Recap - A report of the events of the last few months...

Anyone who is familiar with my family will know that our Decembers are CRAZY! God must have known that I wouldn't be overwhelmed to give me my first baby on December 21st, followed by celebrating the birth of His beloved son on Dec. 25th and then commemorating the best decision I ever made to create an eternal bond with Jared on Dec. 27th. This year marks 12 years of marriage. The winter months keep me pretty busy - beginning with the preparations and enjoyment of Christmastime, into the new year which now will forevermore mark the amazing miracle of Felicity's brief mortal journey, and then February brings my birthday followed quickly by my other two babies birthdays on the 10th and 12th. WHEW!

Emily lost her first tooth, just before her 8th birthday!


Her birthday was spend quietly with the family, her Babcock cousins, Uncle Tim and Grandparents - per her request. Gramma made her a beautiful dress and she felt like Cinderella at Disneyland! She even kept posing for pictures with each of the younger kids, it was hilarious!


Our trip to Disneyland for Halloween was still fresh in her mind. Christmas Eve was spend at Jared's parents house with all the Watts family and Christmas Day afternoon was spent with the Babcock family, where they got to spend some time getting to know their 9 month old cousin Emerson Harrison (Christina's firstborn). He was the big hit of the day and my kids just about smothered him with affection and attention. See Christina's blog: http://hotharrisonsinaz.blogspot.com/
New Year's Eve and Day were spent with The Newbolds - a party at the Carli's and then a play day up the mountians in the snow. See Ashlee's blog for pictures and details: http://www.6newbolds.blogspot.com/

January 2009 continued with a great event - our oldest child, Emily, was baptised!

On Jan. 3rd, 2009 she became the newest member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was so excited and ready. She wanted to wear the white dress that I was baptised in - and I hope that Lindsey will want to do that as well. Lindsey is almost 6 now and when asked how old she will be on her birthday (in 11 days) she says, "I will be six, then seven, then eight, and then I can get baptised!" So many people were there to support her in this first step along the road back to our Father in Heaven - just about everyone in the Watts Family and the Babcock Family and several friends from our ward. Emily's friend Bailey Minton (who is 9 and has talked about wanting to be baptised) came as well. Emily and our family, we were so grateful for all the support. It was so amazing to see all the uncles, grandpas along with her father as worthy priesthood holders lay their hands on her head and give her the Gift of the Holy Ghost! That power is awesome. Lindsey has been taking gymnastics for the past 5 months and had her first exhibition meet on Jan. 16th. Lindsey has an infectious smile and she beams it almost all the time. She was so excited to have Daddy and Mommy, Emily and Tanner there to see her "do her stuff".



She has always loved to watch Baryshnikov and The American Ballet Theatre's production of "The Nutcracker". Lately she has also been dancing around the living room and has even been asking to take ballet class. Check this out!


Tanner - well, what can I say? I am just in love with my little (soon to be 4 year old) man. He's learning and growing so much! He is so loving and playful - and he just adores his sisters and Daddy. He will always be Mamma's boy, though. He expresses his love in words very well, and loves to give BIG kisses and "squishies". He really enjoys going to preschool now, as he has adjusted to being away from Mom for 3 mornings a week. He has been surrounded by girls since birth and interacting and playing with other boys his age in school has been a great thing! I know you have all seen his HSM song and dance performance on this blog, but you haven't seen anything like this!!!


Now, here it is, my 34th birthday! Life is good. This weekend my wonderful in-laws gave me a great gift of entertaining my 3 children from Friday night until Sunday afternoon so that Jared and I could have our house to ourselves! I cannot tell you how wonderful it was to sleep in - in my own bed! Of course, I woke up each morning at 6:10am - listening for the soft pat-pat-pat of Tanner's little feet coming down the hall and right up to my side of the bed...followed by his little voice muffled by his special blanket over his head and thumb in his mouth, "Moooommmmmiee?" as he crawls into my bed and sunggles up close for about 15 minutes. I miss it, but then snuggle down deeper into my soft sheets and fall back to sleep for another few hours. Ahhhhh...Happy Birthday to me!