Getting Ready for Christmas

Here are some of the activities we have been doing to get ready for Christmas. We picked up our tree on a Friday night, but didn't get to decorate it until Monday. We have rearranged the house, our office needed to be moved to make room for the new baby.

Alayna had more fun hanging the outside lights up than she did decorating the tree. She just watched a movie while we decorated the tree.

Of course there were sugar cookies that needed to be made. I needed a dozen cookies for the YW/YM mutual activity. So David and Alayna cut out the cookies, and the missionaries got to help frost the cookies when they came over for dinner.

Halloween Fun

I am finally posting our Halloween pictures and a few other pictures of Alayna

I didn't buy a costume this year, we had the cute dress and fairy wings. It made and easy costume.

A little fairy and a cute dog had a blast trick or treating on Halloween night.


Helping with chores around the house. We'll see if she still thinks it is as fun when she is eight?



Riding on Daddy, so much fun. And Alayna still has on her Pajama top because getting dressed is all about her deciding what to wear. I like what David told her last night, "You don't get a choice." That was after three no's to PJ's for bed.

Saturday Night Guest

Last night after I put Alayna in her bed, I was walking into our kitchen and this is what I saw....


I first screamed "David, there is a snake in the house!!" He is used to me yelling about crickets in the house all the time, just yesterday a cricket got washed with my towels. He was still alive. So the snake is a new critter to have in our house. How could it have gotten in? Well David got a stick and cornered the snake. I remembered that members of our ward have snakes. So I called (after taking some pictures). The brother was more than happy to come over and take the snake. David thought that it might be a rattlesnake because of how it was moving its tail, but we learned that it was a harmless king snake. Not so harmless to me to see something slither across the floor in the dark. I don't mind the lizards and frog in out backyard, but the thought of snakes in the house is too much. All night when I had to get up to go the the bathroom ( a few times at six months pregnant) I thought about snakes crawling on the floor. I don't feel safe in my house.

David's Birthday

Last Tuesday was David's Birthday. Alayna and I decorated the house while he was at work. She loved the balloons, of course.

David wanted to open his present right after Alayna's nap and she got to help him. We got to spent a nice evening at home together. David is such a wonderful husband and father. Alayna and I are so blessed to have him!

Ultra Sound Pix

Here are some of the pictures we
got today!

Yes, it is a boy!

He is healthy and doing fine. We feel so very blessed!

Camping

This past weekend we went camping up on the Rim near Woods Canyon Lake. The weather was perfect.


This is one of Alayna's lastest faces she likes to make. The "duck lips".


We picked blackberries, but I forgot the camera. So you can see the evidence on her face. She loves the berries. I put her on a rock to help pick and she found some berries on a branch by her.

Bath time in the tent. Our little camper got every dirty. But she loved to roam around the forest.

Backyard fun

We had some family fun the other evening in the back yard. Alayna loves bubbles.


I think the puppy even likes the bubbles.

David's family has a rental house that had this nice swing set, so we went and got it.

Alayna love to be out in the backyard. Can't wait for cooler weather.

Night time routine

I am so glad that Susanne had me start a nightly routine with Alayna. Every night we say family prayers, let her brush her teeth and read books. Then I rock her for a little while and she then will go to bed without a tear. Now if only nap time was that easy.

Baby Nally

My sister Susanne had her fourth baby on Tuesday. It was a boy and his name is Ammon James Nally. I got to watch her other three while they were at the hospital. I am amazed at how busy a few more kids can make a day. I love my nieces and nephews and am always happy to spent time with them. We live so close to Susanne's family and Alayna loves having them come over. Especially Annabelle who is only 5 months older than Alayna. Congratulations to the Nally's new baby boy.

Why do we have a puppy?

Okay, I know why we have a dog, David loves them. So I thought I would try, but a puppy is really like having another child. We have been growing a garden this summer. Well my green tomatoes got eaten at the beginning of the summer and just yesterday Duke our puppy got into the garden. The garden does have a little gate around it, but Duke found a way in. And now our 4 watermelons are all gone thanks to Duke. And the garden is all dug up. I think he just want a cool place to lay down. Anyone want a chocolate lab puppy? NO David and Alayna are attached. Well that's all because Alayna is emptying everything from the desk.

Grandpa Clement

Last Saturday my Grandpa was put into hospice and on Monday he passed away. I am grateful that I had Grandpa in my life. He was a wonderful man. He has an enormous prosperity, but he has left an amazing legacy for his family. He was alway working and taking care of the family. I loved going to see him and being asked, "How's my girl?" Life is precious, you never know when someone might be called back to Heavenly Father.

Diamondback Game

Last night we went to a baseball game. We took my niece and nephew, Victoria and Lincoln. We had fun, Chase field has some fun things for kids. They also liked the fact that the Diamondbacks won.
Lincoln with his pizza! He shared it with us.
Victoria and Lincoln, ready for the game.

Alayna all tired out. Just before David got her to go to sleep, I gave in and was letting her play on the steep, concrete stairs. I looked away for a second and she started rolling down the stairs. She didn't go far. I think we had a guarding angel watching out for her. Next time no climbing the stairs.

Riding in the Wagon

Alayna loves her little wagon. She used to pull it all around the house, but lately she loves to sit in the wagon and be pulled. She is signing more, she wants to be pulled more.

Grandpa Clement

Tuesday morning my Grandpa had a massive stroke. Only days after we were all together for the family reunion. My parent say that he is talking and showing signs that he will recover. It will be a long recovery. Grandpa will be 90 years old in December. I am grateful Heavenly Father did not take him home at this time. We are praying for him that all will be well.

Clement Family Reunion

This past weekend we went to the Clement family reunion. The family all got together to camp near Sunset Crater. The weather was perfect. I loved the rain and so did Alayna. One afternoon during her nap we heard her making thunder and rain clicking with her tongue. Here are some pictures from our reunion.Making and launching bottle rockets was a Blast! It was so much fun, until our rocket got stuck in a tree. Can't wait to do it again.
Hiking as a family around the lava flow areas. The kids love climbing on the rocks.
Our little family, Alayna has a new hiking carrier. The old one was used and kept breaking on us. The new one is easier for David to carry Alayna on our hikes.Bath time in Grandma's trailer. It is a very small tub.
Alayna sharing breakfast with our dog Duke.

Here is it - for Kat

1-What's your husband's full name? David James Dent
2-How long have the two of you been together? We have been married for 2 1/2 years.
3-How long did you date? for one month and engaged for 3 months
4-Who eats more? About the same
5-Who said, "I love you, first?" David did, before I left on a 1 week trip to Mexico with my sisters families
6-Who is taller?David
7-Who sings better? -Hmm????
8-Who is smarter? Depends on the subject
9-Who does the laundry? both of us, pregnancy helps me not have to do it all. I still get to fold it
10-Who does the dishes? both, one of us is needed to entertain Alayna so she is not climbing into the dishwasher
11-Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? David
12-Who pays the bills? David and the computer
13- Who mows the lawn? the lawn mower with David's help
14-Who cooks dinner? both of us work at it together, usually I come up with what to cook and David will cook. I love the grill!
15-Who drives when you are together? David
16-Who is more stubborn? Me
17-Who kissed who first? David
18-Who asked who out first? David did after a phone call from a friend telling him that I needed a date.
19-Who proposed? David in my/our house ( I didn't see it coming, I was doing teaching stuff)
20-Who is more sensitive? Why ask, me!
21-Who has more friends? about the same, can I count my family?
22-Who has more siblings? Me!
23-Who wears the pants in the family? David knows when I need to be told "no" and I know when to let him do what he wants. He is so easy going.

Girls Camp

Well I spent 3 and a half days as a cabin mom this last week. I left Tuesday morning and came back on Friday. It was fun! The theme went along with the Steadfast and Immovable- University of the Stars. I was at Camp LoMia, where I went to camp as a YW. Lots of memories up in the mountains. Plus one of the first times I hung out with David was at a singles ward camp out at LoMia. I am so grateful for the Youth programs. I love the Young Women's program and all that I learned to help me with the habits that I have today. It was nice to come home and be missed by David and Alayna. I miss the cooler pines, but am glad to be catching up on my sleep.
Alayna the day before I left. My little hiker with a camelpack. She loves drinking out of the straw.
My Young Women during the awards.

Playing in the Creek after a water fight at the cabin.

Were are expecting!

Well David said that I can post that we are pregnant. We went to the Doctor this past week and it is official. Though I have been feeling the truth of my condition for weeks. We are every happy to have a baby on the way. The due day is February 6!

Road Trip

This summer we went on vacation with David's family. We took a long road trip all the way to Yellowstone park. We stopped and visited other national parks along the way.Our first stop was at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Then on to Zion's National Park to hike the Narrows. (The pictures are still on the disposable camera.)
Then on to Manti to see the pageant. And from there to Salt Lake. David and I even got to go to a session in the Salt Lake temple.
From Salt Lake on to Jackson, WY - Tetons and Yellowstone.
We loved the two weeks. The driving was a bit long. Alayna was a trooper and told us when she was done. We were lucky to have Grandma Dent and Aunt Tracy riding with Alayna in the back. And we probably never would have survived our road trip without Baby Einstein videos, plus lots and lots of snacks. Thanks for reading our little travel log.