Fun at the Gateway

We're loving our pass to the Discovery Gateway Children's Museum to help us get out of the house once a week. Each time, we bring along a friend which makes it even more fun. This time, we invited Jenica, Addie, and Jaxon.

Although he used to call Addie his girlfriend, when Jonny took his shirt off and started working on his truck like a little stud muffin, I thought maybe he was hoping to pick up on some new women. haha It was so random, but he told me that's what you do when you're a "workerman."

Phew, I finally convinced him to put his shirt back on so they wouldn't kick us out of the museum.

Addie and Jonny riding off into the sunset...

Emily and Addie

Music time!

how Sarah spends most of her time whenever we're there

until she wakes up, asking for mommy to feed her

Donating some change on our way out as the coins go around and around and around...

some random favorites

My friend, Kim, bought Sarah one of the cutest baby girl outfits I had seen. There's an owl on the front asking, "Who's the cutest?" Then on the toes, it says, "I'm the cutest." Love it!

We have a make up artist in our home...can you guess who? Emily received some glitter make up for her birthday in October from Jon and Sarah, and she's been having fun with it ever since.

Go Daddy! The So Jo 5K was one of the three 5K races Wade ran last fall. He's been having a blast training and becoming a runner again.

Every morning before I go to the gym at 6am, I pump some mommy's milk just in case Sarah wakes up hungry before I return. This was the first time Jonathan got a chance to feed her, and he was quite a proud big brother. Every time someone asks me how the heck I find time to work out everyday, I tell them it's because I go before the family is up for the day, and that I do it for MY sanity. Yes, I've slimmed down and toned up a bit, but more than anything, it helps me stay balanced emotionally and mentally so I don't struggle as much. It's been worth it!

walking Emily to dance class a half mile away

The funnest thing about having a second girl is having her wear her sister's hand me downs. I used to love this outfit on Emily. She always seemed so cozy and happy in it, just as Sarah does now.

Here's Emily dancing along to a High School Musical song while wearing what she likes to call her "dancing skirt" homemade by my sister in law, Elizabeth. Sarah even has a matching one, I love!

My other sister in law, Diana, picked out this outfit for Sarah, and I snapped this picture just for her.

After preschool one day, Jonny and Sophie climbed into Sarah's crib, knowing they were being a little mischievous, but for them, it's a lifestyle, so Kristal and I just shrugged out shoulders and laughed. :)

Until Sophie was accepted into Headstart 4 days a week, I was lucky enough to have her in my preschool class for 4 months and have Kristal watch baby Sarah as trade. They have a special connection.

My favorite time of day just might be my one on one time with Sarah after Emily and Jon are in bed. Before or after her bath, I'll just hold her and talk to her, and she'll talk back with "Hi...ah...ooh...and the like." Precious moments.

Celebrating our 7th Anniversary

We returned to the Homestead Resort in Midway, Utah for the third year in a row to celebrate our wedding anniversary. Can you believe we've been married 7 years? Crazy!

After relaxing on Friday and enjoying a wonderful dinner, the next morning, we rode the Heber Valley Railroad, which included some stunning scenery.

Just beautiful!

This little munchkin joined us of course since I'm a nursing mama, but we didn't mind because she's pretty stinkin' cute! Thanks again to Grandpa and Grandma Reed for watching Jon and Emily so we could have some much needed time away.

Halloween 2010

Is it true? Am I finally posting my Halloween pics even though Valentine's Day is already passed? Sheesh, I guess 3 kids has kept me busy lately!You're going to love this, Sarah is the ONLY one of us whose costume was complete at our Neighborhood Trunk of Treat! We have a soccer player without his soccer ball, batman without his eye mask, Ariel the Little Mermaid without her crown, and a witch without her hat. hehe We left in a hurry and forgot a few of our accessories. ;)

Jon, Emily, Lacey, Zack, and Ada

Jonny with his best pal, Ollie

And a month later, Wade took this picture of our little Sarah kitty since the ones we took on Halloween didn't turn out as good.

Emily, the 5 year old

It's like I blinked and this baby girl grew up...

...to become a beautiful, creative, dancing 5 year-old girl. I thought it was appropriate to put that picture of Emily at Disneyland when she was 6 months old since she is so excited for our family to go again in April.

my big 5 year-old girl BEFORE the 6 inch haircut...

...and AFTER the haircut, all smiles with some of her best buddies, Allison and Avery

celebrating her birthday at preschool with chocolate pudding (her choice) and milk

riding her two wheeler on our way to a neighborhood party...I can't believe how grown up she is!

Some Fall Fun in Preschool

I heart preschool. I really do. I spend two mornings a week singing and dancing with children, creating dinosaur mountains out of play dough, seeing a child's eyes light up when they learn something new, and visiting fun places in our community on class field trips. It's awesome. Here are some fun adventures we had this fall:

Field Trip to Harmon's Grocery Store

Having hula hoop competitions with my students...Guess what? I've been getting really good lately, just not as good as my 5 year old daughter!

Field Trip to Gardner Village to see the witches and get into the Halloween spirit

playing in the leaves...again...again...and again

so fun!

Halloween Program

Mailing letters to our parents during our lesson on community helpers...Falle is a rad mail carrier, right Brynn, Darcy, Kathy, and Kim?

Field Trip to the Fire Station

Blessing and Birthday Celebration

Wade gave Sarah a beautiful blessing on October 10, 2010, surrounded by family and friends. She wore a precious hand knitted dress my cousin, Carolynn, made. Since Sarah is the second daughter, just like me, and I was nicknamed "angel" by my parents, we nicknamed her "angel" as well. Never was that name more fitting than on her blessing day because she truly looked like a little angel, all in white.

Since Sarah's blessing day was the day after Wade's birthday and a week before Emily's birthday, we had one big celebration for each of them with family. Here's some of the group enjoying the BBQ pork sandwiches.

And here's a handful of the cousins eating together and being silly.

PS) What's new? Being silly is what they do best.

Emily with her Ariel cake

I'm a pretty simple gal and just find a google image of my child's favorite character, stick it in the cake with a toothpick taped to it and voila...happy child! Thanks to my sis, Margaret, for helping make the cake a little prettier with some icing on top. :)

Wade and Emily about to blow out their candles together
Thank you Hailey for Purplicious and Littlest Pet Shop toys!

Just what she wanted...a cash register and the book, Anne of Green Gables.

Thanks Grandma and Papa Lang!

And of course, she was thrilled with Ramsi's surprise, a princess memory game.
Grandpa and Grandma Reed went in with us to give Emily a 6 month membership to Discover Gateway Children's Museum. She LOVES this gift! We've been going at least once a week to keep us active in the winter since it's so cold outside. It's a membership for 6 instead of just 4 so that we can invite friends or grandparents to join us each time. We missed Grandpa and Grandma Stoney who were out of town. They gave Emily some darling new clothes the week before. Thanks to everyone for celebrating this special day with us!