Ewww....Ahhhh....

This is my third attempt at a post!  I tried the first two from my IPad.  Needless to say, I am still dependent on my laptop for many reasons.  January was an interesting month.  It started off pretty well, then ended sort of unwell.  A couple of weeks ago we caught the dreadful Norovirus.  I am not a big fan of getting sick, so I avoid it at all cost and am usually pretty successful.  The Norovirus had other plans for me and attacked our house like the plague.  Anyone who came into our home during this period of hell on earth caught it as well. 

It started with Hayden throwing up in my car on Sunday.  I just thought she had a bit of motion-sickness from playing her IPod while I drove.  It was not pretty and I was cleaning vomit out from under my seat and on the floor.  Then on Tuesday,  Spencer started complaining of his stomach cramping and spent the next 24 hours in the bathroom for the opposite reason of Hayden.  Unfortunately, Crystal and her whole crowd came over and played that day.  Wednesday was mostly a painful blur for me.  I remember facing the toilet bowl more than I sat on it, followed by a fever, complete with chills and body aches.  At that same time both boys were battling ear infections and diarrhea.  My sweet mom came over and brought us soup and food.  On Friday, I started feeling somewhat better, as did Spencer.  Poor mom started her own experience with the virus that day as did Crystal.  To end the week, my sitter, Sarah, also came down with the unwelcome guest.  That was two weeks ago and I hope it NEVER returns.

Now that we're all better, I can talk about my wonderful birthday!  I turned 31 on 1-28 and it was amazing.  I feel so full of love and life....

Happy Birthday to me!  I know it's a difficult picture to see.  Spencer took it with my cell phone.  From left to right, Garrett, Hayden, Me and Ethan.  Sarah baby-sat for us that night so we could hang out with some close friends.  It was a great day. 

Last Sunday Spencer and I were baptized and joined our church.  What a wonderful experience!  I love my church family.  We really feel so welcomed and important there.  It's pretty big, with a congregation of over 2000, but you definitely feel at home and that its size does not matter.  I'm looking forward to our family's walk with Jesus.  I pray that he carries us all our lives and that our children will give their life to him like Spencer and I have. 

Hayden and Garrett

Garrett giving Ethan some brotherly love!

Praise God!  More to come....

The Start of a New Year

Happy New Year!  It was a great ending to a hectic year and a great start to a great year ahead! 

We had a wonderful Christmas!  The boys were much more aware of what was going on this year and ripped into every package they could get their little fingers on.  Hayden was a lot of fun also!  She refers every new toy as the "toy that Santa brought her" (no props to the parents, family, or friends)!  She was so cute but still never wanted to actually talk to Santa.  Some of the things they got were play food and kitchenware for the play kitchen, a cash register, a shopping cart, a furry dog that walks and barks, cars, cars, and more cars, 3 racetracks, a couple of dump trucks, Dora, Rapunzel, a princess dress, books, crayons, movies, a light bright, blocks, a bike (for Hayden) and two push toy tractors.  It's so much fun and somewhat inexpensive to buy Christmas presents for my kids at their age.  It really looked like we bought out the toy section at Target on Christmas morning.  We went to the Mosses' on Christmas Eve for dinner and exchanged presents.  We had a wonderful time.  My mom came over Christmas morning and cooked us breakfast while the kids opened their gifts.  Lunch was at Kathy's and Spencer's mom and Woody came and cooked dinner.  It was truly a wonderful time but I'm so glad it's over. 

New Year's Eve was spent in the comfort of our own home..... and at my neighbors', and for a little bit at my neighbor's neighbor.  We got up New Year morning refreshed and ready to go to church.  Spencer and I finished the class we needed to take before turning in our application to join the church we've been visiting for three years.  We are so excited to be joining and getting baptized there, as well as raising our kids in this church.  I'm looking forward to hopefully having an exciting and wonderful 2012!

More to come!!!