Pictures by the Christmas Tree

Why I'm happy:

We are going to visit our family this Christmas! Where I know my Mom has her house beautifully decorated, with possibly a Christmas tree in every room. With Holiday treats made and ready for her children and grandchildren!

Why I'm sad:

We aren't going to wake up around our Christmas tree in our own home. We had quite a few fiasco's getting the tree up and decorated, so it seems sad that it won't fulfill its Christmas duty in towering over all the Christmas presents on Christmas morning.

My Compromise:

Take pictures in front of it, so that we can remember the things we did here for this Christmas season

Mike's Holiday Work Party

(Warning:Ugly belly shot)

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The Nutcracker

Riley and I got to go to the ballet together! We loved it! It was so fun to just have that time alone with her. She chose that red sweater because it had sparkles in it, and that makes it look fancy. And my Chloe got to take a picture with me too

The girls Christmas Dresses

I'm lovin' sweater dresses this year! I loved these cute black ones that had both their sizes. Mike took these pics. Don't tell him...but I would have really loved a whole body shot, so you could actually see the whole "ensemble" I'll be OK. I love the stocking on the tree (even thought it doesn't "go", again - I'll be OK) Riley put it there for Santa, little does she know that there is a much bigger one waiting for her. These pictures were fun to look at because of Chloe, she was laughing in each of them, this was the only one with her eyes open.

See you next year, dear Christmas Tree!

Playing in the Leaves

We FINALLLY got to play in the leaves...and its December. Where we live, fall doesn't really hit until about December. So here we are having a blast collecting, piling, gathering, jumping, kicking, running, laughing and giggling outside in the leaves

Rileys Scripture for Church

She didn't have it memorized for the actual day, but she has been saying it every day since! When we have our scripture study in the morning, she always has to say her scripture too. In case you can't hear, she is saying:
"Therefore, O ye that embark in service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, mind, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day"
We love hearing her say it!

The Temple Lights

Our Christmas tradition has been going to the Oakland Temple to see the beautiful Christmas lights and display. We meet up with my sister Traci and her kids, along with some other good friends. First we hit up the Macaroni Grill (which I have been craving like crazy since I've been prego) then we head over to the Temple. It was so cold this year! We didn't stay for long, but the kids just love running around outside and seeing the displays in the visitors center. This year we ended it with a "tailgate treat party" - we had caramels and peanut butter cup brownies. Next year we're gonna need some Hot Chocolate, if it is that cold again!

We always feel such a peaceful happiness while we are there, I love it.

Riley at 4 1/2

We had a fun soccer season this year! Riley loved being able to meet new friends, and learn how to play better. Her favorite thing was that she learned to kick the ball in the air! She was a little disappointed that she didn't score a goal this season, but there are future years! We asked her if she wanted to play again next year, and she says "Of Course I do! Why wouldn't I?"

Here are a few pictures of her season

Another thing, besides Soccer that Riley has been spending her time on is writing. She asks me how to spell everything! And goes to write it down. We've been finding little papers all over, with her "signature" on it. She always writes - Riley Mom Dad. I think it is precious, and as a former teacher, it makes me proud to see that she is interested in spelling and writing! Keep up the good work little lady!

Chloe at 2 1/2

This girl is full of feisty energy! She used to be so quiet and mellow, well that has left! We love her to pieces, as crazy as she can be, she can also be so loving and cuddly and sweet. She has been singing songs all the time, which is funny, because she rarely gets the words right...but we love to hear her try. I caught her trying to decide which shoe she should wear that day - Here she is:

This is also a funny picture, we gave her a chicken leg, and she's been a picky eater lately, so we loved that she attacked this food like she did!

Our little sweetie!

Our Halloween!

Here is this years Halloween. I've not had time/energy to post. Just know that we had F-U-N!

Pictures from our church party:

Do you see this guy?? That's our Big Daddy! Everyone thought the Tattoo's were real. Hardly anybody recognized him. Thanks to his cool costume, we won funniest costumes.

And here's a belly shot of this "White Trash Rocker Dude's" knocked up wife

We invited our friends over a few days before to decorate some Halloween cookies. I'm still finding sprinkles a week later.

Happy Halloween!

Its Official!

Baby #3 is on the way!




And we are thrilled to say that - ITS A BOY!

The Pumpkin Patch

Traci and the kids came to visit last weekend. It was really fun. Traci brought the girls some matching Halloween T-shirts. They got to see Riley play at her soccer game, the kids played out back with the tree swing. (I went out there today, and there were a bunch of huge sticks on the ground, I asked Riley about them and she says "Conner was up in the tree and we were playing a game called 'don't let Conner hit you with the stick' - you gotta love 15 year olds!)

We tried out the a new BBQ restaurant here, that was really good! Then, we headed off the the pumpkin patch, I wish we got there earlier, a lot of things were closed, but we had fun for the time we were there. We always wish our family could stay longer, but is was great while they were here!

This girl has discovered the potty!!

Chloe surprised me last week, by basically potty training herself. She just started taking her diaper off and going! I didn't have any hopes of potty training at this point, seeing that Riley was well past 3 yrs old, before she potty trained. It took me a few days to trust her in panties throughout the day, but she is now officially done with diapers! I'm so excited for her, and she is so thrilled about her princess panties, and of course her potty treats!

Go Chloe!!

My Birthday

So I turned 33. Big deal right? Well, Mike treated me good this year. The only thing I asked for was that I not cook dinner on my birthday. He did that! And added 2 other little surprises.

The night before, he sent me off for a pedicure - and get this, I was a pedicure virgin!! Never got one before, so this was a real treat!

Then the morning of, I woke up, he had already left for work, and there was a little bag on the table, with my #1 favorite perfume of all time, its an oldy, but goody.

Finally, we ended the night at a Japanese restaurant, with the regular eats - along with some banana tempura at the end, it was soo good!

Thanks for the great day, my love!

A Family Get Together

Mike's side of the family has begun to get together every summer. This summer, we were at Cousin Charlyene's house. It was so nice to see everyone (and eat way too much food). The kids had a blast together, swimming and playing in the tree house, and eating all the yummy treats.

I know Mike is so thankful to have them in his life. They were very close growing up, and they were always there when he needed them. I am thankful to know them too, they are always so welcoming and friendly, I feel like they are my family!

I wish I had more pictures! I only snapped a few. But, we were SO HAPPY to see everyone! Thanks for getting us all together.

(Great Aunt June, Mike, Cousin Tammy & Hubby Denado)

Chloe with Maddie in the tree house - Chloe would not leave this girls side - or her other cousin Jaclyn!

My little fish Riley in the pool, we couldn't get her out the whole time, or away from her cousin Max

Do- Re- Mi

We just love our little Chloe. She id definitely a 2 year old, tantrums, mood swings, the whole thing! But when she is sweet, oh she is SO SWEET.


Her new favorite song is Do-Re-Mi. She walks around singing it all the time, and she's almost got the words right :) Here she is.

The Apple Farm, for the second year!

Every year Riley's school takes them on a field trip to an apple farm. The kids are always so excited to go be little "apple farmers" They get to pick a bucket full, and then go see how apple juice is made, and finally go to the little apple shop for some yummy treats!




It was really fun, Chloe and Riley had a very fun time with all their friends! We got some super tasty apple cider, and strawberries (they have strawberries on their farm too).

The best part of the day is that the apple farm is right on the way to the best outlets, so mama got her 'field trip" in with a little shopping!

Things going on with Riley and Chloe

They just got new bunk beds, that I adore! Chloe is 2 1/2 and has been climbing out of her crib for quite a while, a big girl bed was long overdue. They love just "kickin it" it their beds. Riley has been letting us know that when we put them to bed, Chloe climbs up the ladder to get into her bed, and Riley has to send her back down. My Mom gave me these cute "shabby chic" quilts, that go great with the already green theme of the room.

The greatest thing about these beds is that they separate into 2 stand alone beds... something for me to look forward to! Most of all I love them because My girls love them, and they were so excited to finally get them. We love to have them sleeping so close to one another. (Please pay no attention to that big blue rail, I really despise the way it looks, but with kids, its gotta be safety first!)


On to cooking! I LOVE cooking with my girls. I don't know if its a girl thing, and I wonder if I had a boy if he would enjoy cooking with me? My girls always want to help, and Riley at a really great age, she knows where a lot of items are in the kitchen and can go get things for me. Chloe is on her way...she's at the age where she likes to squish the butter between her fingers before she puts it in the bowl.
This particular night we made some yummy, couldn't stop eating them, chocolate chip toffee cookies.
And these little aprons were a gift from Aunt Traci, bought at a little craft store in Washington or Canada or somewhere... don't matter, they're adorable with their names on them and all.

The Jacksons came back!

We miss these people!

Melissa and Dana came out to visit from Utah, and we were so excited to see them, we wish they had more time here. Everytime we see them, its like they've never been gone! We miss their little girls too.

Move back soon!! OK?

A new year in preschool!

I was excited to have Chloe all to myself today! However, when we drove away she started screaming for Riley, and wouldn't calm down for quite some time. I'm glad she missed her sister, I didn't expect it. We did end up having a good time together (after some fruit snacks).

At school with her "new school year" gift for her teacher. And Riley with 2 of her good friends in class. She reported afterwards that her day was good!