Mabel is 4 months old!

 My baby is getting big! She just went to the doctor last week and weighs 16 pounds. She is very healthy and doing great.She can now roll from her back to her belly. She pulls her toes toward her face and tips to the side. She loves to raise her legs then let them drop making a flopping sound. Mae is a drooler which makes me wonder if teeth are on the way. She has started to get a little birth mark on her head above her right ear. When taking a bath, she reaches for the blue tiki cup and holds it with both hands AND feet like a little monkey.

Anora and Presley are good at getting smiles out of you. You love getting attention from the big kids. A friend commented on how dark your eyebrows are and I realized they have darkened quite a bit since birth. I haven't really left you with a babysitter yet. I have left you so I could visit teach, but you aren't fond of my hour-long visits! You area champ at the movies and do so well wherever I take you.

 It is so wonderful to have Mabel. We just feel like the luckiest family in the world.

Family Portrait Outtakes 2013

I always have a new found sympathy for my photo clients after we get our family pictures done. Just twenty minutes prior to this shot, Mabel was crying uncontrollably from being stuffed into long skinny tights that are the complete opposite of her body type (hee hee) and layer upon layer of clothes, Charlie was putting up a major fight about the brand new jeans that he wore one day to school and decided he hated, and we all piled into two cars with no clue of where to go to take these photos! Mabel cried her little self to sleep when we reached this PERFECT field by our house in West Provo.

 We decided to forgo a professional photog this year and have Denise snap some shots for us. Can you tell by my face that I just got done telling her exactly what I wanted her to do? all in all, I am excited about how our photos turned out. I can't wait to get my cards printed. Just waiting for Josh to read through it when he returns from the land down under! Thanks a million, Sis!! (She not only took the photos, but she helped dress kids and negotiate for smiles!!)--We squeezed at least a smirk out of Char char :/

Love this boy (and his dog). Noah has been doing double the school work as he tests to get into a special program at school. He doesn't complain a bit. Noah has such great life goals. He is saving for a mission and college. He is tender hearted and a tremendous leader.
We got some bad news about a family member yesterday. I told the kids on the way home from school that we will be going over to that family members house to cheer them up and be there for a blessing. When we got home Noah said, "we should all pray for them right now, Mom." So Noah, Charlie, Presley and I knelt down in our front room and took turns saying our most heart felt prayers. I was so humbled to hear my babies' pleas to their Father in Heaven. I am so grateful to have such special spirits in my life.

3 months old

 My big girl is three months old now!! I can't believe it. I want to congratulate Mabes and myself for getting through what I think is the hardest part of the baby stage: the newborn phase.

At three months old things are easier because:

• You sleep 5 hours straight through the night
• We figured out how to soothe you when you are fussy better. You haven't even been very fussy lately anyways.
• You have three big naps in the day.
• You have gained weight successfully and seem to be such an efficient eater. You fill up your tummy in five minutes!
• Now your movements are slowly getting more fluid. You have discovered your hands and feet and reach for those toes when you lay on your back. You also examine your little hands just a few seconds before trying to fit a whole fist in your mouth!
• You love locking eye contact with people. You smile and laugh every time. 
• You have noticed your reflection in the mirror and I think you like what you see! hee hee. 

Mabelina, Mabes, Mabie Baby, Mae, Monkey, Mabeline, and Madame M are your current nicknames. My favorite part of the day is being the first person you see when you wake up in the morning. Your whole face lights up when you see me and you kick those little legs like crazy. You are the love of our lives and we still fight over who gets to hold you.

Mabel's Baby Blessing

Yesterday was Mabel's baby blessing

 Josh blessed Mabel to someday serve a mission. He blessed that she may always understand her unlimited potential as a daughter of God. That she would know that God loves her. That she knows that we will always love her. 

Hailie is always first in line to hold Mabes.

 We had tons of people over afterward for the blessing for sweet pork burritos. I stayed up till 2 am getting things ready for it. Thank goodness it was Daylight Savings. We got an extra hour of sleep before our 10 am meeting with the Stake president. It was also the first snowy morning of the season.

 Grandma TK said it was so sweet to hear the name Sonya in the blessing. I bore my testimony afterward and talked about the song we sing in Primary called "Build an Ark" and how it teaches that the Lord will help us through our trials if we are obedient and prepare for adversity like Noah. I mentioned that it is a given that we will all face trials on this earth. This is what we signed up for. The wonderful thing is that these are opportunities to grow closer to the Lord and that we always have him there to lean on.

We are beyond blessed to have sweet little Mae in our family. She has been everyone's baby. All the cousins take turns holding her. Nobody has super strong arms our of the little girls, but somehow they are able to hold Mabes for hours!! Mabel even plays a big role when the cousins play house. She gets to play the baby! They all took Mae upstairs and put her down for a nap and took such great care of her.
  Mabel is easier and easier to predict. I have now figured out what her signals are for being tired and having a full belly and needing a dipe. I just stare at her amazed that she is here and so so happy about it. Life is good :)

Halloween Party 2013

Another great party this year at Denise and Aaron's. We had 98% in costume!

Forest Gump

'The Situation gone wrong" and a devil

Black Cat and Medusa

Crow and Pilot

Fox and Two Face

 Snow Wolf

 Hipster and Lady Bug

 Cow

 NBA player

 Ninja

 Witch

 Tourist

 Skeleton

 Cat

 Egyptian Princess

 Elephant and Cow

 Robbers

 Dead Brides

 Flight Attendant and Pilot

 Indians

 Tired Bug

Music Memories of my brother

One of the things I remember most about my brother, Shannon was the music he listened to as a teenager. When I hear any of these songs I instantly think of him. Tears for Fears is a big one:

I think my brother got this Metallica tape when it first came out. I remember the lyrics were so clear! I thought this was total rebel music, now I laugh because I remember singing along all the time!

Last but DEFINITELY not least, WHAM! with "Wake me up before you go go!!" Total head to the beach at Santa Monica music. I was so in love with GM as I was with Shannon's best friend, Anthony Hernandez who at the time I thought looked a lot like ol' George. 

Park City Weekend

We went to Park City for Conference weekend and stayed at a fun Condo. We got the condo because Jason's boss wanted to thank our family for helping Justin and Jason out at work. I love our family. So glad to have them and that we have each other's back whenever anyone is in need.

Our first family photo as a family of six!

 Cousins are the BEST!

 At the Olympic Winter Park Training Center

The hecklers/cheerleaders for the Olympic trainees

Park City Resort in the fall. So pretty!!

 Lots of chairlift rides to admire the sights

Fun at the Condo

 Cousin love

 Ready to ride the Alpine Slide (Presley had to pee so bad so I think she went down the fastest! ha ha!)

PC Main Street

Going up the mountain for the Alpine Coaster