HAPPY HALLOWEEN

(What a difference a year makes)

Gracie

Last year at this time you were entering the exciting world of Kindergarten.

Your first day you held me hand so tight I could hardly pull myself away from you.

You were nervous and you weren't quite sure if you could take on this venture on your own...you still wanted your momma:)

Your dad and I walked you to your class room EVERY single day, with it ending at the door with a great big hug and kiss. Sometimes it was hard for me, because I had to pull Easton and Harper of the car regardless of the weather to make sure you made it to Mrs. Pages class safe and sound.

One year later you entered the world of first grade.

Your first day you were nervous like you were the year before, but you were confident and ready to take on this new chapter in your life.

As I was walking you up to your class room it was you who had to pull away from me because I was holding you, not sure if I was ready to let go. You looked at me and told me you'd be ok...and I knew you were right.

Mom drove away from your school with tears in her eyes, knowing I wouldn't be pulling Easton and Harper out of the car every morning because you could do it yourself. Sometimes life goes too fast, and sometimes mom isn't ready for her baby girl to grow up. But here you are right before my eyes the most kind, beautiful first grader. I love you baby girl!

(August 29 2011. First day of School)

Christmas 2011

12 ways to Create the perfect Christmas:

1. Finish the semester of school with flying color: Even though Matt works full time and goes to school full time and is a husband and dad full time he has managed to keep A's in all his classes!

2. Take an extra day off of work: I was a skeptic when Matt told me he would take the day before Christmas off, because a day off is a rare occasion in this household! Even though he was on call the whole Christmas break we were more than happy to have daddy with us to enjoy the holiday!

3. Come down with a case of Strep: (read on read on) While packing to go to Utah I managed to pinch a nerve in my back, following came a numbness to my chest and throat resulting in paralysis of the vocal chords. I went for a day sounding like I was deaf because I had no control over my vocal chords. Even though I was the one being laughed at, it was hilarious non the less. I was convinced my symptoms were all caused by this pinched nerve in my back until my sister in law called saying her son I had babysat the day before had strep...which lead into my number 4.

4. Visit the instacare in Park City Ut: Park City people are an interesting bread. After waiting in the dirtiest germ infested clinic I was convince either Matt, Harper or I would leave with some foreign disease. After meeting with the doctor, whom by the way looked like a troll (like the cute ones with the diamonds on their belly) He determined I had strep. After he stared my 1 month old baby down and a few awkward laughs from Matt and I we finally got a prescription called in and were on our way to the pharmacy. As I approached the counter I thought I was going to be talking to a some what normal man when he half way closed his eyes and talked like Napoleon dynamites brother. Enough Said...Park City people are weird...not weird, quirky (funny) and gave Matt and I laughs for days after.

5. Go to dinner and a movie: The movie Choice of this year was Tangled! Even though Matt and I missed half the movie due to Movie theatre confusion, the half I saw was adorable!

6. Make Cookies for Santa: Matt's mom was such a great sport and help Gracie make cookies for Santa. Little did they know I'd be the one eating half the batch...soon enough I'll look like Santa!

7. Open Pajamas on Christmas Eve: Like most people we have the tradition of opening pajamas on Christmas Eve. Grandma Powell hit the jackpot...Easton was more than excited to receive Batman and Superman Pajama's...the perfect fit for my little villain:) I was so excited this year when I was able to find the girls twin pajamas! Is it not the most adorable thing? I think so:)

8. Reading the Nativity: This was a change for us, usually we have been around enough people to be able to act out the Nativity. This year I opted to make the most adorable nativity folder where the kids could velcro the people on as Matt retold the story of the Saviors birth. Even though I missed the chaos of children trying to act out the Nativity and Parent's hushing them and convincing them to say their one sentence lines, this was fun it was sweet and simple.

9. Sleep together as a family: This is my favorite Tradition we have as a family. We blew up the air mattress for Matt and I and the kids slept on Matt's parents upstairs couches. Gracie woke me up at 4 in the morning convinced she saw Santa's slay! You could see the shadow of the barn through the fog creating the illusion of a sleigh! Gracie and I stared out the window at Santa's sleigh trying to catch of glimpse of rudolph, the night was truly magical!

10. Wake up and see what Santa brought: I woke up to Easton running back up the stairs after he snuck down to see if Santa came. Sure enough his excitement woke all of us up, because indeed he had come! The only items my Children had asked for were Zhu Zhu pets, much to my dismay I liked the item that much more when I scored them for 4 bucks!

11. Go Eat at family's house: This year we were able to go to Matt's Grandparents house for dinner. They always have a feast...and when I say feast I mean you can feed an army! We miss living by Matt's Grandparents. We use to live a few houses down from them so we were able to see them almost everyday.

12. Wrestle with Grandpa: Matt's dad and Easton are little buddies. They feed off of each others teasing behaviors. There isn't a dull moment when these two are together, in fact you have to calm both of them down. It takes a few days for Easton to wind down after we visit Matt's parents because Grandpa and him have so much fun together!

We were so blessed this Christmas season. Starting it out with the birth of our little sweet angel. We were so Grateful to be living by my family, through the month of December we were able to take the girls to the nutcracker and have the most amazing sledding party out on my parents hill. I think we had some sort of party almost every weekend:)

We hope your Christmas was as sweet as ours!

I have a very determined little girl. Once she saw my mom do a head stand she knew it was something she NEEDED to do! With alot of practice and alot of patience...well you see for yourself:) GO GRACIE GO!

Frustrated blogger

Sometimes I feel my blog is a huge hassle...

It's always in the back of my mind...

but never one the top of my todo list...like ever

But I like it, it's fun but... when I get far behind I don't quite know where to start...

for instance I still have Gracie's first day of kindergarten still in my brain...needing to be put on my blog, but I'm not about to blog back nine months! So I guess here is to a new years resolution and I'll start fresh...

I'm not going to try to catch up, I'm going to just TRY to stay caught up wish me luck:)

Starting tomorrow....

4 Years ago...

This big boy made his entrance into this world, and it's been an adventure ever since!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EASTON!!! WE LOVE YOU...SO MUCH!