Fun contest for free photos!

Go to:

http://www.nikimartins.com/kids/because-i-love-you/

And Enter!

LOL

Niki

Aunt Aline!!

So our amazing Aunt Aline (who spoils us each and every year with amazing gifts for our girls) gave Hannah and Lia the cutest little cooking book and cooking gear. They loved it! And here is Hannah after making her first real dinner with mom! We made pigs-in-a-blanket...it was a ton of fun! Thank you Aline and family!

We love you!

Stealing from a friend...

So I read a great blog by my friend Jessica about Reverse Resolutions. I think sometimes we are a little hard on ourselves. We think frequently about what we didn't do, what we are not able to do and who we are not. Every January 1st, most of us try to think of ways in which we can change these things and many of us start out strong and soon thereafter crash and burn. Now, I am one who believes in goals. I think goals help us accomplish those things we need and want to do. But how about every January 1st, we look back at what we were able to do...because I know everyone will have accomplished something worthwhile. Looking back, here are my Reverse Resolutions for 2010:

1. Survived two boot camps and lost 11 inches of body mass

2. Started to exercise on a regular basis and signed up for a spinning class 3 times a week

3. Took some advanced photography classes, and I actually knew what I was doing

4. Started working with my 4 year old on reading by writing a book just for her

5. Went through In-Vitro

6. Read many, many books

7. Stocked up on our food storage

8. Hung drywall

9. Painted an entire basement

10. Loved my calling as primary teacher

11. Bought a mini-van

12. Bought my first real purse

13. Started my own photography business

14. Survived the 1st trimester of pregnancy

15. Was able to be with and help my mom and dad through some really hard times

16. Learned how to do some pretty awesome actions with Lightroom and Photoshop.

17. Tried to spend more one on one time with my kids

What are your reverse resolutions?

LOL

Christmas!!!

We sure had a great Christmas! We hope that you did too! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My two cute little babes! How I love them!

Disney Fun!

We had so much fun at Disneyland this year! It is great to be able to see my girls enjoy their time there more and more each year. Hannah rode a ton of rides and Lia actually loved seeing all the characters there. Last year Lia just screamed and tried to get away, this year she gave them hugs and held their hands :) The weather was pretty good, with only one evening of rain. We are getting to know our way around Disney pretty well now so we know what rides to go to first and how to navigate around really well. I got pretty tired, due to the fact that I am pregnant, but other than that we had a blast and we know our girls loved it.

Hannah loved the roller coaster at Toon Town...Lia was a little unsure, although, she didn't cry :)

Hannah and Logan really have a thing for each other...who knows the Sniders may have to deal with us for a while longer....

Flavio took this the first night they were there....It was so beautiful!

Disneyland and the funeral

So this past weekend we were able to go to Disneyland with my husband's work. They take us there for our "Christmas Party"...I know amazing huh. We had a lot of fun. Getting there was a little crazy for me, as my Grandpa's funeral was the Saturday we were supposed to be in Disneyland. Flavio and the girls had to fly out Friday night while I stayed home and went to the funeral on Saturday morning. I was then able to fly out Sat evening and spent two days with my cute little family there. It was a hard weekend, as I am going to miss my Grandpa a lot. Seeing him at the funeral was harder than I thought it would be. I still don't think I totally believe he is gone. I am sure it will take a few family gatherings without him there for it to sink in. I love my Grandpa. But I am grateful that life does go on, and because of the Gospel I know that I will see him again.

More pics of Disney to come :)

LOL

Grandpa Cec

I have been very lucky, I have had the joy of having all four of my grandparents my 32 years of life. No divorces or death. I have stayed close to my grandparents my whole life. They have been there for everything. I feel very blessed to have had these relationships. But, as we all know, nothing can last forever. Last night, around midnight, my beloved Grandpa Cec died of natural causes in his home. I am grateful he died this way, in his sleep and in minimal pain. I love him very much and I am not sure, exactly how to feel. I know that he is with his brothers and sister, his mom and dad and also his son, who died last year around the same time. I will miss him. He was a teacher all his life. He loved reading and writing. He loved a good joke and told many. His passion was music. He could sit and listen to all the classics for hours and hours. I am grateful I had 32 years with this fun, intelligent, sprititual man. I will miss him, but I know I will see him again someday, and for that I am eternally grateful.

I love you Grandpa, and I will always remember and miss you!