-THE ELDER FAMILY-

On the 7th day it read: "Let's watch the Polar Express Movie! We're going to have a great time together, we are going to start at 6:00pm...meet in the family room...don't be late, I can't wait!!!!! We watched this with grandma and grandpa Elder and Joey we had a good time. On the 8th day it read: "Believe" Sign! I love this word and want to make sure that we have this reminder in our home. We do believe, don't we? How blessed we are as a family to know how crucial it is to believe in the really important things in life. Look around the house...do we have a Believe sign? On the 9th day it read: A Christmas bell of Service! Do an act of service in secret for a neighbor or friend and leave this little bell on their doorstep along with a message,” From The Polar Express.” Maybe some homemade treats would bring a big smile to their faces. The girls chose some friends of theirs down the street, Erin and Olivia. On the 10th day it read: Lets gather together ...

Oh ya, did I mention our new baby in our family!!! Justin yelled,"Heidi grab the camera and come up stairs!" I did and this is what I found....he is so cute! We just love him. Looks like someone will get some use out of our pacifiers, my kids don't!

Jade and Jordyn were Angels in our ward Christmas party this year they looked "Angelic" and sang so good!

So this year I got everything done for Christmas in November so that we could really enjoy the whole month of December. I had so much fun making our family an advent calendar. I had gone to a craft boutique one day and saw that someone had made an advent calendar out of a mini muffin tin and I thought hey I can do that and I did! So many ideas came flowing in my mind as I was making it. I am BIG into traditions and wanted to start this one for our family. Each day the kids take a turn picking a day. So far this is what we have done......the first day (DEC 1st) I had them wait to do it until after dinner.....they opened it up and read: "Go look under your pillow,and you will find something that will keep you warm and cozy on these cold, snowy nights. Oh, You'll look adorable!" They ran up and were so excited to see that they each had PJ's even Justin was surprised I had some for him! We used to get PJ's the night before Christmas but I thought that it would be fun ...

We have had a fabulous fall! It all started out with getting a new home the first of September! We feel so blessed to get the home we are in. We love every bit of it. The yard it beautiful, we fell in love with the back yard, it has beautiful landscaping and we didn't have to do it! There are 2 big trees in the back that gave us alot of leaves to rake! We had a fun family night doing it and sounds funny but had so much fun doing it. Jordyn celebrated her 5th birthday! She is growing up so much, I will be sad to see her go to school next year, she is my buddy all day, she likes to clean and cook with me and so I will miss her not being with me all day...can't I just freeze life right now! I really love where my life is! Jordyn wants every birthday to be at the fun park! So we went there again this year with her cousins. She is still into Hanna Montana so she got a doll with a horse, she wanted a hat this year and so we went shopping for that, she got some snow white d...

So thanks to our friends,Rob and Anjalee we have a new member in our family! They gave us a free shitzu! He is the most adorable puppy! We got him last night and have had so much fun with him. He is a little fluff ball. We named him chewy. There is such a special feeling in a home when you have a family animal I think. We love him and are so thankful to Rob and Anjalle for the best christmas present ever!!!! Thanks you guys. Here's some pic but he is so cute in real life.

Tyler has said his first sentence! "Here you go!" For the past few days he keeps bringing things to people and saying "here you go" it is so cute. He is growing up so much, I just love him so much. Jade just started 2nd grade at North Park Elementary. She loves school and does so well. Her teacher is Mrs. Christensen. She has been wanting me to make her a lunch each day and so that has been fun to do. Her aunt Veronica got her a cute sandwhich thing that puts a design on her bread. Jordyn and I get another year together. I am soo excited. I love having her around and hope the year doesn't go too fast. Justin is very close to getting a job with South Salt Lake fire department. They just came up last week and talked to his Chief and his Chief said that they sound very interested in him. Two days ago Idaho Falls called and wants him to come for a chiefs interview and so he is also close with them!! We are just around the corner to starting a new and exciti...

It has been a crazy week. I have hardly seen Justin, he has been helping with the mudslide and working at his full time job! I have no idea as to how much sleep he has gotten since sat. and it is tues. There was a mudslide down on the island, a canal broke and the mountain came down on a house and totally barried it! So sad there were 3 people inside and they just recovered them today. Life is so fragile. I need to count my blessings everyday.

I can hardly believe that my oldest is 7! I am sure I have not had a child for 7 years, really!!! Jade is my Sunshine, almost every night I sing to her "you are my sunshine...." she brightens my day everyday. She is such a good helper and friend to me. She is always making sure that I am ok. I am so grateful to have her. She just finished 1st grade and has loved every minute of it. She loves school. She is such a good friend to so many kids, I can't believe how many friends she has!!!! She is growing up so much. She has lost 5 teeth including her 2 front teeth. She loves to read and is into reading Judy B. books. She likes to read to Jordyn at night as well, I tend to get pushed out of the way so she can read to her brother or sister! She loves to swim and is taking private swim lessons this summer. Jade loves to fix hair and usually does her own (by her choice) each day. Each year for her birthday her grandma Colette and her go have a special day together, shopping usual...

I had a beautiful mother's day. I enjoyed every minute of it. I am so lucky to have my husband and children. They made my meals and treated me so kindly! The girls picked out a cute musical card for me beacause they know me sooo well! The weather was beautiful we spent most of the day relaxing outside. I got to see my mom wich was a surprise because we were planning on going and seeing her for her birthday and mother's day the coming up weekend but she ended up coming to cache valley to see her mother and mother in law. So Justin took me for a motorcyle ride into Logan to visit with her and my grandma Yates for awhile. I love my mom and the older I get the more I appreciate her. She is such a good grandma to my kids, they love her so so much and always want to go see Grandma Colette. Mom you are such a beautiful example of how to be a mother and grandmother I am grateful to have such a good example of a mother to follow. I am proud to be your daughter! Thanks for al...