Santa

We went to see Santa. The kids were so excited to tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Brinley talked the poor guy's ear off, Beckham just kept saying he wanted a Buzz Lightyear, and Presley wasn't so sure. She was okay as long as she didn't look at him. Merry Christmas!

Brinley's 1st Dance Recital

So it turns out we have quite the little performer on our hands. Friday was Brinley's 1st dance recital. I have to say I was a little nervous that she would be one of those kids who would freeze on stage. Plus, she wasn't feeling all that well, so I wasn't sure how it would go. It was just the opposite!!! She is hands down the best dancer in the class. And no, I'm not just being biased. The other kids were literally looking at her the whole time to remember what they were supposed to do. It was awesome! She did a fantastic job! She is excited to do it again in the spring!

Our little ballerina

She knows what to do in front of the camera

With mommy and daddy...

Grandma and Grandpa came (a first dance recital for them...)

My mom and grandparents also came to watch her..

Presley Recovery

Presley's surgery went perfectly. She now has her own soft palate! It looks fantastic! This one was a little harder than the first surgery as far as being in the hospital. Last time she just slept for about two days straight. This time she came out of anesthesia pretty quick and was trying to crawl out of her crib. She cried a lot more than she did the first time. She would sleep and then wake up crying until she fell back to sleep. She wouldn't let anyone hold her but mommy and she wouldn't let me put her down. When she would be in a deep sleep I would try to put her down but she would wake up and freak out. Let's just say that they first night was a long one. She wouldn't eat at all either until about noon the next day. But she did wake up happier and so we went and wandered the hospital with her in a little stroller. She loved that! We got to go home at about 3:00 on Tuesday. Now that we are home she has been so great. She has periods throughout the day where she wants to be held but other than that is crawling around trying to play with her brother and sister. Thanks everyone who came to the hospital for support. We love you all!!!

All dressed and ready to go.... (I wanted to take these jammies home but they have a chip in them so people don't take them)

At Primary's they have a lot of different things to entertain the kids. While we were in pre-op a volunteer brought this dog around. Presley had never seen a dog before and didn't know quite was to think.

Afterwards. So sad

She did let daddy hold her for a minute until she saw me again.. Doesn't her face look so miserable?

Surgery #2

Tomorrow we go in for surgery # 2 for this little girl. This one is her soft palate repair and thankfully the last surgery for a couple of years. A nice little break. I am super stressed and am having anxiety. After the first surgery, as I was walking out of the OR crying, a lady said to me, "Don't worry, the first surgery is the worst one." She was lying. It is just as emotional and heartbreaking. It is never ok to see your child suffer. I know it is necessary and she will heal fast, but I hate that she has to go through any pain at all. Please keep her in your prayers. Thank you for all of your words of support and encouragement. It is appreciated and more comforting than you could know....

The Stockings Were Hung....

Yes, all of our Christmas decorations are up! I absolutely love the Christmas season. I mean, what's not to love? The smells, the baking, the shopping, the tree, the anticipation of the day... I could go on and on. Well, I have done a little bit of baking and a little bit of sewing. While going through all of my Christmas decorations I could not for the life of me find the stockings... Seriously so annoying. Well instead of buying more, I decided to take the opportunity to make some. I am in love. Seriously. I went with my sister in law, Vivian, and Darren's step mom, Julie to pick out the fabric and I had to get to work right away because I was so excited about seeing the finished product. So here they are in all their glory.....

Cute, right?

Darren's is on the far left and then Beckham's, Brinley's, Presley's and mine.

I love baking during the Christmas season. I usually stick with my favorite recipes, but this year I decided I was going to be brave and attempt some new ones. I must say so far I have found a couple of really good recipes.. I made Caramel Soaked Pumpkin Cupcakes.. Really rich, but oh so good. You can find the recipe here. This is what mine looked like... Not as cute I know, but just as yummy.

Then I attempted cake pops for Thanksgiving... Not as easy as they look. Again, they don't look as cute but still yummy.

There are a ton of different ideas for these here. I am going to try some for Christmas. Hopefully now that I have done it once, it will come easier next time. Hopefully, they turn out a little cuter.. But still super fun!! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

5 Years

(not a very good picture, I know. We don't have a lot of pictures of just the two of us)

On Friday Darren and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary!! It has been a fantastic five years. I am so happy to have married my best friend and partner in crime. I love you babe! Thanks for these five years, can't wait to make so many more memories with you!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

We have done so many fun activities this halloween! It is so fun now that the kids get what is going on and can get excited about it. UVU had a family halloween party with trick or treating and a bunch of different crafts.

Brinley coloring her pumpkin..... of course it had to be pink

Presley just liked all the commotion... our little princess is getting so big!! She turned 7 months today!

Beckham concentrating really hard on his decorating.

Peter Pan and Tinkerbell

Then we went on the Halloween Express on Thursday night. It was seriously so much fun. You rode on this train through tunnels that were made into a spook alley. The kids loved it. Beckham still talks about going on the train.

Waiting in line... the had fun lights and songs going on the whole time you were waiting. It was never boring waiting in line

Waiting in line with the kiddos.. They were so excited!

On the train. Apparently they have one for Christmas too. Can't wait!

Lehi Legacy Center.

Fun carnival games, How to Train your Dragon Movie, Trick or treating and all the school mascots. Crowded, but worth it!

Cosmo dressed as Robin. Beckham was really nervous about all of the mascots. He liked the JAZZ dancers , but not so much the animals. Such a boy.

Our smiley girl.

Halloween Night

Tonight we went over to my brother in law and sister in law's house for a party. It was so much fun. Delicious food and of course the company was great as always.

The spooky science lab...

Our Family

Mr. Smee, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Pixie Dust, and Tiger Lily

Hope everyone had a great Halloween!!!!

New Salon

I am at a new salon! I found one closer to the house so I can just pop in for lunch and time with the kids. I work on Tuesdays and Fridays and am loving it so far! It is called The Meadows Salon in Alpine. We do everything from pedicures, nails, facials and of course, all things hair! When you come we have a special where you get $10 off your first service when you book an appointment with me! The number is (801) 763-1936 or you can book an appointment online at www.themeadowssalon.com . Thanks for all of your support, see you soon!!

Our Birthday Girl

Our sweet baby girl turned 4 yesterday! Brinley is such a great little girl. She is the BEST sister -- She is always making sure that her brother is included and they play great together ( you know, besides the normal sibling squabbles) She loves little Presley and wants to hold her all the time. The other day I was on the phone with the hospital scheduling her next surgery and Brinley burst out crying saying "I don't want Presley to go to the hostipul, it will make her so ouchy." She is the little protector of her brother and sister. I feel like just yesterday she was handed to me in the hospital. This 5 lb 13 oz and 18 inch little girl had her daddy wrapped around her little finger the moment he saw her. She is precious in every sense of the word. We love you little Brinley Bug. Forever and ever.

The day she was born

Birthday #1

Two years old. Go cougars!

Third Birthday Party

Our beautiful girl!!

Our Family Filled Week

We have had such a fun week with our cousins! Darren's brother and his wife came to visit from AZ with their three kids. Carter and Brin are a month apart, Brielle and Beckham are 8 months apart and Addilyn and Presley are two months apart. So fun! We went to the zoo of course.

Brielle, Beckham and Jace

Presley just chilled thewhole time. She is seriously the BEST baby.

Beckham, Brinley and Carter

Brinley, Carter, Brielle and Beckham. Jace was there too, but being camera shy

Brielle, Beckham and Darren

We of course headed to Darren's dad's house for a yummy bbq.

Grandpa with three of the four little ones: Addilyn, Cole and Presley

Grandpa and grandma with all the kiddos

Uncle Landon giving horse rides

Between sessions of General Conference on Saturday we headed up the canyon and stopped for pictures and let the kids play in the water at Bridal Veil Falls. All the colors are changing and it was so pretty

Mt kids didn't want to cooperate. They would look everywhere but the camera

Daddy and Presley

Cousins... Can you tell Jace wasn't too happy to be in the picture?

We love our cousins!

Back in Utah

So we are back in Utah. Yeah!! Brinley started dance this week and absolutely loves it. She asks me every day if it is the day for her Ballet. Here are just a few pictures of my little ballerina.

She was so excited that she wouldn't smile normally for me. Just these cheesy grins.

Good Times in Texas

Here are some pictures of our adventures in Texas. This is at a cattle drive they do in Historical Downtown Fort Worth. Everyday they drive longhorns down the street. Beckham couldn't get enough. He still talks about the cows walking down the street.

Brinley, her friend London and Beckham

Throughout the street they had longhorns you could sit on. Neither of my kids were down with that so we settled on a picture in front of one.

The cattle drive. These things were HUGE!

Brinley playing cowboys

Beckham wouldn't put the gun down when it was time to leave.

Beckham LOVES cows. So he was in seventh heaven

So all the splash parks and public pools closed on Labor Day so we took the kids to a little splash park that sounded fun. It was a little ghetto but the kids had a blast.

Beckham, Brinley and London

Beckham loved running around in the water.

The Butterfly house was really fun. We went with our friends and the girls loved trying to catch all the butterflies.

My friend Danica was trying to get the girls to put the butterflies on their nose, they weren't buying it. But we had fun.

It tickled like crazy

Brinley and Beckham. It took a little while before Brinley would even it on her finger instead of the stick.

Brinley and London became really good friends this trip and Brinley can't wait for them to get back to Utah.

Presley loved looking around at all the butterflies flying around.

She is getting so big. She'll be 6 months at the end of the month.