Christmas 2012

This year was quite a different year for our family for the holidays. We were missing Grandpa C and Kyle and his family. Mike's parents got their mission call, so we got to spend the holidays with them. It was so much fun! We had a great feast for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! We played games, especially Just Dance 4! That was a riot of a time with all of the siblings that were up there. Mike's parents even got in on the action! We just had a great time. On Sunday, before Christmas, we decided to take some family photos in our Christmas outfits! This is what we came up with! Not too bad, if you ask me!

 Crazy photo with dad! 

 Family photo for the year! 

A little bored with this activity, can you tell?!

Well, I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I hope we all have a terrific 2013! Happy New Year!

Ooooooklahoma!

This month we had the opportunity to go out to Oklahoma to see my brother graduate from Basic Training in the Army. A lot has happened to his little family since he left in August. The biggest thing was probably the fact that his first child was born without him being there. So, our trip was going to be very emotional for all of us, because he not only got to graduate and move one step closer to his ultimate career path, but he got to meet his daughter for the very first time! We couldn't miss that moment! So, we decided to pack up our family and drive across several states to be with him!

So, we took our sweet time getting to Oklahoma, because (1) we had a 4 year old who is still getting the hang of being potty-trained, so that worried me a lot! And (2) traveling with children is always the most fun a mother could ask for! NOT! So, we took advantage of this time to spend together and see quite a bit of things. We stayed in Colorado for the 1st night and the kids thought it was the greatest to sleep in a hotel and go swimming! So, we were off to a great start!

We arrived in Oklahoma City a day before the rest of my family was to arrive, so we planned to spend the day seeing all the sites in Oklahoma City. (Not to anyone going there: there isn't much to do!) We started our day at the Outlet Mall, more for mommy's sanity and just for some walking! It was fun! Then we decided to take the kids miniature golfing. They thought that was the greatest thing ever! More brownie points for mom and dad!!! Here are the kids having a great time playing on the greens, not much golfing going on!

 Then we decided we couldn't come all this way and not go see the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. It was surprisingly neat. I didn't know there was so much at the memorial to see. We decided to forgo the actual museum, because of price. But, they have such a beautiful memorial garden to wander around and look at. Here is a picture of the reflecting pond.

 Here we are dragging the kids around, trying with all our mite to give them a little culture! They enjoyed being outside and seeing all the water!

 Mike really enjoyed the chair display. Each chair had a name of someone who was killed on it. It was quite neat to see the little chairs to represent the children. Humbling.

 Then, we met up with my family and traveled another hour and a half to Lawton, Oklahoma to Fort Sill to see Kyle. We got to stay in a hotel on base, which was a renovated dorm room! Not a lot of space, but it was fun to be so close. That next day, was Family Day on base. So, we got to see Kyle!! Here is the first pictures we could capture of my brother meeting his daughter. Side note: LOTS of tears were shed. It was a very special and tender moment. One that I probably won't ever forget!

All in all our trip to see Kyle was well worth the time in the car, the 3 new tires we had to purchase, and the special moments we shared. I am so proud of my brother and all the hard work he endured. I know that being away from his wife and daughter had to be the hardest thing he has ever done, but I know it was worth it. I am so proud of my military family members. I am grateful for their sacrifice for me to desire to defend our freedoms! Thank you for putting your life at risk for mine! I love my family!!

A Sunday Stroll through the mountains...

Yesterday was the Brigham City Temple Dedication so there was no regular church meetings for us. So, after going to the dedication, we decided that we would take advantage of the fall foliage and drive up the canyon. Mike took us up to Silver Lake, which is right by the Brighton ski resort. It was a cute little lake with picnic areas, walking path, lots of places for the kids to play. It was a blast. I have never been up there, but I think we might find ourselves going up there again. It was beautiful and the kids had so much fun! It was a great Sunday afternoon for our family!

 The kids thought that it was so much fun to play on the large trees that have fallen. Ethan was picking up sticks and rocks at every turn. Brynlee enjoyed climbing on every rock, tree, stump, etc.

 Our couple photo shot. We don't get this opportunity very often! I think it turned out okay.

 Just walking along the path, the kids loved that they could walk by themselves!

 A small glimpse of the beauty that we were surrounded by.

 Brynlee was kind of struggling to keep up, so Mike helped with the speed a little! Not without losing a few eyebrows!

 We had to stop on the rocks for a picture...each of them got a rock to themselves, it was very exciting!

 Our family photo! It was so fun!

 Again....photo op on the rocks! We did this a lot!

 How can you NOT love those faces?! 

 This is where Ethan said, "Oh Mom, it is just a piddle!"

 There were these great little paths all around that the kids thought were great to go hide in. It was fun!

 The drive back home through Midway!!

 Can you believe how bright and vibrant it is?! 

Loved every minute of our Sunday stroll through the mountains. I am so glad that we got to spend this beautiful Sabbath day in the beautiful artistic work of our Heavenly Father. What a treat!

Introduction to Soccer: let the laughter begin...

Now, I know I posted this spring about E playing t-ball. What a hoot that was to watch all these 3 year olds running base to base, hitting the balls with these giant helmets on, and the oh-so-cute waves from 2nd base to mommy! But, we couldn't stop there...we are bound and determined to give E all the experiences and exposure to as many sports as we can possibly muster-- hopefully ending in a definitive interest in at least one. So, this fall, the choice was Soccer! Not from mom or dad, from E. He has wanted to play soccer since the spring. So, over the weekend, he had his first game of soccer. What an experience...

 Before the game: Can you find E?? Take a minute, look closely....yep! He is the one IN the goal net. And, now let the laughing from the sidelines begin!

 He wasn't quite sure during this first game. He had a small meltdown, because he wasn't given the ball all the time! Such a fun teaching moment for mom: "E, we have to share the ball as a team. You want to keep it away from the blue team!"

Here he is waiting for the other team to kick it off. He loves to just stand there sometimes!! We were laughing. Sometimes we forget how hard it is to learn something new. Wow! We are so looking forward to the 7 more games!

My Ethan turned 4!!

My little boy turned 4 this week. What a weird thought for me to think, "Wow! It has already been four years?" Well, I guess it has. This little boy has brought Mike and I so much joy, laughter, stress, love, anxiety...and probably many more emotions that I can't even vocalize. But, all in all, these last four years have been such a learning experience full of blessings beyond my comprehension. I am so proud of who he is at this moment in his life, and it thrills me to think of the great experiences and growing that he will continue to  have. I thank my Heavenly Father each and every day for this child in my life. I am so blessed to be a mother of a very active, curious, energetic, loud 4 year old! Happy Birthday E!

 We had a little ice cream & cake social with family on Sunday night to celebrate! He was so excited to have everyone there because of HIM! 

 This is the cake HE picked out. I bet you can't guess what he LOVES?!?! Yep, that is right...anything that makes an engine sound!

 Man! That face will melt my heart like butter! I just love him!

Opening his presents:

Favorite gift of all was from Aunt Lisa and Tony! Between him and Brynlee, I don't know if my walls will keep up!

May the Lord continue to bless this little boy with the same sweet spirit and curiosity that he has right now! We love this little guy, and can't imagine our home without this crazy kid in it!

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!