Noisy Kids, Dirty Dishes, & Loads of Laundry

The song below by Scotty McCreery is one of my most favorite songs. It explains exactly how I feel about my life. I am so THANKFUL for these 3 faces- a husband that stands by my side and supports me even with me working long hours and being Mr. Mom and my two healthy babies who bring so much joy to our lives. I am just so THANKFUL for everything that Heavenly Father has blessed me with.

"Dirty Dishes"

Mama hollers "Supper time,
And don't make me tell you twice
Wash your hands and wipe your face.
The table's no place for your toys,
And try to use your inside voice,
Don't dig in 'til we say Grace."
So we put down our forks and bowed our heads
And then she prayed the strangest prayer ever said:

"I wanna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
A husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen
And dirty dishes."

We all got real still and quiet,
And daddy asked "Hun, are you alright?"
She said, "There ain't nothing wrong,
Noisy kids are happy kids,
And slamming doors just means we live,
In a warm and loving home,
Your long hours and those dishes in the sink,
Means a job and enough to eat.

So I'm gonna thank You Lord,
For noisy children and slamming doors,
And clothes scattered all over the floor,
A husband workin' all the time,
Draggin' in dead tired at night,
My never ending messy kitchen

For my little busy bees
Beggin' mama, mama can you please?
Always wantin', needin', callin' me
Loads of laundry pilin' up
Crayons crushed into the rug
In those little sticky kisses
And dirty dishes..."

-Scotty McCreery

New Milestones!

So 2012 has been a really good year so far, and we are only a couple weeks into it. It is going to be a year of many accomplishments! So far...Broxton is potty training and that is going awesome! He is doing so good. It was a battle at first. He was terrified of big boy underwear. We are now past that part and are working on trying to cure being afraid of actually going potty.
Tinley sat by herself for the 1st time on New Years, she is rolling everywhere now and got her 1st tooth (1-3-12). Tooth # 2 is on its way too.


Tinley had her first snow fall today (1-18-12) and Broxton got to build his first snowman (a Bronco one of course)



During Christmas break we went with Nama, Papa, Taos, and Grandma to go see Aurthur's Christmas at the theatre. It was Tinley's very first movie (12-28-11. Even though this was in 2011 it was still a big milestone.) She did awesome. She had a bottle right as the movie started and then she fell right asleep and slept the whole movie. Broxton loved it, he loves going to the movies. He just needs his blanket, popcorn and M&M's and he is golden.



Broxton got his Toy Story bike for Christmas from Santa, so he has been so excited to ride that around.The day after Christmas, Brody took Brox outside to ride his bike for the first time. He loved it. After about 10 minutes he was on his own and Dad didn't have to hold onto him anymore. I cant wait till it gets warmer and we can go on walks and he can peddle right along. He will just love that.




Well, that's all for now on our new milestones... but there is going to be alot more to come so stay tuned!

Special Christmas Picture

When I think of Christmas I think of this picture of me and my little brother all dressed up in our matching Christmas outfits. It is my ultimate favorite picture of us. It encompasses every bit of our childhood and tells every Christmas memory. When I was pregnant with Tinley and before we found out she was a little girl, I couldn't wait to get a Christmas picture of my two babies at Christmas time in their matching outfits, so that one day they can look back and see all the wonderful memories of being a kid and having their best bud right there to share it with them. I was happy with whatever Heavenly Father blessed us with but secretly I was hoping for a little girl just so I could buy a Christmas dress. The day we found out she was a girl I went right to the store and bought Tinley her first Christmas dress and a matching outfit for Broxton. When the holidays rolled around this year, it was time to take pics of my two little ones and got them all dressed up in their matching outfits. I hope one day they cherish these pics and remember how wonderful their childhood was and how special Christmas time is especially when you have your best bud right next to you to share it with.

Me and my little brother Michael

Broxton and Tinley

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

This Christmas was so wonderful. The whole holiday season was just so magical and beautiful. Everything from Temple Square to spending time with family and enjoying our decorated home and all the festive treats. The only thing that would have topped it off would have been if we got snow. This was Tinley's first Christmas too. I just love this time of year. I am sad it is over, but on the bright side there are only 11 more months till we can do it all over again:) Christmas Eve was spent at my parents home. We hung out all day just enjoying each others company. We had lunch and watched A Christmas Carol and did an art project (put on by my Dad- Candy Cane yard stake painting) and then we had our Prime Rib dinner with a beautifully set table (by my Mom) and opened presents and the boys painted their beards white like Santa and the kids got on their Christmas jammies. Then we headed home so Santa could come.

Painting the Candy Canes
Grams & Taos
Mikey, Danielle, & Jace
Nama, Papa, & Brox
The Santa's

The Cousin Christmas Picture
Jace, Tinley, and Broxton in their Christmas Jammies. Jace spent the night in Tinley's car seat. He pretty much loved it and didn't want to be out of it so we took their pic with the car seat:)

Christmas morning we woke up and did our own little Christmas at our home. Santa came and brought Broxton his first bike (a Toy Story one of coarse) and some snoopy golf clubs. He was so excited. Santa brought Tinley a girly stand up toy with all the bells and whistles. A tradition at our house that my Dad use to do for us when I was growing up, is a letter from Santa. Brody writes a letter to the kids from Santa and puts it with their gift from Santa. It is a letter that talks about their year and because they were good he brought them a special gift. I am saving these letters and one day will make a book with of letters and picture of them and thier special gift. I think it will be a wonderful gift one day for my kids. A special tradition.After we opened presents we we got ready and headed to Church. The Sunday before Christmas is my ultimate favorite Sunday of the whole year. I look forward to it and it was even better this time because Christmas was on Sunday. We all got in our Christmas attire and off we went.

Brox and his bike from Santa

Tinley and her girly stand up toy from Santa

Brody & Brox opening stockings

After church we went to the Chaplin's and spent the whole day with them. When we got there we opened presents, had lunch & hot cider and hung out. Broxton and I hung out with Grandma while she got the Prime Rib in the oven and everyone else took a nap. Then we had dinner and played with Broxton's new toys. It was a wonderful relaxing Christmas!

Opening Presents at Grandma's and Grandpa's
Tinley's 1st Christmas

Broxton & Aunt Malia
MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Special Present...

Today I came home from work and Brody and Broxton were so anxious for me to open one of my Christmas presents. So how could I resist? I did as they insisted and opened this awesome craft the three of them (and Grandma) did today while I was at work. It is 2 reindeer made from the footprints of my babies.


I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! What a wonderful gift that I will treasure for always. Many thanks to my husband for making me something so special.

Happy Birthday Broxton!

Today my baby boy turned 3 years old. I cant believe it. Where has the time gone? Next year he will go into preschool! Crazy! A couple weeks ago we had his birthday party with family. Broxton wanted a Mickey Mouse Birthday so we had a Mickey Mouse brunch. It was so fun. Everyone came over for some Mickey Mouse pancakes and dutch oven Hungry Man and we opened presents and we sang Happy Birthday and then the kids had some cake. Broxton got great gifts. He got an XBOX Kinect game "Price is Right" (he loves that show), a robe, matchbox cars, Mickey Mouse coloring book, Mickey Mouse puzzle, Nerf gun, a Toy Story fishing game, and his Dad made him a tool bench, and he got the tools to go with it. Brody had been working on the tool bench for some time out in the garage and I think it turned out AWESOME! I made his Mickey mouse Clubhouse cake. It turned out pretty cute I thought. After everyone left Brody went to a football game and Broxton and I and Tinley, played with his new toys, hung out at home and then we watched the Polar Express and had popcorn, M & M's and hot cocoa with mini marshmallows. It was a great day celebrating his birthday.

Then today, December 16, 2011 Broxton's special day, he got to pick what he wanted for breakfast. He chose a corn dog, Wheat Thins, and Apple Juice. Quite the combo for breakfast huh? He got to play all his favorite XBOX Kinect games with Dad. Then after I got off work he got to pick where he wanted to go for his Birthday Dinner... Red Robin it was. He got his favorite Mac & Cheese and broccoli and then they sang to him and gave him an ice-cream sundae. He love it. Then we went an looked at Christmas lights. I think my little man had a great SPECIAL day! I cant for many more special days spent with him.

Broxton~
Mom & Dad love you more then you'll ever know. You mean the world to us. Thank you for being such a wonderful boy. Happy Birthday little man!!!
We love you for always and forever!
Love, Momma and Daddy

Temple Square at Christmas Time!

So for the past couple of years I have wanted to drive down to see Temple Square at Christmas time. I haven't seen it at Christmas time since I was a little girl. And with crazy winter weather we just have never made the trip. But this year I said we had to go and so we did. This past weekend we took a trip down to Salt Lake just to see one of the most BEAUTIFUL, sacred buildings in all the world. It was the most wonderful weekend. Ty and Malia went with us too. It was alot of fun having them tag along with us. Hope we can do it again. We left on Saturday morning turned on the Christmas music and headed out on our adventure.
When we got into Salt Lake we went to the hotel to get all settled in so that when we got back late that night all we would have to do is shower and jump in bed. We then took a trip to IKEA. What a great store! Brody and I had never been to one. We enjoyed it lots. We got a few great deals and a pan of their cinnamon rolls.They have fabulous cinnamon rolls! Then we headed to Temple Square.I absolutely love the drive around the stone walls that gate the temple grounds. It was so beautiful with all the garland and lights, just a sneak peak as to what was inside those walls.
The Temple was gorgeous as always and the lights in the trees and bushes were amazing. There was also this beautiful white, life size Nativity and Luminaries lining the reflection pool with pictures of Christ. I just love the feeling you get when standing on sacred ground. I loved the overwhelming happiest feeling I got as I was standing there with my little family having our picture taken in front of the House of the Lord. It was awesome! It took all my might not to cry, knowing that I have the most wonderful man, my other half standing next to me and our two beautiful children that we created there with us and we were together on holy ground. It was something words can never describe. It was AWESOME! The true meaning of Christmas was right there.
After Temple Square we went to eat at the Olive Garden and then off to bed. Our kids were awesome travelers. Broxton had his little DVD player and watched movies and Tinley played with her toys and we sang Christmas songs. This was also Tinley's first long adventure away from home. Then Sunday morning came and we headed home. The weather was perfect the whole time too. I cant wait to take my family back there again!

Headed out on our adventure!

Ty& Malia