This last month has been busy and fun and gone by SO fast! Evelyn is 4 1/2 months old now! And Matt is through his first semester of nursing school. Three years seems like a long time but if it keeps going this fast he will be graduated before I know it! We started out the month with finals. Matt studied and studied and occasionally would sneak in some sleep. . . .
And I decided to try to be ambitious. . . my mom is such an example to me and each year she makes cheesecakes and more and makes sure all our neighbors and friends have something. So I decided to attempt something of the sorts. . . .
Thanks to Matthew's help we made over 100 oreo cookies (and I think I only snitched two the whole time!) And several chessecakes for the families we home teach and visit teach. It was a bit messy and kept Evelyn and I busy but it was fun too!
MMmmmmmm! YUM!
And Evelyn was my little helper! She sat right in the kitchen with me and kept me cheerful with this beautiful smile of hers.
And then last week Matt finished his finals! And we were free! So. . . what do you do when you've been inside studying and baking all week? You get outside! We went sledding!
WOOHOO!
Evelyn even took a few turns down.
We built a snow man. Matt wanted it built in honor of my dad. . . any resemblance?
We made Evelyn a little chair out of the snow. . . (I think she was glad to be outside too)
Dad was especially happy!
It has been SO nice to have Matt home and get to play as a family. I appreciate all his hard work so much! So that I can be home with Evie. He gives up alot to make that possible. And I cherish these memories getting to have him around. He is so much fun! And so much help too! Thankyou sweetheart for all you do!
And thank you to my mom and dad for all thier help! We enjoy being up there with you and appreciate the time you spend with Evelyn so that Matt and I can go things too. Love you!

Christmas Magic and Giggles

I can't believe Christmas is here again already! Last year for Christmas we told my parents I was expecting. . . .. my how time is flying by! We are definately enjoying the holiday season! Amidst finals and getting wisdom teeth out (Matt did this weekend) it has been wonderful! Our tree is up and now there is finally snow on the ground to add the perfect touch! The Christmas shopping is not done yet but almost. The best thing this Christmas season has been having Evelyn around. She is such a bundle of joy and light! She has brought the spirit of Christmas or the Light of Christ more into our lives. We are so grateful for her! Family really is the greatest gift I have been given. Well....I thought I would just share some of the fun we have been having. Hope you all are having some Happy Holidays too!
Evelyn's new favorite spot is right here under the tree. There is now a permanent blanket there for her . . . not to mention her new friend the nutcracker prince. She has some pretty animated converstaions with him! (I will have to try to get it on video)
And thanks to my amazing family Matt and I still get to sneak out every once in a while. Aunt Lydia helped us out Friday so we could go to the military ball. It was lots of fun! Matt has some really good friends in his squad this year. And don't you like his new hair cut? He is SO handsome in his uniform!

And then this picture I just had to share! It not only makes me smile when looking at it but really makes me laugh! She was trying to sit up and well..... anyway....watch the video below!


From the Crooks wishing you Happy Holidays and a very Merry Christmas!









(sorry it is so short. we didn't realize how full our memory card was....full of pictures of you know who)

Thanksgiving Break. . . .

We had the BEST Thanksgiving break ever! We did so much! Hope you don't mind all the pictures. It all started Tuesday with the drive up to my parents. (it is a long drive for the little one)
Then on Wednesday I did the bravest thing I have ever done! Matt and I got away for a day and a night! (without Evelyn!) We hiked up waterfall canyon in Ogden. It was incredible! The whole way up was beautiful but the waterfall was best!

It had almost completely frozen from top to bottom!
Then we headed to our little cabin at the Alaskan Inn. It is a bed and breakfast but has separate little cabins. We got the Kodiak Cabin. It was SO fun! Had a jacuzzi and a big soft bed and sparkling cider AND an amazing breakfast brought to you in the morning. YUM!
And Evelyn? Had SO much fun with her grandma and grandpa! And took good naps and slept great!I was SO proud of her! And was thrilled to see her when we got back. We sure love that little girl!
So we got back to my parents Thursday morning. And had THE MOST delicious Thanksgiving feast prepared by my mom! She did it all! She is amazing! She is super mom to me! I am sad I didn't get a picture of all she did! It really was something to behold! ( and then after all that cooking she gets up about three the next morning to shop for her family) SUPER MOM!) I am so grateful for her example! And then of course in honor of my made up holiday Thanksmas we ate left over turkey and lots of pie while we put up the tree or....tree's. (on the right) I think one of the reasons I married the man I did was so he and David could find each other! Honestly they are two peas in a pod. It may be an odd pod but that just adds to the fun!)

Then the next day we had our Hirschi turkey bowel. SO much fun! With only three injuries...sigh...why would it be my husband and my dad that were two of them?
Thanksgiving at the Hirschi's. (Decorations by Becky) Food by everyone else including Grandpa's stuffing and so many homemade pies. We are SO blessed!
Then Saturday...! Evelyn went to her first football game!
She got a little worried when we went into over time....
But HOORAY! We got to go home happy!What an exciting game! While so many were rushing the field we rushed home to bed for some much needed rest!
It was a great week! Just enough of a break to now survive finals. Thank you so much to all our family we got to share it with. We sure love you! And a huge thanks to my parents for being the best grandparents and letting Matt and I get away for a bit. That meant so much! And while I am saying thanks....I am so thankful for my brother who can ALWAYS make me laugh! And to my sister who is my best friend. And to my wonderful and amazing husband! I grow more grateful for him every day! And I am extremely grateful to be a mom! What a joy Evelyn is! Family is the greatest blessing! Hope everyone else had a great Thanksgiving! Aren't we all SO blessed! I think Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to come before Christmas! I know it is because of Christ Our Savior that we have so much to be thankful for! Happy Holidays everyone!

Where to start......

Where to start!? Life has been wonderful and going so fast! And I haven't blogged for a little while so here goes..... (and I am letting Evelyn cry if she wakes up and Matt is at class till late so I am using this as a distraction so I apologize for the many pictures but I am trying to stay preoccupied) Anyways......SO... . . . .

My baby sister got engaged!! ! ! ! On Nov. 14th to a wonderful guy named Jacob Ross. I think they look wonderful together! don't you? I went and saw them the day they got engaged and I loved being around them they were just SO happy! I am so happy for them and thrilled and excited and . . . . still having a hard time believing it. She's my baby sister! Where has the time gone? Congrats Lydia! You are amazing! I love you! A roo roo roo! And congrats to you Jacob! You both are so blessed to have each other!
Me and my sis! And oh yeah...I chopped off my hair and I LOVE it! Matt even liked it too! (If anyone needs a good hair stylist up in the Layton area I have a recommendation....just ask)
And the little one...will be 16 weeks this Sunday! I can't believe it! She is growing faster than I feel I can keep up with. She is SO fun! She is giggling and talking and learning to put herself to sleep (hopefully) and smiling and trying oh so hard to sit up on her own...but I think that may still be a ways off. And she has a new friend. The name is Mr. Bunny. She has just started to grab onto things. She's so fun to watch and is getting better at keeping herself entertained which means mom can do the dishes and fix dinner every once in a while...anyway...more of her below....
... . . .we have been in the world of teething since she was 7 weeks old. Which means our thumbs are the new chew toy...or a shoulder (did I mention the drool) and then of course Mr. Bunny had to do his part too...!
We got to go see Grandpa at his office in Salt Lake and stay with them while dad was at military camp. Thanks SO much mom and dad for all your help! Thanks grandma for spending the weekend down here on your very uncomfortable bed! (And Evie absolutely LOVES her new toy! which means Matt and I do too!) We sure love and appreciate all your help! You are always there! Evelyn is blessed to have the grandparents she does!

We are surviving the cold! And loving its beauty! Thanks to the Cunninghams for this adorable coat!

Need I say more?
And Matt is working harder than ever! (I did not set this up. I turned around and this is what I found) He is THE BEST dad! husband! provider! student! friend! and more! He is starting to wrap up the semester which means even later nights and earlier mornings of studying but he still finds time to take his wife out, play with Evelyn, change her or put her to bed, fix dinner, serve so faithfully in his calling, get A's on tests and work at the MTC plus being in the army so I can be home with Evelyn. Thank you sweetheart for ALL you do! We love and appreciate you more than can be said!
And that's about it. I am so thankful for the life I have! I never could have imagined things getting this good. I am grateful for Our Father in Heaven and the concern He has for our lives and our small personal needs. He cares about every detail and is always there to make it better if we just ask! I know I am His daughter. I know we are all His children and He does have a plan of happiness for each of us and the gospel is His way of helping us to find it! I know it is because of Jesus Christ that we may have that happiness! How grateful I am to have these truths in my life!

Sun or...snow....

I just had to share....Evelyn loves being outside! I can't believe how fast she is growing. Yesterday she got to sit up in her stroller. Yay! And we sure enjoyed all the sunshine...but before that we found ways to enjoy the snow and cold weather too! It was interesting trying to keep her warm because she squirms so much I was having problems keeping the blankets on her so......
First we tried the six month snow suit that was darling and WAY too big! But...she couldn't kick it off.. (this is my favorite picture!)
Then we found this oh so warm hoodie from Melanie and have sure been grateful for it! (it fit a little better)
But finally we just resorted to the Halloween costume. (she might be a penguin a lot more too....) Thanks Grandma Hirschi for finding this) We love it!

Happy Halloween, Happy Birthday...and the cutest penguin you ever saw!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween! We did! Here are some of the things we did......
Friday night we got to go ice skating with two of Matt's best friends (Evie's god-fathers) Logan and Derek. It was SO fun! And our little penguin fit right in!
Here they are....(the three stooges) or rather black leather, a dad and an over grown dinosaur...
The cutest penguin I have ever seen trying out the ice.....

Then more than just celebrating Halloween we got to go up and celebrate my dad's birthday. It was relaxing....once we got there! (Evelyn does not like her car seat! And I do not like construction!) My mom made a delicious dinner and we just chilled at home....
Dad and the little Penguin
Grandma, Evelyn and Uncle David
Uncle David, the little one and the birthday boy (yes boy! He is a total kid at heart!) And we sure love him!
Evelyn especially sure loves her grandpa! Happy Birthday again dad! And Happy Holidays to everyone else!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN ! ! ! And.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA! ! ! ! ! ( You're the best! and we sure love you!)