Snake!!!!

Sorry for the absence from the blog, still learning how to compress pics for the blog from Carl's new camera.  I will update more later, but thought I'd let you know that Carl went and bought this snake without telling me.  The kids love it of course.  They go outside as soon as they wake up to play with the snake and are constantly out there holding it(I don't let them keep it inside). I've been surprised a couple of times.  Not fun!   It has been a hit with all their friends and cousins though.  I'll post more from my brother's wedding soon.

Saturday's Easter Egg Hunt

Well, Carl was out of town this week, and I think I had to get a babysitter every night while he was gone. I had 3 intramural soccer games. We made it to the semifinals, but lost in a shoot out...but atleast I got my pk in! And, We had a Easter Egg hunt on Saturday. The Easter Bunny had to come on Sunday, and CJ's birthday was also on Sunday. And, I had a huge Service Clothing Drive that I was helping with while he was gone. Let's just say that we survived, and I am glad that he is back! Here are some cute pics from the Easter Egg Hunt.

June with her treasures. I think she sat here for like 10 minutes just playing with them...

and trying to eat them!

EmmaJane racked up!

And so did CJ!

The kids going through their loot!

June still playing with her basket!

Cj loved opening all the eggs!

Then, of course, our Easter Pinata. It has kind of become a tradition.

Who doesn't love to whack something with a bat!

Catching up...emmajane turned 5 on Feb 13!

Well, I figured it was time to upload some pictures. My camera broke, and I am not good at uploading pics from my phone. But here are the pics from emmajane's birthday and party. And a big thing she got for her birthday is to start gymnastics, so I included a pic of that too! I can't believe she is 5. She is so old and wise, and I am so grateful for her to be in our family. She teaches me so much and always makes me want to be a better mom. She helps me see how pure kids really are...how naturally christlike they are. She is my little helper. She thinks she is the 2nd mom, and she is probably right. She is very mature and has a memory like an elephant. She remembers everything. I am always shocked by how good here memory is. We love her so much and can't wait to see this beautiful daughter of our Heavenly Father grow up. I know He is so proud of her and so are we.

Who doesn't love a baby giggling?

Seriously, doesn't this just make you happy?! It just makes me feel like a million bucks when I can make my kids giggle like this. Hope you enjoy!

Back to Life... Back to Reality

Isn't it always hard to go back to school after Christmas break? We had such a nice break with Carl home. It was hard to see him go, but I am grateful that we got another day already. Thanks MLK!

This past week Carl went to Vegas with a group from school to see the Consumer Electronics show. While he was gone, all 3 of my kids threw up in a 24 hr period. It all started at Wendys. We met Anna (Carl's sister) and her kids to get some Frosty's. Emma Jane ate like a spoonful, and then 10 minutes later showed it to all of us on the carpet at Wendy's and in the bathroom. Poor girl, so we left. Later that night June started, and while she was up, CJ started. And, CJ had been sleeping in my bed. Yep. Fun stuff. Then, I was woken up in the morning by EmmaJane yelling "June is throwing up!"

The kids always seem to get sick when Carl goes out of town. They didn't recover fully for a couple of days, so we watched a LOT of movies since we were mostly home bound. By the time Carl got home, I was ready to hand the kids over and run! :)

Things have died down...thankfully! Today was our dog Mabel's birthday! She turned 10 today! She is the oldest Bulldog my family has had. She got spoiled with tons of treats by the kids and had an extra yummy dinner. And, now, she can't stop tooting. :( I will guess we will let it slide today Mabel.

Junnie, Little Miss Stander.

If you can't tell, she is standing in this picture. Gone are the days of no mobility. Little miss thang started crawling this week, and she already knows how to take everything out of my purse.

And I just had to post this picture I took of CJ at Anna's house. Who doesn't love masks?

I will have to take pictures of CJ and Emma Jane's new haircuts later.

Merry Christmas from the Haynie's

It has been a pretty crazy December. I had sinus surgery on Dec 15th in hopes to have less migraines and less sinus infections...we are still crossing our fingers on that one. Then, on Dec.18th my Grandma Dalton passed away. Her funeral was yesterday. Although she was in poor health and is a better places reunited with her mom and dad and her 6 siblings, it is so sad to see my Gpa so lost without her. And, at the same time, it is so cute to see how much in love they were after 62 years of marriage. It was tender to hear him with their kids at the casket. He talked about how she would still tell him she loved him every night, and how she liked to hold hands with him as they were going to sleep. I am so grateful for the wonderful mother she was to my mom. She shaped my mom, who then shaped me, and I will be forever grateful for that.

It seems strange that it is already Christmas Eve, but here it is! So, here's our

Top 11 Exciting Things of 2011!

1. June joined our family 2 1/2 weeks early!

2. Carl went to India for 3 weeks!

3. Carl got a JOB!!! We are going to be moving to Dallas, TX in August to go work for PwC as a Consultant!

4. EmmaJane & CJ started preschool!

5. Emma Jane is learning how to read!

6. CJ became a great drawer!

7.Lived in Portland, OR for 3 months this summer

8. We all got to pick up star fish on the OR coast!

9. Moving back from OR made our 10th move in 6 1/2 years of marriage...and we'll be moving again in August! :) I am now a professional packer!

10. Carl played intramural coed soccer, soccer, and football this year!

11. I ran my first 1/2 marathon!

I hope you have a very merry Christmas. I hope you are able to be with family and to remember the reason for the season. I am so grateful for my Savior Jesus Christ. I am grateful that He came to this earth to show us the way and allowed us to return to our Heavenly Father again!

Best Christmas FHE EVER!!!

So, we just finished the Book of Mormon together as a family! At the beginning of this year, our stake president challenged each family to read it. We had a schedule, and everything. And, we just finished it this past week!

When your audience is a 3 and 4 year old, it can be a little difficult at times, but I am so very grateful that we did it. I was SHOCKED how much the kids got out of it. Who know that a 4 year old could explain and understand the pride cycle? Who knew that when they were bouncing around and you thought they weren't listening, they actually were! Seriously, it is amazing how much they have learned.

It has created a tradition in our family. Who would have thought that our kids would be asking us to read the scriptures to them? It really has become a part of our nightly routine, and although, it is often very challenging, it is amazing to see little ones develop a love for the scriptures.

...So, in honor of finishing the Book of Mormon as a family, we went up to temple square in Salt Lake city with Carl's parents and sister and their family. And, the highlight of the trip was the church history museum.

This just reminds me of all those pictures with Christ and little children. I just love this picture.

Here with "Father Christmas"...he had to explain what he was to all the kids. It was pretty funny.

EmmaJane with the Liahona.

Carl and EmmaJane writing on the "plates."

EmmaJane and CJ getting taught by the missionaries.

CJ building buildings in the time of Nephi.

EmmaJane with the Brass Plates.

This is angel Moroni. He is on every one of our temples. The lady said that this one is actually a couple of feet shorter than the actual ones they have on the temple. Pretty crazy!

It was the best place ever to go with the kids. It really brought the Book of Mormon to life. It was a great way to celebrate!

Christmas Traditions

Courtney and I are still working on Christmas traditions with the family (I think we change things every year), but this video has become one that we really like. My church's Stake Choir in Florida was really good and the director found out that the church's Luke II video went perfectly with Celine Dion's "Oh Holy Night". The words fit the video almost flawlessly. So when we got married I put edited the video and music together and put it on a DVD. We watch this video every Christmas Eve before the kids go to bed.

Getting into the spirit

One of carls cousins family came over to make gingerbead houses. It was a sticky mess. I think in the end, the parents made the houses and the kids got to eat candy while the parents weren't looking. Good times though.

CJ practicing for the Preschool Christmas Program

Christmas is fast approaching. I can just feel it...especially when the kids come home from preschool singing Christmas songs and advent calendars! CJ came home singing this song the other day. I can't wait for their program.