Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Joy to the World, the Lord is come!
Let Earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And Heaven and nature sing!
We took our first trip to Temple square to see the lights together. We went up to Salt Lake to meet up with Aaron's good high school friends Shaun and Jared and had dinner together at Trolley Square. Since we were in SLC we decided it was time to see the lights. It was really crowded on a Saturday night before Christmas but worth the crowds for the spirit we felt.

I think these boys have finally grown up? Both Jared and Shaun have 3 adorable boys each. It was fun to see them after so many years! We were walking to our car and saw....

SANTA CLAUSE!!!

This is our first smiling-Santa picture with Alana... EVER!

Mac went back twice to get... candy canes!

Ammon had his preschool program at school where he said his very important part... "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse." He did a great job and sang well too! Good job Toa!Then Alana gave a talk on Sunday. She insisted on writing it herself. After she went to bed I had to grab a shot of how cute it is! She has grown up so much and has such a strong testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We love baby Jesus!

"He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His LOVE..."

Time with Family

For Thanksgiving Aaron's parents and Rachael came to visit us for 2 weeks.
They sure are cute, aren't they?!!!! We have really enjoyed the kids knowing our Nana and Poppop. Previously we only saw them about every 2-3 years (usually when we blessed a baby) so it has been a treat to see them so often this year. We love you guys!

We tried to get some pictures on Sunday morning with grouchy kids and an impatient mama. Mac definitely did not want his picture taken. But Everyone is finally smiling!

This was soooo cute! Mac took popop by the hand, led him into the playroom and told him to put a movie on and handed him a remote. He made sure his grandpa had a place to sit.

We had a little Christmas with them. Pops is happy to have BYU paraphernalia. Thank you for all your sweet and thoughtful gifts Nana, Popop and Rachael!!!

Can I just say that we have an AWESOME auntie that LOVES our kids! Who else gives shoulder rides, lets Alana climb up her back and makes sure kisses aren't rubbed off?!!!

OK, so then the work began...

Thank you!

Yes, pops spent a day under our car with oil spots on the back of his head to prove it. I know that Aaron puts gaskets on too tight, but it was not all for nothing! Thank you!

Then the tearing up of the bathroom after Aaron got home from work at 10 pm! Yes, 10 pm. By the way, our kids bedrooms are right next to the bathroom. Daddy!!! And popop was definitely ripping and dirty too! Dad and I have only one complaint Aaron... baseboards come off BEFORE you rip up the floor! :) But I spent quality time with Dad digging particle board off the edges of the floor.

But, we have new tile in our bathroom. We had a broken pipe in the wall behind the shower that slowly leaked and rotted our floor. We happened to re tile during snowstorms. So, we got a frozen toilet that had to thaw on towels in the kitchen all day:) I have to say, I am thankful for a father in law that is very thoughtful and precise at everything that he does. Because, I have a husband that is impulsive and just wants to get it done. Between the two of them, our tile was a success. Thank you again!!! This includes Nana helping with dinner, dishes, children and auntie Rae entertaining the caulk squad and the children.

So, problems do come in 3's. The pipe and floor, the car (fuel line block and transmission leak) and even a washing machine that just broke down. But, I am thankful for all the blessings we do have! Here is the finished product...Time to Decorate the Christmas tree...
Ammon Toa
Lani

The whole fam. (Yes, I have a VERY large belly)

Mac was SO excited to put the star on the top of the tree. When Grama Annie came over later he took her hand and said, "look, I put the star on the top of the tree!" Simple joys and pleasures of toddler. He has also been very possessive about the tree. We are excited to be feeling the Christmas spirit and thankful for a wonderful visit from wonderful Family. We are very blessed. Merry Christmas.

Baby Mariah Grace

~In Sweet memory of our beautiful cousin Mariah Grace~
Mariah Grace is our sweet baby girl cousin that was due on December 12th, just a few short weeks before our baby girl is due. She was delivered stillborn into a beautiful little 7 pound body, one week before her due date. She is the 7th child of the wonderful Washburn family.
We love you sweet cousin

You have made an impression never to be erased on our hearts

"If only we could look beyond the horizon of mortality into what awaits us beyond this life. Is it possible to imagine a more glorious future than the one prepared for us by our Heavenly Father? Because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we need not fear, for we will live forever, never to taste of death again... The Savior is the Author of our Salvation."
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As I mourn this sweet loss of a niece, try to sympathize with the pain of a sweet sister and mama, and as I prepare to bring a little one into this world very soon, I am so often reminded of our Heavenly Father's love for us and the plan he holds for each one of us. Our lives are His. We are His instruments. We are to do His will.

As I feel each movement this little one makes inside me, I remember a mamma's arms aching to hold her own little one. I know our little girl loves Mariah. I know that they are kindred spirits and good friends. They have mourned together and rejoiced together. I have felt this.

I am so thankful for the plan of Salvation. That we are able to be together forever as families.

I pray for you dear sweet Washburn family, forever.
We love you baby Mariah!

Happy Turkey Day 2009!

Happy Turkey Day!!!

The Cothran Family is thankful for:

TURKEY BOWLS (and No broken bones this year:)

For our PopPop coming to Utah and coming to spectate at the Turkey BowlAlana is Thankful for DOGS! This is Mysha, PopPop and Nanna's dog that they brought with them. Alana adores her!Eliza is thankful for a healthy body. (I started the day running the turkey trot. Yes, I did! 4 miles, 8 months prego. It took me 46 minutes. Tisha, I always wondered HOW you did it???) For Turkey! And bones to chew on! "We are HUNGRY!""Give me one!!!"Daddy is thankful for his boy MAC :)
Alana is thankful for her "twin" cousin Lexi

For FOOD Glorious FOOD! For Nanna and Auntie Rachael :)
These cute men are thankful for full tummies... And for the stuff in Turkey that makes you sleep:)Happy Thanksgiving!

Dancing in the Leaves

"Come little leaves said the wind one day,

Come o'er the meadow with me and play,
Put on your dresses of red and gold, For summer has gone

And the days grow cold."

How many ways are there to go down a slide?

The world through Ammon's eyes...
(Pictures by 5 year old Ammon Toa:)

The boys having too much fun on the slide...

ODE TO BIRDA...

Poor Birda's dead, poor Birda Melvina is Dead.

This happened a month ago and I seriously just haven't wanted to address the sad subject but yes, another pet at the Cothran house has gone to heaven. Grama Annie got Birda (a parakeet) about 9 years ago. We even have pictures of Alana as a baby with Birda! A few months ago we watched Birda while Grama and Pagah went out of town. When they got home from their trip they asked if we wanted to keep Birda at our house because the kids love her so much and she was getting old.

OK, so Alana and Ammon had some friends over about a month ago and they were excited to see the bird. I had the door propped open to carry stuff in the house. Kids were yelling, and Birda (who has her wings clipped) got scared and flew off Alana's finger. Our neighbor's cat was just outside the door and grabbed Birda. Alana pried Birda from the cat's mouth and Birda died quickly thereafter. It was very traumatic and sad but Alana was very composed and in control (more than I was) about the whole situation. I was the one crying and Alana just said, "It's OK mom, Birda is happy with Saphie now!" Alana did break down later, especially when I told Grama Annie about what had happened. We are sorry Grama and Pagah! We loved Birda very much.

We love you Birda Melvina! Rest happy with the Johns, Charlie, Webby, Teancum and Saphie!

Happy Halloween 2009

Happy Halloween! Hope everyone had a good one! Ours was fun filled all week with school parties, Grama and Pagah's ward party and trick or treating. Alana said she wanted to be Dorothy from the wizard of oz because she carries a dog, until she found out Dorothy wears a dress, then it was worth a $10 purchase to get her a dog costume. Ammon opted on the classic Spider man but would NOT wear the mask. When we went to Grama and Pagah's ward party. Everyone was excited to dress up except Mac. So, dad wore his tiger costume instead :)These 2 were hilarious! I love Pagah's lipstick and Grama's teeth:)
Happy day! Happy day today! Our only "Costume picture" of Mac!

OK, check out all the details in this photo... The stroller that Aaron calls the "Mormon assault vehicle," Marrick's costume on the back of the stroller,(I refused to bring him a coat and said, oh, he'll put it on when he gets cold... No, Mac is as stubborn as they come!)Aaron's happy face because Mac screamed the whole night and Pagah in the background on the front porch(Every year they sit on the front porch with blankets and pass out Candy Canes to the kids:)

Happy Halloween! Hope yours was as spooky and crazy as ours:)