Not short, but sweet

I envisioned beautiful collages of my pictures neatly topping off each post of mine until I discovered the program my friend Diane uses and my Macbook do not work together.  I have tried every which way around it but alas, Picasa and I were not meant to be.  So while I still feel hope for the future, in the meantime, I'll have to catch up on my blog the old-fashioned way.

First of all, I cut bangs.  I haven't had bangs since I was like 14!  Change is fun.

We tried our feet at ice-skating in a fun outdoor rink in downtown Fort Collins, old town.  

Our partner-in-crime, Jessica Vincent.  Such good friends, she and her husband are more like family.

Look who made an appearance!  I didn't know Santa had such skills.  Playing the harmonica while skating, leading up "the train" as he weaved in and out of the crowd.  He even offered Ryan Vincent some ice-skating tips.

Family group shot

We had Flat Stanley come visit us from California.  That was fun.  

Here he is with Tyler's class at school, he is front and center.

Catching the spirit of The Christmas Holiday.

And walking Brody Jackson, a.k.a. Broditron 6000

Once I figure out how to make slide-shows, albums or collages on my Mac, I will share all of the pictures from our ice-skating adventure, there are so many good ones!  Here is just one of the kids trying to warm up around the fire pit.

Joshua and I celebrated our TEN year anniversary in December!  He surprised me with this and I was so touched by the note he wrote me and the fact that he read my mind.  I've been wanting this but haven't told anyone or even asked for it.  It has pure sentimental value.

Ouch!  I learned the hard way that it is never a good idea to run, barefoot on slippery ice outside!  The California girl in me is shining through!

And the highlight of Christmas for Tyler would be that Santa brought her a pet snake.  She and her Dad came up with the name Cornell or Cornie.  She is quite sure that this is the best present she has ever gotten and will ever get.  I feel badly that I still haven't touched him yet and that I involuntarily shudder sometimes when I see him move.  Otherwise, he is cute, especially with this girl holding him.

Brody couldn't have been happier with Christmas.

He decided to take a nap with his goose, worn out from all the action.

Sending our love, xoxoxo

8 is great!

Tyler turned 8 this week!  She was born on 2/2/02 at 2:22 am PST.  I was 22 years old and her SS # follows the same pattern.  She's got all kinds of wonderful!  We were so happy to celebrate her! 

  

She knew what she wanted, french toast for "breakfast in bed", Mom to deliver Rainbow Chip cupcakes and hang out with her class, her friend Devon to come over after school, eat homemade lasagna & root beer floats, open presents and go to Activity Day Girls for the first time!  Morgan kept busy serving, helping to decorate the house and I loved witnessing the joy it brought Morgan to do special things to make Tyler happy.  

She got some treats from the Marion Family, a North Face jacket & shoes from Grandma Bobbi, cash from Grandpa & Grandma Cox, a Smithsonian book about Reptiles and Amphibians from Grandma Jenny, money from Papa & Nana, some fake nails, the game of Life, another book, and 3 new shirts.  She was so excited!

Activity Day Girls, what an adventure!  Devon came along, they got manicures and came home with butterfly totes filled with good grooming booklet, soap, lotion, nail clippers, toothbrush, toothpaste, bath pouf and other goodies.

  

She will be baptized on April 10th, 2010.  She wants her Uncle Randy to baptize her and he will be home from his mission on March 6th.  Oh Tyler-Ryler, you are so special and we love you so!

xoxo

Oil in Our Lamps

I recently had the opportunity to be a part of a presentation of "Oil in Our Lamps" at a Relief Society Meeting.  It was beautiful.  Each of us re-enacted the story of the Ten Virgins from the book of Matthew.  I was feeling the anxiety of performing and trying to be dramatic.  I finally realized that my worry and anxiety would get in the way of the message.  I relaxed as I realized that I didn't need to become "dramatic" or a "performer", something I am not.  I simply needed to make the preparations necessary and show up and do my part.  The message would be clear, The Spirit would do a much better job than I ever could.  Isn't that just how it is though?

I understand even more clearly that Heavenly Father knows, deeply loves and cares about each and every one of us individually.  I have always known this of course but this strengthened my deep love and gratitude for The Savior and helped me to be so much more aware of the deep bond and loving relationship that is available to me and everyone.  It is a matter of relying on Him and everyday drawing nearer unto Him by daily prayer and daily scripture study.  Here is the book the presentation was based on. 

http://desertsaintsmagazine.com/2006/11/01/the-ten-virgins-ten-women-ten-stories-ten-lessons-for-our-day/

 Thanks for listening! xoxo

Blah, Blah, Black Sheep

This post is dedicated to my girl that sings, "Blah, Blah, Black Sheep, have you any fear?  No sir, no sir."  The fun, spunky, cuddly-cute and ever so sweet, Morgan Emma.  She turned 5 in December.

She wanted homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast and I know someday she will wake up at 5 am to make her little lovies their favorite breakfast. 

We snuck Tyler out of school to have lunch at Red Robin.  I felt a little guilty but how many times does your little sister turn 5?  It was fun.  

Momo, colors our life bright.

  It's funny, I started this post thinking that birthday's around here are pretty uneventful.  That's the beauty of journaling/blogging, sometimes our perceptions are not quite reality.  So keep on blogging friends and appreciate the insight it gives you!  xoxo

Family History has taken me away

Yes, it is true, I am Family History's newest recruit.  I had the opportunity of meeting with my Bishop, who I love and is very wise.  He encouraged me to get to work on my family history.  As soon as I input the names of the ancestors I knew onto the paper, I was electrified.  Ancestry.com has been a huge help and has allowed me to see historical documents that tell the story.  I feel a great strength in understanding my heritage and it has even encouraged me to get in touch with relatives that I've never spoken with or met.  I am so thankful for a Bishop that knows me and my needs and loves me.  His counsel has truly encouraged me.  I am blessed to be able to "align my priorities with the gospel and for the confusion to clear".  I coined that phrase from a talk that President Mark Marion gave this weekend at Stake Conference.
So, please excuse me as I hopefully update my poor, neglected blog in the coming weeks with all the happs and just know that I am rockin' it out with my family history.
xoxoxo  Ryan

Perfection is....letting go

So here I am, with my 5 and 7 year old home for winter break.  Our washing machine has been out of commission for 10 days now which is another post all of it's own.  There is just something cool about making the most of what you have, despite my initial resistance.  With laundry piling up around the house, the girls and I have been spending most of our time in the kitchen, baking and around the kitchen table, sewing.
Instead of stressing over the many gifts I should be shipping or the wrapping that must be accomplished, I decided that a breather was just what we all needed to make this holiday season enjoyable.  I peeped my cupboards and thankfully we have all we need to bake.
My only item on the agenda: 1) To observe the girls reading a recipe and mixing the ingredients in the right order.  Key word, observe.  I helped when needed but I just didn't fuss about anything.  Phew!  That was so much easier than I thought it would be and was actually very enjoyable for all!
 While growing up, my next door neighbor was an absolute angel, Mrs. Pinkner.  I often stopped by her house and she would invite me in to make cookies, muffins, or whatever she was whipping up.  She taught me so much and I would go home and bake and bake as soon as I could read.  I remember one day making breakfast for my family and they all couldn't believe I had made them apple-cinnamon pancakes and I was only 7 years old.  I was like, "What's the big deal?  The recipe is right here.  I just added the chopped apples, cinnamon, etc.  It's just reading"  Now I realize what a huge gift Mrs. Pinkner gave me all those years, I absolutely love to create in the kitchen.  She was an angel for being so open and patient with me.  I still feel blessed with people in my life that are like open books, always teaching me something new.

                                                        The fruits of their labor.

In between baking, they learned to use a needle and thread.

Oh and they embellished!  These felt heart pouches contain a lotta lotta love.

Tyler made the one on the left and Morgan made the one on the right.

Perfection is not conventional.  Perfection is messy.  Perfection is letting go and having a perfectly fun time.  That is all.

xoxoxo

Wrap a warm hug around ya

Morgan got this North Face jacket for her 5th birthday from Grandma Bobbi in California.  Can you tell she just loves it?  I'll let you in on a secret, it's not because it's an ultra-warm and super soft jacket.

It's because Grandma Bobbi told her that whenever she puts it on to think of Grandma giving her a hug.  

Only 4 months ago we made the move from California to Colorado and Morgan misses her Grandma so much!
Have I mentioned yet how thankful I am to have friends/family members in my children's life who love and care about them?  It is a tremendous blessing and I think it's pretty awesome.
XOXO

Butterfly Pavillion was on like tron

A sunshiny and happy hello from Colorado!  We're looking forward to the Christmas Season and just wanted to share pictures from our field trip to The Butterfly Pavillion.  I got to be the chaperone to some pretty sahweet and brave kids.  They all wanted to hold "Rosie" the tarantula and pet the madagascar hissing cockroach.  bleh!  No thank you, not for me.  
We had a lovely time!  It's always so nice to find gems like this in your area.  

This girl makes us laugh!

It was so fun seeing our friend Diane and Wesley Marion.  We love their family and our kids are both in second grade.  It's interesting to me that DeAnn Marion (Diane's sister-in-law) and I met when we were in 3rd grade.  We've been friends a very long time!  They are such a great family.  

Good memories.   

xoxoxo

I believe in snow and Wendy Sugarslush

I think I am so lucky to get to spend my days with this fun girl.  On this morning, she tells me, "I believe in snow."  and then after she gazed out the car window for a few moments said, "Jesus is so nice to give us some sprinkly snow."  I've noticed snow is very soothing for Morgan and makes her happy.  

We spent our morning making a snowgirl that she named Wendy Sugarslush.

Who would've thought this is the same girl that didn't want to move to Colorado because she would miss the dirt of the Southern California desert?

xoxo

Elder Cox

I'm feeling so thankful to have a missionary that is serving in the South Korea mission. It just dawned on me that he will be home in like 3 months! I'm so incredibly excited. We love him so much. He is my husband's younger brother. When Josh and I got married, he was 10 years old! Ahh, we've grown up with him. Even when we moved to California from Colorado, he made the move right behind us. He has tagged along every step of the way. We've almost been lost these last 2 years without him? I snuck this picture from his mission website.

He is the second one on the right, solid red tie, big smile.

Here is Randall Jordan during our trip to Flaming Gorge summer 2007.  I'm sure that when he gets home, a river trip with some wakeboarding is high on his list of priorities.

We love our Candy Randy, a.k.a. Elder Cox.

xoxoxo