Some good times

Michelle loves the park! The weather was finally nice enough (barely) to take her the other day, and when it was time to leave, she started screaming! She really was having such a good time, so we took her back again Saturday. The ground is quite wet still, but she doesn't seem to mind.

Also on Saturday, Gary came for a visit. He will be here until Wednesday! We are so excited to have him and Michelle just LOVES her Uncle Gary!

We were lucky he was here because the Bishop called us Sunday morning (45 minutes before church) and asked us to speak to fill in for someone who was sick! So Gary watched her while we spoke! She was really great for him! And he was pretty good too!

Way to go, Idaho!

Well, most of you who read this blog already know, but there are a few of you who don't (sorry, Jacqui, I do plan on returning your phone call, things are just REALLY crazy right now) . . . We are moving to Idaho Falls. After more than a year of applying for jobs all over the country, Jim got THREE, yes THREE job offers in one month. He got an offer in Las Vegas, an offer in Idaho Falls, and then just last week, another in Tacoma. The job in Idaho Falls is BY FAR the best career move for Jim, and therefore for our little family. They really wanted him, paid his way up there AND per diem for the time he spent up there for an "interview". They also don't want him to leave his pregnant wife alone, so they told him he could start anytime between now and May 17. We are really hoping we can sell the house by then. Honestly, we have felt good about this job in Idaho from the moment they called and so we feel that is where we are supposed to be next. Heavenly Father has blessed us so much in our marriage and we have tried to do as he has directed. I just have to have faith that things will work out with the house. Someone out there wants to buy my cute little starter home! (Hopefully sooner than later so we can get moving on a house in Idaho Falls.) Anyway, it is a big move, a big change for us in a lot of ways. But we feel good about it and are very excited.

Poor Michelle is going to have her entire world turned upside down in a couple of months . . . new home, new little sister, new routines. Good thing kids are so resiliant! She isn't walking yet, but we keep thinking, any day now! Maybe if Jim would stop picking her up every time she bats her big brown eyes, gives a little smile, and holds out her hands . . . :) To be fair, it is pretty tough to resist when she is so dang CUTE!

Look how cute she was playing with her cousin Maya when we went to visit for Cousin Andrew's baby blessing this past weekend!

Playtime

Jim and Michelle were so cute I had to capture it on film.

Family Pictures

We made an appointment to have Michelle's 1 year picture taken (a month or so late, admittedly) and at the last minute decided to to family pictures at the same time. They turned out pretty well, so I thought I would share some. We are sending some in the mail out to family, but if you want one that you don't get, or want a different size, let us know because we bought the copyright for them all.

Michelle was tired by the time we got in to our appointment (45 minutes late!) But, as always, she puts on a show for the camera. She is such a little performer.

First Savings Account

Michelle opened her first savings account yesterday! We actually went before Christmas to do it, but I didn't have her social security number memorized yet . . . I'm such a bad mom sometimes! :) Anyway, I memorized it and we went yesterday. Thanks to grandparents for Christmas gifts to fill her first savings account!

Back Home Again

We made it home safely from Christmas in Utah. Michelle enjoyed our trip to the north of Utah, where she got to play with her cousins that she rarely sees. They adored her and she loved the attention. She loved the toys from Grandpa and Grandma Thompson too (except the penguin which, for some odd reason, scares her to tears).

Now, back at home, her favorite games involve throwing toys. She likes to pull all the pieces out of her puzzle and throw them across the room. She likes to take all the animals out of her Little People barn and throw them. She also LOVES when Mom or Dad builds a tower of blocks so she can knock it down!

She is also becoming quite the serious musician with all her musical instruments, like her new guitar.

A big accomplishment Sunday . . . she finally pulled herself up to a standing position. And we were thrilled, even if the chosen spot was one of the few "no-no" spots in the house.

Merry Christmas Michelle (and everyone else)!

Even though last year was TECHNICALLY Michelle's 1st Christmas, she was too small to appreciate any of it. This year she has really had a ball! Though she is still only a year old, she loved Christmas and was cute about loving it.

First she got to enjoy some early presents from Grandma Jackson (pre-Christmas day).

Christmas Eve we were at Grandpa and Grandma Moore's.

Sitting on Grandma's lap with cousin Morgan . . . stealing HIS toys!

Daddy and Uncle Trevor are just watching.

Then she got to the BIG DAY!

Thank you SANTA CLAUSE!

Thank you Grandma Jackson!

Thank you Grandpa Jackson!

Thank you Grandpa and Grandma Moore!

Thank you to everyone! Michelle also got awesome wood blocks from Uncle Gary, soft blocks from Uncle Trevor and Uncle Travis and Legos from Mom and Dad. She got a musical train from Aunt Madison, a See and Say from Grandma Jackson, and a Shapes and Melodies piano from Grandpa and Grandma Moore. She loved all her toys so much she couldn't decide which one to play with. She was all over the place between them and it was adorable!

Brooke and Jim got some great stuff too! We both got some very nice clothes. Michelle got Jim a new wallet and a tie. Brooke got Jim a GPS for the car and a Star Wars Movie. Jim got Brooke 2 beautiful new coats and a Wii arcade game. Brooke would like to thank her mother and father-in-law for some very nice, sparklies (a.k.a. jewelery). And Gary generously bought Jim and Brooke a hiking pack for Michelle!

The Moore's tried for a homeade holiday so we also received a nice handmade throw blanket from Madison, a family calender from Trevor with photographs he took, and a picture slide show from Travis (which we haven't seen yet but I am sure will be impressive as Travis is impressive!) It was a lot of fun to make and paint wood carvings to give out as gifts this year.

Needless to say, we have been spoiled and we have spoiled and it was a WONDERFUL Christmas. And it is not over, as tomorrow we head for Grandma and Grandpa Thompson's in Tremonton.

Thank you to everyone, if I left you off it is not out of lack of gratitude, merely out of a need to end this post so I can eat Christmas breakfast that my mom and Madison have worked hard to prepare and to play Wii with my dad and husband and little brothers!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!