Blessing Day

Saylor Grace was blessed at home on Saturday, August 14th. We like to live on the edge and do things the unconventional way. Except that i'm not an edgy kind of gal at all, and fretted about this at least a couple weeks before, but it turned out fabulous. I was worried it wouldn't feel as special being on a Saturday, and worried about how on earth I was going to feed 60 people after. Turns out all the worrying was for nothing & I loved just having some of our closest friends and family there. I especially loved not having to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting, because for whatever reason i've always thought it was an unspoken rule to bear your testimony the Sunday that you bless your baby, and public speaking does not sit well with me.

Here's the circle of men that were involved in the blessing. Matt did an AMAZING job, just as he has with all 3 kids!!!! Great Grandmas, Grandmas, Mom & 2 beauty little babies :)
By doing the blessing Saturday we were able to have both sets of living great grandparents there, which was pretty darn special!

and here's a couple shots of some guests. The Koehle family, some of our favorites...and a few others below.

T + L = Love

We gained a new lady in the Anderson Family this Summer. Trevor married Lauren on August 13th, and she's adorable....or should I say tough. Both my brothers have married super tough, athletic girls and i'm pretty sure they're hoping to breed superheros, and even more sure that they will. So, if there's any other women with a genetic make-up similar to wonder women, Shane's available.
We love Lauren, and my kids do to, she's a fabulous addition!!!! And if you ever come across Trevor or Lauren, ask them about their courtship, it's pretty much a one of a kind story, but so cute.

And Uncle Thumbs finally got to spend some time with his newest and probably favorite niece, Saylor.
This is one of Laurens little sisters, Abigail. She's got 9 kids in her family, and my kids are pretty much obsessed with them all, but especially Abigail. The best part is, that they can all play together and they do it so well. Those are golden friendships.

Moving Day

We have loved our living and owning our first house in San Elijo for the last 5 1/2 years! But, it was time to sell it, and move on. Carson was totally bummed about the whole ordeal, not a big fan of change, but I think once he realized our new house was on a cul-de-sac a

nd our neighbors had some kids that thought he was pretty darn cute, he's adjusted. Nontheless, always sad to say goodbye to a home that has been such a big part of our family and holds so many memories!


The amount of "Stuff" we have accumulated over the last few years blows my mind. And sure makes for a fun time moving when you're 9 months pregnant. So far since kids, we've moved a week after Carson was born, and now 3 weeks before Saylor was born. So maybe timing isn't our strong suite. Thank goodness for helpful grandma's we got most the moving in completed before the baby!

Life Passing by SO fast!

How do you possibly catch up on journaling the last 9 months of life? You don't. Between a move to a new house, a new baby, a 1st time kindergardner, a couple busy tax seasons, a wedding, and summer in all it's gloomy glory, it's a wonder how anything gets done around here.

My list doesn't get shorter. ever. Instead, I feel overwhelmed with so many things that need to get done, and wake up in the middle of the night in panic mode thinking about it. Then in the morning the tasks are too daunting to tackle, so instead I do none of it. Oh sweet life. But we love it, and the craziness is now the norm, so i'll consider myself adjusted and get back to my blogging groove.

Anyhow, here's my mediocre re-cap of life pre-baby....I'll at least give the big stuff a post of their own!
Most of the spring the kids in I were doing our best to make it through another busy tax season, while Matt worked for what felt like 3 months straight! I was mostly working on staying sane :) Picking strawberries, our new annual outing is a favorite!!!!!

We celebrated some holidays....and were lucky to have gotten visits from the easter bunny & some crazy leprechauns!
The kids and I traveled, hoping to make tax season go by faster. Hmmm, not sure traveling alone with 2 kids really makes anything go by faster....but it was fun! First to Utah, to visit family & friends. Then to Arizona to meet our new baby cousin Katelyn. She was a hit, and oh so adorable!

But how did we really stay sane you ask???? At least they're smiling

To celebrate the end of April 15th, we made our 2nd annual post-tax season get-away to Palm Springs for a weekend.

Palm Springs is always a good time, and was the perfect prep for baby #3.....

A Month Full of L.O.V.E

They're Just Saying...

......Kids are brutally honest, and innocent. It's really some of their best traits. Afterall, isn't that why we're told to be a little bit more like children? Lately we've been hit with some funnies around here. A necessity in life, so we're able, just for a moment to look beyond the constant teasing and fighting and re-gain a touch of sanity. and we've been needing that a little extra around here during tax season.......plus, if we're being honest, most of the embarrasing comments made in public are what we adults are really thinking, but have been trained to keep to ourselves, in attempt to appear proper. But just maybe the kids are doing some people a favor by making them aware of what may have been an oversight in their morning routines :)

"Mom What's wrong with her make-up?" or "How come her hair is so big?"

But the winner of the latest most embarassing goes to.....Carson, who saw a h.u.g.e.l.y obese person.

"Mom, I just heard him fluff. hehehe. But how do you think he goes to the bathroom if he's SO big? How would he even sit on the toilet?"

Good question Carson!

And the best quote of the week- no embarrasment even included, was when I pointed out all the yummy soy milk flavors at the grocery store and Carson said,

"Ewww, I'm never drinking Soy Milk, because then you'll get man boobs."

Well maybe i'll just have to start drinking some...with the exception of when i'm pregnant of course :)

Another Year Older....

...and so much sassier, wiser, cuter, and fun is our little Brynny Bear! Emphasis on the sass, which on a 3 year old is nothing short of pure entertainment 90% of the time. Combine that with the occassional drama...the teenage yrs could be interesting!

This little girl has a serious love of life, and you can't help but be happy in her presense. She smiles, laughs, sings, and dances constantly.

She turned 3 on January 19th, and we celebrated with a princess party fit for a queen. Brynlee is girl through and through so the theme was must do.

After our tea party, Cinderella paid us a visit and read all the little princesses her story. Then we played "find the missing glass slipper", and "hot princess castle". All in all, an adorable party for our favorite 3 yr. old!!!