WWWWEEEEEEEEEE....

Positioned and ready at the top of the hill Markie and Dad are ready to go sledding for the first time.  The question on every one's mind is "Will Markie like it or not?"  Ringing through the crisp cold air you hear Dad's clear voice sing out, "do, do, do, do...CHARGE!!!"  Dad pushes off and down they go.  Seconds later Markie's high pitched little voice screams out, "WWWWEEEEEEE!"  As they reach the bottom of the hill Markie and dad are all smiles, mom runs over to snap a couple of pictures and see how things went, but Markie doesn't want to wait for pictures.  Markie desperately tries to scramble out of dad's arms so he can run up the hill and go down again.  

The young men and women in our ward had a sledding activity a few weeks ago and Brett and I decided to take Markie.  Because I am as big as a house, we felt it best that I stand at the bottom and take pictures.  Markie and Brett were able to go down about 6 times before they handed the sled off to another youth because Markie was getting a little cold.  Don't they look so cute!

Things we do in the name of beauty

Recently the Beehives in my ward wanted to have a spa night.  It was so much fun!  I got a bunch of facial recipes from mom Schwieder and another leader brought over some paraffin  wax for our hands and away we went.  Here I am sporting the lovely green avocado and yogurt mask, which we applied after we used the baking soda and yogurt scrub.  Don't I look LOVELY ;).  I may not have looked the best at the time, but man we had a great time!

December in Review

***Due to technical difficulties I have been unable to post for the past month.  So now that those technical difficulties have been fixed this is a post of all the fun things we did during December.  If you want to read it all go head if not I hope you enjoy the pictures.***

TWINKIE DATE!  Our home teachers reciently challenged Brett and I to do something they called 5+1, which were the things our Stake President has been asking us to do for the past year.  One of those things was to go on a date every week.  While thinking about a fun date to do, Brett saw that one of the leaders with him in the Teachers Quorum had the TWINKIE Cookbook, and so Brett got creative.  He chose two recipes, Twinkie Sushi and Twinkie Grasshopper Milkshake, wrote down the ingredients and then took me to the store to get what we needed without telling me what we were going to make.  It really was a lot of fun I think I like the Sushi better then the shake, but we really had a good time.  So if you are looking for a fun date idea and you would like the recipe for one of both of these please let me know.

Growing up my family always had Santa come a week or two before Christmas.  We would sit on his lap and he would ask us all the regular questions and we also got to open a present.  It was a fun tradition that we did as a family and I decided to start it here and it turned out great.  As you can see Mark wasn't too sure about Santa but we still had a great time.

We learned early that Mark's favorite toy is a ball.  He could spend hours throwing balls around the house, and he does.  He has reciently begun to focus really hard at what he wants to hit and 6 out of 10 times he hits it if is in reach.  So we gave him a target, and he really has a pretty good shot.  Watch out Bryan Russell!

Time out for Bubbles!  Brett and I gave Mark some bubbles and after opening his first present and then opening the bubbles he decided that we needed to take a 15 minute break and play with the bubbles.  This was the longest, and most fun Christmas we have had yet!

Mark loves to jump, unfortunately he has been choosing to jump on my bed rather than on the floor.  We also wanted to give him something that would use up all his energy so James, Mark and I could all take a nap.  I doubt that I will be that lucky to have both children asleep at the same time but one can always dream, right?

Brett and Mark are best friends they love to play together all the time.  So they had to try out Mark's new trampoline together, and they like always had a blast!!!

Who needs presents when you have a box?  

Oh boy!

To those of you who have not heard or had the chance to see Mark in his "announcement onesie", we were told last Monday that we are having a boy.  I made a shirt for Mark that said on the front, in bright pink, "Oh no...", and on the back in blue it said "I get a bro!"  It was so much fun to see the reactions of my parents as well as my in-laws, especially since everyone thought that he was going to be a she.  Because the doctor had to cancel all of his appointments because he was delivering a baby, I talked the nurse into doing the ultrasound.  She spent 15-20 minutes just showing me my baby, it was awesome!  I get to go back in on the 9th for another ultrasound so the doctor can do all the measurements.  I don't mind looking in on James again. 

Two Stars are Born!

Recently Idaho Falls did a community production of the play Annie.  It ran for 4 nights and they did one matinee as well.  Each night it was a packed house, not sold out but the place was packed, and I have to say that was in part because of the person who played the dog catcher and of course the dog.  Charlie, the Schwieder's family dog, was asked to play Sandy.  They needed someone to take care of the dog so they asked Brett, Brett's sisters Shanalee and Tammy traveled up from Utah to help as well.  Both Brett and Charlie did a wonderful job.  (By the way, don't you think Brett looks stunning with an inch of make up on?)

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Christmas is one of my most favorite times of the year!  I love Thanksgiving as well, it is just here in Idaho we have to put up our Christmas lights before it snows or the lights don't get done.  Things just get a little cold and slippery to be messing with lights.  So last Saturday Brett got on the roof and dutifully put up the lights they are going to look so great!  However, even though the lights are on the house they will not be turned on until  after Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving and Christmas, this truly is the best time of the year!!!

Un-Happy Halloween

Markie was going to be a tiger this year for Halloween.  The costume is a 24 month size costume and so it was a bit big but that made it just that much cuter.  I put him in it a week or two before Halloween and Brett and I had a great time.  Yet this poor little tiger would never get to see Halloween because that morning Mark woke up with a fever of 102.  Poor little tiger, those swine decided to attack him to.  

Yet never fear, Brett to the rescue.  While Mark was in the bath relaxing and trying to get his temperature down Brett decided to put on Mark's costume.  I hope you enjoy the picture as much as I do!  Happy Halloween.  (A little late but that's ok)