Amazing

I know you all think that your husbands are amazing. But, really?! Carl is AMAZING. This shed went up in our backyard in a matter of probably a month if you cut out the few (winter months) in which he wasn't able to work. I am talking cement, building, hardy board, and painting. All of which he did by hand. Yep, this is not a kit. He borrowed the plans from some website, which was advertising kits, did his own measurements and built the whole thing (with a little help from siblings, parents, and neighbors). I am telling you my man is amazing, a little crazy (he roofed in the snow, and put up hardy board in the pouring rain) and obsessive (I can't tell you how many nights in the freezing cold he said, "I'll be in in a minute"), but amazing. You can see the progress below.








In all honesty he is such a great husband and father and person in general. I don't know of anything in his life that he doesn't do wholeheartedly. He takes pride in his work and does an amazing job. I love you babe!!

Update

The past few months we've had a few changes at our house, not bad changes, but changes none-the-less.

I was released from my calling in the Young Women's, which I'd been in for 3 years!! It has been a bit of a relief, but weird, to not have anything to do on Tuesday nights. I also have become obsessed with craft blogs, my newest favorite is Knock-Off-Wood. This lady looks at Pottery Barn furniture and makes a knock-off plan which you can get at her site for free. They look so good. I am planning to build a Cameron Shelf.

Icky is getting too smart for his own good, I asked him a question in the car the other day. Given it was a repeat, but he didn't answer the first time. His response was, "I told you that five minutes ago Mom." Also after getting after him for squeezing Marley's arm (which she hates) he said, "I didn't hurt him very bad." (every boy is a him as is every girl, I now find myself mixing the two up sometimes) He'll be four soon and I have found a couple of pre-schools I'm interested in sending him to and I'm getting a little heart sick that my boy is big enough for school.

Marley's personality is really starting to come out. She is so sweet, she shyly smiles at strangers and says cute things like "lub oo daddy" and "pease" and "ta tu". But I am learning that she doesn't like to be crossed or told 'no'. She hits and yells 'no' when her diaper is being changed (which she hates, by the way). She already knows how to run away when I'm trying to get her to do something. Marley knows how to get her brother in trouble, he'll come close to her and not touch her, she will yell and scream so I think he's done something and when I ask what has happened she'll say "Gayick hit." I really try not to laugh. But it is funny.

Carl hasn't changed much, he is a teacher in the elders quorem now, a break from primary. He is learning that the kids want him as much as me, every morning they ask for him then tell me I'm lying when I say he's at work. Marley runs after him and says "daddy, cawal," (Daddy, Carl)he loves this. Garrick wants to be his right hand man for fix-it jobs and Mario Cart Wii. He also keeps asking if Carl is getting old. He is such a great Dad.

Isn't a married-with-kids life fun.

WINTER Fun

We've been enjoying the winter months this year with some traditional and nontraditional activities.
Once there was a snow man. . . small, small, small.

Dashing down through the snow. . .
with Josh and Erin and the Petersons

and behind the four-wheeler at the Benchs.

It's a bird, its a plane, its. . .

super Garrickand super Marley.


I looked out the window and what did I see. . .
THE SUN!!

And finally going on a bear hunt. . .

DOWNSTAIRS. Our first official camp-IN.

The kids have been great, but have felt a little couped up. So any chance we get we try something to entertain them, even if it is a lot of work, we do it. We took a Front-Runner ride up to Union Station in Ogden, which is always great. They both loved sledding both down the hills and behind the four-wheelers. (We also rode horses that day but I didn't get any picks, Marley loved the "phishes" and wanted more rides.) I took them to story time at the library, which happened to be on SuperHero day. And the sun was out the other day, so I let them play in the empty flowerbeds in the sun, in they yard. Marley actually fell onto her head while her feet were still under her, she was stuck, it was hilarious, and yes I helped her up. Finally Garrick has been begging to go camping, the camp-IN was the next best thing. (We are really glad we have a big finished room in the basement.)

Hope you are having as much fun as we are.

Marley

I rarely talk about Marley, but she is wonderful!! She is a true girl, she has the
ability to locate at least one, if not several pairs of shoes at any given time and wants to be wearing them. She will go and get a comb if Carl is laying on the floor. She is Getting so big too. She talks a ton. Her favorite words are puppy, plate, treat, Garrick (which she says quite well), Daddy, Mom, mimi (blankey), cheese (she is my daughter), PaPa (grandpa, to everyone who looks a little older), and of course "no". She is learning sorry and about any other word she hears someone say. She said "Have that," to me the other day when she wanted something. She is learning to play with Garrick and wats to be doing any and everything he is doing. She also stands her ground and like my boy, when given the fight or flight situation, she fights. She loves her mimi and her thumb and she is a bit of a mama's girl (okay, a lot of a mama's girl). She is more shy than Garrick but just as sweet. I am adjusting, she was only in the 25th percentile for her weight at her last appointment. I just think my little opposites are so cute.

Ah, the joy of

ambition that doesn't come to fruition. My wonderful count down to Christmas lasted all of 3 days, you can see I am not a habitual person. So without further adieu here is the countdown to Christmas 2009.
#7 Putting up the Christmas tree, a little early this year. But it was snowing so it added to the ambiance.
#6 The very random lights in Layton. It was also freezing.
#5
A family picture by our favorite place during the winter. This was on our Christmas Card.
#4


Here is my little singer and his back-up. They are singing his favorite song from the Polar Express. They are getting so they play so well together. Marley is also getting so that she worships the ground Garrick walks on.

#3
I don't have any pics for this one, but it is cute none-the-less. We went (a little late) to pick out the presents for the Arkansas Bench cousins and Garrick really shocked me. I thought he would throw a fit because I wasn't buying him toys, but he was wonderful. He actually begged me for the better part of an hour to go and see Tanner in Arkansas, he didn't care that he was in school or that the drive would take hours. He really wanted to visit his cousins and give them their presents. It reminded me of when they left in August and he broke down bawling because they were gone and he didn't say good bye. He has a very tender heart.
#2
That my son would honestly be happy if Santa only brought him a Polar Express and a Yo-Yo. And as corny as it seems that we are so blessed this Christmas to have what we have. It hit me more this year than others that we are truly a very happy, blessed family
#1
When we do Christmas Eve in Layton we don't do big family things. So as a little family we had a nice dinner, opened pajamas and Up, and read the Christmas story out of the bible, a short version anyway. We then stayed up way too late and watched Up. Towards the end I looked over thinking Garrick had put something in his mouth, he hadn't he was crying. We all went to bed, and nestled all "snug in our beds." Merry (belated) Christmas.