Christmas Cheer

We had some great Christmas Celebrations early this month and we thought we'd share just some of the highlights:
WaRd ChRiStMaS PaRtY


Our new bishop sat on Santa's lap and confessed he had been "naughty" this year so Santa gave him some coal. Kylie couldn't stop laughing about it.

FaMiLy ChRiStMaS PaRtY
It was my dad's side of the family extended family party. No party is complete without the nativity

Every angel needs a trumpet to help bring "good tidings of great joy!"

This little angels is having too much fun lying down on the job

And of course this is the 2nd cutest baby Jesus!

ChRiStMaS ViLlAgE and GiFtS FrOm GrAnDmA & GrAnDpA
Every year we go to Christmas Village (in Ogden) with my family. We eat soup and breadsticks before heading down to see all the cute little houses and sit on Santa's lap. Then it's back to Grandma's for cinnamon rolls, hot cocoa with peppermint ice cream in it, and of course opening the gifts. My mom gets the grandkids pajamas and books. We all agreed that we love thermal on little kids...it shows off their muscles and little tummies!





And this one was just too cute not to post

Mallory in a Christmas Outfit from Grandma and Grandpa Nelson.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like...

Here are some pictures I recently took that really put me in the holiday mood!

Yin and Yang

They say it is amazing how "dislike" each other your children can be. This became very apparent as we asked our girls what they wanted for Christmas.
Kylie is 5 and just started Kindergarten. Apparently kindergartners would like Santa to bring them

a computer


and a "real" camera!

Tessa is 2 and this will be her first Christmas understanding the whole concept of Santa and presents. So when we asked what she wanted Santa to bring her she replied
"Candy!"

Quite appropriate for a toddler with a sweet tooth, but we tried again, asking "What else do you want Santa to bring you?"

"Pizza" she said firmly.

Kody thought we should stop the questioning right there and buy the girl a bag of M&M's and a Papa Murphy's gift card.

After a little coaching we have come up with an approved "sitting on Santa's knee" request....




Here's hoping Tessa stays two forever...Santa can't afford any more electronics! :)

HaPpY HaLLoWeEn!

Love,
Barbie Thumbelina, Pretty Pink Princess, and our Lil' Pumpkin

Pretty Piggies

*WARNING: This post is about nothing in particular...just something to break up the monotony between child and vacation posts, but on the plus side I think you will get to know more about me than you ever wanted to;)...ENJOY!*

Yes that is a picture of my newly beautified phalanges! How is this blog worthy one may ask (that one probably being my husband)? BECAUSE I am 29 years old and just a week or two ago got my FIRST pedicure!
I can hear the intake of breath as you go into shock
How does one get to be 29 and never have a pedicure one might ask? I asked myself the same question and here is the multi-dimensional answer I have broken down into a timeline like fashion:
"Teen Years"-I suspect I never had a pedicure in high school for 3 reasons 1) I was too poor; I could barely scrounge up $2 for Zingers and a Fruitopia for lunch 2) You can't wear opened toe shoes on the volleyball/basketball court as well as the softball and/or track field 3)I just wasn't "that" girl
"College Years"-Oddly enough I come up with reason #2 again...Poor
"Married Years"-it really never crossed my mind.
"Motherhood"-This was the time that I noticed women with glistening, soft, callous-free toes, but I guess I played the martyr thinking it was a luxury I wasn't worthy of.

But when I received a "pedicure coupon" for preschool graduation from two very astute mothers who had obviously seen my gruesome feet and thought that it would both for everyone involved, I had reason to hope!

But not being a normal pedicurist I did not take my fat pregnant feet in because I think I really wanted to see what miracles could be worked by a short Vietnamese woman. So I waited all summer until the coupon was going to expire before giving it a try.
AND....
I loved it all! The oils, the rubbings, the painting, the 45 minutes of silence!
What I didn't love was rolling up my pant legs to find un-shaven legs...beginner's mistake?!?!?!

But all in all it was a-ma-zing and I am hooked. I told my husband I EXPECT a pedicure coupon every mother's day!
Some woman make a bucket list (things to do before they die). Some items might include seeing Paris, going bungee jumping, etc. My goals are more realistic...finding my true hair style, owning a piece of jewelry valued over $20...but now I can officially cross off "Get a Pedicure!"

Good Fortune

It has been a crazy, busy summer for our family with the new baby and the cabin building so we couldn't resist a vacation over the UEA weekend. We booked some hotels online and headed to sunny St. George just as the temperatures dropped up north.
We loved the swimming,



the "Big Beds,"


Bowling (it was our first time as a family),







and visiting Brigham Young's Summer Home!

Kylie's Panda Express Fortune on our last night in Dixie said it all...

Reunions

In September we had lots of fun attending two reunions in two weeks. Here are the higlights:
Crafts with Cousins



Old Fashioned Photos


Suckers, Suckers, and more Suckers!


Fabulous Food and Delicious Desserts!

Horsey Rides!


Spending Time with Those We Love!

Our Family's Top Model

MCS? do you have it? Know anyone who suffers from it?
What are the characteristics of Middle Child Syndrome? Well according to the Urban Dictionary it is "an emotional scarring condition.Middle children are known for ending up with the things that are too big for the baby in the family and too small for the oldest.It is a known fact the youngest and oldest are treated differently than the middle child for the oldest is the first child aka favorite and the smallest is the baby aka the last child known for getting whatever they desire because they are the 'baby'."

MCS often weighs heavily on my mind. Usually once a day I find myself trying to find ways to "even things out." You know trying to make sure that each child gets the same time, attention, etc. I have this fear that Tessa will someday ask why she never gets to do anything or why there are 1/2 as many of her baby pictures compared to her older sisters.

So I was so excited when Kacee (the awesome person who took the girls tutu pictures) needed some baby models for a photo shoot for apericots clothing. And it was for toddler clothing and cloth diapers. That meant Kylie was too old and Mallory was too young! Yeah one thing that Tessa could do that neither of her sisters could...these opportunities do not come around very often.

And the photos turned out so cute!





So while Kylie may get to drive and date first and Mallory will get to live at home the longest (you know all babies of the family do :))...Tessa will always be our family's top model!