Blessings

I have been thinking a lot lately about all the blessing that our family has received in the last year. It was one year ago yesterday that Taylor and Sydney were in a car accident, and Taylor was critically injured. Looking back at the pictures of Taylor when she first entered the NICU to now made me realized how blessed our family has been. I am so thankful that she was able to make a full recovery, and for the time that her and my mom where able to live with us while she was in outpatient rehab. Taylor is so much fun to have around and I just can't imagine what our life would be like without her in it.

The above picture is a typical picture of Taylor being Taylor!!
This is Taylor in rehab not to long after she woke up from her 1 1/2 week coma. She loved when Brynli would come to visit her.

This is Taylor with Emery, Carli, and Saydie.

We love you Taylor and are so blessed to have you in our lives!!!

Carving the pumpkins

This last week was so busy that we didn't get our pumpkins carved in time for Halloween, but the kids insisted on still carving them. The kids had a blast even though it was the day after Halloween.
Brynli missed her nap and was extremely grouchy so this is the only picture we got of her carving her pumpkin.

Carli's pumpkin is a haunted house and Cole's is a mummy! I thought they turned out pretty good.

Happy Halloween!!

Yes I know it has been for ever since I posted last, so this is to everyone who has waited at least 6 months for me to update my blog! This is of Carli and her best friend Lola, they are pretty much inseparable. Got to love Carli's big cheesy grin!!
The kids were so excited that Qwincy got to come spend Halloween with us this year!
Carli was such a cute little fairy!!

I kind of talked Cole into being a football player, because we already had all the stuff. When it got closer to Halloween I started feeling a little guilty about not letting him choose, so I told him he could choose something else if he wanted to. Cole turns to me and says can I be a dead football player with blood on my face. I just had to laugh cause that is so Cole. I think his costume turned out pretty cool thanks to Chad!!

Here is our super cute ladybug! She made sure that we didn't miss one house. When it comes to candy she doesn't mess around.

Joelle's Bridal Shower

LeeAnne, Ashley, Mom, and I threw Joelle a bridal shower on Valentines Day! This is Joelle in her cute and sexy robe that Shelly and Shannon gave her!
Joelle didn't want a veil until she saw the one Ashley and I made for her! Yes we are taking orders!!


Another sister down and only two more to go!

Ballet recital

Here is Carli in her ballet outfit. Doesn't she make a cute ballerina!!!

Why is it so fun to give people bunny ears?
I have a cute video of her recital, but I can't get it to upload. If anyone knows what I am doing wrong let me know.

Making Valentine cookies

Cole decorating his cookie.
Carli's master piece!


Now I know why she is such a Daddy's girl!!!!

It was so nice having my mom live with us for a few months. She is a lot better at making sugar cookies than I am. Carli and Brynli had so much fun helping Grandma cut out all the hearts.

Super Bowl

Dacia's mother-in-law made this cake for the super bowl. I was quite impressed.

We looked and looked for shirts for the kids but never did find any, so Chad and Brandon decided to make shirts for the kids. They were up till like 1 in the morning making the shirts, and I think they did a pretty good job.

Not only was it super bowl Sunday it was also Qwincy's blessing day. She looked beautiful, but I didn't get any pictures of her in her white dress.

The only way we could get Brynli to sit for the picture was to let her touch the baby.

January/Monster Truck Jam!

Chad has been wanting to take Cole to a Monster Truck jam since Spokane, and in January they were finally able to go. Marshall, Jayden, and Mitch came and went with Chad, Cole and Carli. They all had tons of fun!!

Pay it forward!

So, here's how this game works-the first 3 people to leave a comment on this post will receive, at some point during the year, a handmade gift from me. What it will be and when it will arrive is a total surprise! The catch is that you must participate as well. Before you leave your comment, write up a pay it forward post on your blog to keep the fun going (or be lazy and copy and paste like I did). Then come back, let me know you're going to play and sit back and anticipate the arrival of your gift!

New Years at the Cabin!

Chad's parents cabin still had a lot of snow by the time we got up there. Grandpa and the kids decided to make a sled so they could sled down the hill behind the cabin. I'm not to sure that it ever really worked that well, but the kids still had a lot of fun with it.
The kids swinging.

Cole an Carli getting ready for their first time ever sledding.

Brynli loved sledding, as soon as they would reach the bottom she would say more!

Cole and Grandpa attempting to go down standing up!

Christmas 2008

It is always fun to watch Cole open presents, because he get so excited about everything that he gets.
Carli had asked Santa for a cupcake maker, a bike, and a jam and jam barbie car. Santa brought everything but the jam and jam car. Carli came out so excited to see her bike and her cupcake maker. After looking all around the Christmas tree and couches she sadly looked at us and said where is my barbie car. Cole proceeded to tell her that Santa doesn't always bring everything we ask for, and Carli looks at Chad and says maybe he left it outside. It was the saddest thing I have ever seen.

Brynli is constantly pushing our trash can around the house, so Santa thought that she would really enjoy a shopping cart. So do you think that she wants to push the shopping cart? Of course not, she climbs inside and yells for someone to come push her around the house! She does still enjoy pushing the trash can around the house though.

We had a nice quite Christmas with just our little family this year. We have enjoyed making our own family traditions. On Christmas eve we make a gingerbread house , have big daddys for dinner, look at Christmas lights, read the Christmas story, write letters for Santa, open new pajamas, leave a coke, twist and cookies for Santa, put stockings out and then the kids head for bed. Then I drink eggnog all by myself, because nobody else likes it. Christmas the kids have to wait till Chad has the video camera all set up and then they can come down the stairs to see what Santa has left for them. After we open presents we have twist and hot cocoa. Then I make enchiladas for Christmas dinner.