2013 so far

 

We rang in the New Year as usual, made our resolutions- exciting! Also, there was paper hat making which was quite a hit with the kids.

 

Our volcano obsessed girl got to make a real life volcano with her Dad.

 

There have been sleepless nights with coughing kids.

 

Pocatello received a TON of snow and we ran out to the store to buy a sled only to find out that every sled in Pocatello had already been purchased. So, Justin dug out his old skateboard, removed the wheels and trucks and sacrificed it to save the day. We're only a few weeks into the year and he's already qualified for the Greatest Father Award.

 

Needless to say- the kids loved it.

(look at that face!)

 



 

My little buddy snuggled next to me on the couch as always.

 

Justin started his first semester as a grad student. And to celebrate he moved into his small and cramped and drafty little office. So appropriate for a grad student.

 

 

Then he received a teaching assitantship from I.S.U which means that he will be helping to teach in the classroom. To celebrate I sewed some elbow patches on his sweater. (Because what sort of self-respecting Professor would teach without wearing elbow patches?)

 

There was more sledding, with a real sled this time.

an unsuccessful attempt to get a group shot on the top of the hill:

 



The first of the blog books arrived. Our family history will be documented!

We made a nail-biting trip in the snow down to Utah for our car to be worked on again.

Snowy roads + paying money to mechanics = bad

 



 

but

sleeping in hotels + visiting Lyric and Scott + eating good food = good

 

 

 

when we got home there was a fancy tea party for Family Home Evening

guess who's idea that was?

 

 

and a trip to one of our favorite places, the library.

also included: feeding an ice cream cone to an animatronic stegosaurus



a brand new year

(don't pay any attention to my messy desk in the background)

2011 was a good one. Hard, but good. It's been a year of growth for our family. We've been working hard to better ourselves and our situation- to set things up for our future. We've been trying to live close to the spirit and do what we should. We've even changed our eating habits.

To ring in 2012 we stayed in (like the big party animals that we are) and just had some fun food and watched the ball drop. But, of course we had to make our annual list of "fun" new years resolutions. Justin and I started this tradition awhile ago. (See how it started here) In addition to our own more traditional resolutions we meet in the living room every year after the kids are in bed and make our list of "fun" things we'd like to do in the year ahead. These can include things we'd like to learn, experience, eat, etc. It's a great way to really look forward to the coming year in a very positive way.

So....here's what we came up with.

This year we want to really embrace living in Pocatello. It's probably about time that we quit pining for Boise and explore where we're at- try new restaurants, visit local attractions, etc. I bum free family pictures off of my sister every year and we're thinking it's about time that I quit bothering her and pay someone. We also want to actually hire a babysitter once or twice and have a few date nights- as well as strengthen relationships with family and friends that have been neglected because of our hectic schedules lately. So if you haven't seen us in awhile, get ready for a phone call.

It was a great night. The smoked salmon was delicious and the company was terrific.

Here's to 2012!