A Lil Christmas Spirit

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

The Things We Learn

I just love watching the things that my girls are learning everyday. Sometimes it makes me laugh, sometimes it amazes me, and sometimes I realize that I should be setting a better example! Here are some of the stories...

Quincy is becoming quite the little mimic. She loves watching us (especially Adalyn) and then copying whatever we are doing. Things such as waving, nodding her head, bits of sign language, blows kisses, sticks out her tongue, clapping hands, patting her legs (The Little Einstein way) and doing the motions to The Wheels on the Bus...






This next picture totally baffled me...



















Here is the story: Addie was in her room playing with this little chalk board. I walked in to see her drawing circles, lines, etc. She said, "Mom, write Dora." So I sat down and wrote Dora on the chalk board. She erased it and said, "Mom, do it again." So again I wrote Dora. At this point I said, "Okay, I will be right back," and went to the kitchen to do something. After a minute or so she came out with her chalk board and said, "Look Mama, I did it!" She had erased my writing and wrote Dora out all by herself!


Adalyn also learns new words, phrases, and songs everyday...


Some of the phrases she has learned are teaching me to watch what I say. One day we were trying to get some where in a hurry and of course we ended up behind someone who hasn't quite mastered their driving skills. In my frantic state, I yelled to the driver, "Go Dude!" (as if he could hear me) Now every time we drive somewhere it never fails that Addie is yelling out "Go Dude!" from the backseat!

These girls are so much fun and I am so glad that I am able to watch them growing and learning. I am so proud to be their mom!

Mom's Birthday

Every year my mom's birthday is usually what begins our celebrations throughout the Christmas season. My mom loves to see the Christmas lights at Ogden Christmas Village (and even moreso now that she has grandkids to share it with)! This year, however, we added something new: The Forgotten Carols. All the girls decided to get together and take my mom to see them. So glad we did. It was a great way to prepare for the upcoming season, and a great reminder of what it is really all about. We had such a fun night.

Of course, we still kept to the annual Christmas Village Adventure...

Seeing Santa Claus was so much fun this year. Adalyn was prepared to tell Santa that she wanted "Presents" when he asked "What do you want for Christmas?" Instead, she ended up saying "A Candy Cane!" She was too excited to get the peppermint treat to think of anything else!















Quincy was just fascinated by him. See, she has a little hair fetish... she loves to grab and play with it as much as she can. Here I think she was thinking "I don't know you, but I really want to grab all that white hair!"














It was a lot of fun celebrating my Mom's Birthday. She is a wonderful mother and grandmother. She works hard and is very thoughtful and loving. We hope she knows how loved she is!

4 Toddlers + 1 Piano =

I just love these kids!

Our 9 Month Dream

Of course I am referring to Lil Miss Q, who literally has been a dream for these past 9 months. Her current stats are: Weight: 19.2 lbs. (60%), Height: 28 in. (80%), Head: 18.5 in. (95%), and 8 teeth. Here are some things to know about her:

• She is quite possibly the happiest baby ever. She is so content with everything and she just loves to laugh. It is so easy to make her smile and she gets super excited when someone is giving her attention.

• She loves to dance/head bang. Whenever someone sings or she hears music she starts bouncing away.

(forgive my singing!)

• Quincy is super mellow and is just fine not being able to get anywhere in a hurry. She shows no desire to crawl and is happy just sitting in one place or rolling to where she needs to go.

• Some of her most recent nick-names are Quince, Sis, Q, Curly Q, and Lovebug.
• She is very good at understanding words. She will clap, give a high five, give kisses and she attempts to wave whenever you ask her too. She is also starting to use a little bit of sign language and clicks her tongue to communicate with us.

• She is still a thumb sucker and quite the Momma's girl when she is tired. Also, when falling asleep, she likes to pull the blanket up to her face while she sucks her thumb.
• She loves food... anything and everything we give her she will take (except peas).
• She grabs everything, and I mean EVERYTHING. I can no longer wear jewelry, hold her while I eat, or leave her close to her sister's hair.

• Although she is a happy, mellow baby, when provoked she will get mad and fight back. I was surprised the first time I heard her "mean scream" and watched her push Adalyn's hand away from her face! Boy, I think we are in for it down the road!
• Quincy loves hugs and kisses and passes them out freely.

• Quincy is very aware of her surroundings and is also very protective of her sister and I. Anytime it appears as though someone is hurting us she gets very upset.

Quincy is such a sweet, loving, happy, beautiful, and amazing baby. I love watching her and Adalyn interacting, laughing, and playing together. Her easy-going and fun personality is starting to really come out and we are so grateful for the opportunity of raising her. We love this little lady!

A Witchy Halloween!

Since Adalyn's fear of witches turned into fascination we thought "What better to dress her up as than a witch." Once her costume was decided we thought how cute it would be to have 2 'lil witches running around. Here are our little witchy-poos...

At the Trunk or Treat...

Carson, Shannon, and Natalee

On Halloween night we carved pumpkins before trick-or-treating. Addie didn't like the feel of the insides of the pumpkins!

But she couldn't wait to get inside her pumpkin basket!

My parents also had a little Halloween Party with our family. It was fun to get together with everyone. This picture isn't the best but for some reason I couldn't get a good one.

We had such a great Halloween and I have to admit, we had the cutest and sweetest 'lil witches in the world!

Fall Festivities

October was filled with so many fun and exciting things that we were hoping it would stick around for awhile. Unfortunately it went by in a blur.

First off: Congratulations to my brother Josh and his new wife Kelsey! They had a beautiful fall wedding and we are so happy for them.

Also in October we did a couple things to get into the Halloween spirit. We went to Cornbelly's Corn Maze and had a blast.

We even went to a Tooele Pumpkin Patch...

We also spent a lot of time at Gardener Village. At the beginning of the season, Adalyn got really scared of witches. She was literally terrified... she had bad dreams about them, talked about them non-stop, and couldn't go anywhere near them. So how did we combat this fear? Surrounded her with witches! Sounds mean I know... but it actually worked. We did a baby step process... Show her the witch, let her see us touch the witch, explain that it's fake and nice, get her touch the witch. Finally when she was starting to get more comfortable with them, Devin turned it into a game for her to find the witch and then touch them. After that she asked all the time to go see the witches.

Addie also loved playing in the leaves...

Home Sweet Home!

After house hunting for several months, Devin and I had begun to feel a little hopeless and a little desperate. Then one August evening, this was our last stop...

Like many we'd seen before, it was an older home so we were expecting that it would need a lot of work.

Instead we found...

It had been completely re-done and updated on the inside! It was Exactly what we were looking for in every aspect.

Not to mention the huge...

Yes, I am referring to the huge satellite dish... Who couldn't possibly want that? Actually, this is the backyard and it has been a dream come true for Adalyn and I.

We immediately knew that this was where we were supposed to be. Our first Sunday at our new ward was our confirmation. So many people approached us, already knew our names, and asked how they could help move us in. Our neighbors are constantly offering their help, tools, and garden goods. We feel so blessed.

Even though we have been here over a month now, there are times that it still seems surreal. In those moments, I take it all in as a reminder how much our Heavenly Father loves us and wants the best for us!

We can't offer enough thanks for the people who have helped us over these last few months. I don't think we will ever be able to show just how grateful we are to you all! When we count our blessings, you are each among them!

Lots of Love!

Family Reunions

To kick off the fall season both of our families held Reunions. We love our families and really enjoy spending time with them. Not to mention how much we appreciate everyone for all that they have done for us (especially most recently).

First came the Wayment Reunion held up at my parent's cabin. We had a great time relaxing, riding 4 wheelers, catching lizards, and playing in the dirt.

Next came the Payne Reunion which was held in a cabin right next to Silver Lake in Cottonwood Canyon. It was beautiful up there and we had so much fun hiking, relaxing in the hot tub, playing games, and eating.

(Our entire group of 19 made the hike up to Lake Solitude... that includes 2 babies, 4 toddlers, and 3 kids!)

And of course we never miss the opportunity for family pictures!

Love you all!!