Haaallleee!!!

She may be TROUBLE but she's sure cute!

Conversation with Caite:

Me: (talking to all the kids) Shhhh, you need to be more quiet the baby is sleeping.

Caite: Halle is NOT a baby, she's a woman. She has her own purse!

Me: True she has her own purse, but that doesn't make her a woman.

Caite: Well, she's still a woman, just a little one.

A Very Merry Christmas!

We had a Wonderful Christmas this year. It beat being in the hospital last year!! I love being able to just relax. With living so far away from family, we can focus on our little family. I like it that way. We don't need to be anywhere or do anything. We can just Enjoy the day. We played with our new stuff and stayed in our jammies until about 2. It was great!

Santa found us and brought new bikes for the kids. They were very excited. They had out grown and out wore the old ones. They also got a bunch of fun games we can play as a family. Isaac has been asking for a piano for several months (something we don't have room for in this house), so Nana and Papa gave him a nice key board for a Christmas/early birthday gift. It was a hit!

The biggest surprise came from Papa and Nana. There were a few gifts labeled to the Whole Family. So each of the kids opened one. They happened to be Wii accessories, with the final box a Wii. Now that was excitement and we were all VERY surprised. We have never owned any type of video game system, needless to say the kids are jumping up and down. We bowled, hit tennis balls, golfed, and played a bunch of other sports. It's a fun family activity. Thanks Nana and Papa!!

All in all we were spoiled this year.

And as Gardner Family Tradition goes...we spent all day yesterday (the day after Christmas) taking down the tree and all the decorations. As much as I LOVE putting them up and having the house all Christmasy, I LOVE taking it all down and having the clutter gone and my house back to normal.

Halle Turns ONE!!!

This year has been the fastest year ever! I literally don't know where the time has gone. We are so blessed to have Halle as part of our family and can't imagine life without here. She was a wonderful Christmas Eve present last year. Halle has turned into the sweetest, happiest baby. She is mellow and takes a lot from here siblings. She brings out a tender side in Isaac that I have never seen before. She melts our hearts and we love her!

Because Papa and Nana were in town we decided to celebrate Halle's birthday a few days early. So the night before they left we did cake and presents. She was not thrilled to have a party hat on her head, but as soon at we took it off she was very interested in opening her gifts. She dug into the cake and at one point, picked it up and shoved it in her face. We laughed, she laughed, it was a fun night.

Our Visitors

Nana and Papa came to visit this past week. We always love when they come. The kids counted down the days until they arrived and were extremely excited when they finally got here. We Christmas shopped, watched BYU lose, played games, ate good food, listened to Caite and Hayden put on a musical concert from the fireplace stage, talked until way past our bed time and celebrated the girls birthdays by going to Play Time Pizza. It's always wonderful to have family come!! Thank you Papa and Nana for visiting, please come back soon! Play Time Pizza

Ice Day?

Living in Utah and Michigan we know Snow days. But here in Arkansas it's a bit different. Last week it started raining a bit, then it turned to ice pellets. By morning we has a thick sheet of ice covered by ice pellets all over everything. School was cancelled and we stayed home (for 2 days)...you can't drive on ice like you can snow. The kids did everything you would do in snow, minus the snow man. They went sledding down the neighbors yard (on ice), and they "ice skated" on our drive way. Isaac stayed out in the bitter cold all day. I kept telling him he was crazy and needed to come in. He had a fun day!

Caite's 5!

It's doesn't seem like five years ago when Isaac and I got on a plane leaving Grenada and headed to Utah to have Caite. I left the island about a month before my due date so it was "safe" to travel. Aaron finished up finales and made it home just 2 days before our cute girl was born. Life hasn't been the same since. Caite is the best hugger, has a contagious smile and laugh, she is smart, friendly, and extremely picky about what she wears. We love her to pieces!!

We celebrated Caite's big day by having a few friends over for a Christmas Birthday Party. We made candy trains, home made pizza, and played games. The party was simple yet successful. Just the way I like it. Here are the highlights in pictures.

Baby Steps

Look at Halle go!

For the last few weeks she has taken a few steps at a time. Now she can go from the fireplace to the couch. In the background, Caite is singing and dancing on her "stage".

Fa la la la la

We decorated just before Thanksgiving this year because Aaron was home to help. I'm glad we did other wise it still wouldn't be up. I love this time of year. I love the lights, the trees, the candy, the music, the letters to Santa, the Christmas decor, the nativities, and the drives around the neighborhoods at night looking at lights. I love the feeling of Christmas. It's a happy, peaceful, joyous kind of feeling. We are trying hard to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas, but in reality they're true kids. They want their own TVs, cell phones, bikes, video games and everything else we see in stores. Although they may not be getting TVs and cell phones, they will be happy. I love their excitement. It's contagious.

Halle is starting to walk! She's not too stable yet, but will take up to 10 steps. I keep trying to get video of it, but she gets too excited and crawls after the camera. So a still shot will have to do for now.

What's for Lunch?

A few months ago a new Kroger was built in our town. I have been told it is the biggest one they have built. Needless to say it's very nice. The have a sushi bar with sushi chefs (or whatever they are called) there making it fresh daily.

I have been known on occasion (or several occasions) to stop by the sushi bar at lunch time.They have these Philadelphia Rolls that are filled with avocado, crab, and cream cheese. Dip them in soy sauce and a little wasabi and they are to die for! It's true I crave them often. Yesterday was one of those days! Mmmmmm so good! And yes, I eat all of them and would eat more if I bought more.

While I chowed on my sushi, Halle had ravioli for the first time. She chowed!!! She loved it!

Birthday Picture for Dad

Hayden drew Aaron a birthday picture. I found it GLUED to the chair Aaron sits on for dinner.

Tribute to my Man!

To my Golden Boy

Happy Birthday!

Just wanted to let ya'll know that I HAVE the PERFECT guy! Here are 31 completely random facts about him.

1. One of the other residents call him Golden Boy, because he does everything well.

2. He works extremely hard and gives 110% in everything he does.

3. He's a perfectionist.

4. He is wrapped around both his girls little fingers. (see above picture, look what he lets Caite do to him)

5. He loves the outdoors, but doesn't get to be out as much as he would like.

6. He's working on saving the world.

7. He is an incredible writer and public speaker (although he prefers not speaking)

8. He's very sarcastic.

9. He loves Indian Food.

10. He loves everything I cook (at least he tells me that).

11. He won't eat celery.

12. He doesn't like clutter. Everything has a place.

13. He has a file for almost everything.

14. He's patient with me and the kids.

15. He loves Broadway Plays.

16. He loves music...good music.

17. He loves to run.

18. He's a neat freak. (that makes it easy on me, one less person to clean up after)

19. He doesn't care for animated movies.

20. He's never been to Hawaii.

21. He loves his helicopter pants.

22. He can stay up late and wake up early and not be cranky.

23. He loves getting take out and bringing in home to eat while watching TV.

24. He's not a huge sports fan other than BYU football.

25. He loves Elder Neal A. Maxwell talks and books.

26. He loves to read, just doesn't have the time

27. He hates confrontation.

28. He gets more done in a day than most people I know.

29. Aside from me, his best friend is his dad. They are 2 peas in a pod!

30. He has a secret crush on Faith Hill and Taylor Swift.

31. In my eyes he's PERFECT!

Love you Hon!!