Pajamas

I have a confession to make... we spend most of our mornings in our pajamas. We usually don't get changed into regular clothes until about 11:00. We play, relax, and enjoy ourselves. 

This is the life.

Runny Noses

Shae has been teething lately ... It never ends! She just about has a top tooth poked through and it makes me cringe just looking at it. So glad I don't remember my teeth coming in. Every time she is teething, a convenient runny nose tends to accompany it - As if her little body is not already experiencing enough discomfort... Poor thing.

Anyway, we do everything we can to keep her busy so that she will not be feeling crumby all day long. Tylenol and Oral Gel can only go so far.

Here are a few snapshots I took a few nights ago...

 Poor little runny nose baby...

Notice the box in the background? Nathan's dad was feeling a little extra generous this Christmas. Thanks Kelly!

Four Years!

Yesterday was our anniversary and it was a GREAT day. Actually, any day that I have Nathan ALL to myself is bliss. To celebrate, we went out to dinner at Snake Bite. After a fantastic meal, we watched the movie, Sherlock Holmes and finished the night off with ice cream.

Whenever Nathan and I get a chance to go out, just the two of us, I feel like a kid all over again. He still makes me the happiest person alive and I am convinced that life can't get any better than this. 

I love you Nathan! Thank you for always being so loving, patient, and kind.

Here's to four more GREAT years! Can't wait!

Princess! Princess! Princess!

I walked into the living room yesterday to find Annie lying in her princess tent, on her princess pillow, covered by her princess blanket, next to her princess barbies, and reading her princess books. Nathan  said, "Look what you've started". Ha! 

She received her first Cinderella barbie last Christmas and ever since then, this love for princesses has escalated dramatically. Now, every time she sees ANYTHING related to princesses she is overjoyed.

 Of coarse, Shae had to join in on the fun...

Love my little princess

Christmas Day

The day went like this... Annie woke up around 7:30 and wanted to go see her presents from Santa. So, we decided to wake up Shae too :)

They were both excited to see their new toys and treats. Annie and Shae spent the first hour or two playing with their gifts from Santa.

Santa did well...

 We even received a letter from Santa! This is all that was left of the milk, cookies, and carrots. Evidently, Rudolf LOVED the carrots.

Next, we opened our presents under the tree. Nathan and I bought a camera earlier this month, so we decide to make each other gifts this year. Nathan definitely out did himself... surprise, surprise. He melted down a bunch of lead and made me an iPhone holder! It is heavy, so I can just place my phone in there and put it on the counter to read off my recipes. I was so excited. He's the bomb.

I made him a bumper sticker, using my Silhouette, that says, "I'd rather be driving a Titleist". If you play golf, you will understand... He liked it, although it definitely did not measure up to his homemade gift!

Annie and Shae received some matching puffy coats from Grandma! Shae just about fell asleep in it.

Nathan bought a new book for Annie and Shae. They opened it together, then immediately wanted it read to them. It's a cute one, "Because I am your daddy". Such a sweet daddy. He loves his girls!

Of coarse, Shae enjoyed tearing apart the paper and boxes... pretty sure this was her Christmas highlight.

The girls received these cute matching sweatsuits from their Great Grandma Turner. They wore them all day.

Church was nice. The girls dressed in their Christmas best and we enjoyed the talks about Christ along with the Christmas music.

It is incredible how fast Christmas comes and goes every year. I am grateful for the chance that we get to focus on Christ's birth and the celebration it deserves. I appreciate this statement made my President Monson in the Christmas Devotional:

When we keep the spirit of Christmas, we keep the Spirit of Christ, for the Christmas spirit is the Christ Spirit.  It will block out all the distractions around us which can diminish Christmas and swallow up its true meaning.

There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus Christ.

Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others.

Because He came, there is meaning to our mortal existence.

Because He came, we know how to reach out to those in trouble or distress, wherever they may be.

Because He came, death has lost its sting, the grave its victory. We will live again because He came.

Because He came and paid for our sins, we have the opportunity to gain eternal life.

My hope is that everyone can keep the Spirit of Christ in his/her life all year round. He dedicated His life to us, so I think it it the least we can do in return. Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

I spent the entire morning baking, cleaning, and wrapping last minute gifts. That evening we took some quick pictures of the girls by the Christmas tree before the PARTY began.

 Our friends arrived around 7:00 and we began eating... then ate some more... then some more. We had cranberry orange cookies, andes mint brownies, baklava, peppermint bark, cheesecake, crackers with a cheese ball, bruschetta on baguettes, wassail, and eggnog punch. To top that ALL off, Martha brought a DELICIOUS artichoke dip. Yum, yum, yum. Let's just say, we have a few leftovers :) 

After we were all STUFFED to the brim, we acted out the nativity. Nathan and Shae were shepherds, Todd and Spencer were wise-men, Avie and Jack were Mary and Joseph, and Annie was the angel. Everyone played their part to a T.

 Then the white elephant gift exchange began. The gifts were fantastic. Here are a few of my favorites... Field guide to Neighborhood Dogs book, a stunning leopard print shrug, swedish fish (just because they are delicious), and a piece of the Santa Claus village that Annie could barely lift by herself.

Another fun one was the flarp noise putty that Todd opened. The kids found it very entertaining...

BIG thanks to all who partied with us! It was a great night.

Once everyone left, we cleaned up, and Annie opened one present - Monkey Pajamas! Despite the serious look on her face, she really did love them :)

After the fun day, the girls were ready to hit the hay and await Santa's arrival... 

Santa's Cookies

Annie was SO EXCITED to make some sugar cookies for Santa today. She helped me make the dough, roll it, and frost them.

 She said she wasn't eating the frosting... hmmm...

It was nice having a little helper, making cookies, with me today. Annie can hardly wait for Christmas Eve tomorrow. To tell you the truth, I think I am even more excited than her!

Nine Months Old

My little Shae is growing up quicker than I can handle! Some of the things that Shae enjoys doing now are:

Pulling herself up to everything - yes, even bare walls

Waving with both hands

Walking along side of furniture, walls, and anything else

Laughing and smiling - such a happy baby :)

Pushing away from comfort and standing on her own for a few seconds

Crawling

Getting into cupboards, drawers, and anything else that she can get her little hands on

Talking and saying, "mummm mummm" when she is sad

Moving... she doesn't stop.

 It takes A LOT of effort to get Shae to look at the camera...

Here are her numbers:

Height: 27.5 inches (50th percentile)

Weight: 19 pounds, 12 ounces (70th percentile)

Head Circumference: 17.3 inches (50th percentile)

Shae recently had two teeth come in within 24 hours of each other. It was a rough few days, but once they poked through, she was back to her normal self. It really feels like she is growing up too fast for me to handle... I wish it would slow down a bit. 

I love you little Shae!

Santa

We went to the mall today to do a little last minute Christmas shopping. Guess who we ran into?

Santa!

Annie was thrilled. She told him she wanted a Barbie and a tinker bell for Christmas.

Rose Colored Glasses

Annie has these sunglasses that are for her Build a Bear. They fit Shae perfectly!

We all had a good laugh.

Texas Roadhouse + Ugly Sweaters = A Great Party

  Last Saturday our ward had their annual Christmas party and yes TEXAS ROADHOUSE catered it! Need I say more?

This year a new twist was added - UGLY SWEATERS. It was great and personally, I think the ward looked fantastic. Nathan found the ugly sweaters for our family at DI for close to nothing... not sure why... They are so hip!

Santa even made a special appearance! 

We have the best Bishop EVER :)

Shae would NOT look at the camera. She loved that big, white beard! 

Kelsi, Gena, Me, and Alyssa (from left to right) put an 80's twist on it. We added a little green eye shadow and awesome hair... thanks to Alyssa and her stylin' talents :)

It was a fun night. It will be sad to leave this ward in July.

Waiting for the snow...

It has been so nice the last few days! I appreciate the warmth, although, I am really hoping for a white Christmas. For the kids sake... ok, for MY sake :)

It has been nice to be able to take the kids outside more often to soak up some sunshine!

 Annie's "silly face". She is very proud of it and thinks it is VERY silly.

 It was even warm enough for Nathan to go golfing! He left during Annie's nap. Once she woke up we went outside to play while we waited for Daddy's return. 

It's always a party when he gets home.

Daddy's Work Boots

FAMILY PICTURES!!!

Here are my favorites...

  

My dear friend, Tiffany, took our pictures. She does an incredible job.