Year in Review

Lets just first start out by saying thank you to all our families. With out there help and support James and I would not be where we are now.
We started this year at Uncle John's and Aunt Lisa's.

At the middle sort of end of February we had moved out and came back to Utah. James had gotten a job at Iworks and was living in Ephraim for a couple of months while Emjae and I were at Oma and Opa Greats house.
In May we found an apartment. It came with furniture which was nice since we only had beds. It also came with an amazing ward and bishopric. We moved in after Emjaes birthday in Las Vegas.

We also went camping with my side of the family and lets just say that was one rainy, stormy camping trip that we will never forget.

June was James birthday and he finally got his coal grill that he's wanted.

The 4th of July was spent up at Oma and Opa greats in Spanish Fork.

We finally had Julie after trying to be induced once before with her in July.

In August we got rid of the mazda and became proud owners of a 1991 chevy cavalier with help from our family and with guidance from our Bishop. Oh ya I can't forget that Trevor finally got a woman. Trevor and Kate were sealed for time and all eternity in Las Vegas.

That next day we blessed Julie.

I had to switch from breast milk to formula in september or october which in reality was better for both me and Julie.
October was my birthday and James surprised me by taking me to the Tournament of the Kings at the Excalibur.

We also got all dressed up to take the girls trunk or treating.

November we had thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents house and I braved the crazy shoppers and did the day after thanksgiving day sales early in the morning. We also had Amy's baby shower and then I got sick with strep throat for almost a week.

James and I got our own first Christmas Tree and had such a wonderful time trying to keep it standing up. Amy and Alex finally had Erick "Peanut" Loa.

For Christmas we were able to have my parents come and visit as well as Helene and Jeremy.


And well for tonight, New Year's Eve we are having Brolin and Steffanie over. The plan is to eat and play games. I'm sure it will be fun.
Looking back on this year there is no way that I could not be grateful for every one that has been a support and help. I know that we have been truly blessed and we have so much to be grateful for. I know that as we live our lives the way Christ would want us to that he will continue to pour out blessings on me and my family. I pray as we start this new year that we will try to put Christ plan for us as our guide. May we forget the things of the world that take up our time from Christ and his work.
I love all of my family and I truly mean that. I hope the best for everyone this new year and can't wait to see everyone, hopefully sooner than later.

The Joy of Holidays

I would like to think that our first Christmas in our own place this year went pretty well.
We were lucky enough to have Helene and Jeremy come to visit as well as have my parents here a few days before Helene got her and then on Christmas morning (thank heavens).
We didn't do any Christmas eve present opening, but we did do scones and honey butter. MMMMMM!!!!! It was so delicious. I'm glad James had the idea to do that for our Christmas Eve tradition.
Christmas morning as Emjae, Julie and I waited for my parents to arrive we got to open our Christmas Stockings. Note to self for next year: Not as many chocolates for Emjae. She just loved pulling everything out and then putting it back in. Around 9:15 Mom and Dad got here just as we were finishing pulling out and putting back everything from our stockings.

Mom helped hold Julie while I helped unwrap everything I wrapped, while James handed out the presents. Emjae did pretty well not opening any presents until Christmas morning. We had all the presents out for almost 2 weeks. Emjae opened a few presents and then she just wanted to play with the ones she had opened and forgot about the rest, until we opened and set up her table and chairs.




Julie tried to open the first one but she only ripped the paper as far as needed to get it to her mouth.


After we finished opening presents

James and I made breakfast burritos for everyone.
We also had pumpkin roll and almond rolls and muddy buddy's and another kind of corn chex mix that was given to us. Probably not the healthiest to eat all those things, but hey its the holidays.
The rest of the day consisted of playing Rock Band, playing Halo ODST, watching the Lakers get there butts kicked and just relaxing.


Poor Emjae and Julie are both sick though. Julie has a congested cough and runny nose. Emjae on the other hand has high fevers, runny nose, congested cough and difficulty breathing at night. We were up at 2:30 last night with her. I feel so horrible. It's the first time Emjae has been sick. It feels so horrible when you have done everything you can and you don't know what else to do.
We just gave her a blessing and doped her up on medicine and about 20 to 30 minutes later she was feeling better enough to want to get up and pick out a movie to watch. I figured go ahead, you will be able to relax and hopefully fall back asleep. James stayed up with her and they both fell asleep on the couch. The love of a dad!

A Few Minutes in the Salanoa Home

The first video gets more brighter as it goes on. We dont have an amazing camera. hope you enjoy.

The Weather outside is Frightful

Oh my oh my oh my. Oh how I do not like the snow!!! And oh how I do not like the snow when I have to go somewhere with both girls by myself.
Monday was the night of our ward Christmas party because its finals week and we are in a college ward and they decided to have it sooner than latter. Monday was also the day of snow. It snowed sunday night all through Monday morning, Monday afternoon, and Monday night. James of course had work and so I was lucky enough to go to the party with the girls by myself. I get to the building and get Emjae out of the car, carry her over to the passenger side and put her in the front seat so that I can get Julies car seat out, then pick Emjae back up to go to our building where there is a note that says the party has been moved to another location. AWWWWW!!!!! I was lucky enough to do it all over again. The party was nice and the food was good and of course Emjae made a scene and clapped and said ya in the middle of peoples performances, but not much I can do about that.
Tuesday was a better day, there was no snowing. James and I needed to go shopping though so we got the girls ready and took them outside. I was hoping that Emjae wouldn't play in the snow since she just had jeans on and they would get wet and we were still headed somewhere, but dad's have different ideas in their heads then moms. When we got back Emjae played in the snow, well walked in the snow for a little bit. James would kick the snow and make a sound and so Emjae figured that's what you do to snow and did the same thing.

I guess I can't say I hate the snow because there are fun things to do in it, but I just really can't stand driving the Ephraim unplowed roads in it and trying to carry two kids in it.

Sacrament Helper

Today at church we were sitting there after the sacrament had been passed and the priesthood had passed by us to take the trays back up at the front. Well some how Emjae slipped out from my hands and booked it to the front, while laughing, going through the men standing there handing back the trays and almost up the stairs to where the bishopric was. Luckily I got her and as the guys were sitting down so they could be dismissed to sit with there families and I just sat down on the stair as well. I'm already embarrassed because I had to go through the guys to get her and then the bishop says thank you to the guys and the sister who tried to help pass as well. :) Needless to say I turned red, so very bright red. Thank you to Sister Emjae Salanoa and the wonderful embarrassing moment that it brought into my life.

Life Insurance

I figured that we should look into getting life insurance because I didn't want to be one of those people that thought "I should have gotten that" after an accident occurs. Anyways I told James about it and he came home with some paperwork one day and then we talked to an agent. We figured out what coverage we needed and today we had our physicals.
The lady that was coming over to do it was 15 minutes late, which kind of upset me. We had to pee and get blood taken, answer some questions and get weighed and measured. Emjae wanted a band aid like mom and dad and kept pointing to her arm where ours were and saying owie. James' policy is more than mine for obvious reason (he's the provider).And because of the amount we have on him he had to take his shirt off and get plugged in.

He had an EKG test I think thats what its called. Emjae was scared and sat right next to the couch because she couldn't sit on dad. He was hooked up by the ankles, wrists, and his chest. 10 wires in all.
All worth it though to have that security and hopefully not need it while the kids are young.

My Work of Art

So I must say I am pretty satisfied with myself. after 2 and a half days or so of work, my front room is new!!!! This is the old front room

ok so its a little messy I know, but with emjae around its always a tornado. :) and this is the new front room.

I made covers for each cushion and for the couches, the small pillows on them too, and even the drapes. I have to say Yah for Me!!!!
I think James is glad I'm done because he no longer has to hear the sewing machine and I can help more with the kids because Im not in the middle of something. I must say though that I think he always feels a little more gratitude towards me and what I do.
I will also say I'm glad it's done too. I can feel like I have new couches for only $50 instead of buying new ones, and personally I think it gives it a more homey feeling.

Another great Blog

So I looking at My mommas Blog, and on her blog she had a link to another blog that I found very cool. It is selfreliantsisters.blogspot.com They have a post up on how to get food storage for a year with only around 5 dollars a week. Its really neat and for those who want to start food storage its a great idea. Thought I would share the news. :)

Check out this Blog

Everyone must check out my moms blog. She has started a blog with helpful ideas, hints, and recipes. It is all things that can help us out during the ruff times and it can teach us how to be a little more self reliant. I will have a link on my page to get to her blog but if you would like to share this blog with any others that would be great. The more we can help and pass along knowledge the better we will be as a people.
www.homeandtherange.blogspot.com

Thank you Oma

My mom had gone to a baby type fair that had used clothes and toys. Well one of the things she picked up was a johnny jumper for Julie. If you watch closely in the background you can see Emjae sneaking a chair over to help james with the dishes. She loves being there to "help."

Fun in the Fall

Yesterday the girls, James, Erik and I drove up north to Grandmas. Poor Erik though. Our car is very small. it barely fits the 4 of us with out Erik, but he squeezed inbetween the two car seats and had to have his head tilted to one side or the other because he is to tall to sit in the back. :) That was what he had to do though for an hour if he wanted to go up north with us.
Our plan for the day was to help grandma great with some yard work because they have a nice size lawn front and back and many trees and many fruit trees. Grandma great is getting older and she has a hard time doing all of the work. When we got there she had filled up 3 big black trash bags already the previous week. I swear shes going to kill her self by pushing to hard to get things done. She was out of town this weekend so I decided that we had to take pictures to prove that we were there and that the work got done, because she will still be gone for awhile and when she comes back there will just be more leaves and more fruit on the ground again.
James cleaned out the gutters.

Amy, Emjae and I started raking the leaves.


Then Alex and James came in and helped.


Of course I thought the trees and the leaves on the ground were beautiful and so I had to take the opportunity for photos!!!!!

As we were preparing to leave and get everything in the car all of a sudden we hear a wheel moving sound. Yep sure enough Emjae climbed onto the lawnmower.

This is our finished product.

Our Girls

Emjae is now 18 months and Julie is 3 months. Oh how time flies by.
Some people at James office gave us matching outfits for the two girls when Julie was born. We put them in the outfits yesterday and took some pics. Hope you like them.