These make my heart happy!

I'm so grateful that I get to be a "stay-at-home-mom" right now.
I always stay busy...I'm not a person that gets bored, ever.
But staying home with my little miracle baby every day makes my heart happy.
I have much to be thankful for...mostly my family!

Serious Face

Hmmm...these Cheerios are pretty good.

A little scream of pure joy (she does that a lot).

A proud smile for the noise she just made.

And, a good juicy spit just to round out the series.

It makes me think of the talk by Elder Holland...
"Some blessings come soon,
Some blessings come late,
and some don't come 'til Heaven.
It will be alright in the end,
Trust God and believe in good things to come."

I love all my girls. Our family is proof that some blessings come late...
but we can never stop trusting in God.

Something I never wanted to do....

I've never really wanted to buy a house with "potential".
I've known a lot of people who've bought fixer-uppers and they turn into nightmares.
I kind of like houses that are already reaching their maximum potential. :)

But here in Eureka, most things have "potential".
There aren't very many things that are reaching their maximum.

After weighing all options (there weren't many),
We decided to buy the house we've been renting from the dentist Dan bought his practice from.

It is the funniest modge-podge house you'll ever see.
We've already affectionately named it 'The Money Pit'.

At least we won't ever run out of things to do in this small little town...

A quick tour so when I'm talking to you on the phone describing it's beauty you'll have a picture in your mind:

Outside view (the entire right side is a two story addition- that was added on who-knows-when??).

Living room with the floating staircase.
The home inspector said we need to fix that....ya think?!

The kitchen...look closely
huge island (I love) covered in 2" tiles (don't love)
maroon paint (don't love) yellow orange tiles on the outside counter (don't love).
Dan says it's Timpview colors...not necessarily the look we're going for :)

Standing in the living room facing the rest of the house...the far room at the end is the master bedroom.

Huge laundry room...will be so fun when it's organized one day.

Hallway bathroom...the girls said the paint color is called "Avery Poop".

Master Bedroom

Master bathroom...the clawsfoot tub is for sale if you want it.

Upstairs bonus room w/ its own bathroom and walk-in closet.
This room will soon be Kallie and Syd's room so Avery doesn't have to sleep in our room in a porta-crib anymore.

I know I sound really negative...but I'm actually pretty excited.
It's going to be a slow process as we can afford things, but hey...we've got time.
It will be fun to post before and after pictures for all to see.
Beware- if you come visit us we may put you to work!!

Christmas 2011- A Christmas to Remember

Yes, Christmas 2011 will be remembered for years to come.
It will forever be knows as: The Norris Family is Sick so Stay Away from Them Christmas!
Dan started feeling sick the day before we left for Utah.
It only got worse from there...
Dan didn't get out of bed for almost 3 days.
Then the baby got it.
Then there was a brief period of a slight recovery...
Then Kallie got the pukies, then the baby, then Dan slept all night on the bathroom floor.
It was a HORRIBLE cycle!
We should have just gone home, but we kept thinking we'd get better.
Then when we did get home...Syd started puking and missed 2 days of school.
Now my parents and I are all sick
AND
Dan pulled my wisdom teeth Thurs so I can't really tell what part of me is hurting.
Thank goodness for Ibuprofen!

Anyway...
I did get some pictures despite all of the above.
So sorry to the Norris Family that we missed a lot of the festivities and I (for some reason)
didn't get my camera out for the ones we were there for. We love you I promise!

This picture is a few weeks before Christmas as Dan's office Christmas Dinner.
Front- Luz (Front Desk) Next to Dan- Cheri (Assistant)
Both of which I appreciate more than ever after my surgery this week.
Cheri took such good care of me and Luz kept Avery happy the whole time.

Kallie and Syd at their piano recital on Dec. 19th...they both did great!

Christmas Eve Program
Dan was only half alive and didn't make it.
This is the best picture of the nativity that I got...love Kallie's face :)

Talent Show
Sadie doing gymnastics

Kallie playing flute

Lacey telling a story with stick puppets

Syd playing Jingle Bells

Caden showing his artwork
(So sorry to James...I didn't get a picture of his talent, no idea why :(

Jocelynn singing "All I want for Christmas is my 2 front teeth!"

The Mangum family did a special musical number Lip Sync to Phineas and Ferb
Caden rocked out on the guitar

Ellie performed a piano solo

Magen read us a Christmas Story

Grandma and Grandpa gave all the girls new socks and dresses.

Sadie showing me her "biggest smile"!

The games we gave to James and Caden.

The girls modeling their dresses...

Grandma and Grandpa with all of their grandkids.

Why do babies think paper tastes so yummy?!

New jammies and slippers for Christmas Eve...

Christmas morning...I made Dan arise from the dead for a few minutes.

Eureka sweatshirt

New suitcase (his clothes were packed in a cooler :)

Yay...American Girl stuff!

Both girls got a remote control car

Peek!

Cotton candy for breakfast...this IS Christmas!

Avery taking a ride in the new jeep for American Girl dolls...

You can never have enough barbies...especially because Syd's been on a 'hair-cutting' spree lately.

Avery sitting on KayLynn's belly which as of 2 days ago became baby Kyle!

Dan did get this gigantic book read...that's one good thing.

We played an entire game of Star Wars Monopoly.
Not sure if I've ever played an entire game of Monopoly before.
4 hours later I knew why...Grandpa won of course!

Avery taking a bath after a little puking episode...she looks happy doesn't she!

So sick!

Kallie and Syd got a gift card to Build-a-Bear.
Word to the wise....never go there the day after Christmas!

Last and certainly not least...
a photo of baby Kyle.
Weighing in a 9lbs 3 ozs and 20 inches long.
Yay for no c-section! We are so excited for the Wheeler Family!