Crazy Holidays

I feel bad that it's been so long since I have posted but life in our little house has been a little crazy with the holidays. Thanksgiving was great and we got to see mom and dad the week before for a surprise visit. That was a fun treat!
December has been great with the kids being out of school for the entire month because of the year around schedule. We've had a lot of fun together playing, baking, and enjoying the season. ( I am excited for them to go back on Monday though because I get a little batty being so out of schedule.)
Christmas at our house was very different but it was the best one yet and not because of the amount of gifts or surprises but because we truly felt the spirit and became closer than we've ever been. I wouldn't have changed a thing.
We are excited for the new year and have set some good goals as a family and personally. (One of my goals is to blog more you'll be happy to know mom.)
Have a Happy New Year!

The Best Dad In The World

I hate to brag about my husband and kids but I do have to say I think I am the luckiest woman in the world to be married to such an amazing man. If pictures could speak this one would speak a thousand words about the kind of father Cory is. He is an amazing dad and not just when other people are watching but all the time. He is the glue that holds our family together and when I took this picture I knew that I captured something amazing.

Happy Halloween!

It rained and poured but we had a great Halloween. We were able to go to our ward party, The Witches Night Out at Gardner Village, trunk or treating, and of course trick or treating! The kids had a great time and everybody was healthy and happy!

Family Photos

 I don't want to spoil anything by posting all my favorite pictures but I will say these are my favorite family photos that we have ever had! They turned out soooo cute!! I am so excited to show the rest when they get edited!!

Baby Anthony

Things I love about Anthony and I always want to remember:
1. I love his smile.
2. I love the way he smells.
3. I love that he wants me when his is tired or sad and he looks for dad when he wants to play.
4. I love his intoxicating giggle.
5. I love that he loves to fall asleep in my arms and when he does he puts his little had on my chest.
6. I love that when I pucker my lips to kiss him he turns his head and puts his neck to my cheek to snuggle with me.
7. I love that he brings out the tender side in my other kids and I get to see a special side of them.
8. I love that he rolls around the room to get where he wants to go.
9. I love that he is the messiest eater I have ever seen! He cannot eat anything without needing a change of clothes.
10. I love his rosy cheeks when he gets really warm.
11. I love that the only time he ever says anything is when he is sad and he says mamamama.
10. I love that someone like myself who has made many mistakes before and after kids can open her heart so much each and every day that it feels like my heart will burst sometimes.

Snow

Today and yesterday we woke up to snow! Alex and Cami couldn't wait to go outside and play in it. They couldn't hardly stand it until I relented and let them out to get cold and wet. They had a great time and it's a good thing they did because like every other day in Utah the weather changed  by lunch and it was sunny!

Girls Night Out

Last night me and Sierra went to get our hair done for my birthday. It was so much fun! She cut off her hair after I couldn't talk her out of it but she looked really cute though. I can't believe how much she is growing up. She is such a great young lady and is so much fun to be around. The girls at the beauty school loved her and even took pictures of her for their portfolio.

A Smile That Melts Your Heart

Oh my goodness when I took this picture I just had to post it! If this doesn't make you smile and melt your heart then nothing will! I feel blessed to see his cute smile everyday but very rarely have I been able to capture it on camera.

Big Brother

This morning as the kids were taking their bath Alex did the cutest thing. When Cami got out he wrapped his towel around Cami to get her warm then when she said she couldn't tie it he immediately went over and tied it for her. He was so gentle and sweet with her. He has such a tender heart and our family is so blessed to have him a part of it.

Grocery Shopping With Princess Cami

Tonight I took Cami to the grocery store and they had little carts that kids could "shop" with. Cami looked so cute pushing the little cart around with her princess dress on. She said that she was a mommy and the food needed to go in her cart. At the very end she couldn't stand being serious anymore and started doing twirls with her cart in her pink dress. I couldn't help but stand back and take a picture of the moment while smiling to myself. I really didn't care who saw because they only get to be princess's and do twirls in stores for such a short time and then poof they're all grown up...

Family Fun Day

Today we had family pictures taken. It was amazing the photographer got such great photos because the kids (Cami) had the hardest time holding still. At one point (in the middle of Gardner Village I might add) I was singing, doing funny faces, and everything else in between just to get all 5 kids to look at the camera!! Then when it was my turn to do individual pictures with Cory Chance started singing, doing funny faces, and everything else to tease me to look at the camera too!! I'm sure the photographer loved us but the kids actually did pretty great for having to take pictures for three hours.

After the pictures we went to the pumpkin patch to get our pumpkins. Alex loved playing on the tractors and Cami loved pushing the miniature wheelburrows. Sierra was so cute taking her time to pick out the perfect pumpkin. All in all it was a great day and we got some great pictures that I will blog as soon as I get them all.

Pumpkin Patch

Today Sierra, Alex, Cami, and Anthony went to the pumpkin patch with me and some friends. They had a great time until Cami got lost and it scared her to death. Luckily a kind mom found her and brought her to me crying. It's funny how little moments like that teach us big adults how important it is to appreciate our kids. I went home hugging my kids more and telling them how much I love them. Life can change in a matter of seconds so hopefully I can appreciate each moment I have with my sweet kids....

Kindergarten Mini Science Fair

Today Alex had a science fair in his kindergarten class. It was very cute if not a little disturbing. When I went to kindergarten we had milk and cookies and naps everyday. Now kids are expected to do science fair projects in kindergarten! I was proud of Alex because he did most of it himself. Most of the other projects in there were clearly the work of parents with too much time on their hands. Good thing our kids are so smart and do homework on their own because so much more is expected of them now and they definitely know more than I do some of the time!! 

Trying New Foods

Anthony tried oatmeal for the first time today and apparently didn't like it. He spit it out the first few times then after that he shook his head every time I tried to feed it to him! Who knew babies had so much opinion!