The Best Christmas Ever…

Mark and I agreed that this year was the best Christmas for our family. We were really good at staying to the budget for the girls…. sandbox to share, Tessa a leapfrog  and Mallory a ride & pull wagon and other smaller things.

However, Mark did not stay to the budget for me! We said NO gifts except a stocking…. he bought me a beautiful charm bracelet and earrings. But the BEST Christmas present he got me was a video that he made for me about me. He interviewed friends and family. To me it is priceless! Mark got a stocking but he also got a video of the girls doing different things while he was away at Target (his 2nd job).

We had a wonderful time with family over a three day period. We were spoiled with generous gifts from parents/grandparents. Church on Christmas was wonderful, the spirit was amazing.

We started a new tradition of visiting the Temples Visitor Center on Christmas Eve. It was a great way to reinforce the true reason for the season with our girls and it really brought a wonderful spirit to Mark and I.

We couldn’t have asked for a better Christmas!

Dance Recital

Tessa had her first dance recital. She was so excited. Her class danced to Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. I was nervous for her because she had to be there two hours before for a dress rehearsal but Tessa did great. She was very proud of herself. Also her papas and grandmas enjoyed watching her.

 

New Family Pics

 

We got family photos done  the end of Oct. They turned out great! It has been a year… so the photos are a great reminder that we are surviving it and becoming a better family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And like most family pictures at least someone isn’t looking!

Hula Girls

 

Happy Halloween!

The girls were hula dancers this year! Tessa did great going door to door until we finally let her have candy then she became less productive. Mallory had her first sucker and really enjoyed it. We also went to visit grandma and Tessa got to give candy to some of the other residences! It was a fun evening.

This cutie is 1 year old!

We don’t know where the time went!

Mallory loved her Rainbow cake!

***I have to brag just a little i thought i did a great job

making her cake!***

Disneyland

I really should have posted these before but my days go by so fast and i just never got is done. Anyway, we had an amazing time in Disneyland. Tessa is saving her money so we can go back. We did the whole park in 2 days and that was from opening to close each day. Then we did San Diego…the girls loved the ocean but it was cloudy and cold the whole time we were there. Hopefully, next time the sun will come out!

Tessa and Mallory loved the carousel.

Tessa loved anything fast and not dark. We rode the roller-coaster in ToonTown about 6 times.  My parents and my Grandma came with us.

We waited 45 minutes to see Princesses and it was worth it to see Tessa’s face when she saw Belle.

It was cold on the beach but Tessa wouldn’t wear anything but her swimsuit. Mallory loved the shovel we brought to dig with and the water once she discovered it.

Tessa with a mermaid tail!

We also stopped at the San Diego Temple, so beautiful, and walked around. And went to the USS Midway Battleship…Tessa didn’t really like it but Mark and I thought it was neat!

We can’t wait to do it again!!!!

Someone loved….

her 1st day at Preschool!

There are about 8 kids in her class. Her daddy and I are super excited for her. The teacher sent home a schedule for us and Tessa will be doing some really fun things including a Halloween Party with costumes!

**The card she is holding says “ I'm a Preschooler.”  I have one for every grade level.**

Starting the School Year!

  Tessa starting ballet class this           month and LOVES it!  She is attended a traveling  preschool one day a week that my aunt started and regular preschool Tues. and Thurs. starting in Sept. Tessa loves all the activities and asks every day “where are we going today?”

 

Crazy hair-dos in the tub after playing in the water outside.

 

 

This cute girl is 10 months! I can’t believe it. She is waking everywhere!!! Runs sometimes. Loves her sister and loves to play. Is getting better at signing bottle, more and done. Gabbers all the time and we are working on dada, momma,  and Tessa. But she will probably say Annie first because that’s the dog and she loves the dog!

 

 

Mark took Tessa to her first ASU football game. They rode the train to the game and Tessa loved it. She also loved seeing Sparky!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She discovered the Quad! Mallory loved playing on it. She even stood up on it! My dare-devil!!!

Fun things…

 Playing with cousins

 

 

 

Playing with necklaces in crib

made delicious pizza on the grill

playing with toys

and the most fun of ALL….

 We are getting close to VACATION!

someone is 9 months …

 

and walking! Mallory is right on schedule because that’s when her sister started walking. She is everywhere and into everything.  Here she is being silly and enjoying laying on her squishy. I will post video of her walking later!

an inspiring message

so at the end of June we had stake conference. our stake presidency did something different for the adult session.. they each chose a Mormon Message to show and speak on. the stake president chose My New Life  a message from Stephanie Nielson, many may know that she and her husband were in a horrible plane crash but both survived. 

the message that was delivered was about trials! our stake president told how we all have trials but all are unique and if we put our trust and faith in the Lord remembering what is true and do what's right we can withstand that trial.

as i listened and watched the video the spirit testified of the truthfulness of the gospel and  i know without a shadow of doubt that this is the true church and without it in my life i would be lost; that i am a daughter of God and I know what is important in life (its not my clean house but my eternal family with my husband and girls);  how incredible it is to be a mother/wife even when there are days or times that are hard…. things could be harder!!!; and that attitude is everything…my attitude can make or break my day, my husband’s day, and my girls’ day.  i hope i will remember this video on the days i feel i need help or better yet on the days i need inspiration!

I love my life with all its ups and downs!

i’m 3…

Her dad and I can’t believe she’s 3. Where did the time go?

• Tessa is very smart and likes to do “work” in work books.
• She loves princesses and ballerinas.
• She loves her sister but doesn’t always like to share.
• She will be going to Pre-school in the fall. I think she will really like it.
• She is ticklish everywhere.
• She loves to cuddle at night.
• She loves chocolate milk in the morning and has the biggest sweet tooth!
• Her favorite color is pink.
• She loves to go to nursery on Sunday.
• She likes to climb on her dad when he is laying on the floor.
• She likes to read books and when told to look at them by herself she responds with “i don’t know the words".
• She calls QT the donut place and Target the cheetoh place because she usually get those there.
• She loves to play with her cousins. She calls them her “friends”.
• She can throw some pretty good tantrums.
• She does good doing her chores.
• She likes to get money and now has a piggybank to put it in.
• She likes to help mom cook.
• She is sometimes scared of new things.
• She is very curious about things. WHY? is her favorite phrase some days.

Someone got glasses!

 

This sweet and active little girl was going cross-eyed. After a very turbulent eye doctor visit, glasses were decided on to fix the problem. Hopefully, she won’t have to wear them forever but for now she needs them all the time. But she loves the pink frames and was excited to pick them up yesterday!

So Cute!!!

A lovely evening…

Last night we celebrated the graduation of a good friend’s son. It was a wonderful evening with good food and fun company. This young man is very intelligent, happy and  kind. He has an extraordinary mother who has raised him this way.

Thank you for letting my family share the night with you!

Our Summer Vacation…

doesn’t start for a while….

…but we are ready!

7 months and an the move

Miss Mallory is 7 months old. She can…

1. crawl…fast
2. eat…like a champ. She opens her mouth as wide as it will go. She reminds us of a baby bird.
3. thinks she can climb….no, no, no!
4. loves to play the toy piano and squeeze/bite her toy hippo
5. loves her big sister Tessa and our dog Annie
6. sleeps like a champ
7. is a happy and easy going girl

We can’t wait to see what she will do next!

this little girl is….

6 months old today!

She likes to eat baby food. She isn’t crawling yet but she sure can move around the floor. She loves her big sister. And everything goes into her mouth. She sleeps through the night when she wants otherwise she takes a bottle and goes back to sleep.

She makes us smile and laugh everyday. We are truly blessed to have her in our family.

Tis the Easter season for…

 Bunny ears!

Mark was at Priesthood session for conference on Saturday night and Tessa needed something to do. After she made her ears, she decided that Mallory needed some. So we have to very sweet & cute bunnies at our home.

Having fun…

camping in the front room… going on a bike ride…

eating chocolate…making summores for family night…  playing in the bed…. putting Daddy to bed…. rolling away….

and playing with toys.