My Valentines

V-day was pretty low key this year. The kids woke up to a few treats and gifts and we had an emjoyable day as a family. It brings me joy to see my kids excitement over simple gifts. I love to celebrate holidays but I tend to go a little over board sometimes. So it was nice to keep it a little simpler this year. We celebrated on saturday since it was on sunday. That night we went to the ward adults valentines dinner and dance and it was fun to get to dance a few songs with my hubby. 

 Mollie was over the moon about having a journal that locked!

 Ry scored some new bath toys and teething crackers.

 Later saturday night Chets family came to town and stayed sat and sunday with us. We did a dessert fondue party on Valentines and a pasta dinner. Chet had to leave early but we got some games in with the nieces. We sure love their family and look up to them a bunch! Happy Valentines Day!

What's happenin' with Carter

This kid! He is becoming less of my little boy every day and more of an independent kid! No we don't beat him....For spirit week at school they had a fake accident day. I gave him the option of a black eye, a bloody bandage OR a broken arm. He woke up early the next morning wanting all 3! We were able to pull it off quickly. 

 Another day was crazy hair day. Which also happened to be his 1st grade Valentines party that I got to go help with.

 That same day he had his SECOND cap put on his teeth. He definitely has his dad's teeth. He handled it all like a champ though.

 Speaking of Champ... Carter just ended his first season of basketball. He did so great! His team had 1st and 2nd graders on it and you could tell a difference in who had already played 1 year but Carter kept up and improved SO much! He could dribble quick and make shots easily but often got caught up in trying to hard. He's a little hustler and it was so fun to watch him play defense. He stuck to his guy like glue and followed him around everywhere. He did so great and we are so proud of his accomplishments.

Provo City Temple Open House

We were thrilled when we heard that the old tabernacle in Provo would be turned into a temple! We watched a small video before we went to show the kids that it caught fire but was reconstructed into a temple. They now call it the temple that was on fire!

 As always it was incredible to see the beautiful workmanship and how they did their best to recreate the same look. The kids loved it and Mollie kept saying she could feel the Holy Ghost.

 Our session was at 7:30 on a frigid February morning so we didn't stick around much to take any pictures but heres one of the kids by the fountain.

 And a few US-ies (see what I did there)

I sure love this little family of mine and am so grateful for the many temples we have had to opportunity to take them in. I think it helps them really know of their importance and have goals to be married there some day. I hope that with all of my heart! The temple is the place to be.

Mucky-yuck

Makeup or Mucky-yuck as my dad used to call it. Mollie has hit the age where she is very interested in makeup. She loves to be the beautician while I am the client. Lots and lots of blue and glitter.....

Mollie and her friend were doing makeup one day and didn't clean up after her self and minutes later I found this......oh she was so proud of herself!

 This was Mollies latest creation. One pink eye and one blue. with a sparkly headband around her neck to look like a choker....oh boy.

When her friends come to play they almost always go home looking like this,,,,

or this....she did blue noses every time she put it on for a while and I finally had to ask why. Cuz mom, its cute! Ok then!

I think my dad had it right. I have a love hate relationship with it! But I'm glad she is creative and loves to look "beautiful" although she is totally gorgeous without it!

Hot pools and snowboarding in Idaho!

The kids had a few days off of school and so we took off to Idaho for some fun! I talked Chad into taking a detour and going to Lava Hot Springs indoor pool with my family. Its indoors, warm water, and tons of fun! The kids loved splashing in the kids pool and when they got bored they hopped in the big pool and played basketball with their uncles!

 This was Brielles favorite spot i think.

 And it was Rylee's first time swimming! She was so tired but never made a peep! She just smiled and kicked her legs! I had a hard time keeping track of Carter because he was running everywhere and having so much fun enjoying some freedom in the water. Grandma hung out in the hot pools and helped watch babies at certain times. It was so wonderful sitting in a nice warm spa watching the snow fall outside!

 We traveled on to grandmas house and spent the weekend with them. Bright and early monday morning we headed to Pommerelle! I havent been on a snowboard since I was in high school but we all had such a fun time on the bunny hill with Carter. The drive up there was a bit scary but some kind strangers helped push our car up the road.

 This kid was more than excited to get on the mountain.

 The magic carpet! This ride almost got the best of me and Chad a few times! It's a little tricky on a snowboard.

 The boys shreddin it up.

 We took a break in the lodge for lunch and to let our legs rest! (and arms!) My shoulders were more sore than my legs from pushing myself up so often! It wasn't long though before we were ready to head back out!

Chad was good sport and was very patient while me and Carter learned (and re-learned for me) how to snowboard. It took me several times but I finally decided to quit being a chicken and just go for it. Once I did I was able to make it down the hill a few times without falling. YAY ME!

 While we were away Grandma entertained the girls with lots of games and cookie making! She's such a great grandma and always has fun stuff planned for the grandkids. I'm so glad my kids get to grow up and know both sets of their grandparents. We are so blessed in that department!

 It was such a fun trip, no one wanted to leave! Its always a long drive back to Utah, especially with 2 little girls who don't love the car. But I learned a new secret weapon for keeping Brielle happy in the car. APPLES! Yes folks, that is (or was) an apple! She is just like Carter and eats it down to the stem and seeds. But it kept her busy, wasn't too messy and filled her belly with a healthy snack! WIN WIN WIN!

7 month old bundle of Joy

Ah this little gal feels my heart with so much peace and joy! It seems like the 4th time around I may have the newborn stage down. Although she is hardly that anymore! She is sleeping in her own crib, sleeping through the night, eating tons of food, sitting up and rolling around like crazy!

Love this perfect sleeping beauty. Hands clasped, feet up, and hair standing straight up!

 She loves toys and is content most of the time to sit in a pile of toys and play.

 The kids like to help when they think she needs a toy....or ten! And we have irresponsibly left her unattended in her swing and came back to find her sitting on the floor in front of her swing just content and playing away! Woops!

 When I get ready I've been putting Rylee in a pack n play so that she's protected from her older siblings and can't jump out of her swing. Well one day I walked in and this is what I found. Nothing is safe anymore!!

 Oh her hair! It just stands straight up! When I comb it down it just pops right back up! It's a Hymas trait I'm told. But I absolutely love it!

 She enjoys the tub much more now that she can sit up! She chases little fishies around the tub and is just so happy! And look at those rolls forming!

 Speaking of rolls....those thighs! <3 a="" always="" and="" attention.="" being="" complete="" face.="" family="" getting="" happy="" has="" hearts="" held="" her="" if="" is="" little="" love="" loves="" make="" on="" or="" our="" p="" perfectly="" she="" smile="" so="" talked="" to="" wy-wy="" you="">

Another year...another ER visit!

Last January we were in the ER with Little Brielle and I guess Mollie wanted to keep up with the tradition! We had just gotten home from somewhere and she was turning to race her brother up the stairs for lunch. There was a step stool behind her and she tripped over it and landed right on her face on the steps. I heard the commotion and crying so I went down stairs to find quite a sight! 

Chad was standing over the sink holding mollie over it and blood was dripping down his arms, blood was all over mollies face and down her shirt and blood was splattered all over the walls! I thought for a minute she had cut an artery the way blood was splattered!

 When we could finally look at it we realized her teeth went clear through her bottom lip. Off to the ER we went! Chad initially took her while I stayed with the kids. An hour passed...then 2....and Chad called and said he needed me to come help calm her down because she was really scared. I pawned the kids off on the neighbors and took off.

When I got there they had numbed her lip with some cream and gave her some drugs that was supposed to make her pass out. She got really loopy and silly and kept asking funny questions. She never did pass out completely which surprised the doctors but she was drugged enough to atleast hold still for her stitches.

 We were shocked when the doctor said that the inside hole would heal itself and he only stitched up the outside of it. The scar is right along her lip line so it blends pretty well on her face which I'm grateful for!

The stitches almost all fell out (I'd be lying if I didn't say I may have held her down and pulled the last one out that was hanging by a thread since it hadn't fallen out in 3 weeks!) It's amazing to me how fast it healed! Within a day it was filled in with new skin cells and it never got infected or caused her any problems which I was so grateful for! I'm very grateful for modern day medicine! And I'm grateful her bill wont be as big as Brielles was!