Up to the snow

We decided kind of last minute to drive up to payson and find some snow. We had a huge storm blow through on the thursday before new years and it actually snowed here in the valley, it was so awesome to be at the mall and see and feel snow flurrys. Anyways, saturday was new years day and I wasnt working so we drove up to the snow and this picture was on the wayb up. Its such a great pic of the snowy mountains. 



Here is Lyla, when we put her down she loved to b in the snow. I thought for sure that she would just scream her head off, but she actually got really upset when we picked her up and wouldnt let her back down. She is soo stinkin cute I just love this girl soo much.

Bryce loved being in the snow, he wasnt too fond of the sledding but he enjoyed eating and just playing in the snow, look at that sweet face.

Heres Bailee, she loved the snow too but shes my "princess" and was worried the whole time about her pants getting wet or her gloves getting snow on them. We did get her to go sledding and she loved it, she did it over and over again. Shes such a good helper for me and Mike.

Lincoln loved just standing and eating the snow. If we had to walk he was not liking it much. He got really grumpy when the older kids started sledding, I think he thought they were getting hurt so he would scream and cry every time the kids would come down the hill. Hes such a funny kid.Heres Bailee getting ready to go sledding for the first time all on her own..she did awesome and loved it



brothers

I always wanted my kids closer in age but you don't always get what you want. These two boys are 3.5 years apart and it is soo much fun watching them play like they never knew any different. Ilove that Lincoln loves Bryce soo much, he constantly asks for Bryce all day long while Bryce is at school. They defenately fight like brothers too. I am pretty sure that one day Linc will be Bryces "bigger" brother, just look at the head on that kid!! haha I love these sweet little guys of mine, i am soo lucky to have them, I worked pretty hard for each of these boys!

December

December is always a crazy month for everyone with Christmas and all the festivities that go with it. This Dec was especially crazy because we moved and everyone got sick! not a good way to start the holidays. I feel pretty proud of myself for getting fully unpacked and full Christmas decorations up in less than 3 weeks..not too bad with 4 kids. Being in a bigger home makes me want to get more Christmas decorations. We hosted Christmas eve dinner here like we do every year and it was nice to have the space for everyone. I love when the whole family can be together, thats what its all about right? I feel like Dec went by in a blur.

The kids had a fun time off from school and Mike always get 2 weeks as well so we can usually get alot done. We went up to the snow on the kids last saturday home but that will b another post later. Here are some pics of Christmas morning and decorating.

New post New year!!

I have thought long and hard about the year 2010, and for alot of us it was not the best but in some ways it was a great year.
My sweet Sister n law Cindy Passed away from breast cancer in March and that was so extremely devestating for all of us in the family. She was such an awesome example of what i want to strive to be like. She was an amazing mom and never ever complained about her.self when she was feeling crappy, she still took her kids to all their games and dances and haircuts, ect. Its amazing to me that moms have soo much strength to endure to the end. Cindy blogged a ton over the last 2 yrs and her husband made her blog into a book and I got to read a few pages last night. I definatley teared up reading how much she loved her husband and kids and how much hope and faith she had. Reading that book made me want to blog alot more about my family and have everyone know how much I love my family and the fun and not so fun things we do in our daily lives. I sure miss Cindy, but I know she is loving life where she is right now.

After Cindy passed away my sister n law Holly had her 3rd baby, which is definately a great thing to celebrate after such tragedy, I am sure it brought her some peace and happiness in that hard time in her life. Then we got to add one last baby into our family as well. There was a couple of family weddings too. All in all it was a great and not so great year, I guess in life we have to take the good with bad even when we don't want to.

So in saying that, I really want to love more, serve more, be selfless, be happier and make every day something to be proud of even if its just finishing the laundry I started..lol

I'm trying!

I feel lately that when I am home all day by myself and Lincoln and Lyla are both needing my full attention I get stressed and lose alot of patience. I feel bad for poor Bailee and Bryce because when they get home I am so tired and have zero tolerance for ANYTHING!! But I really ahve been trying to make a contious effort to realize when I am about to burst and talk myself out of it. I have had long talks with my mom about this because she is the same and cant handle too much stress. I have been relying on positive quotes to get me through my days of hecticness. I know that some people may read this and think I have it easy and they would be able to handle it, but i have also realized that all of us have our struggles and trials in different areas in our lives.
As a breastfeeding mom Im sure I can also blame alot on hormones(thats what I tell my self too to get me through the day) haha. I am really trying to enjoy these precious days with my sweet little babies because I have been told more than once by little old ladies that I am gonna wish one day they could be small again. All I can do is try to be the best mom I can and try everyday to be better than the day before. Here is my favorite quote right now in my life....

A philosophy for Life..

Thoughts, keep your thoughts positive

Because your thoughts become your words.

Words, keep your words positive,

because your words become your actions.

Actions, keep your actions positive,

because your actions become your habits.

Habits, keep your habits positive

because your habits become your values.

Values, keep your values positive,

because your values become your DESTINY.

Lincoln does understand

I had a moment with Lincoln tonight that was really awesome! I have been so overwhelmed lately with 2 crying babies practically all day long and it starts to wear on my patience. So lately I have had a very short fuse and when Lincoln wants something and I tell to wait a minute he gets upset and starts to cry and whine which in turn makes me more loud and then we are both frustrated and the rest of the day carries on the same way.

So tonight Mike was at school and I had just made banana bread with the older kids while Lyla screamed her head off and Lincoln just walked around and watched. So after the bread was in the oven I needed to change Lyla and at the same time Lincoln started whining for some more milk, so I calmly made him look at my face and asked him to please stop whinig and told him very sweet that I would change Lyla first and then I would get him his drink and he stopped crying and looked at me and said "ok" and smiled and waited patiently without crying anymore for me to finish. I think from now on I will really try harder to not get so frustrated with him and try to communicate better with him. I think with Lyla being new to the family and him being a middle child I really need to make an effort to be nicer and not yell at him all day. I love that kid so much and I am soooo extremely lucky to have him

3 month photoshoot of Lyla

These are 3 of my favorite pictures of Lyla!! She was soo good during the pictures. for some reason my computer is not letting me post anymore than this so there were a lot more cute pics but for now here is a sneak preview, I love this little girl more than words can say