Thanksgiving

     Thanksgiving this year it was my parent's year. Tyler's parent's had decided to come out to Cali for Christmas so we could afford to make the long trek home! I was worried about the 11 hour drive, with a recently potty trained 3 yr. old but we went for it.

     We left about 2 that afternoon. We stopped in Vegas and had dinner with my brother. We went to this awesome burger place, that I can not remember the name of. It was like gourmet burgers. SO yummy. By the time we got done it was just about bed time so we jumped in the car and hoped the kids would fall asleep. They did, and after some snow, some middle of the night pit stops for Sophia, and lots of snacks later. We made to my parents about 3 am. I did not call my mother ahead of time to tell her we were coming early so they were quite surprised. Also lucky for me my parents are night owls because they were both up. ha ha

     We got to spend a week and a half at my moms and everyday was filled with friends, family, repeat. It was so fun! I didn't realize how much I missed home till I went back! I was caught up in the excitement of moving but once I made home I didn't want to leave again.

Sophia and Layla enjoying a movie.

     Thanksgiving day my brother drove up and we were all there except Ben and Jess who live in Canada now.  It was just a relaxing day filled with lot's of food. The next morning we woke up early and went black friday shopping. This year it was awesome! All the crazies went Thanksgiving night and by the time we got up at 5 and went all the shelves were restocked, lines gone, crazies in bed! It was awesome! We were in and out of all our stores in like 15 min. and got everything we wanted. I did all of Christmas for my family of 4 for under $100. I was pretty proud of myself.

The aerospace museum was one of the many things we did over Thanksgiving.

     The rest of the week was spent playing and shopping and eating more. My mother sent us home with all our Christmas gifts, all Ben's gifts, and I had all the stuff from black Friday. It was a miracle I didn't have stuff strapped to the roof!

     It was an amazing trip and it was so hard to leave again! I miss my family, they are my best friends! We think about you guys everyday! Sophia asks for you guys everyday. Nana, Papa, Grandma, Grandpa,  and cousins are very common subjects Sophia brings up to talk about. Thanksgiving was great!

~A

Halloween

We figured this was the last year Sophia would let us pick  out her Halloween costume. So we decided to make it count! I give you,............Richard Simmons!!!

Doesn't she make the best Richard Simmons?! I was tempted to get some fake color and make her hair brown but I didn't have time.  

I made that little shirt. I am pretty proud of it. There is 500 jewels on there! I glued each one individually. Yes I am that crazy but the rest of the costume was super easy!

Our little skeleton. He is the cutest! 

We just went around to friend's houses to trick or treat and hang out. Maybe next year we will really take her trick or treating. 

~A

Birthdays and Baptisms

     The first two weekends in Oct. were busy busy for us. The first weekend was conference and my sisters 30th birthday! We went up to my mom's house early Saturday. We watched the first and most of the 2nd session of conference. Then all the girls got together to celebrate Shelby turning 30. We asked her husband what she wanted to do for her birthday and he said she wanted to be on a beach in Maui. So we made her a bikini t-shirt and we all wore flower lays(?) and went and got manicures and pedicures! It was fabulous. I then had a baby shower to go to for one of my dear friends, then we met the boys and went out to dinner that evening.

     Isn't the shirt we made her great?! ha ha Sunday we had a big family dinner and watched conference together. Although with all the kids there we just ended up talking and laughing most the time, not to mention four grandkids. I will definetly be re-watching it but family time is always good time!  Afterwards Briana and I spent a good portion of the afternoon trying to make her look like a doll for her Halloween costume. It worked out pretty well. 

The next weekend Tyler had his interview in California at SCCO. He flew out Thursday morning, so we dropped him off at the airport and headed to my moms. The kids and I spent the day visiting some old friends and shopping. 

Friday my mom had the day off work and Shelby's kids came over to play. Mom and I spent the day cleaning and cooking because Saturday was little Tyler's(my nephew) baptism! We did take a break Friday afternoon to paint pumpkins with the kids and with my good friend and her son. The kids all loved it! 

Layla insisted on doing her pumpkin by herself. She also insisted on painting her hair and mouth and face! 

Little Tyler made a scary vampire!

Sophia made sure every inch of her pumpkin was covered in paint! 

Little stud Carson showing us is cheesy smile. 

     Saturday was the baptism. We got up early got the soup going and made sure the house was set up. Little Tyler looked kinda nervous to me but I think he was excited. Sophia thought it was so neat. She said "Look mom Tyler!" really loud as he walked into the font! It was cute. During the confirmation Sophia was having a melt down, I am not really sure what caused it, and Joel was hungry and crying and Tyler wasn't there so I was in the hall for the talk and confirmation but what can you do. The whole family, extended and in-laws,  went back to my mom's for yummy food. 

Sophia all ready for the baptism, wanting to pose by the pumpkins.

    Saturday night we were invited to a Halloween party at Cornbelly's by my sis. in-laws. My kids were cranky and Joel was getting over a cold so we left them with Ben and Jess so Tyler and I could go out. It was nice to have a break but once we got there we felt bad not taking Sophia, she would have loved it! Sunday we had the Hanna and Sara and families over for dinner so the guys and Sara could get together and watch the season premier of the walking dead. Hanna and I don't really appreciate the show, it creeps us out! ha ha It was fun to have everyone over. We love spending time with family and the last two weekends that's all we did! 

           ~A 

         

Fathers Day

     Father's day weekend was quite eventful for us. We celebrated Sophia's 2nd birthday on Saturday (post to come.) It was a blast and so fun to see family and friends. Sunday I was so worn out  that I didn't want to do anything but lay in bed ha ha. I promised Tyler we would celebrate Father's Day Monday instead. Sunday we drove down to  my parents house and spent the day with them and my siblings. It was a good time as always. My mom made a delicious dinner and homemade pies for dessert. My dad said he didn't want any gifts he just wanted us to come visit so I was off the hook for gifts! 

     So on Monday when I had gotten some energy back I got to work picking up the apartment. It was filled with birthday leftovers. I cleaned it up for Tyler and got creative making him a candy bar poster. I haven't made one of these since like Junior High. It was really fun. I just bought a bunch of candy bars I thought I could make fun sentences out of. Tyler loved it, and I thought maybe all the sugar would help get him through  the last week or so of cramming for the OAT. 

Here is what it says. Dear Tyler, Happy Father's Day! We think you are a 100 GRAND and a SWEET TART of a dad! I know sometimes us RUNTS can go on a shopping SPREE and ruin your PAYDAY but we think you are a WHOPPER of a dad! We love that you put up with us when we act like NERDS! We don't want to let you slip through our BUTTERFINGERs. So we just want you to know we think you are the ORIGINAL MR. GOODBAR! And we promise....

to always LAFFFY TAFFY at your jokes! We love you more then the MILKY WAY! Love always your hot MAMBA and your SUGAR BABIES!! 

I thought I was pretty clever! Tyler loved it!

     For dinner I made German pancakes. I cooked them in a cupcake pan so they made individual bowls. I filled them with fruit and topped them with homemade whipped cream! They were so yummy! We love eating breakfast for dinner. We added bacon, hash browns, and chocolate milk to the meal and we were stuffed in no time. It was a simple but a good Father's day. 

      ~A  

Me and my crafty self

     As previously stated I did also make my mother in law a mother's day gift. I just got it to her this weekend so now I can show you what I made her. I made her some photo blocks with pictures of her 3 granddaughters on it. They turned out so cute and she loved them! Sorry for the poor quality of pics. I always finish my projects at night after Sophia goes to bed so then my pics have crappy lighting when I take them. 

     Also another I craft I just recently finished was one for my sister. She just moved into a new apartment and bought herself all brand new furniture. While we were shopping we were looking for decorative pillows for her couches. Well pillows are expensive!! It was like $20 a pillow. I just couldn't let her spend that, so I told her I would make her some cute couch pillows. I got the fabric on clearance and the pillows half off. SO for 8 pillows it cost $50 dollars rather than $160!! I would say that is a steal! 

I made one big bow one, two with stripes and 3 buttons across, two with one button and a loop, and a couple of just regular pillows. All removable and washable.

     Don't mind my old hand me down couch. These are going on some super nice dark brown leather couches. I think they will look so great in her living room with all the fun furniture and decorations we picked out over her birthday! 

           ~A 

Mother's day

     Mother's day weekend was fabulous! Saturday morning my sister came out and her and I went and got massages!! So great, it was just what I needed. Then we went and met up with my mom and sisters and we went shopping for Tiff's birthday. Tiffany just moved into a new apartment so for her birthday she treated herself to all new furniture! It was fun to shop for things I can't afford and live vicariously through my sister. we got couches Saturday, which are amazingly comfortable! She took Sophia and I home with her that night and we spent the next three days together.
     Sunday Tiff and I went down to my parents house and the men were in charge of dinner. So we got tacos for dinner on mother's day but I love tacos and it was nice not to do anything! Sophia in nursery made me an adorable fingerprint flower. I made my mother these adorable photo coasters. They are so much cuter in person and so easy to make!

     Seriously though so easy and cheap! You just buy some white tiles from home depot. .19cents a piece. then print off some pictures in black and white. I did all the kids in my family and and grandkids. Then modgepodge the pics onto the tiles and do 4-5 layers of spray on sealant. I had the modgepodge and sealant so total cost for 12 personalized coasters $4.00!  My mom loved them! I can't tell you what I made my mother in law because she hasn't gotten it yet and I know she reads my blog. As soon as I give it to her I'll post pics.

      I didn't actually spend the day with my husband since I was going to be out of town till Tues. and he stayed home to work and such. He did give me one of the best gifts ever though! He cleaned our entire apartment, mainly our bedroom which looked like a bomb hit it!! Seriously so great to come home to a clean slate. I loved it!!

     Monday Tiff and I went and bought her a new kitchen table and TV stand. We spent the afternoon putting the table together. Then Shelby and Aaron came and helped Tiff load the TV stand in and we all went to dinner. We spent that night putting the TV stand together. Tuesday we went shopping to get decorations and went out to lunch for Tiff's birthday! It was a super fun weekend and I loved spending time with my sis!
     I did not get any pics but here are some cute pics of Sophia.

Sophia loves to read and we often find her with one of our books pretending to read it by herself!

She fell asleep like this in the car on a recent trip to Logan! ha ha SO funny!

She has started this new thing, putting her hands on her cheeks. She will just walk around the house like this.

She had a play date with daddy. She loves the swings!

The little boy next to us has bikes and scooters and she immediately runs over and will put his helmet on and ride the bike and scooter. I think we might need to get her a bike for her birthday.

I just love the way she looks with a helmet on ha ha so goofy.

My two favorite people!

Pictures Finally! and Easter

     This last weekend we spent up at my parents house for Easter. It was so nice and relaxing! I of course forgot my camera and am kicking myself because Sophia was so stinking cute! She absolutely loved the easter egg hunt, but I am getting ahead of myself. We started the weekend off Saturday morning going to Shelby's work and taking part in a community egg hunt and breakfast. Little Tyler(my nephew, Shelby's son, we call him that to not get confused with big Tyler my hubby!) scored on the egg hunt. We also took pictures with the easter bunny. Sophia didn't cry she just looked at him like what is going on. It was pretty funny!

     Saturday after the hunt the girls all went to the new city creek center for Briana's birthday while the boys went on a motorcycle ride. It was a lot of fun, insanely crowded but a lot of fun! We didn't make it to all the stores, mostly because I really started to hurt after 3 hours of walking around, it helped that every store we went into was HUGE and any line we waited in was forever long but we will be back I am sure! Saturday night I helped a dear friend out and did her hair and spent some much needed time catching up with her and one of my other favorite people in the world! We always end up staying out till all hours of the night and it is always a good time!

     Sunday we went to church and had some fun outside. The weather was beautiful so we had the egg hunt outside and inside. Sophia was so stinking cute! I wish I would have recorded the entire thing because it was adorable! I showed her once what to do then she took off and loved it. She got so many eggs and candy it will last us a long time. The easter bunny(my mother) even got little baby boy a basket and it was full of adorable boy clothes! I loved it! We are starting from scratch again in the clothes department so it helped a lot! Then my grandparents came down from Logan and we had a fabulous dinner and visited with my brother on the phone. All in all the weekend was fabulous and we all had a blast! Now some picture updates of my adorable daughter.

The gorgeous flowers Tyler got me to help me feel better! 

See where Sophia gets her hair from?! My favorite people with their froed out hair!

One day Sophia found a pin and decided to unzip her pjs and draw all over her belly. It was pretty funny!

One of Sophia's favorite games to play with dad is wear his hat and hide in it till dad finds her. 

Shelby got the girls these easter hats and Sophia's is really tight on her head it kinda makes her look like she has a mullet but she loves to wear it! It's pretty funny!

Another new favorite of Sophia's is to wear my clothes! ha ha Sometimes we have to get creative to get them to stay on her.

My child never does this, but she fell asleep on the couch all by herself. It was so rare I had to snap a pic! 

The one crafty thing I have done lately is spruce up this pair of boy flip flops I bought Sophia with some lace.

OOH AAH! ha ha She kept pointing at them saying pretty! ha ha I love the way they turned out and they were so simple. Anyway sorry this post got crazy long! Enjoy!