Hey it has been a busy couple weeks and not done yet. First Crystal lost her second tooth. She was pretty excited.

We have make one hundred mini cupcakes and decorated for Crystals Valentine party, helped with the food for a funeral, went to a birthday party, wedding and had family visits (from both sides of the family) and canned (est.) over 200 #10 cans of food. That was all between Thursday and yesterday (Monday). Oh ya we also had a little valentines day fun before we left Saturday morning. Crystal will be 6 on Sunday so she is "Grownup" So she got flowers and Chocolates for valentines day this year from Dad. The White ones were for me and the pink were Crystals. We still have another birthday party tonight then Crystals birthday Sunday, and because her birthday is this weekend she is in charge of snack on Friday for her birthday. More cup cakes. We are having lots of fun though. Last night My brother Dave and His wife Heidi and the girls came for a visit. They also had Heidi's sister and little boy with them. Soon after they arrived Joe's brother Chad arrived with his little boy. We had 6 kids under 7 years old in our house. It was great they all had a great time. The kids had a great time. They kids were very excited to have been able to play with so many cousins this weekend. We are greatly blessed with wonderful Family and Friends.

Hey I have been a slacker this week with the blog. We had a great Friday night. We had a family camp out. Clayton told EVERYONE at the store that we were going camping. They all looked at me like I was crazy so I explained we are camping in the house. We set up Clayton's little tent and had make your own pizza for dinner and watched a movie. The kids loved it! It was really a lot of fun, so I think we will have to start doing that more often. Kinda like a family date night. The kids slept in the tent, Mom and Dad went to their bed to sleep. I just can't do a night on the floor right now. This is a really cheesy picture of me but Clayton took it and I thought it wasn't to bad of a picture for a three year old. He is always taking the camera and taking pictures of things. I guess he gets that from me.

So this week started off with about 7 inches of snow. That was fine because it was very light and dry so it wasn't bad driving or shoveling. But then the change came. We woke up Monday morning and it was 0 degrees not great but doable, they Tuesday morning it was -25 degrees. That wasn't nice. So I called my mom to see if they were as frozen as us and they were -30 with strong wind and 1-2 feet of snow. So she won the who's town was colder. They have been out of school for two days. Here is our yard. The frost in the air made a pretty ring around the sun.

This morning while I was working online I asked Clayton to come and talk to me (he was being pretty quite while playing). When he arrived in the office he was covered in Hot Coco powder. When asked what was on him his response was "I don't know". Then I asked if it was Coco and he responded "Maybe".

Sorry I am a little slow this week. I just found out that I am Anemic so that would explain a lot of my being tired this past while. The doctor has me on Iron supplements and they haven't quite kicked in yet so I am pretty tired still. It is funny how each pregnancy is as different as the child inside you.

We went for a quick trip to West Valley last weekend. Joe's brother Chad was blessing his baby. While there we went to feed some local ducks. The boys loved it.

We were wondering were Chad and Joe were, They had missed lunch and it was starting to get cold in the house. We went back to the bedroom to find them boxing on the wii and they had gotten so into it they had opened the window to help cool themselves down. It was great. Within minutes all the little kids were in their cheering. It was a site for sure.

On Thursday Clayton had a busy day with friends over and playgroup and having lunch with Dad. After Crystal got home from school they started to fight so they went to time out. It was apparently more then Clayton could handle so he fell asleep. After about 30 minutes he got up went potty then came back to the couch to sleep. We couldn't wake him so he slept until 7 p.m. Which made 7:30 bedtime non existent. He fell asleep very LATE that night.

We also had a first this week. Crystal lost her first tooth. She was very excited last night when it finally came out, but was hesitant because a friend at school had told her there was no tooth fairy. So she was a little concerned about that. After finding her tooth missing and money in it's place she is a believer this morning. She came running into our room shouting this morning she was so excited. She was checking Clayton last night for loose teeth. He kept telling us he didn't want us to pull out any of his teeth. He was concerned he was next.

Hey this is a little late but we just got this back from the College.

I finally found my USB stick. Here is our Christmas season.
Todd on Christmas Morning.

Watching "The Guardian"

Papa and the kids opening a present.

Here is Crystal and Clayton Making Gingerbread houses with Aunt Linette.

The Kids sledding at My Dads school. They had a blast other then they ran into a reflector pole and scared Clayton a little, but they still went down about 20 times after that.

Dad had a really funny Story to read to the kids (of all ages).
This is Christmas Morning Clayton took this Picture of Papa.

Hey all, Yes we are still here and still alive. We had a great Christmas in Douglas with my parents and several siblings. Then after returning home we spent several days in Lovell with Joe's mom and Sister's family. We had a great time and the kids sure loved playing with all the cousins. I am still trying to get back into the routine of life again, and better myself by organizing my home and life. I guess One day at a time. We are excited to go to Salt lake this coming weekend to Joe's Brother Chad's babies blessing (if the roads stay nice). We haven't seen Caitlyn yet so we are all excited about that. I will have some pictures up after I find my USB stick. I took it out of the office and now it is lost in the "I will put it here so I will remember where I put it" universe. We are so blessed with family and great friends. Thank you all for being so great.

Funny side story. We told the kids at Christmas about the baby and they are so excited. Crystal more so then Clayton (I think she just gets it more then he does). So Sunday at Church Crystal announced in primary that I was pregnant. She also told her Kindergarten class on Monday when she returned to school (that was her favorite Christmas Present).. She also mentions it to every friend or person who happens upon our door step so I am expecting Crystal to tell all we meet about the baby. Clayton has not had a desire to tell any one until today. I was at the post office trying to get some things mailed, Clayton announces to the postman and all in the full lobby that "my mom has a baby in her belly". He sure was proud of himself. It was pretty cute though. He also thinks because I have a baby in my tummy that he also has one.. This too shall pass. I love my kids they are so wonderful.

Last Thursday night we went to the lighted parade and were grateful that it was above freezing.

Last Friday night we had Joe's Company Christmas Party. Joe's mom watched the kids for us. She kept them for a whole day so on Saturday we braved the storm and went to Billing to the Temple and some Christmas shopping. When we got home Saturday night we quickly got the kids to bed so they would be tired for Church, then around 8:30 we heard the doorbell. People rarely ring the door bell, most of the people we know knock as they are walking in the door most of the time, so we were surprised to hear it that late at night. We looked out side and there was a bag from our secret Santa. The kids have been excited every night to see what has come. The last two night we have been gone so as we dive up to the house we hear the kids screaming "there's a present on the porch". We informed our secret Santa via letter taped to the front door that we were going to be gone the last 5 days of their 12 days of Christmas, so last night when we got home from Crystals Christmas Program there was a box with days 6-12 on our porch. Joe is a sticker and making us wait to open them on the designated day (patients is not my Strong point).

I had my cooking class that I am in charge for Relief Society on Tuesday night and was excited when I had 10 ladies come. Everyone brought goodies with the recipe and we got to try each treat.

Wednesday we went to Lovell to Diana (Joe's moms) ward Christmas party so the kids could see Santa. They got to see him at the college earlier that afternoon but they charged a lot for a picture with Santa. So they just sat on his lap and talked to him. They had their pictures taken taken in Lovell with Santa that night. We had a great time with mom.

Thursday night we had Crystals "Holiday" Program. She was our little girl. She did the concert up in true kindergarten style. She is not afraid in the least bit being in front of people so she did her utmost to give us all a good show. She added extra dance steps and actions to every song. She entertained the entire audience.

Crystal also made a Gingerbread house in school last week .

Today is our preparation day for out trek to Douglas to visit my parents for Christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS every one.

A day Late But here is a little shout out to my mom for her birthday... She is the best mom and such a good example. She raised all seven of crazy people and still manages to maintain her sanity. Here is a little picture montage to her..

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving week and weekend. Joe's sister Carene hosted this year Great big thank you to her. She is a great hostess. The kids loved going and seeing their cousins and all the animals. The kids loved the Mule, and going egg hunting with Abby. It was fun having so many people around to help out with the big meal. On Friday we went shopping and I found some cute clothes on a pretty good black Friday sale (we didn't go until afternoon). It was nice to get together with Joe's Family. There is always lots of fun to be had when we all get together. We were only missing Joe's brother. They were busy with their brand new baby girl Caitlyn. we sure missed them but were grateful they have their precious little girl. The last several months has made me extra aware of how grateful I am for family. Not just for family though but the Plan of Salvation and the opportunity to live with our families for Eternity.

After our wonderful time in Gillette, we headed home. On our way our plan was to stop in the mountain and get a Christmas tree. Well as life in the Emmett house hold goes things didn't go as planned. First we left late, then it took a while to find a place that sold the Tree permits. Well we finally started to the mountain (in the dark) and the farther up the mountain we got the worse the weather and road got. So we found a groomed road and went spotlighting for a tree. We found a great one and Joe and I went and cut in down in the snow storm. About halfway down the mountain the snow stopped and the roads cleared. I love our tree because it is covered with pine cones. Crystal only wanted a tree if it was a "Charlie Brown Tree". Well she got her wish. Almost all trees on the mountain are "Charlie Brown" Trees, but it looks better then one we bought at a lot last year. I love having a mountain fresh cut tree that we all get to put our decorations on together. Each year the kids get to pick out a new ornament for the tree. We still have to go and get this years ornaments. My tree reminds me of Christmas when I was growing up. So our Monday night home evening activity was decorating the tree. I love watching the kids. Clayton with plug the lights in first thing in the morning and sit there and look at the tree. I think they get that From me. I love to sit and look at Christmas trees and lights. at Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and have a great Christmas season.