Look What I Found Under the Tree!

We busted out the Christmas tree and decorations over the weekend, and of course Rachel had to get in on the action.
She climbed under the Christmas tree, so of course I had to take a photo. She soon discovered that the branches are quite prickly, and she crawled right out!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We went up to my parents' house for Thanksgiving this year. It was the smallest gathering we've ever had I think. Heidi and Melinda spent the holiday with their in-laws, and Matt was on vacation, so it was just us, Jon & Molly, my parents, and Aaron. It was nice and cozy. And I should probably have paid less attention to eating and gabbing and a little more attention to the pictures I was taking. I did a pretty cruddy job this year. Oh well, at least the food and company was good, even if the photos don't show it. ;)

First Snowman of the Season

Unlike his mamma, Justin LOVES winter! As soon as we got a good snowfall, he was outside shoveling the driveway. Not because we asked him to, but because he actually enjoys it. (I know, we're lucky.)
After the driveway was clear, he built a snowman. All by himself. He was so proud that I just had to take a picture. Don't you love how he used sticks to make a giant smiley face? Man I love this kid!

Families Are Forever

We had such a beautiful weekend. We were finally able to take Rachel to the temple and have her sealed to us. The boys were able to be right with us in the sealing room and the spirit was so strong. It was just amazing to all be there together with our family. I was afraid I would cry through the whole thing, but Rachel was so excited to see her brothers that she was laughing and kicking the entire time. Made it much easier to keep my composure.
We are so very grateful for this little angel girl and the joy she brings into our home every single day. She is such a blessing.

Lots of our extended family was there to share the day with us, and we are so glad they could make it. I wanted to be able to take a bunch of photos afterward, but it was freezing outside, so we couldn't. We just got a couple of our family.
On Sunday Wes blessed Rachel at church. We had another fun day filled with family and friends. Again I planned on taking lots of amazing photos. We stated, but the sunshine was so bright that they weren't turning out very well. I totally planned on taking some later, but got caught up visiting and having fun with all of our family that I plum forgot. I am so much better at taking pictures at other people's events!

Here are the horribly back-lit glaring photos that I managed to get:
I love how much she adores her daddy!
Wes took this picture of the two of us girls.
We are so grateful for temples and the knowledge that families can be together forever.

So Bloomin' Cute!

I have been saving up girl clothes since Brandon was a baby. One of them involves a funny story. We didn't know Brandon was a boy till after he was born. So most people waited to give us presents till after we had him. We were visiting with my Great Aunt Faye, and she handed us a beautifully wrapped gift. I handed Brandon to my mom so I could open it.

Inside was. . . a tiny little blue dress with pink roses and lace, a pair of bloomers and a matching headband. As soon as my aunt saw it she was mortified. She gasped and said, "Oh no! I must have sent the little boy outfit to my other niece who just had a girl!" She was totally embarrassed and offered to take back the dress and exchange it for something Brandon could wear. But I loved the little frilly outfit so much I told her I would just save it for when we had a girl. Of course I never dreamed that I would be waiting for 16 years. The dress has been carefully tucked away since then.

It was fun to pull it out and put it on our little Rachel. She looks simply adorable in it. I'm so glad I kept it!!

Halloween

The weather this year for Halloween was just gorgeous! I don't remember a year when it was so warm. It was awesome!
We decorated our pumpkins in an Angry Birds theme. The boys painted the base coat, and I did the faces.
Wes set up a catapult in the front yard.
And he and the boys built the "knock-down" structure where we put the pigs.
They had tons of fun!!

This year Tyler insisted that he was too old to go trick or treating. But of course he changed his mind the day before Halloween. Luckily we had a costume he could wear. He went as a skeleton.
I made Justin a pirate costume. He sure had fun wearing it! :)
And I had a blast finally making a girly costume. Rachel was a bumble bee.