Merry Christmas!

Love,

The Cornelsen Kids

6 Months and birthdays

I realize that this is a month late but better late then never right:) Emma was 13 lbs 3 oz(5th%) and 26 inches(25th%) long at her 6 month appointment. She is such a sweet baby and we love having her around. She had tubes put in on the 8th of this month and is doing so much better. She loves eating baby food and rolling around to get the things she wants. We moved her into her own room last week.

Steven and Natalie had their Birthdays on the 3rd and 4th of December. I can't believe how big they are getting. Steven moved into his big boy bed and moved into the basement. He has been the easiest child to transition. When its time for bed he just goes to bed. The only down side is that now that he is a big boy he gets upset if I call him anything with little in it. So little man and baby are totally out. :(

I can't believe that Natalie is 5. It seems like I was just bringing her home. She is a sweet girl who loves to help. She is starting to read and loves learning.

Forever

I am so grateful for the knowledge that families are forever!

A warm house

Family

I know that the majority of my "thankful" posts involve my family members but I am so grateful for Family. They are so supportive and are the reason I am who I am.

Good Friends

I am so grateful for good friends and all the support they give.

My Daddy

Daddy and I didn't really get along when I was a teenager but as I have become a parent I realize that he just wanted what was best for me. He is an amazing man who works hard and is extremely generous. I am so grateful to have him as my dad!

My In-laws

I love my in-laws. They are such wonderful people and they raised a wonderful son. They are wonderful grandparents and are so thoughtful.

Thanks for everything!

My Mom

I am so grateful for my mom. She is an amazing women and I hope that I am half the mom that she is. I love you momma. Thanks for everything!

Family Night

I am so grateful that our leaders have been inspired to tell us to have FHE. Some weeks it is the only night we get to have my husband home. I love listening to my children teach a lesson or sing a song. It truly is inspired.

Good Schools

I am so grateful that the schools that my children attend are good schools where the teachers care about the kids and are willing to work with them on their level.

A steady income

I am so very grateful that my husband has a good job in a time when many people are struggling

My Calling

I have served in the Primary presidency for the last year and a half. I love it and am so grateful for all that I have learned. I love working with the kids.

Laughter

I am thankful for laughter. Last night as I was playing ball with Steven he was laughing and Emma started laughing and then the whole family was laughing. It made my day.

Thankful Days 1,2 and 3

I thought this month I would post every day something that I am grateful for.

Day #1 I am grateful for my wonderful Husband

Day #2 I am grateful for my beautiful children

Day #3 I am grateful for music.

Happy Halloween

First Day of School

Malaya started 1st grade this year and is loving it. She gets to ride in the truck every morning with daddy and thinks that is pretty neat.

Seattle

We went to Seattle this year for our Family vacation. We decided to tour Seattle some and had a wonderful time. We saw the Fremont troll, we went to the zoo, took a couple of ferry rides and had a lot of fun with our cousins!

Jordan and Mari's Wedding

August 13, 2011

Jordan and Mari were sealed in the Idaho Falls Temple. It was a beautiful ceremony. I am so excited to have another wonderful sister-in-law. My husband had the camera and didn't take any pictures of the bride and groom but here are some of our family on that day.

I had so much fun working with my Aunt Leni on their wedding cake!

My cute daddy playing with the kids before the wedding

Our Garden

After 5 years of planning we were finally able to get our garden going this year. We have had so much fun! We planted cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelon, spinach, peas, carrots, onions, and tomatoes. Because of where the garden is located we have been getting tons of tomatoes. I canned tomato sauce (my first time canning) and have really enjoyed all the other veggies we have been getting.

3 Months

Emma was three months old on the 22. She is getting to the really fun stage where she coos and laughs and is very interactive. We are loving having this sweet baby girl in our family!

2 months

I can't believe my baby is two months old! It is going way to fast. She is growing really well she is 9lbs 5 oz (10th %) and 22 inches long (50th %). She sleeps for 6-8 hours at night and is such a sweet girl.

Scott

Last week I attended Girls Camp not as a participant but as the Bishops wife. It was a little weird. I don't often get to see Scott in the bishop role and it was really fun. For those of you that read this and don't know my husband well he absolutely hates any game that involves doing something silly. Our good friend is the YW president and is well aware of that so she told the girls to have him play a game with them. I am not sure what it is called but the gist is that you have to walk into the middle of a circle and do an original dance move. Scott performed the lawn mower. It was silly and fun but it made me tear up (remember I had a baby a month ago). I am so grateful for the sweet man that I married. The experience made me reflect on the fun that we have had in the last almost 9 years of knowing each other and the fun of the last 8 years being married to him. I love him so much! Here are some pics of the fun we have had through the years!

The Gateway 2002

"Kids" Date 2003

London England 2004

Rose Lake 2005

The Zoo 2006

Christmas Morning 2007

Camping in Green Canyon 2008

Camping in Green Canyon 2009

Halloween 2009

Mt. Rainer 2010

Chilling with the kiddos 2011

Blessing Day for Emma 2011

Emma's Blessing

Emma is a month old!

Cornelsen Babies

Emma Alene Cornelsen

Emma arrived on May 22, 2011 at 2:23 am weighing 6lbs and 7oz and measuring 19.5 inches. She is such a good baby and it is so much fun to have her in our family. I am a little nervous about having 4 kids but I have heard that once you pass 3 kids it is all just chaos so I guess let the chaos continue!

April 2011

So the last month has been crazy. I went into the hospital on March 30 to stop contractions and was put on bed rest until my next doctors appointment. My wonderful mother was dropping my sister off at the MTC and so she took a little detour and came for a couple of days. It worked out that the kids had spring break the next week so she took them home with her so that I could recover. She brought the kids home the following Saturday so that we could take the kids to baby animal days and do a birthday party for Malaya. Baby animal days was snowed out but we had a wonderful party for her. I can't believe my baby girl is 6!!

Next up was the girls dance concert. This year was a little crazy because they were in different groups so all the extra practices kept us on our toes. The girls did a great job. They were fun and funny to watch. The pictures aren't the best because they were on stage with bright lights but you get the general idea.
Easter this year is sadly photographed. We dyed eggs the Monday before Easter but we did it at a friends house and forgot the camera. Then kids got their Easter baskets on Saturday morning but apparently we didn't get any pictures of that. Easter Sunday we awoke to a child throwing up so the kids and I got to stay home so there were no Easter Sunday new outfit pictures. Scott was busy doing Bishop stuff most of the day so the kids and I enjoyed camping out on the floor watching movies. Since we missed the photos last week I did them this week.

This week Malaya got her first stitches

...we got the news that Scott's cousin had their first baby...

... my brother Jordy got engaged to this beautiful girl...

...and Austin is coming home tomorrow from Army training graduating in the top 10 of 250!