Christmas Letter 2014!!!

This isn't anything fancy, but here's a quick update on our family for the Christmas season.

Scott is such a hardworking, sweet papa and husband. He is doing a wonderful job as the new manager for the Sherwin Williams in Gearhart, OR (we moved to Seaside, OR in May). His personality is well-suited for working with people, and he has done a great job with turning the store around since previous management. He loves listening to audio books and the world news whenever he gets the chance driving for work, and he is an absolute pro while gaming with his buddies on the PS4 at night. It's a great chance to relax at night for a bit and connect with friends from a distance. He paints Infinity figures (strategy game) occasionally as a pastime, and he likes to sit down and write whenever he can snag a moment. He is much better at creative writing than I am, and I enjoy listening to the ideas he comes up with.

I'm doing really well. This pregnancy hasn't been too bad as pregnancies go; I've discovered that fall/winter time is a more comfortable time for me to be pregnant because of my allergies. Baby girl is due April second, and we are so excited to meet her! I promise to post pics of her soon, and I might even throw in a pregnancy photo. ;) We are tentatively thinking to name her Diana. There have also been some exciting career-related developments in my life lately. I have been offered a contract to teach English 106 for the Pathway program online for BYU-Idaho! This has been a goal of mine since I graduated, and I feel so blessed to have achieved it sooner than expected. It's going to be a growing experience, and I'm a little terrified of baby girl coming right around finals time. But, I'm so excited to dive into this new adventure. Besides this recent news, I love being a stay-at-home mom from cooking to crocheting, and it's such a joy to raise our son Asher. Any trials or struggles I have are made sweet through the refining fire/growing process.

Asher is such a sweet boy with a personality all his own. In just a month, his language development has soared, and he is talking up a storm. It was amazing for me to see him start forming sentences in a matter of days. I love seeing our sweet son develop and grow. He also has his moments that are not so sweet, but it's always a great learning experience to guide him through the next stages in life. Disciplining is no piece of cake, but it's so worth it. He is obsessed with cars (including the movie) and is in love with Curious George and Barney. He loves getting outside and discovering new things. The park is a great place for him to have his little adventures and is a great respite for mama. He's also started to sing occasionally, and lately he hasn't been shy about it at times. At Grandma and Grandpa Garrigues' home, for instance, he decided to plop down beside my mom and sing his little heart out repeating the word "away" over and over again. I was so amazed and touched. Sometimes children bring pieces of heaven into our lives that reminds us how close they are to the spirit. Mom and I were cracking up afterwards at how serious she looked in the movie we recorded. She was trying so hard not to ruin the moment. :)

As I close this Christmas letter, I think of the conversation I had with my sweet mother tonight. She's been such a great comfort and strength to me through this move. We were talking about how important it is to let the Savior ease our burdens and fill us up with happiness. The frailties of man may bring us sorrow occasionally, but He will always be there reaching out in love for us to come unto Him, be healed, and be perfected in Him. I'm so thankful for my sweet family, and even as I write this, I realize how very blessed I am. Merry Christmas, everyone! We love you!

Thanksgiving with Grandma & Grandpa Garrigues in Lake Stevens, WA (My Carolin' Cutie)!

My parents have a gorgeous view!

My brother Alan with his sweet baby girl Nicole practicing tummy time!

It's gingerbread house making time! I bought this at Costco and was surprised to discover that the house was pre-built, so all we had to do was decorate it. I have to admit it was pretty nice. :)

My baby is Two!

Asher's 2nd Birthday (November 5th)!!!

It's hard to believe that our baby boy is already two. He is talking like crazy now and has such a cute little personality. I can't imagine life without him; our hearts are so full. Soon, his baby sister will be here in April. :)

Mom Dyer drove down from Vancouver, WA to spend the night with us and celebrate Asher's birthday. Sorry, Mom Dyer, if you don't like this photo. It's a bit of a candid shot. :)

Asher is absolutely obsessed with cars. It's fun to be able to get him things that he likes now that he's getting older. I just hope he still let's me choose his outfits for a little while longer. ;)

I love Christmas!!!

It's Christmas Decorating Time!!!

I always feel that one of the most nostalgic moments during the holidays is the unpacking of old friends/decorations that are symbolic of so many memories. My ballerina slippers, violin, sweater, and angel ornaments from childhood along with Scott's ornaments from Grandma Dyer remind me of the sweetness of childhood with its infectious magic. But now, one of the ornaments that is most precious to me is the wooden angel ornament that we purchased in Lincoln City, OR during our honeymoon.

We had to laugh at how tiny our little Christmas tree looked to us this year. We are usually traveling for the holidays, so it's hard to feel the incentive to spend the extra money. But, we realized this year that next year we are overdo for a nice, fresh, pine-scented Christmas tree. Asher will be three and more aware of what's going on as well by then.

 It was really fun to have Asher be apart of decorating the Christmas tree this year since he is two now. He was really obsessed with that little box ornament as shown in the picture above and kept taking it off periodically. He also wanted to throw the ball ornaments and take them off their sockets (lol), but luckily we kept him from doing any damage; and, he did very well for his age. Whenever I get aggravated with my mischievous, zooming, angel  boy, I have to remember his squeals of excitement and enjoy the beauty of childhood.

I've got to say I've really enjoyed having this kid friendly nativity set that Mom Dyer gave us a while back. It bought me some time to put up some of the more delicate decorations; I do need to glue on some of the head wrappings though (balding shepherds at the moment) ;).

 Any mother with kiddos on the move will appreciate how hard it is to get a great pic of their zooming children. :) Half of Asher's pictures are a blur, and it makes me so sad when I can see they have potential. But hey, it's fun to be a kid!

 Asher zonked during our ward Christmas party. :)

October 2014

Pumpkin Picking, Story Time & Finger Painting at the Seaside Library!!!

First visit to Grandma and Grandpa Garrigues' new home in Lake Stevens, WA!

My parents recently moved from Firestone, CO (their home for over a decade) so that they could be closer to their kids and to take on an amazing job opportunity. I never thought I'd only be four hours away from them. :) Crazy awesome! My dad is a mechanical engineer. He worked for Waterpik in Colorado and now works for Phillips (Sonicare tooth brushes).

Asher's First Hair Cut!

Scott and I came to an agreement that Asher wouldn't get his first hair cut until his second birthday. Scott couldn't stand the "rat tail" that was growing (lol), and even I had to admit it was getting a little unruly; so, we ended up cutting it a little earlier than planned. :) It's hard to see my baby grow up though.

Bizi Farms Pumpkin Patch w/ the Schultz and Gibson families (Vancouver, WA)!!!

FHE Pumpkin Carving!!!

Seaside Ward Halloween Party/Trunker Treating!!!