Lazy Winter

At least I think it has been winter--the calendar says so.  It has been a very mild winter here as well as the rest of the country.  We are all doing well and I have just been so lazy as to not update our blog.
I really feel there hasn't been too much going on, but here are a few highlights of the past month and a half.  On Friday the 13th of January, Ross had his 4th birthday!  I always love to reflect on my children at their birthday time.  Ross definitely took a little more work for Jeff and I to get here and we are so grateful for his energetic spirit that adds to our family.  I asked him what kind of cake he wanted and he kept replying that he wanted a Spiderman cake.  So, trying to be a "fun" mom, I complied.  Then when we got ready to light the cake, he says "But, I wanted Batman!"  He actually hasn't see either character in shows or cartoons.  It made us chuckle.
I'm including one picture of snow to prove that we did get a little--even if it melted a few days later!
Kelly, Sophie, and Ava came and visited us again at the beginning of Feburary.  We all loved hanging out together.  My girls love having their aunt put makeup on them one night!  We look forward to visiting them over our Spring Break at the end of March.

I also thought these pics of Collin were funny.  The girls like to put things on him; like sunglasses and tiaras.  He also likes to pull his socks off and chew on them.  He is growing so fast (as all kids do!).

 The last pic is of "my boys".  I love to see them together!  We love and miss you all!

Unusually Warm January!

This winter has been warmer than usual.  I guess the whole country has been that way.  Today Plymouth will be in the upper 40's and maybe 50 tomorrow before dipping down and snowing again.  Maybe this snow will stick around.  The last snow we got was just enough for Jeff and the girls to make a small snowman--a LEAFY, small snowman!

We are all doing pretty well right now.  Ross and Claire had ear infections this last week, and Jeff had a sinus infection.  But, we are at the end of the medication and they all seem to be feeling better.

I was recently called as the Young Women's President in our branch (I don't have any counselors, yet).  We have 3 young women and only 1 of those regularly comes to church.  It is definitely new for me, since the YW program I grew up in had about 30-40 girls.  I do love the girls and hope that the Spirit can help them to come closer to their Father in Heaven.  Jeff is still in the middle of basketball and so I have to take the kids with me to our activity nights.  But, I am very grateful for my kids.  They aren't perfect by any means, but they do try to be good at the church.  It also helps for me to put a movie on for them!

Our family is trying to keep up with our Roper Family Scripture Reading Challenge.  I just finished the book of Ether.  I am always amazed that the Jaredites could be so hard-hearted that they completely destroy themselves!  But, then Jeff and I talk about our day today, and I am almost amazed the the Lord hasn't given us harsher punishments for all the wickedness going on today.  Maybe he is holding off for the sake of the "few righteous", like with Lot and his family.  I love to read and learn from the Book of Mormon.  Amelia has been a great inspiration as she reads and asks me questions.  The kids are also good about reminding us to read as a family.
Nothing else is new during these dreary months of January, February, and March.  We look forward to having my sister Kelly come visit this month with her girls, and then we will go to her place for Spring Break.  It is nice to be close to her.
I hope all is well with everyone else.  We love to hear from all of you!

Merry Christmas!

I know it has been awhile since we've posted, but I just wanted to say that we are all doing well.  We had a very wonderful Christmas yesterday.  Up until now, our kids have not awakened early on Christmast morning.  Well, this year they finally did.  I think there is an internal clock that kicks in at 6-8 years that tells them when to wake up.  We heard them tromp down the stairs at 5:30 am.  Jeff finally went and herded them back to bed for another hour or so.
We had church at 10 am.  So, we let the kids open their stockings, but they already new that we would have to wait until after church for the rest.  We also had our traditional "Santa Pancakes", made with strawberries and whipped cream.  Yumm!
Church was wonderful.  Our missionaries sang "O Holy Night", and my friend and I played a medley of songs from the hymnal.  It was enjoyable.
We had fun opening gifts afterward.  Jeff especially enjoyed his mailbox my parents gave him.  Jeff's parents gave me a shirt that brags about "finding my husband at BYU-Idaho".  The kids recieved many fun gifts from their Michaelis' cousins, Roper cousins, Christensen cousins, and Rogers cousins.  Thanks to everyone for the time and effort to mail things out to us.  We love you all!
At dinner we had our "grandparents", the Stith's, over for dinner.  It was so enjoyable to have their company.  We also played a few games of Blokus with them.
We were able to skype with Rope cousins and see Scott's surgery scars.  We are so thankful he is doing well. And got to skype with G&G Roper and see everyone at their home.  We chatted on the phone with G&G Michaelis (the kids were disappointed not to skype with them).
I better end this long post.  We recieved many nice and wonderful gifts, but we are always most thankful for Family!  We love you all.

Halloween

Zady was so happy to lose another tooth (and working on a couple more)












The kids all getting ready to go Trick or Treating.













Walking the streets of Plymouth.

Collin Jeffrey

We finally have internet connected in our new home.  Yeah!

Many things have happened since July, but the most important is that Collin has joined our family.  He decided to come on his due date--September 2nd at 11:58 am.  He was 8 lbs. 11 oz.and 20" long.

Here are some more recent pics of him and also some other shots.

Collin in his blessing outfit--October 16

Grandma and Grandpa Michaelis came to visit

Jeff and the kids exploring the back yard.  Notice the huge mushroom in the bottom left corner.

Collin making a happy baby face.

Culver Beach

We went to Culver Beach (in Culver, IN) the other day and we had fun with the kids playing in the sand and in Lake Maxinkuckee (just another of the "strange names" of our Indiana life). Just in case you can't tell, Amelia is a mermaid, Zady is a muscle builder man, and Claire is a skeleton. Ross's reaction is priceless.

Easter Eggs

Here are examples of the creativity level of our family. 

Claire's egg

Another side of Claire

Amelia's egg

Ross's egg (designed by Dad)

Dad's egg

Zady's egg

Mom's egg (the most colorful)