Brent's getting hitched

Brent and Shelley got engaged earlier this month! We just love Shelley and can't wait until it's official (May 19th). Abigail is especially excited to have a new Aunt. She keeps asking when she can call her Aunt Shelley. I told her anytime, but she wants to wait until the wedding.
Shelley's parents are from North Carolina, and they were in town for a couple of weeks, so my Mom put together a dinner so we could all meet.

The lovely couple

On the left side of the table we have Lauren, Shelley's sister, Shelley, Her Dad, Kent, and her Mom, Sandra. Hopefully if you're looking at my blog you already know the people on the right.

These two hit it off right away. This is Emma, Shelley's niece, and her and Carly are the same age. The kept hugging and holding hands. They kept falling over and getting hurt because they were hugging and trying to walk at the same time.

These two are big trouble makers, but still adorable.

hanging out, probably playing where's my water.

Sweet, not-so-little Kael. This guy is growing up too fast, and there's no more grandbabies on the way. I don't know what we'll do without babies to play with.


The kids all did well to entertain themselves so the adults could visit. It was so much fun getting to know Shelley's family.

January

Here are the highlights from January.

Luke still loves his Star Wars legos. But I think he's starting to like Harry Potter legos just as much.

Hailey loves to sit at the bar with the big kids now. No more highchair, which is actually the first time in over 6 1/2 years that there hasn't been a baby occupying it.

The kids love cream of wheat with food coloring. 

The most exciting event in January was even more exciting this year.... Ben hit the big 3-0! We (the kids) had so many ideas for the cake, they couldn't make up their mind. But finally we narrowed it down to a Chargers bolt, sprinkles on the sides and in the bolt, one heart from each of us, so he knows we love him, and of course happy birthday written on. Which sadly, had to be done in yellow frosting, since the kids used up all the other food coloring on their cereal.

We made dinner, cake and ice cream, and Ben's parents stayed with the kids so Ben and I could go to a movie.

 Abigail fashioned a sling all by herself for her baby to be carried in.

Ab is growing up too fast. She's constantly asking when she can be her own boss, when she'll have her own little baby girls, and when she will get to be the same age as me.

This girl is probably going to be even more girlie than Abigail... which I never would have thought possible. She is constantly wearing dresses, combing her hair, and spraying perfume.

I love spending all day everyday with these sweet kids!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was great as it is every year, and we did our same stuff as we do every year.

we opened p.j.'s from G & G Dawson

posed for a family picture

Did a nativity with a magician and three Mary's

snuggled with Great Grandma Ruth

We had a delicious Christmas Eve dinner made by my Mom and played games made by Shannon

Beau and Hailey enjoying their games

Reading the Christmas story

The annual Nativity puppet show by Brent and the grandkids

Christmas morning is definitely the best part.
Luke's favorite present that Santa brought. He's been wanting this for a while.

Carly with her cow cabbage patch

little Hayes, shopping away

playing paper dolls

the cash register was a big hit...

even Grandma Ruth played :)

It was a nice relaxing morning

Christmas evening we got to talk to Blake in Florida! He's doing great. It's the last Christmas that we will get to talk to a missionary. After having 4 brothers, that's been a lot of Christmas phone calls.

lounging on their new bean bags from G&G Jenkins

Abigail turns 5!

Abigail always makes her birthdays so much fun. She gets SO excited about each little thing. She's always so grateful for all the gifts she receives. She could barely handle waiting for her grandparents to come over that night. We passed the time by cleaning the house (she wanted it to be nice for her 'guests') and making her cake(she wanted and rainbow and a sunshine). She also decided that since it was a party, she must wear a party dress. So she donned her favorite 'easter egg' dress (She got it for Easter, and she thinks the polka dots look like eggs). She squealed in delight as she opened her gifts.

first dance recital

Abigail had her first dance recital. It was at the Christmas village in Ogden. She did GREAT! I was so proud of her. She kept telling me before the recital that she didn't know what to do. So I was a little nervous for her, that maybe she didn't know her dance. Well, I don't know what she was worried about, because she nailed it. She was so sweet, happy, smiling, and waving. She always waves. Whether she's singing in sacrament, coming out of preschool, playing with friends.... she loves waving to people. She's such a sweetheart.
It was FREEZING cold, but we all had fun. The kids got to go see Santa and Mrs. Claus. They were the best ones that I've ever seen. My kids said they were the real ones and not Santa's helpers (which we say about the other santas, who are clearly NOT santa) Even Carly warmed up to Santa. Hailey looked at Santa and started screaming. It was kinda funny.
We had a great night, and I was proud of my girl.