Feb 23, 2012

Mom

Mom with Maili

I'm feeling extremely grateful for my mom these days.....well, more than usual, I guess.
It's funny to me to see the many stages of motherhood.  Even though I'm older and have kids of my own, it's amazing to see ways my mom has found to continue to "mother" me.
My mom isn't in the greatest of health.  She has diabetes, high blood pressure and is on oxygen, which makes things difficult for her to do, but she always manages to help me more than I could ever expect!
This pregnancy has been extremely hard on me in so many ways and mom has done so much to help.
For the past several months, she has been making dinner one night a week for my family.  A full on balanced meal to boot!  She comes every other week to watch Ashli while I go with the other girls to music class.
She watches them when I go to the doctor, she buys toys for them to enjoy while they're at her house. She loves my children, she loves my husband and she loves me!
The thing she does most for me is reassures me when I'm feeling inadequate as a mother. She makes me feel like I'm doing the best job in the world. She points out ways my children are learning and growing and things I've done to help that happen. 
It's just awesome!  I guess you always need to be "mothered"  All those things she does for me, especially when it's difficult for her to get around, are mothering.  
Thanks mom for always being my cheerleader!  I love you!



Jan 27, 2012

Christmas time!

This was a fantastic Christmas!  I was too involved in the fun to get many pictures, but it was great!  I love having all my family around. The girls were so excited for Santa that it gets me excited!  

The girls took over my tree this year.  I need to get another one just for them!


!

This is the REAL Santa!

Ashli was too scared to sit on his lap


Haeli the red nose reigndeer


Our trip to temple square to see the lights!






Making Christmas cookies


Maili's in the middle. This is her kindergarten program



She did her speaking part in Spanish, and she did it perfectly!

She's all heart. My little actress

Christmas Eve at the Smith's







I wonder how long they'll let me match them?  I'm doing it as long as I can!  It's already getting hard since Maili is getting so big! I don't think I'll be able to do 4 matching


With what little snow we had, here's daddy helping build the first snowman of the season




Love the helmet

I love this picture. She often falls asleep on the couch, but the sucker is a first!


Had to throw in this cute picture. She wore this hat around for a few days

ahhhhhhh!
Since I have been feeling so yucky during this pregnancy, I decided to simplify and we sent out Christmas cards but no letter. Maybe next year!

Annual Gingerbread house party

I look forward to this all year!  We have had the same families over for 4 or 5 years now!  I always wish we could invite more, but there's no room!  It's been a fun tradition and I hope everyone likes it! The Laurie's left before we could get a picture.
The Brinkerhoff's


Kevin, Maili and Haeli

The Smith's

The Lee's

The Waffords

The Hammer's

They did the stable with baby Jesus






Haeli was VERY into it!

We had lots of extra help, so we were lucky it kept standing up!

Ta DA!
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It's autumn time

I've been kind of lame this year with feeling so sick and all that I don't have any pictures of Thanksgiving, but here's a few Fall shots
First snow



There wasn't a lot of snow, but the girls had to get bundled up and play in it!

This is me trying to be the "photographer"  Love my pretty girl





too fun!