The Oldroyd Family

Disclaimer:  You probably shouldn't read this if you're easily disturbed, grossed out or don't have children. So let me set this up for you... you all know I have 3 kids & 3 dogs.  And today (& every Wednesday for the next few months) I'll also have Ike, my almost 4-year-old nephew.  Which is really fun - the kids love having him here to play & he loves being here. Where today went wrong is when I decided, on this lovely Spring day (what, it's still January?  Well its Spring here!)  to WALK with all of them, including the dogs to the park for a picnic lunch. I'll also need to throw in that my oldest Chihuahua, Roxy, HATES walks, & apparently #2 dog, Pepper, does too, now, because of Hank. So here I am, pushing a stroller of no kids - just lunch - because they all want to walk.  I'm also holding Hank's leash which leaves the 4 kids to fight (THE WHOLE TIME) over who gets to walk the other two dogs.  Which, by the way, are havin...

We have a new addition to the family!  Hank is a mix of a miniature beagle & cocker spaniel - but just looks like a beagle!  He was born on October 17th.  We love him & he's SO sweet!  And smart! He came in to our family through Aunt Marianne.  She sent Jennie Jo & I to pick him up on December 16th. But she works long hours as a nurse & Hank just needs people too much so he came to live with us!  The only ones in who aren't very accepting of Hank are Roxy & Pepper.  They'll adjust... right? Welcome Hank!  We love you!

On January 3rd I headed to {a FREEZING COLD} Utah to spend some time with family & celebrate my Grandma Gines' 80th Birthday.  I went all by myself which was nice in some ways, but I sure missed Sam & the kids! One of the best parts of the trip was visiting friends & family - I was in baby heaven!  I got to spend lots of time with my cute little nephew, Hunter, who turns 1 next month!  He's just perfect-- happiest baby on earth! I also got to visit with Tess, & her parents Ryan & Kaitlin.  We miss having them in Texas!  Tess is precious & I loved seeing her cute little personality! Here is Addison, my cousin Kayla's baby.  She hammed it up as soon as she saw my phone.  That girl knows what a photo opp is! I also got to see Lindsi & her new baby Amelia, Laura & her new baby Phillip & Natalee & Lowell's little Vincent - who is quite the little ladies man! I didn't get nearly enough pictures ...

I've been the worst blogger EVER lately.  But I can't let the year end without posting about this wonderful Christmas we just had! As always, I wish I had taken more pictures.  Maybe next year!  I also wish I had known that my camera lens had a smudge on it.  Oh well. Here are the kids in their new church clothes.  I loved them this year, especially Alexa's dress! Sunday night we celebrated Christmas with our Oldroyd family because Marianne had to work on both Christmas Eve & Christmas.  The kids LOVE the personalized beach towels from Gma & Gpa!  They got a fun game from Aunt Marianne & the adults got 24 hours without the kids! (Crazy Gma & Gpa thought it would be fun to have all 7 of them for 24 hours! Yikes!) We had a fun Christmas Eve party at Grandma & Grandpa's house where we ate yummy food, talked, played & the kids made their own ornaments!  When we got home, we opened Christmas PJ's from Grandma Marie ...

Wow, its been a while since I've done one of these.  Its also been a while since I've blogged.  There are several things I want to go back & blog but who knows if I will!  Life has been busy! Nathan & Alexa are doing so well in preschool.  They love it & are learning lots!  They love homework & love doing flashcards to learn their letters.  Last Thursday after school, they really wanted to do flash cards & I was finishing up some work on the computer.  Pretty soon I looked over & they were just questioning each other with the flash cards.  So cute!   Max has been giving me a run for my money.  That boy... I feel like I deserve an award for {mostly} keeping my patients with him some days.  He is strong willed & hard to motivate.  But I still love him to pieces. HALLOWEEN happened!  How could I forget?  Nathan was Batman, Alexa was Belle & Max was Spiderman. (Nathan was Iron...

Today was Nathan & Alexa's first Primary Program.  They were very excited & very prepared!  We've been practicing their songs & memorizing their parts.  Nathan's part was: "I follow the prophet by reading scripture stories."  Alexa's part was "I follow the prophet by going to church."  They did great & we're so proud! Nathan & Alexa have both grown so much since starting primary in January.  They love being a Sunbeam, love their teachers & love to sing the primary songs.  I am grateful for the opportunity they have to grow their testimony in such a loving environment!  I look forward to many more years of primary programs-- hands-down the best sacrament meeting of the year!