my snowman friend

 

 

Foto Friday

who even needs a binky?

P.S. Caitlin has slept through the night for 4 nights in a row now. We're talkin like 9 PM to 8 AM through the night. Hallelujah.

let it snow!

thank you! I got my Christmas wish!

 

 

dreaming of a white christmas

is it bad to say that i kinda wish it would snow?! i was out of town for the first big snow last month so as far as i'm concerned: i haven' seen any snow in the valley yet! Any other time that would be ok with me but Christmas is NEXT week! usually i can always count on Utah to bring me a white Christmas before i head back to Texas (definitely none there.. 68 degrees and sunny today). Forecast shows it might happen tomorrow so... we shall see.

Santa.... I know him!

We took Caitlin over to the Gatehouse to meet Santa on Saturday. She did well! Looks like the big guy in red is ok for now, and welcome at our house this Christmas because we've been good. 

jazztown

Wednesday night we had the amazing luck of scoring some sweet box seats to the Jazz vs. Miami Heat game. We had a great time with great seats, great food and great company. Unfortunately the Jazz lost but i do have to admit it was pretty cool to get to see Dwayne Wade and LeBron James in person... pretty sure his biceps are the size of (and his arms are probably the same length as) my own legs.

We even saw my good family friend Jeremy Guthrie there! It was fun to chat with him and get caught up.

Foto Friday

this one's for tyler tingey :)

THE ONLY way i could get stuff done today: 

little miss only wanted to cat nap and be held. and of course i couldn't deny her.
but oh the miracle when it turns into this:

christmas elves

Sometime between Thanksgiving and the beginning part of December, the Christmas elves visit. You have to leave your shoes out for them to leave you a special treat and a reminder to be good for when Santa comes! 

 They brought mom some chocolates, dad some Christmas movies and Caitlin some Christmas jammies and a shirt.

We were all happy about our treats...

...for a few moments at least.

lit up

Saturday night we hit up the ward Christmas party and then went to see the light display at the Riverwoods. It was pretty chilly with a little bit of moisture in the air, but we braved it anyways. We bundled Caitlin up to the max and went with Tingeys, Barnes, Taylors, and Pyfers. They do free horse carriage rides which Paul really could not have been more excited about and you can also get free hot cider and cookies, and at certain times Santa comes. The lights are beautiful! They are all super sparkly and lots of fun shapes and sizes. And the horses can haul! It was a bit of a wild ride on that carriage. Very fun.

 
 
 

We walked around and looked in shops. Then we heard that Apollo Anton Ohno was there! He was on his book tour and had made a stop in Utah that day! So we hurried over to Borders and they were just finishing up but we somehow wriggled our way up to the front of the pack and got him to sign a book and got pictures with him! He was really nice, and actually a very small man. After the girls took our pictures Tyler went to talk to him and he pretended that he thought Apollo was a speed WALKER not skater and Apollo was so confused when Tyler kept calling it speed walking. Then when he corrected him and said he was a speed SKATER Tyler said that he had no idea and just thought he was on dancing with the stars. It was hilarious. Apollo and all his security were laughing so hard. I'm sure Apollo won't soon forget his awesome "fan" from that night in Provo.

Dallas (november 28- december 3)

I also got to spend en extra week in Dallas after Thanksgiving. My week was mostly spent helping my mom put up Christmas decorations! Which of course was very fun and definitely put me in the Christmas spirit (as if i wasn't already). My grandparents came over to visit almost everyday and I also ate Thanksgiving leftovers at least once a day. My parents and Caitlin and I went to see "Tangled" and it was darling and Caitlin actually watched almost the whole movie.. she liked it! I hadn't seen an animated movie in a theater for so long. We watched it in 3D and it was really fun!

I didn't take too many pictures but I did snap a couple of our work around the house:

 

and this one with great grandma Goulding

Austin (november 23-27)

so Monday night when we arrived we made our grand surprise visit! All the siblings had been planning since before summer to come to Austin for Thanksgiving and surprise Christine and Chris and their new baby and have a big family thanksgiving all together. So as soon as we arrived we went over to Chris and Christine's house and met baby Cason for the first time! Christine was really surprised so it was really fun to pull it all off and see her so happy. So the three cousins got to meet for the first time. Caitlin was so HUGE compared to both of them, amazing what a difference 2 months makes.

We had such a fun week. Mike, Jenna and Paul joined us a few days later. Most of the time was spent feeding/playing with/holding/loving on these little three:
Things definitely get busier with three babies! But we did manage to do some other fun things like: taking family pictures, going bowling, seeing Harry Potter, going out to dinner and of course enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving feast! The week went by way to quickly but was totally worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arizona (november 19-22)

We headed to Arizona for the weekend to visit Jeff and Melissa and to meet baby Madison for the first time! Caitlin and I drove with Mike and Jenna, Paul met us there because he came in from a business trip. The drive went well and luckily Caitlin pretty much just slept the whole time. We had a lot of fun with Jeff and Melissa and Madison seeing the new place they live and meeting some of their friends. The area they live in is so nice and fun and the weather was absolutely perfect!

When we got there Friday night these two little girls met for the first time! (neither one looks to thrilled about it but they will be best friends one day i know it)

Saturday during the day we hung out and did some shopping then that night we went to a big outdoor mall and ate In-N-Out and then walked around and listened to bands and talked and had hot chocolate. Also Stewart and Lorraine got there that night.


On Sunday Madison had her baby blessing. She was such an angel throughout the whole day and Jeff did a great job with the blessing. I'm so glad we got to be there for it. After the blessing we had delicious food and talked with friends and family. Mike, Jenna and Paul had to head back to Utah to go to a few more days of school/work but Caitlin and I got to stay in Arizona!

 

 Monday we hung out and then that evening Jeff, Melissa and I and the babies, flew to Austin. It was quite the trip with two babies and all their gear. Jeff was our pack horse and carried mostly everything. Lots of people asked us if they were twins, then when they saw how much bigger Caitlin was, they answered their own question. Luckily we had no delays and both babies slept soundly the  whole plane ride. 

nov. 30

Last day of november. My last thankful post (for now). I'm thankful today for this holiday season we have begun. Oh how I love the holidays. I love all the sights, smells, sounds, traditions, colors, foods, activities... I really try to pack as much as possible in and make the most of my holidays. And let's not forget the true reason to be thankful, the "reason for the season": to remember the humble birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to live our lives the way He lived His, and to spread joy and peace and love wherever possible.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving (I promise the massive posts are coming soon) and are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas and New Year's. We are truly blessed in all aspects of our life, and I will continue to look for all those little ways each day (i just will spare you from writing about them).

nov. 29

Today im grateful for mothers. Today Caitlin was not happy (i think she may have a touch of a cold -- breaks my heart) and at times she would just scream and could not be comforted. There were a few of us holding her, but when i would go to hold her she would calm down. And I could get her to go back to sleep or relax. It was the best feeling in the world to know that she needs me and I can make her feel better. I LOVE being a mom. I'm also so grateful for my own mom whom i get to spend some time with this week! We always have lots of projects to do and things to talk about. And she is obsessed with Caitlin which is fun for both of us. Moms deserve all the thanks in the world.  

nov. 28

Today im grateful for the gospel. Another one of those things that i am grateful for everyday. I am thankful and proud to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am who I am because I'm mormon. The gospel has an amazing power to build, shape and purify us all through the power of Christ's atonement. I know that he died for me and for this I am eternally grateful.

nov. 27

Today im thankful for a loving husband. I am definitely thankful for this everyday as it's something i talk about A LOT on here (what can i say.. he's just awesome) but specifically today I'm thankful for my husband who is an amazing and loving father, my best friend, not afraid to speak his mind, who will defend and protect me always but is not afraid to tell me when I'm wrong and try to teach me a lesson that i need to learn. He helps me keep things in perspective. He is truly my other half. 

nov. 26

today i'm thankful for a good nap. Nothing can cure you like a good snooze on the couch after a big meal or a long day. Same goes for the little munchkin too-- sometimes a nap is all you need to re-charge and face the rest of the day.

nov. 25

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm glad i've been thinking about what i've been thankful for this month, it makes me really think about each day in retrospect and see the smal blessings that appear daily in my life.

This morning we went and took family pictures and Caitlin was such a trooper. Barely fussed and was awake and happy the whole time. We even got a few of her smiling. I'm so thankful for a happy little girl. She has always had a content disposition and I think this will only continue. I'm glad that she seems happy with her life with us, because she is truly our greatest joy and blessing.

nov. 24

today i am so extremely thankful for my family and, more specifically, for their safety and well-being. Some fanily friends had a horrible tragedy happen last night in their family and my heart aches for them. There are definitely little things I can find everyday to be thankful for, but the big and most important things, my family being one, is something we need the appreciate and be so grateful fo each and everyday. Life is so precious.

nov. 23

today i'm thankful for surprises. We just pulled off a huge one: all the siblings surprised Chris and Christine by coming to Austin for Thanksgiving. This has been in the works since early summer and it's been so hard to keep the secret! But it was worth it to be able to surprise them in such a big way. We knew it would be so fun to have us all here and to have all three babies together for the first time!

nov. 22

today im thankful for airplanes. we've been doing a lot of traveling lately and with a baby i really appreciate the speed factor. everyone right now is talking out about all the TSA pat-down business. As long as i get on the plane, it flies and lands and we stay safe the whole time, i don't care who has to pat and prod. I'll take that over 20 hours in a car anyday.

nov. 21

today i'm thankful for the priesthood. we were able to travel to Arizona this weekend to attend the baby blessing of our new niece, Madison. (more pictures and a post to come on that) Jeff gave a wonderful blessing to their sweet little girl and i was once again reminded of how amazing the power of the priesthood is: humble enough to give give a name and blessing to a tiny baby, strong enough to heal the sick and bless lives in so many other ways. I am eternally grateful that i have the priesthood in my home.

nov. 20

today i'm thankful for costco. what an amazing place... where you can find anything from baby clothes to pajamas. I think if i could shop anywhere and get everything free, i would choose costco.

Foto Friday

(taken 11.16)

 the other thing caitlin started doing this week was playing with her toys on her playmat. she usually just likes to listen to the music and look at the lights but she somehow scooted over and was hitting the little rattle!

nov. 19

Even after over a year and a half (check out THIS post) I'm still thankful for my dyson vacuum! i love it! it helped me clean up the not-so-thin layer of glitter that covered my house after putting up a few Christmas decorations!

the way she rolls

BIG NEWS: Caitlin rolled over tonight! (11.18) I set her down on her stomach and she rolled over to her back! I kind of couldn't believe it was happening as i just watched the whole thing happen. Of course once I grabbed the camera and everything she didn't do it for the rest of the night but it really did happen! Congrats little one!

nov. 18

Today I'm thankful for good friends. This is a given pretty much any day, but today I really thought about how lucky I am to be surrounded by such great friends. Just in the past couple of days I've had friends offer me dinner, bring over milkshakes, babysit Caitlin when needed, come to check on me at night (Paul's been out of town) and I feel so blessed to know that I always have people to turn to. I really think being a true friend is one of the most important things you can be in life. I try hard everyday to be a good friend in return. Thanks.. love you all!

surprise party

Wednesday night Mike threw a surprise early birthday party for Jenna! It was really fun-- he did a great job planning it. We were there when she got home from class and I think she was really surprised! When she walked in and we all yelled SURPRISE we had little poppers and stuff and it scared Caitlin so bad! She was screaming. Eventually she calmed down and the she was awake until like 11:30 because she just wanted to be part of the party! We all ate delicious food, played minute to win it games, and had a giant cupcake. Happy Birthday Jenna! We love you!