Pinocchio

Alexis and Tori have been working very hard in their musical theater class on the play Pinocchio.  Tonight was the big night of their performance.  It was so much fun to watch them and see how much their confidence has grown since their first performance a year ago.  Here they are with the rest of their class after the performance. When their teacher, Mrs. Kerr was introducing the show, she said that this group of kids was one of the most fun that she has ever taught.

Tori was the "Sly Fox" and Alexis was the "Blue Fairy"  They both did such a great job and I was so proud.

Here are my girls and I.  Levi has been so sick this past week.  Last night he came down with a bad case of pink eye, and so Brandon had to stay home with him and miss the performance =(  He was so sad he had to miss it.  I video taped the whole thing though and as soon as we got home he was able to watch it.  He was so proud too =)

It was so much fun to take the class with good friends =)

Grandpa, Michael, Grandma and Nana came to see the girls.  They were right in the front row.  (I had to sit in the back row, since I was recording.

Here is Alexis with the little girl who played Pinocchio.  They had some really cute scenes together.



Alexis and Tori had so much fun in their class.  We are taking a break for now until we get adjusted with the new baby., but they will be back =)

Baby Shower Fun

Yesterday my good friend Katie gave me a baby shower!  It was so much fun, and I was overwhelmed by the turnout and the generosity of everyone there.  I have to admit I was a little nervous about being the center of attention. I am usually the one giving the shower not getting it! I brought my camera, but didn't even get a chance to take it out, so I was so glad that Katie took a bunch.  Here are some pictures she got of the guests:

 Look at these cake pops! It was Katie's first attempt at making them, and I think they look professional!  They were so yummy too!

 I was spoiled with so many wonderful gifts.  Our baby is going to be one stylin' girl!

 It was such a fun day, and I felt so incredibly loved.  We didn't get a picture of all the food, but we had a ton!  Katie said that she had 15 people who helped with food!

Here are Katie and I after all the guests had left.  I am so grateful for her friendship =)

It was such a great day. I feel like I am ready for this baby to come now!  I thought that after Christmas it would go by so fast, but time seems to be moving so slow!  I am feeling huger then ever, and have a feeling that this baby is going to be pretty big.  This past week at my checkup I was measuring full term.  We will see if she decides to make her appearance early. I can't wait to meet out little girl! I love her so much already =)

My Little Helpers

I just wanted to write down a cute story so I don't forget.  Yesterday I was feeling a little overwhelmed about our house not being as clean as I would like it to be.  There is so much I want to do, but as I get later in the pregnancy, my body is restricting me from doing a whole lot.  As I was resting on the couch, Tori and Levi were playing together and decided to get a game from up in the front closet. As Tori was reaching for it, about a half dozen games came crashing to the ground spilling pieces everywhere! I couldn't even bare to look!  Without even thinking twice Tori and Levi said, "We'll pick them up!" and then spent the next little while putting all of the pieces where they go.  That must have given them the cleaning bug, because after that I heard them talking and they said, "Let's clean up the kitchen for mom!" They then proceeded to clean the kitchen, front room, office and the girl's bedroom (which currently looked like a tornado had went through it) As they were doing all of this, Levi kept running in to tell me their progress and what they were going to do next.  I was thrilled! At one point Levi ran in, out of breath and proclaimed, "Now we know how hard your job is mom!"  That just made me feel so good! It was so sweet to see as they performed this act of service for me, how happy they were.  After they were done, they took me all through the house to show me what they had done.  Everything was so spotless!  I couldn't believe how good of a job they had done.  I am so grateful for my sweet children.  They brighten each day with their sweet spirits.  Little did they know how much their act of service would mean to me. 

Happy New Years!

We had a fun New Years Eve this year.  We originally planned to take the kids sledding during the day.  It ended up being really windy and cold so we quickly scrapped that idea.  The kids had been wanting to make gingerbread houses for a while, so we figured we would do that instead.  When Tori was in kindergarten she made a gingerbread house by gluing graham crackers to the sides of an empty little milk carton.  I thought it was brilliant.  So much easier then trying to put together a big one, and each of the kids got their own.  So we decided to go that route.

Tori went with me to the store to pick up all the fun stuff, and then helped me set everything up.

The kids had so much fun decorating their own little gingerbread houses.   



Alexis stayed at the table long after Tori and Levi were done with theirs, making sure hers turned out just right!



Here they are with their finished masterpieces!

Levi's.  Levi payed such close attention to detail when he was decorating his.

Tori's  (she was a smart girl and used the yummiest candies to decorate hers.  Everyone was jealous in the days to come as they started to eat away at their gingerbread houses, lol)

Alexis's.  She had a few roof cave in incidents from all the heavy mints she used on top.  In the end she pulled it off great!

Usually on New Years Eve, we get a sitter for the kids and go out with friends.  As our kids get older they are more excited about New Years and want to have fun to!  Our good friends the Beyerleins invited us over this year to spend New Years Eve with their family and we had a great time. 

The kids all played great and kept themselves entertained really well!  Our kids are about the same ages, and always play so well together.

We were glad they entertained themselves so well, so the adults could play some games of our own!  We played Dominion and Phase Ten.

Here Katie is serving up some yummy sparkling cider.



Katie then made the sweetest New Years Toast.



 Then it was about time for the count down to begin.  The kids didn't have a hard time at all staying up until midnight.  We bought all kinds of poppers and noise makers to ring in the new year with.

                                                    

We ended up staying until around one to finish up our game.  It was a great new years eve spent with wonderful friends.  As we start 2012 we are so excited for what the new year will bring, especially the birth of our sweet baby girl!

Cindy

Today is my sweet sister Cindy's Birthday.  A few years ago I started writing a happy birthday post to her on her birthday, because she always writes the sweetest birthday posts to all of our family members, and she just can not go unmentioned!

I love Cindy.  We shared a room all growing up. We fought a ton, but also had a lot of great times.  As we have gotten older we have gotten very close, and discovered that we really are a ton alike.  It's so fun to have someone who totally gets my little quirks because she has the same ones!  Lol

The past few months have been very hard for Cindy as she has had many unexpected things happen to her little family. The most recent being admitted to the hospital due to pregnancy complications.  I admire Cindy's strength so much.  It was a hard stressful situation, but she handled it with grace and I have no doubts that she  would have done anything to protect her sweet baby without thinking twice.

  When I am having a bad day I know I can text her or call her and tell her whatever is going on and she will instantly understand and say just the right thing to make it better.

It is so hard to live away from family, but I know that no matter what we will always be close. We have been blessed with such a wonderful family. Our family members are our best friends!  I hope you can feel the love of your family and friends on your birthday Cindy, because you are so loved!

Happy Birthday!  We love you!! 

Christmas in Utah Part 3

Even thought we were in Utah for Christmas it looks like Santa found us!  I love Cindy, AJ and Lyla's cute little tree =)

                        
We moved our girls back into Lyla's room after they were all good and asleep, so that AJ could have his bed back =)  Brandon and I slept in the family room, which down a couple of hallways away from the bedrooms. We told the kids that they had to wake up AJ first so he could come and wake us up before they all came running in to see what Santa left.  As I was awoken by some giggling coming from the back bedrooms.  I looked at the clock and saw that it was 7am.  I thought that was pretty good.  I expected the kids to wake up way earlier.  Well it turns out they actually did, and AJ had managed to hold them off until 7 =)  Thanks AJ! =)  Here they all are waiting to run around the corner to the tree.  Lyla looks sad, but I promise she was just as excited as our kids =)

Here are some pictures of everyone enjoying looking at their treasures from Santa =)

 AJ was sure to get lots of video of Lyla so he could show Cindy.

Even though I am sure that AJ was anxious to get over to the hospital to see Cindy and enjoy Christmas morning with her, he still made us the most delicious breakfast! We had homemade hash browns, cinnamon rolls, eggs, and waffles.  It was delish!

After that, AJ loaded up some of their presents and headed over to the hospital with Lyla to be with Cindy.  Then it was just our little family for a while.  We opened up presents from each other and the grandparents =)

The rest of the day was pretty laid back, just as Christmas should be. We just relaxed and played with our new toys, some of us took naps, and watched netflix.   

Later that afternoon AJ took me to the hospital to visit with Cindy.  It was so good to see her, and see that she was doing well, and that the baby was doing well.  It was hard to leave, but we had plans to go up to AJ's parents house for a yummy Christmas dinner.  When I got back to Addie's house, Brandon suggested that I just go back to the hospital and visit with Cindy some more and that he would go with AJ and Lyla and the kids up to dinner.  I decided to take him up on that, so back to the hospital I went!  I got to spend a few more hours with Cidny, and that was so much fun.  We talked and talked, and the time went by so quickly!  I am so glad that I got to spend those extra few hours with her, since we would be leaving in the morning.  AJ's parents were so nice to send Cindy and I some yummy dinner so we didn't have to miss out on that.


And that was our Christmas in a nut shell!  We left the next morning to head back to Colorado.  It was so hard to leave with Cindy still in the hospital and not knowing when she would deliver.  She was able to hold out another week, and on Saturday December 31st, Phoebe Anne was delivered via c-section weighing in at 4 lbs. 12 oz.  She is really a miracle baby.  Even though she was more then 4 weeks early she never needed to be on oxygen or in the nicu and was able to go home with Cindy 4 short days later.  What a precious little sweetheart, and a fighter! 

Oh!  I almost forgot!  While we were in Utah, Brandon's parents came and brought a surprise for the kids.  They were so excited to see this note hanging on the Christmas tree when we walked into the house

They didn't waste any time running to the garage wondering what their surprise could possibly be!

When they discovered it was a trampoline they were so excited!  They have been wishing for one for several years now!  Brandon just got it all set up a few days ago and they have been enjoying it so much.  Thank you Nana and Papa!

There was also a wonderful surprise waiting for Brandon and I!  A beautiful corner cabinet for our dining room!  I am loving it! =)

I am officially done documenting Christmas!  A Christmas that we will never forget!