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First graders get to put on an American program sometime this spring. Camden has been practicing......pretty funny.....enjoy!

The funniest part....after we recorded this he asked me if I would please put it on our blog...funny boy!

Christmas.....it's about time!

Christmas time.....the month of Dec.....where did it go. It seems it went as quickly as it came! I've been meaning to blog about it for a while now, but just couldn't get myself to sort through all of the pictures and take the time to write about it. I decided now is as good of time as any to finally get it done! So here are my pictures in raw form...I didn't have the energy to do any edits, but most of them are of my kids and they don't really need any edits anyway! :)
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25 days of Christmas
This year I decided I wanted to make the Christmas season a little more special. So starting on Dec. 1 we opened an envelope each day. Inside was something fun to do that day. My goal was to document and take pictures of each days event.....but it became a little more work than I had planned so even though we did do something each day, only a few of them were documented. It turned out to be a fun tradition....one I think I will try to repeat each year!

One of the days.....decorating the Christmas tree. I let loose a little this year and let the boys have at decorating the tree. They loved it and Camden just stared at it for days telling me how beautiful he thought it looked!

One of the days we went Christmas tree shopping for tree #2. We had an artificial tree upstairs and a real tree downstairs. The boys had fun decorating them both....I just didn't get pictures of tree #2.


One of the days I thought it would be fun to teach the boys how to make homemade bread. It was a fun experience. They were amazed watching the dough kneading. Who knew baking bread could be so entertaining.

One day our dinner was all red and green. Nothing is quite as tasty as bright red eibelskievers and green eggs!

And of course one night had to include a visit to see the mall Santa. Camden and Carter had fun although they seemed awfully nervous. Myah would have absolutely NOTHING to do with it!

Some of our other activities included: Sub for santa, making neighborhood treats, sleeping by the Christmas tree, new pajamas, a night of Polor Express and Hot Chocolate, Decorating sugar cookies, writing Christmas letters, making paper snowflakes, learning about the nativity story and much more! I love Christmas time!


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Carter's Preschool Program

Carter's school put on a cute little Christmas program. He looked pretty cute in the crazy little hat of his. He is not bashful at all and sometimes has a hard time singing cause he wants to be waving and saying hello to me! What a cute little stink he is!

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Christmas morning

I don't have any pictures from Christmas Eve. I left my camera home :(. I am suppose to get copies of my mom's but haven't yet. We spent Christmas eve at my parents house eating a yummy dinner of BBQ chicken, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls and veggies and as always creme brulee for desert. Afterwards we opened presents and just enjoyed being together. It was a fun night! We came home and prepared for Santa to visit us. Darin's mom came and spent the night and was able to enjoy Christmas morning with us! It was great. Here are just a few pictures of the morning. I have more but they are on my NEW CAMERA!!!!!! Yeah.....Santa truly delivered for me this year. I still need to learn how to use it, but I am getting anxious to get a better grip on how to use all of the features. So until later here are my last pictures using my trusty fuji film.....it has been a great 6 years!

My little boy is growing up. He wanted and ipod for christmas this year. He had to settle for a Coby....but it's an ipod to him! As you can tell, he was pretty excited!

He also got a new stereo for his room. He did get some toys though. He still wanted a couple of lightning McQueen cars and got his first webkinz that he lovingly named Spikey.We loved having Oma with us!

Carter on the other hand is still very much a little boy. He got a crane, dump truck and tow truck. He was in heaven!Myah was a little dazed by the whole thing. She wasn't quite sure what to think about everything. It was finally the year to give her some girl toys. Living in a family with all boys she has seen her fair share of cars, trucks and balls. She definitely has some pink around the house now!

It was a great Christmas. After presents and a morning of playing we were off to Darin's mom's to celebrate the day with Dan and Allison and their kids. Hopefully I will get pictures of that on here soon! We are so thankful to have wonderful family and friends to share the holidays with and are especially grateful for a loving Savior who has put forth a plan for us to spend eternity together. I love the spirit of Christmas and hope we can make it last all year long!

Darin and Joanna 101

Once upon a time there was a little girl.... and a little boy.

They grew up and went off to high school.

She was busy doing this...

He was busy doing that....

They found each other pretty cute and could be found at all of the dances like this....



They grew up even more and did this...

The more time they spent together, the more they couldn't stay apart.

Well the day finally came that he needed to do this.Tears were shed and pounds were lost, but she knew this is where he was suppose to be.

They wrote every week....for two whole years. Not one week was missed.While he was busy doing this...

She needed to get away too. She could be found here....and here.... and here.... and not to forget here.

Even though she thought the day would never actually arrive. He came home!

5 weeks later she was sporting a beautiful diamond.

They were officially engaged. The night it happened she laughed...not cried. She thought it a little funny that she was actually marrying the only boy she had ever loved. Or kissed. You might find that boring.....or romantic...either way it is what it is and with a handsome face like that I don't think anyone can blame her. He swept her off her feet the second he gave her that smile.

It was this day nine years ago that He took Her hand and promised her forever. He also promised that he would always make her laugh....

Well three houses...

one...

two...three...one dog...

and three kids later,He is still holding true to his promise, he makes her laugh just about every day!
Happy anniversary to the greatest guy I know. I am lucky to have had my eye on you for over half of my life! Thank you for loving me and for putting up with my flaws. I think you are as handsome as the day I first laid eyes on you! I love you!