Family Photo Update!

Beau found a really great deal on some picture packages at JC Penny's after Christmas so we thought we'd try getting a current picture of our family. No matter how hard you try getting people to smile and to look good for the camera, it just doesn't work. So this is a "real life photo" with our family - a frown, tongue, and goofy face.

At least this one turned out pretty decent. We at least have 1/2 smiles from everyone. Aren't they just the cutest! Hard to believe how fast they are all growing. Savannah's 4 1/2, Mirian is going to be 3 here in 2 months, and Isaac is now a whopping 14 months! They keep us on our toes and make us so happy. We love these little guys.

I think this is the only other nice picture we've taken since our wedding 5 1/2 years ago. We have a few snapshots of us taken by others or using the timer on our camera, so it was about time for an update.

What can I say except that life has been really good. For the last 5 1/2 years we have been here in Provo, and are planning on being here for at least 2 1/2 more. After that we'll see where the Lord takes us.

Savannah will start Kindergarten next year, Beau will be finishing up his Masters here shortly and then starting his doctorate. I'm enjoying the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, and designing for ScrapGirls.com when I have a few minutes here and there. Life is good. The Lord has truly blessed us. We look at where we started out when we were first married. We had NO income coming in and wondered how our small part time income from the college job was going to meet our needs. Miraculously the Lord has opened doors we never knew were there. We now are a family of five. We've been able to increase our income and meet our needs despite STILL being in school, me being a stay at home mother and adding 3 more members to the family. The Lord really can perform miracles, and our life so far is one of them. All we enjoy is because of him.

We have loved keeping up with all of you on your blogs, emails, and actual visits. We hope you are all doing well and we want you to know that we think of you all the time even though we aren't the best at keeping in contact. We've been slackers on this family blog for the last little while, but I'm determined to change that. So keep coming back to see random pieces from our lives.

Just Relaxing

When we weren't at Disneyland or the beach we were either on the road for 28 hours, swimming, playing minature golf, wall climbing, go-carting, playing games and just relaxing. We had a great time. It was a much needed vacation and the kid loved being able to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa Tippetts as well as the uncles. Mom and dad didn't mind that fact either! :)

Disneyland for a day.

Here are also a few from Disneyland. This was the first time the girls have ever been there. Don't ever go during Christmas or the first of the New Year. It was insane! They had a good time, and were thrilled to be able to see the princesses in real life during the parade. We were only there for about 1/2 a day, but we wore all of us out!

Beach Time

I thought I would share some fun snapshots of our family vacation. These are taken at both Laguna Beach and Newport beach, California. Even though it was much warmer than Utah, it was still freezing! The kids had a great time playing in the sand, hanging out with the uncles, and getting some icecream! We also had the chance to meet up with a good friend of mine Mandy (from ScrapGirls) and her family.

"When I grow up....

I want to be a car stopper." Savannah told me as we pulled out of the parking lot on our way to dance class.

"Is that right? What is a car stopper?"

"You know one of those things that changes this way and that way. When it changes this way then the cars can go. When it's arm changes it that way then the cars stop." Yep that's what I want to be when I grow up... a car stopper."