Merry Christmas from our House to Yours

We love Christmas! These lights were professionaly hung by The Biggs Boys Jake and Chase. The classic question came from Jake when he asked me, "Who is going to clean all this up?" I just smiled and said "I am looking at them". Chase and Jake did all this by themselves. They had some instruction from me on where to put them, Adam helped consolidate some of the cords. I think they did great.

Black History Month

This is orchestra and choir singing , if you look real hard you can see Allie playing the violin.

Today while Allie was having piano lessons, Evie came in said "I know what song Allie is playing let me sing it". Allie was playing "This old Man" But Evie sang these words to me.

Martin Luther King
Had a Dream
That we would work as a team
It should not matter the color of our skin
Lets get along and be good friends.

Allie and Evie had special programs at their school for Black History Month. There was a Pastor that spoke at both of them. He had a very good message of having dreams, no matter how bad of circumstances you come from you can dream and make a better life for yourself. There are some very talented kids that sang and one 5th grader recited a portion of "I Have a Dream Speech". Allie played in the orchestra at her program. I am so glad that I was able to talk her into playing in the orchestra. She is very happy that is what she decided to do too. I am real impressed with their performances.

almost 3 going on 16

This all happened today with Nielie. She is to turn 3 on Friday but I think she think she wants to be older.

She had to wear this outfit today, we tried panties but I found her like this trying to put her diaper on herself. Later tonight after baths, she was so upset because she didn't want to put on pajamas. She put on another skirt and then went into the laundry room and got this same outfit of the dirty clothes and put them back on. It is her "rainbow" shirt.



She got a fun Birthday card from Grandma and was so happy about this.



Nielie has hard time staying in bed at night. She is really a roamer. She loves my makeup. This is how I found her the 3rd time I put her in bed. I had forgotten to shut off my bathroom light. I think she did a pretty good job on her toenails don't you think. The mascara is not to bad too. She is at least in the right area. Notice her big girl items along with the makeup- Bottle and "blue blanket" even though it is pink.

Back to School

This is Evie and her teacher at meet the teacher night. Evie also was able to try out the cafeteria with some nachos that night also.

This is Evie when I left. She didn't even look up. I waited a few minutes in the hallway to see if she would look at the door but she didn't. She did look up at when the teacher said "Eyes on me." She had the biggest smile on her face but she wasn't looking at me, she was looking at the teacher. She still had not noticed that I was there. Apparently she wasn't scared or sad to leave me.


Yesterday was the first day of school. The kids were pretty excited. The girls were the most though. Evie has been asking each day when school was going to start for the last two weeks. She didn't miss me at all she said when I picked her up from school. It is alot quieter during the day with her gone. She really was ready but it is still kinda hard to let her go. It is a long day 7:45- 3:10. She was so tired this morning but still wanted to go even though I told her she could stay home another year and go next year. One of Evie's biggest surprises yesterday was when were almost to her school after dropping everyone else off she wanted to take off her shoes. I told her she had to keep them on and then she says " You mean I can't take them off when I get to school?"

Allie started Middle school which seems kinda crazy. Our kids are getting older which means we are too. The boys are at the same elementary school together which is nice. Having the kids at three different schools is a little hard but next year will be easier when Evie is at the same school as the boys. School shopping was easy this year because they have to wear uniforms. They have 3 different colored polo shirts ( no logos on them) they can wear khaki or blue uniform pants or skirts. They have to have their shirt tucked in and a belt on and they can wear tennis shoes. They boys were pretty worried about it but after school yesterday Chase said, "Mom the uniforms aren't that bad, it just like any other clothes."

There were a couple of funny one liners yesterday form Nielie. First of all in the morning when we were getting ready for school I said "come,on we have to go to school" and Nielie said all surprised" I five?" She thought she had turned five and was going to school. Then we were eating breakfast and Adam said, "Nielie you are going to work with me." She replied " I not go to work, I not a Daddy." Today when we were walking Evie into school a lady said you have two going to school, Nielie replied before I could ," I not five. I two and a half."

Big Move

It has been about 2 1/2 weeks since we moved. We are kinda settled but still have lots to do. Since I am getting good at moving, this time I decided to just unpack with the knowledge that I would rearrange things later. I have always tried to put everything where I want it the first time but it just takes too long.
We are having lots of fun, the kids are having fun playing with toys I have had packed up while were trying to sell our house, it is like having new toys all over again. The kids are now getting ready for school. Evie and I went to buy school supplies for her and the boys today. Figure the boys didn't want to waste their last days of summer buying school supplies. Two more weeks and the fun begins. We have some great neighbors with kids that have been great to our kids. As much as I loved Fairview/Lovejoy I know this will be a good place. Our kids had such great friends, with great families and it was so wonderful for our kids to have all that great influence. In some ways this town reminds of where I grew up, but bigger. It is funny you get used to what you are around and that seems normal. I have already appreciated it being 5 o'clock and still no traffic. I also love being so close to everything. The boys went to FB camp at the HS last week and had lots of fun. FB starts this Sat for them. Allie has met some girls that she is going to school with and they have been great to her. Evie will start Kinder this year and is so excited.

Here are some pics of us enjoying our new home.
This is Jake being super silly and putting on Evie's life jacket to swim.

This is everyones favorite move. Even Nielie will jump from here if Adam is there to catch her.

Hayley this is for you, still trying to break the child labor laws. We don't have much grass to cut, but probably more yard work. I wouldn't let the boys come in till they had filled a target bag with weeds or leaves. It was around 8am so it wasn't too hot.

This is Jake taking a break- and "Hey, where is Chase"? That is what I end up saying over and over again. He somehow manages to wander off.




After our second day here, Nielie was able to figure out how her life jacket works and goes all over the pool.

Evie loves to do "Nutcrackers" off the wall. Where do think she heard this from.






This is the boys at FB camp. There were 190 boys registered from 1-9th grade. Jake is the 3rd boy on the sideline and Chase is behind him. There were some very BIG boys there.

Happy Birthday Grandpa!!!

Happy Birthday Dad! I am so glad that you are on a mission, we sure miss you but I am really glad for the example you are setting for our boys and all the other grand kids. You have been a great Dad and a wonderful Grandpa. I am glad that you made us work even when we hated it and sometimes hated you for making us do stuff. Now as I am trying to teach the kids how to work I am realizing that it takes more effort from the parent to get them to work. One thing you always put first was the Lord. Your pickup always had your scriptures and the Ensign on the front seat. Here are a few things that I have learned from growing up with you as my Dad

1. I can cut the boys hair because of the way you taught me how to use clippers to clip the steers for the fair.
2. I can drive a 26 ft U-Haul through town because you taught me how to drive silage and wheat truck.
3. I can use pesticides and weed killers like no other and I am not scared of using them like most people I know.

I know there are other things but these are the most recently used skilled that are coming to my mind. I sure love you Dad. We all love you here. Thank you for everything and have a Happy Happy Birthday.

Missionary Life in West Virginia

We had so much fun visiting Mom and Dad on their mission. Jennilyn and Cooper were there too.
Chase was so excited when we finally got to pick up Jennilyn and Cooper from the airport. Then we drove a couple hours to get to Mom and Dads.



When we were packing, Evie wanted to bring this jean skirt and a white shirt for "missionarying with Grandma". I laughed so hard because I couldn't believe she thought these would be good missionary clothes! Maybe that is just an internal thing to think these are the clothes you need for missionarying. Anyway as soon as we got to Moms she wanted to put these clothes on and be just like Grandma. Grandma wasn't wearing a jean skirt but she did have on a long skirt and white shirt and Evie wanted to be just like her. Evie really wanted to do missionary work and would ask each day what missionary work we were going to do.


Jake got to go with Dad on an appointment. Then one day Jake and Chase went with Mom and Dad to district meeting.




This is right before we were leaving. Dad is trying not to cry- actually he was really happy it is just the best picture I have.



On this trip I realized that our kids are getting older and they were actually pretty entertaining sometimes. It is getting much easier to take them all places. I am not saying easy, but easier. One of the things I will remember is how much fun Jake and Chase had with Cooper. They really had fun playing with him and getting him excited. Here is a picture when I was waiting in line to check us in at the airport and the kids were sitting here waiting. This is something I never thought I would see even just a year ago, all of them except Nielie sitting there just waiting!


It was such a wonderful time visiting Mom and Dad and meeting their friends back there. I also loved being around them and Jennilyn and Cooper. I am so glad we were able to go. It is so pretty and was so interesting to experience another part of the US.