It's Here!

Last Wednesday, November 21st, we put up our Christmas tree!

The girls have been begging me to put it up and I've been excited to put the tree up as well.

We never make it to Thanksgiving before we put the tree up.

But we have put it up earlier than this in the past.

We waited longer this year because I was nervous to see what Mr. Eli would do to the tree.

But I'm happy to report, that so far he hasn't really paid much attention to the tree.

And each time he touches it I tell him, "no no" and then he bawls.

(He's really sensitive like Avery and cries whenever you tell him no.)

Back in January, I bought some accents for our Christmas tree on clearance 

and have been excited to put up the Christmas tree since

(as in I almost put the tree back up in the middle of January).

Right now this is what our tree looks like but I love it!

We'll put up all the decorations after Thanksgiving.

We got this tree for free a few months ago and love it!

We put up our old tree in the dinning room. So now we have two trees!

That means I need to buy more ornaments.

Lexi's Field Trip to Discovery Gateway

 Earlier this month, Lexi went on her first Kindergarten field trip.

We went to Discovery Gateway.

I've been wanting to go there for years so I was so excited to chaperon and go check it out.

We had one bus for the three kindergarten classes and all the teachers and parents.

Good thing kindergartners are small.

Lexi and I sat with her friends Raygan and Paige.

There is a helicopter on the roof and it was a huge hit with the kids.

From the helicopter you could take "patients" (not real kids but wood cut outs of people) 

from the helicopter to the hospital.

The second floor is full of all different kids of learning stations.

We got to explore them for 45 minutes.

...

I was in charge of these three girls: Abbey, Valentina and Lexi.

Next we headed downstairs.

Our first stop was The Beehive.

I think Lexi would have played in The Beehive with all the balls for an hour if we had the time.

Then we got to explore the first floor for another 45 minutes.

This was my favorite part.

There was a construction zone, a play house, a grocery store, a water table, a climbing wall, a gas station, 

a farm and garden and more that we didn't even get to.

 We had a great time but I would not recommend going to the museum when field trip groups are there.

It was crowded! But it was free.

I think I'm gonna take all my kids when Lexi goes off track again and we'll make a day of it.

Sean's Half Birthday

 The 19th was Sean's half birthday.

And he wanted apple pie.

So I made two homemade apple pies.

Sean's sister Michelle and her family came over to celebrate with us.

We love partying and spending time together.

I just want to publicly share that I am one lucky lady!

I married my best friend.

I love spending time with Sean.

We can talk for hours and hours about anything.

He's such a great dad, he adores our children.

Sean's is Mr. Funny. He's always making me smile and laugh (even when I don't want to).

He's kind to everyone, even strangers.

Just tonight he helped jump an older couples car at a gas station.

And he loves serving the members of our new branch.

To sum it up, Sean is Mr. Awesome!

We Love Babies!

 Two and a half week ago, our friends Buck and Aubrey had their three daughter, Lucy.

While Aubrey was pregnant we all agreed that it would be awesome if Eli and Lucy got married one day, 

because we'd love to all be related.

If these two do get married, I'm putting these pictures up at their reception.

...

Eli was actually very interested in Lucy... and her car seat.

We were all excited about Lucy and wanted a turn snuggling with her. We're such baby people!

Lexi was so happy.

She kept telling me that she wished Eli was still this little.

And kept asking me for another baby.

Poor Avery didn't get to hold Lucy since she was getting over a cold.

30 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge

Blogging just hasn't made it high enough on my to-do list lately.

Anyway, I thought I'd share a list of things I'm grateful for as a make-up for all the days I've missed.

1. I'm grateful for Lexi.

From the very beginning I've loved this girl!

She's so full of personality. 

Lexi is a little mother. She just loves babies and I love that about her.

She is also so feminine which I think is so fun, I like all the bows and ruffly skirts too.

2. I'm grateful for Avery Joy!

This girls brings me so much joy.

I think Avery may be our family's comedian.

She just loves to make us laugh and smile.

She's our "cuddle bear." She loves being held and babied. And I love it too.

3. I'm grateful for Eli.

This chubby little guy has me wrapped around his fat little fingers.

His smile often brings tears of overwhelming love and joy to my eyes.

And his laugh is one of my favorite sounds.

I sure love my baby Sean!

4. I'm grateful for my parents.

My did I luck out! My parents are awesome.

Tears are welling up in my eyes and making it hard for me to type. 

I just love these two so much.

I miss them EVERYDAY!

5. I'm grateful for health.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

I'm so happy I have a healthy family.

A member of my family recently had a healthy scare.

And even though I know they are okay,

 I still think about what could have happened and cry and cry nearly everyday.

6. I'm grateful for modern medicine.

Without it I would have died giving birth to Lexi and she would have died too.

7. I'm grateful for our home.

Even though we don't live in a house, we have a wonderful home,

filled with love and happiness and the pitter patter of little feet and the squeals of children.

8. Friends. We have been blessed with some great friends.

And that's a huge blessing when you don't live close to family.

Recently, I went with a few women from our branch downtown to hear the bell choir on Temple Square.

I also recently went to the bridal shower of one of my good BYU-Idaho friends.

And this past weekend we got together with Buck and Aubrey and met their new daughter Lucy.

We also have recently been making an effort to invite families from our branch into our home 

to have dinner and Family Home Evening with us.

9. Family scripture study.

We've been reading the seminary scripture mastery scriptures every night with the girls.

We're also been working on memorizing the articles of faith and a few scriptures.

Even Avery is learning them.

It's so fun to hear the girls reciting the things we're learning from memory.

10. Sleeping in.

Lately my kids have been sleeping in.

Some days past 8 am. It's AMAZING!

And I'm enjoying EVERY minute of it because I know it will be over next year once Lexi is in first grade.

30 Days of Thanksgiving - Thanksgiving Tree

 Earlier this month we made a Thanksgiving Tree.

We talked about gratitude and what we're grateful for.

We wrote down those things on the leaves of our tree.

It turned out pretty good.

And adds some much needed interest to our very boring dinning room wall.

I'm grateful that Lexi is starting to realize how blessed our family is.

Pumpkin Eli

 I saw this idea on Pinterest years ago and decided to gave it a try.

I was surprised by how much Eli like being in the pumpkin.

It was a really great photo shoot because he could crawl away.

I'm pleased with the pictures I got.

I think I'll frame one and use it in my Halloween/ Fall decor.

When we were all done, I just carried him back to our apartment while he was still in the pumpkin.

I wish I had got a picture of that.

I had to place him in front of our door for just a few more pictures.

Once we got inside my fears came true.

He was stuck in that thing!

After a minute or so of trying to get him out I finally freed him.

30 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge - Sleeping Babies

Eli hasn't been sleeping well at night.

We found out today that he's getting his molars in.

So that explains his snotty nose, lack of sleeping and change in bowel movements.

Poor little guy.

Today when I went to walk him up from his nap so we could take Lexi to school, I had to snap a picture.

Sleeping babies are like little angles.

Holding a sleeping baby, especially my sleeping baby is like heaven.

It's my happy place. 

See...

This picture was taken when Avery fell asleep on me. Which was rare when she was 6 months old.

30 Days of Thanksgiving Challenge - My View

This bright beautiful tree is what we are blessed to see from our deck, Eli's room 

and one of master bedroom windows.

And I love it!

I wish it would start like this. 

I just love looking at these leaves.

Smart Phone

Yesterday, Sean joined joined the masses of people who have smart phones.

We had been holding out but he finally decided that he was ready to upgrade.

(I still am happy with my dumb phone.)

Sean got the Samsung Galaxy S4.

And he loves it.

And it will be helpful for him in his new calling (second counselor in our branch presidency).

I have been giving him a hard time though.

He's been wanting a smart phone for a while now

 but has been telling me that our next big purchase would be a new camera.

So he really owes me. Big time.

I'm just teasing him. I really am happy for him.

But he does have to buy me a new camera ASAP.

Yummy Potato Soup

Sean and I are both really excited about this soup.

Eli too.

We liked it so much that we've made in twice this past week.

It's super easy and that is a big deal to me.

(Not the healthiest though.)

I found the recipe here.

I added one can of corn (drained).

And I also added 6 six slices of bacon (cooked and diced).

Crock pot potato soup

Ingredients

• 4-6 small potatoes peeled and diced (can also use 1 package cubed frozen hashbrowns)
• 2 cans cream of chicken
• 1 can cream of celery
• 1 pint Half & Half
• 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• 6 TB melted butter
• 1 bunch green onions thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup -optional)
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients (except cheese) in a crock pot and stir until combined. Cook on low for 6 hours. Before serving mix in cheese. Enjoy!
2. Bacon crumbs would be yummy on top too ;)

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

 Being the third kid in our family, Eli is lucky to get more than one bath a week.

That's awful, I know.

And I don't know if I've taken tub pictures of him since he was in his baby tub.

Well tonight Sean was playing with the girls and I decided to give Eli a bath and take some pictures too.

Eli went through a phase about a month ago were he was terrified of the bath.

But thankfully that didn't last long and he's back to loving the water again.

I had to check this book out at the library...

On the back of the book it reads:

After Mr. Darcy refuses to dance with Elizabeth, he has a change of heart.

Will Elizabeth overcome her first impressions and accept his offer of marriage?

Share this timeless romance with children of any age.

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