Seattle Excursion!

Earlier in December a few friends from church and I took our kiddos to Seattle to see the train display, ride on the monorail, ride the carousel and check out the gingerbread houses. Needless to say, I was a little camera happy. Meaning? LOTS OH PICTURES!!! We got to Seattle and started with lunch. With a carrot in her mouth Jayden started posing for me. She was cracking me up and was so smiley all day long! Her second pose...too funny! The train display:) Jayden, Jack and another friend were seriously checking something out. What could it be? A Hot Air Balloon!! Our awesome group headed to the monorail. All aboard! Jayden and her future husband Ethan. They loved it!! i had to get in there:) PRECIOUS! Last Year she was afraid of the carousel, but she was all over it this year! She even got on TV. :) Total Jayden pose! the gingerbread houses were so cool!! Here's our awesome stroller group checking it all out. THis just makes me smile:) And a group shot. There goes Jayden posing again! i really don't know where she gets this! Jayden and ethan were so cute!!!! Every time they would run they would laugh at one another and then do it again. Oh to be young again! I don't know why but I see them as teenagers here. Trouble is coming my way!! They're just adorable! The space Needle (just in case you weren't aware:)) That's really big mom! Good-bye Seattle. We'll see you soon!

Christmas at Preschool

At the beginning of the month Jayden's preschool put on a little program/potluck dinner. The girls got dressed up and looked so cute! I love this shot! Beautiful smiles! When we got there Jayden hesitantly put on her costume and stood next to everyone else. This is how she was almost the entire time. Keep in mind that this is both classes combined so many kids here are older than her. She was not happy! At least she wasn't the only one...look to the left and there is another girl clinging to her mother:) Jayden warmed up a tiny bit and was able to say her part super quietly. Just has she was coming out of her shell who should appear??????? SANTA!!! Her least favorite person, but only in person. Pictures of him are fabulous:):) Please someone, get me out of here! Don't make me look at him:):) Jayden and mom after calming down and ready to eat and play. It was an interesting night and hopefully it will go much smoother next year:)

A Day of Thanks

I picked up Jayden from preschool the Thursday before Thanksgiving and this is what she was wearing. Isn't she darling???!! On the actual day of Thanksgiving we headed over to my mom's house for a yummy feast, as Rachel called it:) The girls played play dough so well together while we prepared the food. The Feast! We took the skin off the turkey because it wasn't looking yummy. I know this doesn't look yummy yummy either but it tasted fabulous! Our smaller than normal crew: Jayden, Grandma Kathy, Grandma Taz, Rachel, Brett and Grandpa Bob. Me and my honey! After the meal we made Turkey and Pilgrim Hat cookies from Our Best Bites:) The girls were so excited! So proud! After cookies we played Phase Ten. Rachel wanted to take a picture so Brett made this whiny face for her. It was pretty funny. After the game we put together our Thanksgiving Tree. I found this idea from a blog called Crafts By Amanda. I thought it would be fun and the kids had fun making it! We have much to be thankful for!

The Final birthday party!

Happy 7th Birthday Rachel!!! WE love having you as part of our family! We love your kindness in the way you play with your little sister. We love that you love to read and act out and be silly with us. WE love all the special moments with you that only parents can have. We love you!! We had a little family gathering Sunday evening after the fabulous primary program:) Here are the cuties with their favorite Uncle Lance! Rachel picked everything we had, except the salad. She loves lasagna! she also loves mom's rolls from Our Best Bites:) Thanks Nena for the wonderful job of modeling the rolls! Rachel had to be at the table with Uncle Lance and Aunt Angela:) and then it was time for presents:) My Grandmother sent this for Rachel. It was up on the wall last time we were there and Rachel liked it, so she gave it to her. She is super fabulous! Grandma Kathy gave Rachel this beautiful Christmas dress with the matching doll dress of course. Rachel was in heaven! Mayson gave her 3 Junie B. Jones books. Rachel finished one that night, She loves Junie B. Jones! It might have something to do with the fact that her teacher is also a fan and dressed up like her for Halloween:) Grandma Taz got her two classic books: Little Women and Little House on the Prairie. We're excited to read those to Rachel! She also bought her this PINK Barbie, a Fashion Fairytale doll. Seriously, someone help me!! Nena bought her the horse and carriage. Rachel was a little disappointed since she bought that the day before, but I was upset that she was being so ungrateful. I almost took all of her presents away!! What a stinker!! Thanks goodness for gift receipts and the Ken Barbie doll Rachel will now be getting. I'm done for:) Rachel is so loved! I feel blessed to have wonderful family and friends who give so much love to my girls! I am blessed to be the mother of this Angel:) We were all blessed that night to eat these delicious lava cakes with chocolate ganache on top and ice cream on the side. Positively sinful! Love this face!! I forgot to take a picture of the most important gift of the night: A Book of Mormon. In our church children are baptized at the age of 8. I thought it would be nice if Rachel had read the Book of Mormon and prayed about it before she got baptized. We started reading it the night of her birthday and she has been marking them when Jesus is mentioned. She loves the words of the gospel already and I love getting that chance to feel the spirit with her every night. You are so special Rachel. I am excited for the day when you get to be baptized and feel the spirit even more in your life. Happy Birthday!

school celebration

Rachel brought in some super yummy mini chocolate flavored raspberry cakes, milk and Halloween suckers to school. The kids loved it and so did Rachel. Her teacher does all these fun movements to the birthday song and at the end they do the karate chop! We love Mrs. Doughty! Rachel enjoying the goodies! Jayden enjoyed them too. She acted like one of the 12st grades. Mrs. Doughty thought she was the cutest girl...I couldn't agree more! The following Saturday (the 13th) was Rachel's actual birthday:) We normally go out to eat as a family, but Rachel really wanted to see Mega Mind, I'm not sure why, but she did. So, we went and saw that instead. It was really was pretty funny and both girls loved it. After that we went to Wendy's for frosty's. Brett's dad sent her some money in the mail so we took her to Toys R Us where she bought this Barbie horse and carriage. Someone help me!! Half of the money went towards the gift and the other half goes in her savings. We gotta teach her somehow:):):) she had a fabulous birthday...but it's not over yet!

The friend party

WE had Rachel's friend birthday party the week before her party due to some other circumstances:) She had a blast! We started at the house singing to the birthday girl and having a light lunch. Rachel was surprised when her candles kept lighting back up:) Pretty tricky! I love my Rachel! (please ignore the fact that I have no make-up on:() The girls quite enjoyed themselves. I had to take a picture of the cupcake because they took a while to put together, but the girls LOVED them! I also couldn't think of any way to make dolphin cupcakes, si I used my handy cricket and made dolphin toppers! then I used the same dolphin cut out to make name tags for the goody bags:) after eating we all piled in to different cars and headed on down to the pool! Unfortunately I was in the pool and couldn't take any pictures, but we had a blast! Now back to the house to open presents:) Some of Rachel's favorites: Barbie, Fashion Fairytale doll and a unicorn pillow pet. She also loved her Zhu Zhu pets, lipstick, headbands, shirts, and silly bands. (thanks a lot Julia!:):)) some ladies wanted to party hard so they watched The Night at the Museum. Needless to say they all slept good that night! Happy Birthday Rachel!

Disney on Ice

For Rachel's birthday present, I took her to see Disney on Ice a couple of weeks before her birthday:):) She was in heaven!! SHe had 10 dollars to spend and REALLY wanted the cotton candy, so I told her she could get it before we left. When we got there we found out it was $12!!!!!!! But it came with mickey mouse ears. (still not worth it!!) She was a happy camper though:) the opening of the crazy cast! Belle, which seems to be her favorite lately! Lilo and Stitch fire...cool! And of course the Toy Story cast, minus bullseye. Rachel was not impressed. He's such a cute horse:) the princesses and fun characters saying good-bye. See you next year! Of course a little mom and me shot:)