Thank You Tom and Becky!!!

Uncle Tom and Aunt Becky surprised our kids with the BEST Christmas present ever!!!!  Nintendo DS' for each one of our boys along with 2 games each and a case to hold it all in.   They also sent a gift card for little Kelbi to pick herself something she will love.   I just want to thank them so much for making their Christmas so bright, they will be entertained for hours.  They live in Arizona and I want them to know that it is so nice to be remembered and we just think they are so fun.  We love you so much!

Winter Storm

This is a beautiful picture out of our backyard after our storm Monday night. I love the calm beauty of everything after the furry of a big wintery storm.

Gingerbread Houses

We made our annual gingerbread houses on Monday night. It took Chris' brother 2 1/2 hours to get her from The Ranches in Eagle Mountain because of the storm and Chris' dad almost as long. We are glad everyone made it safely and we had a really great time.

Our nephew Aidan with Coby

Our nephew Liam and our niece Tylere with Conner and Cade

Chris and Conner building a two story and grandpa getting a drink in the background

All the kids with their masterpieces

Kelbi and our niece Olivia were pleased as punch to play together

Guitar Hero

In the summer we borrowed my mom's guitar hero game. Chad and Jamie came in town and we all had a blast playing it. We decided to get a set of our own for Christmas this year and when Chad and family came in town we decided to let the kids open it early! All the kids wripped open the game and they have been playing like crazy ever since.

Kelbi's First Birthday Party

We celebrated Kelbi's first birthday on Sunday with both of our families. We did a dinner at our house with soup, rolls, salad, and birthday cake. It was real fun because we had a house full of 26 family members all there to support our little bug. We were especially lucky because Chad and his family were here from Arizona and Chris' dad and his wife Bobby came from St. George to be with us. It is so wonderful to have family be there to support you. I really wish I would have taken more pictures because I don't have everyone pictured.Kelbi's Christmas Dress

Part of the family

Chris' brother Casey and his wife Amy and baby Olivia. Also our niece Tylere who is Chad's daughter.

Eating her cake!

Festival of Lights

We went to the Spanish Fork Festival of lights with Chris' brother Chad and their family the other night. We always look forward to going to see them each and every year. There are tons of light pictures like the one below including olympics themes, santa's workshop, dinosaurs, and the nativity among many others. We had our nephew Aidan in the car with us who is obsessed with dinosaurs and he was an absolute hoot to listen to.

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Coby's Kindergarten Party

Last Friday was the last day before school got out for the holidays and my mom and I decided to go help with Coby's party.  They decorated gingerbread houses, romped around in the gym, read the polar express and then they laid down on their mats with treats to watch Polar Express.  Coby's teacher has been so fun this year and a perfect match for Coby's personality.  I love when I can go to school and interact with my kids.

Kelbi's Birthday at Red Robin

Kelbi turned one on the 17th and her daddy had to go out of town.  We are planning a big party for her on Sunday when he is back.  My boys were very upset to think we weren't going to do anything for her real birthday so we called up my mom and siblings and wouldn't you know it they all came at the last minute.  I am so glad to have such a great supportive family.  Kelbi just couldn't believe it when they placed this sundae in front of her.  Her party on Sunday will be fun because all of my family will be there and Chris' brother is up from Arizona and his dad will be coming from St. George.

Love this picture of my dad with my baby girl

Happy Birthday My Little Kelbi

Tomorrow is Kelbi's first birthday. It makes me sad as I look at pictures of her and realize how much she has grown and how fast time goes by. We had such a hard time getting her here. I am so glad that we didn't give up. She has been such a special spirit in our family. I am so emotional just sitting here thinking about her and how I wish I could just slow life down and save it in a bottle. I want to freeze by children where they are and not let them get any older.
I want to tell Kelbi some things that I love about her.
1. I love it when I go get you in the mornings and you stand in your crib and smile at me
2. I love it when you get embarrassed and bury your face into my chest
3. I love it how you get so excited when daddy or brothers come home.
4. I love it when you cry "mamma" so sad when you are hurt.
5. I love it when you are angry and tell us off in baby language.
6. I love to watch you inchworm your way across the room.
7. I love to hear you giggle when you are tickled.
8. I love it when I feed you your bottle and you look into my eyes with love.
9. I love it when you clap with your feet.
10. I love that your Heavenly Father knew I needed you and sent you to me to love forever.

My Sweet Conner

On Friday the kids had an economics fair that the fifth grade puts on. Conner had been working to earn money to spend there and he had eight dollars. He spent four dollars on this homemade doll for Kelbi and bought presents for two other family members. He came home, wrapped it all up and wrote the cute card that you can see below. Conner would give the shirt off his back if it would make someone else happy. I love him for it and hope he never looses that quality.

Daddy's Little Girl

I have waited for how long to get a girl and look what she enjoys........football of all things.

We Tried

My friend Cora and I tried to take one year old pictures of Kelbi the other day.  We didn't love them but not bad for unprofessionals.  The thing that made it most difficult was Kelbi's mood that day as you can see below.  I felt really horrible when I took her to the doctor a couple days later and she had strep throat! Oh well it's her party and she'll cry if she wants to.

This one below is my favorite!