We hope all our family and friends have a great Christmas! We didn't send out a Christmas card this year, mostly because I was too tired. But, we are grateful for all of you (the few of you who read this and all those who don't as well) and wish you the best. We feel so blessed to have the gospel and our families and appreciate all the support we receive from the wonderful people in our lives.
If you saw this bowl a few days ago, you probably would have thrown up, which is what I about did when I was cleaning it out. While I was getting ready for church, Josh poured half of the container of food in the bowl. I was feeling pretty miserable that day so it didn't get cleaned out until Monday. Somehow Oscar survived. He's a pretty resilient fish. Every time I clean out the bowl I consider not putting Oscar back in it. But then I think of Laura. He's actually Lia's fish that she got for her birthday last year, but Laura has adopted him. She includes him in almost all of the family portraits she draws and when she's telling people who's in our family, Oscar's always on the list. She even said one of the stockings hanging on our stairs is his (I guess that leaves either me or Nate out). So, he stays... for now. But, you have to be quiet around him if he's not swimming because as Josh said the other day, "he's sleeping, don't wake him up." 
This is Megan on Thanksgiving day. She worked pretty hard getting ready and was just exhausted! Even though I don't have pictures of all the kids, we had a great day. The girls spent the night at grandma's the night before and helped her get ready, which gave Nate and I some time to work on some Christmas surprises. Dinner was great and I loved having a couple of days off of work and school. And it was, of course, an opportunity to reflect on everything I'm thankful for. This year especially I've realized I have A LOT to be thankful for. The first of which is family, but if you want to know more you'll have to read my journal (which I haven't written yet, but I will... soon).
The Washington D.C. temple is one of my favorites. I had seen it before, but I still couldn't believe how beautiful it is!
If Nate were 10 years younger and still single, I think he would join the Navy. The Naval Academy was pretty cool.
This is in Annapolis. I loved Annapolis and will definitely go back there again.
We thought this memorial to Alex Haley, the author of Roots, was cool (which is why we took a picture by it).
This was at the aquarium in Baltimore. We spent a good part of the day there. It was really crowded, but was pretty impressive. I kept thinking about how the kids would have loved it. But, I wouldn't trade the trip for anything. Nate and I had lots of time to talk and play together, which is something we don't do enough of at home. Thanks for the great trip Nate!
I can't even remember what Laura was helping me make, but we had a little accident with the flour. The last few weeks have been very adventurous with Laura. Well, really the last several months, but especially the last few weeks. I just hope she knows how much we love her, in spite of our struggles. She is such a sweet girl and has so much personality... if I only had all the answers and never made mistakes.
Lia finally lost the second of her two front teeth (okay, it was a couple weeks ago and I'm just now getting to it). She looks so cute with them missing, but it won't last long... the others are already coming in. I can't believe how much she's changed this last year. She comes home from school everyday sounding so grown up! When I became a mother, I never imagined time would go by so quickly. People always tell you that, but you don't really understand until it happens.
After enjoying having him home for most of the summer, Nate has gone back to work. We figured it was time for him to be among the employed again. We are grateful for his new job, and while we didn't exactly plan for the summer to end up the way it did, it was a blessing he was able to be home for so long before and after Megan was born. I don't think I could've made the adjustment to four without him home so much. It is a little quieter now that he's gone and Lia's at school, which helps me get a little more done, but I miss him. I especially miss him in the evenings (he's missed far too many bath nights and story times lately), but once he's finished with training and catches up on some of his church responsibilities, things will feel a little more normal. Anyway, I really like this picture--mostly because it's the first one we've had taken of just the two of us since we were first married. Hopefully in the next one I won't look quite so much like I just had a baby!
Our cute Laura started pre-school a couple weeks ago and I'm finally posting pictures. She loves it and loves her friends there. I don't know where the time has gone--I can't believe she just has one more year until kindergarten! Until then I'll enjoy only having her gone a couple days a week and being able to teach her class a few times. Laura is so full of spunk and we are so grateful to have her!
