2013, a year in review...

This past year has been one of huge blessings and sweet tender mercies.

We lived our first year in our first house. Trent and I have spent so many hours trying to make our house perfect for us. We put in a new backyard (its almost finished!!), we added to the existing shelf set by putting another set of shelves in our pantry. We got that hot pink room painted brown and blue so that Logan could finally move in. We have mostly organized where things go and have cleared out a bunch of things that we don't need. We even finally put together our living room and hung up pictures (I don't know why we always take so long to do that)! We love this house more now then we did when we bought it, which I think is a really good sign ;). I am so grateful that we found this house and were able to move in when we did. It has felt like a miracle in our lives.

Logan was the first great blessing of the year. He was born on January 6th last year. Trent was ecstatic to add another boy into the family and he has not been disappointed by Logan at all. He is Logan's favorite. Logan would rather be with him than with anyone else. Logan LOVES balls and will already play "catch" by rolling you the ball, him catching it and throwing/bouncing it back to you. This last week he even stood up with a ball next to our little hoop and tried to make a basket! He definitely watches his daddy and Ethan! I feel so blessed that Ethan and Logan are already little buddies. Ethan loves to play with his little brother and he can make Logan laugh more readily than I can! Just yesterday they locked themselves in my walk in closet (which is a small room) and they played in there for almost 40 minutes. Every time I would open the door to check on them they were laughing with each other. Ethan would show me what they were doing and then ask me to leave and shut the door again. It makes my heart melt to see them being such good friends.

It is hard sometimes to be away from close family but in other ways it is wonderful. We have made some amazing friends down here and have learned how to trust and rely on people that we have only known for a short time. I honestly don't think I would ever have formed such strong friendships if we had family close by. I mostly feel blessed that we could find such wonderful people that liked us back ;). It has also been good for Trent and I's relationship. We are each other's confidant down here and we have really come to rely on each other and support each other even more. It has been really great.

In July of this year Trent and I started working about 10 hours a week for a couple in our ward. This couple is amazing. A few years ago they had an idea to make a heat-shrink home canning label. Over a period of time they researched doing it and put the product into production. Their business took off way faster than they ever expected and they needed help to keep up with it all. The husband used to be our bishop and he had worked with Trent and thought we would could do a good job. The wife was feeling very overwhelmed one day and just had the impression: The Spratlings can help. We are thrilled to be working with them. We are learning a lot about starting a small business and all the work that goes into it. We hope to someday to start our own business and I think that what we have learned will help us be successful at that in the future.

We had a bounteous garden this fall and it was so much fun to grow! I have always known I would have one when I grew up but I was pretty impatient last summer. It was so great to see that become a reality. We grew tomatoes, jalapenos, chilis, watermelon, zucchini and squash and learned a lot about what works here and what doesn't. Hopefully next year will be even better!

We are so grateful for Heavenly Father's blessings.

I love this season!

This month has already had so much fun in it that I can't believe the best is yet to come! Our neighbors and good friends, the Grahams, also have no family close by and so we decided that for each others anniversaries we will swap kids so we can each spend a night away at a hotel. We decided to add in an extra swap because Trent's boss invited the wives of the employees who attended their strategic planning session this year to stay come join their husbands up at a fancy resort outside of Albuquerque. Trent attended this strategic planning session last time but Logan was only three weeks old so we ended up bringing him and Ethan. Not very fun. So it was wonderful to get to go alone with Trent this time.Trent's meeting was Thursday and Friday and I drove up Friday to meet him. We ate an amazing dinner buffet (Trent's favorite was the prime rib, of course) and talked for hours with his coworkers and their wives. The people we were seated next to were so fun and I seriously cannot remember having more fun talking to strangers! I guess they weren't strangers to Trent, and I had met three of those sitting near us before, but still for as much as I knew about them they could have been strangers to me ;).

We were invited to a Christmas party put on by some friends in our ward and we had so much fun at that as well. It was an Ugly Sweater Party with some games and a white elephant gift exchange. I have always liked going places with Trent (obviously ;)) but since we have had a kids I don't get many chances to be in public with him without our children. Being at these two events have reminded me how entertaining he can be when he is in a group! He had me and other people laughing at his stories, and no one would expect him to have been the kid to go to detention all the time so I think that makes it especially entertaining. Anyway, it was just good for my soul to spend some time with Trent and other adults and it just reminded me of a part of him that I haven't seen in awhile.

Isn't he cute with his cal-lick combed down? :) He hated it, but although I prefer his cal-lick, I think the bangs lend him some boyish charm ;). 

Seriously though, I love this time of year. I feel like people are happier, Christmas songs are playing everywhere you go, and the love of the Savior is once again touching those who have drifted away during the year. It is just beautiful. I don't even want Christmas to come because then the season will be over. I generally dislike to be cold, but there is a warmth at Christmastime that overcomes the weather and permeates deep inside of me, warming me inside and out. I don't mind winter so much knowing that there is Christmas in its depths.

New Family Tradition: Cutting Down the Christmas Tree

On Saturday we went up to the mountains to cut down our first real Christmas tree! Trent and I both remember going with our families to the mountains to get a Christmas tree and riding behind our dads' trucks on sleds (Trent calls it hooky-bobbing...). Anyway, we want to make it a tradition with our family.

Trent was amazing and packed EVERYTHING that we could possibly need on Friday night. On Saturday morning we woke up and we were out the door within 20 minutes, with me on the tail end grabbing extra things that I couldn't have thought of the night before, like toys and the like (this pretty much describes our different packing strategies). The drive was beautiful and we drove through an area that we had never been to before. There was barely any snow on the road but we did find a hill that we rode down about three times until Ethan was done (poor kid, he is most decidedly not accustomed to cold). We found a place with promise for finding a tree and parked the truck and walked across a large field of snow and ice. We walked along the trees which formed a line between the field and the base of a hill. Unfortunately Ethan and Logan got cold quickly and by the time we thought we had found our tree both of them were crying. We decided that it would not be fun to cut the tree down like that so we hoofed it back across the field and sat in the truck to eat lunch and warm up. Soon both boys were happy and warm. After lunch we drove until we could see what looked like a tree worth cutting down. We hopped out of the truck, walked back across the field, quickly chose a different tree and chopped it down before anyone could get cold! We kept driving for awhile though and found a beautiful snowy area that would be a great place to camp next summer and had much better trees to choose from for next year!

After we got home we spent the afternoon putting up and decorating the tree and the rest of the house with Christmas things. It has really brought some extra excitement into our home and Ethan loves to look at the tree and the presents underneath. The excitement is my favorite part about Christmas. It is in the air. I always feel sad on Christmas Day and I think it is because I don't want that wonder and excitement to be done. I miss it. But, I am grateful to have it now and I am grateful to have such a great family to share it with!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was so awesome this year. We were really blessed to have my parents and Natalie come down to spend it with us. My parents drove down and back (it took three days each way...pretty sure they won't be doing that again ;)) so that they could bring us a water softener and a lot of my stuff that I had stored at home. They arrived on Monday and Natalie arrived Thanksgiving Day at around 12 (she has a new job so she couldn't take off too much time). They all left (driving and flying) around 4 on Sunday. We had so much fun while they were here.

Dad installed the water softener with Trent and was a favorite with Logan. Mom helped me around the house and played all day long with the boys. My parents were kind enough to watch the boys overnight while Trent and I got a hotel. It was the FIRST time we have been away from the kids since Ethan was 15 months old (so almost a year and a half)! I love my parents so much. I know that neither of their parents ever did anything like that for them (I don't think people really thought about it much back then) but I am grateful that they see that as something that would be good for their children's marital relationships. It was a blessing for Trent and I to get to be alone without being exhausted and reconnect a little bit.

When Ethan was under two he would treat Natalie as another mommy. Before he could speak he would go to her like she was his mommy. If he was hurt or sad he wanted either me or her. When he started speaking he called her Momma Two. He would go to her always if he needed his mommy but he could definitely tell us apart (he'd point: Momma. Momma Two.). We were curious to see Logan's reaction to Natalie since the only time he had seen her was when he was 6 months old. When I got back from picking her up at the airport she went in without me. Logan (who is pretty leery of strangers) immediately went to her. He didn't really look much at her because Ethan was doing something on the ground that he wanted to watch. I then walked up and stood by him. He looked up at me for a few seconds. Then looked at Natalie for a few seconds. Then back and me. Then at Natalie. And back and forth a few more times. Then, thinking he had it figured out he reached and leaned to come to me. But almost before I even had him in my arms he turned around and went back to Natalie and stayed with her. During the whole four days she was here he went back and forth to us as if we were both his mommy. Sometimes it seemed he knew I was his mom, but sometimes he really wanted Natalie. It was so fun and Natalie, of course, loved it.

While they were here we got to go to the Aquarium and Botanical Gardens, ice skating, and to Santa Fe. It was Ethan's first time ice skating! He was not impressed at all at first and would NOT let go of us. By the end he would lean on the ice skating bar they have for kids and skate around by himself (but he preferred to have me hanging on to the bar right behind him). It was kind of cool to have a kid old enough to come do that with us. It makes me excited to have older kids that we can take on new and exciting adventures!

I cried when my parents left. Trent and I love the adventure of living away from family and we feel we are closer as a couple because of it but we feel sad when we think that our children won't get to spend as much time around our amazing parents. This was the first time ever that Ethan has had a hard time warming up to his grandparents. It made me sad. He has gotten a little clingier to me lately and I know he just doesn't get to see them that often. It breaks my heart when I think about it.  I know that Trent and I enjoy living away but I LOVE spending time with my family. I always wish we just had a little more time together. I am so grateful that they made the sacrifice to come down. Logan has the cutest wagging bum when he crawls and the best toothless grin known to man. Ethan has grown at least six inches in the last 8 months and talks almost non-stop. I hate that my and Trent's parents have to miss those things so I am grateful that mine could come down to visit.

Funny Ethan

Ethan says the funniest things. I love listening to what he says and how he says it.

Yesterday when we went sledding we went to the same place we went last year. Last year there were people there, this time there wasn't anyone. After a few slides Ethan said to me: "Everyone isn't here." (See how cute?) I smiled, "You're right, no one is here! We are the only ones." After getting home and sitting fown to lunch we asked Ethan to say the prayer. In his prayer he included: "Please bless no one on the mountain." Which I am sure he didn't mean "no one". I think that he took what I had said but wanted to bless people on the mountain. It was so sweet.

Trent is really busy. He works 9-10 hours every day and then has meetings or visits for his calling or home teaching at least 4 days a week. We also work a side job a couple times a week. Between those things it seems as though Trent is rarely home with us where we can all relax and just play. At least a few days a week Trent comes home and has enough time to eat dinner and talk some before leaving again. The other day as Trent headed off to another meeting Ethan smiled and waved, "Good to see you Dad! Thanks for coming over!" As if Trent doesn't live here. Hahaha. We died laughing (and so did Ethan, he loves it when we think he is funny). Now we say it all the time when Trent has to leave. (And as a side note, life is busy but it is good. I am grateful that Trent has a job that he enjoys and that he has the opportunity to serve in his calling. I am only telling the above as a backdrop to Ethan's story, not to complain.)

Family Fun Day: Mountain Snow Fun

It probably goes without saying, but it doesn't snow much here in Albuquerque. Maybe two or three times a year and it all melts off by the next day. Snow was predicted for this weekend and when we woke up Saturday morning, saw a tiny skiff in the backyard and snow clouds over the mountain, Trent and Ethan decided that we were going up. We bought a sled and drove the hour or so to the top of Sandia Crest. The trees were snow covered and beautiful. Logan slept through the sledding but woke up at the end in time to get to put his hands in the snow.

 Trent writhing in pain after he hit a rock (and cracked our new sled...)

 Holding snow for the first time. His face kind of looked like this the whole time...and then he put it in his mouth. Go figure.

When we got home we built our first fire ever in our fireplace. Ethan and Trent drank hot chocolate and played Go Fish. It was a great way to spend the cold afternoon and warm up from the morning.

 Boys love fire ;).

Saturday night it snowed again. We let Logan crawl out in the snow as Trent was leaving for a meeting before church. He loved it...for about 40 seconds. Then he held up his cold hands and started crying. Haha. It was fun for the boys (all three of them ;)) to see the snow! 

Mowing the lawn

As I have mentioned before, our grass is coming in and we are so excited! There are still some grass-less spaces but the grass was so tall in some places that we had to cut it so that it didn't get too stressed. It was kind a milestone for us ;).

 I can't believe that someday this will he his job!

Family Pictures!!

Our neighbor Luke took our family pictures a week ago. Trent helped them install an irrigation system so he took our pictures. They turned out amazing. Here are some of my favorites.

 I love this smile. This is his face most of the time. True joy.

 I love Trent's face when he is laughing hard!

My favorite of our family

This week...

Every Friday Ethan and Calvin have a play date and we switch which house they go to so Jen and I can get some things done. After about an hour and a half we then go over and have an adult play date too. Why should the kids have all the fun? This week the boys played with Jeffer and Cal's Halloween costumes. I can't believe Ninja Turtles are back!

Ethan and Logan love to look at and play in this big mirror that was propped up against my bedroom wall. This week Logan got up on his knees and was pounding it with his hands. I heard a crash and turned to see Logan laying on this:

Literally laying on top of it. I didn't see it fall but I am positive Logan was in front of the mirror. Yet he didn't get hurt at all and ended up on top of it. I was so, so grateful he was okay. I really believe he was protected. It was a big miracle to me.

Halloween

We had a ward Halloween party on Wednesday and trick or treating on Thursday. Our primary presidency was in charge of the Halloween party so I got to help make the prizes (gold, silver and bronze pumpkins!) and help set up. We made it really simple and I think it was a success. We had a family theme of "roads". Can you guess what we are?

I am a road runner, Trent is a Rhodes scholar, Logan had the picture of Rocky Balboa taped to his back and was Rocky Road, and Ethan has a fork on his shirt, so a fork in the road. It was kind of fun to have people guessing what we were all night!

My boys

Logan is developing quite a little personality! He loves to crawl away from us as we chase him but he turns around every three steps or so to check on us while he giggles like crazy. He "escapes" after I change his diaper and crawls behind the glider chair and won't come out until I look in another direction when he then will come charging out and try to get out the door before I can grab him. His laugh is hilarious, the main characteristic being the gasping/laughing sound he makes as he draws air in. He eats like crazy. He still won't eat fruit but he loves just about everything else, especially yogurt. The other day he drank (guzzled) half of my green smoothie and then cried at me until I gave him the rest from the blender cup. I then had to convince Ethan to share some of his because Logan still wasn't satisfied! He used to cry whenever I left the room but now he is getting more independent. He sometimes even leaves the room I am in and I have to go after him to see what he is up to. On Monday of this week Ethan woke up early and came into my bed to snuggle. Ethan and I fell back asleep but after about 15 minutes Logan woke up. After nursing and playing some with Logan we went back to my room where we crawled into bed with Ethan. Logan insisted on getting down. 30 minutes later I woke up again to Logan talking! He had just crawled around and played while Ethan and I had slept for another half an hour! It was awesome. And much needed.

Ethan is getting to be such a big kid. He is three and a half years old today. He is talking so well and can tell me about what he did at preschool and nursery. He is very clever and can remember everything, from what I have said to where I have put something. He also remembers everybody's name. From his friends, to their moms, to our neighbors, he always remembers and calls people by their names. It is pretty impressive. He is so excited to have grass to the point of being protective of it. He tells everyone that comes over that we can't walk on the grass. He checks on the grass every day and shoos away the birds that come to eat the seed. He LOVES to take care of Logan and even helped feed him this week while I made Ethan's lunch. He is SO FULL OF ENERGY. People comment on it all the time. But he is also super sweet and thoughtful. At the pumpkin patch while Jen and I were getting things out of the car Ethan grabbed Charlotte and put his arms protectively around her so that she wouldn't run out in front of the cars driving by. He randomly tells me he loves me almost every day. He also has been completely potty trained for over a month now. Whew.

This week I have thought a lot about how my boys will be grown before I know it. I have really tried hard to imprint in my memory what it feels like to have Logan hold my finger while he nurses or how Ethan's three year old body fits perfectly in mine when I lay next to him, my face against his head and his back and legs against my stomach and upper legs. I know I will look back someday and wish I could be back here to experience this all again. Some days I am exhausted. Some days I don't know what I will do with the remaining fifteen minutes before nap time. Or like today, sitting alone in sacrament because Trent is up on the stand, I am drained by one kid that is climbing in and under pews and another one that refuses to nap even though he is exhausted. But overall I am happy. These two boys are everything to me. They make my life worth living. I cry when I think of all the things that could happen to them. But I am hopeful and grateful that I can trust Heavenly Father's plan for them.

Gravel = Gone

We got rid of our gravel! A few weeks ago I overheard a friend mention how she needed some gravel. I told her she could have what was left of our gravel after we had finished putting some back into our yard. They have some gravel in their yard already which conveniently matches the gravel we gave them! They are also a little stressed financially so this was a win-win for all of us: free gravel for them and more space for us!

 The gravel used to be on the concrete in front of those french doors.

Our grass is coming in! I cannot wait until we can play on it!

With such a small backyard having the gravel gone makes such a big difference!

Will the Spratlings ever finish their backyard?

We can't wait to be done with this yard. Literally CANNOT. We finally got some motivation to get going again after Trent seeded the weekend I was in Denver. Yesterday we *finally* finished moving the rock back into the perimeter of the yard and this next weekend we are giving away the remaining gravel. Since we have had a gravel mountain for the last nine months we are excited to have some extra space for Ethan to play in before we can start walking on the grass. Here are some pics of it coming in!

 This is about how much Ethan helped me. Just kidding. He probably helped for 5 more minutes than this ;).

 I spent HOURS picking up rocks and trying clean out all the dirt and debris that was in it. 

 The amount of time it took to take this picture is about how much Ethan helped me. Just kidding. He probably helped for 5 more minutes than that ;).

The grass is coming in!

And this pic is just for fun. 'Cause he is SO cute.