SOCKS

Once in a while Bryson gets into a crazy organizational flurry. I quite enjoy this as there is so much of his stuff that I know I can't even touch let alone organize. He's been doing custom socks for a while with work. Well here is the aftermath that has been hiding in my basement. Ya I laughed hard, wondered why I haven't had socks for a while, then ran and took a pic!

Anybody anybody anybody want socks? Seriously come on over!

baptism

December 19th Taylor was baptized. She was full of light and joy. And quite mature about the choice she was making. For weeks she kept saying, "It's my choice!" The room was filled with family and others who love Taylor. It was amazing to watch her, I feel like she is now an older more mature Tay with the same old goofy smile (gotta love those 8 yr old teeth). I hope I never forget this wonderful day.

Taylor I'm so proud of the person you are and the person you are becoming. In our ward they ask the newest member of our ward to sit on the stand in sacrament. Tay looked horrified as she stood next to Bishop Correy. But when she sat down my heart was so full I burst into tears. I simply felt the spirit so strongly. Watching her shuffle to find the hymns and sing was a mothers proudest moment.

the big 8

Tay turned 8 December 17th. December for me and my family is sheer craziness. Thus on her birthday she had a piano party and bryson had his work party. Yep we are THE BEST parents. But grandma LeeAnn took her to the Mandarin with her "birthday buddy" (uncle kyle).

There is something about the age 8 that simply seems so stinkin old! It must be the turning point because now I don't look at her as my lil girl, but my big girl!

Don't worry we celebrated on the 19th after her baptism. She got her ears pierced! Not a tear not a single one. In the chair before her was a 14-16 boy (weird) his mom was so excited? And while Tay's were getting pierced a teenage girl walked by and added "I remember my first piercing." Ya thanks a lot for that? We also let Sky get hers pierced she was beaming with delight!

I am so proud of the person you are. You are such a good girl!

9 year anniversary!

Really I know my words are not enough, but it's worth a shot. 9 years ago today I married one amazing man. The morning of our wedding it was snowing so hard a true blizzard. It took 30 minutes to drive 2 miles. We actually had one person get in an accident on their way to the Bountiful temple. Amazingly enough the storm cleared and the sun came out. It was the most beautiful day I can remember. All the trees drenched in snow while the sun glistened on the glitter filled branches. I feel like that is a perfect example of marriage. Once in a while a storm comes it shakes and blows but in the end the sun always comes out. And at that moment you can not even imagine how it was before because now everything is so beautiful and so perfect you can not remember how it was before. I knew I was marring someone who I deeply loved, and in return had showed me more love then I could have ever hoped for. I was excited to be sealed to him FOREVER. No nerves jitters or second thoughts. But what I didn't know was that was just the beginning of one crazy roller coaster. Now looking back our love was nearly a fraction of what we now have. He brings endless happiness to my life. I did not know I could love him this much. I thought he would be the best father in the world and luckily I was right he is. I watch him in amazement when he plays with the kids. He is such a gifted dad. I feel so blessed to be married to my best friend. I love talking and spending time with him. I am grateful for the challenges and trials that we have been through together, because without them our marriage would not be as strong.






I love you Bryson so much and can not wait to see what the next 9 years bring to our life. I feel so blessed to have you as my best friend and husband. Thank you for all the love you have given me.

A little ELF

This year a new tradition was started at our home. A little elf showed up in a box from the North Pole. Santa himself sent our family a letter. He reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas. And to never forget the first gift, the birth of the Savior. This elf (Bernard as we have named him) reports to the North Pole every night and informs Santa not only of how we have behaved through out the day, but if we have helped, loved or served anyone that day. In the morning he is in a new hiding place in the house. The kids wake up so excited to find him every morning. Hopefully Bernard will visit our house every holiday season and help us remember Christmas is not about the gifts you receive but about the "gifts you give".

One year has flown by!

Recital

Tay just started lessons in September. She LOVES piano. To the point that I have to get her off the piano often. She would play all day if she could. She has a great ear and can figure out any song just by sitting and playing. In her first ever recital she played the Ice cream cone and Old MacDonald. I can't wait to see what the next recital brings.

Past times

If you look real hard you might be able to see a lil 7 yr old girl in the tippie top of our tree. She loves to climb walls trees you name it.

Wanna see child abuse?

I'm not sure why but we always make our pure sweet babies stand by some horrific creature around the Holidays. This time it was the GRINCH (ya after this he wouldn't even go near Santa.)


After talking to "Santa" Skyler said, "First of all I could so tell he was a FAKE. Also he knew all the kids in the wards names but he did not know ours (we were at grandparents ward.) That was not the real Santa!"

OOoPS!

Ya I know, I didn't post on Myles first B-day (Dec. 1st)! So behind. I kind of feel like I have fallen off a cliff. Myles turned one on Tuesday. It was a joy filled day. We went to lunch with Daddy. I made 2 kinds of cupcakes lemon angel food with fresh raspberry cream (I figured since he loves having whipped cream sprayed right into his mouth he would love it!) and for me devils food ganache. I'll post recipes in a bit (HOPEFULLY.) He actually opened and played with his presents (my first one year old to ever really get it.) We had lots of family over, this lil boy is so loved! I once had a very wise Olympic gold medalist tell me, "It's amazing how much love a child can bring into your life. Then you think the second child could not possibly bring more love because there just is not any more room. But then they bring even more love into your family." (Peter Vidmar) Well Myles is the cherry on the top. He has filled our home and my heart with pure JOY. I truly feel he is my gift, he has come to teach me.




Myles of Smiles happy first birthday. I'm sure glad Heavenly Father sent you to our family. I LOVE YOU!

Blessed

Some days I feel happy grumpy sad grateful old crazy tired ....{way too young to feel like this!}. today I feel blessed. Blessed to have such a bounteous joy filled life. Blessed. Blessed to have a family of five. Four amazing people who bring endless laughter and love to my life. Today I'm truly trying to look at the big picture and realizing I've got to cherish these times because they are so gonna fly by and one day I will only have teenagers {who hopefully will still think I rock?} Life is such a gift and there is definitely no second rounds. So today I am gonna make it the best day ever. And hug the ones I love.

racin

The girls did their first cycle cross race on Halloween! They were so excited. Sky has been off sugar for over a week now and the race was her TREAT. Taylor wasn't sure about doing it but decided to go along with it (she was nervous.) The race was on dirt trails at wheeler farm, tons of crazy dressed up adults and kids. A few laps into the race a group of 12 year old boys were racing hard for the win. One of the genius boys clipped Sky's handle bar and she fell HARD! I would have cried and I was just glad she got up and was unharmed. She cried and cried and cried some more then decided if dad would ride behind her she would finish. She cried the rest of the race but finished on her own (we were so proud.) She now can't wait to race again. Taylor the one who did not really want to do it kicked butt. She pushed so hard, crashed herself, thought about quiting and ended up barely pedaling across the finish line runny nose and all. When she finished she said, "Mom I was so mad at myself for crashing. I have never crashed before. Then I thought I couldn't finish. Then I decided I better try my best. And now I am so proud of myself. I really thought I couldn't make it. I better start training if I'm ever going to do Leadville!" Bryson also raced and broke his thumb within the first few laps and still finished in a good spot! Thank heavens our girls got his tough jeans.

Costumes and fear!

This year Halloween was a free for all.
Taylor is Taylor Swift
Skyler is a "Devil Princess" {at least that is what the tag on the dress said?}
Myles is a lion
Bryson stole my costume {please note the terror on Myles face we all felt that way}
I was a witch but all of the kids photos of me are way blurry

way too big

As of Tuesday night @ 8:15 Myles is a walker! He took his very first steps to Tay (she is so thrilled.) he has been going from a squat to a stand for quite a while so we knew it was coming. He loved the attention and continued to practice as long as there was plenty of clapping and cheers. But yesterday didn't do much walking until... he had a large audience and he then took 15 steps! My baby is growing up.

This is what we do for fun!

So this is the aftermath of the cycle cross race today. Yes this is Bryson's passion. Yes he is enormously talented and gifted at this sport. Yep he called this FUN!



Bryson right after the crash, to bad Joe didn't catch the real deal. But these are all his amazing pics. This is after Bryson bent his handlebar from backwards to correct position. He looked like the swamp creature bush in helmet and all.



Just another day in the life of my cyclist.

my guy

My lil guy has 6 teeth
he can stand
he laughs a lot
he brings endless joy to my life
he babbles
he claps
he waves
he quite sleeping through the night
he loves real big people food and is over that baby stuff
he loves his sisters
he is growing up way to fast



don't you just love this pic my friend Lindsay http://lindsayrossphotography.blogspot.com took it in 2 seconds for me she is amazingly talented

HIVES! A new visitor in our family

My friend had an awesome Bday party for her lil girl! One of those parties you would through if money was no object... Any who these are the cute ponies from the party! When I told the girls about pony riding they were so excited! The party was a hit {did you see the hair on the ponies? rainbow &pink} By the time we got home the infamous HIVES that bombard Sky's life had appeared. In case you don't know or remember I sent her to school on her first day of 1st grade with quarter sized hives all over her body. I did not even think about horses, smart mom I know. So for our family we will continue to have fish as pets. Dogs, cats and horses are out of the picture. I think this is a reward for good behavior on my part. I have always fought the thought of a dog. Because with my hubby thoughts turn into actions way to fast. Not because I don't like cute furry pets. But because I already have 3 lil things I'm responsible for (plus one big one) and we all know I would be the only one doing the doggy duty!

Silver Hawks!

So I'm way behind {feels like the story of my life!} We had an awesome fall soccer season this year. Silver hawks was the team name. Since we were blue I could never remember our name! I had Sky play up to be on Tay's team. I coached, every season I debate coaching. I hate watching coaches who know nothing but at the same time love my kids learning to respect a coach. This season was a struggle lugging Myles to practice and having some FUNNY CRAZY lil girls. I loved it and feel like I should do it again we'll see. Just for the record we went undefeated! (I had one unbelievably talented girl on my team. Seriously gifted.) Taylor improved leaps and bounds from last season. She gained confidence and is turning into quite the little player. Good thing I did not pull her out, ya never know. Skyler is a natural defender. She played great and no one could even tell she was playing up. In fact all the parents thought they were twins?




Ya I know no action shots. I had my hands full.