys! I swear my house is turning into one giant toy store!

Brooklyn loved her Barbie Princess and the Pop Star themed gift from Santa. A dress, guitar and microphone. She rocked it! :)

Eliza actually got the dress Brooklyn is wearing and both girls got the Barbie dolls as well. Eliza enjoyed the gifts, but not as much as Brooklyn.

Eliza is constantly doing something like this to Lincoln. Today was no exception.

Lincoln wanted to be a part of the singing! It was really loud in our house! I'm not sure what Santa was thinking. ;)

There were boxes and toys everywhere! I only can handle it for about two hours and then I begin picking it up and putting things away.

Marty and the kids went outside to enjoy the beautiful day! It was a white Christmas but we still had blue sky.

Eliza being cute!

Brooklyn enjoyed learning how to shoot her bow and arrow. She really loves the Disney BRAVE movie.

What do you get a baby? Well, I just went through all the baby clothes I had being buying on clearance and "gave" them to him. He also got a new highchair. It seems like a silly gift, but the girls would have noticed if he didn't get anything (though honestly I don't think they could tell you what mom and dad got for Christmas). Anyway, so Lincoln got clothes galore as most of his gifts from people. So much that I thought it would make for a cute picture. It's like playing Where's Lincoln?

We had a fun filled day as a family!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a fun day full of family time at my brother Tim's house in Lehi. The weather was a bit wild but we traveled safely thankfully. We forgot our camera, but got a few on our phones. I just didn't add any of those pictures to this post. We had a yummy dinner and decorated gingerbread houses and opened presents. When even got home with enough time to do our Christmas Eve traditions. The girls were so excited to open one gift. Wonder what it might be?!?

Brooklyn loves bows! I decided to let her open the very first present this year.

She was so excited for her Rapunzel pjs and slippers!

Eliza was equally as excited. She scored the same thing!

We included books with each of the kids gifts. One can never have enough books! (though I question that statement sometimes when I'm cleaning their room).

Lincoln got some new hats as well as his "new" pjs (aka: pjs he had never worn before---not exactly new).

Both girls came out to model their new pjs and slippers. I love how they look like soldiers in this picture. And when did they get so tall?!?

Eliza LOVED her book! She immediately laid down and started "reading" hers.

Lincoln was happy to model his pjs as well.

Of course we had to take a family Christmas Eve picture!

Brooklyn didn't want to let Lincoln go.

We ended the night getting Santa's cookies and his reindeers carrots ready along with a note of gratitude. Marty read them "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and off to bed they went!