Dear Andee...

I love how you wake up every morning with a big grin on your face! I love all the attention we get when we're out and about from strangers saying how beautiful you are. Most everyone who first meets you says what a "smiley" baby you are! Your smile brightens my day. I love your curiosity and how you want to touch everything around you. Your laugh is intoxicating and I love that it sounds like a dog panting, "ha-ha-ha-ha"! It's hard when I'm trying to put you down to sleep at 11:00 pm and as soon as I set you in your crib, you open your eyes and grin. But, I can't help but smile myself when you look up at me with your big, blue eyes. I giggle everytime you laugh at your brother and how you look up to him with such fascinated and adoring eyes. You love when I sing to you and it makes me happy to know I can calm you down with my voice. Daddy hates that you only want to be held and fall asleep with me at night, but I secretly love and relish in it! I love every moment with you and am so blessed you are in my life!

I love you!

-Mom

Creative Moments

I love being creative and using my imagination! Since Brent was called as the Scout Cub Master, I have been able to help out with his pack meetings! His last gathering was all about jungles, so I had an idea to make cupcakes into a snake. I thought it was pretty clever - don't look too closely, I am not a professional cake decorater by any means. However, I have a lot of fun coming up with "themed" activites to go along. We had the room decorated with a tent, fire, etc... to look like Brent was on a jungle safari. The kids walked into an entrance of huge palm leaves with snakes and monkeys hanging down. And all the treats went along: red vines, animal crackers, ants on a log (the old celery, peanut butter and raisins), etc... It was a lot of fun and I think I'm enjoying his calling more than he is!

Super Heroes & Fairy Princesses

Happy Halloween 2009

Trick or Treating Friends - Roberto (Mario) & Rudolpho (Luigi)

The Girls

Andee, me & my friend Lillian (Roberto & Rudolpho's mom)

Trick or Treating WORE me out!!!

Halloween Crafts
Ward Halloween Party

Good Friend Tina Rustand & Caroline in the picture with us!

Best Buddies
Jackson Rustand & Trey

a "Proud Mom" moment

We had our Primary Program for church on October 25th. I had been working hard with the kids to learn all of the songs (yes, I am the chorister) but I had also been working with Trey to learn his speaking part. He learned it pretty quickly and was one of only about 5 kids (out of 60) that had his part memorized (& he is a Sunbeam)! Yes, I'm gloating... but that is what mom's do, right!? So, as Trey got up to say his part that Sunday the primary counselor, Sis. Jodi Bridges, was sitting up there helping all of the kids say their parts that couldn't read. Trey got up to the podium and Sis. Bridges began to help him. He said into the microphone for the congregation to hear, "No, my know my part," and with giggles from the crowd he continued clearly (this is word for word), "We are a created of Heavenly Father's image."

I had the "PROUD MOM" moment, and yes, got a teary-eyed! I was so proud of him! He also LOVES to sing "My Eternal Family" which is one of the songs he learned for the program. The kids learned actions for the song and we have to sing the song over and over at home with the actions! Trey- "My am a builder, working each day to build my family... and I will do the BEST I can to serve them lovingly."

Trey,

I love how you always say "we are a happy family" when we are all together. I love how you push all our chairs together so they are touching at the dinner table so we can sit as a "happy family". I love how you always want to be in pictures with your baby sis and are so patient with her. I love who you are and love spending everyday with you!

I love that even after your bad days ("I'm having a bad day" or a "rough time" as you say), that you tell me you love me and that we have to scream... "I love you BEEEEEEEEEEST!" and you always win!

I love that after one particular bad day, after you were pretty whiney, you came to me and said, "I"m sorry mom." And I told you that I love you even when you're mad. I love when you're happy. I love you when you're whiney. & even when you're sad. And you said, "You're the best, mom."

You are such a sweetheart and I love you best!

Love,

Mom

Look at Andee, how big she's grown! She is so close to sitting up and is rolling from back to tummy and around to her back again! They grow up too quickly!

My Sweet Kids