Christmas Blessings

I am filled with so much love and gratitude this Christmas season.  We have received blessing upon blessing.  It is quite overwhelming and joyous all at the same time.  We are blessed to have wonderful friends and family who love us.  I am thankful for this each day.  When we were sealed in the temple two years ago, we moved to Sherwood.  This town has been an idyllic place to start a family and grow friendships that will last us forever.  Our ward could not be more kind and caring.  They welcomed us into the ward the day after we were married and have been a shining example of love and friendship ever since.  

We have been blessed with a steady job.  Jesse is working at Sprint and is excited to go to work each day.  He is learning new skills and gaining more knowledge.  He enjoys being able to help people and this is a place that he can do that.  I am grateful that our lives are slowing down from their frantic pace and become predictable and boring.  

We have been blessed by caring friends and neighbors who have left many surprises on our doorstep.  I cannot express the overwhelming joy each gift brought to my heart. I have had more tears brought to my eyes in the past week than in many months. You have given me the spirit of Christmas in abundance.  Thank you for acting by the spirit and sharing the spirit of giving.  

We have been blessed to hold wonderful callings in the church this year.  Jesse is a ward missionary.  He loves going out each week and visiting families as well as joining the missionaries for some testimony filled lessons.  We have seen a wonderful young man accept the gospel and be baptized recently.  This brought back so many memories.  We are blessed to be a part of his life and to be able to share in the joy and wonderment the gospel brings.  I have been the teacher for the Valiant 8 class.  What a great experience that has been.  I had 12 amazing kids, nine of which were boys!  That is a lot of 9-year-old boys in one tiny room each Sunday.  I have had the opportunity to see them change, to see them dive into the scriptures and yearn for more.  I have watched as they gained self-confidence and made decisions to stand for what they believe in, to stand as witnesses of Christ.  They are amazing and I will miss them very much next year.  

We have been blessed to have the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  The perspective that his teachings give us leave us with no fear of, possibly, any circumstance.  We saw this financially throughout the entire year.  We know the blessings of tithing are real and worth it.  We have seen little to no money come in for months yet our bills are always paid.  We have been blessed with food and shelter.  We have learned what is needed and what is wanted, but not necessary.  We have learned what really matters.  Paying a full tithe brings more than just financial security; it brings stores of knowledge that help us in every part of life.  

Most of all, I have been blessed with my testimony.  That is the gift I would like to give most to my family and friends.  Material possessions only last so long but the peace and joy that a firm testimony brings are endless.  I know that my Heavenly Father loves me.  I know that he is aware of my sorrows, my struggles, and my joys.  I know that he is there with me through all of them.  I know Jesus Christ suffered and died for me that I may repent and live with him again.  I know that if we follow the teachings of this gospel we will find more peace and joy in this life than sorrow and suffering.  This does not mean nothing bad will ever happen to us, but that we will be able to see our way out of it.  We will be able to have hope.  Someone once asked me how I could know these things.  I know these things because I witness them in my life every day.  I know these things because I choose to live the gospel of Christ.  I know I would lose this knowledge the minute I chose otherwise.

We are grateful for all those around us.  We feel very loved this holiday season.  We wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!    

Fun With Cousin Alexis

Crystal, John and Alexis all came to visit this Thanksgiving.  It is always fun to see them and see how much Alexis has grown and changed.  She is 2 now!  Last time we saw them Zachie was just starting to crawl and Alexis was perfecting her new walking skills.  They had a lot more fun together this time.  We hung out at Gramma's house a lot while they were here.  We played games and just had fun watching Zachie and Alexis explore.

Their favorite place to play

One day, Crystal and Alexis came to our house to visit.  Zachie really likes it when friends come over.  He immediately shows them every one of his treasures and of course points out Mommy and Daddy.  After the formal intros to our home are over playing can commence.  We brought out all the toys and watched as they each found their niche for the day.

Alexis decided shopping for groceries and taking pictures were her ventures and Zachie wanted to play music and read.

Self Portrait-compliments of Alexis Horne

It was really nice to see all of them.  We hope now that they are in the states it will be more often.  

Happy Thanksgiving

In honor of this wonderful month of thanks we would like to express all the things we are thankful for.  Over the last year, we have learned a lot and are still seeing many changes in our lives.  We have grown closer as a family and are ready to welcome another wonderful spirit into this world.  We would like to say our lives are boring.  Nothing big happens, no sudden changes occur, we do not live extravagantly.  This is just how we like it.

Brittney:

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ.  With an eternal perspective I can look at any challenge we face with hope and peace.  I am grateful that we have such a comfortable home and are able to welcome others into it.  I am grateful for the amazing friends we have made here and for their influence and example.  I am grateful for my wonderful husband and all the hard work he does.  He is always there when I need him and is one of my greatest examples and friends.  I am grateful for Zachie and his wonderful spirit.  He teaches me to be more forgiving, accepting and loving each day.  I love them very much.  

Jesse:

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, the joy and the comfort that it brings in our lives. For a Heavenly Father who knows, and loves me enough to hear and answer my prayers. I am really grateful for my wife, who always has an eternal perspective and keeps me focused on the things that matter the most. She is also a wonderful mommy who teaches Zachie to have that same eternal perspective. Of course, I'm grateful for our little man, he is always happy to see me and knows how to bring a smile to my face. As mentioned above this past year has seen it's share of ups and downs and I'm grateful to have these two by my side. I am extremely grateful for our many close friends. I'm thankful for this land that we live in and all those who have helped make the country great. Brittney thinks I'm writing a book so I'll let that suffice for now. 

Zachie:

We think Zachis is grateful for Mommy and Daddy, he never wants to leave us so that kind of confirms it for us.  He is also grateful for electricity and a television that he can watch all his favorite movies on.  He is grateful for his two best friends Anna and Avrie.  He gets so excited when we mention them let alone go see them.    He is also grateful for all his grandparents especially the kitty.   

Half Way There

We are so excited to be having a little baby...

GIRL!!

We were rooting for either but it is fun to have a girl and a boy.  Mister Zacheroo slept through the entire ultrasound and woke up just as we were leaving.  So we had a nice peaceful time.  She wasn't  so all over the place this time.  She does cross her feet just like Zachie did and still does.  She also liked having her hands crossed.  Even though she is a few weeks older than Zachie was when we had his ultra sound, she looks a lot tinier.

We have been pretty set on a name for a while now but after the ultrasound Jesse declares that she looks like an Olivia.  We will see, this one might wait to be named until after she comes out.

Happy Halloween

Just to start off, we weren't too excited about Halloween this year.  Zachie is not a huge fan of crowds or strangers so I wasn't sure how he was going to handle all the interaction.  I was wrong!

We went trick-or-treating around the Sherwood businesses on Friday and no surprise it started raining the minute the event started and stopped when it ended. It wouldn't be Halloween without rain,right?  Zachie was a bit skeptical about this one.   There were a lot of kids and tiny doorways to get into.  The majority of the time we just walked past the doors and enjoyed being outside. When we broke off from the crowd and it was just Zachie and me he was great.

So lesson learned #1:  Stay away from crowds.

We went trick-or-treating a second time with Jesse on Monday afternoon, around the Mudpuddles shopping plaza.  Zachie was so ready for this one.  There was a lot more space and a lot less kids so advice from previous event taken.  Again he wanted to run past some doorways but he was a lot more outgoing and went up to the candy bowls and picked out his own.

So lesson learned #2:  When your kids are comfortable trick-or-treating  make sure they don't take more than one treat because...they will! (We now have many many pencils Zachie couldn't resist going back for)(Yes, Zachie likes pencils more than candy, woo whoo!!)

Now for the real Halloween.  We went over to the Buhler's home for dinner and trick-or-treating.  Delicious dinner!  We love getting together with everyone.  We always have good laughs and fun watching all our munchkins.  After dinner we set out for the houses.  I didn't know how Zachie would react to this, it isn't the same as just walking up to a store.  He loved it!!  He would go up and knock on the doors and then try and open the door thinking well I knocked right?  When the door opened he would try and go in the house, ahhh!!!  He did great though.  All his shyness was gone.  He said please and thank you to every person, sometimes multiple times.  After a few houses, we decided to keep going because Zachie was on the move.    He lasted so long, we were just waiting for him to say all done.  

So final lesson learned:  You never know what your kids will like until you try it.

I'm so proud of our little man.  He may not be able to say words from the English language yet but he knows when to say please and thank you.  He did a great job!


So just for fun I wanted to put up a picture of these silly guys from last year too.  Oh the memories!!  I can't believe this is their second Halloween, wow time flies!

This year we have the bear (I'm thinking from Bear in the Big Blue House, his favorite.)  

A Hershey Kiss Pumpkin, and a very furry pumpkin!

Last year we have Miss Frankenstein, A pink Ballerina, and an extra chubby pumpkin!  I love them!

Red And Green

I will post about Halloween, soon.  I just don't have pictures to share and I want to so for now I will share my love of Christmas time.  I was so excited today when I opened up some of my crafting blogs and found CHRISTMAS!  I love the feeling and open hearts that come at this time of year.  Yes, Thanksgiving comes first but they are similar in thought and deed. We do nice things for others and are thankful for all that is done to us.  Yeah for Christmas crafting to begin!!

Pumpkins Pumpkins Pumpkins

Oh I love the fall.  It is so beautiful and the weather is perfect (at least for me).  I really like sweaters so this is the time of year I love the most.  Since it is the great pumpkin season we ventured off to the oh so exciting Roloff Farms.  For a kid Zachie's age it wasn't that fun but the pumpkins were great. 

We set off into the fields and just had fun walking around and finding tini tiny pumpkins for Zachie to hold.  At one point the hay on the path attacked Zachies foot and he had a good long fight with it.  He has never been around hay so he was not liking it at first but then after his mini brawl they became friends.

Zachie had the most fun running from the camera.  In general, he just wanted to run around, especially when other kids were running.  But when that camera came out he instantly took off.  Some of the time I didn't see how he could even know the camera was out but off he went with that mischievous smile.

Zachie fell in love with a nice big pumpkin and stuck around there for a good five minutes (that is a long time for a little man).  Then we found out he was just using it to lean on so that he could do his business.  He was one stinky kid from that point on.

At one point he was demonstrating his song and dance skills for us and whomever else was watching.

After the smelliness we decided it was time to grab some pumpkins and hit the road.  That is when we found the awesome carts.  Zachie was super excited to ride in it, he didn't want to get out.  We found three great pumpkins and rolled on outta there.

I wish I had a picture of our decorated pumpkins now but our camera is on the fritz, so hopefully later.

Honesty

I'm going to be honest.  I have time to write this but what do I usually do instead, look at food blogs.  Yep I'm twisted and addicted to making new foods and finding fun recipes that I can make my own.  Well with that said I just have to say today was not a good day but I went through it with a smile on my face and only complained in my head.  I know this still counts as complaining, so says the scriptures, but at least my outward actions and words were kind and loving.  Now I don't know if that makes them empty or not because inside I wanted to break down and cry, walk away, lock myself in a room and go to sleep, go find a donut, basically give up.  I don't know why the donut was in there but I'm pregnant and these things happen.  Well that feels good to write down.  Everyone enjoy the fact that you are not the only one that has a bad day.  I am determined to have a good rest of the day, WOO!

Ugh

I'm a terrible blogger.  I should not be aloud to blog.  One day this may change but for now I remain the most terribly blogger.  Maybe this fall weather will get me to sit down and actually publish a post rather than write them and then decide I have no time and never post it.  Maybe this post won't even make it.  Well that is a stretch but seriously I have written like three posts and haven't published them due to interrupting baby, pictures, blah blah blah.  Okay my gibber jabber is all done.

Zachie Is Learning So Much

I love this kid.  He is so funny and loving and smart as can be.  He has been communicating through sign language recently.  It makes him really happy to be able to tell us what he wants and not have to repeat himself a billion times before his loony parents get the idea.  However, when we don't understand he does get quite frustrated.  Right now he says:

Thank you
Please
More
This
All Done
Up
I don't know
Uh Oh
Amen (this one he says with words not hands)

We are teaching I love you right now, it hasn't caught on yet but we will keep trying.

He also knows some random body parts.  We have never really pushed these but he just picked them up from his books.  He pats his head, rubs his ears, tickles his toes and pounds on his belly.  He is such a silly kid when we give him milk at nap time or bed time.  He will take it and go sit on his Elmo couch and then proceed to lift up his shirt and stick his finger in his belly button while drinking his milk.  It is a pretty funny sight.

Other than talking to us he is a fantastic listener (except when it comes to buttons!) We can ask him to get his milk and he will go to the fridge, take a bath and he will go straight there, get in bed and he will go to his bed, sit down, lay down, lets go, outside results in him pounding of the front door to get out.  The only one that does not produce good results is when you tell him it is time for a diaper change then he runs the other way!  One thing we didn't really push but showed as an example was to fold your arms and bow your head when saying prayers, he now does it whenever we pray and then yells out Amen when we are done.

Some of his favorite things right now are Elmo, Blue's Clues, Bear in the Big Blue House, coloring, running on his own or with daddy in the stroller, books of course, and shoes.

This kid has been so much fun to watch.  He is an absolute sponge.  I'm excited to see all the new things he picks up on over the coming months.

Beach Day with the Bishops

We had the opportunity to take the Bishops to the beach. The whole day was great. We stopped at Rays our local fresh veggie and fruit place and loaded up some yummy snacks for the day, then we were off. It took a little longer than usual to get into Seaside because of some road construction but after that half hour delay we were finally there. We stopped to get some lunch and went straight to the beach. We like Gearhart beach because it is much more secluded. This time was even better than normal. They had plowed the road that goes onto the beach, creating two great big mounds on either side. So, we of course, took the opportunity to jump off them over and over again. We were covered in sand and happy to be.

Later, we built a fire on the beach and roasted turkey dogs and marshmallows. Yum! Okay so not that yummy but roasting stuff is always fun to do, especially on the beach.

Off to the Ocean! He wanted to go there over and over again.

I don’t know how this kid did it but he didn’t’ care about the sand literally all over his face. He had sand in his eyes, nose and mouth.

It was a good day.

Cultural Pass to the Childrens Museum

 

The Childrens Museum is such a fun place to go. Zachie has been such a great little man this week we wanted to take him somewhere fun. So, with the help of the handy dandy library we were off. We had been to the museum before but Zachie wasn't walking yet so it limited his exploration of the different exhibits. This time he was ready to go and see it all. Unfortunately, our camera kept attempting to die so we didn't get a lot of the fun pictures we wanted but we managed to get a few action shots.

I think Zachies favorite exhibit was definitely the grocery store, where he got to push a Zachie sized shopping cart everywhere. He tried to leave with it!!! He also really liked the dig pit and his old favorite, the baby room (there is a slide, enough said).



                                             
                                           

                                             

                                  Zachie in the water room, he splashed up a storm in here!


                                             


We got to go with our good friends Avrie and Kaelie. That made the whole trip a whole lot more fun. Avrie is such a picture poser, we got so many great smiley pictures of her!


                                            

Check out this amazing garbage tree. It may be made out of garbage but I love it!


                                                  

Blueberry Picking

These blueberries were so good! Once we showed Zachie how to pick them he could not be stopped. I'm sure he ate some green ones too but he was having so much fun. He was enjoying himself so much he didn't mind if we were out of sight. He was happy to sit and eat blueberries where ever he pleased. I love this kid!

The Three Amigos

These guys are so funny together. I love when they see each other for the first time that day and they are just so excited, they have to show each other everything. They are all learning to share with one another, and some days they do a great job and others they just can't stand someone else touching their toys.

Zachie can now say Anna. He will wake up some mornings and run to the front door and start yelling Anna Anna Anna!! When we ask him where she is he lifts up his hands in the I don't know shrug. Nicole has this amazing double stroller. We had Anna and Zachie in it two different times one day. Zachie fell asleep both times with his head on Anna's shoulder. Anna didn't like it so much the first time but the second time she went to sleep too.

Miss Avrie being cute as can be!

A Sunny Day

This was such a warm day, but really beautiful. We got to play in the Buhler's backyard. They have sucha fun yard, with an amazing garden. You can see from the pictures Zachie decided to help water. Which really means that he wanted to play in the water.

The Blue Sippy Cup

This blue sippy cup has been a treasure to these babies for quite some time. They both love it! This is one day with the cup. It always makes me laugh but I was there when it really happened so that might be why I find these videos funny. It is always a good idea to add your own commentary when watching a baby video. Jesse would love it if I could add his commentary but then you would know how crazy we really are!

  

Baby Days

Oh the fun we have when friends come over! We get to watch Anna a few times a week and always have so much fun. I love that the babies entertain eachother and I can just watch all the silly things they end up doing. They seem to teach eachother both of their own little quirks and they also get a little more adventurous when they are together. They also like to tease eachother with toys and food. I think one of the cutest things is when they feed eachother, I also end up being fed by one or both of them (which definietly is not cute but fun none the less).

They really like coloring. Now that they realized where I keep the crayons they try and pull out the box. They have very different coloring methods. Zachie likes to concentrate on his coloring and attack any pre existing picture. Anna like to pick up a crayon and then toss it behind her like it means nothing to her. When she does find the one she wants, she makes tiny squiggles on the paper.

Of course, books are the main event every day. I love watching them read. Anna likes to read out loud and Zachie likes to be silent. Zachie is our little bookworm. We read almost all of his books three or four times a day. He is pickie sometimes too. He will go through his bookshelf pulling out books and putting them back until he finds the one he was looking for, which is most likely his ABC book or his nursery rhyme book.

We also like to have lots of fun in our sensory pool, otherwise known as a kiddie pool. We do put water in it sometimes but other things are way more exciting. So far we have favored blocks and dried pasta. My next will be cooked rice and one fun day shaving cream but that is more mess than I am ready for right now.

We also purchased an Elmo couch.  Yes, Elmo is our love right now.  They are so cute sitting on their mini size couch.  It also is a great bed and Zachie sleeps wonderfully on it.