Loving the little things!

So I don't know what is different about this year, but I am so excited for the holiday season... Is it only me?

I have already started watching Christmas movies, I'm listening to Christmas music. I can not wait until Christmas morning to watch Grace get her new little dolly crib and stroller. I am so excited to set up Christmas and see how it all looks and fits into my new house. I can't wait to go do a session at the Salt Lake temple the second week in January so we can walk through temple square... I don't remember ever feeling this way before - maybe it's Grace starting to understand, maybe - but I can't wait!

Our talks in sacrament went really well. I'm glad it's over, but I didn't procrastinate and was completely prepared by Wednesday!

Oh my sweet, strong willed Grace, she is makes me smile! Grace loves to color. She will lay on the floor or sit at the kitchen table and just color - we have gone through two coloring books in the past month, and lot's of mommy's scrapbooking paper. Grace also started sporting some "fine sunnies" this week. She wears them in the house, in the car and in the dark... + check out the hairdo!













Max is growing, I can't believe he is seven months now. He loves his walker (when Grace let's him have a turn...) He has decided that he is going to be a picky eater. He gags on Turkey and Rice, Chicken and Rice, Chicken Noodle, Pasta, Beans, Peas and sometimes his rice cereal. He loves the fruits and sweet potato's. This is a bit frustrating to me because he big sis would eat anything. She was eating table foods around 6-7 months, but not Max - I gave him a tiny bit of pancake and he had an allergic reaction. I gave him a tiny bit of noodle and he choked and threw up... But, my sweet boy is so happy, and that makes it worth it. He feeds off of Grace and laughs and laughs at her. He has a high pitch laugh which we only hear every few days, but when he lets it go everyone around stops. (Once again, nice hair!)

Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful belated Thursday, also known as Friday.

I found a post on my sister's friends blog that I really loved. As it's the season for being thankful I thought I would adopt the idea to my blog...

The 5 everyday things I am thankful for today....
1. Cars. Plain and simple, I am so grateful that I was born in a time of easy traveling. Even when gas prices were so high, it still only took an hour to get to Cache Valley. I can't imagine having to walk there!
2. Both Grace and Max slept through the night for the second night in a row. That means I slept for 2 straight nights. That has not happened in over two years. So with that, I'm so thankful for my bed.
3. My home. So many people helped us, donated/loaned and gave us furniture, time and so many other things. I love it. There is not one day I take my home for granted -
4. Binka's. Last night I was at Ikeaa with my mother and sister in law and Grace was crazy. The second I broke down and gave her a binka (It was after 8 and we had been there for 2 hours.) she settled down and rode in the cart.
5. Wet Wipes. Girls, can you imagine changing a diaper without wet wipes? Once again, I know I was born in a the day-n-age I could handle, because there is no way I would wash a cloth after it had poop on it!

So I am putting this challenge out there for all of you: find five everyday things you are grateful for, big or small it doesn't matter and either post them on your own blog or leave me a comment. I promise it is pretty fun to think through your day and realize we have a lot to be thankful for. It is a great way to end your day.

Increasing our vocabulary and gratefulness...

I feel like I have hit a blogging lull. Over a week with no post and nothing new to note... So I'll just post this cute picture of Grace and tell about some funny things she has said/done this week. Max was in his walker and he was sort of jumping, so I commented and praised him for jumping, so Grace was not going to just sit and let Max get all the attention so she stood up and said, "I jump, jump, jump." Well, she is one, so her feet never left the floor but it was so cute to watch her bounce.
She keeps me laughing, she came in the room and I was talking to Max and she said, "What's happening?" During the sacrament Grace stood up and loudly said, "I want a drink!" She loves to take the sacrament, but doesn't like to wait her turn... And my favorite thing she said this week "Super". I was sarcastically saying it to Mike and she started saying it. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't saying something worse!

Saturday night my sister was preparing her talk for the next day's sacrament on Gratitude. I teased her for procrastinating and told her that was an easy subject. I cursed myself. The next day we got "the call". I'm surprised it took them 4 months to ask us. And our topic, Gratitude. I think I'll borrow Cassie's talk... :) I also am in charge of sharing time this month, I teach primary, Mike teaches Gospel Principles once a month, they called him to teach in priesthood once a month, he is a ward missionary, Grace will not go to nursery, and we have Max. Needless to say, I'm beginning to dread going to church. I feel like I'm juggling a herd of cattle. Eventually my kids are going to cause so much disruption in the meetings they are going to change there minds... Yeah right.

Happy wishes to our friends and families -

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween to all our friends and family! Last night was so much fun! We could not have asked for better weather!

I had to work yesterday, so Grace and Max spent the day at Grandma Ruth's. The painted pumpkins and had their pictures by their names. Grace was such a pill, she made it clear that she was not going to be the best little picture taker! But in the end, Aunt Caitlin, Aunt Beth and Grandma won and we got some cute pics!

I can read Max's mind - "I wonder how this would taste?"

Grace was very cute with skeletons. For some reason she calls them her babies. The whole month any time she saw one she would says "Oh babies."

And now for some trick-or-treating! We took Grace to some friends in Mike's old neighborhood. At first Grace just wanted to carry her "Pumkeen" but when she realized people put treats in it she was all for getting to the next house. She saw some older kids running and she would say "I run, I run". Obviously Grace was Minnie Mouse - she looked so adorable!

Max was a giant spider, the costume fit him perfectly - they both were such good kids last night!

What a busy week..... We had the kids pictures taken, we had 2 family parties, a mission call, an emergency surgery (my niece Nayvie), a piano recital (my niece Maggie), and some fun in the fall leaves. I really do love this time of year!

My brother Patch got his mission call! He's going to Riverside California and leaves January 21st. He really is a good kid and is one of my hero's. He helps everyone with everything. I don't know what we will do without him!

My parents had a huge pile of leaves in their backyard. Had is the best word for that pile of leaves, they now are spread out all over again, but Grace had so much fun with Nayvie, Tytan and Jordan.


She was so cute! She laughed and laughed and threw the leaves. The next morning I went to wash her hair and still pulled out more leaves!
Max thought he was being punished. The second I set him down he started to bawl. What a mean mom I am for wanting a picture!!!


I'll post pictures of the kids Halloween costumes and the family party tomorrow, they are darling!

Our 1 minute 34 seconds of fame

We were on KSL news Tuesday night. Did you see us? Grace was so cute, she wanted to hold the microphone and was all smiles. How did they find us? Well, they posted the story about the recalled crib early in the day and I posted a comment saying that crib looks just like my crib and it falls of the track sometimes. I never thought that two reporters would start contacting me. I didn't even know what kind of crib it was but they wanted to come interview us for the story. I told them if they were on time and fast because it was our anniversary and we were going out to dinner. The lady who came was prompt, fast and efficient. She did the camera work, the interview and let Grace hold the microphone while she put the equipment away. So about the crib, Grace did sleep in it last night. We said an extra special prayer to keep her safe and we will order the replacement part today.

Happy Anniversary

I have not been tagged, but I thought it being my anniversary I would have a little blog about Mike day....
1. Where did we meet? We met on LDS Singles.com at first, then the Target parking lot. It was June 13th 2005. He was waiting on the bench in front of target with a rose.... I surprised him by bringing a friend along, just incase he was a crazy person. (Thanks Amanda!) Then we went to Rumbi's for dinner, where the waitress spilled water ALL over me. Mike found out I was a picky eater... and he still told me that he liked me at the end of the date. I had him hooked from the word go!

2. How long did we date before we were married? 4 months and a week... (that week was very important!) Of course we were talking about getting married after the 4th date. And then getting married in April. I always wanted a spring wedding with daisies. Then I decided I didn't want to wait until spring.....

3. How long have we been married? 3 years today! It was a great day too. I can not believe how beautiful the flowers and trees were for it being the end of October, it was warm, the sun was shining and I could not have asked for a better day!










4. My favorite feature of his? For sure his smile. He really can grin from ear to ear. I have this small smile that really doesn't do much for me. But when Mike smiles the whole room can feel it.

5. My favorite quality about him? He makes me happy. Almost always, even when I want to be mad he makes me feel better.

6. His nickname for me? Love or Lovey.

7. His favorite color? Yeah about that, I'm really not sure... I'm going to guess blue and make it a goal to know by our 4th anniversary!

8. His favorite food? Mexican and Pizza. He really could eat them every single day!!!

9. His favorite sport? I'm going to say golf to play, and football to watch.

10. When and where was our 1st kiss? We had been dating for about two weeks (mind you I went on vacation after the first date for a few days) and one night in front of my parents house in the car he asked if he could kiss me.... The next day he texted me that I was a good kisser. What a liar!

11. Our favorite thing to do as a couple? Just being together without whinniness! We like to eat out, we like to go to movies, but that just doesn't happen a whole lot.

12. How many kids do we have? 2, Grace is 21 months and Max is 6 months.

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He short changes himself a lot, but he is really good with people. We can not go anywhere without running into someone he knows. Everyone always says Mike's so nice! Also, Mike doesn't like to hold the channel changer. This is a major talent, when I come in the room he hands it to me... How lucky am I?

14. How old is he? Mike is not a child of the 70's. He will be 29 in January.

15. Who said I love you first? It was Mike, at the Providence miniature golf park, on the 14th hole. He said I love you on our third date. I said - "Oh, we'll see." I think I said it later that night, but I'm not sure???

16. His favorite music? Rock, he humors most of the time and listens to country...

17. What do I admire most about him? He wants me to be happy. He is a great daddy! Mike is also a great listener. He remembers things I say and that means so much to me...

18. Do I think he will read this? I'm guessing yes.

19. What does he do to surprise you? He brings me flowers sometimes....

So, to my husband, Happy Anniversary, I love you to the moon and back! And just to answer the question, I love you......more.