Braxton

Photo Shoot

The little girls and I had a little photo shoot at home last week. It was rainy and cold outside so we were stuck in the house, and I thought it would be fun to have them dress up for pictures. They were really excited about it. It was cloudy outside, which made for perfect lighting conditions. Here are some of my favorites... Gabby
Gabby

Hailey

I love this one, it's so them, trying to make each other laugh.

Saga

Unfortunately, last week we were faced with the decision of putting Saga to sleep. She'd really been going down hill the past few months, not eating, loosing a lot of her hair, not being able to walk very well, not being able to hear or see very well and she'd become very very skinny. We put it off for as long as we could, but came to the conclusion that we were just being selfish, and it was her time to go. I've never had to make this decision before, and it was very hard. You don't realize how much an animal can become a part of your family until a situation like this occurs. She was a really good dog and we all loved her, but we know that she's much happier wherever she is.

(this picture was taken a few months ago, when I was trying to figure out something on the camera. Seeing what she looks like here and remembering what she looked like when we took her to the vet, reconfirms that we made the right decision.)

Braxton's 9!

I am now the mother of a nine year old. There is nothing that makes you feel older, then when your kids grow up. And they grow so fast! He's becoming such a loving, helpful, smart young man.

The week before his birthday, I was asking him what he wanted to do for his birthday, hoping that he wouldn't say he wanted a party. To my surprise he said that he just wanted to be home with his family and closest friends. So, we met up with the Crosby's, Maddox's and the Sampsons at the Golden Coral. Braxton and his two best bud's, Jake and Zach.
Braxton getting ready to blow out the candle on his birthday cupcake.

Noah, Seth, Gabby, Kira and Hailey

Everyone eating dinner.

Happy Birthday Braxton!

Teddy Bear Parade

Hailey's preschool, comes up with some of the silliest things for the kids to do....and the worst part is it's always parents participation. I have been to Hailey's preschool more this year, than the entire two years that Braxton was in preschool. But the kids enjoy it, and Hailey is always excited when Mike and I come and watch. Just before Valentines day they had a "teddy bear parade". The kids decorated a shoe box, like a float, and put their favorite bear in it to pull around. They also were able to wear their pajamas to school that day. It was pretty painful to watch kids pull around shoe box's for 30 minutes and then sing songs about bears. But it's all for the kids right? Some of the boxes the kids brought were amazing! You could tell that the parents had put a lot into the creation of the "float". Hailey and Gabby's boxes were pretty simple, I just covered the entire thing in glitter, so they sparkled. They LOVED them! Hailey and Gabby with their floats, you can't tell, but they really sparkled.
Hailey pulling her float.

The Princess and the Diva

Hailey and Gabby have been "kindred spirits" since the day they met, which was when they were babies. They've always enjoyed being together. Whether its playing dress-up, putting on make-up or riding their bikes, you can always hear them joking and laughing. Since Gabby's family has moved in with us they are inseperable. They share a bedroom and pretty much everything else. It will be a sad day when the Sampsons move out.

We call Hailey the princess, because she loves anything "princess", pink and sparkly...we call Gabby the Diva, because she can have attitude, loves clothes and is obsessed with her hair. showing attitude
Superstars!

A Break From Winter

Last weekend we were fortunate enough to join Mike's Mom and Step-dad, down in West Palm Beach, FL, for some R and R. Unfortunately, they were having record low temperatures for part of our stay. We did get a couple of days of sun, and not so much wind, which made it feel warmer. It didn't matter, however how cold it was, the pools were heated, so the kids were still able to swim and that was all they cared about. Dave, Cheryl, Braxton and Hailey, on the balcony of our room.
Our Fam....notice Mike lookin skinnier...he's lost 40 lbs so far.

Me and my sweet little Hailey.

The water comes out of the tap that color......it tastes just as yucky as it looks.

The resort. It looks so sunny and warm.

Braxton looking for shells. The water was COLD!

Hailey was so excited to find shells. Too bad I threw most of them away before we left.

Looking for shells.

Playing in the pool

Good thing the water was heated.

Grandma and Braxton playing Idiot. Braxton is the reigning champ, and quite the trash talker....wonder where he learned that?

Our little fairy princess

Nativity

This year for our Christmas Eve program, we had the kids reinact the nativity. It's the first year that they've done it, so Braxton and Hailey were a little confused, at first as to why they were wearing a costume. But once I explained, they were excited. Hailey was the Angel, Kira was Mary, Braxton was Joseph and Noah was a sheperd/wiseman. Brady was a little too wiggly to be baby Jesus, so we settled for a doll.

Happy New Year's

Another "low key" New Years, this year. We spent it at home with the Sampsons and the Crosbys. We ate, played games, ate, and ate some more.

This year instead of watching the "ball drop" as we do every year....Mike wanted to check out another show that was on ESPN. I guess every year in Vegas they have some kind of stunt show on the strip. So we watched a guy flip his truck 360' and another guy jump on his bike and land of top of an attraction I think it was 100 feet high or something like that, then he jumped back off. Very exciting.....

Hailey and Kira helping themselves to the food.

Watching the stunt show.A little smoochy smoch at midnight....

At midnight all of the kids went out and did sparklers....it was SUPER COLD!

The princess turns 4!

Unfortunately for Hailey, her birthday is 3 days after Christmas day. By the time Christmas is over Mike and I are both done with the celebrating.....this year I was in bed the day before her birthday, passing a kidney stone, so we got a little sidetracked. Thank goodness we were able to quickly decorate the kitchen the morning of her birthday before she went down to see. We also promised her a party at Chuck e cheese, which was supposed to happen today, but seeing as I'm in bed once again with more stones, that has been postponed.
We did have a birthday cake for her and she opened her presents. A few weeks before Christmas she saw a disney princess vanity that she absolutely fell in love with. And she would tell everyone that was what she wanted for her birthday.

Hailey asked for a white cake with strawberry's, so mike made the cake and then mixed berries with cool whip. It was really good.

Hailey's princess vanity. She was so excited!
Putting on her make-up.

Christmas morning.

Well, as usual Christmas has come and gone....but this year was a little different. We usually have one or the other of Mike's parents here, but this year with all of the changes here at the house everyone thought it would be too much. Maybe next year. The kids had a great time with the Sampson's here. It was complete chaos, which is what I love. Lot's of kids opening gifts. I think everyone got what they wanted. The Sampsons and the Ellsworths both got the wii, Hailey got a lot of princess stuff, which is what she loves. The one thing she asked for was a barbie cash register and she got it. But I think she played with it for about 10 minutes and was bored with it. I guess you can't win them all.

Sorry about the pictures, I don't know what happened this year. By the time the morning was over, I realized that I'd taken very few photos. I guess I was just so concerned with getting enough video footage. Candy!
The boys opening stocking gifts

Hailey and her crazy hair

Thoughts

Ever since I can remember I've looked forward to Christmas. When I was younger it was the visit from Santa that excited me....as I've gotten older, I've come to recognize the spirit of the season that comes along with the holiday. As Thanksgiving gets closer, I become more excited, cause I know that as soon as we are done eating the turkey, the official Christmas season begins. This year wasn't quite the season I'd hoped for. Complications with kidney stones, once again, threw a wrench into my plans. Not being able to get out of bed and do all of the fun things that I'd been looking forward to started to darken my outlook. Three weeks in bed gave me a lot of time to sit and stew about struggles that I'd been having physically, and I started to become angry.

Yesterday, on the way home from church Mike asked me if going through what I do, every time a kidney issue arises, brought me closer to the Savior? The question caught me off guard and I really didn't have an answer for him. I'd never thought of it that way. The more I thought about it, the more my heart softened causing me to repent for the anger that I'd felt.

I truly feel blessed, for all that Heavenly Father has given me. I know that the Savior, Jesus Christ has suffered, just as I have through every trial I've had. I am blessed with a wonderful, loving, hardworking husband, 2 fun, healthy children, wonderful parents who filled my childhood home with the spirit and taught me through example what the gospel is about, amazing siblings and in laws who treat me like I'm their own, and friends who I know I can always count on. How can life get any better than that?

I want to thank everyone for the help, well wishes, thoughts and prayers in my behalf. And I want to wish everyone a wonderful Christmas!

Santa Claus is comin to town.....

Braxton and a friend from our old ward, Rachel, working on their craft.

Braxton, just reminding us what a good big brother he his. Holding both Hailey and Gabby on his lap.

Hailey telling Santa what she wants....

Eating breakfast.

Another event I missed was the ward Christmas party. Mike took the kids and was kind enough to take some pictures for me. They had a pancake breakfast made by the bishopric, they did a holiday craft and then Santa came. Hailey sat on his lap and told him that she wanted a Barbie Cash register.....Braxton on the other hand refused to sit on his lap. He says he's too old to do that, but he still believes that Santa will bring him presents anyway.