Merry Christmas

Audrey and Leah

Bowen and Cyus

Leah and Trajen

Bowen watching cars (in heaven)

My decorating (so I can remember for next year)

This video show what Bowen sounds like and I wanted to try out my new camera!

We had a wonderful Christmas! I hope all of you did to! On Christmas Eve we ate dinner (shrimp and crab) at Seth's parent's house! We should make that a yearly tradition! (I seem to be putting ! after every sentence. I'll try to calm down). We also read the Christmas story in the Bible, and Bowen actually sat still. Then we went home, and Bowen had a "long winter's nap". He slept until 9:15 Christmas morning. Leah was very patient to wait for him to wake up, haha. So we finally woke up Bowen to see what Santa had brought him. Seth keeps saying, "Bowen, I'm Santa." I don't think Bowen really gets it yet, but he was sure excited to see his choo-choo-train Christmas morning. He loved everything (most of is presents had wheels).

Leah took a nap while we let Bowen watch "Cars" and then we headed over for more food and fun with Seth's family. Bowen got to play with Zoriaha, Cyus and Trajen. And Leah and baby Audrey spent some time together too. It was so fun to be with family and enjoy this special (my favorite) holiday. (I am already sad that it's over, I think the week after Christmas is the most depressing week of the year).

Christmas Card

Every year I try to pick a Christmas card that totally captures my family. I spend hours and hours searching for the right one...just kidding.

Usually, I just choose the one that looks decent and that is somewhat cheap. I've never looked at the shutterfly Christmas cards and Holiday cards, because I thought they were way too expensive. Come to find out that they are really a lot better looking than the Walmart or Sam's club ones that I have done in the past. And they're not too expensive if you can get a promo code (which I am earning through this blog post).

I used shutterfly to create Leah's birth announcement earlier this year:


I just love their selection, and their quality is unbeatable. One day I hope to make a 12 month photo calendars so I can enjoy my families pictures all year long. The only problem I have is that I think of this idea at the beginning of December. I should really start this project in January. Maybe that will be one of my new years resolutions.

Here is a preview of my family Christmas card:

I would love to send you all a Christmas card so if you think I don't have your address please email it to me!

Happy Halloween!

Leah was a cow and Bowen was a farmer. He loved his John Deer tractor. Trick-or-treating was a little bit rainy, but I took the kids out around the block while Seth stayed home (he actually had the better job. I guess I'm a grown-up now because I think staying home on Halloween is more fun than going out trick or treating).

Family pics (minus Seth)

So we took family pictures last weekend, but the lighting turned out really bad. My neighbor was the one who took the pictures, so to make up for the bad pictures, we took some of the kids in her back yard last week. I may be biased, but I think I have the cutest kids in the world!

To see more pictures go to her photo blog

Also, Leah had her 6 month check up . She was 16lbs. 3 oz. So not quite as chubby as Bowen was. She is tall like Bowen has always been, measuring in the 97 percentile.

2 kids and an antelope

Bowen and Leah are great little friends now. Bowen loves to make her laugh. The other day Leah was sucking on something and I found a sunflower seed that Bowen had put in her mouth! He also likes to give her his toys. We'll see how long the sharing lasts! Leah is getting so big. She eats a little baby food and can roll onto her stomach!

Here is Seth's antelope he shot on his hunt in Wyoming. He went with his cousins and uncle and had a really great time.

Leah is our princess (sorrry Bowen, no pictures of you)

Leah with my mom at my sister Abby's soccer game.

She started rolling to her stomach a few weeks ago. Whenever she rolls she gets mad that she's on her stomach!

Leah likes to spit food out, but she's starting to get the hang of it. Her bumbo chair is perfect, although she hates being constrained, so she will arch her back and try to get out.

Summer fun

I was hoping to have more photos, because we have really done a lot of fun things this summer. I was with all my sisters for a week and a half, and everyone else had their cameras, so I'm waiting for them to send me photos. Then I lost my camera for a couple weeks...

Our kids are starting to really interact. Bowen just loves his baby sister Leah. She is now 4 months old and 14.3 lbs (61st percentile), and 95th percentile in height. She's really tall just like Bowen. She still has very little hair, but keeps her cute head bands on. I love being a mother of two!

Wasatch County fair with all of my sister and their kids

Me and Leah (3 months), Hil and Brad (12 months), Tiff and Tyson (10 months)

Cousin Chloe got a pink tu-tu, but Bowen wanted to dance in it. He danced all over my parents back yard for at least a half hour. Will he be dancer when he grows up? Seth hopes not!

Zwahlen family reunion in Oregon. We had a great time. Leah below with my grandparents, Ken and Betty Zwahlen.

Thanksgiving Point children's garden. Bowen and Tagg below!

Happy 4th & Blessing Day

Leah received her baby blessing on the 4th of July. It was a really sweet day, especially since my mom and I got the dress done in time. Leah, you should know that we lost a lot of sleep and you discovered your thumb during the hours we spent making your dress.

Leah at 2 months

Leah just turned 2 months old. She now weighs 11 lbs. 8 oz. and is 23 1/2 inches. We are so happy to have her in our home! She is a very happy girl, AND not to brag but she slept for 10 hours straight last night. What a sweetheart!

These things make me smile!

So I've never made a post without pictures, but I wanted to share some of the funny things that Bowen has done lately:

We had his little friend Jackson over for dinner the other night. When it was time to pray, both the boys started praying simultaneously. All Bowen knows how to say is, " Heavenly Father...Bless the food...Christ...Amen!"

Bowen is very particular and loves to clean up messes. The other day I was thinking I should ask Bowen to pick up some toys, and I turned around and he had already cleaned it all up! I hope he stays like this.

Bowen climbed up the base of his basketball hoop and proclaimed, "Bowen so TALL!" When he stepped down he said "Bowen so DOWN!"

He's still working on his opposites...at nap/bed time he says, " Bowen no go nigh-night, Bowen WAKE UP!"

Bowen loves his baby sister Leah. Everytime he wakes up he asks, "Where-saa-baby?" He loves to kiss her a get right in her face and say, "HEY BABY!" He even held her for a half hour the other day and didn't want to let her go. So sweet!

Easter, Birthday, Graduation, Baby

I am so glad that Leah came 4 days early. She was due on the 16th, but was born on the 12th. It was perfect, because Bowen's 2nd birthday was the 20th and my mom's BYU Law School graduation was on the 23rd. I know it's pretty selfish of me, but I wanted her to come early so that I could enjoys all the parties.

Bowen jammin' on the piano. I just found these headphones. It's great, he loves them, and I don't have to listen to him play the same note 50 times in a row, or make the annoying machine gun sound.

I made this Fire Truck Cake. It was super easy, but the red food coloring (which I bought from Roberts in the cake decorating section) stained everyone's teeth pink. Thanks to everyone who came to Bowen's party and all of the nice gifts!

My grandma Zwahlen came to Utah for my mom's graduation. It was so nice to see her and my grandpa. They even brought Leah a cute baby blanket that they make for all their great grandchildren, which is quite a lot now!

Bowen found his old Halloween costume which I made for him when he was 6 months old. I was afraid of making it too small, so it still fits him. I'm really proud of my handywork, especially the toes on the feet!