Which City am I?

So, I was reading CJo's blog and found a fabulous entry: which city is most like me. Her results were rather ... interesting. I decided to take it. Turns out, we aren't that much different. See below:

You are Rio de Janeiro, Brazil! People probably consider you to be fun and outgoing. You have a contagious, colorful personality.


Rio de Janeiro 65%
Paris 50%
Killarney 50%
Boston 40%
Provo 25%

I agree CJo, how does Provo and Rio de Janeiro end up on the same scale... and, why are the percentages greater than 100%? Something to ponder. Hilarious to discover.

Happy Anniversary

Getting soaked in the rain

Today is our 4 year anniversay. Wow! A lot has happened since that rainy day four years ago. I love Kevin so much and am so grateful for the inspired decision. Seriously, he is the best. He takes care of me and lets me whine and complain (I've been doing that a lot lately.. I'm not the most pleasant pregnant woman). He works so hard at school and work and then comes home and takes care of me and the girls. What a man. I love you babe!

Can you tell I am excited?

Happy Birthday Addie

January 2nd marked the first birthday of baby Addie. Jon and Becky organized a little grave side family gathering to remember cousin Addie. The cousins all got balloons and let them float away to heaven to her for her birthday. We then went back to Becky's parents' house for some cake and ice cream. They had several photos and scrap books of Addie. What a little treasure she was. How we all miss her and wish she was still with us. Chloe often comments that "Baby Addie is with Jesus. Jesus loves Addie." The innocence and faith of a child. I am so grateful for my little ones.

Christmas & New Year's

After we opened our present (ha. just one). We got ready and headed to my parents for round two and breakfast. Santa brought us some money to get our food storage started... seriously, my favorite present (actually, it has to be a tie w/the massage I got from Kevin). I have wanted to get serious w/ food storage for the past year. Now we can!

On to the Andrus'.... round three. Chloe could NOT stop talking about her princess bike. So, after some convincing her to open her presents from her Andrus cousins and grandparents, she was getting her coat on and was out the door. The bike is a little big, but she will grow into it. She LOVES bike riding and is actually getting pretty good at it.The rest of the day we were able to lounge, watch holiday movies and then get dinner ready for the masses. We had all the Andrus clan (yeah!! Scott came home!!) and four missionaries. It was a packed house with so much food and a lot of talking. It was crazy, but still fun. Chloe had a fit when we finally had to go home. Kevin and I were more than ready. Two full days of kids and family: we need a break!

Daddy and Charlie hanging out

Trying out her new set of wheels

The next week we all got sick and pretty much did nothing, but sit in doors, play w/ our toys, and recover from our colds. Even Kevin got sick. New Years. What's that? We were in bed by 10 and I vaguely remember hearing fireworks around midnight. Happy New Year 2009. Good Riddens to 2008. I am glad that year is over!!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was at my parent's this year. We all went over for dinner- Ham and funeral potatoes. My favorite. It was a nice and relaxing Christmas dinner with our special family members Sandra and Jesus. The previous night our parents dropped off our gifts to the families we adopted, too. There was a nice feeling of gratitude for our blessings, even in the rough year we all had. Mom and Dad also wanted to attempt the Nativity w/ the gkids acting it out... what a riot. Seriously, if I was a performer when I was a kid, this next generation is going to be a riot. Ohh how I wish Ron and his girls would have been able to come this year. Maybe next year! We hope!! We rounded off the evening w/ dessert and screaming, cranky children. Ohh the joys! Once we got home, I had to rush and finish Charlotte's stocking (didn't get finished in Tahoe) and keep convincing Chloe that Santa wouldn't come until she AND mommy and daddy had gone to bed. We had to keep taking her back to her room and try to have her lay there and listen for the reindeers footsteps on the roof. That was so fun. I love Christmas. Daddy helped Santa w/ the stockings that night and we finally fell asleep. :) Christmas morning was great. Chloe wasn't as excited as I think I would have been, but she still was happy to get her bike from Santa. For the past 4 months she has been talking about her princess bike. We finally were able to teach her that if she was good, Santa would bring her one. I wonder how long that line actually works.

All the cousins got matching PJs. Girls Princess, boys.. dinosaurs??

Grandma made all the couples matching PJs too... so cute

Here is the stocking I finished late Christmas Eve


Santa's helper ... I made all these stockings this year. Way to go me!

A few videos... hysterical...

Christmas Activities

December was full of activities and a lot of different feelings as the year drew to a close.

Decorating Cookies with Grandma: Grandma Thomas has decided she wants to make a tradition of cookie decorating with the kids. Great idea. Not a whole lot of decorating actually occurred, but the kids had fun and we got some yummy cookies out of it too!

Yum, I do good work

Nolan and Austin

Not too crazy. Thank goodness!

Pixie: our ward at Christmas time enjoys the Pixie program. Basically, you are a secret santa for someone and they to you. Three times before Christmas you get a treat at your door. One of ours: a ginger bread house. It was so much fun to put together...well try to anyway, as Chloe started to eat and break it before we even began. Anyhow, this was a fun activity we all enjoyed for FHE this year.

The finished product

Chloe and Daddy decorating

Mommy getting the frosting and assembling the house

Are we sure we want to do this???

Decorating the Tree: Shortly after coming home from Tahoe, we bought a tree (way to go Costco) and started the decorating fun. Chloe started to get the whole Christmas idea, presents, decorations, Santa, and baby Jesus this year, so it was a lot of fun.

A little blurry :(

The final touch!

Getting started

Thanksgiving

We look forward to going to Tahoe EVERY year. Going to Tahoe has been a tradition in my family since my sister was a baby. I love Tahoe. Thankfully (or not), Kevin loves Tahoe too, and has decided we will go there every year instead of rotating years with the family. He has said if his family wants to be with him on Thanksgiving then they can come up with us! It is great, because I really do love going up there.

This year we were able to go for the full week. We left Saturday and went North via Placerville so we could stop at Apple Hill along the way. Apple Hill has several apple orchards and MANY tourists stop by to get fresh apple cider, donuts, candies, etc. It is a great little spot to visit and enjoy some local eatries. Kevin, the sucker, paid $6 bucks for a 3 minute pony ride. I would have said let's skip it, but he couldn't resist. These people must make a killing for sappy parents who want photos of this "special" moment. I fell for it!

Annual Fam Pic in Tahoe.. not the best, but it works!

Ahh the bunny suit... gotta love it!

trying to escape... har har.. not this time!

the costly, yet fun, pony ride

After Apple Hill we proceeded on to Tahoe. Grandma and Grandpa wanted to take Chloe in their car. Sure, why not? Unfortunately, this alternate route is full of curves and winding roads as you cross over the mountains. Apparently, Grandma and Grandpa didn't clue in when Chloe was telling them her tummy hurt. Because as we were coming down a descent and a curve, we see the expedition pulle over and Mom at Chloe's door. Chloe had managed to throw up EVERYTHING she had eaten that day all over my parents' back seat. She was covered in vomit and was shivering as we tried to get her cleaned up and changed on the side of the road in about 40 degree temperatures. Poor thing. THEN, we had to try and clean up the car and smell of vomit for my parents. No small task. For the following week whenever Chloe got in their car she would say, "What's that smell?" We tried to say it was nothing, we cleaned it up. But she replied, "Oh, that is my throwup. I got sick." It was way too cute and way too funny.

Luckily the remaining week passed slowly and uneventfully as we enjoyed hanging around, going to Truckee, golf for the men, sewing for me, and a LOT of games. Shannon, Carson, Mom, Me, Kevin, and even Dad, sometimes would gather round the table and go at our two favorite games: Settlers of Catan: Cities and Knights and Ticket to Ride. We are such nerds.

Thanksgiving Day was delicious, restful, and full of gratitude as we thought of all our many blessings from the year... especially the latest one of being pregnant. What a week. We can't wait for next year!

Daddy Daughter Date

Kevin and I both decided that Chloe needed a little one-on-one time with Papa Bear. So, Charlie and I sent them away for the day to the Oakland zoo. Chloe loves animals so this date was perfect. They spent all morning seeing the animals, riding the little train, and even going for a ride on the Gondola. As a special treat, Kevin bought Chloe her little bear back pack which she loves to take w/ her on little outings.

View from the Gondola... not bad

Pure joy: train rides

Daddy and his Girl

I love the animals!

Daddy, elephants!