Merry Christmas!!

Birthday Girl

Yep, that's right...Ella turned 3. I can hardly believe it...it seems like she was just a little baby not too long ago. Her birthday was so fun...she had been counting down the days for months! This was definitely her first year really getting into it and understanding what was going on. As you can see, she is wearing pj's...she has this weird obsession with them lately, so naturally those were her favorite present...she had to change in them right away (she started out in a cute outfit:). We had a lot to celebrate this year...not only was it her birthday, but we are also celebrating 1 year of being seizure free. It has been a long, emotional year trying to get her stabilized on her medicine, but we made it and are praying that we can make it one more. We love you so much Ella...you are so special. Your dad and I are constantly amazed with you and are so proud of you and everything you are. I am so proud to be your mom.

Halloween

We had such a fun Halloween this year. Ella gets SO excited for these things now, so it makes the day so much more fun. She would run from one house to the next so excited, and Matt would say, 'this is so much fun!' Kids make things so much better, don't they:)

This year, Ella was a 'bat-lerina'...half bat, half ballerina. Yeah, I don't know either, I tried with all my might to convince her to be something else, but she wasn't having it! Gage was a monkey... perfect for him because that is his nickname at our house.

Morgan getting into character as a vampire:)

Trick-or-treating. After every house, she would yell to me, "mom, I didn't forget to say thank you!" It was pretty cute.

My mom and I with Gage and baby Anna

Our Halloween treat:)

We're Alive!

So, obviously I've been a terrible blogger lately...but I was getting a little sick of it (mostly just lazy!). So I stopped...but now I'm starting again and I have a bunch of totally random pictures to post. Nothing too exciting going on...let's see...Ella started a little "playschool', which she absolutely loves (and so does mom, I get some free time to myself once a week:), we have battled the swine flu at our house...luckily Matt didn't get it and was able to take care of us. It was horrible. Our kids have been growing up way too fast...Ella is almost 3 and reminds me of it every day. She acts like a 10 year old...my mom tells me she is an "old soul"...whatever that means! Other than that, we are just enjoying the fall, getting excited for all the upcoming holidays. Now, enjoy some seriously random pictures...I'm trying to get better!

Ella got her first real haircut...I know, she is almost 3 and still hasn't had a real haircut. Its hard to tell, but her hair is finally all the same length...wa-hoo!!

We got her a little bike with training wheels, and she is obsessed. Too bad we didn't think of this in the summer when its warm...she wants to be outside all day and its cold!

Gage's head looks massive in this picture!

He is getting so big and so old...way too fast!

Trying to take advantage of the few warm days we have left!

Being her favorite princess at the pumpkin walk in Logan.

Ella has become best little friends with the neighbor girl. They play so well together, and act way too old for their age! On this particular day, they decided to dress up in Ellas old pj's and pretend like it was bed time!

Ella's little preschool on Halloween dress-up day.

Kenny Chesney

A couple of weeks ago, Matt surprised me with tickets to Kenny Chesney...I love, love him! Actually I love almost all country...Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert were there too...it was so fun and they were all SO good.

It was outside at the Rio Tinto soccer stadium...super hot, but fun to be outside

Can you tell thats Kenny way up there?!

When we got home, this is what we found. Ella made Morgan and Amy (the babysitters!) sleep with her in her bed...so cute and cozy!

Birthday Boy

Gage turned one on the 21st, and I really just can't believe it! He is definitely not a baby anymore...walking everywhere and starting to say words...it really is crazy how fast they grow up. We had a little party for him at our park...it was perfect for all the other kids to run around and play...Gage just ran around with them, he is already trying to keep up with Ella and her friends! He is such a good little boy...I remember when I had him last year how nervous I was to have 2 kids so close together. Little did I know what a blessing he would be for our little family...he makes me so happy, in ways I didn't know I could be. We love, love, love you Gage...Happy Birthday!!

He is obsessed with anything that has wheels...grandma & grandpa Taylor got this little train for him...he LOVES it, it is the cutest thing to watch him push this aroud everywhere

Of course Ella wanted in on all of his presents...she kept telling me, 'I'm a good sister mom, I push Gage everywhere!'

Cute party guests:)

Helping open presents

(I promise I'm not white trash and let my kid run around with no shirt on...he had just finished his cake, hence the bare belly!)

Bob the Builder cake

He was NOT into his cake...he doesn't really like sweets that much...strange child:)

Happy Birthday Gage!!

A Little of This, A Little of That

We have sure been enjoying our summer, and are gladly keeping very busy. I am loving summertime with my kids...barbecues, swimming, parks, playing...it's so fun for all of us to get out and do fun things. We had a good 4th...hung out at Bear Lake, and saw some fireworks. Our kids have been pretty sleep deprived, and pretty ornery lately...but oh well, its been worth it!

Excited because we are on our way to "Magoon" (as she calls it).

Riding the rides with her cousins...they are so cute with her, and she sure loves them.

Gotta love that face!

We love Bear Lake! The kids had so much fun up there...playing all day in the sand and water, what could be better?! (this is cute aunt Ashley with the monkey Gage:)

And these are the extent of the pictures I took on the 4th....just waiting to leave for the fireworks...

Matt thinks it looks like she is trying to choke him here...hmm, she probably was:)