Riding Alone...

This happened when Mommy wasn't watching...

Riding Lessons

Sophie loves horses and here she is!  Not quite ready to ride alone- but wanting to do it all on her own!  Daddy says she can have a horse- we'll see about that.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Daddy got to go on a special ski trip and we miss him so much!  He sent this photo from his phone... he says it is absolutely gorgeous!

Christmas 2008

We had an amazing Christmas this year.  It came and went faster than ever before.  We barely got our tree up before it was time to take it down again.  Now I realize why some people start decorating early in the year!

Sophie and Eli were excited about Christmas!  Celebrating their Savior's birth means a lot to them!  They prepared a program at school but the weather was too bad and it had to be postponed.  Sophie said she was upset because they worked so hard to prepare for the program.  

One of their favorite things this year was celebrating Christmas with the Fulgham Family in Branson.  Mo took us all to see the Dixie Stampede.  Sophie loves horses so she was amazed!  Eli enjoyed it b/c of all of the horse racing and fun activities.  The man with the fire juggling was the best part!  Saturday we had a blast shopping with Adrienne and going to Silver Dollar City with the family.  Sunday morning we woke to a home made breakfast!

Then we celebrated with the Ekenseair Family!  Ella was too cute opening her gifts!  Sophie enjoyed playing with Ella's paper dolls.  Michael and Joey spent the whole night trying to figure out how to put Eli's motorcycle together.  When they finally got it together, Eli said, "it stays together if you hold it like this."  Oh, we had carry out and I ordered it from the wrong restaurant.  It was not what we are used to eating, but we ate it up!

We went to church at 2pm for New Life's Candle Light Service on Christmas Eve.  Then we went to see the Jacobs that evening!  Christmas morning was so special opening gifts at home!  Then we went to the Papa and Nana's for lunch!

3 Years Old

Well, as the new year comes and goes Eli realizes that his 4th birthday will be here before we know it!  Talk of birthday cake is his favorite subject right now!  He's been talking about his 4th birthday party for months.  Now it is time to plan...

Tonight he was getting ready for Daddy to rock him to sleep and decided that he needed a bedtime snack.  He ate 2 huge pieces of Old Chicago pizza already.  Now he requested a 3rd slice.  Of course, Mommy had to eat a slice too!  As we ate we chatted about his favorite things.  He knows exactly how he feels about things!  You don't have to ask him twice...

Eli's FAVORITES at 3 years old:

Favorite Food: Pizza

Favorite Clothes: Pajamas

Favorite Toy: Mud

Favorite Candy: Sucker

Favorite Person: Daddy

And So On!!!

Well, that sums it up!  He's a cutie and we are looking forward to another great year!!!

Sophie Lost Her First Tooth!

Finally! The tooth dangled for 8 weeks. There is a post about it from the first of November where we figured out it was loose! I waited and waited for the tooth to fall out. It wiggled and wiggled. But those of you who know Soph realize that there was no discussion of pulling that tooth! Friends frequently offered. Anyway, I sent her to Mo's and within 12 hours it came out! Aunt Jamie was so kind to remove it from it's last root before Sophie swallowed the tooth. Mommy and Daddy were so sad. Anyway, I can't believe my baby has lost her first tooth! How exciting! But it reminds me of how grown up she is and how time flies. Praise God I've gotten to be with her every day this far! Well, she needs me now!