Snow

For weeks before we got to Utah every time I would mention that we were going to Grandma's house she would ask me if there was going to be snow and if we could build Olaf.  I prayed for snow.  Sunday morning we woke up to snow.  She was so excited.  It was priceless to watch her. Prayer answered.  I was glad we got to experience winter for a little while.    

Family Pictures

We went out to take our family photos for this years Christmas card.  It was kind of a disaster.  I was trying to fit it in before we left to Utah so we tried the only day that Paul was going to be around.  The sun never came out and the lighting was terrible.  Despite the fact that you can't see anyone's eyes I did like a few of the moments we captured.  I can't help but love my little family.  I have the best husband and daughter a girl could ask for. We'll have to try the pictures again.  Hopefully I can get something before it gets too late.  

"Talk for this one Mama"

Audrey loves pretend play right now.  She loves acting out the entire Cinderella story with her Polly pocket princesses. It was fun to build her a house today out of blocks. She often brings me something and says, "Talk for this one Mama".  I don't last very long with my prince impersonations.  There's only so much that the prince can say before he wants to go take a nap.  I do a lot better with Cinderella and Minnie Mouse.  This morning she wanted me to talk for her elephant. She doesn't want her stuffed animals talk with one another she wants me to talk for them so that she can have a conversation with them . 

Sometimes I feel like the invisible Mom who lives through her stuffed animals.  As long as I can be myself sometimes I don't mind. 

Gratitude for My Little Girl

I have such a sweet little girl.  I don't know what about this week that has made me extra extra grateful that I have her.  I can't help but reflect on the difficult things that have brought me here.  It took time, patience, tears, pain, lots of doctors, blessings, prayers, and so much more to get her here.  She is more than I could have asked for.  And even though she's three, I still reserve the right to call her my baby.  I know a lot of people say that you shouldn't be your child's friend, but I don't live by those words.  I love hearing her tell me that I'm her best friend ever.  She's mine too.  I know that you might be thinking that I live in a dream world.  I know there will be times when she yells that she hates me, but through it all I hope that we can always be good friends.

Lately she's been telling me before she goes to bed, "I love you so much!".  Nothing brings me more joy at the end of the day than to hear her say that she loves me.  I'm loving three right now!  Yesterday we were laying next to each other on the love sac watching a show. When we're laying down I usually put my arm around her and she snuggles in.  This time she put her arm around me and pushed her cheek right up next to mine.  I laughed because I thought it was so cute.  

Lest you think she is perfect, she does give me a run for my money every now and then.  It's during those moments that I have to remind myself that it's truly a miracle that I have her.  

She and Paul are the best things in my life and the best things for my life. I am so grateful that I have both of them.  I am so blessed.

Halloween

Every year I think that I will be on top of things.  Every year I plan to coordinate costumes and be awesome.  Someday the amazing plans in my head with actually happen.  At least Audrey was cute. 

It was so fun for me to get her all dressed up.  I cannot describe the excitement (pictured below) on her face as we made her dream of being a princess come true.  We have relived Halloween over an over again, because she loves wearing that dress.  

I think every mother dreams of dressing up their little girl.  It's fun to be girly with someone.  Today I thoroughly enjoyed being girly with Audrey.  

 A day after Halloween I asked her if I could take some pictures of her in her ball gown.  Of course she was happy to.  She danced and danced and danced on our front porch.  If you can't tell, she's been observing a ballet class the last couple months so that she can join in January.  I'm so proud of her ballet poses, even though the pictures turned out dark.  

Ward Trunk or Treat.  Paul was a train engineer, and I was a sorry excuse for a fairy.  Happy Halloween!!!!

Temple Love

We were invited to a Baptism today and a Sealing.  My cousin's son was being baptized.  I didn't really know Cherie before I moved here.  We found out through family that we don't live too far from each other so we started getting together.  It turns out that we have a lot in common. Quilting sessions and Photo shoots are sure to come in the future.

 I love taking Audrey to Baptisms because I feel like it's a really good experience for her to witness something so special. Instead of Baptized, she says, "Bathtized".  I think it's cute.  Cherie's sons each gave a talk.  I was awed and amazed when Cherie said that she didn't help them write them.  She has some really good kids.  Here's hoping that I can teach Audrey as well as she has taught her children. 

After lunch we headed to the temple.  We were invited to the sealing of a family in our ward.  They have been members of the church for a year and today they went through the temple and were sealed to each other and their daughter.  I felt like it was really important for Paul to go because he and Sidney are really good friends.  I've always wanted to show Audrey the temple, so Paul went to the sealing and I walked around the temple with Audrey.  I tried to teach her as simply as I could about the temple.  She was a little upset that Daddy got to go inside and she couldn't.  She kept telling me that it was her castle.  She danced and sang almost the entire time we were there.  I felt like she knew that it was a special place.  And now she knows what our temple looks like.  

Sunday with the Kendalls

We carved pumpkins early this year.  Grant did Minnie Mouse for Audrey and I did Frankenstein.  Anne did all the hard work poking them. She shared her secret of rubbing flour over the holes before you start cutting.  It makes it a lot easier to see what your doing. She's a genius!  This may be my favorite Halloween tradition.  

 On Sunday it was so fun to listen to Rod and Grant read to the kids.  The kids were captivated.  I'm so glad Paul captured this moment.

 After dinner all the kids went outside.  Audrey and Jane were inseparable.  They were holding hands the entire time.  It does my heart good to see them together.  I hope they continue to be close friends as they grow older. Aren't they so cute together?

 Couldn't help but get a picture of this sweet little girl.  All you have to do is look at her and she smiles.  She is the happiest baby I have ever met.  

Pumpkin Patch

Audrey's been waiting for this day for a couple weeks.  Every time we go to the grocery store she begs me for a pumpkin.  I tell her every time she asks that she has to wait until Grandpa and Anna get here.  Well that day finally came. We spent the weekend with family and it was really nice to have them all around.  Even Uncle Grant drove out for the occasion.  We will miss him when he moves away!  

We went to a Pumpkin Patch. It was a little confusing because once you paid to get in, then you had to pay and additional amount to do most of the things inside of the Farm.  Lame!  We ended out doing a few things that we weren't suppose to do.  Oops.  We all had a really great time, especially the kids.  Audrey got to sit in a tractor, jump on bouncy air pillows, play at the playground, ride some cool trikes, play in the dirt, play in some corn, ride the cow train, pick flowers, and pick out a pumpkin to take home.  

Her favorite thing to do was pick flowers and ride the cow train.  It may not look like she liked the train but she did, she wanted to go again after the second time around. The highlight of my day was when I handed her a pumpkin and she kissed it.  She was so happy that she finally got one.  It was so hot at that point and I had the biggest headache from being out in the sun that we when home.  I forgot to take pictures of her and her pumpkin. I'm kicking myself.  Maybe I'll get one later this week.  

Little Photographer

For Audrey's birthday her Aunt and Uncle bought her a camera (she's spoiled). Yes, it actually takes pictures and video.  She loves it!  Every time I pull out my camera, she is not too far behind with hers.  She gets so excited when she takes a picture that actually turns out.  Someday she will be giving me pointers.  

Paul and I continue our search for a house.  There are not that many houses available right now.  I guess moving during the holidays is not looking very glamorous to most people. I'm not in a hurry.  I just want to find something that we will love.  I'm excited to actually paint walls, garden, and hang more than three pictures.  Sigh.  Someday....hopefully soon.  

Another First

This happened a few months ago. I'm so behind!  We were having Family Home Evening one night.  It ended in coloring like it usually does.  I drew a stick figure of a little girl and then Audrey started drawing people/princesses.  I was so proud. She was more excited about the dresses that she was drawing on them. It was another one of those moments when I got to see her grow, the best part of being a Mom.

 I try to do preschool with Audrey 2 or 3 times a week...whatever we have time for.  I was so proud of her this particular day because this is the first time she didn't ask for help.  She wrote those L's all by herself!

 Another time when she ran over to me randomly telling me that she wrote an H.
My little girl is growing so fast, and I'm so grateful that I get to be apart of it.