Sunday, December 12, 2010

Braxton is THREE!!!!


THE BIRTHDAY BOY!!!


THE PINATA!!!





(Some of) THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!




THE CAKE!!!


THE PRESENTS!!!


I hope your birthday was all you had hoped it would be my son! For months you could talk about nothing else, and when asked what you wanted to get all you would say is "You buy me trains for my birthday!" (Hence the ecstatic face when your new train was opened!) You are such a sweet, crazy kid and I love ya more than you could possibly know! You'll always be my baby!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :)

Thanksgiving 2010



Thanksgiving was a different experience for us this year. It was the first year we not only had it solely with Justin's family, but at our home. (Much more stressful than I imagined! Thank you Mom for all your help!!) Justin's sweet mother flew over from New York to be with us and his sister came down from Dewey, and we had a friend from Justin's work with us as well who didn't have any family. A much smaller group than I am typically used to, but all in all we had a wonderful day and enjoyed being together as family and enjoying good food and remembering all we are thankful for. Braxton LOVED playing with his cousins that he doesn't get to see too often and cried when they left. It was so nice having "Grandma Bebe" here with us for a week and enjoying her company. The kids took to her and her little dog "Lola" so quickly and asked for her all day after she flew home. It was wonderful to be able to watch them get to know her better and build a relationship with their grandma.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

5 months!!

Me and Baby BOY!! 5 months. I can't believe I'm already halfway there!

Halloween 2010

We had a fun Halloween Eve this year, partying with our ward family at a carnival and trunk-or-treat. Braxton asked me every day for two weeks after we bought his costume if it was time to go to the Halloween party yet, and finally the time came!! He and Bella had a ball and Justin and I loved watching their joy throughout the night. Holidays definitely change as you grow into an adult and sometimes lose some of their magic, but I am so grateful children can light that spark again and allow you to live the magic once again.


The Beautiful Bella as Tinkerbell. She started dancing and flitting about just like a real fairy as soon as I donned her costume and literally didn't stop until it was time for bed later that night. She was so much fun to watch!



B-rax, giving me his "cheese" face. He didn't like his mask, but he still made a handsome Batman in suite and cape. Ready for the party!!

Face (hand) painting. He hates people touching his face. Think he gets that from me...

Hopscotch. I loved all the booths cause no matter what it was, they got candy or prizes just for trying.

Definitely Bella's favorite booth of the night (basketball toss). As soon as I put her down, no matter where we were, she would start dancing right back to this one. I was so worn out by the end of the night just from chasing after her!

Daddy and Bella, giving Momma a break for a minute!

Monday, October 25, 2010

Schnepf Farms

We went on a fun family outing to Schnepf Farms and had a grand time!



The kids LOVED the playground and the carasoul... Braxton STILL talks about when we went to the "zoo" (he calls it) and rode the "care-a-self" and petted the animals and rode the airplanes!

The face of pure joy...

How can you not want to just kiss that face over and over? I do...all day... :)


The train ride was fun. Braxton waited a long time to be able to ride it!


The pygmy goats were cute but STINKY!!!

And this kid wanted to ride the airplanes over and over... he would have all night if we let him.


We had a wonderful time. The weather was great and it was nice just being together as a family and enjoying the fall festivities!!

HAPPY FALL!!!

My Kiddos...

They don't come any cuter than this...









Sunday, September 26, 2010

Tender Mercies

So good news! I had an ultrasound to find out just how far along I am, and it turns out I am actually 4 weeks further along than I thought! I am officially 14 weeks today. That means I only have about another month of being sick, rather than two. Wahoo! That was a HUGE blessing. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Thank goodness for the Lord's tender mercies.


Here are some picture updates of the chillins. Braxton and Bella love to just turn on their kids sing-along music and dance around the livingroom or Braxton's room.



Bella loves making little crawl spaces for herself and sitting in little holes just big enough for her. It makes me laugh. She is so sweet.

MY PRETTY GIRL!!


Here is what happens when Braxton "helps" me make bread. At least the mess is worth the time that it keeps him occupied!



I have such a blessed life. Last night at the relief society broadcast, Sis. Allred told a story of a couple who took their two small children on a 27 hr ride to the temple to be sealed together as a family. On the way back, both children caught cold and died, and the parents returned home empty handed, but with hope and gratitude in their hearts for making it to the temple to be sealed as an eternal family. That story has been replaying in my head over and over since I heard it yesterday. I just don't understand why some people are given so much and blessed beyond what they deserve, while other wonderful, amazing, strong individuals are given such hard trials and live with so little. I will never understand it until perhaps the next life, but I don't take what I have for granted. I thank my Father every day for the life I live, my husband, my home, my parents and siblings, and most of all my two beautiful children. They are my greatest blessings, the sweetest "tender mercies" the Lord has given me, and I live every day for them. I hope and pray I can be the mother they deserve.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

It's Been Awhile...

Hello Blog.


It's been awhile.

I feel horrible its been so long since I have updated you on our lives, but to tell you the truth, I do have a pretty good excuse. For the past six weeks I have been puking and eating nonstop even though no food ever sounds or tastes good and all I want to do is sleep all day. My poor children have watched way too much t.v. and gotten into way too much trouble while I lay helpless and pathetic on the couch most of each day. I do take them out every now and then, on good days, when I'm feeling ok and not throwing up so much. I remember it being this bad with Braxton, but Bella was a little easier on my body I think. I guess there was another little spirit in heaven who just couldn't wait any longer. So whether we are ready or not (I was definitely leaning towards the NOT for the first many weeks after I found out), here they come! It was a surprise and took awhile for me to adjust and accept the fact that we will have three young chillins under the age of 4, but the Lord has had his hand in this and has let me know more than once that this is His will and this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life right now. I just can't wait for these first four months to be over. Eight weeks down, about nine more to go....*grrrooooaaaaann*. Pray for me.

Braxton is turning three in a couple months, and every time I remember that it surprises me. I think he should be turning 4, or 10. He is such a big boy and amazes me every day with how smart he is and how much he is learning about the world. Don't get me wrong, he is definitely still a little boy and acts like it plenty of the time, but its so hard to believe he has only been in my life for less than three years. He loves playing the role of "big brother" with Bella, for better or worse sometimes. He can be so sweet and loving to her one second, then such a tease and pest to her the next. I feel like a broken record sometimes. "Braxton, be soft to your sister. Braxton, be soft. That wasn't soft. Be ssssooooofftt. Braxton!! BE SOFT!" :) Thankfully she is tough and takes it all in good stride and still loves him to death no matter what. He is a wonderful helper to me with running little errands I need done around the house, and loves being a part of anything and everything I am doing. I love how when he likes something, he will say "Ya! I love that! Its my favorite!" :) Its so cute. I just want to eat him every time he says it. Unfortunately, I think he is pretty much done taking naps. At 2 1/2!! I feel jipped. :( I know he is still tired and needs a nap, but he is just so stinkin' stubborn, and it just turns into a two hour fight with him and its not worth it. At least he goes to bed earlier and easier at nights now! Wahoo! With every gray cloud there is a silver lining... :)

Bella is my little love bug. She is so sweet and kisses and hugs and loves on me all day long. I can't get enough of it. I know some day I am going to look back and these days and long for them again, when my children actually ENJOY cuddling and kissing me. They won't last forever, so I am taking all I can and loving every second. She gives kisses to anyone and everyone, asked for or not. She will do anything I ask with a smile on her face and then is so proud of herself when she is done. I can't believe how much she is talking already, too! I can understand a large majority of what she says, and her words are getting more pronounced and her vocabulary larger every day. She is a pure joy to me and Justin. My trial with her right now is getting her to sleep through the night. The "cry it out" thing and I just don't get along too well, so I am tryin to find some other way. Any suggestions?

Justin has been a wonderful help to me these last many weeks while I have been sick. He surprised me when I told him we were going to have another baby, saying "well, at least we'll get them all here quicker!" This is a huge relief and blessing, seeing as how he thought we would be done with one! He works so hard for us every day, then comes home to a messy house and on bad days not even a dinner, and takes it all in stride and does his best to help. He loves our children more than anything in this world and works so hard to give them the life he wishes for them. I am grateful for him and all he does for our family. He is sweet man and I love him.

Well, I am about to keel over and start snoring right here on this keyboard, so I think its off to bed with me.

Until next time. "Oravwa!"


Sunday, August 22, 2010

Summer Rain

One of the best things about Summer is the Monsoons - ya gotta love warm summer rain storms!! We love playing in it any chance we get!!


(There was a momentary lapse in the rain, hence the hose came out to act as proxy for a moment...)



Wednesday, August 4, 2010

5 Yrs and Counting...

Happy Anniversary my Love! We made it to 5 years!! There have been great times, hard times, sad times, joyous times, funny times, happy times, rough times...but without a doubt these past five years have been the best years of my life.


We both have grown so much just in these few short years, and I am so impressed by you and how you constantly are bettering yourself for me and our children. I love you more every day and am grateful for all you are and all you do for our family. You are my everything!

Here are 5 of some of my most favorite memories of you in our life together:

1) Looking at you from across the alter in the temple and knowing you were going to be mine...Forever!!

2) Every time we go to the beach - You enjoy it with childlike innocence and it makes me so happy to watch you!

3) Our Honeymoon - 'nuff said! ;)

4) Our frist trip back to New York for Christmas, just after we were married and before we had children. It was so fun seeing you at "home" and watching you with your mom. It was fun and relaxing and I was so sad when it was time to leave.

5) The morning Braxton was born. It was the only time I have ever seen you cry. I will never forget it.

I can't wait to see what our future holds and look forward to continuing on this wonderful journey with you. I sure love ya!