Sunday, January 1, 2012

December


 December was a busy, crazy, wonderful month! So much happened, and I tried to document it all with pictures, so that means LOTS of pictures! Ready???? Here we go! 


OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW TABLE!!!
This was our Christmas gift from Justin's mother, (it actually came a couple months ago) and WE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!! It is hand carved from the trees around her home in New York, and it is so beautiful and perfect for our family and kitchen. We couldn't have asked for anything better. ( Or more needed! Our old table was falling apart...)
THANK YOU NONA!!! :) WE LOVE YOU! 





BELLA'S DANCE RECITAL
This girl was born to dance. And she's so stinkin' cute at it, too. I can't wait to see where this will take her in life. Ever hear of "living through your kids?" Ya, that will be me. :) 



BRAXTON'S FOURTH BIRTHDAY!!!
Theme: SUPER MARIO of course! 
We had planned to do it at a park, but when the weather turned cold and rainy, we moved it to our home, and I'm glad we did. It turned out really well and Braxton had a blast! 
The Birthday Boy!! 
                                   

My lovely sis Alisha
EVeryone's loving the TACO SOUP. That was Brax's choice, and a good one! 
                                   
The kids, going on a YOSHI EGG hunt! (Easter eggs with chocolate gold coins inside)



My other lovely sis SHALIAH with my boy Conrad

Bella swingin' at the Pinata

Wyatt Speakman

Braxton swinging hard. Hyrum was the one who broke it

CANDY CANDY CANDY
Aunt Angie with his wonderful Super Mario birthday cake. I had no idea what I was going to do for a cake, so this amazing woman saved my life. Thanks Angie!!! 
                                     


Super Mario Smashbros...what else? 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BOY! 


DECORATING COOKIES
Its not Christmas ti' you decorate some sugar cookies! 
Our friends Aubray, Ginger, Harrison and Ransom joined us for the fun



You gotta love this kid's "Cheese!" face...he's such a goof!



GINGERBREAD HOUSES
WAY better than sugar cookies, if ya ask me...


Landon, Swanson and Angie

Of course they probably ate twice as much candy than they actually put on the houses! 


Ah! I love this kid! 

Adding the finishing touches to Landon's masterpiece

Again, he's a goof


CHRISTMAS PARTIES
Grandma and Grandpa Speakman's was the best!


More sugar cookies...



Grandpa, layin' on the love!!! 


My Pretty Bella Rose


THE POLAR EXPRESS
We took the kiddos up to Williams, Az to ride the POlar Express and see Santa this year!
One word to describe the trip?
CCCCOOOOOOOLLLLDDDD!!!!
I am so glad I live in Arizona! (Mesa, Az to be exact!) 

Braxton loved playing in the snow


It was alot of work with the kids being so young, but I'm glad we went. May wait another year or two to go again, but overall it was worth it! 

Boarding the train! 

Everyone is so excited! 




ITS SANTA!!!!!!!!


That look, right there, made the whole trip worth it.
Christmas is magical! 



CHRISTMAS 2012

Christmas Morning


Merry Christmas! 




Of course Conrad loved the bags and bows and ribbons more than anything else. ..

But then came Nona's (Grandma Bebe's) present...

He loves it!!! 

Bella opening her jewelry/make-up from Nona





Another Mario game from Santa. Wahoo! 

Bella's BEAUTIFUL dress from Aunt Patti!!
THANK YOU AUNT PATTI!!
The clothes/PJ's are WONDERFUL! 

Braxton opening up his brand new WAGON from NONA! He LOVES it and takes his siblings on rides in it all day long. Thank you Nona! 

I tried so hard to surprise Justin with something fun this year...

He was definitely surprised!!! Merry Christmas Baby!
(And best part?? Got the table from a friend, for a VERY reasonable price...FREE!! WAHOO!!! ) 


The "after" mess

Eatin brunch with Aunt Angie, Swanson and Landon...
Eggs, sausage rolls, pumpkin pancakes, orange juice, strawberry jello dessert, ...YUM YUM!!! My mouth is watering just remembering how delicious it all was.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It was a wonderful year with lots of exciting changes in our family. 2012...Bring it on!!! 









Friday, December 30, 2011

December update coming soon!

Until then...Quickie Update:

-Braxton (on the pottie): "I'm trying to go poop, but its not coming out! (smacks his bum) Come on poo! Get out of my bum!"
-"I had a dream last night about a big giant circle...and it was trying to eat me!"
-B-rax LLLOOOOOVVVEESSS anything and everything to do with Super Mario
-He is FOUR years old now! I can't believe it...
-I was called a "mean mommie" for the first time in my mothering career, by B-rax of course, because he could not have candy before dinner. I didn't mind one bit.

-Bella: "Where is my shoe? Oh! There it is! Oh I love it!"
-Bella knows the alphabet, can count to 20 and knows all her colors
-She LOVES her Daddy and sings "I'm So Glad When Daddy Comes Home" every day with him when he gets home from work
-She is constantly sharing her food with the dogs, no matter how many times I ask/tell her not to. SHe will take a bite, ("One for me..") then give one to Marley, ("...one for Marley...") and then give one to Loui ("..and one for Loui!") and do that throughout her whole meal. The dogs love it. Me, not so much.

-Conrad is crawling like a champ and pulling himself up onto anything and everything.
-He has cut four teeth in one month.
-He won't eat baby food, but loves little pieces of anything mom puts into her mouth. (Except baby food....)
-He is my big fluffy marshmallow!
-"Gagagaga" was his favorite word today...ALL day
-Wants to be doing whatever his big brother and sister are doing
-LOVES going outside, and gets mad at me whenever I walk by the back door and don't go through it to go out
-Is NINE MONTHS OLD!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011

BELLA CAN RIDE HER BIKE BY HERSELF! 

I chopped my hair...LOVE IT! 

Cant get enough of this girl

My happy boy - He brings so much joy to my heart

Thanksgiving this year was wonderful. We ate with my family the Saturday before Thanksgiving day because Johno left on his mission the Tuesday before. Its always so wonderful to be together - especially when there is GREAT food to partake of. :)

The Grandkids


Enjoying the above said GREAT food...yum yum! 



The pies! Oh, the pies. My mouth is watering just thinking about how wonderful they were! 

A small sampling of that GREAT food

Playing ball after the dinner 



SO FULL and sitting around like stuffed turkeys- enjoying each other's company and the BEAUTIFUL weather

My boy is a tree climber

Elder Johnathan Speakman, hours before departure to Africa. We sure miss this kid.