Win!

Last night BYU Men's basketball, ranked #9 in the nation, defeated San Diego State, ranked #4, 71-58. It was one of those games you anticipate and lose sleep over (well if you're a rather intense BYU sports fan like me, you do). Regardless, I think everyone, not just fans but the entire NCAA world, recognized this game as "the big one" of the season. It was close but BYU pulled away and finished them off. It was a great game!

So the question that is now on everyone's mind... What was the factor in BYU's epic win over SDSU? I'm sure Coach Rose would agree....

Our fans were cuter than theirs.

Enough said.

January Can be Fun!

In Boise, January can be described by one word... Gray! The post-Christmas blues plus the gray skies and cold weather equals a long depressing month of wishing Spring would burst in with all of its color and warmth a few months early. But it doesn't have to be gray, especially when you have little kids who seem to make everything more fun! If you are looking for a little sunshine, try the following:

1. Feed your 5 month old baby her first taste of rice cereal and watch the funny faces she makes.

First Bite

The aftermath

2. Find an awesome, brightly colored, joyfully musical toy that lets you bounce around in it... It seems to entertain this little girl no matter what the weather is outside.

3. Take your 2-year-old to a huge place filled with bounce houses- Parker thought he had died and gone to Heaven. And Rylan and I even had some fun running through the inflatable obstacle courses and sliding down the "Extreme Adrenaline" slide. What can I say, I am a real thrill seeker :)

Jump!

Rylan being bounced on my lap in the giant bounce house.

Parker and his cousin Peyton

I don't think he's having any fun!

4. Take your kids swimming at the YMCA kiddie pool. My kids are such water babies. I am pretty sure I could stick the in a puddle and they would think I was the coolest mom on Earth.

In addition to the entertainment, these fun activities help moms burn calories and wear our kids out so they are nice and mellow the rest of the day. And if you're lucky they might even take long naps afterward!

Kids make the Januarys of life so much more bearable! They are my sunshine :)

My Kids

I just love this little girl! She is such a happy little baby, so content to just be apart of our family. She is all smiles and her little personality is not little at all! She has so much to say and she expresses most of it in the faces she makes. I know I am biased but I think that little face of her's is so beautiful! She will be five months in a few short days and I can't believe how quickly it has gone by. She is still our tiny little peanut, weighing in at 12.5 lb, which is only in the 17%, so sometimes I forget how fast she is growing up. But what she lacks in size she makes up for in personality :) She loves her big brother and he lovers her too! He has even made up special songs that he likes to sing to her, one goes something like "baby, baby, baby" in a really jazzy voice and the other is a little chant, the words of which I can't make out for the life of me but everytime he sings it and does this funny little dance, Rylan starts giggling- it never fails! They must have some secret language from the pre-existence, but I sure wish I knew what he was singing :)

We are so happy to have this little bundle of joy and had so much fun celebrating her first Christmas.

Parker is still as fun as can be. He is learning and growing so much!He has been going to Grandma Milligan's pre school twice a week and he comes home with fun art projects and new songs everyday. The best part is that I can tell he is learning so much! He is also getting a little more used to being away from mommy and daddy, of course it helps to know his grandma is just in the other room if he needs her.

The other day after going potty on the toilet he said to me "I'm a big boy!" I answered, "Yes you are and I'm so proud of you." Then he added very seriously "Mommy, I'm growing up!" which made me want to cry. He is growing up!

Christmas Time!

Well another holiday season has come and gone.... I am still in denial about it being over which is why I have yet to write about it. But here we are, almost half way through January, so I thought I'd better get to it. Here is how Christmas 2010 went down for the Pooley Family...

We got a tree! Parker picked us out a beautiful tree!

And Daddy chopped it down... ok so it was already chopped down but he did pay for it and carry it off the lot :)

Next, we had a visit to St. Luke's Urgent Care. The Monday before Christmas, Parker was exploring Grandma and Grandpa Milligan's beautifully decorated house when he came across the stockings, hung with care, on the mantle. He thought maybe he would peek to see if there were any goodies in them and when he yanked on one, the metal stocking holder fell with it, hitting Parker in the head and cutting his eyebrow open :( A little Dermabond (aka super glue) and he was good as new!

Christmas Eve we spent playing "Minute to Win It" games with my family. It was so much fun!

Opening our traditional gift of Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve

Minute to Win It games! It was a blast!

We spent the night at my parents' and woke up early with my family to open presents.

Parker coming down the stairs Christmas morning...

Look what Santa brought!

After presents and breakfast we headed over to Tyler's Grandma's house where we all got to talk to Tyler's brother Jay who is on his mission in Brazil. It was great to hear from him! Then we enjoyed the company of Tyler's family and extended family.

Parker had so much fun with all of the kids.

Julia and our new nephew Jefferson

Parker getting some hugs from his cousin Miki

Then on New Year's Eve, my aunt and uncle and cousins came over and we played more Minute to Win It games (since they were so much fun before). We didn't tell them that we had some previous practice under our belts :)

My cousin Carly playing one of the games.

I already miss that Christmas feeling! It is so fun to have family traditions and celebrations. But I know that even though Christmas may not last all year long, the gift of the Atonement does. And our Savior and His Gospel can give us that wonderful feeling every day of the year. We hope you all felt His love and joy this holiday season and that it continues to bless you through out the year!