Quick Trip for a Special Day and a See You Later

Just a couple days before Christmas we packed up the car and drove up to Mesquite, NV. Our Whitaker cousins were getting ready for a big move and Tyler was getting ready to turn 8 and be baptized! We knew we couldn’t miss this opportunity to support Tyler and spend some time with them all before they headed off to Tennessee. The Whitaker’s have a fun tradition of getting bb guns and pocket knives for their 8th birthday. My boys were THRILLED to try them out (thanks so much Jax and Ty for sharing!).

Luke got his shots in.

Ethan was surprisingly meticulous about his shots.

Tyler with our family

The youngest three Rasmussens.

Sadie and Alyssa got along really well. Alyssa had the perfect toys to play with and they just went to town!

We are going to miss having the Whitakers just a hop, skip and a jump away but we’re so excited to hear about what life in the East is like! We’re so glad we got to spend some time with you and we love all!

Christmas time is here!

I love December. I love the Christmas trees. The stockings. The hussle and bussle. The Christmas songs. The school programs. Its all so busy but so wonderful. It’s a great way to follow Thanksgiving (which I didn’t take ANY pictures of…Mae…hint. hint.)

Breakfast with Santa. This is about as close as Sadie would get, especially since he hadn’t given her her candy cane yet. She needs sugar to get over her inhibitions.

The ward’s Christmas program was so sweet. Luke and Ethan were excited to be shepherds. I cried. I’m emotional like that in December. Or maybe is all year round…hmmm.

Luke’s school Christmas program came first. Its kind of a bummer that he’s one of the tallest kids in his grade because he always gets put on the back row. Again, I cried. It was too cute.

He also lost his first tooth in December. He was pretty excited that the Tooth Fairy was going to come. But since he forgot his tooth at Vovo’s house the first night the Tooth Fairy couldn’t come back around for a couple nights. That’s her story and she’s sticking too it.

Ethan changed schools mid semester. He’s now attending Davis Magnet School. We’re hoping Luke will get in next year. So Ethan’s school program came the week after Luke’s. I had Sadie and she would not let me take a picture unless I was holding her. Hence the fuzzy picture. But I thought it was cute that Ethan was throwing me the I Love You sign. Or maybe it’s the Rock On sign…its too fuzzy to tell.

Last, but not least, we got to take some family pictures! Mae did a great job and we got some fantastic shots. Merry Christmas!

 

 

The bathroom remodel continues

Steve’s brother Brian stopped by for a weekend of fun work on our bathroom. This is usually exciting enough but this time he brought Porter along for the ride…bam! Excellence. Not that you aren’t excellent yourself, Brian. It was a whirlwind weekend but they accomplished some major work. Thank. You. I can’t say it enough. Especially to you, Denice and Anna. You were husbandless so that I could have some work done on my bathroom. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Now, lest you begin to question whether there was really “work” done…here’s the proof!

Lots of dry wall went up that weekend. Its amazing how dry wall makes it feel like it’s a room. It will be a room…eventually. And dry wall gets us closer.

Do you know how heavy dry wall is? I do. And I was glad this wasn’t me and Steve in this picture but Allen and Steve instead.

The last time Brian was here he left a big hole in my wall. What’s another hole right? Well, that hole looks much better now that its closed up with dry wall. One day it will be a fancy closet. Put on your imagination caps and envision it with me.

Brian is hard at work. He always keeps the pace steady, steady…does not waste a minute.

And this is what Porter did. Ethan and Luke loved having a cousin to visit them. I really didn’t want to send him home!

Y’all come back now, ya hear?

Penryn, CA. Oh the memories!

We made a quick trip to Sacramento the first weekend in October (I know I already did an October post but this one deserved a post all its own) for a wedding. Steve took the opportunity to revisit his old stomping grounds in Penryn, CA. Yes, we’re putting Penryn back on the map people! It’s a quaint little place. I’ll show you around.

Here’s the exit you take from the freeway. Quite exciting right?

Penryn is so cool, they have this restaurant that’s a club! Steve couldn’t tell me if the food was any good, he hadn’t ever eaten there but it must be because it was still around.

This is the old. It was kind of a let down seeing it. I’ve heard so many fond memories of this home. The lawn that needed to be mowed with a ride-on mower. The pond in the front. The spacious house. The projects that upgraded it.

This is what was left of the pond.

This is the garage Daddy Dan expanded.

We left the house and drove right on over to the elementary school Steve attended. This is the bench that Uncle Dave put in for his Eagle project. Go Dave!

The kids had fun on the play ground. I think Steve shed a tear…ok, not really. But it sounded good.

Penryn School, ladies and gentlemen.

Steve wanted to drive by the high school he remembers his brothers attending. Del Oro high left some impressions, I’m told.

While we were in Sacramento we got to hang out at our cousin’s grandparent’s house, affectionately called Bubba and ‘nuther Bubba. They are some of the best people. Thank you Ralph and LaVeta!

Sara’s wedding was beautiful! Mae did a great job on her first wedding as a pro photog. I loved the backyard setting. Congrats to Sara!

Unfortunately, we had to come home RIGHT away because Sunday morning Steve was sustained and set apart as second counselor in our ward’s Bishopric. We were so glad to have Mom and Dad come for the special occasion. Our O-side family came up too and it was a party! Steve hasn’t worn a suit since we got married…aw, the irony.

Halloween? What? Its October.

Ok, seriously, who waits until December 30th to post about Halloween? Not me. I wouldn’t do that. I mean, that’s just blatant procrastination. I’m not like that. I wasn’t procrastinating, I just didn’t want to. It’s a problem I have lately. I’m trying to get over it. This is going to be one heck of a post because I’m going to revisit the beauty of October. Of course October was full of Halloween festivities. First there was the school Trunk or Treat. We did a way better job of decorating our trunk. Our car battery was dead by the end of the night but it was worth seeing people jump when they came up.

The kiddos before the trunk or treat started.

Then there was our ward Halloween party. Sadie was a-dor-able. I’m liking this princess thing more than I expected. Sadie was also pretty thrilled that people were handing her candy like it was broccoli.

Of course, we can’t forget the Miramar Air Show. Steve took the boys down (I don’t remember why Sadie and I didn’t go, must have been a good reason). They LOVED it, needless to say.

 

Ethan and Luke have been taking swim lessons for a while now. The place offers free swim, even to the siblings, and Sadie finally decided she had had enough of watching and wanted to participate. Well, that’s all fine and dandy but the place also REQUIRED a special swim suit….supposedly to comply with Health Regulations or something silly like that. Anyway, the only suit they had for Sadie was this two piece so I HAD to buy it…twisted my arm. Oh. My. Goodness. Sadie was adorable…again. (am I using enough of the … effect?) I will never buy her a two piece again but this time I won’t regret.

Do you love her pose? I do. Love it.

Luke’s class about to parade. That’s one of his best school buddies, Matthew Anderson as Batman.

Here comes Ethan! He was Jango Fett. If you don’t know who that is…look it up, I couldn’t tell ya.

Sadie and I got to visit a pumpkin patch while the boys were at school one day. It was for our Mommy and Me group. Sadie was really practicing her two year old attitude that day. At least I got this cute picture out of it.

Our lovely cousins crashed the trunk or treat too. I love Ellie’s buns…go Leia!

So Sadie loves my phone. She’s addicted to the iphone as much as I am. She took this picture of herself. It’s a gem, don’t you think?

Aw, that’s the close of October. Get ready for November…comin’ right up!

From one to two, feels like three.

Dear Sadie,

You had your 2nd birthday 11 days ago. That morning I woke up and lay in bed thinking about how fast these past two years have gone, how quickly you’ve grown. Your dad and I laughed thinking about the funny things you do, the sweetness you bring into our lives. How you love having a phone. When your dad or I get off the phone you’ve started asking us who we’re talking to. You are so curious about all things phone. We’re sure you’re going to take phone priviledges VERY seriously. How you suck your two middle fingers on your right hand and hold the panos (old burp rags) with the ribbon on the sides, those are your sources of comfort. How you love to sing and dance, you always seem to be humming a tune. Our favorite sound is your giggle. If we can get you giggling everyone smiles.

You had a fun birthday, I hope. Vovo took you to Disneyland where you rode the carousel

(I was dying that I wasn’t there with you and mad that my pass was expired) and to buy some new ear rings. You had a nice nap and then we went out to dinner and came home to party with the rest of your aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents that live nearby.  I made cupcakes for you and wanted them to be perfect…I think you ate one bite and were done.

I got some balloons and hung our birthday banners around the house for our little party. You had a lot of fun with the balloons. I think you’re dad recorded you laughing up a storm with some game your brothers were playing with the balloons.

Your Grandma and Grandpa Rasmussen sent money for your birthday and you picked out this cat keyboard when we were at Target. Its fun to see you pluck the keyboard but even funner to listen to you try to swallow the microphone.

Your aunt Mae and uncle Clay gave you the coolest purse. Every one wants it! It was decked out with a pair of sunglasses (pictured), a wallet, a photo album, some Tic Tacs, your own iphone (not really but looks good, unfortuneately you figured out quickly that it wasn’t the real thing – and I quote, “uh, not working!”), some jewelry…is that it? I forget. You love it…and so do I. Mind if I borrow it…for a few years?

Here is the bag and your new shoes! I love buying clothes and accessories for you. We are going to do serious damage on our shopping trips when you get older.

Your aunt Ev and Uncle James got you your first princess dress up that you ended up wearing for Halloween. It was A-DOR-ABLE. You really like to do this slouchy thing. I think its your modeling abilities beginning to show. You’re the next Top Model…hehe…I’m not being serious. You can or you can’t, no pressure.

Ok, this wasn’t on your birthday but I had to include it. Isn’t it adorable? Your first, and LAST bikini (that I will buy anyway). You have to be doing what your brothers and cousins are doing (or anyone for that matter). You were not going to sit by and let everyone else have all the fun at swim lessons anymore so I had to buy the “mandatory Health department regulated” bathing suit for children under 4. Happy swimming!

This one wasn’t on your birthday either but this is a post about you and I’m writing it so I’m going to include the cute picture of the two of us. I don’t know if you know this yet, if its sunk in, but you’re my sidekick. I always want to take you everywhere. Most of the time its not too much fun for you but I’m trying to work on that. We went to the pumpkin patch and you gave me a run for my money. You did not want to walk and I did not want to carry you, that’s the short of it. But we got this picture and it was all worth it in the end.

Sadie, I can’t believe you’re two. It kind of makes me sad. You might be my last two year old and its just going so fast. Pretty soon you’ll be out of your crib and out of diapers and speaking in full sentences that everyone around you actually understands (no more Sadie speak) and the rest will be history. We love you like crazy, little girl. Hope you always know that. Happy Birthday!