Bradley 6 months old

The week of Bradley's 6 month birthday he decided that he wanted to sit up all on his own.

Good job little man!

We sat down as a family to discuss our goals for 2012. We came up with a top ten list.

Ringhand Family Goals 2012

1. Continue having "Family Home Evening" every Monday night
2. Serve others outside the family more often
3. Go to the temple as a family and get sealed
4. Better bedtime routine
5. Breakfast and Dinner together at the table
6. Read the scriptures in the morning before school
7. Daddy give Bradley his baby blessing
8. Watch less TV
9. Eat better
10. Exercise more

Long-term Family Goals

1. Get out of this apartment
2. Build a house and live on the farm
3. Get chickens
4. Next Christmas go ice-skating and caroling
5. Mommy finish school
6. Save more money
7. Vacation as a family every year
8. Get Daddy's invention going
9. Art classes for the girls
10. Trip out west to the Rocky Mountains
11. Get a dog

New Year's Eve at The Laney's house

Bradley enjoying his new contraption compliments of Lance's Cousin Natalie. 

 Great Grandma Laney came over for a little while to play cards as a family.

 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

The Best Present Ever!

I have this beautiful charm bracelet from Tiffany's that I got from Lance after Parker was born as a "push present". It came with just the one "Return to Tiffany's" Charm and on the back has Parker's name and NICU number. After Parker died, the funeral home made Parker's hand and foot prints into charms to add to my bracelet. I have also added lockets and silhouette heads with each of my kids names and birthdays engraved on them.

This year, I found an artist that takes children's art and turns them into all types of jewelry. She did a beautiful job with Laney's self portrait and Samantha's Elf picture. This is also a great way to capture each of the girls young age signatures.

www.formiadesign.com

Check out her website.

Let's go Doodlin"

Logan Felsheim painting his one eyed monster mostly yellow.

Laney with Anna Reynolds

Laney and Brooklynn Bartley.

Laney with Anne George.

Evan, Laney, Logan and Samantha.

Laney and Emily Carter.

We didn't want to take away from the spiritual night of Laney's baptism so we did a separate party for her birthday. This year she wanted to invite kids from her school class. People that know my family well, know that we do not have birthday parties every year for the girls. So we kept this one small and did not invite all of the cousins. My sister and her boys did come to help me with the baby. It's a good thing too, because Lance got all caught up in painting a little monster of his own. He was so funny to watch. He got so into it.

Laney had a wonderful time and was so glad to see all of her friends from school. We had a pretty good turn out as well. I was worried, because we had it on New Years Eve at 10:30am.

Laney's Baptism

It's great to be eight! Laney turned eight years old on December 30th, 2011. The family tradition is to get baptized actually on your eighth birthday. So that is what we did for Laney. She was so excited and a little bit nervous. She had her bishops interview earlier in the month so that helped with the nerves. We believe in being baptized by full immersion. Her daddy was able to perform the baptism as he now holds the priesthood. I think Laney thought it was funny that her daddy was a little bit nervous too.

We had such a good turn out. All of our family came to support Laney. My Mother did the talk on Baptism and Laney's Sunday school teacher did the talk on the Holy Ghost. Laney picked the opening song, "I am a Child of God" and Michelle Hooper (played the piano) picked, "Choose the Right" for the closing song. We were so appreciative of all of those who helped out on Laney's special day.

Laney was also confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and received the Holy Ghost through a blessing that was performed by her Grandpa, Alan Todd Laney. There was one time in the blessing that Grandpa called Laney...Erin. Oopps! I do it all of the time. He knew he was giving the blessing to Laney, but Erin's name came out. This is a horrible genetic thing. None of us can keep names straight and by naming Laney after my maiden name Laney has made it very hard for all of the Laney side of the family. I didn't think about that when we named her Laney.

Christmas Dinner 2011 at The Laney's House

"Hey, I want to sit at the kids table!!!"

Samantha really wanted baby doll stuff this year and when we got home the first thing she wanted to do was put her baby brother in the little bed and high chair. I had to explain to her that it wasn't safe for her baby brother, it's only safe for her baby doll. I think she was a bit disappointed when she realized that.

Bradley and Grandma taking in all of the excitement that is going on around them.

Laney with her new hunting atire. This wasn't something she asked for, but she was so excited to receive it. She started to hunt this year with her Daddy and she loves it.

Christmas 2011 at The Ringhands

Samantha hugging a stuffed dog. Santa said she wasn't allowed to get a real one, until we are living on the farm.

Christmas at the Ringhands took place in their formal living room. Our piano is in the Family Room where the Christmas Tree "usually" sits. Oh well. It was nice to be able to cozy up on their new white carpet and enjoy the sun light from the windows.

We met at The Ringhand's house at 11:00am Sunday to enjoy Christmas as a family. We had a very nice brunch and then the kids enjoyed opening all of their presents. Unfortunately, The Ringhand's got stuck storing some of our new gifts, like a beautiful new toy trunk they purchased for Bradley.