Gracie's Birthday

 December is a crazy month for our family- beside Sean and I's Anniversary, on the 20th was my little Gracie Kaye's 4th Birthday!! Gracie is such a little sweetie and I can't believe that she is 4 years old. She started Preschool this year and it doing awesome- she wrote her name all my herself for the first time writing her letter to Santa. For her birthday, she wanted to have a surprise party, open lots of presents, and watch Sissy (Brooklyn) perform with her gymnastics team at the USU basketball game. My mom asked her what she wanted for her birthday and her answer, "lots of presents." My aunt said, "okay, I will get you some plates and glasses." Gracie gave her a look and says in a disgusted tone, "Those are things for grown-ups." Same conversation someone said what about some artichokes? She says, "they choke people!" She is so funny and so literal. If I call her a doll she will tell me she is a girl- she cracks me up!! She has the biggest sweet tooth and loves to get licorice at my parents was house. So was beyond excited to get her own bag and some granola bars. As she was eating her cake she told my mom- "I thought you might have gotten me a can of Diet Coke." She got to have her surprise party at Frederico's- she was bit overwhelmed when she walked in and everyone yelled "SURPRISE!!"  But she loved it and then we headed to the USU game to watch Brooklyn. It was such a great day!!

This picture is so funny because my mom didn't have an unopened bag of licorice so she wrapped up her baggie of licorice and Gracie just didn't know what to think of that.

10 Years!!

On the 14th- this handsome man and I celebrated our 10 Year wedding anniversary!! I always had dreams of going to some exotic location on our 10 year, but having a 7 month old kinda put a little kink into that plan. I did however feel very lucky and blessed to be able to take a night and spend it in Salt Lake. Thanks to my AWESOME parents for so graciously taking the gals overnight so we could go! My brother Brian and his wife Sher sent as to a yummy Italian place named Vinto's. My niece Abby was in Primary Children's with croup so we went to the store Big Lots that was next door to get her a present. We ended up wasting a lot of time in there- that store is pretty random- we laughed because we spent so much time in there, but it was nice to know that we didn't have to hurry and we didn't have anywhere to be. The next day we shopped until we dropped!! We drove to the Fashion Place Mall to check at the much talked about H&M- I think I will like the store the next time I go and there aren't 5 million people there.

I can't believe that 10 years have come and gone since we were married- I feel so blessed to be married to this guy and 10 years later I love him more than I did the day we were married. Here's to the next 10 years!!

Christmastime Activities

We have had a lovely  month of December thus far! We have loved the music, the lights, talking about Jesus, and the overall spirit that is in the air. At Thanksgiving time, my cousin Kami brought some Gingerbread houses for the kids to do. Gracie had been talking about making a Gingerbread house since after Halloween and one day when Paula was watching her- Gracie called Kami and told her she wanted to make one- so Kami brought them up. The kiddos LOVED making them and ours is still standing strong at our house. We were also able to make it to the Live Nativity- this is something we have done for the past 3 or 4 years. (There is a place in Nibley that has a barn and they put on the the story or Christ's birth.) It is a very humbling experience. I remember when I was pregnant with Gracie around Christmastime and there at the end as uncomfortable as I was- I couldn't help but think of Mary and having to ride on a donkey in labor- only to find that there was not a room available. The only place a stable, and knowing she would soon be delivering the Son of God. Our Savior was born into the most humble of circumstances- I really can't think of anything more so than being in a barn with animals surrounding. What a wonderful season and the opportunity we have to stop and reflect on the birth of our Savior.

Gingerbread houses on this end of the table

Games at this end

Ella enjoyed it bundled up asleep- with her hat over her eyes

Gracie has really been into playing Mary- any chance she gets- she puts a shawl over her head and plays the part well.

Ella 6/7 Months Old

Well Ella is now 7 months old! I cannot believe how fast these 7 months have gone by. Once the baby is born, it seems like time just flies! I hate how fast it is going and how big my girls are getting. It is hard to imagine our family before Ella. She is such a good baby- we really are blessed with her! She has a very friendly, happy disposition. She is very charming and captivating. She will look at you and smile until she has your eye contact and attention. I have people coming up to me all the time saying what a friendly little baby she is- and she really is. She was sleeping like a champ, but has regressed and is back to waking up multiple times a night. This is about doing me in- I feel like I am always tired. We are to the point that we are going to have to make her cry it out and I just HATE doing it. But, we learned with Brooklyn and Gracie that one or two bad nights of them having to cry it out is worth it when they start to sleep much better! She LOVES Rice cereal. She tried baby food for the first time and loved the sweet potatoes I gave her but has since decided that she has no use for it and acts as if it is the most disgusting thing she has ever tasted- even the fruit. She is rolling all over the place- she can navigate a room by rolling and is starting to get up on her hands and knees- I don't think it will be long before she is crawling. She loves her sisters and loves everything and anything they do. Her little giggle and smile absolutely melt my heart. She loves her Saucer and spends a lot of time in there playing and watching what is going on. Everything goes into her mouth- I mean everything!! She didn't lose any of her hair and it has just kept growing- I had all these cute little headbands that she wasn't able to wear because they would come out the second she moved her head. So at about 5 months she got her first little piggy. At 6 months old, she weighed 17.12 lbs putting her in the 67% and is 25.75 inches putting her in the 43%. We love you so much Ella and feel so very blessed to be your parents and to have you in our family!

First piggy

First baby food- sweet potatoes

This picture is so her- everything in her mouth

Family Pictures

 Before our friend Dani moved in July we had her take our family pictures. She did such a great job and we love them all. She was so good to work with and it was the least stressful family pictures we have had by far! Thanks Dani we love them! (Gracie decided the day of the pictures to try a new smile- and I love how a couple of the pictures show how Brooklyn was missing 4 teeth.)

 

Deer Camp

 Me and the gals made our yearly trip to Deer Camp and grandma joined us!! This was big- in my 31 years of life my mom has never come to Deer Camp. She did before we were born, but after, my dad would take us and I think she would enjoy some alone time! ;) (Sean was going to come, but our best friend Nicks' mom passed away and he wanted to go and spend some time with him.) The gals were so excited to get up there and go on a horse ride- they have been asking for months to go on a horse ride. Ella even had her first horse ride and I rode as well. It was a blast! My aunt Paula came up too with Marlee and Marjika- Kami and Kyle also. And my cousin Camille and her boys Taylor and Colton were also there. Nat, Derk, and their kiddos were there. And then the regulars were there too- my dad, Brian, Bruce, and Ric. The food didn't disappoint either and we had a blast! There were however 2 big things missing- my brother Brett and his wife Chels- we miss you guys!! Until next year...

The horses were ready to go when we got there and Pops and Ric were ready to take them

Brooklyn had a blast and was excited to get to ride by herself!

Gracie had so much fun too and they did not want to get off the horses!

Ella's first horse ride

Pops and his gals

This picture is funny in a couple different ways- my mom went to take a picture of Camille and Ella and her hat was over her face and it just turned out that in the background I am trying to get on the horse with Ric's assistance!

It is true- Suzie is at Deer Camp!

 Brian took chopping wood very seriously!

  And the night wouldn't be complete without Smores over the fire!

HaLLoWeEn!!

 We had such a great Halloween this year! The gals picked their costumes- Brooklyn wanted to be a cheerleader and I talked her into being a Utah State cheerleader. My sis-in-law Chelsea saw the cutest bee and cupcake costumes you have ever seen so that is what Gracie and Ella were. I especially loved this year that the gals were able to wear their costumes more than once! Gracie started the week off by having a fun Halloween party and trunk-or-treat at her preschool. We attended our Ward Halloween Carnival on Wednesday night (I am the 2nd counselor in our ward Relief Society Presidency and so my committee and I were in charge of the whole thing. It was a big success and lots of fun. I was so sick this week with a sinus infection, but still managed to have lots of fun!) One of our neighbors had a little Halloween party on Thursday night that we went to- I slacked and didn't get any pictures. On Saturday, at the Newton Library they had Witches Storytime that we went to- my sister was in charge of this activity and it was lots of fun- she even managed to get my mom to dress up as a witch for the occasion! We then went to the Maynard's and carved/painted pumpkins. And then Monday was the big night of trick-or-treating! We hit a few houses in our neighborhood and then went to Paula's for the annual Halloween chilli and cinnamon twists- to die for! It was such a fun week!

Ward Halloween Carnival

Witches Storytime- this may be the one and only time the kiddos see grandma dressed up! :)

Carving pumpkins

Halloween Cuties!

 Our Lil' Cupcake

Go Aggies!!

  

Our sweet little bee- she is so literal- someone asked her if she was going to sting them and she informed them that it was just a costume and that she wasn't a real bee!

Love these gals!!

The annual witches brew with Jan