I know that January is almost over, but...

Here are some of the pictures and videos from Christmas. I'm not quite a month late, right? I just happened to have some time own my hands (everyone is at the game and I'm home with Valin -yes, I'm alone in the house and of course I'm freak dancing to the awesome music blarring form the computer speakers, but I digress)



This is Christmas morning and a great shot of Santa's hard work.

Christmas was awesome and so much fun. The only sad part was the Valin was sick to the point that some times when he would cough, we would throw up the formula he just drank. (I guess I would too it I had to eat that stuff) But other than that it was great. Exerceising with my sisters-in-law was one of the highlights for me. Exercising is great but if you add doing it with fun people I love, it's even better, even though the actual exercising took second prioity. I had so much fun. Plus this was the first year I got to be Santa. Oh, I loved it. A whole new joy of the season came to me this year because if it. I love Christmas!

Valin knows a new trick!

Oh, that title makes him sound like a dog. Well, anyway. This morning, during breakfast -while I waited for him to finish eating- I taught him to clap. I knew it was coming because yesterday he would grab my hands and clap them together. So the next step was to teach him how to do it himself. And it's the cutiest thing because he gets so happy with himself, which is only increased when he saw our reaction. We laughed and clapped along with him.

Then, he did it again when I put him down for his morning nap. He would lay on my chest, like always, then I would hear giggling, he would push off so he could see me, and then clap. I would give him an encouraging reaction but then gently put him back down so he could fall asleep. He did it two more times, until I finally layed him down and he fell asleep.

And then at lunch he loved to fling food onto the floor as he clapped for me. He smile and laugh made me giggle too, despite the dirty floor. And then agian when I was rocking and singing him to sleep, he would push off my chest (with a giggle) and clap, then immediantly would lay back down. I decided that he must have loved my singing preformance so much. Either that, or he wanted it to end.

Anyway, it was turly one of the cutiest things he has done yet. The coolest thing is that he loved something I taught him. I loved to see that. And another great thing is that things like this are going to be happening more often now that he is nearing the toddler stage. I'm so excited. Oh, and I forget to tell, Valin is walking now. He still looks like a drunken sailor, but he'll slowly get the hang of it. Crazy how time just flies! And just 17 more days until he is one year old!! Wow! I love my life!

We are here!

So it's been a crazy, exhasting, and yet fun weekend. Saturday started eairly and busy. we really had time to get breakfast and finished packing , when our help arrived. Patxi had been gone for a while, having our brakes checked, so it was just me there leading the packing and cleaning. It turned out that we needed to have our brakes replaced so Patxi didn't get back until the truck was loaded. So neither of us was where and how they were placing things into the truck. They did wonderfully, ture testrus masters, but it was hard after we got to Pilot Rock to know the places of the things we needed. So yesterday, besides organizing everything, was switching things out of the storage unit and putting some back in. It was crazy, but things are a little more organized now, which puts my mind at easy.

The hardest thing was not to organized on Sunday. Next time we move, it'll be on Friday, or sometime where I'll be able to go ahead and organize my house. But everyting is great now. I so happy that we have a bedroom and that Valin has onw too. I never really like our sudio apartment because there was a lack of privacy or the bedroom. I am going to have to let go of my love of total privacy, but I think the Lord wants me to learn patience, which is about time to finaly gain that virtue.

Anyway, everyting is great and I'm very excited to be back with family!!

We're Moving!

Patxi finally found a job! The other part, is that it's in Eastern Oregon, so we're moving to Pilot Rock on Saturday the 16th. Crazy how fast it all happens and how it seems to come at you all at once. Anyway, we'll be living with Patxi's parents to save money, so that sould be fun. But the best part is that we'll be closer to family. Oh and we'll have income, I'm very excited about that! The sad part is that we love our Salem ward and will be very sad to leave them. We've made so many friends in the short 1 1/2 years we've been here. But I hope (and think very strongly) that we'll be back after Patxi's deployment. So we're only saying good-bye for a short time.

All in all, it's a good thing that we're moving, just not without sacrifices. So thanks to everyone!

Christmas at the Armory

For the last day of drill in December, there is always a Christmas party. This year was a little more fun because we actually had a kid. So we got to participate more and enjoy. Valin also got to see Santa for the first time. Valin's reaction was more like "whatever" then of horror like the other kids infront of him.

I was quick and fun, perfect for Patxi and my liking.

I'm back!

Sorry about the break from technology. Though, it was kind of nice, I really missed being seprarate from the outside world. Anyway, I have some catching up to do. First I'll like to share a few cute faces the Valin has been making in the pass few days.





Isn't the cutest thing!