We made it to Arkansas and back!

While we were there we shared some exciting news with our family...

We're expecting baby #3!!!

We told the grandparents with these shirts, but we pretty much had to point it out to them after a little while for most of them to even notice! Everyone was excited!

Here are the girls at the airport the day we flew to AR. The flight went very well, although no naps were taken even though it was during "naptime". I guess there was just too much going on for that to happen. Madilynn did amazing and was so laid back and calm she sat back and watched a movie pretty much the entire time. Elizabeth did well -like not screaming and throwing a fit, but she just had to be entertained constantly, so Michael and I took turns with her. Overall, the flights went really well and it was soooo much easier than traveling TWO FULL days in the car!

We arrived late Friday night then on Saturday (Dec. 18th) Michael and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary. We enjoyed getting to spend the day together!
My dad and Pam drove up to Fayetteville to visit for a couple of days while we were there. It was so nice we spent a little time at the park (with no jackets!) We had a great visit!

Elizabeth wanted to climb up the slide and then slide back down on her belly!

so big!

We took the girls up to the stride-rite store for some new shoes!

I didn't do a very good job of taking pictures all throughout the week...

Here are the girls with Mama on Christmas Eve.

I guess Elizabeth didn't want to be held, but we got one anyway!
Madilynn & Madison

Me, my Mom, and sister Ashlee

getting ready to open presents

We spent the night with Granny and Pepaw and spent Christmas morning with them. Elizabeth checking out the tree, and presents...

Elizabeth liked the bows!

Madilynn got some new princess dress up dresses and shoes. Here she is checking out the shoes and crowns!

wearing the "Belle" dress

Then Michael took Madilynn for a little ride on the four-wheeler. (The same 4-wheeler that his Pa used to take him riding on!)

For lunch we went over to visit Grandma & Grandad Pate and Kyle. Again I didn't do a good job getting pictures.

But, you can see Elizabeth loved the piano!

Then we spent the rest of the evening with Nana, Papa, and Ashlee.

Madilynn got a digital camera...

Elizabeth ready to open her present

She got a cute bag with her name on it - I love it!

Here we are on Christmas day the only picture of the four of us!

Madilynn and Elizabeth had fun with cousin Brianna

Elizabeth even tried on Daddy Gene's hat!

The day after Christmas we celebrated with Daddy Gene and Ladonna. I'm so glad they were able to make it up while we were in town!

We had such a great time getting to visit with everyone (and getting to share our news in person!). It was the busiest trip we've had though, and we didn't get to see some friends. It's hard when you only go back once or twice a year. We flew back to Utah on Tuesday the 28th. The flight went well again (left at 5:30pm) and we made it home that night by 10pm even after stopping by the store for some breakfast essentials!

Sunday at the Park!

The weather has been mild here lately with temperatures in the 40's. Just about all of the snow has melted, except of course those huge piles in parking lots...

Sunday afternoon was beautiful and sunny so we decided to check out a couple of parks.

the east mountains that are just behind our house

Madilynn is wearing her rain boots...the ground has been pretty wet with all of the snow melting.

She's so big! (Catch my shadow?)

Elizabeth in the little house

Now that Elizabeth can walk around at the park she was really into exploring everything.

She had to check out the snow and even have a little taste!

At about sunset we made our way to another park across town

tasting the leaf!

Just as the sun went behind the Wellsville mountains

Then it was time to head home for supper. It was a relaxing Sunday.

This week we are preparing for our trip to AR on Friday!! We are so excited and can't wait to see everyone and get to spend Christmas there! Madilynn has been counting down the days!

Nativity Craft and Cookies!

Last Thursday afternoon Madilynn and I put together this little Nativity. She's always asking for a craft to do and I thought this would be perfect...

Here she is coloring all the pieces

working hard!
All finished! It was just paper...I printed out all the figures and she colored and I glued and taped them together so they would stand up.

We don't have an actual Nativity to display yet, so this is it this year!

What Elizabeth's been up to...

Actually this is not entirely true her newest thing is to get into every cabinet and drawer in the kitchen - even the trash can on occasion. I finally have decided to just let her play with a plastic pitcher and a wooden spoon. She's spent lots of time putting things in the pitcher and then pouring them out. At one time she'd even gotten 3 jelly jars out of the cabinet and was trying to stack them and then pick them up. I didn't think that was very safe so I took them away. (I'm the one who dropped a jelly jar on my foot and sliced open a few toes as a child).

Friday afternoon the girls and I made Chocolate Crinkle cookies!

They love helping to clean up at the sink, so why not let them!

So silly

Madilynn rolled all of the dough balls in the powdered sugar

the finished result...they were so good too!!

After sharing with friends they were all gone by Saturday night!

Random stuff

These pictures are from last week, but thought I should share...

Here's what the reflection of the sunset looks like on the mountains from our dining room! The orange sunset in the west is reflected onto the mountains in the east and they just glow orange it is beautiful.

Someday I'll have to get out and get an actual picture of the sunset here! That would mean getting out with the girls, with the camera, at about 5pm, which is normally when I'm starting supper...that's why I don't have one yet! Oh and it needs to be on a clear day when you can actually see the sun! We've had severally foggy, hazy days lately! Also note: Almost all of the snow in the above picture has now melted due to temperatures around 40 degrees for the last several days! I guess that's good, but that means we've been getting a lot of rain. I told Michael I would rather it just snow and stay cold so we could at least get out and go sledding instead of having to stay inside because of all the rain.

December 1, 2010:

Madilynn ready for school!

Elizabeth all bundled up to go to the store with me! (She's even wearing fleece-lined jeans, I think it was single digit temps that day!)

After school, Madilynn trying on the hat she made!

beautiful

And, this is from this morning! Madilynn playing peek-a-boo with Elizabeth from under the table. I had to get Elizabeth's giggle on video! And she occasionally says, "boo" too!

15 Months & More Snow!!

As of yesterday, Elizabeth is now 15 months old! She is getting so big! She weighed 21.4lbs at the doctor last week which means she's already gained 2lbs. since August. She is so much fun and is always making us laugh. Her newest word is "baby" she'll point to a picture of her and say it, or while playing with the babies, it's so cute!

Still working on those teeth...all 4 1yr. molars are in and those 4 eye teeth aren't far behind, they are looking a little swollen already.

that silly grin...

Here's what we did yesterday....

It snowed all day yesterday (and all night long). Looks like we got about a foot of snow. Us girls stood at the door and watched Daddy shovel the driveway. He did it twice yesterday and then had to clear it again this morning! I told him for Christmas we may need to ask for contributions to a snowblower fund - ha!

This morning it was just beautiful and clear. I was able to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Here's a view of Logan Canyon from our dining room window this morning!

I thought the snow on the trees was so pretty...it's still there!

Note: the railing on the deck was cleared twice yesterday! What you see accumulated is just from last night!
the backyard/river...water is still flowing quickly!

As the sun came over the mountains, the sky is so blue today!

They're calling for more snow later in the week. Skiing at the nearby mountain opens this Friday! Meanwhile, Nana & Papa are on a cruise ship headed to Mexico as we speak, expecting 80 degree weather this week! Crazy!!