2009

These are some of my favorite pictures from the end of the year. Just for my record, here are some of the things we learned from our kids this year:Having a baby again has been so much fun! Megan is almost sitting up and has discovered toys and her feet. She loves her feet and I love to watch her trying to eat them. She is also a thumb sucker which at least for now is really cute.
It's okay to let them get a little messy sometimes...or a lot messy.
It's also okay to let them help clean, as long as they get a shower after cleaning the shower.
Laura and Lia love to dress Josh up. I prefer this outfit to the girls' plastic high heels.
Lia is a great big sister and a great helper. I rely on her a lot. She remembers EVERYTHING and likes to give me a hard time just like her dad. She was so cute in her school Christmas program, which we had just returned home from when this picture was taken.
Sometimes I just don't get to her fast enough. I did move her to her bed after this picture though.
Josh loves to sing, and play the piano. Here he was singing "Jingle Bells" to which he always added a "HEY" at the end. He also knows almost all the words to "I Love to See the Temple" but will only sing it when no one is watching. My favorite thing he has started saying is, "mom, say you won't!"
Laura is also quite the little helper. When I want everything put back in exactly the right place, doors shut, lights off, I can count on Laura. She and Josh have become little buddies (and co-conspirators sometimes) the last couple months which I am thrilled about.

The girls are always looking for new places to put Megan. She was actually quite comfy in the wagon.

The girls were so excited to be wearing Nate's jacket and my veil. They danced around the living room and were so funny. I was reminded once again that they love it when I share some of my special things with them.

As for Nate and me:
Nate learned (again) that he loves to hike. He also learned that it is possible to do close to 50 miles in a week, scale two peaks, and return eight 18-year-olds to their families safely (with the help of some others).
And finally, I think the most important thing we learned this year is that we can get through anything together and that there is someone who knows better than we do what it is we really need to learn and experience and I am grateful for that. (I know I've already posted this picture, but it is one of my favorites.)