2009 Come and Gone

What a Year 2009 has been, acutally I should say...What a Busy Year 2009 has been.  I thought  it would be fun to take a look back at some of my favorite pictures from each month. As I was looking back through my files, it is amazing how many memories such a simple pictures holds.

JANUARY

Alexis and kyle both got new blankets and new chairs for Christmas. There wasn't a night these two didn't want to chill out in front of the "Big TV" (as Kyle now calls it) with their blankets, chairs and/ummm the occasional ICEE. Actually its really sad how many ICEE's we bought last year, but this year the kids won't see near as many of them around, since I can't have them anymore. ;)

I hope I forever remember the words that came out of this little one mouth the second she tasted the "Sweet Divine Goodness" of our cookie dough.  Really? Where did she learn that?

I cannot believe how little Kyle looks in this picture, and how chubby those dang cheeks were.  How did he grow up so much in just one year. Its hard to believe this little man is going to be 3 in just a few weeks.

FEBRUARY

Don't ask me why I decided to take on this challenge, but instead of buying Valentines, I thought it would be fun for Alexis to make her own, and the treats/crayons that went with them. As fun as it was, trust me, I'll just spend the $10 this year and we're good to go. (I'm all about minizing this year, and making things as least complicated as possible)

My cute little Kye Kye turned 2 in February. He really did have a fun time, but he was so tired before the party, and really didn't want me to take his picture. Its his party and he can cry if he wants to.

I think we had maybe two days the whole month when the temperature reached 40 degrees.  The second Alexis saw the sun come out she was ready to go swimming. Yes...I have a little fish that lives in my house and would spend every waking minute in the swimming pool.  She wasn't too happy that I wouldn't let her go outside in her swimming suit, but she still decided to run around in it the whole rest of the day. 

February marked the beginning of Kyle's Buzz Lightyear obsession.  He got these two action figures for his birthday and you could say that was the beginning of the end.  Buzz and Woody pretty much never left his side after that. The cutest thing ever was when he figured out how to say "to infinity and beyond" in the most adorable two year old voice.

MARCH

In March this little cutie turned 5 and decided that she was going to have a Luau Birthday.  She was so excited to finally be 5 and to also learn what day her birthday was on. Everyone spoiled her rotten as usual, but her favorite present was the Littlest Pony Baby that Kyle gave her.

Alexis, Kyle and myself went to St. George in March.  Their daycare lady took a two week trip to China, and since I had to use my vacation I thought it would actually be fun to go somewhere. The kids loved playing with McKadin and Halle, while I just loved being out in the Sun.   Oh, this trip also marked the begining of Kyle's "Eyes" Stage (he loved his sunglasses and wore them everywhere, including on top of his head when he was inside)

APRIL

The kids loved Easter this year and got into all the Egg Rolling fun with Grandpa Allen. But before you destroy the eggs of course they have to be decorated and Kyle claimed the Boots Egg this year.

Alexis LOVED her Easter dress and practically begged me to take her up the canyon for a photo shoot. What mom is going to turn down a request to take pictures of their kids, especially when they want their picture taken.  By the time we got up to the Temple Quarry Kyle had fallen asleep, so Alexis and I went for a little hike and got some fun pictures by ourselves.

Oh, and you can't forget this little cutie joining our family in April. I just love Sopie to death, and if its possible she gets cuter and cuter every day.

MAY

Over Memorial Day weekend we went down to St. George for a mini-vacation and for Sophie's Blessing.  But somehow we ended up going to Disneyland in the middle of everything.  Here's my side of the story...We were almost to Cedar City, and I tell Justin, wouldn't it be fun to go to Disneyland tomorrow? Then the weird looks start, and he then he realized I'm serious. Fast forward to 3am the next morning...the kids are all nustled, all snug in their car seats, I have a nice large Coke ICEE and Justin is almost asleep again in the passenger seat.  About 10 minutes before the gates open we buy our tickets and surprise the kids with the best day trip ever.  I love Disneyland and love spontaneity even more.  Alexis didn't really believe us, and thought we were just pulling a really mean trick on her.

We promised the kids one surprise from Disneyland, and this Buzz hat has to be the best $30 we have ever spent.  Not one single regret about spending that much money on a souveniour hat, and I'm pretty sure you've seen this little man wear this hat to something since our trip. 

One more monumental point of this trip would be this little game of basketball with Justin, Kyle and Tyler.  Justin decided it would be fun to tear his meniscus and wreck his knee.  He didn't think anything of it until a couple months later when he reinjured it playing basketball and realized it was time to see a doctor.  Justin delayed his surgery this year until he could get back on my insurance.  He's excited to have his knee fixed so he can finally play ball again.

JUNE

I was lucky enough to spend the entire day with my little man, the day before my birthday. Alexis went with her cousins to Discovery Gateway, so Kyle got to tag along with me on a photoshoot.  He was such a good little boy and I think for the first time in his life was actually a "momma's boy".  I loved every minute of it.

2009 will forever be remembered as the year Alexis learned how to pose. I have a feeling her pictures will never be the same.  We went to Wheeler Farm with Ricki and her girls to take some fun pictures and to my surprise got one of the cutest pictures I have of Alexis. Just looking at this picture you may wonder way I love it so much, but she is acutally not cheesy smiling, and has such a cute little girly pose with her legs crossed and then you see her muddy, wet flip flop feet.  So Alexis in everyway-a true girly girl through and through, but never afraid to get her feet wet.                  

Jared and Katie's family also came to visit in June, and I don't think there was a "down" day the entire time they were here. Those cousins sure love each other and have so much fun together, everytime they come up I just wished they lived closer. (Alexis can't wait for some of her girl cousins to get bigger, so she's not the only one with the boys)

JULY

What would summer be without a handful of boating trips? We spent the 4th of July at Willard Bay with Adam and Becky's family and I think its fair to say that everyone had a great day. Alexis loved the Molecule, the beach, the water, her cousins...while Kyle eventually liked the boat, but didn't want to touch the sand-all he wanted to do was listen to the Cars song on my IPOD. 

We also had a pool party for Alyda's first birthday and my kids went crazy and showed off their Mad Jumpin' Skillz to everyone there.

AUGUST

In August the Boulter's had a birthday party for my mom up at Echo Resevoir.  Justin and Kyle stayed home, but Alexis and I had the best time ever.  I can honestly say that this entire day was perfect, I had so much fun with my family and Alexis is just completely infatuated with the water. (A girl after my own heart).

Alexis was so excited to start Kindergarten and couldn't believe the day had finally come.  Now she can't wait for 1st grade and to be able to be in school all day.

We couldn't leave Kyle out of the first day of school pictures. I just adore how blue his eyes are in this picture and those cheeks, ohh I just want to squeeze them.

SEPTEMBER

We all hit the Zoo one last time in September.  Ty and Val's kids came with and I think its fair to say anytime they all get together its just complete chaos.   After lunch it started to rain, so we headed for the carosuel before we left.  Literally the second the kids got off the ride, it just started monsooning on us, but Alexis was not about to let a little rain stand in her way of having fun.

September was a big month for my Grandpa, as he offically bought a new house in St. George and moved down south permanently.  The night before he left we all went to Leatherby's, like the Boulter's really need any excuse to go there, as a going away party.  Alexis sat by Taylor and was so silly the entire time, and was so even more excited that Uncle Ty and McKadin were going to live by her.

Kyle figured out how much fun it was to run around in his new Buzz costume. (This is the offical Buzz stance, if you were wondering)

Alexis also started Cheerleading classes in September, and truly found her passion. She loves going to class and learning all about Cheerios and Cinnamon Rolls.  One night after class she told me "Mom, I think cheerleading is going to be my thing, does that work for you?"

Such a cutie pie.

September was a pretty bad month for me, I came down with double pnemonia, strep throat, bronchitis and a sinus infection (all at the same time). All I can say is Labor Day to Halloween was a complete blur to me and my most favorite time of the year kind of got skipped over this year.  I'm already looking forward to next Fall so I can actually enjoy it.

OCTOBER

This year we went to Witch-a-palooza with my Dad's family. Kyle wasn't so sure about all the decorations, but Alexis loved it and couldn't stand how cool everything was. These two girlies love every minute they get to spend with each other.

I literally waited until the last minute to take my kids the pumpkin patch, but hey we made it.  Kyle and Alexis loved that Grandma Brenda came with and they both picked out pretty cool pumpkins this year, which were decorated with a werewolf (because Alexis is obsessed with Twlight/New Moon) and a ton of shapes in the form of a face (because Kyle was watching Blue's Clue's right before we carved pumpkins and apparently it was their shape mystery episode).

Alexis decided to be Cleopatra for Halloween this year. When I asked her if she knew who Cleopatra was, her respons was classic " Duh Mom, she's the Queen of the Egyptians and everyone will have to bow down to me". Alrighty, that clears that costume choice up.

As if there is any shock or surprise at all who Kyle wanted to be for Halloween

NOVEMBER

I tried and tried in October to take my kids out for a fun Fall photoshoot, but I just never found the energy to do it.  So I think literally on the last good weekend of November before the rest of the leaves fell I took them up by the temple to snap a few pictures.  Alexis was loving it and decided to break out some new poses I had never seen before.

Kyle wasn't as enthusiastic about the pictures, but I still managed to get a couple fun ones.

This picture pretty much explains it all. Alexis is always so cheery and ready to get her picture taken, while Kyle gets bored very quickly and just wants to move onto the next thing.

DECEMBER

Alexis and I went to Taylor's 9th birthday party and she LOVED going ice skating for the first time, but she also loved having pretzels and nachos with Morgan just a little bit more.

Kyle got his new beanie this month, and wore it pretty much everywhere. The only reason he picked it out was so he could be just like his Daddy.

Alexis performed with her cheer class at the Festival of Trees and had so much fun having so many of family come to see her perform.

This picture is truly momumental because, how do I say this nicely...Sophie is a little "scared" of Justin, so for her to actually sit on his lap without crying was a huge accomplishment. 

What first started out as trying to get all four grandkids in a picture for my mom, turned into just Alexis and McKadin taking pictures.  I was honestly shocked that I was able to get McKadin to sit still long enough to get a pretty dang cute picture.

Somedays I feel like time is just flying by so fast and we just get stuck in our everyday routine and forget to live life.  But looking back at these pictures reminded me that even though I feel stuck, I am living my life and these two little kiddos are the most important part of that life.  This new year I am determined to live more stress free, be healthy and to not take too much on. I can't wait for the new changes that are coming to our family, starting with our new little one joining our family this Summer!

(Drawn by Alexis)