2010 GoDaddy Christmas Party

Last year was our first time attending the GoDaddy Christmas party, and we were really looking forward to this years. They seem to try and outdo the previous party when it comes to the performers and entertainment, and they definitely did.

This years theme was "Boardwalk" and they had a ton of carnival like games and rides which was really fun. There were a bunch of different mini restaurants set up around Chase Field that had different kinds of food along with vendors serving up popcorn, pretzels, cotton candy, and garlic french fries. The performers were Jewel, George Thorogood (think of the song "bad to the bone") and ZZ Top (think of the "sharp dressed man" song).

what it looked like when we walked into the stadium

the stage

me and my hot date

Kevin on the bumper cars

me towards the top of the Ferris wheel ride


Jillian, from The Biggest Loser, is the newest "GoDaddy girl," and so we were excited that she would be at the party. It was fun to see her in person, although I'm sure she was looking down on all of us eating our carnival themed food with much disgust. My camera battery died about 30 minutes into the party so I didn't get a picture of her, but she looked like she always does on the show: skinny and in all black.


The party was awesome, and we really enjoyed having a fun night out together.

A special thanks to my wonderful MIL for watching all 3 kiddos so we could go, and also to the family restroom at Chase Field for being super dirty, but allowing me to pump so my chest didn't explode, and we could stay a little longer.

Third Time's A Charm

(I think this one puts me in the "worst mom ever" category)

2008

2009

2010

This year we kept the tradition of taking the girls to see Santa at Bass Pro Shop and scaring the crap out of them for the holiday's sake. Yeah, I'm on their side when it comes to avoiding strange old men offering you candy, but it's Christmastime and what mom out there wants to feel like a Scrooge? I was hoping that this year would be a little less traumatizing for them, and fortunately it was. Maybe because Dallin was going to see Santa too? I'm not really sure. They were both a little unsure of seeing Santa when we were in line, but once we got up there, somehow they were convinced that it was a good thing. Brooke even sat on his lap, and just seconds before they took the picture, Brenna's face changed from a frown to a smile. It truly was a Christmas miracle! They told Santa what they wanted for Christmas: a candy cane. Lucky for them, they got just what they wanted.

One Month Photo Shoot

My friend Whitney took these pictures of Dallin when he was exactly one month old (just over 2 months ago). I think we expected him to sleep through at least part of the picture taking, like most 4 week olds do, but he was wide eyed and bushy tailed the whole time. Fortunately, he was very content and calm, and Whitney got some great shots! She did an awesome job. You can check out her photography blog here.

I sure love this little fella, even though he doesn't seem so little anymore.

Bowling With 3 Year Olds

Thanksgiving weekend, we went bowling with Kevin's sister and her family. We had four adults, and four kids, which was perfect to make two teams. This was our first time bowling with the girls, and I figured that we would play two or three games. Kevin's sister and brother-in-law new better, and informed us that one game was more then enough.

At 3:21pm, Brenna and Brooke are ecstatic about their first time bowling. They've got their fancy shoes on, and are oohing and ahhing over the multi colored bowling balls. Their names are up on the screen, the bumper is in place, and game is on.

They lift

they throwthey wait, and wait some moreand whether they hit ten pins or one, they clap, twirl in triumph,

and wait excitedly for their next turn.

Now it's 4:24 pm. The adult's game is finished, but the kid's game is still not over. Gone are the twirls and clapping, and the parents are having to encourage the kids to finish the game.

They flop

they whineand can't seem to go on for another second...

and that is why when you are bowling with 3 year olds, one game is more then enough!

Count Your Many Blessings

Since all three of our kids were born in the beginning of September, they have all been blessed in November too. I didn't have a blog when the girls were blessed, so I figured I should document both events while I'm at it.

Dallin's Baby Blessing

Dallin's baby blessing was on Sunday, November 7th 2010. He was exactly eight weeks old. Even though Dallin was wide awake for his blessing, he was calm and quiet, and looked up at his Dad the entire time. Kevin did a wonderful job, and it was so nice to have family there to support us. It had been a crazy morning attempting to get everyone ready and to church on time despite getting up extra early, but I was so glad that everything went so well. The Blessing Outfit

The options with blessing outfits seems much more slim when it comes to boys, and I am no seamstress. We decided on a tie onesie (thanks Annie), pants and shoes to keep things simple, cute, and all boy.

Dallin The Brunch

Brenna and Brooke's Baby Blessing

Brenna and Brooke's baby blessing was on Sunday, November 25th 2007. They were just over 11 weeks old at the time. There was a mad rush to get them both fed and dressed that morning (sound familiar?), and thank goodness I had my Mom's help. I made sure to inform Kevin which baby was which right before he took them up to be blessed. At the time he couldn't tell them apart very well, and I didn't want them getting mixed up. Both girls were asleep the whole time, and the blessings were both wonderful. We had lots of family and friends there to support us.The Blessing Outfits

With baby girl's blessing outfits the sky was the limit. There were plenty of dresses to choose from, and accessories to go with them. A friend helped make their headbands, and their great grandmother gave them each a bracelet. They were all gussied up for the occasion.

Brenna

(remind you of anyone?) Brooke
The Brunch

Baby blessings are always such a sweet and special occasion for our family. I think that having all of them around Thanksgiving time has only added to that spirit of gratitude that comes with this time of year.

Our Halloweekend

Saturday morning was spent at a campground near Strawberry, AZ. Brenna and Brooke went up Friday afternoon with some family members and got to spend the night. This was their first time camping, and they LOVED it. Kevin and I opted out of the camping-overnight-with-a-newborn experience, mostly due to the really cold weather, and we drove up early Saturday to join in the fun. We had a great time, and left camp at around 130pm to head home. Once we got home, woke the girls up (they fell asleep during the car ride), got them bathed and dressed in their costumes, we headed to our ward Trunk or Treat party. The girls were super cranky since it had been such a long day for them, but they were still able to enjoy some trick or treating. The girls went as princesses and Dallin was their frog.

Preschool Halloween Party

The Thursday before Halloween, the girls had their Halloween party at preschool. They got to dress up in their costumes, and at the end of class they sang songs and hit a pinata while the parents watched. They both came away with a nice little stash of candy.It was really fun:)

The Adjustment

We've been a family of five for six weeks now!
Here's an update on how we are adjusting to our sweet new addition.

The Cat

I think Toby met his doom when the girls were born. He was no longer the only child, and as the "firstborn" in our family, he had some jealousy issues. The girls immediately stole all of his limelight, and he was not a fan. His days of napping on our laps and being incessantly photographed were over, and that definitely took some adjusting to. With the addition of a third child, Toby moves down another notch on the totem pole. This is nothing new for him. He still eats his expensive kitty food, drinks from his favorite toilet, and barfs on our carpet.

P.S. Anyone want a free cat?

The Girls

Fortunately for us, Brenna and Brooke fell in love with Dallin the moment they saw him. He was like the ultimate baby doll that was coming home to live with them. They marvel at his tiny limbs and laugh at all of his noises. Every day they tell me that he is "SO CUTE," while patting his head or trying to smoosh their face against his. We are still working on that part... The girls are truly mommies at heart, and enjoy being around Dallin. They are also great helpers, and are good about retrieving diapers and wipes. They are learning that things like getting their cups refilled may take a little longer if Dallin is being taken care of at the moment. Even though someone isn't always available to play with them, they have a lot of fun playing with each other.

The Dad Kevin took a nine day paternity leave when Dallin was born. Having him home for that time was a blessing for everyone. Tending to a newborn seemed to come so naturally to him this time around. Even so, he would find himself waking up in the middle of the night to make sure Dallin was still breathing, or asking me when I fed him last. I don't think that part ever goes away. He has done a great job helping to care for Dallin when possible, and really took on a bulk of the responsibilities when it came to the girl's needs. Kevin has been great about taking Brenna and Brooke on fun outings when he can, and the girls really enjoy getting some daddy-daughter time in. On mornings when I haven't gotten much sleep, he will get the girls started with their breakfast and offer to drive them to preschool. Kevin is always willing to take on extra tasks, and never complains. Taking care of three kids is definitely a team sport, and Kevin has done a great job.

The Mom

Caring for one newborn instead of two is definitely easier, but I am still trying to get used to being so outnumbered. My baby sling and wrap continue to be very helpful. I try to keep my goals simple and attainable, like getting everyone bathed/dressed/fed, and then seeing what else I can accomplish. Everything I do takes a lot longer to get done then it did before, but I know it will get better as I learn how to be more efficient. Dallin is good at sleeping for longer stretches at night, and going to back to sleep soon after I feed him which is really nice. I do feel more at ease this go around, since I've already been-there-done-that, but I do find myself forgetting small details of the past. Like how you should never leave a baby's bottom uncovered and aimed in your direction for too long. I think that learning to have more patience with the girls has probably been the hardest part for me. With the lack of sleep and added responsibilities, it's sometimes hard to keep my cool when something goes aloof. I've received so much help with meals and watching the girls, and it has all made the transition so much easier. While I won't attempt a trip to the grocery store with all three kids anytime soon, I know I will be ready for it one day, and that things will only get easier from here.

The Baby
(1 week old)
This little fellow has adjusted quite well to his new world. He continues to do a great job of being cute, eating, sleeping, filling his diaper, and putting up with the occasional close encounter with his older sisters. His little body has started to fill out already and he continues to grow and change so much every week. He has put on almost 4 and half pounds since he was born, and I can't believe that I'm already boxing up some of his clothes. Dallin loves to be held, swaddled and bounced, and has one favorite binky that he likes. He has been a pretty easy going baby so far, and we are so blessed to have him in our family.