Goodbye 2009

Everyone always says they can't believe another year has passed by, I am joining those people. Why is it that when you have kids and are cherishing each moment, time goes faster? I think sometimes the time actually does go faster.:)

As for 2009, what a year! We entered the year with a newborn and are leaving with a toddler, enough said! Luke is such a joy and blessed addition to our family. He is buys busy, throwing everything, playing cars, talking, eating. He loves his family, grandpas and sissy are his favorites. Anasten is in her second year of preschool and LOVES all kinds of learning. She is learning to read, and simple addition and subtraction. She is still super independent and stubborn (I think she always will be:). She takes dance class and gets to start music in January along with Luke. These two are a true joy to us, we are very thankful for them.

2010 will mark a huge milestone for me. I am graduating in June from graduate school! Wow could June come any faster? This has been a hard, intense, big step but I am happy I did it. 2010 also marks a big year for Josh and our family. Josh's company is closing down (pending some government stuff). He will be changing jobs in some shape or form.

So 2009 was a great year, and 2010 will be a big year. As we look into the unknown we count on the known, our God and father who is the creator and the continuer. He is our rock, and with him ALL things can be done!

Here's to 2009....and an exciting 2010!

Do this...Then this.

Two pumpkins=1 funny face, 1 happy face, and a big mess!
It's an Anasten monster!


Luke agrees with mom that pumpkin goop is sticky and slimy, but give him a tool and he is good to go! Oh, and being on the counter was pretty good too!

When the pumpkin fun is over, it's time to get to work!

In October Anasten got to help redecorate her room. We will post finished product when it is done! Luke loves to help mama clean. Which is good because mama doesn't like cleaning, waiting for him to take over the task.

Boo!

Only the beginning of the Halloween fun! Next on the list is Daddy's birthday!

Anasten helps poor in a magic ingredient.

Abracadabra, alacazam make witches brew as fast as you can.
Our nana is famous for her witches brew!

Nana even let Luke try witches brew. It was so good he growled!

"Mom why are we all getting naked to paint, this is weird!"

This is Luke's second cousin. He is 4 or so months younger. Luke would give him hugs and then tug on his hair a bit, (just to show him who is boss.)

Halloween brings many parties in our family. Anasten loves dressing up and going to parties so this is way up her alley! At Courtney's we painted baby pumpkins, (acorns). It was all good until
Courtney realized that the paint was permanent. Suddenly the party took on a whole new meaning form dress-up party to all naked party.



This was party #2. Anasten figured out that really she could be whatever she wanted to be. So she found her witch costume. Then she found a witch costume for me. Then she dressed us both up, makeup hair and all. Bam we were queen witch and princess queen witch in training.

This is her original costume. She is a ballerina, princess, butterful, tinkerbell fairy. Unfortunately the wings were just not cooperating, but the mask added a nice touch!

Luke made a friend at the Treehouse Deamer party. This was our fairy helper.

He happily sat in her lap at story time.

Meet Sock Monkey and Tinkerbell Butterfly Ballerina Fairy

King Boy!

This is King Boy

King boy prefers to have no pants on. King boy likes to play chase. King boy thinks he can climb on everything! King boy likes to drive cars. King boy likes to throw balls. King boy does not understand why unrolling toilet paper and playing in the toilet is not aloud. King boy loves to help re-arrange the cabnets. King boy eats all the time. King boy chatters all the time. Who can resist King Boy!

All The New

Boy have I been a slacker! I truly can't believe how quickly time is flying these days. We have had such a busy month, but so much fun to see. Here is a quick update:

Josh: Josh is still emplyed at Flying J and is VERY busy. They either lay people off or they leave and the departments are getting very "skinny." He has been doing his diet and looks so good, (that's right tell him he's hot stuff when you see him.) Of couse dieting is not Josh's favorite thing and he is planning his cheating for his birthday, (boy ya can't change this one.:)

Lanie: I am busy with graduate school this semester. I am taking research and to say the least, not really enjoying it. I am very thankful to have an easy going professor and friends, (Mat) who help me. I started P90X and love it...except...I hurt my knee. I tried to push through but finally decided on recommendation from my friend, (Mat..not Jen she is all sweat and tears,) to take a week off and let the irritation hopefully go away! I have been spending wonderful time with little Luke while Anasten is at school, which is so nice for me and him. I have been going and spending time in Anasten's class and enjoying seeing her in her element.

Anasten: Busy as usual! Anasten just never stops amazing us. She has been busy with her artwork, dance, singing, "reading and writing." She is very much into writing songs right now. She uses invented spelling in perfect rows and then sings us the song she wrote, priceless! We are starting to teach her sight words, she is picking up quickly and loves to read. She is taking dance and says all the time that she is going to be a tap dancer, teacher, mama, and doctor when she grows up. She is being such an amazing big sister, always helping Luke and playing with him.

Little Man Luke: This kid has taken a full 360 since turning one. He got 3 teeth, learned to walk, and started sleeping through the night in 4 days time. It's like he turned one and the switch turned on for rapid growing up. Other then sleeping through the night, (about time little buddy,) I wish he would slow down a bit. He is chattering ALL the time, and saying approximate things like; "that, look at that, yeah, hi." He walks me around showing me things all day saying "look at that" (in his jargon.:) He likes showing people his stuff and "sharing" his food. He is growing up fast. His hair has gotten redder and curlier this month, who would have thought.

Anyway, here is an update with the Holbrook clan. We offer up dear friends in prayer who are needing God's peace, guidance, healing, and miracles.

The big birthday!

Luke's birthday did not go by without a bang! We love birthdays and celebrating the special occasion with everyone we love is so fun for us. We ended up having two parties. Luke's birthday weekend was the Lotoja bike race in which we had friends racing. So we postponed his party and had a family party. We went camping up Southfork Canyon with the Hicks and Holbrook families. It was a great, dirty, fun time! Luke and I didn't make it through the night, it got to cold and we couldnt sleep. We took a car and drove home to our own beds. We are fair weather campers. The following weekend marked the "cowboy and cowgirl" party. The guests were decked out with overalls, hats, bandanas! No farmyard party is complete without feeding ducks, hotdogs, and the most famous Valley boat races. Each child made one or many boats out of fruit and vegetables. Flags were molded out of toothpicks, lettuce, apple peels. It was a "whatever goes" event. Just as boat races always go there is a drop off and a finish line. There is lots of running up and down the ditch to see if a particular boat makes it to the finish line. It was a great time that I believe all of the kids, (and dads) will remember for a very long time. Thanks to everyone who helped make Luke's birthday special!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Then....

Luke Turner Holbrook

9/12/2008
8 lbs. 20 inches

One year ago we met eyes for the first time. It was a moment that would change our lives forever and a love that could not be divided. It is hard to believe how quickly the minutes, days, months pass by. Yet it seems like if it is possible we love our Luke more today then even a year ago. He is precious to us in every way. His big brown eyes and dimply smile ooze joy from his every pore. He is still our little baby, yet he has grown, and changed in so many ways.

Now.... Luke Turner Holbrook

21 lbs. 29 inches

Bouncy baby boy!

God...Thank your for our baby!

Take his life and make it Yours!

Busy Boogers

Luke is the most happy in his diaper with a box to play with. He likes boxes and baskets of all sizes and can be intertained for hours.

If Luke is awake he is eating! He eats anything and everything. These are Pop's birthday donuts that Luke happily helped himself too. Oh and don't worry, he ate all the crumbs out of the dirt.

We love to read at our house. I guess I should add that Luke loves to open, shut, turn pages, and push books around more then listen to the story. This is literacy right?

And here we are to our beloved box. If he has one hand on a box, he can truly run obstacle courses around the house. We just block the stairs and watch him go. It is all good till there is a fall down.:(

Mom thought it would be fun to fill the bath with our balls. It was for two reasons, first so we could have a blast, and second to clean the balls. It was so fun, Luke splashed and threw balls all over!

That's our busy Boogers!

Photoshoot!

I know many of you are expecting cute pictures of my kids, most likely from Jen. But guess what! This is not the photoshoot I am referring to. Jen must be rubbing off on Anasten for a possible career because Anasten has taken to photography. Today she decided that she needed to hold a photoshoot in our playroom. Who were the subjects you ask? Well all of the baby dolls. What were the backdrops etc? Well all of our dressup and toys for props. She even let Hilary get dressed up and get her photo taken. So if Anasten becomes some successful photographer someday I can be the mom saying she was "always" taking photos.:) Anasten photoshoot 2009, behold.....

Make a Smilebox slideshow

"Firsts"

August was gone before we could blink our eyes. It was a busy, fun month. August was full of "first" times. Anasten started her second year at preschool, and a new preschool closer to home. She also started...drum roll...soccer!

Ana was so excited for preschool, and of course which outfit to wear! She would not let mama buy a new backpack even though her one from last year has a paint stain. She says it is to beautiful to get a new one! She wanted the "big curls" on the first day so we added some curls with a curling iron to her already "big" hair.

When Anasten walked in, she got to pick the lamb with her name and put it on the attendance board titled, "The Lord is my Shepard." Her teacher asked if she wanted some help finding her name, she responded, "if you want but it's right there." Her teacher already thinks she is a hoot. She thinks she is very obedient and reserved, (the first made me happy, the second...well just wait.) She has become quite shy to people at first, but anyone who knows her knows that "reserveness" doesn't last long. Anasten was not nervous at all! She sat right down at the table and wouldn't even entertain my tenderness. "Mama, you will be fine!" She is very independent!

And here we are to our first season of soccer! Our uncle AJ has been prepping this since in the womb. Anasten loves the "costume." It is pink and that is just great! She loves that she has hard legs, and long socks. We practiced and practiced before the big game in the yard. She is happy that her shoes have "bumps" on the bottom that are magic running bumps. She raced until she was red, (Luke tried to keep up, but just couldn't.) She kicked the ball in every which way and even fell a couple times saying, "it's ok mama, in soccer you fall on your bum bum sometimes."

The big game was on Pop's birthday! The big huddle contained 6 little girls with pretty hair all ready to prance around the field. Little did they know the other team had been coached using words like, "offense, defense, attack." To say the least they are more "soccer savvy." After Anasten's first play time she was disappointed saying, "no one is letting me have a turn kicking the ball." After coaching from daddy, and nana she understood that in soccer you have to take a turn. Her second play time was a success. She even had a goal assist on our only goal, (AJ would be taking stats.) She did struggle with her hands, but it was all out of function. When the ball would get lost in the huddle of bobbing ponytails Anasten would simply pick it up and move it. All the girls did a great job, and I would dare say that every girl kicked it at least twice! The game was a ball, we can't wait for the rest of the season!

Odds and Ends of Summer

Ok pretend for a minutes that it is July....not September. I finally have a good internet connection so I can catch up with the summer. Enjoy our midsummer tidbits.... This is a sneak peak at the fun we had on our California vacation. You will have to wait for the full report as my scrapbook gets finished to share:)

Hilary turned 21 and we got to go to Chuckie Cheese! It was so fun! Anasten loved all of the arcade games.

Luke was our very own "All American Hunk" on the 4th of July. He ate his first popsicle, and LOVED it! He enjoyed watching the parade but really was just too focused on his popsicle.

Anasten rode on the church float in the parade. We had a very hard time talking her into riding because she would miss out on catching candy. We finally convinced her but her choice is to catch candy next year. When I was taking this picture she was yelling, "make sure daddy gets me some candy, don't let him eat it all!"

Luke got to ride his first horse at the animal farms. He LOVED it! He waved his arms and chattered the whole time. We think Nana and Pop need a pony for us to ride.

Woo...that was a lot to say! Please stay tuned for our vacation scrapbook.

Mama did you know...?

On the long Nevada freeway a little girl shares some truth with her mom and dad....

Ana, "Mama did you know that some people don't know Jesus? They worship idols."

Mama, "yes I did know that, that is why Jesus teaches us to share His truth and love."

Ana, "yes but it is too bad that those people live in other lands. Those idols are scary and ugly!"

Mama, "There are lots of people in our land too that don't know Jesus, did you know that? We always need to be ready to share and show God's love."

Ana, "Oh man, we better talk to those people!"

From the mind of a four year old!

June 2009

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

What a month we had. Even though I have been in graduate school this month we still snuck in some fun times. Luke turned 9 months old on June 12. He has turned into our own little holy terror. He is in to everything! He is so much fun and such a great baby. Anasten and Luke love each other and love to play, read, talk to each other. June was a great month, here is a few moments we wanted to share.

Fun with Anasten

Anasten loves to plan parties, and have fun! When we are home we are always imagining new things. She sets up all the props and dressup needed for each game. She loves to be with people and play with her friends. She loved going to the zoo with her cousins and thinks she was aunt Micah's helper. She is getting bigger every day but says she won't be as big as that gorilla until she is 5, guess we will see. Anasten is having a great summer, and can't wait for disneyland!

Fun with Luke

We went to the zoo with our cousins this month, it was really fun. It was Luke's second time to the zoo, but he didn't remember the first one or stay awake for it. He loved talking and seeing all of the animals. He loves his cousin Nikkee who is 2 months older. She has really great hair and even sometimes has beads to pull on. Luke started moving all over in June. He crawls, sits, stands over and over all day. He loved to carry things in his hand and mouth from place to place. He even goes up the stairs which doesn't make his mommy very happy. His favorite summer time food is watermelon, or is it the only people food he can eat at a bbq. Luke has had a funfilled June and is ready for July and Disneyland!

Little tidbits....

Anasten is known for her clever vocabulary, use of charm and persuasion, as well as her endearing sense of style, oh and she is a bit full of herself! These are some of the things we love about her and her phrases always make me giggle. Such as;

"Wow my nails look absolutely adorable!"
"I am just so very frusterated!"
"Daddy gave me his allergies, cause he didn't wash his hands."
"I need to give my mama some extra time because she has been busy with school."
"Us girls need to have some special girl time."
"Daddy sure will want a hug from me today."

She is a funny girl....

Boy on the move!

Luke has mastered sitting, mastered rolling, mastered sitting from laying, standing with assistance, but crawling has been a challenge! He has worked so hard for about a month and just not quite got the idea. He was able to crawl backwards, do push-ups, but just not crawl. This has brought much frusteration because all he wants to do is practice crawling, and gets very mad when it doesn't work. Well not anymore! This last week he has not been feeling well. The other night I sat him down expecting him to cry but I needed to do something. Before I turned around he was off. He is not so graceful, or coordinated, but none the less, he has his wheels and in the right direction!

Spring in Bloom

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

May was a big, busy month for us! Anasten finished her first year of preschool. Luke was dedicated at church. Mom turned 28 and finished her first year of grad school, and well dad was busy being the best day ever!

Preschool Promotion

Anasten and the other preschool/kindergarten kids sang songs that they have worked very hard on. They had dance moves with each song. They sang Little By Little with a slideshow which of course made me cry.

Mrs. Zannah, Anasten and Ms. Cassie.

Getting ready for Anasten's preschool program and I had to get a picture of my cute kids together.

It is hard to believe that we have finished our first year of Anasten's education. Last year at this time I was researching what we wanted to do for preschool and now we are half way through. During the song Little By Little, (which is a tear jerker by the way,) I was thinking of how fast my little girl is growing. She is so amazing, and I can't think of anything better then her little wonderful self in my life. I look forward to this next phase of school and all we can explore and celebrate together. This last year Anasten has mastered her alphabet, knows and uses many numbers, writes her name and anything we spell for her, and much more. She has learned a lot about sharing, being responsible, and being kind. She has learned so much about God and His stories in the bible. Her favorite is the Good Samaritan, and she loves learning about Jesus and God's everlasting love and forgiveness. We are so thankful to Anasten's teachers for being so dedicated to God and teaching our little girl. Happy first year of preschool!