Snow Day...

It hasn't been a very wet winter for us, until now. It seems like it has been snowing forever, and due to the crazy amount of snow, school was cancelled for today. I don't love snow, but I do LOVE having Jeff home with us, especially when it isn't expected! I was able to sleep in this morning and Little Miss got to spend all morning with her dad. They made a delicious breakfast, homemade biscuits and gravy and bacon, and watched her new movie, Horton Hear's A Who. When I got up, Jeff took a little rest and then him and Little Miss got dressed in their snow attire and headed out to play while Miss A and I stayed in our nice warm home. They had so much fun and came in freezing! We made some hot chocolate with whipped cream on top and it warmed them right up. It is just one of those days that you wish wouldn't end...we sure love daddy!! I guess snow isn't so bad when it results in days like this...

2 Months Old...

Miss A at 2 months old...

You are an excellent sleeper. You sleep about 7-8 hours at night before you wake up to eat and then you will go down for another 3-4 hours!

You no longer have your fussy time from 6pm-10pm every night...that is a thing of the past.

You smiled for the first time on Dec. 18th at your Grammy Nola! You smiled a few more times over the Christmas break and now you love to smile and "talk" to us all the time. You are such a sweet baby!

You don't love your binkie. You like it to help you go to sleep, but other than that you don't want much to do with it.

You are a very content baby and you still love when your big sister sings to you.

You have the cutest facial expressions! You especially have a good "attitude" face...

You LOVE the shower and the bath, but you definitely don't love getting lotioned after.

You still love cuddling with your daddy in the big green chair.

But the thing I love about you the most is...EVERYTHING!

Spending Time With The McOmie's...

Temple Square 2011...

Blessing Day...

On January 2nd 2012, Miss A was given a name and a blessing by her daddy and it was such a sweet experience. We decided to do the blessing over Christmas break at my parents house so that all our family could be there(well, most of our family), and Jeff wanted to do a short program to invite the spirit and it was perfect. My brother Steven gave the opening prayer and Jeff's brother Houston gave the closing prayer, and my brother Stayler played the piano. My mom, Jeff's mom, Jeff and I all gave our thoughts and testimonies, and then Miss A was blessed. Jeff gave the blessing and I know he followed the impressions he received and gave a beautiful blessing. My dad, Jeff's dad, Bishop Jenson(my parents bishop), my brother Stayler, Jeff's Uncle Steve, and Jeff's cousin Danny all participated in the blessing. It is such a privilege to be able to have Miss A in our family and I know her Heavenly Father has a lot in store for her. We love her so much!

Conversations...

Little Miss: Hey mom?!

Me: Yes sweetheart?

Little Miss: No mom, say "yes Belle?"

Me: Oh, yes Belle?

Little Miss: I need a drink.

Me: What kind of pizza do you want today?

Little Miss: Oh, I'll just have the one with the big yellow corns on it.

Me: Ok, I need to go get in the shower. (I stop to check the computer on the way)

Little Miss: Hey, you need to get in the shower!!

Me: I am getting in in just a minute.

Little Miss: Mom you are going to be late for the shower! Go now!

Me: Ok just a minute.

Little Miss: Mommy, I want you to go get in the shower. I will walk you to the shower. Would that be a great deal?! (said with a huge forced smile on her face, she is SO patient with her mommy!)

Little Miss always has to say a prayer on the food. And if you don't put all the food out at the same time, she has to bless it each time you put something out...so we try to bring her to the table once everything is on it.

2011...What A Year!!

2011 was quite the year, to say the least! It was full of trials, blessings and amazing miracles. It has been one of those years that has grown my testimony of my Savior and the reality of his presence in my life. It has taught me how much I love my family and the power of a mother's love. It has taught me that there is no room for fear where there is faith. I have learned the true meaning of sacrifice, service and gratitude. It has been one of those years that you look back on and realize you are a better person because of all these experiences, you are stronger, and that is exactly how I feel, each person in my family has found strength they didn't know they had. We grow from adversity...

January - Jeff started his 2nd semester of Vet School and I spent time with Little Miss and training for a half marathon.

February - Little Miss turned 2 and I got pregnant with Miss A.

March - I ran a half marathon...pregnant. I didn't know I was pregnant, and I am glad because I totally would have used that excuse to not run it! Found out I was pregnant. We went to Utah for spring break. Little Miss and I ended up staying for a month. I got really sick again with this pregnancy.

April - We went back to Washington. I continued to be sick, but only had to go to the hospital twice for IV's...it could have been so much worse! We didn't leave the house at all.

May - Jeff finished his first year of Vet School! We went back to Utah to work for the summer and I continued to be sick...but we lived with my family and they were so good to help me with Little Miss and everything I needed. My mom and dad are amazing.

June - Pretty quiet...I am still sick...

July - We had reunions for the Oyler's and the Sorensen's and spent time in Loa with Jeff's parents. I was finally starting to feel better. I flew to Washington and found out we were having another little girl!! Flew back to Utah...

August - We got a new niece, little Audri! Our brother in law was deployed. Spent a week spending time with Grandma Jean (my dad's mom) when she got sick and at the end of the week my brother John wrecked his motorcycle into a Nissan Armada and wasn't wearing a helmet. He was on life support in a coma in the STICU at IMC in Utah. He had a severe brain injury but was not broken at all except for a cracked sacrum. Miracle. He received a blessing that night from my dad, Jeff and Bishop Jensen and he was told he would recover and that this experience would be to teach him to rely on his Heavenly Father and correct his path. Jeff slept in John's hospital room and spent many hours with him until he had to start school again a week after the accident. Little Miss and I stayed with Grammy and Grampy and spent all our time at the hospital. John stayed in a coma on life support the rest of the month...not expected to live and certainly not expected to have any quality of life if he did.

September - After 4 weeks, John slightly came out of the coma and was moved from the STICU to an LTAC in Orem Utah. We spent a week with him down there and then Little Miss and I had to go home to Washington. Right after I got home I got a call and John said hi to me. I cried and cried.

October - John is transferred back to the IMC to their rehab floor, the docs in the STICU had said he would never make it there. Miracle. John continues to make improvements and is able to move a little more. Still a long way to go, but I know the Lord was always with him and that he would continue to improve. We celebrated Halloween and then Little Miss and I got sick...we didn't leave our house for 2 weeks straight.

November - Miss A was born!! Grandma and Pa drove straight here when I went into labor and stayed for a week after. They are so supportive and it always amazes me how willing they are to do anything for us. We spent Thanksgiving with our own little family and then my mom came to stay with us and took care of us for a week. I know what a sacrifice it was for her to leave John, but she never thought twice. I love her so much. She flew home and while she was at the airport I got a call from my brother that his little boy, Carter, was going to get a new heart. He had only been listed a couple months. Miracle.

December - Grandma Merlyn went into surgery and had a total knee replacement. We flew to Utah for Christmas. Went right to see John and Carter, both in the hospital, as soon as we landed. Left for Loa to spend Christmas there with Grandma and Pa. Grandma Jean got really sick and also broke her back and ended up in the hospital. We got a new nephew, baby Kyson! We came back to Salt Lake and spent the New Year with Grammy, Grampy and Uncle Steve. We spent all our time in Salt Lake visiting in the hospital with John and Grandma Jean. Jeff spent a lot of time with John and helped with his therapy. We got family pictures with my family and flew back to Washington.

I don't know what 2012 has in store for us, but I do know that whatever it is, I have my family for eternity and I can face anything knowing that. I have a lot of goals for this year and I hope at the end of 2012 I will be able to look back again and say I am a better person than I was. I have everything I need...an amazing husband, two beautiful girls, the best parents and extended family, solid friends and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. It's going to be an incredible year!

Christmas 2011...

We had a wonderful Christmas this year! Little Miss was a huge helper to her dad and they got our beautiful tree decorated! Miss A and I got to hang out together and oversee the decorating:) While Grammy Nola was visiting she made some ornaments with Little Miss to put on the tree and they turned out so cute! I especially loved this Christmas because we were able to teach Little Miss about her Savior and why we celebrate Christmas. She understood so much better this year and I love that she is already developing a testimony of her Savior, as simple and sweet as it may be. She knows he lives and she loves him. We did our own little Christmas at home a couple weeks before Christmas and Little Miss got just what she wanted...anything that has to do with Disney Princesses! She especially loved her memory game, stool and toothbrush holder all featuring the princesses. We left for Utah on December 18 and got to spend Christmas with Grandma and Pa in Loa. Little Miss loves going to Loa and seeing her Grandma and Pa and getting to "help" on the farm. She got to spend a lot of time with her Pa and dad since Grandma just got a knee replacement and I had Miss A to take care of, and she loved every minute of it! We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma Great and Grandpa Great and the rest of the Oyler family. There was delicious food and we loved our gifts they gave us! We all received such wonderful presents this year and were well taken care of by both our parents as usual! The girls got some really cute outfits and their Christmas ornament from Grandma and Pa. Grammy and Grampy also gave the girls some really cute clothes and lots of books. Between those gifts and all the gifts from their Aunts and Uncles, they did pretty good this year! We love our families so much and are so grateful for the time we get to spend with them.