One Year

Dear Jaymi Viktoria,

Yesterday we celebrated your one year anniversary as a member of our family.  Its crazy how it seems like just yesterday I rode that airport escalator with you to greet our loved ones.  I will always remember the pure joy and excitement and you finally got to meet your little sisters.  Your grandmas and grandpas.  Your cousins and friends.  You were so thrilled.  I am still amazed at how you entered this new life like you had been waiting for it all along.  You didn't question it.  You didn't mourn the life you left behind in Russia.  You were just so excited to start anew.  So excited to take everything this new life had to offer you.  You really and truly, never looked back.  Everyday you life with such excitement wondering what the day will have to offer you.  Friends? Family? School? Church?  You love it all.

I would be lying if I said this year and all the changes it brought to me as a mother were easy.  I envied how easily you seemed to adjust.  How easily you loved me, even when it didn't seem like I deserved it.  You have been such an example to us.  You are so forgiving, so loving, so ready and eager to learn.  So patient with us all as we have learned and grown over the past year.  Being a parent to an older child was so much harder than your dad and I expected, and will little sister Bryn moving up the ranks in age, we had quite the learning to do.  Thank you for being patient with us and we figured this all out.  Our task as parents seemed overwhelming at times and without the help of our family and friends, we could not have done it.  We continue to learn daily about how to best be your parents, thank you for showing us the way.

Your little sisters just adore you and look up to you so much.  Bryn wants to be just like you and Kaelyn loves when you take time to get down and play with her.  I love when we come to your class on Thursday's and how you watch out for them.  You make sure Bryn gets everything everyone else does and that she follows the classroom rules.  The other day someone took a toy from Kaelyn during recess and you promptly took it back and made sure they knew not to pick on her.  You are so sweet and tender with Kaelyn, it makes my heart so happy.  You are so patient and forgiving with Bryn as she learns how to be nice.  She gets so excited to play with you when you get home from school.  I love when I hear you both giggling together.  No one makes you laugh harder than your silly sister Bryn and visa versa.  I love that Kaelyn and Bryn were so young when you joined our family, that they will never remember life without you here.

You are such a great example of being kind and making friends everywhere you go.  Every time we come to your school we see kids in other classes that know you by name and are excited to see you.  You make everyone feel good with your happy hello's and genuine hugs and high fives.  The kids are so kind to you in church and you are such a great example to them by how much you love primary.  You get so excited when you get to go in front and help with music or sharing time.

Today we celebrated by playing with friends, going swimming with cousins and eating pizza.  Swimming is one of your favorite activities so it was very fitting that one year later, thats what we were doing as a family.

Love Always,
Mommy

Christmas Time

We have been able to do a number of fun things this Christmas Season and some no fun things too, poor Kaelyn ended up in the children's hospital with a nasty respiratory virus.  As always she pushed through it and made it home just in time for Christmas.  Its our family tradition to put up all the Christmas decorations the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  It was so fun to have little helpers this year.

The girls and I were able to attend the Festival of Trees with our friends the Nelson's.  This is the third year we have been able to do this with them.  The girls loved watching the dancers, seeing the amazing trees and playing the children's games.

This is our dear friend Kristen's tree.  She passed away from Leukemia a few years ago and we always look for her tree.  Our hearts are broken for her dear sweet family that miss her so much every day.  We were so lucky to run into her mom and have a short visit with her.  Kristen's life and legacy has blessed our family and taught us to treasure each moment with have with our girls.

Jaymi was excited to see the soccer tree

Had to get a picture in front of the University of Utah tree

This Nemo tree was a favorite among the kids

Jaymi was quite the helper pushing Kaelyn's stroller for me

Poor little Kaelyn, she was not happy with us for taking her to the hospital.  We tried so hard to treat her at home but she had an asthmatic reaction and needed to be cared for at the hospital.  Looks like we can now add asthma to her list of "specialities".  Poor little lady.  She is a trooper though, tougher than all of us put together.

Grandma Amy came to see her at the hospital and sure made her day.  She wouldn't even let Wayne or I touch her but when she saw Grandma she outstretched her arms and said pick me up. 

Wrestling her teddy bear the highway patrol brought by

Finally feeling up to some daddy cuddles

Jaymi had her dance recital while Kaelyn was in the hospital.  They performed to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and she did so well.  She had the dance memorized and got a little distracted by audience but did really well.  We were all so proud of her.

Jaymi and her best friend Mia.  They are in the same class at school and Mia's mom and I are good friends.  They love playing together, its so fun. 

The girls posing with Mia's little sister

After the recital we all went up to the hospital to get lunch and visit Kaelyn.  The girls weren't able to go see her in the PICU but they were very concerned about Kaelyn being at the doctor and prayed for her each night.

They were so excited when she finally got to come home.  They kept giving her loves and giggling.  It was just precious. 

The girls and dad built a cute little snow girl after the big snow storm.

 I took Jaymi and Bryn to the Nutcracker Ballet.  They did so good and had so much fun.  They both learned some fun new ballet moves.  I think we will have to make this a tradition and hopefully Kaelyn will be well enough to go with us next year.

 Some friends here in the neighbor got together for a fun cookie exchange and dinner.  We had a great time, we are so blessed to live in such a fun community with so many friends close by.

The girls wore their Russian dresses for Christmas Sunday.  They looked so cute and got so many complements on them.  

Mom salon for Christmas nails

Making Christmas Sugar Cookies.  

Jaymi was an angel in the Nativity at our ward Christmas party.  She loves things like this, she had so much fun perfomring.

The girls were excited to sit on Santa's lap at our Community Center.  Even Bryn got in the spirit this time around.

Frosting Christmas cookies at the Community Center.  Like I said, I love our neighborhood.  So many fun things to do.

Christmas Eve

A few years ago we started the tradition of going to Texas Roadhouse for a good old stake dinner on Christmas even.  The girls had a great time and were big fans of the hot rolls and cinnamon butter.

Then we head to Grandma and Grandpa Bonners for Christmas Eve festivities, including a talent show, nativity, elf gifts left at the door and plenty of treats and fun

Our family finally had something to contribute to the talent show.  Jaymi and Bryn performed Jaymi's reindeer dance.  Bryn is wearing my first ballet costume.  She would not take it off the rest of the night.

Jaymi got to be Mary in this years nativity.  She did so well and was such a great mother to baby Jesus. 

Bryn was a cute little angel and Kaelyn refused to leave Grandma's lap

Jaymi did a great job at protecting baby Jesus from the kidnapping angel.

The girls loved their Elf gifts.  Such a fun tradition.  Bryn got bottles and baby food for her dolly's

Jaymi got a cute little doctor kit

Kaelyn got a fun little lady bug toy that she loves putting the balls into

Christmas Morning

Christmas this year had to be my favorite.  Jaymi and Bryn had so much fun opening and playing with presents.  It was our first Christmas with Jaymi here and she made it so fun.  She was so excited to open her presents but just as excited to pass out and watch everyone else open their presents.  She was as excited about the orange in her stocking as she was the new bike Santa brought her.  She teaches us so many lessons about life and enjoying each and every moment and person.

Of course the favorite present was a little barbie cash register that my friend gave me for free.  I could have just gotten that for Jaymi and she was have been completely content.  

Kaelyn added a guitar to her toy musical instrument collection.

Bryn enjoying the Christmas red vines Wayne got me

The girls testing out Jaymi's new Russian doll sheets.  

My pinterest inspired Santa pancakes were a hit and may have to become a Christmas breakfast tradition

This girl loves her eggs

We were so lucky to have uncle Ryan with us for Christmas this year.  Everyone needs an uncle Ryan living with them.

We had a great time enjoying Christmas dinner with our Rasmussen cousins.  The girls had so much fun playing with their cousins and Wayne had fun teaching the boys how to snow board out in the back yard.

The girls loved dressing up in Natalie's collection of dress ups.

Jaymi and Bryn got to go sledding with their cousins and dad the day after Christmas.  They had a great time and can't wait to go again.  They went strong for two hours.

I can't get enough of Bryn in these snow pants

 Sunday our cute baby niece Averie was blessed and the girls got to show Grandma Ruth the pretty Russian doll dresses she helped me make them for Christmas.  Well really, I helped her make them but trying not to mess them up too bad.  They looked so cute.