Yes Dacia I did update my blog...well just the picture of my kids. I thought it would be appropriate to add Kodi to our blog since she has now been part of our family for a year!

I have a friend who is doing a great giveaway on her blog....go check it out.
www.theprettypoppy1.blogspot.com

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.

Our weekend getaway!

One of Chad's old mission companions invited us to go with them to see the lighting of the tree in Prescott the first weekend in December. We stayed at a cabin just outside of Flagstaff and then on Saturday we drove to Prescott to see the lights. We had a much needed relaxing weekend. The kids had tons of fun playing with friends all weekend. Thanks Sean and Lynsee for the fun weekend.

Taylor is Home!

The weekend of Dec 13 Taylor's Doctors decided to let her have weekends off. She was able to leave Saturday after her therapy and be back by 9:00 that night and then she could leave Sunday morning and have all day Sunday off, but she would have to be back that night by 9:00. The first weekend she had off we went to see the temple lights on Saturday night and then on Sunday she was able to come with our family to church. After church Taylor stayed at our house for a little while and read to Brynli, who is her absolute favorite, and watch a movie with Cole and Carli. It was nice to see her out of the hospital even if it was just for a short time. The Doctors told my mom that they would let Taylor leave the Hospital on Christmas day so we planned on having Taylor and the rest of my family here with us for Christmas. About one week before Christmas, Taylor's Christmas wish came true when they told her they were going to release her from the hospital on Christmas Eve. Taylor was so excited to be able to go home to Eagar. We were a little sad that they wouldn't be here with us, but we were way excited to see her go home. Taylor and Mom will come live with us after the new year, so Taylor can start her outpatient rehab. Taylor isn't to excited about starting rehab again, but she is thrilled about coming and staying with Brynli.

This is Emery, Carli, and Saydie with Taylor in her hospital room.
My kids loved going and playing Uno and Guess Who with their aunt Taylor.
This was the cutest! Brynli loved to go to the hospital and hangout with Taylor on her bed. Brynli was sharing her chips with Taylor even though she wasn't yet able to have solids yet. Taylor really enjoyed the salt off of the chips.

Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving was a little different this year being that we had it at the hospital, but it was nice that we were able to be with family. My mom was able to reserve one of the hospitals conference rooms for our Thanksgiving dinner, and thanks Shelley for getting us all the food! The kids were finally able to go back to see their aunt Taylor, and was Taylor ever excited to see them. She is not able to show any expressions on her face yet but as soon as the kids came in she started to wave at them. She was even more excited to see Brynli. Every time Taylor would look at Brynli she would start waving, and then she put her hand up and gave her a high five. It made our day and I think Taylor's too. Taylor also got her drainage tube removed from her head which allowed her to be moved out of the PICU yesterday. We were happy that moving meant she is making progress, but sad that we will no longer have Sarah as her nurse. Taylor still has a long road ahead but we have faith that the outcome will be a good one. Taylor will start her rehab on Monday and we can hardly wait to see the changes it will bring. Thank you to all who have been praying for Taylor and our family!

Update on Taylor

Yesterday was a really good day for our family and Taylor. She was able to finally get her intubation tube removed. They also took her off of her sedation so she was actually able to open her eyes, and she waved at my dad, Shad, and Sydney. Today when I went to see her she waved and shook my hand. When we asked her if she would wave to Chad she shook her head no, but she did give him a thumbs up! She made my Dad's day by doing their little wave that they do to each other. Way to go Taylor!

Tay Tay we miss you!

A week ago last Saturday my two youngest sisters Sydney and Taylor and Taylors two friends were in a car accident. Taylor had to be flown to St. Joe's Hospital in Phoenix because of head trauma. She has been there for just over a week now and not much has changed, but she hasn't gone backwards which is good. We are hoping that this week we will start to see some good changes. We really miss you Tay Tay and hope that you will be able to wake up soon!

Halloween!

Brynli decided that she was going to ride in the trunk with all the candy. She was not about to let it out of her sight for a second.
By the end of the night Brynli had had enough of the bumble bee costume.

She was so cute walking up to the door with her bucket.

By the end of the night her bucket was pretty heavy, but she was not going to let anyone help her with it.

Last year Brynli didn't want anything to do with her costume, but this year she was so excited to put it on. Halloween was a little warm this year, but over all it was fun.