Valentines Day

I had all this big plans of fun things to do with Brinlee for Valentines but because of all my morning sickness I never felt up to doing them, so I decided this year to have a Valentines party like you would at school so we could fill the day with things I never had a chance to get done.

First we made Valentines for all cousins, aunts and uncles and passed them out at Sunday dinner.This was our party agenda. We didn't end up making cookies because Dave was fasting for his life insurance exam and I wasn't feeling that ambitions :)
Here we are making some hearts. It was the first time I pulled out stamps, and she loved them

Dave even joined in on the action :)

Next Brinlee got her first manicure. I have painted her toes before but she is such a crazy thing I haven't dared try the fingers yet. But she did really good. She loves it. When she woke up this morning she had to show me again.

It had always been tradition in our family to "kick" valentines on your door. (which basically means do it without anyone noticing and knocking and running away) She got a few books and some candy.
For dinner, I actually felt up to cooking a real meal (not just mac and cheese or top ramen :)) so I thought I would Valentines it up and make it pink. Brinlee kept asking if it was yogurt, so after that I kept excepting it to taste like strawberry :) Sorry the picture is upside down

Then when Dave came home I was welcomed with these. It was a really fun day.

The Good Ole Days

If you knew me between the years of 14 and 16 you knew one of my favorite things in the whole wide world was going to stake dances :) I am pretty sure I attended every one in those 2 years. So when I saw that my ward was going to have a Valentine's dance I got so excited to relive all those good times I used to have. So that is what we decided to do for our Valentines this year.

First when we should up we were the first couple not required to be there :) and definitely the youngest, but as it went on a few more showed up. Dave and I had a blast. Our Relief Society president and her husband taught how to swing dance and then a member of the Bishopric taught us to ballroom. It was hillarous to see everyone dancing the night away. I learned Dave isn't the smoothest dancer and one man made the comment to him that he was glad he taught Gospel Doctrine better than he danced :) But I am so grateful he is such a good sport to go to things like that with me. Today at church we couldn't help but laugh when we saw the people from the night before. You see people differently after you dance the YMCA with them :) It definitely was a great Valentines.

Oh Baby!

Its official! I am pregnant with #2! I am so wonderfully excited! I am 10 weeks and due Sept 5th!!!

Just a side note.. I swear millions of people have asked me lately when we were going to start trying and here I was already pregnant but I thought it would take me awhile to get pregnant like it did with Brinlee so I didn't tell anyone I was trying and I am always cautious to tell before I go to the doctor, so sorry I wasn't trying to lie to you guys :)

Fondoke

I am very big on traditions. I feel like a holiday is boring unless it is full of special things that make it that specific holiday. New Years has never really had traditions for us as a family. When we we were younger we were always with friends or at parties so this year I made up my own traditions. Fondoke! We usually try to eat fondue on New years so I combined it and karaoke. It might not have been the most exciting party ever but we still had a good time. Hopefully it will get better over the years :)

We were lucky enough to Ashlee send it with us this year because Josh was out of town. Which I am sure Dave was happy about so he didn't have to just sing High School Musical with me

She also made these way cute crowns for us. Even Dave had a manly one but I didn't get a picture

This was another tradition I tried to start but it didn't work so well with a stubborn 2 year old. We were trying to make 2011

As for New Years resolutions this year I am kinda being a grump. Just as long as 2011 is better than 2010 I will be happy. Not that last year was the worst year but it definnently wasn't my favorite. And I would like to sell the house :) So there you go, I hope you all have a great year!!

Christmas

I have been suffering from some major lack of motivation since Christmas so here are some pictures 2 weeks later :) And some FYI Brinlee split her lip open at Dave's work party so that is why her lip looks so ouchy. Now prepare for picture over load :)

Christmas Eve is when we celebrate big. We have a huge dinner of yummy crab (steak for the non sea food lovers) then bundle up and head down to Temple Square. We were talking while we were down there and this was the like 18th year we have gone there on Christmas Eve.

We rode trax for a few stops down there because Brinlee's love for trains. She was is heaven.

Then we come back and eat even more food :) open our jammies and play games.

This year since the kids are getting older we read the nativity story and had them put the pieces in the stable as we read. It was really cute.

For some reason I didn't get many pictures Christmas morning.

Here is the infamous kitchen :) It turned out adorable, I just am never going to make a big Christmas present ever again unless we start in September. She absolutely loves it though.

Here is the book shelf we got her from Savers and painted.

And this is a doll bed my Uncle Lynn made her. She loves it as you can tell.

It was such a great Christmas, probably the best so far! I hope everyone else had a great one too!

Christmas at Dad's

We celebrate a Thanksgiving/Christmas party at my Dad's every year. It is always lots of fun. Here are some pictures.

Brinlee got a new cabbage patch doll. Perfect size for her new doll bed.

Noah got a tools set that you can build stuff with foam.

Maggie got a princess tea set. She invited me over for a tea party some time :)

A Cousin Party

A few weeks ago we volunteered to take 5 of our nieces and nephews while there parents went out on dates and to Christmas parties. So including Brinlee we had 6 kids 4 and under. It was a lot of fun to be able to have all the kids at once. Brinlee was in heaven. And even though there were a lot of them, no one fought or got sad (except Brinlee when I made her go to bed when Noah and Kyra were still there)

Here they are playing with there dolls.

Making their own pizzas.

Dancing to Barbie Nutcracker

All tucker out in there pj's watching a movie.

Even though it was a lot of fun I don't think I will ever have 6 kids under 4 myself :)