Tis the Season...

We're right in the middle of the Christmas season and enjoying every minute of it. Jared has been really busy with a project at work and will finally be done with it on Thursday so he'll be breathing a little easier after that. We leave in one week for Washington to spend Christmas. This month, as usual, is flying by way to quickly.

My little Christmas kids

Our living room tree

Beautiful Mackayla!

Jared and Bradley are ready for a Christmas dinner.

Our gingerbread house. Mackayla wouldn't be in a picture and Bradley wanted his mouth open for the picture so this is the best shot I got.

Santa showed up at our ward party! The kids wouldn't sit on his lap but quietly told him they wanted "toys" for Christmas.

This was Jared after putting up Christmas lights. It was a COLD, WINDY day!

Bradley had a little stomache bug last week and was throwing up... no fun for anyone!

Poor little guy.

An early morning read with the boys

Thanksgiving

We were able to enjoy a wonderful trip down to Arizona for Thanksgiving. The kids all traveled good, the weather was perfect and we were able to do a lot of fun things. Besides getting over another round of mastitis and a few headaches, it was a perfect little vacation.

The kids loved helping Nini decorate for Christmas.


We made a visit to the Phoenix Zoo


Nini and Mackayla looking at Elephants


Jacob had fun also.


Mackayla's favorite part of the trip was studying the map. Bradley had a great time just relaxing in the stoller and eating his crackers.

Standing on one foot like the flamingos

Bradley was so tired one afternoon he fell asleep sitting up in the cart. Since Jacob was already being carried, Bradley got to sleep in Jacob's carseat. I thought he looked so cute in the little seat.

Making little turkeys with Papa

Jason was out of town for Thanksgiving but we did get to see him one morning before he flew out.

The kids were all set and so excited for a road trip. Bradley kept yelling "happy road trip!"

The week before Thanksgiving Mackayla got to go on a special Daddy-Daughter date. She got to pick the activity and decided she wanted him to take her to IHOP for breakfast. She was SO excited. This was a very special event for her.

5 YEARS! We had our five year anniversary this month also. Jared gave me this beautiful bouquet. While in Arizona, Mom and Dad Jones treated us to babysitting and dinner so we could have an anniversary date. Three kids later, we can say we've had a busy but wonderul five years! :)

Our sweet little Jacob is quickly loosing his hair. We usually spread it around so it's not so noticable but he actually has a very nice mohawk. We probably are going to have to cut his hair because it's looking pretty funny.

Hello 30's

I had my 30th birthday at the beginning of the week and so far the 30's haven't been so bad. It seems like everyone I know is turning 30 so it really doesn't seem that old. Also, according to my plans, Jared and I are going to die on the exact same day when we're in our 90's so I've still got like 60 years left. That thought also makes me still feel pretty young.

Jared and the kids gave me a very nice birthday. Jared made a great dinner. The kids helped him make a delicious purple cake and the Henry's came over to help celebrate. It was so fun having my birthday on a Sunday so Jared could be home the whole day.

A gift from Jared

Decorating the cake.

The kids all watching a movie together

We had a lot of snow today and the kids were so excited to go out to play for the first time this season.

This video might not be as amusing to everyone else but Jared and I think it's so funny. Bradley doesn't realize I had the camera on movie mode and is "smiling" and waiting for me to take his picture. At the end he is tired of waiting and telling me to make the camera "click" We just love the way he smiles now for all his pictures. :)

Halloween

We had a fun Halloween!

Mackayla: Princess Bell

Bradley the Dragon

Jacob the cow

Mackayla loved trick or treating but was done after going just a little bit. This is all the candy she got but said it was enough. Jared and Bradley went back out and filled up his basket. I think Mackayla knew Bradley would share his candy so she wasn't worried about it. She loved helping me pass out the candy.

Quick dinner before trick or treating

Pumkin carving

The finished product

Eating "monsters" for dinner

Bradlely at the ward party

Mommy and Jacob at the ward party

I decided to get back into having a nice formal Sunday dinner at least once a month. The kids loved it and were so cute putting their napkins on their laps and practising their best manners.

Mackayla and Bradley decided on their own last week that it was time to potty train Bradley. He's been doing really good and LOVES sitting on the potty. I think he could really do it if I felt I had the time or energy right now to give it 100% For right now though, he's just wearing his big boy underwear on top of his diaper. :)

Help! Mackayla and Bradley are going to fall off the floor!

(This picture and caption are on the blog at the request of Mackayla)

First Date

Until just recently I didn't even know this picture existed! Here are Jared and I on our first date. We had gone on a double date with our friends Blayne and Rachel to eat at Los Hermanos and then to shoot some pool. I was corresponing with Rachel last week and she thought she remembered seeing a picture of us she had taken that night, so she found it and sent it to me.

I was definitely interested in Jared and had a great time that night, but what is so cute about this picture is what you can clearly see in Jared's eyes. It was only our first date but somehow he knew! Can you all see that look in his eyes also that says "this is the one, the women that will bear my children and spend the rest of eternity with me!"

Bradley turns 2

Bradley had his second birthday last week. I can't believe it's already been two years since he was our little baby.

I made him a dump truck cake. When Mackayla saw it she said "It could use some touch-ups. Were you holding the baby when you did it?" I actually wasn't holding the baby but it did look like it. :) The kids loved it anyway.

He had been practising blowing out his candles for weeks and did a great job.

The birthday boy with his presents.

Mackayla and Bradley opened every gift together, singing "whats going to work? TEAM WORK!" from wonderpets.

Mackayla saw these car slippers at the store a long time ago and just had to get them from Bradley's birthday. He's also trying on his new big boy underwear in this picture.

He loved his his new tool set.

And so did Jacob

Playing with more gifts.

He got a scooter also.

Mackayla has been very in to designing her own hair styles lately. This is a common request from her... two braids on the top of the sides made into loops.

The boys taking a nap with mom