Happy New Year!

As usual, December was a very busy and fun month. Here's what we've been up to:

Sam helped the scouts make snow shoes. Now all they need is snow! We've had a few flurries here and there, but no real snow all winter. How boring!

Cohen in an elf hat he made at a local book store's story time.

Sam experimented making what he called "Grinch Candy Canes".

"I'm not sure what to think about this guy, but I sure do like his candy!"

We've been able to spend some much anticipated time with Katrina's family. One night they all came over for dinner and then we went to Temple Square. Another night they all watched Cohen while Sam and I went to a movie--the babysitter to kid ratio was 8:1. Just one more perk of our open adoption. 

Temple Square w/ Katrina's family

One Christmas Eve we had brunch with and spent most of the day with Megan's family.

The two beautiful Great Grannies who started it all.

Cohen discovering the joys of Flarp.

Megan's Dad, a.k.a. The Pancake Master

Cohen playing Wii "bats" (baseball) with his Uncle Dan and cousin Jackson.

Cohen got at least 10 cars, plus a motorcycle and a helicopter for Christmas. He loves each and every one (especially the latter two).

 Cohen gave Sam and me a much appreciated present on Christmas morning ... he slept in until about 9:30! He got up just in time for a present that surprised us all--we got to Skype Katrina! She looked and sounded so happy. While we miss her a ton, we're so grateful she's where she is. She also received a much needed Christmas gift--an investigator attended church.

After chatting with Katrina we opened presents, went to church and then had family over for dinner.

Cohen thinks his Missionary in Training tag is pretty cool. Too bad he hadn't opened it before our Skype session with Katrina. We'll be sending her a photo.

Cohen got a toy grill--I think he likes it!

Cohen making Sam a delicious plastic hamburger. Yum!

For New Year's Eve we went out for pizza and and then went bowling with some family and friends. Cohen liked bowling, but his favorite part was dancing to the music with his cousins.

Cohen's first time bowling.

This past year has brought us so much to be grateful for: a new job for Sam that he LOVES, lots of time with family and friends, Cohen learned to talk, and we were approved to adopt again. Hopefully the coming year will bring a new addition to our family!

Axel & Buzz

Happy Halloween!

This really is the first holiday (besides birthdays) that Cohen has really gotten excited about. It's been my favorite Halloween ever! 

Cohen dressed up as a character from his favorite movie, Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story. He does a great, "To infinity and beyond!" We went to the store today and I let him wear his costume (minus the wings) and he thought that was pretty cool. I'm such a dork--we were going down the escalator (Cohen's favorite part of going to this particular store) and I began thinking about how happy and blessed I felt. There I was at the store with my darling little boy, who was elated to be riding the escalator and even more excited about being dressed up as Buzz. I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. I totally almost started to cry--I had to put in some serious effort to keep a normal face and hold back the tears. I am so grateful for Katrina and our Father in Heaven for giving me the chance to be Cohen's mom. I am so blessed!

Sam stayed up until 2 a.m. working on Buzz's wings and then got up extra early in the morning to finish them. Also, when it came time to trick-or-treat (we went to my sister's house to hang out and trick-or-treat in her neighborhood), Sam and Cohen were the first ones out the door (seriously, Sam couldn't wait for the other kids to be ready). 

Our jack-o-lantern.

Our little family at my sister's annual Halloween party. Cohen as Buzz Lighyear, Sam as Axel Rose, and me in a costume I threw on last minute to put a smile on Sam's face (he was bummed that I didn't plan on dressing up this year)

Check out THE wings! 

At some point during the night I mentioned to my sister that I'd always wanted blue hair. Low-and-behold, she had this wig. What do you think?!

We let Cohen have free reign of his candy bucket on ride home.  The next day we found this. No wonder he now asks Sam or me to take off the wrappers!

FHE

Lately we've been doing a much better job of planning and implementing Monday night Family Home Evening. We've started writing letters to Sam's grandmas who live out of state, having simple lessons that Cohen can understand about things like the temple and prophets, and of course, we participate in fun recreational activities together. Yesterday we went on what will probably be our last canyon campfire cook-out of the season. I'm crossing my fingers that it will stay warm long enough for us do this at least once more.

I think they're having fun!

The Hunt

Getting ready for our family Easter egg hunt. 

Before the hunt Sam snapped a few pictures of our handy work:

THE Golden Egg

The hunters with their loot.  I think Cohen's on about jelly bean #137.

jelly bean #892

Happy Easter!




Amen.

Pancakes & Conference

Last weekend we were the hosts of one of Megan's family's traditions: pancakes and conference.

Twice a year our church holds General Conference. The meetings are aired world-wide and we usually watch via television from home. 

For the Sunday morning session we always gather together to enjoy delicious whole wheat pancakes while we watch our prophet and other church leaders give instruction and share inspirational messages. 

THE pancakes--Yummy!

The kiddos (and Sam) playing conference bingo.

three cute kids--and yes, that's snow outside. 

It's always hard to choose, but one of my favorite talks was about the Atonement. I loved what he said about there being no pain or sorrow that can't be healed through Christ's Atonement. I have such a strong belief of this. I don't know how I could have accepted Katrina's gift, the opportunity she gave me to be Cohen's mom, had I not believed this. I'm so grateful I've been able to experience the healing power of the atonement in my own life, but it's even sweeter to see it at work in someone else's.

While I was snapping photos I took one of this lamp Sam made recently. His dad rescued a really old train light and he knew Sam could turn it into something useful. It turned out to be pretty darn cool, too.

Family Night

Brrrrr! It's COLD outside these days. Even so, tonight we tried going to our neighborhood park for family night. Cohen refused to wear his cloves, or his hat--he wouldn't even wear his dog hat. We lasted about 10 minutes. I can't wait for spring!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas Morning

This book is Cohen's favorite. We checked it out from the library several times and figured it was time for him to have his own copy.

As much as he loved the book, I think he likes this even better.

Sam's dad made this awesome jewelry tree for me. Sam and I made the earrings for Katrina.

Here's Cohen (he's a little tired if you can't tell) with a few of his cousins on Christmas morning participating in a family Christmas tradition--dress up like characters from the Nativity story and then listen to Grandpa read the story from the Bible. 

A couple days later ...

Katrina and her family came to visit. There's rumors Katrina might go on a mission! We hope she can go, but what will we do without her??!

When I was little, every December 1st my mom would put up my favorite Christmas decoration--a wooden Nativity that she had especially for us kids to play with. I've looked for years for something similar but have yet to find anything. On Christmas Eve my sister gave our family a darling nativity set that is perfect for kids to play with. Even though Christmas is over, I put it in Cohen's room next to the tree he decorated. I love it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

Tonight we began decorating for Christmas.  A few things were new this year.  First, Sam and I received a lot of "help" from Cohen.  This led to the second change--a total redesign of the tree.  We quickly realized that any ornaments within Cohen's reach would most likely not survive the season.  The kid just can't help himself!     

Cohen was just a "little" excited about the train.  I wonder if he remembers it from last year.

Cohen got his very own tree to decorate.

"Hmm, where should I put this one?"  (notice where all others ended up)  

Finally, someone was around to catch my little helper in action!

When I was growing up, the first decoration to go up was a kid-friendly nativity.  I LOVED it and looked forward to playing with it all year long.  I've been looking for one like it for years, but I haven't found anything close.  I am determined to find something this year because our ceramic one just isn't going to cut it.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving with Sam's family at his sister's new house. We arrived to their small town after dark, and when we got Cohen out of the car he looked up into the night sky and said, "Wow!" The sky was ablaze with stars! Cohen's attention quickly turned to the colorful lights strung across the front porch. He pointed and let out another enthusiastic, "Wow!" Then we went inside to find a Christmas wonderland! Lights, music, bells and a warm crackling fire. 

 

Our nephew/cousin Rio showing Cohen the bell elves. 

We enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal complete with Sam's family's traditional noodle gravy. Yes, I know that sounds like an easy way to ruin the meal, but believe me, it is YUMMY! 

It was FREEZING but that didn't stop us from going sledding a few of times. Cohen looked like the Michelin Man in his snow gear.

Sam's sister Adrianne and me relaxing on the couch. Cohen was so busy playing with his cousins that I read an entire book!

What a lovely Thanksgiving weekend! THANK YOU to Marci and her family for your hospitality. We love your new home!