Lucy is learning

Lucy was so cute last night.  It was her first time keeping her head bowed and her arms folded during family prayers. Jake got a few pics of her right after the prayer. She smiled when she realized the camera was on. We sure love this girl and the joy she brings into our home. I am so grateful to be able to ponder on prayer and for its power in our lives. I am grateful for parents who taught me to love and talk to my Father in Heaven. I am grateful for knowing I have a friend and a Savior in Christ. I really do pray all my children will feel this power in their own lives. I guess Lucy is well on her way.

Pre-Christmas fun

Lots of fun going on this past week. I promised myself when I got a smart phone I wouldn't stop blogging.  However, I kind of have.  Before I took pics with my good camera all the time...so when I downloaded them onto my computer I would remember to blog.  Now I just put pictures on instagram and stuff and take them with my phone. I never really think to blog.  I know no one hardly blogs anymore or reads them...but I love our family blog.  We print it off into a book to remember.  I don't know what I am going to do in the future.  But for now...I will try to keep this blog up for our family. 

 

First a pic from the ward Christmas party. Lucy sat on Santa's lap.  She was nervous...but never cried.  She even had a little nervous smile.  Funny girl.

Here we have a Christmas house.  We have gone and seen Christmas lights a couple times.  As well as visited the temple lights.

Pictures in front of the tree. 

Weston had his school Christmas performance. I loved every second of it.  I was most surprised and pleased to see the kids singing ACTUAL Christmas songs about Christ...not just politically correct songs.  I felt the Spirit of Christmas for sure.

 

Tried making homemade marshmallows for the first time. It really is fun and kids love seeing them turn into marshmallows magically. I added a few drops of peppermint essential oil to the second batch...yum, yum! 

Christmas Sunday best.  Jake was busy with an interview so I never did get a pic of the whole family. 

We watched a Christmas Story and joked the whole time about how Weston was such a GREAT ACTOR.  He looks just like the little boy in the movie. 

Here we all are doing 30 day shred.  It's a workout dvd.  The kids were so into it...and ended up doing a pull up contest afterwards.  I love that they love to be active. 

 

Here are a few pics of our ANNUAL HOT COCOA night.  We had the Gills, Browns and Morris family over.  We had chili, cornbread...yummy honey butter and of course hot cocoa with homemade mallows.  It was hardly even cold.  Love sitting around the fire and hanging with friends.

I love this pic.  Lucy has the best personality when she wants to. She can be sooooo grumpy, but also just sooooo happy.  She reminds me of myself. 

Lucy 14 months old

14 months. 12.16.2013. Walking really well now. Wants her "maaaaam" at all times. Loves to be out of the house and smiles at everyone. Still only two teeth. Fifth ear infection in the last three months. Still takes a bottle. Now eats cereal bars, mandarin oranges and chicken nuggets. 27 lbs. Loves to wrestle.

 

Family Pics 2013...My favorite blog post of the year!

Oh my goodness!  I don't even know where to begin.  Family pictures are truly my FAVORITE thing.  I get stressed like everyone else...but it's a fun stress for me.  Like can't sleep before Christmas morning...kind of stress.  I love it.  I like thinking about them and dreaming about them...and then finally....the result.  We loved having our friend Mele Larson take family pics last year.  However, I had just had Lucy and wasn't nearly as excited as usual to have pics taken.  Lucy screamed during most of them...and all in all we got some great pics...but it was not a good experience for me.  In fact, it was a big eye opener to how depressed I really was at the time.  I had post-pardon depression...BAD!!  I tell you this...because this year was entirely different. I am feeling very good these days.  Colic is GONE for good in this family and all I wanted was to capture the joy that we have in this crazy home.  I couldn't wait this year for "FAMILY PICS TIME" to just hurry up and get here.

Mele asked me where I wanted pics...maybe even suggested DESERT pics, and I was like "NO WAY!" I have never liked the desert...thought it was ugly...always wished we could fly to UTAH for pictures. That was my first response.  Well... then one day I was walking with Lucy on a beautiful October morning.  I was just loving the weather..no jacket.. perfect temp,  the scenery.... my LIFE. I had this "aha" moment.  I don't hate the desert. I don't hate Arizona at all.  I am very blessed, happy and content.  I love the weather and the people and my little house and our kids...YOU GET THE IDEA.  I immediately called Mele up and told her,  "I want desert pics. I don't care if I hate them.  I live here and I am embracing it!"

So...a few weeks later. Here is the result.  I was nervous going into these...cause we had a lot of sickness/flu all the days previous.  It didn't matter.  Mele is a genius.  My family if super cool and cute. (I can brag right..?.)  The desert is gorgeous!  Happy Day from this Arizona crew!! LOTS OF PICS...be prepared.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watkins Family Photo Shoot 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Spencer turns 5. Mario Party

Little Spence Dog planned his birthday party months ago.  He wanted it to be MARIO themed. He wanted to mostly just play Wii.  He only wanted 3 friends...so we would have a remote for everyone.  Spencer has talked about his party and his birthday...pretty much ever since we decided on the theme.
The night before we went to Wendy's to celebrate.  (Dad was gone and Mom was feeling lazy.) Our Wendy's got remodeled and he thought it was so fancy and cool.  Then we came home and made the tie dye cake.
 

 

This is the inside.

It turned out cute. 

 

 

 

He is finally five and I can't believe this sweet kid is growing up so fast.  He has recently learned to read.  He loves to play "fight." He loves make believe and plays the best alone out of all the kids.  Spencer is a wonderful kid.  We love having him around. We call him Mook.

Friends came over and we kept it simple.   A little photo shoot first off.

 

 

 

 

 

Then Pin the "stash" on the Mario.

 

 Aubrey likes to be the boss and organized most of the games and the wii time. I was grateful for her help.

 

We had pizza...cake...."little sodas" and chips.  All per request of Spencer.

Happy Birthday buddy!  We love you.

These are extra pics from when I visited Spencer at school.  He got to make his treats and share them with the class.  We are able to bring pics of him and talk about him growing up.  It was cute.  Then the teacher gave students time to "compliment" Spencer.  My favorite was when they kind of froze and said. ..."I love you!."

He was kind of silly and the teacher said that he has never seen that side of him.  She said he is the model of obedience at school.  Sounds like Mook.  Luckily we get to see all sides of Spence at home...even the crazy. 

 

 

So I can see these pics on my computer...but not my phone or ipad.  So I uploaded them again from my phone here...so people can see them.  Super annoying. Too lazy to redo the whole thing.