~ Baptism ~

Levi has begun his new life with Christ!! Yesterday he received the sacrament of Baptism. We are so glad that so many of our family was able to share this special day and baptismal ceremony with Levi and all of us. I can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday morning, but getting everyone to the church wasn't easy...

Jill, (one of Levi's Godparents) came down with a severe case of Tonsilitus two days before, but drove several hours very sick to be at his baptism. And, I managed to get the van stuck in my parents driveway shortly before we were supposed to be at the church.

My dad and brother had already left for the church to start shoveling away some of the parking lot so they had the snow shovels. So I managed to clear away the snow under the tires with the garden shovel.


Grandma Penny took control of the wheel while the 3 of us pushed.










Levi with his Godparents. I love the look on his face. Levi has other things on his mind...probably lunch. :)








Reading with Uncle Jared. Levi loves books!


Levi loves farm animals! Looking at his new book from Aunt Jill.


Looking at a picture book with Jared and Carrie. He especially loves the group photo and pointing to people he knows.

The future winter olympic bobsledding team enjoyed the 6 inches of snow we received on Friday with their Daddy and Grandma Penny. I did manage to make it outside, but only to take pictures and video.

~ Job Change ~

Earlier this month, Wes applied for a new position and we found out on Wednesday that he was the man for the job. He is still with the Highway Patrol but will be working in the DDCC, Division of Drug and Crime Control. Although he loved his current job as a road officer, he is excited for this change in his work focus. While I am excited about his job opportunity, I have to admit I am sad about moving further away from my parents. They have been a HUGE help so many times in helping watch the kids for different occassions. It was so nice to occasionaly go to the grocery store alone without 3 kids hanging out of the cart, take only one to their dentist or doctor appointment, and get a chance to workout a couple times a week. Yes, Papa and Nana will be missed. Hopefully, they are willing to make an hour or so road trip frequently as it will be hard on the kids (and me) not seeing them several times a week. The past couple of days we have spent talking with a realtor to get our home listed and scouting houses in the new prospect town that we are looking to relocate to. Hopefully, the selling of our home and finding a new place will sycronize in to a comfortable time frame and the transition of our move will be easy.

Jaidyn received passes to Jump Mania from her Papa JR and Mama LaLa for her birthday and we had a chance to use some of them on Friday. She and Addy loved all of the big blow-up slides and jump houses. Wes, Levi and I kept our jackets on the entire time we were inside as we thought it was a little chilly, but Jaidyn and Addy were sweating and had hot rosy cheeks from playing so hard.




Levi, on the otherhand, had a different outlook of Jump Mania...




He did finally warm up to the place and claimed the Little Tykes slide as his own most of the afternoon.



Addy and Levi helped me make a pizza for dinner this week. I have such great help!

They thought I was finished taking pictures and had walked off, but I caught them sneaking bites of the shredded cheese.


A fashionista in the works! Jaidyn took a scarf, slipped it over her head to make a shirt and then added a pipe cleaner around her neck to attach part of it to make it in to a halter top. The crown and gloves are an added touch to her outfit.

~ GiddyUp ~

On Saturday, all three of the kids were invited to a 4 year old's Cowboy themed birthday party. Jaidyn had their outfits planned out way early in the week. She has a pink sparkly flapper girl dress-up dress that she calls her Cowgirl dress. I think because of all of the fringe hanging off of it she associates it with western wear. Luckily, I talked her out of wanting to wear it and we went for a simple cowgirl shirt instead. Addy was all decked out with her pink cowgirl boots. She just couldn't quit stomping around the house in them so they would light-up with each stomp. And poor Levi, just went in normal clothes. I haven't acquired any cowboy attire for him yet, or at least not any that fits.



Jaidyn riding around on her stick horse, "Spirit". The poor guy has seen his better days as the stick has been duck taped in 3 places. Jaidyn loves him and it crushed her a few weeks ago when I asked if we could send him on to horse heaven (the trash).




Addy galloping on her horse, "Flicka".

For the last 30 minutes the kids have all been playing in the bathroom with their mermaid Barbie's swimming in the sink. Yes, even Levi has been given one of the mermaids to play with. I guess they must have gotten bored with the mermaids as Levi just came to me to show me his new hairdo. I could even smell the hairspray Jaidyn used to make the spike. He is really needing a haircut and if I don't get it done soon, the girls will probably start trying to put barrettes and little ponytails in his hair.


I am looking forward to getting to sleep in an extra hour or so tomorrow (if Levi allows it) since the girls don't have preschool for Martin Luther King Day.

~ Life's A Dance ~

It's a new year and just saying the year 2010 is kind of fun. I think I like saying "twenty-ten" over "two thousand and ten". In the spirit of the new year, I decided to jazz up my blog a little bit and support a good cause at the same time. So I had Nikki from Blogs for a Cause design my blog header. She gives a portion of the proceeds to a charity of the month and the other portion goes towards her mission trips.

A friend of mine had a couple of great title suggestions for my blog using song titles. So I kind of started thinking about song titles and I instantly came up with Life's A Dance. I have always loved this song by John Michael Montgomery and I think the chorus sums up our crazy busy, carefree lifestyle. So join me as I blog about our family dancing (it could get crazy as we sometimes aren't very coordinated) through the next couple of years. We have so much in store for us this next year...a move, Jaidyn starting kindergarten, Addy & Levi in preschool, and Levi's adoption finalization (May) and that is just a start. Again, thank you to all who comment on our blog. We love to keep in touch!

Expressing their creativity! Hmmm, I hope they don't take after me in creativity and art skills.




Every time I get the camera out, Levi gives me this cheesy ornery smile.


Buddies! Racing Hotwheels across the dining room floor.