Happy New Years!!

Every year at this time people reflect on past resolutions and make resolutions for the upcoming year.  It seems like a lot of people joke about how it's a waste of time to make resolutions no one keeps.  I on the other hand think that making goals to try and better one's life is a great thing to do.  What's wrong with trying to make yourself a better person? 

I am one of those people who sets new years resolutions every year.  Sometimes I accomplish them all, and sometimes I only accomplish a few.  This year I have made  a pretty extensive list of ways I want to improve my life. 

One of the things I want to improve most in the upcoming year is my testimony.  I want to be better about organizing family home evening for my family every week, reading my scriptures daily, and having personal and couple prayer more often.  I always use the excuse that I don't have enough time to do my personal scripture study every day, but the truth is I have plenty of time during the day.  I waste about 20-30 minutes a day on facebook or watching a TV show.  Why not use that time to study my scriptures or plan a family home evening lesson?  

Another thing I want to improve on is being a mom.  I want to be a more patient and engaged mom.  I want to really play with Lexi and enjoy her more fully.  I play with her a lot as it is, but I feel like I should be enjoying it even more than I do.  She is such a fun and sweet girl.  She deserves a good mom who does fun activities with her and takes her on adventures that challenge her mind. 

 I also want to improve my body this year.  I want to lose all the baby weight from Gauge (and keep it off!!).  I want to work out at least four days a week.  I feel like breaking a good sweat a day helps me maintain what little sanity I have left.  I also want to run a few more half marathons this year.  Working out and making my body look the way I want it to is one thing I can do for myself.  I think as a mom it is important to be selfish sometimes and to do something for yourself every once in a while.  As a mom we go and go and go doing things for everyone else all day long.  Its so important to take the time to take care of ourselves.

Lastly, I want to learn how to crochet and I also want keep a better journal (via blogging :) ). 

I hope everyone enjoys their New Years Eve and good luck on all the resolutions everyone is making :)

Santa Clause is Coming To Town…. And He’s Bringing the Thygersons!!!

Christmas was a fun, yet hectic time this year.  We’d only been moved into our house for two weeks before Christmas.  I was a little sad because I was too pregnant to travel this year.  It was going to be the last time the family was together for four years.  My little brother CJ left on a mission to bogita, Columbia the 28^th of December, and my little brother Trey is leaving June, 2013.  

I was so excited to finally hear the news that my whole family was coming to California for Christmas!! I couldn’t wait to show them my new house and the new life Tyson and I have created for our-selves.

Lexi sat waiting and waiting for her uncles to get here.

They finally arrived on Wednesday.  Lexi was ecstatic to see all of her uncles and Grandma and Grandpa Thygerson.  Thursday we ventured out to Hollywood.  We enjoyed walking up and down the walk of fame, going to the wax museum, and driving around Beverly Hills. 

Hollywood is an interesting place to say the least.  It was diry and gross for the most part, but we still had a good time :)

Maybe even a little too much fun lol

Even my mom and dad got pretty into it.

However, by far, the best part of our day trip was going to the LA temple with my whole family.  There was a sweet and special spirit felt as we toured the brand new visitor center.  I couldn’t help but imagine how it will be like in the next life when we are all united again in the most peaceful and serene place of all.  What a wonderful time it will be :)

Friday we took my family, plus cousins Audrey and Corbin, to Six Flags Magic Mountain.  It was AWESOME!!  There were tons of “big people” rides.  My brothers had a great time going on all of the different thrill seeker’s rides.  I knew it was a successful day when everyone left the park with roller-coaster-induced-headaches and a couple fun memories.

Sadly, this was one of four rides that Lexi was big enough to go on.

The kids LOVED this boat ride.

Lexi, on the other hand, was terrified. 

On Christmas Eve, the boys enjoyed a morning surf session followed by an afternoon of Sherlock Holms and shopping for last minute Christmas gifts.  But don’t worry, it wasn’t all work and no play for the girls.  While the boys had their fun, Lexi and I enjoyed a nice day with my mom.  Nothing better than a quality mother daughter day :)

That night we upheld the tradition of appetizers, sparkling cider, dessert, and opening one gift… a new pair of pajamas to wear on Christmas day.  Lexi loved singing Christmas songs and kept saying “More! More!!”

Christmas day was spectacular.  We all got spoiled beyond measure.  It was a wonderful day filled with good food, church, and family.  I can’t believe it is the last Christmas that the whole family will be together for four years.

Lexi loved her new "balance" bike.  It teaches them to balance so that they can skip the training wheels. 

Cousins Brandon and Dixie are living in a rental right on the beach.  This is literally right out their back door.  We had so much fun spending Christmas with their family.

My parents got Lexi a new car for Christmas.  She LOVES it!!!  She also loves the kitchen Ty's parents got her.  She is one spoiled girl!

Really, Lexi doesn't wear this shirt everyday.  But I am proud to say that a friend of mine and I got together to make these adorable "Christmas shirts" for our daughters.  Lexi is so funny because she loves wearing outfits I make.  She is too cute!

One last family picture for a few years.  Hopefully, I'll be about 30 pounds lighter in the next one :/.

Noogie Noogie Noogie

 

We hope everyone had as happy and blessed Christmas as we did.  Happy New Years!

~Welcome Home~

Home sweet home, we are home at last!!!  Finally, after a five-month process we are moved into our first bought home.  I cannot believe what a huge process it was.  I never expected buying my first home to be so difficult, but believe me, it was one of the longest, hardest, most frustrating, and exciting processes of my whole life.  I am so glad it is OVER!!!

We closed on our house while we were in Grand Junction visiting, so I had to wait two whole weeks before I could do any unpacking.  We did sneak in before we closed and unpacked the kitchen.  It was nice to have that part done with.  I had the painter come while we were out of town so the house would be move-in-ready upon our return.

Here is the street view.

We got back late Saturday night and didn’t waste any time.  Sunday morning, Ty moved most of the heavy furniture inside with the help of his wonderful father while I got started on organizing our closet. We worked on that part most of the day Sunday and Monday morning it was back to work for ty.  I unpacked the whole house by myself in two days.  Not trying to brag or anything…oh wait, yes I am!  I was pretty impressed with my 32-week pregnant self.  I could barely walk Wednesday morning, but it was so nice to have everything in its place.

Here are some shots of our bedroom.

The entry to the master bathroom....

Lexi LOVES my bathtub.  I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Our closet is HUGE, but I feel like I need a to install a closet organizer to use all of the space.

We didn’t have a fridge, but Ty had ordered one and was supposed to bring it home Monday night.  They boys struggled to bring it into the house, only to find that it was the wrong color once they unwrapped it from the box!!  I made ty take me to buy a new fridge that was the right color Monday night.  Now we are stuck with two fridges, which is better than no fridges I guess. 

Here are some pictures of our family room/kitchen area.

Everything is pretty much done now. Once the trash is gone out of the garage I should be able to park my car in there!

Here are some pictures of the entry way, study, kid's bathroom, and Gauge's room.

I can't believe I had time to unpack everything and decorate for christmas in the same week, but by some miracle it got done.  However, I am out of energy for the rest of December ;)

We were at the store shopping for Lexi's bathroom and she found this.  She HAD to have it.  She threw a few trash cans, two shower cutains, four tooth brush holders, one soap dispencer, and four rugs into the basket.  She kept saying, "oh yeah!  Basket.  Oh yeah! Basket!  I need it, I need it, Oh I need it."  It was pretty funny.  I felt bad when I had to tell the cashier we only wanted about half the stuff that was in our cart.

Poor Gauge.  His walls are pretty bare.  I still haven't found any suitable wall decor.  But hey, I 've still got 8 weeks left to look :/ 

Lexi LOVES her new big-girl bed and her room. 

She is pretty adorable.  She is pretty excited about her closet doors being mirrors.... I am not as excited.  She likes to kiss her self on the mirror or lick it then rub her spit around with her hands.  Basically, I am cleaning mirrors about 10 times a day.

She also loves the playroom.  I am excited to see how good she is at cleaning up after herself.  She has a little of my anal personality in her :)

We are really enjoying our new house and I feel so fortunate that we were able to find such an awesome house in such a spectacular ward!  I am surprised to say that although I still miss Colorado, I am started to LOVE California!!  I am really grateful that heavenly father wants us to be happy and tries to make sure things work out in a way that will make us happy in the end.

Gobble Gobble

We had an amazing Thanks Giving!!  We spent it in Grand Junction, Colorado surrounded by loads of family.  All my dad’s brothers and sisters were in town with all of their kids, so all 37 grandkids were united again.  Needless to say, things got a little crazy!!

We got to stay at my parent’s house for two whole weeks because it was Tyson’s week to work in the Grand Junction office.  Lexi was more than spoiled by her uncles; Dallin, Zach, Trey, and Cj.    

She loved playing outside, going four-wheeling at the cabin in the snow and around the house on Dallin’s four-wheeler, and eating Pumpkin pie (it was the only flavor of 6 that she would even try lol).   We had to bundle her up because even though there wasn't much snow while we were there, it was cold!

Zachary is Home-Schooled now.  Lexi thought she should be doing her homework too.

While we were in Grand Junction my mom and Aunt threw me a baby shower for family members.  It was a lot of fun and Gauge got some good stuff.  I think we are just about ready for him to come now, but ready or not, in less than 8 weeks he will be here! 

Food was wonderful!  The popcorn said "ready to pop."  I seriously feel like I am "ready to pop!" 

Lexi was really helpful while I was opening my presents :)