What a Wonderful World

I see trees of green..

Red Roses too..

I see them bloom

For me and for you

And I think to myself...

What a Wonderful World.

This week has been wonderful.

Why?

I danced in the rain and splashed in puddles with my daughter.

I ran outside for the first time in 6 months.

I got to go to the Temple.

I have great friends.

I have an amazing tight family.

My family and I have been blessed with health.

I have stuck with my New Year's resolutions.

I have a great relationship with my Heavenly Father.

My family is coming to visit tomorrow.

With all the hardship going on around the world, friends with personal hardships, a nephew who just had surgery today, and of course the hardships in Haiti. I feel like the more I put others needs above my own, my life is better. And I can concentrate more on the wonderful things. Instead of focusing on the bad. Because life is hard. Including my own life. Very hard. I am blessed for the wonderful things in my life.

Dance Recital

Ashley had her Little Gym "Giggle Toes" dance class recital this week. Tap, ballet and gymnastics routines were all performed by our little Star! She was so proud up there with her memorized dances. She kept glancing at me to make sure I was looking and what my reactions were. It was so much fun getting ready for the recital too! I let her put on her own "makeup". She was so proud marching into her class, standing with all the other girls and dancing. I'm so happy for our little performer! Way to go Ash!

Ash was definitely fearless. She was the one who ran right into the gymnastics routine without hesitating at all!

Ta-Da!!!

She does Arabesque's all around our home all the time. Sometimes on the ledges of couches, but she's practicing everyday.

The tap dance routine was called the "Mambo Combo". It was adorable!

I've had a wonderful time attending these Little Gym classes with Ash. It's been part of our lives for years.

Austin this week has been a ham. I caught him picking his nose and asked what he was doig ad he told me his finger was visiting a magic place.

Also, he got his CTR ring at church on Sunday. He will not take it off and tells me that it helps him choose the right. Good for him! Although it's only been one day..

I played Bunko last week and won something! Go Bunko. I have so much fun doing my monthly Bunko game. Every girl needs a girls night out.

Baptism Preview

Austin with his best Buddy Cameron! Already Austin is preparing to make one of the biggest choices of his life--to become baptized at the age of 8 (next November). On Saturday our Stake had a wonderful interactive activity for the children to see what its like on your Baptism day. They played games to realize the importance of repentance, memorizing the articles of faith and what they can do now to prepare themselves. It was wonderful! They got their own Baptism bag full of games and popped a balloon with a scripture in it. (Those were Austin's highlights.) Im so glad he's getting so excited about his Baptism. 8 is right around the corner.

This week we finally celebrated Austin's Winter Party at school. It was wonderful!! Holiday Bingo, pass the snowball, a craft and cookie decorating, a sing-a-long and book exchange. The kids had their party post-poned since before the Christmas break and this was a wonderful way to come back to school their first week back.

I love you

Happy 2010!

We had a wonderful New Year's Eve at our friends the Johnson's home. We celebrated the new decade with friends, games, good food and Dick Clark.

In the past decade, many things have happened. We got married (2000), had our two kids (2002 and 2005) and lived in Africa for 2 years (2003-2005), Austin's major stomach surgery (2007), all my brothers got married, lots of fun vacations, and great times with friends and family. The kids have started school, now they're in preschool and 1st grade (CTR 5 and CTR8 at church!). The past decade has been really good to us.

We look forward to new adventures and in 2010 and this next decade of our lives. We're so thankful for our health and happiness.

Christmas 2009

Austin obviously trying to fit in with Daddy home from Baghdad.

For my super-texting fingers, a new Samsung Impression with a second keyboard for speed texting!

All we wanted from Santa was a Baby Alive!

This Christmas with the kids being 7 and 4, it was super exciting planning all the Santa pre-arrivals. Christmas Eve, we read classic Christmas books stories, made cookies and Jonathan read in Luke. Ashley already claimed to be Mary but Austin did not want to be Joseph or a donkey for Ash to ride on. We tucked the kids in with a final "Twas the Night Before Christmas" story and put them to bed. Until 3 am. At this twilight hour, Austin then went downstairs, saw Santa had come and waited. And waited. He never fell back asleep. He waited until 6am and then got Ashley up. At 6:45 we heard thing being tousled and decided it was time to go downstairs. With the camcorder in hand, the unwrapping began! The stockings were dumped like trash cans and scraps of colored paper was flying in the air like confetti. Austin's hits from Santa this year included a new bike and Wii games. Ashley got and English pram and a Baby Alive. Life was good. Jonathan made us a grand breakfast and we again enjoyed another Christmas together as a family.

This Sunday we had our Sacrament meeting that was cancelled last week from the snow storm. I had the opportunity to speak about how hymns of Christmas bring out the true meaning of Christmas. I sang in the choir and it was a wonderful service. Jonathan is sick with bronchitis so the kids got to skip church and stay home with him today. After all, they only have 4 more days that Dad is home.

At this time of year, I am so thankful for my family and wonderful friends, church teachers who have been so wonderful to my kids, visiting teachers, home teachers, dear friends who help me out and are there for me, a loving husband who spoils me (letting me sleep in and cooking me breakfast in bed EVERY morning he's been home) and most of all for our Savior, Jesus Christ who made living on this wonderful earth possible.

Snow Snow Snow! 17 inches....

On December 19, 2009 was the single biggest one day snow storm in DC's history! With measured calculations up to 20 inches in one day. Today, the next day, we slowly dug ourselves out. I love snow days! Especially when our whole family is together inside. Jammies, hot cocoa, gingerbread houses, I love the winter time. At least indoors.

Ashley as Mary...

Daddy's Girl. We love to dance for Dada!

Santa was waiting for the kids after their school program.

The cutest Mary ever!

She took her role very seriously. Acting is business to this future star!

She's so proud having Dad home to watch her big play!

Meritorious Honor Award

Jonathan received a Meritorious Honor Award from the State Dept. He told me not to put this in here, but considering we use our blog as a journal each year, I wanted to make sure this award was documented! JD received this elite prize for his time while protecting Condoleezza Rice. Go Fritz!

Daddy's Home!!! Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge at Christmastime. Rudolph was reading a story to the kids.

And it really snowed indoors!!!

Snowflakes coming from inside! Too cool.

Daddy's home!

It had been nearly 5 months since we'd seen Jonathan last. He finally came home from Baghdad on Monday. We've got him for 2 weeks and 4 days. So it was a tearful reunion at the Dulles airport. We waited in the International arrivals and at first sight of Daddy, the kids screamed!! DADDY! And ran over and all of us were in tears. The kids couldn't leave his side and clung to him like baby baboons. We haven't let go of him since!!!