Christmas Day...

After a breakfast in Downey we went down my mom's for the remainder of the day (usually we open presents and have dinner at my Grandma's but there is getting to be too many of us so we broke our usual tradition and had it at my mom's). We had a nice ham dinner with all my brothers and their families, Grandma Nan, and my Uncle Kent and his family also came.

Check out that Christmas morning hair!!!

So we had a "little" snow storm all Christmas day. We barely made it to Preston (picture taken from my mom's front porch). We had the worst time trying to get out of Downey. It is sooo windy there that snow just blew into huge drifts that caused us to get stuck twice on the same road.

The snow ended up being so deep that we had to delay our trip home until the next morning (bummer that Todd didn't have to go to to work Christmas night-sarcasm). It wouldn't have been a problem if we had taken our jeep but we took the Altima and it's not so much of a winter vehicle especially when the roads haven't been plowed , so it parked in it's snow trench until the snow plow was able to come the next morning.

All the grand kids got matching pj's from Grandma. This is the best of about 7 photographs... the youngsters had a hard time sitting still and all looking at the camera at the same time.

Reese and Daddy opening up their presents.

Christmas morning...

Thanks Annagrace for Reese's present... she loved playing with the stacker toys.

Chillin' in her chair with her care bear Santa left her checking out the remaining items in her stocking.

Opening up her stocking. She was more excited to see she had a small package of goldfish crackers than any of her movies or other toys.

We didn't wrap her tent or the giggling Elmo chair inside. She loves Elmo in case some of you didn't know. Just a side note before Christmas we had the Elmo chair sitting in our storage closet every once in a while we would catch her in the closet pointing up at the Elmo (she wasn't supposed to see) and Ooooing and smiling.

Ok so these are in reverse order... Reese setting her eyes for the first time on all the goods Santa left for her. Last year she was still snuggled up inside mommy's tummy (in no hurry to come out might I add - even being 5 days late at Christmas). We are definitely glad she didn't come while we were traveling for Christmas.

It's a Christmas miracle (me posting)...

Christmas Eve...
So after I got off work we headed down to Downey to start the holiday celebration off at Todd's Parent's house. We had a nice little Christmas dinner, played a few games and read the Christmas story from Luke.

We all sat around the table and enjoyed a few rounds of scum. There was just Todd's Parent's, his brother Thomas and ourselves.

Grandma wasn't able to use all her antique ornaments on her tree this year - since some little girl likes to take them off and haul them around the house. So instead she used plastic child friendly ornaments that were ok to disappear or play with.

We did have plans to send out a Christmas card this year but it didn't quite happen. I'm horrible when it comes to sending things out (especially when there is a deadline involved). We tried to take some cute family pictures but the only day where the sun was actually shining was frickin freezing so our pictures didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. So this picture was the best of the bunch. Reese's hair is all wind blown and Todd isn't even looking at the camera, but trust me it was the best.

I tried...

Ok one thing I am looking forward to when we move to Rexburg is internet!!! We will have our own connection (emphasis on own -- and not trying to pick up whatever signal we can from the neighbors). I just tried to upload a bunch of pictures but it just isn't happening, so sorry. I'll be a lot better when we are up north keeping this thing updated. This is the first time I've sat at the computer in like a week (I remember when it used to be a couple times a day). I'm just busy, busy. So the big move is only a few weeks away -- and I just don't even want to think about it. I remember when I first moved up to Pocatello I could load all my belongings in the back of my jeep -- now we have to do the whole moving truck business. Packing and cleaning is the worst part! I have decided though that a change will be nice - it will stink having to meet new people and get adjusted but it will mix things up a bit. I will be working a lot less which is good and bad. Good because I would rather be home being more of a wife and mom and bad because we will have no money -- we will be pretty poor. I am excited to brush up on my suzie homemaking skills... I must admit I'm not a very good wife... I get home from work and cooking and cleaning is the last thing on my mind. So we might be poor but there will be a nice meal on the table and a clean house for Todd to come home too. It will be nice to also have a more structured day -- Reese has little to no routine - due to our crazy schedule. Ok so I'm babbling...

Not much on this week's agenda... tomorrow there will be another football game (like every Sunday), we still need to finish up our Christmas shopping, Todd's work Christmas party is also tomorrow, and that's about it until Christmas. I have major plans to de-clutter my house and send some things to the DI in preparation for the big move -- but really not much else. How exciting are we?

Don't kill me... no pictures again..

Ok so we are over at a friends and we are using their internet and I don't have my memory card with me to upload some pictures. So what's been going on... Thanksgiving was great. We were in Preston for the blessed holiday -- it's so nice to have good food! Reese loved dinner too... she sat on my lap and sat mouth open the whole time -- she needed a taste of everything especially potatoes!!! We didn't stay too late since Todd had to be back to work at 8 (oh the joys of working retail during the holiday season). I had to work at 5:30 the next morning. Todd did get off work in time to hit the early morning sales. He managed to find a laptop after waiting in line for hours like all those other mad crazy shoppers! He didn't get the one he wanted but found one that will work for school and it ended up being a $100 less than the one he was hoping to get. I never do the early morning shopping... I think it's crazy and there never seems to be anything worth getting up that early for. I would rather sleep. So not much else has been going on -- we did find an apartment finally! It has been a nightmare trying to find a new place to live -- so we had originally planned on living in Idaho Falls but we found a place in Rexburg. So we are moving to Rexburg the first of January, ugh... I'm looking forward to a change... but not so much living in Rexburg. Who knows though I may end up liking it up there. Soooo... not much else going on - just working on getting my Christmas shopping done. Well I better get back to socializing with my friends ---later...

just a quickie...

Our internet is working for half a second so I thought I would put a few quick thoughts down on what's been going on lately... which really hasn't been much.
First off two of my friends have had their babies with in last 2 weeks which is pretty exciting. Being around a little baby pushes the date will start planning on child number two to much further away.
Reese has been walking around like a mad woman lately. She started taking her first steps just a few days before she turned ten months and now she walks more than she crawls... it blows me away how fast she learned.
We really haven't been up to much lately... still just working and trudging through day by day. We really need to get up to Idaho Falls and start the apartment hunt, it's so hard to find the time to get up there since it will probably end up taking a full day. I hate moving and I hate the thought of having to look for a new job... I'm praying that I can just transfer. Our schedule works out great for us right now it stinks to have to adjust to something new. Hopefully by the next time I blog we will have found a place to live. Well I need to go grocery shopping... sorry so short just wanted to let you all know that we are still alive...

Happy Day After Halloween...

Hey everyone it's been less than a month since I posted last. So Todd and his brother Thomas are home watching the Jazz game so I decided to head out and update my blog (even though it's only been a couple days). I wanted to get out of the house and the boys are watching the baby so it was perfect -- and it's nice to be here at the school by myself, usually when Todd is here I feel like I have to hurry so he isn't waiting too long while I update my blog. So yesterday for Halloween we went down to Downey once I got off work, Grandma Z really wanted to see Reese in her costume. So we all went together to the ward Trunk or Treat (brilliant person who ever thought this up). Grandma Z had a blast taking her around (even it was more like showing her off to all her friends in the community). Yes I know Reese is a little young to understand what she was doing and obviously she isn't going to be eating the candy she collected - but it's all about giving her experiences. As you can see she was more intrigued by the decorations than the actual candy collecting. Todd kept joking about her using a decapitated Elmo head to collect her candy -- we probably should have found a cookie jar - that would have been more appropriate for her costume.
Reese really was just along for the ride, while Grandma Z got the goods.
Happy Halloween!! We don't take very many family pictures and even though it was at the end of the night - we snapped one anyways. Todd doesn't exactly have the most thrilled expression on his face - but he had fun don't let him fool ya!
Reese got to play with Grandma's kitties. I think this was the first time she didn't try to pull their hair out - she actually played a little softer with them.
Mmmmm cupcakes!! It started out just giving her little bites and before you know it she was helping herself.

After we left Downey we headed back to Pocatello and went to watch a scary movie at Amanda and Shawn's. It actually wasn't scary at all (Prom Night -worst, most predictable movie ever). It took us like 3 hours to watch the movie - we kept stopping it to take care of the baby, or to take the dogs in and out, some friends stopped by for a visit and other various things.. but we did finally finish it --- so all that probably didn't help when we were trying to get scared by the movie.

Not much planned in the upcoming week... on Tuesday Reese has to get her flu shot, Wednesday Todd's band is playing a show (but I'll miss it because I have a managers conference for work during the same time). So not really exciting at all!!

Oh I forgot to mention....

Reese this week has also started to take a few steps on her own... her furthest distance is about 5-6 feet on her own. She's growing up!!! I don't have any video of this yet... I'm sure I'll get some soon.. she keeps getting camera shy every time I try to capture her on film.

Sorry everyone...our internet sucks again...

Reese's Halloween Picture.

Sorry everyone our internet hasn't been working all month... but I came to the college today with Todd (who had to do some homework) and thought I better put a few updates on here. So in the last month here are a few things that we have been doing (sorry these pictures aren't in order yet again.. I need to get better at fixing that but I really don't have the time right now):On Friday we rode down with our good friends Amanda and Shawn to watch a Marsh Valley High School football game (I think the last one I went to was last fall when Tyler and Candi were here). It was fun to get out of the house and actually go somewhere and do something. Reese was able to see Grandpa Welch (who is the principle/athletic director) and get some loves from him, and Todd was able to see some old friends from high school he hasn't seen in a while. This was Reese's first game and she was clapping the whole time - she really liked to watch the cheerleaders- I think we might have to find some pom poms for the next one.
All the grandkids on my side got together a few weeks ago to get pictures taken in the halloween costumes - aren't the all so stinking cute Ethan-the dragon, Mason-the firefighter, Dylan-the monkey, Brooklynn-the butterfly, and our little cookie monster. We just got the pictures taken at wal-mart and I thought the lady that took them was kind of rude-but we ended up with some cute pictures anyway.
Reese helping mommy with the laundry... even though she is making a huge mess it's fine with me, it keeps her entertained while I fold the other baskets.
Whopper Monster-- chowing down on some candy at our Ward Halloween Party (this is also the first ward activity we've actually gone to -which is sad considering we've been in the ward for 2 1/2 years and we are moving in 2 months... we better be a little more involved in our new ward.
Reese actually looking like a girl - or so my mom would say. Usually I just let her hair run wild but a couple of days ago I decided maybe I should actually start doing it since it's getting long enough.
These are all from the Halloween Party... Reese took off while all the trick or treaters went around... she's not used to having this much space to roam around in.
Which one is the real cookie monster?
All the candy is gone... dang those trick or treaters!!
Reese and her decapitated Elmo bucket.
Cookie monsters also like to eat chicken noodle soup not just cookies. The ward served Soup and a Roll which was yummy!!

Finally... a new post...

Sorry everyone.. our internet has been working fine... but I honestly haven't had five minutes to sit down and blog... it's been pretty busy!! So last Thursday our adventures started -- our little family headed down to Preston to go to Jana's reception (which Jana if you happen to read this you were of course the most beautiful bride - and sorry I was a blubbering idiot I don't know why I get that way -- I wish you nothing but ultimate happiness and Kyle is so stinking lucky to have snagged such a girl -- no lie!)... anyways... so we went to the reception and had a nice time. Friday we left Reese with Grandma Nan and went to Logan to have an enjoyable afternoon as just a couple (meaning only 2). We hit a few stores, and went and had lunch at Fredrico's Pizza --- which I could make and entire meal out of their garlic bread alone, after lunch we went to see Ghost Town (the movie) - which I might add was quite funny. When we got home we just chilled at my mom's house Reese went wild chasing the cat around the living room and playing the piano. She could barely reach the keys standing on her tippy toes. Grandpa was also home while we were there and Reese didn't even cry once while he played with her (normally she cries as soon as he starts talking - he talks almost like he's yelling - possibly due to hearing loss from driving a semi truck his entire life or maybe that's how he's always been --- anyway he usually makes her cry).
We were up bright an early Saturday morning to make sure we were in Brigham City by noon. We pass through Sardine Canyon on our way there -- which was something I was looking forward to the whole way down. The canyon is amazing in the fall -- colors like you wouldn't believe --- this picture does absolutely no justice for it's beauty (I took this while we were driving and it was hard to try and not get a road sign or another car in the picture all while trying to capture a side of the mountain that showed all the pretty colors). So we picked up Grandma Welch in Brigham and headed down to SLC to Torben and Angela's baby shower (Torben is Todd's brother). The women went the shower while the men went and ate some authentic mexican at the Red Iguana. It was nice to be able to see T & A the last time we saw them was at our wedding 2 and half years ago (they live in Denver). This will make 3 granddaughters and 0 grandsons. I suppose to make up for the 5 boys Grandma Z had -- she's finally getting her little girls. We had a nice time and the shower and drove home shortly after (we made a quick visit to Grandma Joan's before we left). Sunday nothing too eventful happened -- the Bronco's played a horrible game which ends their winning streak - hopefully a better game this upcoming Sunday.

Reese had her 9 month check up today. She is now weighing in at 23 pounds 1 ounce and measuring 30 inches (she continues to remain in the 95th percentile for both weight and height). She also had a flu shot and had a little poke to check for anemia (she is anemia free). She is a healthy girl!!

So it's really late and I need to go to bed... my day off today was way too short... I think that is why I am putting off going to sleep - trying to stretch my day out as much as I can. Sorry not too many pictures.. I had taken a few more while at my mom's the last weekend, but for some reason they keep showing file error - which is lame so hopefully I can post those sometime later. Well goodnight everyone.. I am finally off to bed.