Truly a Great Man

We all know the many great and wonderful things President Hinckley has done for the church and its members. I wanted to have this day in our history so we can look back and reflect on what a great man and prophet he was. So many of his words have made me vow to be a better person and for that I am truly grateful.

Lovin' Brad!!

Last night Ryan and I went to the Brad Paisley concert. Now I know some of my fellow bloggers do not enjoy this genre of music, but can I just say.....IT WAS SO GOOD!!! It was a great show he was so fun to watch; very humble, funny, and just straight up good entertainment. We had a lot of fun. I love all kinds of music, but some of the best concerts I have ever been to have been country artists. Love that we live somewhere we can enjoy some these fun things. Can you damage your child's eardrums when they are in the womb?? We had pretty good seats and it was really loud, the baby was moving around so much during the show. Maybe he knows he is going to live in Idaho so might as well start to embrace the culture :)

Here are some photos, not my best photography skills but hard to sing, film, take photos, avoid the ladies beer next to me, etc. etc.

Ignore my chubbiness and focus on Brad

I tried to load video but I still couldn't get it to work I am clearly doing something wrong. It says that its working but then does nothing so.......any tips let me know. I know some of you would enjoy a little Brad video.

Long Weekend

It was nice to have a few extra days added to the weekend. Bailey didn't have school Friday or Monday, she was quite excited about the long weekend. Friday it was sunny, not warm, just sunny so the kids thought they could go play outside. They only lasted about 30 minutes but they enjoyed being out of the house. Ellie loved taking her new bike for a spin. She is getting pretty good, it will be fun to watch her get better at riding it once she can do it more.

Friday night my sister Jenn, her husband Dean and their little boy Drew came for a visit. They needed some dental work done so it was a good reason to come for a visit. The girls always love having vistors so they were very excited. It was a nice weekend, nothing major to do, just hanging out, getting some cavities filled, and going to dinner. We had a good time. The girls had so much fun with Drew. Ryan and I got a good glimpse at what it would be like with 3 and having a little boy in the mix. We are going to need a bigger house!!! I just keep telling myself since our girls are so hyper our boy has to be much more mellow (yeah). I guess that is just the joy of having both, Drew is adorable and makes me excited for all that little boys have to bring.

Not much to report .-.-.-.-.-.-

I don't really have much to say other than I was feeling a little bad about my last two pessimistic blog entries so I have been trying to think of something really optimistic and uplifting to say but didn't really come up with anything. So rambling will have to do........

I am enjoying our 8 o'clock church much more than 3. Its early, but it is so much nicer to get home early. I think our kids and the kids in my primary class are better behaved at this time, which is good. We do have the same problem as we did before, when we get home, in trying to keep the kids entertained with appropriate Sunday activities. They don't nap so 11-7:30 is a long time. But I am not complaining just feeling really bad for the ward that now goes at 3.

This week was good and most of my days were spent still trying to organize, I am bound and determined to make everything have a place and somehow combine two rooms into one so this baby will have a space of its own, and doesn't have to exist with pink everywhere. I have found that everything costs more than I want it to and Ryan thinks most of it is unnecessary. I disagree and have 4 months to somehow afford it and make it work. I will keep you posted. I also did exactly what I said I was not going to do this month--SHOP--(for anything besides food and stuff to organize) but when Old Navy is having 75% off and I have 2 1/2 children to cloth plus my expanding belly you just can't pass it up. Anyway I recommend stopping by, its my favorite game, buying stuff for next year for the kids for like 3 or 4 bucks. I know some people do not enjoy this practice and I don't buy a ton but just a few basics that will still be in style next year. How much can khaki pants change for a 6 year old girl in 8 months???

Winter Storm Warning............

I swear if I here those words again I might throw something..... We seem to be experiencing a much wetter winter than normal. It has snowed a ton here this year. Now I understand that the amount of snow we have received is trivial to all of the Utah people, but we don't even have a snow shovel. I think I jinxed myself by telling my friend Natalie that we don't really get that much snow and if we do it doesn't ever really stick around. Well, not true for this week. I forgot how much I hate driving in winter weather. I must say though......... the kids are in heaven Bailey would play in it all day long if she could. My sweet neighbor Kari shoveled our driveway for us because she knew we didn't have a shovel and she pulled the kids on the sled, she is great!! Anyway I am ready for spring already, it was fun while it lasted but bring on the sunshine!!

Ellie and Kallie on the sled

Bailey building a snow fort with all of the neighbor kids

Bailey getting white washed by dad after she threw a snowball at him

Stomach Flu, Hacking Cough, Fever, and Pink Eye....

Maybe you think you are on the Web MD site......no this is my blog just reporting the things our family has been experiencing the last week or so. We all had the stomach flu, the kids had the hacking cough, Ellie still does, she also had the fever, but worst of all was Ryan's case of pink eye. In both eyes! Sat. night the right side was looking a little red, 2 hours later they both looked red, Sunday morning he could have starred in a horror film. So nasty, his eyes were glued shut!! Anyway, with his eyes and Ellie's cough, they were unable to attend church at 8 AM (still totally better than 3 but so early). Anyway, long story short the eyes are better, he called himself in a prescription for some eye drops (the job has to have some perks right?) he couldn't go to work on Monday but since Tues. they have been much better. I am praying the rest of us don't get it!!!! Knock on wood!

Here is a picture, but it doesn't even do it justice, it was seriously gross!

BOY OH BOY

A few days before Christmas we had an ultrasound and found out that we are having a boy!! We told the girls on Christmas Eve. They were a little confused at first, but then very excited. I had them open some baby boy pajamas and a book. They just looked at me like I had completely lost it and asked my who it was for. I asked them who they thought it was for and they named off every baby boy they could think of. All of their cousins, friends, etc. Finally I clued them in and Bailey started kicking her legs and doing somersaults. Ellie tried to lift up my shirt because she wanted to see.

I tried to get the video to load but it wasn't working. So this picture will have to do for now. You can see the pj's and book and Bailey trying to make an educated guess as to who they might be for.

They still talk about it quite a bit and touch my belly. They always want to know if he is sleeping or awake. Bailey asked me the other day while I was having a beverage, "does baby brother like Diet Coke." I replied of course he does :) Sarah you will be happy to know that I am starting to show! The day after Christmas my body decided to let the world know that I was pregnant. It is not so easy to hide these days, but I think it makes it easier for the girls to understand so I guess its an okay thing. The sad part is I just get uglier from here, aghhh the sacrifice. JK We are all very excited to welcome a boy into this estrogen run household.

Christmas 2007

My journal post of the Christmas holiday begins. I don't expect you all to read every word or look at every photo but I want to remember it all, but it could get boring for others. We started our holiday the weekend before Christmas. After Bailey got out of school we went to Burley for the weekend, we stayed at Julie and John's and had a lot of fun with them and their kids. Saturday we had a party at Ryan's dads house, he and Dee went all out. They made us a great dinner and spoiled us and the kids with great gifts. They even got to see Santa! The kids had fun giving and getting their presents from their cousins. They both got Doodle Bears and thought they were the best toys ever.

Cute fleece blankets from Papa and Dee

The girls excited about all of their loot

Sunday we went to church, they had a great Christmas program, and then had another little party. All of the grandkids ended up coordinating in their Christmas clothes, it wasn't planned and the picture didn't turn out great, but they all looked really cute.

Trae and Dallin are missing in this photo

Monday morning we came home to enjoy Christmas Eve and part of Christmas Day as a family. We took the girls to see Enchanted. It was a really cute movie. We had pizza, made cookies for Santa, and let them open their new Christmas jammies. It was fun to be together with our family and watch how excited the girls were about every little detail. Ellie went to sleep really well because she didn't want a rock in her stocking. Bay did pretty good but was a little restless I think she changed sleeping positions 20 times, the excitement was getting to her.

Christmas morning was great. We had lots of fun opening gifts and watching the girls. Ellie got a new bike and Bailey a Barbie laptop computer. Ellie also got bunk beds for her babies and Bay some cooking stuff. They got some Barbie stuff and the Hello Kitty radio to share. The hit of the morning was the High School Musical dance mat. Bailey tried for an hour to beat me she would get so mad (we have no idea were this competitiveness came from :)). That afternoon we headed for Utah to enjoy Christmas with my family.

New Princess Sweats.

Look at our new stuff!

It was fun to be able to have Christmas with my family, the girls got even more spoiled but loved every minute of it. Bailey got a doctors kit and Ellie an Ariel sleeping bag. They also got a fun easel and moon sand to share. They had so much fun playing with all of their new stuff. They loved being at Grandma's and being able to do whatever they wanted.

Their favorite part was being able to play out in ALL of the snow. We took them sledding for their first time and they loved it. They also had so much fun playing in the snow with Pops and helping uncle Spencer build fun snow creatures and snow forts. I think Bailey would have stayed out their all week. Ellie would get a little cold but still had tons of fun.

Ellie making a snow angel.

Bailey loving every minute of sledding.

These are the snow creatures that Spencer made. A turtle named Crush, Bruce the Shark, and Nemo.

We hope you all had a great holiday too. It is sad that this time of year is already over. I am enjoying a slower pace right now and am looking forward to getting everything organized and back in its place. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

School Christmas Parties and The Nutcracker

Here are a couple of photos of the girls at their Christmas parties at school. Bailey was very insistent on being Rudolph for her party. So with a washable red marker she became the little reindeer and couldn't have been happier. They both had a great time at their parties.

Ellie after decorating Christmas Cupcakes.

Rudolph Bailey at her Christmas pizza party.

A few Saturdays ago I took the girls to see the Nutcracker. It was put on by Ballet Idaho and had local kids plus professional ballerinas. It was really fun and really got us excited for Christmas. I wondered how Ellie would do but she liked it. She did get a little restless and fell forward and slammed her face on the chair in front of her, but at least it was almost intermission so we didn't miss much when I had to take her out. Bailey really liked it and still talks about her favorite parts. It was a crazy day, the girls each had a birthday party (hats off to moms with kids b-day's in Dec.) before the ballet and we had a Christmas party after, but we made it to everything and had a lot of fun.