Matthew and Ashley's Wedding....

We were able to go down to California for New Years because Mike's next to youngest brother got married. The youngest is almost 17 so hopefully it's going to be awhile before we have the last sibling wedding. :) Matt (or Matthew as his mother refers to him. She still calls Mike Michael) got married in the San Diego Temple to Ashley on January 2nd. She's a very nice girl. I don't think he'd marry a mean one. It was a beautiful ceremony in the temple. Then again I don't think I've ever been in the temple and it not be beautiful.

Here is Jake (FIL), Ashley, Matt, and Kitty (MIL)

The happy couple.

Some of my kids hanging out with Grandma Kitty before Matt and Ashley came out.

Karly with Aunt Kristin and Uncle Jeremy. Kirstin is Mike's youngest sister and she is due with her first baby, a boy named Luke, on January 20th.

Mikayla with her "Gampa". She adores her Grandpas. And they adore her.

We had a nice time away from the snow and ice of Utah. We wore short sleeves for a couple of the days that we were down there. We stayed with my parents so it was nice to spend some time with them. Plus my kids had to have Grandpa Schwartz's blueberry pancakes while we were there. But at the same time it is nice to be home and remind ourselves why we live out of state away from our families. :) Less drama but we do miss them.

Christmas time is here....

Here are pictures of Christmas. Our lovely new fake tree. Mike's warehouse didn't have trees come through this year. So instead of a free real tree we got a free fake tree. A guy at Mike's work gave it to us when his wife wanted to up grade to a 12 foot tree. Do we want a fake tree? Yes! And the price mad it even better! :) I found that I enjoy fake trees. As long as I get a pine scent somewhere in house I am good.

Santa went fairly simple this year. Amazing what no Christmas bonus will do to your Christmas budget. But no matter. The kids did not seem to mind at all.

Kids in their new jammies. They got them Christmas Eve. This picture was taken right before I had to throw Baby into the bath. I was greeted with "Mom, Baby threw up." Great. That is the one thing you want to wake up to on Christmas morning. Baby really does random puking for no apparent reason. Really, I am serious. She wants breakfast later, and is fine the rest of the day. She really didn't have any in her hair or on her pajamas but just to be safe she got a bath. So the poor older kids not only had to wait for Mom and Dad to get up but for Baby to get out of the bath and get dressed into clean pajamas. They were really good sports about it.

Baby opening presents with Dad. He got hit in the face with flying wrapping paper a lot. Notice the clean pair of pajamas. These ones say "Could I be any cuter?" across them. Quite appropriate for our Baby.

Katelyn opening one of the family games. Of course this game only lasted the one day because now the cards are spread everywhere in the house. They used the cards not to play the game but to play with the characters on the cards. Once I asked Monica to pick up the Memory game pieces and she replied, "I don't remember what game that was." Ironic, isn't it.

Monica holding up the ribbon tutus I made for her. She was begging to be a ballerina. because she saw some similar tutus in a catalog. So I mad her some. Not quite the same. She is happy all the same. I am now sewing a bead on the the bottom of each ribbon end. Mike asked why I didn't just glue them. I just told him, "Baby." He got it. She would sit and pull off each bead. She really would.

Karly just wanted a book light. Random child. She likes to read at night after Katelyn goes to sleep. Not so random I guess. She is my child after all. :)

Megan got a box of what every girl her age wants....clothes. She got a few shirts from her loving and generous parents. ;)

The rest of the day was spend lazing around the house and me reading the new cook books that Mike got me. And Mike spent the day with football, basketball, taking naps, and eating. Very good day all in all.

January 9, 1968....

On this date, 42 years ago, something very important and very special happened.

My parents, Alan and Mary Ann (Wayman) Schwartz were sealed for time and all eternity in the Logan Temple.

Aren't they such a cute couple?

Needless to say that I am quite pleased that this event occurred. They are great parents and I and so blessed and thankful to have them as examples to me through my whole life.

Nathan Alan Schwartz

We are doing a little back tracking here. But I am an aunt again. My only brother and his wife welcomed another member of their family on December 18, 2009. Mike and Nikki finally announced his name to us after he was born. His name is Nathan Alan Schwartz. Nathan is popular name on the Schwartz side and Alan is my Dad's name as well as my brother's middle name. He weighed in at 5 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 inches long. He was 5 lbs. 7 oz. when he left the hospital, but at his 2 week check he was already up to 6 lbs 10 oz. So no worries there.

Isn't he so tiny and beautiful? That is Megan's hand so he is a tiny man.

Megan is so excited to start babysitting him.

He is tiny even next to Karly.

Monica has a cousin who is a Christmas baby like her.

Katelyn loves him too.

Mikayla loved him too. My crazy cheesy girl.

There was quite a lot of worry while before he got here. But he is here and he is wonderful and we love him so much already.