Family Home Evening




Last night was our first time ever having an official "FHE". The reason I say official was because we planned it!! We are always playing with the kids, and doing family things, but never have we planned, and called it, Family Home Evening before. It was fun though, we played a fun scripture game, sang songs, and baked the YUMMIEST CHOCOLATE CAKE!! We then proceded to deliver half the cake to the Bean family, but they weren't home so we broke in and dropped it off for them. It was way fun, and I just need to say this, I LOVE MY FAMILY SO MUCH!!

My Conversation with Carter....

Carter: mommy, Elmo, Elmo????
Me: No, Carter.
Carter: WHY?
Me: Because Carter, I'm sick of Elmo.
Carter: Awww Man!

It's so fun now that Carter is able to communicate with words more. He still has such a long ways to go, but it makes me smile nonetheless!

And.... He's Baptized!!!














Today was amazing, beautiful, spiritual.... PERFECT! Have you ever had one of those days where you feel as though you are part of a dream, or that it was so perfect that you may have to pinch yourself just to make sure that your truly awake?? That was what today was like for me, even if Carter can't figure out the time change, and he gets up at 6:00 now... the pitter patter of his little feel were welcomed this morning!












I was really looking forward to this day for so long, I can't believe it has came and went, (Just like Christmas Day!!). I am a little bit of an over achiever when it comes to parties and things at my house, and so knowing that I would be doing a little luncheon at my house afterward for friends, I had a mile long list of to dos, and made endless phone calls for advice. Had Idone a typicalMelanie party I would have been cooking for days, cleaning for days, and making things so that they were, "just so". But I got some very good advice from a couple of friends that said, don't stress about food... just keep it simple. I decided to go with this because had I not taken that advice I would have been a cranky stress head for a week, and made all around me miserable!! I ended up doing soups, apple cider, doughnuts, and small desserts from neighbors. It still looked absolutely wonderful, and it tasted great too! It seemed to really be a hit with everyone!


I know that people love Braydon and our family so much, but I can't believe all the help and support we had! Molly came down from St. George, and all of our good friends from Provo came to celebrate this day with Braydon. My Aunt Suzy, Lindsey and Grandma all showed up for the Baptism, (where I proceded to bawl my eyes out the second I saw them)... The rest of the family came to the luncheon afterwards, and were the last to leave, I love you family! I'm so grateful for all the people that love us, and so lucky to have such great friends and family.










I normally don't get all churchy and spiritual on my blog, but I need to tell you how strong I felt the spirit today, and how it really touched me. Braydon is 9 years old, and in his 9 years this truly was the most special day that I have ever been able to share with him. He is my oldest child, and watching him get baptized overwhelmed me. After his confirmation, he hugged all the men around the circle, then walked up to me and hugged me last. I just sat and cried... I just gave into the emotions that were boiling to the surface.


Mike did a great job with the Baptism, and I am so thankful that he has the priesthood, and was able to have this day with Braydon.

I'm Calm....

But yesterday... I was NOT CALM!! I had a complete Suncrest meltdown... crying at the bus stop in my car because of the blizzard I encountered at my new home. I got stuck in my own driveway... had to dig myself out!! It was cold, snowy, wet, WINDY.... so there I was digging myself out of my driveway, and of course being pelted in my face by high speed snow flurries!! I hear all of these Suncrest residers telling me how they love Suncrest winters, how beautiful they are... I DON'T THINK SO!! I welcome snow people... but do I welcome being STUCK in my home?? NO!! But I was, and I hated it! I shoveled my driveway and walks 3 times yesterday.. YUP.. 3 times! I would get done, and here she comes again... mother nature at her best!

You guys.. I am not a snow WUSS, I am a fan of the winter wear, and all that jazz.... I have the cutest gloves, I am already hitting Lance up for the new UGG boots, I have nice warm clothes, cute sweaters.... what I don't have is 4-Wheel drive!! I don't have a snow blower, I. AM. NOT. PREPARED!!!

I want to go home! At least all my best friends, and Brayds best friends could make to my house without getting in their cars and driving there!! I don't care that the house is smaller, has less "upgrades"... If there is anything I have learned from this moving experience well.. a house is a house! Who cares what it looks like, or how fancy it is... It's the people you live by, the ones you have become accustomed to seeing at all hours of the day, at their best and worse! I miss you Reese Estates!!

But on another note, it looks pretty outside today, the sun is shining and the crisp air feels nice.. the snowy mountains behind me do look picturesque. I shouldn't complain, I know. Maybe I'm just missing my best friends. Change is so hard, and I'm trying to embrace it, I'm trying to welcome all the craziness of the change, and somedays are much easier than others... yesterday was just a very bad day!

Braydons' Baptism is on Saturday, I bought his suit the other day... it's a Calvin Klein, and seriously... he looks absolutely perfect in it! Braydon is so ready for this special day!!

Guess Who's 2!!???

Look at that squishy face!! November 4, 2006!




Happy Birthday Carter!! I love my kids' birthday so much, because it's such special reminder to me, of the special day they gifted me with their life. I am so truly grateful to be their mom. This post I want to show my gratitude for being Carters mom, and truly lucky I am. He came to me so unexpectadly... I still can't believe I'm the lucky one that get's to share all these special memories with him. I can't believe it's been 2 years since he was born. I love you so much Carter!!!









So for his birthday celebration, Braydon and I took him to Build A Bear, it was a first for Carter! He loved it!! He couldn't understand the stuffing part of the bear, he was just staring and kept wanting to fill his little doggy up! The guy there was so sweet to him too. It was nice too, cuz the mall was dead due to election night!






After he bathed and dressed his doggy, we came home and opened presents. He is literally infatuated with Elmo, so he got the Elmo Live, which is HILARIOUS!! Elmo bathwash, a new Elmo movie, and his first Radio Flyer Tryke! He loved his gifts!! He opened them up like crazy, and when he saw Elmo live... he beamed, and squealed! He's such a cute boy!!






Earlier in the day Sara, Braydon and Carter all decorated and ate birthday cupcakes and a train cake... he was covered in chocolate! Lifes' simple pleasures are my favorite!



Here he is just after picking out his doggy.









The worker who was so cute with Carter!






Isn't that cute... My little prescious picking his nose!









Bathing his Birthday dog...
Tada! Jazz Dog!!


Halloween!











Halloween was so nice, wasn't it?? No snow, no jackets, and NO FREEZING! Well I, for one was thrilled at this! This was Carters' first time trick-or-treating, and he got it down in no time, after a couple of doors he was all for saying, "tick or teat"! He was the cutest eeyore!! Braydon was a dead U of U football player, he looked pretty cool when we were all done done, "dooting" him up! I love how excited the kids get for this fun holiday! I tend to go overboard on treats, and end up having more than enough leftover! I sorta, kinda do it on purpose! Now, here are some pictures for you all to enjoy....