Yes, We Are Still Here

While my dear, pregnant wife is driving home this July 4th afternoon, I realize it is time to update the blog. We have had a great time up in Washington and will be up here for another few months as I get my new warehouse/office going. So here is a pictorial of our time thus far in WA and the good times we have had. On a side note, my wife is the best. She is a true trooper following me all over the place and never complaining. I am not sure what I did right to deserve such a marvelous spouse, but something was certainly on my side helping me when I managed to swoop her from the BYU-I dating pool. Now on to the show:

Morgan and Whitney pray like their Aunt Stephanie when we get ready for prayers.

Morgan was intent on watching for whales out of Grandma's window. The home we stayed in was Kim's grandparents on Whidbey Island and it looked out on to the Puget Sound. What a beautiful view and a blessing to be able to stay there.

Whitney loves the water. She was ready to go and dive right in. She loves to play in the dirt and sand and yet once she is done, hates to have anything dirty on her hands. Something is going to have to give because Kim and I are getting tired of always having to keep her hands clean.

Morgan on the other hand can't stand to be on the beach at all with flip flops on because she does not like sand on her feet. I had to carry her over all the driftwood to get her back to the van and wash off her feet. But overall, a good time was had by all.

This was the sunset off the back porch at Grandma's house.

Parker and Whitney having a good time in the stroller.

Morgan and Grandma Sucher

Grandpa and Grandpa Sucher with the grandkids.

My parents

A Lighthouse in Langley

We went to a park last weekend for a picnic and they had a perfect climbing tree. We were able to get all the kids in there and Morgan was loving it.

Despite the less than desirable weather, Washington has been good. I love all the green grass and tall trees. It reminds me of the spring I had in Juneau in 1999 on my mission. Anyway, there a little snap shot of what we have been up to.

Lots going on!

Jeff and I just celebrated our sixth anniversary! We went to our wards chili cookoff! haha I know it doesn't sound that exciting, but it is so fun! No kids...adult conversation, good food. :) This year Jeff entered a chili, I think it had about seven pounds of meat...no joke. The original recipe called for 22 pounds!!! I made him cut it down. :) He wasn't in the top three for chili but he won for the name PETA Chili...People Eating Tasty Animals chili. Nice huh. :) BUT, he had a lot of people come up to him and tell him they voted for his chili. So I would say it was a hit! To bad I forgot to bring my camera! (We are planning on going away for the weekend to celebrate as well we just have to figure out where we are are going and when would be ok for work!)

Not only did we have our anniversary this week but Jeff finished his MBA!!! YAY! He literally works 50 hours a week (at a minimum), does his calling, takes care of me and his 2.5 kids. He has a lot on his plate I am so proud that he did so well while taking care of his other responsibilities. Good job Hun, we love you and are so proud of the hard worker you are!

Look what we got!

Ok, this one isn't ours but it looks the same. I feel old....is that normal? I remember when my friends parents got mini vans did anyone else feel this way when they got a van/SUV? Don't get me wrong this is what I wanted because it seems to have more storage space than any of the SUV's we looked at. Oh well either way I love it and it will be great to be able to fit all three kids in. Oh yeah, we are pregnant! :) We are only about 14 ish weeks along. I feel like a trash monkey but I think I am slowly getting better....slowly. I have one or two decent days then a rough one. That being said I am grateful we are pregnant...shocked and nervous, but excited. I knew as soon as we had Whitney that there was another baby ready and waiting to come. I was just surprised since it seems to take us a while to get pregnant, this was a little faster than expected but that is ok. Somehow I will be able to handle three kids...right?

Whitney is ONE!

Well this post is a little late...but for documentations sake. Whitney is:

2 ft. 4.5 in long - 29%
16 Ib 3.9 oz - 1%
17.52" head - 32%

So I took her to the doctor again today to check her weight and she had gone up a pound...she is healthy...don't worry this girl eats like a horse (most of the time). :)

She isn't walking yet, she says Dad ALL THE TIME...really? Is that fair, I mean I get it I am a fan of him too but really?!? I am the one at home with her ALL DAY EVERYDAY, is it to much to ask for Mom? :) That is the only word that anyone else would really recognize but she says cheese, please and thanks (sometimes). Mostly she is just going around babbling all day. She loves playing in the bathroom and in the trash...love it...not really, how do I get her to stop that? She had eight teeth as of her birthday but now she has ten with two more coming through.

Getting ready to eat some birthday cake!

She was a little confused.


Not to interested...


Still not sure....

What the heck is this???

Yeah, she likes her hands clean when she eats, she would rather be fed with a fork or spoon...silly girl! (In all honesty the cake was really rich and to much frosting...bleh...but the colors were fun!)

She really did like the sherbet (despite the look on her face).

This is one of her new favorite places to hide, it is in under our end table.

Happy birthday sweet girl! We love you so so so much!

Christmas

Our Christmas was great this year. We had it at our house and Jeff's parents came. It was a quick trip which is sad but we are just glad we had family! We had lots of fun, food, games!

Jeff's Grandma started a tradition of making everyone's stockings and that tradition has carried down. So this year I finally got my act together and made these. When I say 'made' all I did was add the fabric on the top and the felt characters. I bought the stockings at a Pottery Barn outlet in Utah for fifty cents and had to cover the tops because they were embroidered.

I think I may add some stick arms...maybe next year.

Our ward party brings Santa Clause and he is amazing! I love the look on Whitney's face!

We saw Santa again at the library with our cousins, so fun!

Whitney playing with some Christmas presents.

Jeff loving his new pajamas. :) I saw these and HAD to get them for him, I mean come on he looks good! :)

Jeff got a 'free' I-touch when he got his Mac for school. At first I told him to sell it I won't use it because well, I am usually listening to my kids not the radio. :) BUT this last year it has come in VERY handy. Plug in those headphones and Morgan will sit and watch a movie anywhere! LOVE IT! :) We take it to church and it helps us get through Sacrament (she plays games during church she isn't watching movies!) This is her sporting one of her new princess dresses she got for Christmas...she wears it everyday and swaps it out with other dresses...multiple time a day.

I know I am prejudiced but these girls are just cute!

Christmas dresses...

Jeff was in charge of his Christmas work party and we did a white elephant and his poor secretary got a pretty 'awesome' gift. She was trying to bribe someone into swapping gifts with her. Smart lady.

Best Christmas gifts I could ever ask for. :)

She is getting to big to fast. :(

Enjoying some chicken nuggets.

We went bowling a week or two ago and Morgan really enjoyed it. She kicked my bum.

I don't know what it is but I feel like every time there is a treat in our living room Whitney finds it. This time it was fudge that was SO good (thanks Mel!) Oh well, I guess this way I didn't eat it all!

She found some more treats...seriously this girl!

Last but not least this guy. :) I don't think I ever posted this picture at Halloween. Who couldn't love this face! He really is such a wonderful Husband and Dad and Friend. Just thought I would remind him how much I love him and am so grateful he is stuck with me for eternity! :) Love you!

We really had a great Christmas and so far we are off to a great new year!