Tuesday Mornings

Its been almost 2 years now since I started teaching step at the Stake Center down the road. I ABSOLUTELY love it. It's been a challenge and a confidence builder at the same time. I love the ladies who come to class and I love this kind of work that empowers me and energizes me. I truly have been blessed to have fallen into this group of ladies who support eachother and encourage each other and help motivate each other to exercise daily. It's so much funner with friends!

These ladies truly push me to be the best I can be and I'm so grateful that they show up every tuesday and show me love. No I'm not a perfect teacher and they are very forgiving of my flaws but they keep coming and showing up and that is the best support they could give me. 

 I hope I still have a few years in me of doing this because its a huge love of mine and I'm grateful to share this talent with others.

Some cute kiddos

One thing about having a smart phone is that I capture alot more pictures of just the every day. Which I'm so grateful to have, but I have a lot of pictures! And some of them are just too cute to not make the blog book. This was my supergirl flying out of preschool after her halloween party. Her teacher, Miss Lori, who is a good friend of mine, is so wonderful to her and so creative and fun! I'm glad every day our paths crossed!

 Sometimes we go out to lunch, just me and my little girls.

 Here's my big boy. He sure is getting fun and smart. He's a good kid in so many ways and the best big brother. He's everything I dreamed of in a son .

 Love when these little girls play together. Dress up is a favorite in the house!

 Miss Bri LOVES to help in the kitchen. Most days she is right there by me helping me do whatever I'm doing. She is so cute and loves to be involved.

 LOOK at how Mollie sits all the time! She got this from her DAD! I hope her knees don't pay for it later in life. Hey Mol, get off the table!

 Um too much cuteness here...it doesn't even need a caption.

 We have some awesome Farris friends who we do date night trades with often. All the kids play soooo well and you would never know there were 10 kids in the house ever. They are awesome.

 Me and Mol snuck away one night for a little treat. I love that she loves carmel as much as I do. This was a yummy apple!!!

Love my kiddos and the ones that I would claim as mine. We sure are blessed!

FINALLY fall family pictures

5 years ago when we moved to Utah and I drove through the canyons here I knew I needed fall family pictures. The colors are majestic in the canyons. The leaves are the most beautiful here than what I have ever seen anywhere else. I'm a girl who grew up with pine trees all around and while they are great, they do not turn pretty colors. As fall was approaching I started feeling a little anxious that they wouldn't happen. Then I met Alex. 

I've been praying for a month or so to meet a new friend. Someone my soul could connect with. I needed a good girlfriend. And Alex Ogilvie moved into the ward. She is spunky and loves to do fun spontaneous things. AND she is an incredible photographer. When I first met her, it was like I already knew her. I felt love for her which was strange i thought for meeting someone for the first time. As we got to know each other we realized we had both been praying for the same thing. And the Lord put us in each other's paths for a reason. She is the sweetest friend and so I was happy when she said yes when I asked her about photos. And even more happy when she offered her services for free. 

The weather was perfect. The lighting was perfect. I was pretty happy with our outfit choices and my kids were surprisingly pleasant! And Alex was SO fun! She just played with us and snapped pictures of real smiles and of us having fun. They are not your traditional sit and smile photos which I thought I preferred...she captured feelings and love in our photos. And for that I am so grateful to her. 

 This girl is SO beautiful but its so hard to capture her real smile. Alex did a tremendous job with her and made it seem effortless.

 Carter was having a ball and he is always quick to smile or laugh with no problem. He looks so grown up to me here!

 Little Bri was loving the posing and giggling with her best buddies mom and loving the attention.

 Rylee wasn't quite sure what was going on but she was so cute trying to pose like her big sisters and she gave some super cute smiles!

 She pulled out some funnies to make me and Chad giggle and blush a little but it was so fun! It felt like engagement photos all over again.

 THIS! I hope this is what heaven looks like. Pure joy as we wait for each family member to get there.  I LOVE THIS PICTURE!
 And once we are all together, our joy will be perfect.

This one we were trying to figure out what to do and Rylee wanted a bum shot, so here is our bum shot. 

 My heart.<3 p="">

I will always cherish these photos because of who is in them. But they will also be a precious reminder to me of an answered prayer and a selfless friend who gave so willingly of her talents to bless my life. Thank you dear friend!

Halloween part 2

Brielle's school also had their own Halloween party in Miss Lori's back yard! She had tons of fun showing off her school and kids store she got to buy things with tickets she had earned in the previous months. There were sugar cookies, games, playdough and all sorts of fun things. 

 Then Miss Lori arranged for us all to come trick or treating early! It was fun going to her neighbors house and watching the little kids get so excited about it!

 And little Miss Ry did not want carried at all. She ran as fast as her little legs would go trying to keep up with the big kids carrying her big bag of candy.

 Later that night we all went trick or treating. We stopped at The Ogilvies home. Bri and her BFF were both supergirls.

 Bri and Milo

 Me and Ry came home early to pass out candy and she was elated with her haul. The other came home later and I could NOT BELIEVE how much candy they got! I think they may have been extra generous because many told them they were their only trick or treaters.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! I hope that some year I can learn to love this holiday again because it is one of my kids favorites.