Happy Valentine's Day Ben!

I found this card for sale on another blog. Hilarious! Love it...

Luke's 3 month pictures

Luke was so funny during this session because every time the photographer would get him to smile he would immediately stuff his fists into his mouth. It was hard to capture that smile before it was full of fist. But they still turned out so stinkin' cute! Isn't he a heartbreaker?

Bathtime Fun

Emma and Rachel are hilarious at bathtime! They do the funniest thing after they get out of the tub. Emma wraps her towel around Rachel like a mother bird wrapping her wings around her baby. And Rachel just nestles into Emma and they cuddle together for a little while. It's too cute! I had to get some pictures of them doing it.




Rachel's face in this picture cracks me up!

Random January Pictures

The girls love to read on the stairs.

Getting messy making Monkey Munch (say that 3 times fast)


Aunt Sue and cutie-pie Luke. Love those dimples!

Ben's brother, Danny, came to our house to hang out with us Sunday afternoon. Luke enjoyed hanging onto his fingers.

Bummed

I am bummed today. I was very much looking forward to getting a water softener. Hard water has taken its toll on everything (and everyone) in our house. When the installer came this morning to hook it up, we discovered the softener does not fit in the closet (and they said they would only be able to soften the hot water in the house, not the cold because of the way the water lines were set up). Alas, the softener will not work here in this house and I am stuck with hard water. Ugh!

Brownies

I know a few people have requested this brownie recipe, but I can't remember who (mommy brain!), so I thought I'd post it on the blog.

The yummiest and easiest brownies you'll ever make--I promise...

Speedy Brownies

2 c. sugar
1 ¾ c. flour
½ c. baking cocoa
1 tsp. salt
5 eggs
1 c. oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips (can use any kind of chips—white chocolate, milk, peanut butter, etc.)

In a mixing bowl, combine the first seven ingredients; beat until smooth. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

We love dinosaurs!

For a few months now, the girls (especially Emma) have been very into dinosaurs. I don't even know how it got started. They love to play with the plastic dinosaurs Santa brought them, watch YouTube dinosaur songs and videos, and pretend to be dinosaurs. So it was only natural that we take them to the dinosaur museum at Thanksgiving Point, right? I love this museum! It's great that they offer so many interactive activities for kids. We could have spent a whole day there! Good times...

The "wet digging area"



Ben and Luke enjoyed the museum too

Roarrrrrrrr!

Future paleontologist

I love the way Lauren and Emma are looking at each other in this picture. They're such good friends!

My Cute Bro

My brother, Cameron, has been serving a mission in San Francisco (a scary place to be right now with all the Prop 8 stuff that's happened) and is coming home in two short weeks! I am beside myself with excitement! I get to fly to my parents' home to see him and have some great family time (we haven't all been together in several years). I'm taking Luke but the girls are staying here. I'll miss them like crazy but it will sure be nice to have a little break. Here's a picture of my cute brother on the day we dropped him off at the MTC. See the "dork dot" on his nametag? I miss him so much--he is a blast to be around and yet such a caring, sensitive guy at the same time. And we have a special connection because being 7 years older, I changed his diapers (good thing he's not reading this blog), taught him his ABC's and 123's, spiked up his hair and played with him all the time. He's my bud! I'm so glad he's coming back out here to BYU in the spring.

My Afternoon Snack

It doesn't get any finer than this.

New Years Fun

We got together with the Familias for a fun New Years Eve. Cheese and chocolate fondue--can't beat that! Here is a picture of our messy fondue-loving kids.

A cute series of Luke pics.

Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. We spent time at the Bergins on Christmas Eve and enjoyed a delicious dinner followed by a program that included gorgeous holiday music, stories, and of course, the reading of Christ's birth story. We then came home and had our own little discussion of the true meaning of Christmas. And then the elves got to work!

Aunt Kathy reading "The Night Before Christmas" to everyone. Emma practically has it memorized!

Luke loves his Grandpa Bergin

One of Emma's favorite presents: a princess sticker book. Look at those excited eyes!

Emma and Rachel in their new dress-ups. Yep, it was still dark outside during this picture. The girls got up at 6:15 a.m.--Ben told me to tell them to go back to sleep. Yeah, right! I got a good laugh out of that one.

My boys. Luke got a baby Pooh from my parents (which Rachel thinks should be hers to match the big Pooh we got her).


I love my new body pillow. Thanks honey!

Me and my girls


A princess dancing with her prince