St. Patrick's Day

Yes, I was one of those crazy Moms again this year that had a "leprechaun" come to our house this year to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. With Jackson learning all about the holiday in school and hearing all the silly traditions I couldn't help but play along. Its totally unnecessary and more work on my part but the kids loved it! They all woke up to a treasure hunt around the house and green paint on their noses. They noticed our silly leprechaun left footprints all over their bathroom this year and they loved the green "pee" in the toilet. The Sunday fun lasted for ten minutes as they enjoyed their "gold" candy that was found at the end of the treasure hunt. Maybe the sugar rush wasn't a good idea because this was the best group picture I could get of the 3 of them... but I loved it! If I can't get all three of them smiling I am happy to capture their silly personalities. Andersen is always the family goof ball that is always distracting Jackson and then there is Maelyn that is just along for the ride.... at least for now! 

i {heart} these 3

Some days I look in the back of my car and I can't believe I am a mother of three kids. Seems like I am still a kid myself. I often ask myself where did the time go? Sometimes as a mother I feel like its the blind leading the blind, but then other times I wish I could tuck them away and shelter them from this world we live in. Both ways of thinking are wrong though. I think of all the things I have learned and experienced throughout my 28 1/2 years. A lot is happy and a lot is trials accompanied with many errors. But through it all comes knowledge for good. I feel so inadequate at times and guilty of not doing enough, but at the end of the day I am grateful for these sweethearts. They love unconditionally... ALWAYS! Nate and I would be nothing without our children. They teach us more than we could have learned and experienced on our own. Thank the heavens for trusting us to teach and protect them through this mortal experience. With today's terrorist attacks during the Boston Marathon, my heart aches for those that feel so alone or unloved that they need to cause harm to innocent people around them. The few careless hands and minds that are responsible for all this effected so many lives in a matter of seconds. I just hope my children will always continue to love and feel loved by those around them. One day when you kiddos read through our family books, I hope you are never doubting you were and are LOVED SO MUCH!!

Jr. Jazz {Jackson's First Season}

 Jackson has been looking forward to this season for awhile now. He's had the height to play for years, he just needed the age to be eligible to play. Lucky for Jacks Nate was able to coach his team. They spent every Thursday night practicing and played games every Saturday. By the end of the season the boys were getting a good hang of things. Half of the team was Jackson's buddies (Landon, Tate, Jackson Mather and Logan). My favorite thing Nate taught Jacks was to always keep the ball up. With him being so much taller than everyone else, as long as Jackson kept the ball up no one could steal it. Once the rest of the team realized they could use his height to score baskets they were unstoppable. Jacks would stand by the basket and his buddies would pass him the ball and pretty much toss it in the hoop. Jackson loved every second of it! Maelyn and Andersen on the other hand used this hour most of the time to catch a quick cat nap. Overall I think it was a good first season. We didn't win a lot of our games but it was a good experience, especially for Jacks to have Nate as his coach. Good work boys!

Any Resemblance?

 Many years ago my Mom gave me a few outfits from when I was younger. Of course I held on to them in hopes I would have a little girl one day to share them with. Finally this Valentine's Day I had a dress (and a little girl!) that was perfect for the day. It was a dress I wore for Christmas, but was perfect for Maelyn on Valentine's Day because it had little hearts all over it. I just added some cute lace leggings from Jodie and a red headband. We get asked all the time who we think Maelyn looks like in our family. I don't see a whole lot of resemblance, but she definitely takes the prize on the cuter baby!

Best Valentine's Day EVER

Valentine's Day has always been a day of fun (good and bad) memories for our family. Way back when Nate and I were dating the "Happy Valentine's Day" inside joke began. This year I thought it was going to top that year with how it started (too personal to blog about). I will just say those gorgeous bouquet of flowers started out as the biggest "SORRY" flowers I had ever received. I started my day busy and it ended busy. First we started the morning with some presents to the kids from us both. Then I helped with Jackson's Valentine's Day party in his class then lunch at Cafe Rio with Grandma Kay while she was in town watching Jared's kids. I wasn't in the "love" mood to stop at Nate's office but I couldn't let the kids down. They were so excited to give him their present I helped them make with their hand prints on it. Then we stopped at Nana's school real quick and then made it home for a quick power nap. After that we were back on the road to take the kids to Nana's house while Nate and I went out on a date. Weeks before this I had saw an ad about Matt Townsend's Valentine's Date Night with Hilary Weeks. I thought it would be something fun and different to do together but after the way our day had started we weren't on the best terms getting there but we had already paid for tickets so we figured we shouldn't let them go to waste. I will be the first to say that was the best $50 we have ever spent. Not only was it a fun night together but it will be the night that changed everything (for the better) for us and our relationship. And to top of the already incredible night I got to meet Hilary Weeks.. one of those people I have wanted to meet for a long time! At the end of the day Valentine's Day was just another day (besides all the "extras") but it was such a good day to help me remember how much I love those around me and how much they love me.

Thirty-One and Counting

We love birthdays around here!! and it just wouldn't be the same to celebrate Nate's 31st birthday without some cake and presents all weekend long just like the kiddos. Nate's birthday landed on a Saturday this year so we started celebrating Friday night. Nana watched the kids while we went to dinner at Tepanyaki... our favorite. With us making it to dinner so late, there wasn't much to do afterwards so we just went back home. Saturday, his actual birthday, was quite busy but we still made time to celebrate. I can't remember everything we had to do that morning but I know Nate had to coach Jackson's basketball game. After the game it was still kind of early for dinner so we went back home to open presents. Nate got spoiled this year and he deserved it! With Christmas and Birthday always being so close his birthday usually gets cut short, but not this year. He got some new shoes and clothes and finally his own set of snow clothes... snow pants, gloves, coat! (not to mention everything else he got from our parents) Then we went out to dinner followed by some Rothe style "crack" cake per Nate's request (its a cookie dough, chocolate pudding, whip cream layered cake...SO GOOD!) Next day we celebrated at Nana's for our Sunday dinner. Can't believe I met Nate ten years ago, just fresh off his mission. Can't wait to share many more birthdays with you Nate. Our family loves you... always and forever!

Toothfairy Visits Jacks... finally!

This was a big day at the Rothe home... Jackson finally lost his first tooth! I remember one night after he had gotten out of the shower and I was helping him brush his teeth I asked him, "when are you going to lose your first tooth? Let me see if any are wiggly". Sure enough he had a tooth that was starting to get loose. I totally had a mommy moment and was so excited for him. It wiggled and wiggled for a couple weeks and we even had to make sure it stayed in one night while Nate was out of town so Daddy could be apart of it. The night Nate got home Jacks bit down on it while eating a Subway sandwich and pushed it forward completely. Jackson couldn't stand it anymore and it was hanging by a thread so I grab some tweezers and it was OUT without a tear shed on his part! So proud of him for being so brave. I work with teeth all the time and hate doing that to other kids, but for some reason it was second nature to do it for Jacks... and I kind of enjoyed it! Jackson was beyond excited and he willing went to bed, no questions asked! The only thing he was concerned with was that the Toothfairy was going to take his tooth and he wanted to keep it. So before he went to bed he left this cute note with his tooth under his pillow. The Toothfairy listened and he woke up with his tooth and $2. A couple days later Jackson got this adorable card in the mail from his Aunt Lynne and another $2 to celebrate with. Definitely another reality check that my baby is growing up... how can one be so happy yet sad at the same time! Just like this card reads on the inside..."and to tell you the truth, you look cute without your tooth!"

Swimming in January!

The boys LOVE having the Herriman Rec Center so close and have been begging to go swimming for weeks. Finally, with Alison's planning, we made it to the pool with some of our buddies. The boys were loving the water and playing somewhere else besides inside someones house because of all the snow and cold weather we've had lately. Maelyn loves the bath tub, but I wasn't sure how she would take the colder water in the pool. I didn't put her in all the way but she was loving having her feet in at least. Even all the splashes she was getting from her brothers weren't phasing her. Lets hope this summer we can spend many more days at the pool with these kiddos!

Maelyn {4 Months}

The 4 month visit is just as dreadful as the 2 week PKU testing I think. This check up Maelyn got a few more shots. I think she knew what was coming because I laid her on the doctor table and she instantly gave me this cute frowny face. She weighed in at 10.8 lbs (2%... crazy!!) and 24 1/2 inches long (58%). Her brothers were this weight at their 2 week check ups! The last two months Maelyn has made some personal achievements. She started realizing she could move her body around. I had her playing on the family room floor one night while I was cooking dinner and would go back and forth to check on her. Every time I checked on her she was in a different position. She figured out how to spin her body around in 360's and hasn't stopped since. As time went on I was noticing she wasn't holding her head up properly or developing the strength in her neck and core like other babies  her age were. I asked our doctor about it and he didn't seem too concerned, but I decided to get our chiropractors opinion as well. His professional opinion was she is just little and lazy. He was thinking the signals from her body weren't getting to her brain and suggested we do a couple adjustments on her. Sure enough after just the first (out of 3) adjustment she was already able to hold her head up, finally started pulling her legs up and holding some of her weight in her core.  One of my favorite pictures so far of her was the day I was painting her toe nails. I love that she lifted up her legs in excitement and gave me the cheesiest grin! I am loving having a little girl to doll up and accessorize, lets just hope she lets me continue to do it as she gets older. These past weeks we also started her in her bouncer chair and rice cereal. The bouncer was a whole new world of entertainment. She is still tiny in her seat and her arms drop down in her chair sometimes but it keeps her busy and having fun long enough for me to get something done around the house. Surprisingly she LOVES her cereal and starts shaking her arms in excitement as she anticipates me making it for her. It only took her two times to figure out the spoon and now we can't feed it to her fast enough. We love her little personality coming out and I love how chill she is. She is always so calm and just along for the ride where ever we are going. I keep thinking its going to change one of this days and were going to get a little sass out of her but until then we will  keep on loving our little princess!

Maelyn {2 Months}

Our family is in LOVE with this little peanut! This month we had her 2 month check up with Dr. Boud. Maelyn weighed in at 8lbs and 13 ounces and measured 22 inches long. Almost caught up to her brothers birth weight! So crazy to have such a small little baby, but I am not going to complain. We have loved the extended newborn time we have gotten because she is so small. She is finally getting enough weight though to fit into some of her clothes and it has been so fun dressing her up, especially in little dresses. Two of my favorite things happened when she was about 6 weeks old. We started getting the biggest gummy smiles on command and she started sleeping through the night. It wasn't just a good 6-8 hours, but the full 10-12 hours every night. I kept worrying if she was breathing every night because I have never had a child sleep so well, but she is a girl after my own heart. She LOVES her sleep! She also is loving her brothers but I think they are loving her more. I am always catching Jackson and Andersen giving her hugs and kisses while I am not looking

Jesus wants another SUNBEAM!

                                                                                                                                                                                      We spent the first Sunday in 2013 sending this little goof ball to Primary. For Christmas we gave him his own set of scriptures just like his big brother Jacks did before he went to Primary for the first time. As you can see Andersen was SO excited to go and to have his own set of scriptures for himself. The first Sunday he went no problem, now a month or two into he started to get nervous and shy and wouldn't go to class without Nate there with him. Unfortunately (thank goodness!) Nate can't stay with him, because a time or two of him having a hard time going he now officially loves being Sunbeam. He is the only one in our family that doesn't enjoy changing out of his church clothes and will stay in them until he changes into his PJ's for the night. I love watching him carry his scriptures like big boy and can't wait until his first Primary program this fall. I just hope this love for the Gospel and learning of Jesus Christ touches his heart and stays a constant desire throughout his life

Just me and the kids {New Years Eve Style}

Usually we have some sort of fun plans scheduled for New Years Eve but this year we kept things low key. Little did we know it would be even more low key than we planned. With it being the last day of the year for Nate's work, him so close to hitting his quota and a deal on the edge of signing he stayed late to make sure things went through. The boys requested Red Robin for dinner so we had planned as soon as Nate was done we would meet him over there right after work. As each hour went on, our plans of being together as a family were dwindling and I was starting to have some really hungry and disappointed kiddos. It was probably 7:00 that I had decided rather than scratch all the boys plans I would take one for the team and take all 3 kids to dinner... by MYSELF! I was a little nervous to go plus it is kind of awkward seeing a mom with 3 little kids out to dinner, but the boys were beyond happy that we still went out. Surprisingly they were super obedient and on their best behavior. The only problem we had was Andersen spilling his drink not once, but TWICE! After dinner, Daddy was STILL at work so to continue the "mom to the rescue" moments so their night of fun wasn't ruined I stopped to get them a redbox. We came back home, blew up the air mattress, had popcorn with our movie and had a sleepover in the family room. The boys were so happy that it made the night without Daddy just a little bit easier. Maelyn was our first party pooper and fell asleep long before midnight. The boys didn't stay up until midnight but they did last a little bit longer than their sister. Sometimes a last minute change in plans turns out to be the best plans, just like this night, but the only thing we were missing was our Daddy. Hopefully next year!!

Maelyn's Ears Pierced... TWICE

When I was younger my parents pierced my ears when I was only 3 months old. It was a spontaneous decision they made one day walking through the mall. I have always been so glad they pierced my ears when I was young so I knew if I ever had a girl I would do the same. So this was a day I have dreamed about long before I even knew I was having a baby girl and long before I was even pregnant for that matter! With Maelyn being old enough right around Christmas time I decided to have my parents get her ears pierced for her Christmas present carry on the tradition. I spent weeks before this day searching every store I could find for the perfect pair of piercing earrings while my dad searched everywhere around him and even online. I eventually decided we would take her to the piercing pagoda in South Town Mall. It was a snowy Christmas Eve and we met at the mall so we all could be apart of it. I was one big emotional mess!! I would cry just talking about it so there was no way I could hold back the tears during the actual piercing. It was the regular process of cleaning and dotting her ears to make sure they pierce in the right place. The whole time Maelyn was smiling like crazy. The lady couldn't believe she was so happy. She said most babies are crying even during this part. Then piercing time came... thank goodness Nate met us there too so he could be the one to hold her. It felt like it took forever, but it was just a matter of seconds and a few tears and whimpers from Maelyn and she was back to her happy little self... WITH EARRINGS! Oh she looked beautiful.

It was only a matter of a couple days of cleaning her ears and earrings that I accepted the fact that her left ear was pierced wrong. Rather than the earring going through the lobe, it was going through the hard cartilage in the back. I called the store to ask their opinion and even took her in so they could see it as well and they agreed I should take out her earring and let the hole grow back in. A week of her wearing only one earring,  her ear lobe was ready for round two but they were sold out of the earring I needed! We had to wait an extra week for her earring. I finally got a phone call one Thursday afternoon that it had came in. We had a busy weekend coming up that I decided to take her that night while Nate stayed home with the boys so we could just get it taken care of. Luckily my neighbor Alison was willing to be my emotional support because I was anticipating it to be the same as the first time... thank goodness it wasn't and I knew what to expect. The hardest part was making sure we got it right this time. We cleaned, dotted the lobe and then it was pierced... again! She cried for a bit again and then was back to normal and we officially had two pierced ears. I think I have starred and analyzed her earring holes way more than anyone should ever do and I can tell they are slightly off, but everyone I ask never sees what I am seeing until I tell them. Weeks later I have accepted where her piercings are at and just hope they stay looking good as she grows up. I am loving her ears pierced and I am so happy we did it. Way to go Sis... You were so brave!

Everything Christmas

This is the post that has put me so far behind in keep my blog up to date! On top of everything else that normally happens in a month I feel like we packed in a bunch of family fun too. We started the month of December with our favorite visitor... CHIPPY! Chippy is our Elf from the North Pole and this is his 2nd year he has spent Christmas with our family. He came Saturday morning flying in on an air balloon made of balloons and Andersen's underwear. Chippy brought with him new Christmas PJ's, some Christmas stories and a letter for the boys.  I think Andersen said "Thank you for Santa, Thank you for Chippy" every night in his prayers since Chippy left last year so to say the boys were excited to finally have Chippy back would be an understatement. The boys loved waking up every morning and finding Chippy in another spot. Some of their favorite things he did this year was make them chocolate milk in the morning and give them Rudolph noses one night while they were sleeping.

Later in the month Nana took us to see the Festival of Trees. None of us had ever gone before and it was worth the visit. I have never seen so many trees. They were all so different and unique. The boys on the other hand were good after the first 20 trees. Good thing they had such a fun kid area because that lifted their spirits quick. Andersen loved the fishing pond, Jackson loved the fake tattoos and they both loved the giant bubble machine. They each took a turn standing on the platform as a giant bubble was pulled around them and then they could blow on it to get it to pop. SO COOL! Having bubbles like that all the time would entertain these boys for hours. After we were done at the festival of trees we met up with Daddy at Chili's for some yummy dinner!

Next activity was their Nana dates! This has been a favorite Christmas tradition for Jackson for years and now Andersen. Last year the boys had individual dates but with Andersen being older, Jackson asked Nana if they could go together. Nana picked them up late one afternoon and they started at their usual dinner spot...(Chuck E Cheese) and then went to Nana's house to decorate their gingerbread house and gingerbread men. As usual I am always amazed at how cute they decide to decorate their house. Good thing I hurry and take a picture of what the final project looks like because before Nana can even leave they have already started to pick the candy off.

Later in the month, the other Rothe family made it to town from Texas. With them only here for two weeks and needing to split time between both families we had to take advantage of all the time we could get with Ryan, Alicia and kiddos. The first activity we did with them was go downtown to see the Christmas lights around Temple Square. I love Temple Square and the Christmas Spirit that it brings by going. This also was the first time we got to meet Porter and they got to meet Maelyn. It was definitely a cold night but it didn't seem to phase any of us because we were all enjoying our time together.

Next was visiting Santa! Last year we were minus 2 kiddos and Andersen and Presley were terrified. This year was a completely different story. They loved every second of it and they were so patient as we waited over an hour for us to finally get through the long line. Good thing we all had cell phones to keep them entertained while standing in line because afterwards they were wired. Once the 3 older kiddos were out of line they were wild monkeys running around with these free headbands on their heads.

Alicia's family has always done their family stuff on Christmas Eve so Nana has started another tradition of getting their Christmas PJ's from her the day before. Every year the kids are so excited and its the same routine.... close your eyes, sit on the floor, now open... and they go crazy! The kiddos LOVED it! The two babies had matching pj's, Andersen and Presely matched, and Jackson had his own. I don't think Nana's lap can handle any more munchkins but I know these moments are pure joy for her and as you can see the kids don't mind it for a second.

Christmas Eve we are usually on our own but the last couple years we have been lucky enough to have my parents and Tina join us for dinner and a movie. To start the day my parents took Maelyn to get her ears pierced for her Christmas present. Later we went to the newly opened Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and then the late showing of Rise of the Guardians. We had extra time in between dinner and the movie so the boys played arcade games for an hour inside the theaters. Then we attempt to get the kids in bed early so Santa can come. This year we didn't have time to make our own cookies, so luckily we had some already to set out for Santa. Jackson also suggested we leave Santa some chocolate milk. We spent an hour or so reading some Christmas stories and then off they went to bed but with some sad tears. Before we put the boys in bed, Jackson was getting really sad. Nate asked what he could be sad about and sure enough Jackson was excited Santa was coming but sad that meant Chippy had to leave. Good thing Nate has Santa's cell phone number and called him to get special permission for the boys to sleep with Chippy (Elf rules.. you are not supposed to touch them) that night so Jackson wasn't sad. You would have thought it was Christmas already. The boys cuddled and played with him like he was real. It was the cutest thing ever! So much for them going to bed early but eventually we were able to get them into bed and fast asleep.

Then my favorite part as a parent... Christmas morning. I love the excitement the boys wake up with and all the anticipation they have to run out into the family room filled with their presents. The 5 minutes it takes to make sure everything is ready for the present party feels like an eternity for these kiddos.

 

 I think kids are just programed to know what to do on Christmas morning, because they instantly start ripping open presents and dumping out their stockings without ever taking notice of what they really got. Although there is one present that Jackson was extra happy about and that was his cowboy boots! Just days before Christmas I took Jackson shoe shopping to get him some new shoes. Of course he fell in love with cowboy boots instead of practical shoes he could wear every day. I had to be the mean parent and chose practical over the boots, but Jackson is a smart cookie. Surprisingly he took my answer NO rather well at the store, but the second he got home he was determined to write Santa a letter asking him for those boots since Mom wouldn't get them. Andersen was just along for the ride with presents and was just excited to be there, while Maelyn enjoyed some good Grandma and Grandpa Hansen cuddle time during all the chaos. 

 

After Christmas morning we were off for a full day of adventures. This picture explains it all and is about the only picture I took the rest of the day. I got the neighborhood flu bug and it hit hard right after we were done opening presents. Everyone got ready for the day, while I laid in bed (or hung out in the bathroom). Nate was a good sport and started the other Christmas festivities without me. He left with all 3 kids to my brother Jared's house where we did presents with my side of the family. I eventually got enough energy to get some what decent for the day so I could drive myself up to be with my family as well. After that we went to my Grandma's house real fast before we needed to be at Nate's family for the evening. Tina always has a nice dinner for us all and then some sort of Christmas program for the kids. This year she did glow in the dark jingle bells and they loved it! After the planned stuff was over, Maelyn and I headed home because I was still not feeling very well. Nate wasn't too far behind us though because after a long and busy day the kids were definitely ready for bed. Days like this are always exhausting but I am always so grateful for the quality family time they bring and the fun memories we all get to make together. 

Merry Christmas kiddos!

The Story of the Little White Dress

I have always loved the song "What Heaven Sees in You" by Doug Walker. 

Here is the first verse of the song...

Sent to this earth
You were saved through the ages for this day and time
Child of great worth, Child of promise, daughter of the Divine
Pure and holy in a little, white dress
You were held in a circle and you were blessed
And the Father looked down
And the angels surrounded that place
They knew the truth, all that you could do
And you will, too, if you have eyes to see
What heaven sees in you

This song continues on talking about the 3 white dresses a woman will wear in her lifetime. Obviously the first being the blessing dress, then the baptismal dress, and then the wedding dress. Just like any girl wants the perfect wedding dress, I wanted the perfect blessing dress for Maelyn. Before Maelyn was even born I had searched every store and everywhere online to find the perfect blessing dress. I finally found one online that was exactly what I wanted for her to wear. After emailing back and forth with a lady that makes it, I decided to send the picture to my Grandma to see if she would be willing to make it for me. Not only would I save TONS of money but it would be even more of a family heirloom because it was homemade with love. Of course my Grandma was willing to make it and we were off to the store to buy fabric months before my due date. My grandma got to work instantly and spent 2 days straight on it. After a couple revisions she had it almost exactly like the other dress. The only thing left was for me to make the flowers to add on. I spent our drive to Lake Powell with the Christensen's making them all so they could be added to the dress as soon as I got home. I even made a couple extra to add to your headband and shoes. From the right color beads to the right fabric, just weeks after finding the dress I loved, Grandma had recreated the perfect dress for Maelyn's special day.

With Jackson having to give a talk the same day as Maelyn's blessing I wasn't able to get a picture of my Grandma and Maelyn together so I went over to her house another night to snap a few pictures of them together. These will definitely be sweet treasures to have as Maelyn gets older and the dreaded day of Grandma passing on. She is so talented and I am very grateful for her sharing her time and talents with me.

I know it all seems silly for how much time and thought was put into your blessing dress, when you only wore it for a couple hours but to me it represents "What Heaven Sees in You". I hope I can teach you to always know and remember your great worth and that you truly are a daughter of the Divine. We love you sweet girl!

Maelyn's Special Day

December 2, 2012 Maelyn was blessed by Daddy in our ward. Maelyn, you looked so beautiful and what a sweet blessing daddy gave. Your blessing circle was a small one but you were held by Daddy and had Grandpa Paul, President Dennis Wood and Bishop Max Jenkins surrounding you. You didn't make a peep the entire blessing. I wish I would have written everything down that Dad blessed you with because it was so sweet. A couple of things that I do remember and that stand out to me was blessing you with the desire to live a positive life. Be a positive influence to your family and friends and always strive to have a positive attitude. Another thing he blessed you with is to live with the Holy Ghost as a constant companion. Its amazing how a priesthood ordinance that only takes a few minutes can be so special to you and our family. We love you more than you will ever know. We are so glad you are a part of our family and for the sweet little girl you are and were blessed to become.

"Choose the Right" {Primary Program}

I LOVE Sundays, but there is one Sunday in the entire year that is my FAVORITE! Nothing is better than the Primary program. Nothing brings the Spirit faster or stronger than listening to the sweet children of our ward share their testimonies through word and song. Before church I asked Jackson if he was excited/nervous/scared and he acted like a pro. He had his part all memorized and was as calm as could be. Can't believe Andersen will be up there with Jacks next year. Good job Jackson!

The Little America {Thanksgiving Style}

Our Thanksgiving rotation of every other year landed on the Rothe year this year. With us being a small group, Tina decided to go to the Little America for dinner. Before we got all dressed up for dinner we spent the morning making turkeys with the kiddos. They each had feathers to write things they were grateful for. I love listening to their comments when they do crafts like this because it helps me remember how sweet they are and how the littlest things bring them happiness. Come afternoon it was time to meet up with the family for dinner. It was Nate's parents, Nate's brother Chase and his girlfriend Natalie and our little family of 5. The boys (big and little) were in heaven with all you can  eat food everywhere. They even had a crepes table and a kids section of all my favorite foods... chicken pieces and tater tots. Not your traditional Thanksgiving meal but definitely satisfying. And it wouldn't be a buffet without the endless dessert table. After we were all filled to the max we went back to Nate's parents house to hangout. We also made a visit to my Grandma's house across the street while we were over that way. Nothing better than a day surrounded by family and those you love mixed with a little food to create some fun memories.

Count Your Many Blessings...{name them one by one}

Last year as a family we did our grateful banner, so this year I jumped on the bandwagon taking one picture a day, for the 21 days before Thanksgiving. It was a lot of fun and some days it was hard to decide on only one thing to take a picture of. Here is a collage of all my pictures and some of the many things I am grateful for this year.

1. Maelyn... of course she was the first on my list this year since she has just joined our family. It is always a sweet feeling to bring a new baby into this world. Out of all the crazy things that could go wrong I am so grateful our family has such a sweet little girl that is healthy.
2. Love me a clean toilet (or a clean house for that matter)! This day I stayed home from getting together with some friends to clean my toilets that have been neglected for WAY too long!
3. Grateful for sleep. With a new baby there are a lot of sleepless nights and some long days. Luckily for us Maelyn learned to sleep through the night really early and I was a whole new mommy with a few extra hours of sleep.
4. Beautiful weather in November. Living in Utah you never really know what weather you are going to get. November usually is freezing already but we enjoyed amazing fall weather! Loved being able to let the boys go outside to play and feel like I could take Maelyn out too. 
5. Modern Technology. I have a love hate relationship with this because it causes a lot of frustration in my life but I would take the frustrations just to have the convenience... for example... my washer and dryer!
6. GOD BLESS AMERICA...enough said!
7. Love my job! This day was my first day back to work after maternity leave but I couldn't ask for a better boss and a group of girls to go back to. Its been a great 7 1/2 years!
8. Everything Young Womens...the girls, the leaders, the personal progress program. This year I earned my second honor bee. 
9. Shelter from the storm... Just when I said I was grateful for beautiful fall weather we got pounded with a crazy wind/snow storm that blew part of our backyard fence down. It was the first cold of the season and I couldn't imagine being out on the streets and not in my warm home surrounded by my family.
10. Love being a MOMMY! My kids are the hardest but greatest thing that have happened to us. They test me every day and teach me patience and love like I would have never known. 
11. Primary teachers! They are the best teachers us parents could have on our side helping teach the same principles that we are trying to teach in our home.
12. Of course Nate has to be on this list. He is the rock to our family. All his hard work, patience and love get us through every crazy day. 
13. Grateful for memories. Love reminiscing of old laughs and good times which brings me to...
14. Grateful to have such amazing neighbors and friends to create memories with! 
15. Everyone needs a mom... and I have a pretty awesome one! She is so talented and always giving of her time and talents to our family.
16. I also have an awesome Mother in law! She is always up for an adventure and always thinking of how to make someone else happy.
17. Grateful for sick days and medicine. A yucky bug has wiped this Jackson out. So sad watching your kids be sick but it's always nice to put aside the to do list and enjoy some good snuggle time 
18. Grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be a member of His church 
19. Grateful for pictures! I love the story and memories they capture. 
20. Grateful for Matt McFarland (or any photographer for that matter) helping us out last minute! I am obsessed with capturing family pictures and the different stages we are at. These little personalities only last for a short time
21. Love this "wing nut"...(Jackson). He has no idea how amazing and sweet he is (when he wants to be). We Love you Jack's! 
22. I know I said only 21, but there wasn't a day that went by that I wasn't grateful for Andersen. He is the life of our family and always keeping things funny for us.

It is so easy to get caught up in the negative in our lives or wishing you had more so I am grateful to have spent the last 3 weeks thinking of all my many blessings. I love my life and all that is in it!

Maelyn's NEWBORNS

I am in love with these pictures and the little people in them! Besides the anticipation of having a little girl the next most exciting thing to me was preparing for her newborn pictures... (I LOVE PICTURES!) I don't think people really understand HOW excited I was to finally have my little girl. I SO love my boys but finally getting to do everything girly there was no holding back. I had her little romper, headband, and bracelet months before she was born! With Kara being our photographer again she came to our house one afternoon and just set up everything right in our family room. It was so convenient and Maelyn slept like an angel the entire time...even through outfit changes! Just wished we could have gotten some pictures with her eyes open, but this was just the beginning of us seeing her love for sleep.