A thought on babies...

I just love babies (mine especially)! I told Brad he is in trouble because I love having little babies around. I love everything about them. From their squishy cheeks to their sweet smiles to their complete relience on everyone around them. I love watching them make new discoveries and get so excited over simple things like a TV remote (when Tanner gets his hands on the TV remote you would think he won the jackpot). Tanner is such a mama's boy which can be difficult at times (especially Tuesday nights when I have to teach and Brad is home with him) but I have to admit I love it too. It just melts my heart when his face lights up when I walk into a room, or how I can calm the biggest fit just by picking him up, or how he nestles his head (helmet and all) into my shoulder and gives the best loves. It makes me sad that he is growing up so fast. He wants to be just like the rest of us. Today at Costco we were all eating pizza and he was so upset he didn't have any. I gave him a piece of my crust to gum on and he was in heaven. Brad tried to take it away from him 10 minutes later to wash him off and he started yelling at Brad. You don't take food from this kid. The other night we stopped by my parents house and my mom sent us home with a loaf of bread. Tanner grabbed a hold of that bag and refused to let go. He held the loaf the entire way home (he knows a good thing when he sees it!)

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. The best part was having so much time together as a family. I think Brad is ready to go back to work and have a break from all of us, but the kids and I loved having him around so much.

A few of the weekend highlights:

A yummy Thanksgiving Dinner

Spending time with family

Pie, pie and more pie (the weight gain is not one of the highlights)

Air Hockey- Ashlyn couldn't get enough of it

Family

Gingerbread Houses

Putting up the Christmas tree

Family

Swimming

Football

Sewing- thanks for all your help Paula

And of coarse shopping! (I wasn't out at 4am, but still got some good deals!)

We talked a lot about being thankful this year, hoping to instill a little bit of the meaning of the holiday in Ashlyn. We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. It is always rewarding as a parent to see your kids learn and do good things on their own. On our drive to Thanksgiving Dinner Ashlyn just started to tell us all the things she is thankful for (without us coaching her and telling her what to say). She said she was thankful for her family; her list included her grandparents and cousins, her blanket, nursery teachers, our home teachers, our house, the beautiful trees, the zoo, the farm, etc. It got pretty lengthy, but hopefully she felt the meaning of what she was saying.

Ashlyn's First Visit to the Dentist

Ashlyn had her first checkup with the Dentist today. I couldn't believe how well she did. We have been prepping her for a few weeks, and found a great book "Dora visits the Dentist" to get her ready- apparently it worked. There were no tears or trauma. She let him count her teeth, floss and polish them and even did the flouride treatment. The only problem we had was when they didn't do things exactly like they were done in her Dora book. The office was good at improvising and meeting her expectations though. As we were leaving she was jumping around saying, "mom that was fun going to the dentist!" It helped too that her dentist is her cousin Sam's Grandpa so she had already met him in a less intimidating environment. I was so proud of her.

Finally some sleep around here

Our most exciting news this month is that Tanner is finally sleeping through the night. 8 months of sleep deprivation gets challenging. I feel like a new women! It's amazing how much you can get done when you're not focusing all your energy on just staying awake! I unfortunately can't crash anywhere and anytime like my kids.

I posted a few pictures of them sleeping, sometimes in crazy places. The other day Ashlyn was out coloring at the kitchen table and it got really quiet so I went to check on her and she had fallen asleep on the chairs. Tanner just fell over the other night and fell asleep on the floor.

I think sleeping kids are one of the most precious things to observe. Every night before Brad and I go to bed we sneak into the kids rooms and love to just watch them sleep. We usually find them in strange positions or sometimes sleep talking, but they always look so peaceful and happy.

A beautiful day in November

Who would have thought the Zoo would be more enjoyable weather wise in November as opposed to July! We only had to wear jackets in the shade. It was so nice to not get heat stroke walking around, and the animals were actually out and active not hiding in the shade. When you ask Ashlyn what her favorite animal was it wasn't an animal it was riding the train. (If only you could go to the zoo and just pay the $1 to ride the train and not pay the admission to get in.)

Tanner thought the train was pretty exciting too!

Since it was such a beautiful day, after the zoo we headed up the canyon to Park City. No- not to look at the gorgeous fall leaves, but to SHOP! (we did however notice the leaves as we drove 70mph up the canyon) Brad and I always joke about how many things he has changed about me since we have been married (ex: I'll now eat steak and hot dogs, watching the Simpsons etc.) But I think I have topped it all. Not only did I get Brad to go shopping, but he spent WAY more money on clothes then the kids and I put together. And he bought all his clothes at none other than Banana Republic. I had to force him into the store (he didn't think it would fit his style) and then I had to drag him out of the store before he broke the bank.

Whew! That was a long day. I think we wore Ashlyn out! She crashed on the way home.

A quick look at the past month

October started out with Tanner getting his helmet. He has plagiocephaly (a flat head) and has since birth. Much to our dismay and the doctor's it wouldn't correct on its own, so on the helmet went. The first week was miserable, but now it's great. I actually love the helmet. It protects him mostly from his sister, but has also made some pretty nasty head bonks no big deal. He has had it on for just over a month now and it has already made a huge improvement. He is our handsome little fella helmet and all!


Next order of events for October was Brad's parents returning home from their mission. With 4 new grandchildren born while they were gone, the homecoming was extra special. We didn't think Ashlyn would remember them since she was only 18 months old when they left. But after a few minutes she treated them like they were never away. And of coarse all the babies were glad just to have another Grandma (and Grandpa) to kiss and hold them. Here is a picture of Tanner playing with his cousin Kelsey at the reunion.


Halloween was definetely a highlight this month. Ashlyn was a "nice" witch and Tanner an adorable skunk! Ashlyn caught on a lot faster this year that not being shy and saying "trick-or-treat" worked to her advantage. She made out like a bandit. Tanner just wishes he could eat all the good stuff.

The beginning...

So I am finally starting our family blog. You will have to forgive my lack of creativity. I am keeping this mostly for journaling sake, but thought friends and family might like scanning it every once in awhile to see our cute kids.