A much needed update!

Okay, I know that I have been a terrible blogger lately. I blame it mostly on my cute kids who have taken over my life and have made it impossible to sit down and blog for hours on end! But, I know that with all the family that we have all over the "world" I need to be better and keeping them informed. And, this is the best way I know how to remember all of our happenings! So, here it goes...
Summer happenings:

(Ethan sporting Uncle James' military goggles

)

 I got to go to our ward's Girls Camp this year, and while I was camping with all of our Young Women in our ward, the kids got the great opportunity to spend a few days with their Aunt Miriam and they went up to visit Grandma R. They always have the best time with the aunts and uncles.

 (hanging out with the Ras cousins up at Grandma R's!)

We had a great chance to see Mike's sister and her 5 kids. The live in Texas and were up for a few days. We got to hang out with them for a weekend and had a great time. We love it when all the cousins get together!

 (the kids playing in their "new" sandbox =  our backyard without the trees!)

We had our 2 big trees taken out of our backyard over the summer and this is what the kids decide to do with all the dirt and empty space we now have. Hopefully next summer, we will be able to transform the backyard into a great space! We will see...

 (Brynlee hanging out!)

Over the 4th of July holiday, Brynlee decided that she was going to defy gravity and jump out of her cribe one night. That ultimately scared Mom and Dad out of bed with the huge thud we heard. Unfortunately, Brynlee received a cast for 6 weeks to sport through the summer. She did pretty good, but she is so glad to have it taken off!

 (Dad and Ethan with Thomas the Train)

This summer we decided to take the kids up to see Thomas the Train. My kids think that show is the best! I have had to go looking all over the city at yard sales looking for these DVD's. So, we spent the day in Heber riding the train and taking pictures. Needless to say, we found out that they would rather watch Thomas on tv then see him in person!

 (Here we are on one of the little trains!)

 (Family Get Togethers)

The end of the summer marked a lot of changes in the Ras family. Aunt N taking off on a new adventure to Hawaii for school, Uncle J is in Afghanistan with the military, Uncle M is in China for a school exchange, and all the other things going on. So, we had a family dinner...which is always full of laughs, jokes, and great food!

 (Summer and Updated photo of all the Ras grandkids!)

Aren't they all just cuties!! We love this picture!

(Ethan's going to school!)

And finally, to close off the summer, my little guy is big enough to go to school! Here he is sporting his new backpack and school clothes! He is getting so big!

I promise I will be better at updating the blog. It might not be in order, but atleast you will get a glimpse into our lives with our great family!

Is it really May already?!

Wow! I have been a major blog slacker lately. So, I guess it is time for some major updates! So, let's see if I can remember what happened over the last 6 months or so...

Well, you know how the winter goes...it's cold, snowy (well, this year it has been more brown and cold!) So, we really haven't done much that is worth blogging about, but I will say that March was quite an exciting month for us. Mike got accepted to be a trainer in Baltimore, Maryland for 5 weeks for work. So, guess where that left me and the kids? Yep, that is right...all alone.

It was quite a scary experience, but I realized that I still do love my children and I love my husband and what he does for our family and for me when he is around. I think that experience was one that has left us feeling more appreciative of our family and how important we are to each other. At least that is how I came away from the experience.

April turned out to be a busy month, but only because we chose that route. I enrolled Ethan in T-ball. I wasn't sure what he would do, but he was so excited. So, we have spent 1 week day evening and every Saturday in April and the beginning of May at the baseball diamond at our local elementary school cheering, laughing, and just plain having fun watching Ethan learn to play and perfect his game of T-ball. Here are a few pictures of my studly T-ball player!!

And let's not forget that we have another child!! Brynlee is having a great time running around with her brother and wanting to do everything that he is doing. She is going to nursery now and is "learning" to love it!!! She is just so fun to watch!

I am so proud of my kids and the personalities that they each are developing. It is so fun to see them grow. I can't believe that Ethan is old enough to play sports, go to school, and sing to his mommy in Primary. It warms my heart!! I am so thankful for my life!

Christmas Traditions...start...now!!

Christmas Tradition #1: CHRISTMAS PAJAMAS!!

We decided to let the kids open their Christmas pajamas on Wednesday night, because the rest of the week we will be heading to parties, and enjoying family. So, here are the festive pictures of this years jammies!! And boy, were the kids excited!!

Brynlee LOVED with a capital L her slippers. We bought her some because she kept wearing Ethan's. So, she just loves her cute slippers. She just wanted to pose for pictures all night long.

Ethan was so funny! He loved his pajamas, but started screaming when he put on his slippers. We didn't really think about this very well this year, because last year he got Buzz and Woody slippers...so, the jammies go better with last year's slipper, but oh well!

5x7 Folded Card

With Love Christmas Card

Create Christmas cards for the 2011 holiday season.

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Fall Leaves

Now that we are in our house, we find that the two trees in our backyard are there for hours of entertainment in the fall, because we have so many leaves they cover our yard. So, each fall, Mike proceeds to take the kids out and rake up the leaves. Well, for about the first 2 hours it is more like playtime with daddy, because there isn't a whole lot of raking going on. Here are a few shots from this years attempt at cleaning up the leaves.

Ethan has always loved this game of jumping in the leaves. This year, Brynlee got in on the action. Let's just put it this way, she wasn't a fan!

Photo shot #2. If Ethan could have stopped playing in the leaves long enough for me to take 1 good photo of everyone looking at the camera. But, it didn't happen, so here are my attempts!

Brynlee cannot hide her excitement for this activity....can you tell?!

I'm 1!

Brynlee had a little birthday party on Sunday night with some friends and family. Cake and Ice Cream was the main course at this party, but Brynners didn't like it so much....

Happy 1st Birthday, Brynlee!

Today, my baby girl turns 1! Oh how the time flies when you are watching the world through the eyes of children! She has brought such a light and a sweetness to our family. We are so blessed to have her in our home! We love her so much!

Happy Birthday, Brynlee!

Brynlee arrived at 4:13 p.m. She weighed 6 lbs. 1 oz. and was 19 in. long! Tiny little lady!

Her blessing photo! She has the biggest and most beautiful eyes! Oh, and let's not forget about her infectious smile!

1 year old, a few teeth, walking, and fun pigtails! Oh, what a joy this little lady is!

May the Lord continue to bless this girl with a love for people and the gospel!