Another wonderful season behind us

This month was full of memory making and sweet family time. I was so excited to spend Christmas with Becca and watch her experience the season. Becoming a mother has truly changed how I view holidays and the reasons I become excited for them. We made sure that we continued our own traditions as well as sharing in our families traditions and it made for a very busy yet wonderful month. We started out the month with chocolate making with the Buhler's. I brought home yummy treats that we shared with our neighbors. The next week we visited the lights at temple square and visited the Christus. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the lights and it reminded me that Christmas was more than the presents and even the family time; its about remembering our Savior and his lowly birth. I am so grateful to my Savior and his love that made eternal life with my family possible.

As in years past we celebrated our little Christmas on Christmas Eve morning. It was so good to be home and to enjoy the relaxation of Christmas with your own family. I love being with our extended families but there was something sublimely perfect about being in your own home and your own bed. Kieran bought me a new digital camera that takes excellent pictures! Becca received her toddler car seat, but has yet to use it because she doesn't meet the 20 lb weight minimum. For Kieran I didn't spend a lot of money but I made him a calendar with pictures of our family and a book where I planned out our dates for the next year. I called it the "12 days of Christmas" (I took the idea from my lovely sister-in-law). Then we spent the rest of the weekend with family, spending Christmas morning with Kieran's mom and seeing my family after church. It was a great holiday.

Every year I tell Kieran that I want this year to be different. I want to do something for someone who doesn't have anything, I want to bring Christ into our home. This year I finally feel like we accomplished more than just present giving. I feel, at least for me, that I remembered Christ even in the presents I gave. I put love into every gift and thought often about the sacrifice of my Savior and especially Mary and Joseph. The faith that they must have had astounds me. I look forward to another year to grow in faith and understanding so that next Christmas we can try even harder to make the season more meaningful.

such a good mommy, changing her baby's diaper

Thanks Daddy!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

I have never been so excited for the Christmas season. Becca is old enough to enjoy opening presents and snow and Christmas songs and just about everything that goes along with the season. Kieran put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving (as he has made it a tradition to do so), we have our stocking hung with care and have already started passing out our neighbor gifts of homemade chocolate candies. Yum! Oh and lets not forget that I finished all (that's right all) of my shopping last week! Best of all school is going to be out in just 3 days. But really school is just a stepping stone on the road to Christmas. I feel like the gifts I bought for everyone really mean something to me this year. I thought of each person individually and am excited to give them out.

This year Kieran and I really want to make Christmas more than just opening presents. We are going to spend lots of time with family and are working on having our FHE for the whole month centered on all things Christ. I don't know how much Becca actually takes away from our 5 minute lessons but as Elder Bednar taught its the repetition and stability that counts.

Kieran is still working hard at his job, although work has slowed down a bit because of the holiday season which could spell disaster for a commission based paycheck but we'll have faith and make it through. He did get sick last week and we spent 2 1/2 hours in the instacare on Sunday afternoon. Why do people always get the sickest on weekends? At least we're blessed to have an instacare open and close.

School is wrapping up and that means another semester down, only 2 more to go. I keep wondering what I will do with my time when I'm out of school? I can only dream and make a list of all the hobbies I want to pick up, like catching up on all the novels I have set aside during the school year, doing mommy and me classes at the rec center with Becca and becoming a crafty lady. For now I focus on staying sane through the semester and doing well on finals even with Becca climbing all over me. Her favorite thing seems to be crying when I'm working on the computer (like now) until she's in my lap or following me around the house with her masses of toys which I trip over whenever I turn around. Good thing she is so cute and says the sweetest things to make up for all the whining.

Get ready, set,...

Go!

I always put her pants on her head and this time when I looked over she had put them on herself and was laughing.

Becca and her best friend Jane drinking juice in their BYU gear. I think we were watching the game too :)

Well, Fall is here, or is it? We aren't quite sure if its weather to play in the leaves and see the pretty colors or to bundle up inside the house. Either way, Becca and I have had fun playing inside the house, it is so nice that Becca has become more independent and will play by herself, especially now that she's walking! I started my last fall semester in August and the great thing is we're already half way over. It's going by so fast and I have barely noticed. It's so nice to know that this time next year I will be at home with my kids rather than getting ready for school.

Kieran is still loving his job at Prosper Inc. He is getting better with every passing week and he says things are starting to look up.

This month we are looking forward to several things in our family:

1. Becca's 2nd Halloween, she's going to be a "moo cow"

2. Robert, Kieran's oldest brother who is 26, is going on his mission on the 26th

3. Becca and I will attend our first BYU game this season in the LE stadium next weekend

We have loved watching BYU football this season, I think after 3 seasons of football in our family I have finally developed a love for the sport. We get all decked out in our BYU gear each game day and anticipate the game! Go BYU!!!

Hopefully, Fall will remain a welcome friend for a while before winter rears its ugly head.

River House 2011

After almost 12 years of going, this was probably my favorite year at Uncle Scott and Aunt Debbie's river house. I loved spending time with Kieran and of course sharing those sweet moments with Becca. It's unfortunate that my other children will not know this tradition but I'm happy that Scott and Debbie will be able to fulfill other dreams. We had so much fun together as a large extended family, we weren't all able to be there and I think we still totaled 33 people. Wow! We took traditional family pictures, floated down the river, rode in the tubes and jet skis, played games, watched movies, ate delicious food, and enjoyed a family Sunday School lesson. Thanks to Aunt Debbie for orchestrating such a fabulous event, it will be one to remember.

She really did have fun with Papa, but I think she was getting tired at this point.

We made it back safely after Becca's first float. She loved everything except the life jacket.

Last year our family picture had two pregnant women, I'm glad this year there is two babies instead :)

Four generations of Sue's: Fern Sue, Pamela Sue, Bonnie Sue, and Becca Sue

The beautiful view overlooking the river.

(Almost every baby that has come to their house has had this same picture taken)

Becca's 1st Birthday

I'm a little late in posting this but I still wanted it to be documented somewhere. Becca turned 1 on July 2nd and we were lucky enough to celebrate it twice. Once at Nana and Lyn's house and once with the whole Neubert family at Uncle Scott's river house in Big River, CA. She was totally spoiled at Nana's, getting way too many presents but she ate it up. She loves being with Nana and Lyn and stealing away all their attention. She got a big stuffed elephant that she loves cuddling and a Little People princess castle, among other things. I made a cute cake and she had a lot of fun eating it and making a huge mess.

She's such a big girl and likes to comb her hair with this toy brush.

Nana had been holding onto this toy for quite some time and Becca showed her appreciation.

I am so grateful...

...for my Floral Design class. It's silly but it's the only class that I absolutely look forward to. I had a difficult time this term staying focused on school. I want so badly to be home with my sweet baby. However, I toughed it out and now I'm done with my first ever spring term and I actually enjoyed it.

...So so so grateful for this little girl. I can't imagine life without her! She can be the biggest pain in the butt and then can give me kisses that melt my heart. I bet she is going to give me some trouble as she gets older but she'll be my most valuable treasure.

...for the summer! This is Becca's fried Jane, she lives right next door. They love playing together and I love having someone to keep her entertained and teach her how to share and play nice. We have already been swimming several times in the little kiddy pools and the kids have so much fun. (We're all getting great tans)

Lastly, I'm grateful for my sweet, wonderful, adorable husband. Without him my world would crash down around me. He has been hired on at a big company called Prosper and loves it. I don't know exactly what he sells but he got his first big sale on his first day. That's just how great he is! He's working hard for us and supporting me as I stretch our family and finish school. He sometimes comes home late but it just makes me appreciate when he's home even more. I love him so much and am so appreciative of everything he does for me.

The End and the Beginning

Wilson Easter Picnic April 2011

Becca loves Grandma!

Love this man!

I think they were trying to break it in half with pure brute force.

The best part of the picnic, food!

How can you be mad at this girl?! I just had to laugh and capture the moment as she dumped her goldfish all over the floor.

Well, we've finished up the Winter semester. Kieran is working full-time during the summer while I continue to take classes. We had a joyous weekend of no homework or worrying about what was due this week. We enjoyed family time at the Wilson Easter Picnic and at Grandma Relia's for Easter dinner. This year my parents started our annual Wilson Easter Picnic here in Utah. We usually have a huge one with all of my dad's family in California but we have branched out and started one just for our little family. Although it was rainy it was still a fun time. We had our picnic lunch of sandwich rolls, went on our walk to find the Easter Bunny, and searched for eggs. I found the coveted Golden Egg this year stuffed in a overturned tree log. I'm so excited to start traditions that my children will remember and enjoy their whole lives.

For Easter dinner we went to Nana Relia's. She always makes the best meals with lots of delicious vegetables. After we ate our fill we watched a movie about Christ and shared our testimonies of how the atonement has touched our lives. The spirit was strong as we were prompted to tell of our feelings and I feel like we grew closer as a family by doing so. As Kieran, Becca, and I went home that night we discussed how often our family traditions around holidays tend to lose the true spirit of the holiday and we decided that from now on we would try harder to have Christ be the center of our festivities.

While this weekend has been wonderful I am already feeling anxious about the approaching spring/summer terms. I start all over again tomorrow and while I only go 2 days a week they will be full days. I will miss my sweet girl. I feel bad that she will be my only child that has to have a mommy in school but I am grateful that she is the best baby for the job. I love being in school and learning about how to better care for my family and I am so grateful that I can go to BYU and have the support of my family. It will all be over soon enough and then I can continue to raise my family.

Springtime!!!!

She giggles every time she swings. My favorite sound in the world!

Oh the anticipation...

Tate, such a brute, he seemed to like the swinging but hated the humiliation of being in anything pink.

My big girl can stand so well. We're still working on the crawling.

She really is "so kissable"!

It is finally the time of beautiful weather, taking walks outside, and enjoying the green grass and cool breeze. The semester is winding down and Becca and I have been able to focus more energy on playing outside with our friends. We have two neighbors who both have little kids and we love going out to play. There is also a swing in our front yard that offers some great recreation. Becca has started crying when I bring her inside. My crazy girl would rather put off naps and have cold hands than stop her budding social life. She has more play dates than I did as a teenager and she's not even a year! But we love it. She even figured out how to push a little bike with her feet today, she was so excited.

With the semester coming to a close we can start thinking about our summer plans and how to fit everything in. We are trying to go up to my uncle's river house in July for Becca's 1st birthday but it falls during summer term so it might be a short trip. I am taking classes in spring and summer to make up for not going last fall. I'm excited to take my floral design class, hopefully I'll come home with beautiful floral arrangements often.

Life is so good in the spring! Of course, my birthday always brings some fun and we're looking forward to Easter and starting traditions with Becca. Our family is happy, we love each other dearly and are excited for every adventure that lies in store for us.

Valentines, Anniversary, and Love

Kieran and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary on February 12th. Kieran had the whole thing planned out beautifully, we had Nana watch Becca and we went to the most amazing resturant ever called Tuscany. It was delicious, Kieran ordered me something extra fancy with shrimp. (I never order shrimp when we go out because its more expensive but we splurged). We just had such a nice evening and it feels like since then we have even more in love. I don't know if its because we've passed the first 2 years of getting to know each other or just that we remembered how nice it is to be with each other. Either way I love that man!

School has been keeping us so busy it is insane. We try to make time to relax and be a family and usually we get 15-20 minutes before the crazy starts again. Kieran watches Becca twice a week while I'm in classes late and as soon as I get home its dinner, bath, bed (for Becca), and homework. I love being in school again but am looking forward to being done next June and being able to focus on my real passion, being a mom.

This is a bib from great grandmom Neubert. We enjoyed Becca's first V-day celebration at Grandma Wilson's house. We had our traditional heart shaped meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas, asparagus, and rolls, with strawberry cake for dessert and a present under our chair. All dinner was made by our wonderful aunt Sarah. Becca received her first sing along songs!

I thought she looked like a mushroom from super mario brothers

Doesn't she look like an egyptian? Kieran thinks I have a crazy need to put everything on her head. I just think its funny and she always laughs!

This girl is just so cute! BYU won because she was wearing her cougar shirt!

You can see her first 2 teeth at the bottom there. Beware, they're quite sharp!