I am just realizing that this is all going to be posted in the opposite order in which I meant for it to go, but oh well. My last little bit will be sans photos, just my meager thoughts. I was blessed to give a talk a couple weeks ago,( in fact, the day that he passed away), in church which I focused on a couple of talks given from Pres. Hinckley. My topic was Light of a New Day. One thing you shoud know is that I am not a good speaker, but it was (and generally is) such a learning experience, one where I really felt that I learned the most about myself and in this case, recieved yet another confirmation that President Hinckley truly was a prophet for our Church. I too am grateful for his service and love yet am so glad that he is united with his dear wife. I look forward to the great things that are in store concerning our new first presidency and the church worldwide. What a beautiful Faith!




Granted, I don't love this picture of me, or any picture of me, really. But Eden wanted me to take our picture so badly the other day I couldn't say no. She is something else, I tell ya. What a ham, a cute one, but a ham nontheless. I love you, Eden.

I dedicate this next small section of my entry to Sabrina Z. I honestly believe that we baked and fed our nearly one year olds chocolate chip cookies on the same day. Bo doesn't look quite as happy as Cohen, but he truly was until I got the camera out. He is suddenly wary of the thing, maybe it's the flash? Who knows. All I know is that I don't feel too bad about feeding Bo the cookie. Is it because #1-he's my third and #2-I was just trying to keep him out from under my feet? Sure thing.

This is a small sampling of Barrett's German Club members at a Raclette(traditional Swiss meal) dinner in January. This club, through the high school, gets together every other month for fun, food and festivities! Unfortunately Barrett was the one taking these pictures so he's not in there, but it really was a good time. These parties are generally at a student's house, sometimes at our house and they really are fun and funny! You get all types in the foreign language classes, you know. I know that Barrett is a fantastic teacher, and the kids really appreciate him. He spends a lot of time preparing lessons and parties and he has helped liven up the German program at ol' Centennial.

Yes, it's true. I've fallen behind in my entries (no real suprise to anyone who knows me and my lack of computer prowess). I've taken a few pictures but I get on to update and start looking at everyone else's blogs and lose track of time, and blah, blah...So I will now do a condensed entry for the past month. Since the big Botkin date night: Tucker and Michelle and Beck moved down to American Fork. Sad for us, happy for them (for the most part, I think). It was a good excuse to get together at the Spencer's to play Wii-Anson loves the game where you ride the cow and hit the scarecrows-crazy kid. Anson and Eden love Uncle Tucker and Aunt Michelle and ask about them on a weekly basis. It was good to see them one last time. Hope they don't stay away too long...

One of Anson's long time favorite things to do is watch (admire) himself in the mirror,window, doorknob, faucet wherever he can see his reflection. I've been told numerous times this is a trait picked up from his father, definately not me. So I walked into the bathroom to check on him the other morning and there he was squatting on the counter in nothing but his underpants reciting word for word Dr Seuss' ABC book. One of his favorites. I wish I would've taken some video footage. He is so great!!!

How 'bout them Giants!

Sunday night's Super Bowl was a dream come true for Barrett. Having been a Giants fan for years and years his loyalty finally paid off. I asked him on the way to my dad's house what he wanted to see out of the game. He politely replied he wanted a good, close game. Of course, if the Giants win, that would be great too. I guess it was his lucky year. Here he is modeling a new hat courtesy of a coworker from UPS, his coat, gloves and blankets from high school, and wallet that I gave him for a 5th wedding anniversary gift! Go Giants!!!

Monday night we got a real treat when Barrett and I got to spend the evening with my brother's, their spouses, my stepsister and my dad and Cheryl. Their Christmas gift to us this year was an evening out all together. We started out being picked up by a limo, then we went to dinner at the spaghetti factory downtown and finally to the Morrison Center for a performance by the Riverdance company. It was a very enjoyable evening together, at least I thought so. The show actually took me back to my clogging days, but they were much better. There was so much energy and talent! It was awesome. Even the guys had a good time...It was also my first time in a limo-what fun. I really love my family and I'm glad we can get together and laugh and bond. Thanks to G&G Wood for watching the kids for us! It was our last hoora with Tucker and Michelle before they move down to Utah this coming weekend for a year. I am really gonna miss them and cute little Beck. It's not too terribly far, though, so I'm sure we'll get to visit a time or two while they're there...Thank you to Dad and Cheryl for this group date-we loved it!!

So, the weekend after Christmas we were supposed to drive down to Overton,Nevada and meet up with all 6 of Barrett's siblings at their grandparents (both sets) houses. Unfortunately for us the weather was not cooperating and would've turned a 10 hour drive on good roads into a who-knows-how-long drive in yuck roads. So we decided not to make the trek as several of the siblings were going to be leaving the following morning to go home anyway. We heard that everyone had a great time and we are sad we didn't make it down, but we opted for the next best thing and literally crashed at Barrett's sister Bridgette's home in Tooele,Ut the next day after they got home from Nevada. We stayed for several days and nights and couldn't have asked for more gracious hosts. Again, my lack of picture taking astounds me...But I do want the Wolf family to know how thankful we are for the wonderful weekend. Taryn,Max, and Cecily were just fantastic with Anson, Eden, and Bo! Bridgette and Todd made the ultimate sacrifice (their bedroom) and we're so grateful. We are truly blessed to have such amazing family! Church, New Year's Eve, etc...everything was great! Plus, on New Year's Eve day we went and visited Barrett's brother, Bruce, at his fire station in Holliday and got a good tour just before he got called out.( I did manage one or two pictures there). And then that evening his other brother's Brad and Brett and their families came out to Tooele for dinner and games. New Year's day we packed up and headed for home, but made one more stop in West Jordan to visit Bruce, Kristee, Bridger and Charlee in their new digs. They spoiled us with lunch and entertained us with their new Wii(?). Overall, it was a very happy ending to our supposedly ruined trip. WE're only sorry that we missed the grandparents, the nielsen's and the kent's. We love you guys!

Now, I have a lot of catching up to do since it's been over a month since my last post...The christmas holiday was great-lots of time spent with family. We went to kendra's dad's house for christmas eve and did fondue (cheese and chocolate!) and spent some time visiting with great grandpa(Keith) Botkin, uncle Trey, grandpa and nana botkin, and Kendra (my stepsister). Then headed home, put the kids to bed and opened up Santa's workshop till 2am. I had nothing wrapped and was still putting some finishing touches on some family gifts. Every year I say I'm gonna be better prepared...um,yah..Christmas morning came early with G&G Wood, Travis and Stacie, and Tucker,Michelle and Beck arriving around 7am. Unfortunately Bo was up for 4 hours inbetween with what I found out the day after christmas was a pretty nasty ear infection-poor kiddo. Needless to say, I was tired from the beginning and will blame that on my lack of picture taking for the day, which is horrible, but true. I'll just share the couple that I did get and hope that the grandparents got a few others..

The kids had a good time and we all got some really fun(funny) gifts- maybe I'll elaborate some other time. We took a couple hour break then went over to my dad's house to visit and exchange gifts. And finally over to mom and mike's for lunch/dinner and games and naps-yeah! We really had a wonderful day and were blessed with many nice gifts. The only thing that would've made it better would've been to spend part of the day withBarrett's parents. Bless their hearts, they are serving a mission in nairobi, kenya, and they're having wonderful experiences. We sure do miss them though.

Baby Bo

I am pretty sure that some day Bo is going to get a little embarassed over some of the pictures I've taken of him, but for now I will just enjoy them. He is such an adorable baby! Two months from now those long locks of his are going to get chopped off, so I have to have fun with them while I can (Barrett get's to give the boys their first haircuts when they turn one).