Happy New Year 2009!!!

We celebrated the New Year by relaxing in our pajamas and drinking lots of sparkling apple cider.
May 2009 be full of happiness, laughter and health. We love you all!

Here are some things that kept us laughing in 2008:
*Lillian was hanging on the elliptical trainer, she turned to me and said, "Mom, do I look like a sloth?"
*Grant was saying the blessing on the food...."Bless mom for repairing the food."
*Lillian said, "Mom do bees kick or sting?"
*While touring the John Johnson Farm we came to a room in the house. In the room there was a loom with a basket full of wool. Pointing to the basket of wool the tour guide asked the children,
"Can you tell me what animal this comes from?" Monte piped in, "Well that would be a polar bear."
*I asked Grant if he wanted to bare his testimony at his baptism. He replied, "Mom, it is still just a little seed."
*We were taking dinner to the McNutt family. On our way home Lillian said, "I think we past the nut house."
*At family home evening Jeremy was talking about Jesus and how he is the only perfect person. He went on to say that he never sinned. Monte then said, "Well what about when he didn't tell his mom where he was going and went to the temple?"
*Grant has a special box where he likes to keep his special things. On the inside lid there is a taped picture of Monte. I asked, "Why do you have a picture of Monte?" Grant said, "I just don't want to forget him when I'm a grandpa."
*We were driving home and Lillian saw a road sign with an arrow pointing up. She said, "Oh, so that's the way to heaven!"
*I took Lillian to vote for President. When we got in the car she said, "I don't know why we can't just vote for Thomas S. Monson."


Looks like the tooth fairy is going to visit the Goose tonight!

Utah!!

As a child I loved going to Temple Square to see the lights in Salt Lake City. We had such a wonderful time spending our Christmas with family. There are so many of you who we didn't get the chance to see. I guess that means we just have to come back and visit again. I am amazed at how fast our time in Utah went.

Besides family and friends, Jeremy and I miss these the most!!!! The mountains are absolutely gorgeous! Being in New York for 1 1/2 years and then going back to this made me realize how flat New York really is!

Visit to baby Maxwell's grave

A trip to Utah would not be complete unless we visited our baby Maxwell's grave. When we lived in Utah our family would come and visit Maxwell's grave often. It has been hard not to be able to come as often as we would like. It was wonderful to go back to Maxwell's grave, I am amazed at the peace that I find their. So grateful to know that our family is forever!

Monte has always kept his brother's grave in tip top shape. He insisted on cleaning off all of the snow to make it spic and span.

Monte does such a great job making sure their is no snow left on Maxwell's headstone.

Although Grant, Monte and Lillian were young when their brother passed away, they haven't forgotten their baby brother Maxwell. I am amazed at how often they talk of him. Without fail, Lillian in church every Sunday tells me, "Maxwell loves you!"

Cockpit

We loved our pilot! He was so friendly and totally made my kids day!

As we were getting on the plane to go back to New York the pilot stopped and asked me if my kids wanted to sit in the cockpit. Lillian was in heaven pushing all the buttons and pretending to fly! The plane was completely packed and their was a line of people behind me waiting to board, it was so nice of him to allow the kids this opportunity.

Family

It was so wonderful to spend time with my sisters and mom! I love them all so much! In this picture we are missing 2 sisters, one brother and one sister-in-law on the Phelps side.

Lillian is completely spoiled by all of the older girl cousins. I never worried about Lilly with all these babysitters!

Grant enjoyed playing with Grandpa Sugar, and can't wait to play another game of Scrabble.

Saying goodbye to my mom at 4:30 a.m. right before we left to the airport! I hate goodbyes!

Lillian loved playing with her Uncle Jeff.

Fun with the family

Lillian loves giving Paca Tractor bear hugs.

Grant and his cousin Ryker picked up right off where they left off!

Grant loves his Paca and Grandma Tractor.

2 Little Princesses

Lillian loved playing with her cousin Reagan. Reagan even let Lillian sleep in her bed while she slept on the floor. What a good friend!

These two had fun playing a Princess dress-up game. Girls are so much fun!!!

Fun with Cousins

This slide was a blast!

Lillian had so much fun at the bounce house, they slept really good that night.

Grant and Monte were in heaven with all their boy cousins!

Lillian enjoyed her time playing with her cousin Logan.

Grant, Monte and Lillian being silly with some of their cousins.

Jeremy and Ellie had fun doing string games.

Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Tractor's

Grandma Tractor made the cutest Hungry Caterpillar quilt! We love it!

Goose is excited to read his book Toothless Wonder.

Mini Game

The kids loved their travel size game of Sorry. It was perfect for the plane ride home.

Christmas Morning

Goose loved the baseball cards that Santa gave him.

Lillian was excited to get a doll that had blue eyes and blonde hair just like her.

I caught Grant taking apart his Hotwheel track. Why do boys think they need to take apart things?

Dreaming of Sugar Plums

The kids loved sleeping under Grandma and Grandpa Sugar's tree on Christmas Eve. They even heard Santa's bells and reindeer during the night!

Lillian listening to dad read the Christmas story out of the Bible.

I love Christmas Eve! Jeremy likes to read the story of Baby Jesus found in Luke to the children.

Fudge and Celery

Goose, Bean and G left Santa some yummy treats under the Christmas tree.

Lillian decided we better leave some celery for Rudolph.

Paints

Cousins Gilly and Lilly loved painting with the paints that Aunt Monica gave them. Lillian loves talking to Uncle John and her new Aunt Monica.

Painted Noses

The cousins thought it would be fun if they all painted their noses like Rudolph.

Lillian has always loved her Uncle Chad!

We love Cousins!

Cousin Mckiela helping Lillian open her present!

2 Brownies and a Blue!

It was so much fun to see these cute girls dance and be silly!

Monte, Lillian and their cousin Claire had fun helping Aunt Brooke make cookies for Santa. We were ambitious and made three kinds. I think I ate a little too much cookie dough that night, but oh was it good!

These 3 little girlies are super cute!!