Our first snowfall...

There wasn't much, but they couldn't wait to get outside...Brooklyn wouldn't even put her coat on!

Huge Milestone

I CRIED, the day I took the crib down...!

Some might say that it is a good milestone reached, however, I'm not convinced!  This is basically the first time in 6 yrs it has gone down, and I'm not sure if I'm ready for that!  I still remember the day we brought Madison home, and gently laid her in it to watch her "educational" mobile.  And then  the many nights we wondered if we were horrible parents for allowing her to learn to cry, okay--she screamed, herself to sleep and how I wanted to run in and rescue her from it!  Then there was the day we transitioned her, 18 mths later, to bring Jacob home to this now, baby boy crib.  And how it was my security when he was just days old, locked in the house, screaming...and the comfort it brought to know he was safely laying inside the crib.  As hard as he cried, I knew he would be okay as I watched him from the window.  Then there was Baby #3, who we didn't know which sex to prepare for. We were so excited when she was born, and shocked at all of the red hair.  We moved shortly after she was born and were very excited to deck the girls room all out in pinks , greens, yellows and purples.  However, our little Brooklyn didn't like the crib that her older siblings so loved.  So it took a lot of probing and bribing to bring her to the point, that this crib could really be her friend.  And we moved her into the little room across the hall from us, and made it her little nursery.  This is where her and the crib, finally bonded, until about 3 months ago, when she decided she needed to sleep w/mommy and daddy--AGAIN.  So there sat our crib...lonely from the lack of child in it.  And Today, we sadly took it down, bubble-wrapped it, and moved it to its new home, out in the garage!  I'm hoping this sentimental piece of our lives will move back into our home once again, but we sat staring at it today, unsure of what might come our way in the future.  Until then...farewell...sweet crib!

Belated Halloween

  

 

Brooklyn fell in LOVE w/Casper

Dave and I attended a Halloween party with a bunch of friends where we had to dress up and play certain characters! Mine was a lady who loved her night life and Dave was an anorexic guy...He-He!

Madison's Halloween program

 

Front and Center...just what she likes!

We are SO glad Grandma Adams could come and celebrate with her!

playing "CATCH-UP"

My "Mini-Me"

CHOCOLATE!

 My mom sent some extra clothes for Madison and Jacob.  Brooklyn got really excited and created her own outfit, complete w/ a high-five ribbon, chocolate and Jacob's old binkie!  My 2 yr. old GANGSTA!

You know it's gonna be a good day when...

It's a well-known fact that our youngest 2 children occasionally wake up before Dave and I.  Today was one of those days.  It is Dave's day off and we were laying in bed, trying to get in a few more "minutes" of sleep after a RESTLESS night of our 2 yr old kicking us and laying on us all night!  We heard Jacob get up and sent Brooklyn off to watch cartoons with him.  After a couple of minutes, they both came in asking for Eggnog, the drink of choice among those two.  I must have been really tired, because I consented to letting Jacob get it out of the fridge and pour a glass for the 2 of them!  It never occurred to me that he would not grab the eggnog, because he KNOWS everything a 4 yr old can know about eggnog:  where you get it at the store, how the bigger one is cheaper than the small one, how you can mix eggnog and milk to make eggnog-milk to make it last longer, etc!  Until, after a few more minutes of total silence in the kitchen, we hear this little voice at the side of our bed, quietly whisper, "mom, I think the eggnog is rotten."  I was laughing sooooo hard, because, unbeknownst to him, I had bought a container of buttermilk for a recipe and it got placed in front of the eggnog in the fridge last night!  What rotten disappointment for our little guy, as we can only imagine the mouth-watering anxiety of that first taste of eggnog in his mouth!  Sorry Jacob!

So, another cute story for the day.  We just got home from Dave's parents house and I was getting lunch ready for the kids so I could then put them down for their naps.  (Much needed as NONE of them have napped in the last 3 days!)  I look over and see Brooklyn standing on top of the CD case, Madison kneeling beside her and hear this:  (Madison whispering to Brooklyn)                                              I...promise...to...obey...the...commandments...in...the...name...of...Jesus...Christ...Amen!
Then Madison gives Brooklyn an award medal to hang around her neck and tells her what a great job she just did on her first Primary talk! 

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE these kids!  They are AMAZING!

small talk...big heart!

I LOVE my two little nieces in SLC!  Madison has grown up with her cousin since day one of her life!  They have had numerous play dates, sleepovers, trips to the zoo, museum and Idaho, and share every little holiday with eachother, one way or another!  Unfortunately, last year, school put a damper in these little girls lives, as Briana started kindergarten.  This year, Madison started kindergarten and Briana went to 1st grade.  So now our play dates are far and few between and we all live for the moments we get to see eachother...limited to the weekends!  We are so blessed to live so close and to see the friendship that has developed between the two! 

The other day, Dave and I were heading out of town and Jacob and Madison were going to my sisters to have a sleep-over while we were gone.  They had packed their bags the minute they woke up!  It was pretty cute...they packed as if they would be gone a week!  I called my sister to see if there was anything I needed to bring down to her and then talked to my niece for a minute.  Here is our conversation:

Me:  I am bringing the kids for a sleepover...what treats can I bring you?

Briana:  I just had a treat last night.  (she is not big on sugar! Crazy girl!)

Me:  It doesn't have to be candy or food, it can be whatever you want!

Briana:  Okay...then can you bring Madison, can she be my treat?

My heart just melted!  Such simplicity for a little child!  Forget the candy and the fun little treats we usually send...it means nothing compared to the friendship these two little girls have!  Together, they usually have it all, what more can you ask for?

Let them be little...: Melaleuca Oligo-fructose compounded vitamins

Let them be little...: Melaleuca Oligo-fructose compounded vitamins

Melaleuca Oligo-fructose compounded vitamins

I have been a member of Melaleuca, The Wellness Company, for about 15 years now, and I love their products!  Just last year, they made a scientific breakthrough on their vitamins, by discovering the oligo-fructose compound that allows our bodies to absorb more of the nutrients in vitamins.  They are continually updating and searching for better health products to promote a healthy lifestyle and body. 

I have been taking their previous vitamins for many years,especially during pregancy.  They have worked wonders, especially when it comes to my energy level.  However, just this month I ordered the new oligo-fructose pre-natal vitamins (no I'm not pregnant) and have been taking them for 3 days.  I noticed almost immediately how well my body responded to them.  It really curved my cravings for sugar and snacks.  I really believe I was missing essential vitamins in my body, more than likely from poor diet!  We have been working on improving our diet and coming up with healthy and creative recipes at home.  We have significantly reduced the amount of white flour and replaced it in almost all of our baking with 1/2 wheat flour, even in our desserts!  It's amazing!

Anyhow, If you are interested in learning more about the oligo-fructose vitamins and the benefits of them on your body, and if you are pregnant, the benefits for your little one too, check out the link at http://www.melaleuca.com/. 

They also have the SAFEST cleaning products that I have seen, which is a relief for a mom of 3 small children.  I am completely impressed with their sol-u-guard disinfectant that we use all day long, to keep the "yucky" bugs out of our house.  With the switch in the vitamins for both myself and my children, the safety of the cleaning products and the disinfectant, we have thus far, had a VERY healthy year! 

Thank you Melaleuca!

Camping 2009

Growing up it was expected that we would spend most of our summer vacation camping.  I loved it.  Going to Redfish Lake was a favorite spot for me.  Unfortunately, Dave and I have never taken our kids camping until this last summer.  I regret to say that it was to the ward campout, and wasn't even in the mountains, back country.  It was a horrible weekend for a campout, but we endured well, and made up for the lack of sleep by taking a huge nap the next afternoon!  The winds were high, a train track ran right next to the campsite and "tooted" it's horn ALL night long and we woke up to a crazy rain storm.  Thank heavens for the heated hot tubs!