Easter

We had a fun Easter with lots of cousins in town.

We had a massive Easter egg hunt with everyone. Uncle Jason was to keeper of the door until we were all ready.

Everyone was lined up and antsy to get outside...

Happy Easter!!!

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

The last few months have been so busy. I have been finishing my Master's degree....

and we are all so tired....

 Brionney is into babies lately. And books. She has fallen asleep with both on many occasions.

 Grandpa is always great to help get the kids down for their naps.

(This is Kylie asleep with Grandpa. We've had many visits from cousins these past few months.)

Adding to our exhaustion is the many illnesses we've all had.  

Jamie and Brionney have been diagnosed with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. 

This means that one child will get sick and puck and be lethargic for several days. We'll have a day, maybe two of health then the other one gets sick. This cycle repeats itself over and over. 

Thank heaven for modern medicine- it has stopped this cycle and returned health and good night sleep to our home.

 Oh and then B freaked us out and added hives to the mess. These things were HUGE!!!

Her thighs were covered with one huge hive each- not seen in this picture. As you can see, her little knees and shoulders have some massive hives as well. We never did find out what caused them but luckily they didn't last long.

We got pretty good at the sick routine. Cover the couch and gather round to keep everyone entertained. 

 But illness didn't keep us down for long. B loves Jordan Almonds. She gets into my stash and scatters them. This time she wanted to play on my laptop as well.

Let's not forget this independence streak. She just had to get the cereal herself. She had powder everywhere! 

We had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa Chipman. 

 Recently, we made our own visit up North. The kids did awesome- even though we started out sick.

Daddy had a birthday!

We attended a Preschool Event Day for Jamie. 

 We got to ride the Carousel. Jamie and Brionney loved it.

We have had fun these last months and are even more glad to have survived them.

Brionney's Birthday

My Baby Girl is no longer a baby. Brionney turned 2 this week! All her grandmas and grandpas were able to be with her at this special time. 

(I cannot get a good smile out of this girl for anything!!!)

She got new clothes, shoes, new bows for her hair, and big bag she gets to decorate, and toys and clothes for her baby doll. 

It took her a couple of tries but she blew out her candles all by herself.

(Notice this girl is ALL girl- new shoes already on her feet, baby bottles in her hands- 

she'd put them down for nothing)

Happy Birthday Beautiful!!!

At the age of 2, Brionney can: speak very clearly, count to 12, climbs on anything and everything, copies her brother in everything he does,  and loves to sing and dance. The sight of the blender or power tools is enough to send her into hysterics- she is inconsolable (It's actually hysterical to watch). Other than these, this girls fears nothing. She loves her GG and GGpa (and their 'beans'). She loves to terrorize her Grandma Christensen by throwing all her kitchen towels on the floor. She loves all her aunts and uncles and loves to give kisses and hugs. Oh, and she has just learned to open the kitchen door and escape to Grandma's house. Score for me.

Jamie had been excited all week for his "Grandma and Grandpa that live way far away to come." When they finally came walking in the door he screamed and came running down the hall to me, "Grandma and Grandpa that live way far away are here! YAY!!!" And off he was again to give hugs and kisses. The boy was bouncing off the walls all night; he was so excited.

 Jamie was super excited that he got to have special time with his Grandpa reading books.

Happy New Year

We got to spend the New Year in Orem with lots of family.

We got to see Uncle Ethan. daddy and Uncle Ethan were playing with Jamie's helicopter toys- shooting them up then running to catch them before they hit the ground.

Meanwhile, Brionney found puddles to play in. This is B in her brand new Christmas outfit and only coat sitting in a puddle of melted ice. Score. She liked it for about ten seconds.

First Sunday if the new year. Brionney is wearing her new dress made specially for her by her Grandma Chipman. Super cute. Don't mind all the frowny faces-We all have colds. 

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas

I won a gingerbread house kit from a work party this year. 

The kids thought it was the coolest thing and keep buggin' to eat the candy. 

We visited the temple and saw all the lights on Christmas Eve. It was cold but we had fun. 

I think the fountain was still their favorite part.

We got a visit from the Jolly Old Elf himself this year. We must have been awesome this year.

Brionney's biggest hits were a bassinet and magnidoodle. 

Jamie got a bike, Legos, and Lego Star Wars.

Daddy got a safe and smaller than I thought PJs- ugly to boot. 

Let's just say that they were cuter on the hanger.

I also got a bike, several new books, and thankfully new cookie sheets.

GG and GGpa came over for dinner Christmas day.

Guess where Missy B was most of that time? Right next to GG. She loves her GG and GGpa.

GGpa is the next greatest thing. We were all watching the picture DVD that GGpa made.

We ended the day with cocoa and cookies. 

Merry Christmas to all!

Let it snow...

We got snow!!! It stuck and we've been in it for a week now. 

The little city girl that I am couldn't resist playing with it for a bit.

 Jamie spent the entire day out in it.

 Isn't it beautiful? And it wasn't done for the day.

Grandpa, Uncle Matt, Jamie, Brionney, and Mom build this wonderful snowman. 

 Dad got home just in time for pictures and the snowball fight. And then it snowed some more...

 Jamie loved making snow angels. We did them over rocks so we could see them.

 Last night was our ward Christmas party and we had a special visitor. 

Brionney wanted nothing to do with him. Jamie gave him an earful.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for taking them.

I told them to go play in their room...

 I think they had every toy they have on that bed.

But they got along and Mommy got some quiet time. I can't complain.

Merry Christmas!!!

By the way, it's been a week since it snowed and it's still here and as beautiful as ever. 

Though I must say: ice sucks!!!

And so do single digit temperature.

Brionney is a funny girl. She takes after her brother. 

She fell asleep during dinner. She had the bobbing head and everything.

She LOVES shoes. She clomps around the house in whatever shoes she can find. It's not long until her brother finds another pair and stomps around with her.

Believe it or not, she got up there by herself with no prompting from anyone.

(And Grandpa loves the attention.)

Movie night with mom. We had popcorn and M&Ms cuddled under our pillows and blankets.

 

Thanksgiving weekend, Uncle Travis was her favorite buddy. He carried her around the house like this and taught her to say, "Help, help." So stinkin' cute.

Saturday, Grandpa let the kids take a turn on the horse.

All my nieces and nephews waited so patiently hanging on the fence.

Brionney taking a turn on the horse. 

I missed Jamie's turn but everyone loved it.

Hunter made a hammock in the apricot tree and Noah made a fort behind him with the yellow blankets. 

After all our family left, it was time to pull out the Christmas decorations. 

After we were done decorating, we settled down for some caramel popcorn and hot cocoa.

Happy December everyone!!!

Where has this year gone?