This Made My Day!

I got this in the mail today.

There was something about seeing my Mom's handwriting that just brightened my day today. 

I love my mom so much and I am so lucky to have a mom that cares so much and does little things like this. It made me smile. 

Thank you, Mom! 

I love you! 

Miss Jaye and Mister

I know...I know. I post pictures of my kids EVERY SINGLE DAY! I can't help it. They are growing up SO fast and I can't stop taking pictures of them. 

So....here are a few more pictures of my babies. 

Play Dough

This morning we didn't have anything to do. Our back yard is a frozen lake, we didn't have anywhere to go, and I wasn't in the mood to clean. ......So we made Play Dough. 

I have a love/hate relationship with the "terrible twos". It is hard because Brylee is has a hard time controlling herself. We have the occasional tantrum and the answer to everything is "No". I am also loving her age because she is getting old enough to enjoy things like this. 

The whole time we were making the play dough she was singing and saying "Mom, I Cited (I'm excited)". She told me she wanted blue play dough...so we made it the brightest blue possible. 

....and Mister just chilled as usual. 

Just hanging out. 

She stirred better when her tongue was out. 

Waiting Patiently.

She was excited to get a big ball of it all to herself. I don't think she knew quite what to do. 

Cole even got in on the action. It was tough to get the blue out from under his little fingernails. 

Ice Skating Anyone????

No, that isn't a frozen lake! That is our BACKYARD! We knew we had a little flooding problem when we moved in over the Summer and had a few rain showers.....but with the snow the last few days, we have seen how much of a problem it actually is!!! I wish I could take a picture of the whole yard! It's crazy. Craig threw some Taco meat out in the yard for Tanner, who fell through the ice trying to get it. 

Brylee thought that was pretty darn hilarious. 

I think we either need to invest in some ice skates.....or some fill dirt. 

Fifty Degrees and Sunny

Really? In January????? All of the snow we got earlier in the week has melted already.  Let's just say Brylee played outside all morning. She is loving life right now!....and I am not complaining. 

FYI.....She is wearing her coat because she wanted to. Not because it is really cold enough to. :)

Family Time

We have been so lucky that Craig has been so busy with work, but it has been really nice to have him home on the weekends for the last month-ish. Since he has a ton of jobs coming up starting this weekend, we decided it would be fun to have a family day on Saturday. We went to the Dinosaur Museum. Brylee is fascinated with dinosaurs thanks to Nick Jr. and Dino Dan.

Brylee had so much fun pretending that she was digging up the dinosaur bones.

Notice the Plumber Crack!!!!! Ever since she has been wearing big girl undies, its like her jeans are all too big. We are very
 blessed to have THIS view every time she bends over. 

Craig and Cole were SO BORED! They decided that they aren't ever going back to the Dinosaur Museum. 

Then we just hung out the rest of the weekend and were lazy. That doesn't happen often enough. :)

I just love this baby boy! It makes me sad how fast he is growing up. 

Brylee is learning how to share her toys. Cole always has stacks of toys around him and he is covered with blankets and towels. 

Conquering the Cold

"Attitude, to me, is more important than...the past,...than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing  is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day." 

-Charles Swindoll--author, educator, and Christian Pastor

"We can't direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. For maximum happiness, peace, and contentment, may we choose a positive attitude. 

-President Thomas S. Monson

I have lived in Utah now for almost five years. It seems I spend every single Winter with a really bad attitude. We have been really lucky so far this Winter. We have had a ton of sunshine and stayed at about forty degrees. We haven't even really needed to pull our jackets out of the coat closet. 

Yesterday, the snow finally started. The weather forecast is showing that we are getting ready to have storm after storm starting this week. I could feel my grumpiness coming out. I have been running every night, training for the Salt Lake City Half Marathon in April, as one of my New Year's Resolutions. I really wanted to say, "Well, that's too bad. I guess my training is over." Then, I sat down and read these quotes that were in an article the January Ensign. 

My attitude about Winter and Utah has pretty much sucked since I have been here. For what? I have chosen to let the weather affect my mood. THE WEATHER! How silly is that? I have spent every year moping and whining about the cold weather. My poor husband! I don't know how he has put up with me for this long? If I was him, I would be taking a winter vacation every year. To get away from ME!!!! 

I decided that I am not going to be like that anymore. I am choosing to EMBRACE Winter. Last night, I bundled up in thick layers, gloves, and a hat and I went out and ran in the twenty or so degree weather, with ICE on the sidewalk....in the DARK! You know what? It wasn't bad at all. I ended up getting hot and taking my gloves after the first mile. I got home and I felt almost relieved. I CAN handle the Winter. My bad attitude was my choice. It's not going to be like that anymore. 

I am so lucky to live where I do. It is such a good place to raise a family and to settle down. Snow and all. :)

This was taken last year by Craig at my Mom and Fred's old house. We haven't had NEARLY this much snow yet. 

Brylee's Photoshoot

We went to the Quilted Bear today and we ended up buying this really cute vintage looking lace outfit for Brylee. I just think it is so cute with the headband! She, of course, was in heaven when I put it on her. She was prancing around the house and even went out in the front yard with Craig, who was cleaning the garage, to show it off. She was so funny!!! Having a little girl is so fun! :) Cole was crying the whole time I was taking these pictures. I don't think he gets into the "girly" stuff. I don't ever want these kids to grow up! 

Playing Around

I had to get the full version of Photoshop for one of my classes, so I decided to play around during nap time today. Here are a few pictures I took this morning. I love my kids. :)