Here's what's new in the new year.

Nothing big has happened lately, but a lot of little stuff has happened.

First of all, Richard's back to school again. This semester is slightly different then last semester because he is now working nearly full time (a few hrs shy of it) AND going to school full time. Right now he's signed up for 18 credits, but he'll probably drop a few. So he's pretty much always going to be gone from 7:30 am - 8:00 pm, some nights later. *cry* I'll survive, but I'm not saying I'll be happy about it. :(

Coincidentally my packet from BYU came in the mail the same day he started classes, so we both started school at the same time! :P I just started my course and I'm really excited about what I've gotten myself into! I really love history, apparently, and I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I traveled a lot when I was younger and learned bits of history and culture right there on sight of where it happened. That makes history a lot more exciting, and is probably why I am the 3rd person in my family of 5 to major in it. haha

Garrett is signing a lot of words these days! He can sign hot, all done, more, milk, bread, cheese, and apple. He is talking a little bit, but he mostly grunts and hollers. He's a very funny kid, and is always so happy! He's just a bit frustrating these days because he's so dangerous. He climbs on to our table, eats anything in sight, and opens anything that can open, and all that with no fear. Just in the last week he has put coal, a thumb tack, dirt, and rocks in his mouth. It's a good thing he's so happy and sweet!

Keira is becoming such a good help to me! She just loves to help me with anything I'll let her, and lately we've been babysitting our friend's cute little 7 month old girl twice a week (I'm nuts, right?), and she just hovers over her and helps her any way she can! She's also right in the midst of potty training and I'm going a little crazy! She's to the point where she very rarely has a full-blown accident, but lately it seems like she's regressed and nearly every time she goes to the bathroom her underwear is wet too! Ah! It's driving me crazy! Any advice???

Lastly, I can not believe the winter we've had so far!!! It's been crazy out there! I love it, though, and being in Elk Ridge we've gotten a lot this year! It's been fun to have a wood burning stove to make fires in and cozy up next to when it's blustering outside.
Here are some pictures to show how much snow we've had. Keira and I have fun in the snow when Garrett's asleep, although I'm not sure who enjoys it more. :P

This was taken today after our latest storm. There's about 2-3 inches more right here since it's next to the driveway, but it's not to much higher then the rest of the area.

Keira loved tromping around in the snow when there was a few inches on the ground, but it soon got to big for her to even climb into, so I made her a snow fort with stairs, a room, a cave, and some slides for her to play in while I'm shoveling. Yeah... I rock!

Here's the cave. I made it big enough for us both to fit inside. I love having kids so I have an excuse to do fun things like this again. :P Will I ever grow up?