A Decade Photo Diary

I LOVED this idea! (thanks MK)

Here's a look at what has happened in our family in the past ten years:

In 2000, I was 16, a Junior at Needham High School, and didn't have my license yet.

I hung out with friends,

worked at White Mountain Creamery,

and played a lot of sports.

Dave was living in San Jose, installing garage doors and hanging out with friends & family.
He had already graduated from high school, went to Ricks College, served a 2 year mission for our church in Boston & Mexico, returned to Ricks College, and then home to work.

(sorry, I don't have many pictures of Dave before we were married)

In 2001, I graduated from High School.

Dave moved to Provo, UT in the summer of 2001.

We met January of 2002 and fell in love pretty fast.

We were together every day.

After school ended in April, I went home for the summer and that was the beginning of our 7 month long distance relationship.

We spent A LOT of time talking on the phone.

Dave came to visit me twice in Massachusetts, and I visited him once in San Jose.

We spent a lot of time apart.

Too long.

Boy, did I miss this guy...

January 2003, Dave came back to Utah and we were finally together again.

In February 2003, he proposed to me on this bridge.

Of course I said yes!

We were very happy,

and very much in love.

We had a long 8 month engagement. (too long)

In October 2003, we were married.

2004:
We were still pretty cool back then :)

And still pretty good-looking :)

Most of the time.

Just before our first anniversary, I got pregnant.

We were very excited.

I graduated from BYU in 2005.

I was 38 weeks pregnant.


May 2005, Katie was born.

We moved to our favorite apartment in Orem, our third home, where we spent our first Christmas alone and met some lifelong friends.

In 2006 we bought our first house and moved back to Provo.

And I got pregnant again.


In March 2007, McKenna was born.

In 2008, we got Baxter,


Dave got his truck,

and I got pregnant. Again.

In March 2009, Brooke was born.

We adopted Bowser.

It has been a great decade for our little family.

So much as happened.

We are excited to see what the next ten years brings!

Happy 2010!

Milestone

McKenna's Conversation over Breakfast

Mom, guess what?
Spirit jumped over all the bad guys, and guess what?
He FLEW!
Like Superman.
HEY! Batman can fly!!!
We watched that movie with Sam.
Can I watch Lego Batman movie?

The Sweetest Thing

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas

wishing you all a

Merry Christmas

full of love, laughter, joy,

& Christ

Baum Christmas Trees

We ventured out to Baum's in the cold last Thursday to pick out our Christmas tree.

After very quickly browsing the lot, Katie took charge and picked out a good one.
McKenna helped her hawl it to the car.
Notice the steam coming from their little bodies.
It was so cold!

Dave loaded it on the car while we all warmed up in the heated car.

We then had a great night decorating the tree.

That's a lot of lights for that little guy.

It might be a little tree, but we love it!

Sisters

Our Family

sweet, friendly, angelic, squishy, happy,
can't-get-enough-of-those-cheeks
BROOKE

hilarious, light-hearted, creative, playful, caring,
so-fun-to-be-around
MCKENNA

outgoing, fun, energetic, thoughtful, smart,

more-confident-than-anyone-I-know

KATIE

so-happy-to-have-each-other

best buds

BAXTER & BOWSER

might-be-going-a-little-crazy

but loving our family

DAD & MOM

Baby Brooke's Latest Tricks

If you can't tell - I'm a very proud mama.

Katie's Thanksgiving Recipe

Katie LOVES preschool.
And we LOVE Katie's preschool teacher.
Today she sent home Thanksgiving Recipes that the kids made up.
She writes down what the kids say, word for word, and doesn't persuade them to say certain things.

Here is Katie's:

At what store would your Mom buy a turkey?
Katie: She would just make her own turkey

How much would it cost?
Katie: Miss Cathy, she made it, so she doesn't have to buy it!

What would your recipe be for fixing a Thanksgiving turkey?
Katie: One cup salt, and one cup pepper. One pan of chicken gravy, of course. And then you could try to make it look like a real turkey, but it's cooked. Put real feathers in it, and of course take them out before you eat it. Put some gravy inside the turkey too.

How hot is the oven to bake the turkey?
Katie: You cook it on the stove.

How long do you cook it?
Katie: For 20 minutes, and then put it on the table and say it's ready! And don't forget the prayer!

What's the best thing your mommy cookes you?
Katie: It depends

What's the best thing your daddy cooks for you?
Katie: Cookies

On Our Walls

My sister-inlaw took pictures of our family in August when we were in MA.
They turned out great!

I don't have digital copies of them to share, but this way you can visualize them hanging on the walls in our kitchen. That is, if you've ever been in our kitchen. If you haven't, you should come visit us. We would love it.

Big Blankie

Big Blankie

I lay down beside you
for your afternoon nap.
It's the only way you will stay
in your bed.
It's a bad habit I want to keep
because soon you'll grow up
and sleep on your own.
I tuck you in.
First, your little blankie
with butterflies.
Then your big blankie.
You ask for your "M"
and giggle when I find it.
I lay down beside you.
I watch you drink your milk
and fight your tired eyes
that roll back behind
your extra long blinks.
I scratch your tummy
like I always have
and then your back.
It's time to sleep now
so I roll away.
"You want some
of my big blankie?" you ask,
as you cover my shoulder
with a corner.
Your tiny body snuggles in my back.
"Mom, can you cuddle?"
Ecah time I smile
and I always say, "Yes."
Soon I hear your long, deep,
sleeping breaths.

Revised version here

Halloween

Katie as a spider

McKenna as a bat

Brooke as a butterfly

Mom as a witch

(before the YW Mother/Daughter Halloween party)

Technically the Wicked Witch of the East who gets Dorothy's house dropped on her.

The "ruby slippers" aren't seen in this picture.

What's a witch without a bat and spider by her side?