Here's to You Sisters

Hello sisters,

I have had a lot to reflect on the last couple of days, and it has mostly led me to feeling grateful for the way my life has turned out, and for the family that I have. I was recently writing to someone about my life, and wrote that "most all my good memories, I have shared with my sisters", and that couldn't be more true.

I have had such an amazing time growing up with you girls. With all of us so far away I think sometimes it is hard to remember living together, but I can honestly say I wouldn't trade all our crazy times for the world. Let's see:

-getting yelled at after keeping Ivan out all night.
-sneaking into the middle school when it was being built
-making Manda hate hundreds of movies because we watched them so often {Hercules, Little Nemo, Remember the Titans, Space Jam...and the list goes on!}
-playing out in the fields before they were taken over by houses
-sledding in Sugar House
-fighting over clothes
-staying up late at night in our closets so that mom and dad couldn't hear us
-having fun in the house when it was being built, including collecting all the building scraps and calling it "money" or other crazy things.
-making a hole in the closet wall so we could have a hideout
-handcuffing you in the shower...lol...sorry Marrie, you were the only one that got the hot water
-making music videos
-playing orphans, mermaids, witches, pioneers, boxcar children, barbies
-sliding down the dirt mounds on boxes
-driving to Virginia, and all our adventures there.
-playing at Papa Ron's water park, and playing pirates in the wooden ship

These of course are just a few of my favorites, because we have so so much more.

Even if we don't talk every day, or we want to kill each other at different stages in our lives, know that you will always be my best friends. I love you so much, and I am so grateful to be your older sister. I hope we never get to old to giggle together about the dumbest things, that we never forget our secret language {that will be even more useful when we don't want our kids to know what we are saying}, and that we never take each other for granted. You are all so special to me. I know I don't say any of this near enough, but we all know I am emotionally stunted and feel awkward with touchy feely things, but I just wanted you all to know that it never changes, whether I say it or not. I love you so much, and I am grateful for our many adventures together, and may we have just as many crazy ones to come :)

Love you,

Ruby

Findley Family Pictures

Our good friend Tonya took some family pictures for us because I had realized that we didn't have any from before Link got his first hair cut :) I just thought I would share a couple of them with you :)

Aren't my boys so studly? Matt finally let me dress him for church and he looked so good :) 

And there is a quick look at the fam :)

Ross Family

Last night Jordan made a Cambodian sweet and sour stir-fry for us and the Howell's. Sooooo yummy!!! I should let him cook more often. ;) Jordan served with Jason Howell in Cambodia. Him and his wife Jordan (easy name to remember) joined us last night for a night of fun. It was my first time meeting them and they made a great first impression.

Jordan showed Jason his mission scrapbook that I made him for Christmas and it was nice for him to get to share it with someone who can relate and has been to many of the places pictured and knows the people in the pictures. Though us girls didn't like being left out of conversation, I'm sure the boys loved getting to use their Khmer.

After dinner we went to the Aggie vs Nevada basketball game. It was way intense and fun to watch, even though we lost! Better luck next time! I'm sure Jordan would love to get out on that court and show them his skills. We are very excited for him to start churchball on Tuesday! Give him a little more time in his element.

After the game, we all went back to our apartment and we taught them how to play Canasta. They were super competitive and hilarious. We had such a blast. Can't remember the last time I laughed so hard, water was leaking from my eyes and maybe elsewhere.... :) ha

It is so nice having friends! Prayers have been answered. We are looking forward to game night and dessert at their apartment tonight!!!

School starts tomorrow! Wish us luck! Love you all!

An Update From Me

Hi! I'm about to head back up to school, and thought i'd take the opportunity to submit my first post. I get to start the new semester with human anatomy, elementary chemistry, and intro to music. Yes, this is only 11 credits, but i think i'll be able deal with that. Charley and I had a great time snowboarding with the Greens, and i can't wait to be able to go again with my friends from school. This three week break has been very great with reading, working out at the rec, and playing with the family. It will be nice to get a routine back as i live like a queen on campus. Thank you family for all of the support and examples. I love you guys!

Grandma and Grandpa

Yes, Grandma gave Grandpa a new toy for Christmas 2011. He is in heaven with his new toy! I haven't seen him glow like this in a very long time. He goes out and just starts it when the weather is so cold that it's too cold to ride. He got it inspected today so he is well on his way to getting it licensed and on the road legally.
It has been a great holiday. Thanksgiving with Ruby, Matt and Link. Then Christmas with all the rest of my girls. That is what makes me, Grandma, truely happy.....just being with my family!

Ross Family

Well I guess its about time for a Ross family update! It sure felt nice to have a break from school and work for a few days of holiday memory making. Jordan is such a smarty pants and got A's in his classes. I got two A-'s which I was pleased with and so stoked to be done with my last super hard math class! We are both looking forward to new classes next semester. Me getting closer and closer to teaching and Jordan continuing to explore his career options.

Mom, Dad, Kathy, John, Jordan and I went on a fun double date to Spanish Fork. We got pizza at Two Jacks and then went to the Festival of Lights. We tried to take pictures but the light creations were just too awesome for the camera. For a first timers (Baileys) it was pretty neat-o!

We missed having Elder Ross around for Christmas but got to send him a Christmas package that he loved and he got to email us on Christmas since he is still in the MTC. Its so fun having a missionary out. And as you can see in our picture, he was with us in spirit. :)

New Christmas outfits :) I love being matchy matchy! Thank mom and dad Bailey!

Jordan and I celebrated Christmas just the two of us on Tuesday before heading down to Herriman. I'd say it was a pretty great first Christmas! We spoiled each other but I'll say that one of my favorite presents was a coupon for an hour long massage! My prego body could sure use it! This is a picture of Jordan holding his finale present. I made a scrapbook of his mission pictures! It took quite a lot of effort but turned out great and he loves it. :)

Thank goodness I have had my own 4ft tree growing up. It fits perfect in our apartment and was fun to decorate with both of our ornaments.

Christmas breakfast was "red" french toast and bacon, with green eggs and milk. Yum and festive!

This is kind of old news but we found out that we are having a girl! So excited. We have a couple names that we like but are leaning toward Ellie Afton Ross or maybe Ellie Mae Ross. Nothing set in stone though. The other names we like are darn cute too!

It was fun having grandma Bailey and grandma Ross at our ultrasound. Of course they loved seeing their little grand-daughter. Find the tissues! She waved at us. :)

Well I think that is about all that is new for us. We are very very happy and had a wonderful holiday spent with family. Looking forward to a couple more days of work and play before school starts.

Happy New Year!

Findley House Holidays

Well we have had an amazing holiday, so I thought I would jump on here and share a couple pics :)

First, my sweet friend Shawna found out how much I wanted a real tree for Christmas because I never had one growing up, and surprised me with the most beautiful Christmas tree ever. Unfortunately we are blocking it in this picture, but I had to take a pic with her and her sister Kelley because I was so grateful for their sweet gift this Christmas :)

{Our Christmas get-up, courtesy of mom and pop Bailey!}

Here comes Santa's cookies!...

{This is our super awesome Christmas gift from Manda. I am slightly in love with this. My bestie sure does know my love for vintage looking things!}

Link and me cutting out the cookies. We had to force him to do it once, and then after that he couldn't stop because he was having so much fun :)

Putting sprinkles on was his next favorite task :)

Link and daddy putting the cookies and milk together for Santa.

Link on Christmas morning! He was SOOO excited when he saw this car out in the living room :)

This was our Christmas breakfast. Red muffins, green eggs, and oranges :)

Link loving his Mr. Potato Head that he got from Grammy and Papa Bailey

My kid is a goober! I don't even know where he learned that cowboys wear cowboy hats, or that they ride horses {aka candy canes}. He is so smart. He even knows how to navigate my iphone to find all his favorite apps, including the one and only Angry Birds, which he is pretty good at. 

We had a fabulous Christmas this year {even if we did have to spend it away from family}. We were able to start a few of our own traditions including: Making Santa's cookies, opening 1 present on Christmas Eve, Reading the Christmas story in Luke, and watching a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve. We chose Home Alone this year and it brought back a lot of memories for Matt and I :) 

Link loved opening his presents, but would get easily distracted by any new toys that he opened, which would then give Matt and I a couple of minutes to open a few of our own :) We got some awesome gifts including a drill which I have put to good use already and used it to decorate my laundry room with some pictures from Shawna and her sister Krissi. Also, mom sent us a lot of camping/food storage stuff, and we were very grateful for that, especially with all this crazy weather we have had the past year. {Speaking of weather, it is 60 degrees today, and we couldn't be happier!}

Well, we hope everyone had a really great holiday!

Love, 

The Findleys