2009 In Review

We started the year off finding out we were going to welcome a baby to our home in September. Jackson Matthew Crowley was born September 13th, 2009! He has been such a joy to our family! He is full of laughs lately and is the best baby in the world! He never cries and is always smiling. Jackson is coming very close to rolling over and hates tummy time:) He truly has been such a blessing and has made the spirit at our home so wonderful. We can't imagine life without him!

Emmy started 2009 off with her 2nd birthday. She will soon be 3 and is not longer my baby:( Emmy has learned so much this year! She is now potty trained, sleeps in a big girl bed and is more independent everyday! She loves treats, her friends, cousins and shopping just like her mom:) Emmy also started dance this year. She takes a class once a week and loves every minute of it! We are so glad she is a part of our family and love her so very much!

Matt has also had a wonderful year! He is still with Encover as their controller and is enjoying everyday life with his job. Matt started working on the basement this year and is hoping to have it done by February. If you recall Matt got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes last year. He has been such a trooper and is really taking charge of it! Matt has enjoyed himself this year while playing with the kids, playing basketball, going skiing, date nights and much much more. Matt has turned into such a "family man" we love him so much and appreciate all his hard work! He is the best dad and husband ever!

This year has been a year of growing for me. Physically ( my pregnancy) and mentally. As I mentioned earlier we started the year off with a pregnancy. Pregnancy this time around was hard but had such a wonderful outcome! I spent the majority of the year getting us ready for a new baby. It entailed potty training, bed switching, lots of shopping, decorating, reminiscing and much much more. I have made so many new friends this year and am so grateful for them. This year has not consisted of much drama and I am so grateful. I have loved date nights, girls night out, shopping,finishing our basement, making new friends, my church calling, watching and teaching my children... I live my life for my family! This year has been full of precious memories.

Matt and I hope to go on a family vacation and a couples vacation in 2010. We have really learned the importance of couples time this year and hope to keep up on it. We look forward to finishing our basement, putting Emmy in preschool, enjoying the precious moments of having a baby around the home and so much more. I know 2009 was wonderful because we chose to make it wonderful and because of our Heavenly Father. We are so blessed and are so happy we are raising our kids in the gospel. We hope 2010 will be a wonderful year!!!

Christmas 2009

LOVE HIM!!! He is so adorable:)

I love the kids Christmas outfits!

This is what our family room looked like after opening everthing.

Emmy was so excited:)

The kids stash!!!

I loved their matching pj's this year:)

This Christmas was one to remember!!! Emmy loved Christmas this year and was so much fun! It was our first Christmas as a family of 4 and we loved every minute of it!!!
Christmas Eve we started off with our usual tradition of opening our matching PJS!!! I must say the kids looked adorable:) Soon after, we went to a Christmas Eve party and Matt's sisters house and then went and opened presents at my moms. Emmy was SO SO SO excited for everything! Before the kids went to bed Emmy put out milk and cookies for Santa and told me to tell Santa she was a good girl:)
Christmas morning I was the first one up. I went and got Emmy. She did not know what to think at first but it came to her pretty quickly. She loved all her presents and kept saying "OH MY HEAVENS!!!" Matt surprised me with some boots, a new bra, some grass fabric softener and a copy of " The Family Proclamation" that I have been wanting. After all the excitement ended we were off to see family.
I am so grateful for my Savior and his birth! He helps me through life daily. I am grateful for the gospel and for eternal families!!! Christmas 2009 was one to remember:)

Random Life

For starters please ignore the ugly pictures of me above:) Saturday night we decided to take the kids to Thanksgiving Point to see the lights. We let Emmy and Jackson come sit with us while we drove through the lights. We all LOVED IT! After the lights we went out for dinner and JCW'S ( SO GOOD!!!). I love spending time with my little family and love them so much!

Thursday night the 3 girls got together as usual for girls night out and a gift exchange. We ate at California Pizza Kitchen and shopped, shopped and shopped! I love you guys!

Last week for playgroup we had a Christmas party. We made gingerbread houses, played and ate lunch. Emmy loved every minute!

A few weeks ago we were in our room and herd a big bang in Emmy's room. When we went in this is what we found. She hit her foot on the stool and did not even notice it! She is a deep sleeper to say the least:)

Tradition

One of my favorite family traditions are the Elves. The elves from Santa's workshop come to our house. We have our shoes set out by our stockings and if we were good that day we get a treat. You can also write Santa a list of wanted items and it will get hand delivered to him:) We all love the tradition. I love Christmas time!!!

Silly girl

I love this girl!

As you can see she has a real gift for putting on makeup :)

Emmy loves to put random headbands on, pull her pants down and eat goldfish. Oh the life of a 2 year old:)

Emmy has been into all sorts of thing lately. She loves getting into my makeup, making a mess with water while playing kitchen, dressing herself and drawing on things she should not be drawing on. I though I would share a few silly pictures we have taken lately!

Giving Thanks

In light of Thanksgiving I thought I would do a little post about all the things I have to be grateful for!
First and foremost I am grateful for my husband! I am grateful for his love for our family, his hard work and his patience!
I am grateful for my kids and the joy and stress:) they bring in my life! They both have such sweet spirits and I love them more then anything!
I am grateful for my home! I could kiss the walls!!! Building our own home has truly been amazing. There is such a sweet spirit here. I could have never imagined loving a place as much as I love my home!
I am grateful for my family!
I am grateful for my husbands job!
I am grateful for the church and for all that Heavenly Father has done for us!
I am grateful for this earth and all its beauty!
I am grateful for my new jeans:) and other clothes
I am grateful for diapers
I am grateful for my wonderful bed!
I am grateful for pictures! I love going back and looking at our past!
I am grateful for the food on our table!
I am grateful for the sweet spirit during the holidays!
I am grateful for prayer!
I am grateful for my amazing friends! They have enriched my life so much!
I am grateful for my car!
I am grateful our health!
There is so much more I could say but I have 2 kids needing me right now. I am so grateful for all the blessings in my life! I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

Pictures

I decided to take Jackson to JcPenny's and get a few photos in his blessing outfit. Of course Emmy had to have 1 picture taken of her:) I just love my kids and think they are adorable!!!

Jackson's Blessing Day

Today was Jackson's blessing. Matt did a great job. I am so grateful for my little guy! Thank you to everyone who came to support us on this special day!

Mean Mean Man!

Today has been such a long day! I had to take my grandma around to run some errands. I knew my plates were a month expired but I have had NO time to get it taken care of. Not to mention I have a newborn and the last place I want to take him is the DMV.
It all started with my grumpy attitude this morning. It had been a long night and I was not in the mood to take my grandma to run her errands ( I love you grandma!). First on the list was taking her to a coin shop downtown. When we got there I paid for the parking and went in with her. When I looked out the window I noticed a cop standing next to my car and giving me a ticket. I ran out as fast as I could with my 2 year old and newborn in tow.
T-" Whats the problem officer"
Parking ticket ass- "Your plates are expired"
T- " I am so sorry. I just had a baby and have not had time to go to the DMV. Can you give me a warning and I will make sure my husband takes it in first thing tomorrow?"
PTA_ " No it is too expired."
T- "It is only a month expired. And I had a baby when it did. Please just give me a warning"
PTA"NO. IT is your fault for not taking care of it." he was very short and very rude!
T- "fine. Emmy come on lets go. He is a mean mean man" He was standing next to me as I said this and gave him a dirty look. He walked away and I was very upset. After getting the kids buckled and walking around to my door I don't know what came over me. I yelled as loud as i could " YOU ARE A PRICK!"
I am sure Emmy herd it even though her door was shut and I felt my heart melt. It was a bad parenting moment and I know it! I must say I don't know any cop who would be so mean to give a young mother with a 2 year old, newborn and grandmother a ticket instead of a warning. It was only a month expired and he was so mean! I have been upset about the whole situation all day!

Our life lately

We love date night!

Our pumpkins this year.

Cute little butterfly and Pea in a pod

Emmy playing. I thought this picture was funny!

Little Jackson

My adorable kids!!!

Our life has been pretty mellow lately. We are finally in our daily routine and enjoying each other.
Halloween was a blast. We took Emmy and Jackson trick or treating, had homemade chicken noodle soup,wastle, and watched scary shows. We decided to stay low key this year and just stay at home. It was so nice to just enjoy Halloween and not have to worry about family.

Emmy is doing great! She is learning more and saying funnier things everyday. Today she noticed her trick or treating bag was empty and said " Mom oh no! My candy is gone! I need to get in my buderfry (butterfly) costume and get more!" She is loving her dance class and LOVES painting lately.

Jackson is getting HUGE!!! I cant believe he is 8 weeks and 12 pounds!!! He smiles and likes to coo at things. He has been such a wonderful addition to our family!

Matt worked from home on Thursday last week and took Friday off. It was so nice to have him home with us and just enjoy each other! We got our Christmas lights up, finished the H1N1 flu vaccine for Emmy and Matt (I got it a month ago with Emmy), Played at home, went to the ballet with my grandpa and had fun!!!

I know this is a boring post but this is our life lately. We are enjoying every moment with the kids and loving life.

Family Pictures

As usual Preston Rasmussen did an amazing job. Here are just a few of my favorite pictures. If you are interested check out his website at

web.me.com/preston_rasmussen.

A day in our life

Dancing


Lounging in bed

Sleeping

These are a few everyday things that make my life great!