Family Pictures

This amazing photographer (who just happens to be Nathan's sister, Joanna,) took some family pictures of us at the Utah State Capitol the other day. Here are a few of the pictures that she posted on her photography blog. Thanks, Joanna! You're the greatest!! Didn't she do a great job?!

The end of the Bink

Last night when I was putting Liam to bed, I handed him his binky and he threw it and said "My done with binkies!" (That was a surprise, as this kid always knows where he can find one!) Today we were in the car and out of habit Liam said "I need my binky and my blankie" then thought for a minute and said "My blankie". He napped without a binky today. We have successfully made it 24 hours without one! My little binky boy is growing up!!

Liam's Cake

We had a family party for Liam the other night. He loves trains, so I made him this Thomas cake. As soon as I set it down, Liam and Lucas ran over and started eating the chocolate chips and M&Ms off of it! (Can you blame them?!) He was spoiled with lots of train, car and sporty things! Thanks to all who came and made it great!!

Happy Birthday Liam!!

Liam is 2!! I can't believe how quickly the last 2 years have gone! From his crazy birth in the car in the parking lot of a gas station to my little man who talks all the time, and raises his voice an octave to sing to me! He is such a joy in our family! We love how he says "close-it" for closet, always wants his binky and blankie, and gives great "sqeezy" hugs! We love you little man!






Happy birthday, Liam!!

His favorite book: The Very Hungry Caterpillar (he likes to tell it with me-- so cute!!)
Favorite food: Macaroni & Cheese and pancakes (the only things he will eat!)
He LOVES trains, all sports (and has been able to tell the different sports apart for months-- and taught Brooklyn who could never keep them straight!!) and is such a fun boy!

Ashlie's first attempt at a diaper cake

I love diaper cakes. I think that they are so cute! This is my first attempt at making one for a good friend's baby shower. I thought it turned out pretty cute!!

First Day of School!!

Brooklyn started 3rd grade at a brand new school a couple of weeks ago! She has a few friends from the ward in her class, so that is fun, and says that her teacher isn't quite as strict as her teacher last year. She seems to be doing well and glad to be back in school! On her first day, they found out the mascot and colors that they were able to vote on. They are the red and black Dragons!!

Liam and Ellie

Liam (for the most part-- until he got jealous) loved having Ellie here! I love this picture of Liam taking Ellie for a ride on his "motorcycle bike"!



















This is at Thanksgiving Point Gardens. We asked Liam to put his arm around Brielle, so this is what he did!

Liam and his frozen friends

Liam was hanging out with these boys at the state fair when a mad
scientist came running in with his freezobronzoraygun. Luckily it ran
out of energy before he could get Liam. And luckily we got this shot
right on the exact moment before Liam realized what was happening and
used his Kung Fu moves on the villain.

Balloom Festival

Ok, here are a few long-awaited pictures of the 2nd Annual Sandy City Balloon Festival! We dragged the kids out of bed at 6:00 and watch hot air balloons inflate and take off. We were able to be right on the field next to the balloons. We all loved it and are looking forward to next year!!













BTW, there's no significance in the Alexander's balloon, that's just the balloon that we happened to follow the whole time!

Brooklyn's Baptism

Brooklyn was so excited to get baptized! I am glad that the day happened, and that it turned out well for her.

Brooklyn was baptized by her grandpa Christensen and confirmed by her grandpa Allison.

Of course the day wouldn't be perfect without a few glitches! In the morning as I was racing to get myself (and a talk for the baptism) and the kids ready, I put cinnamon rolls in the oven for the brunch after word, and the filling spilled out in the oven, started on fire and filled the whole house with smoke! It was BAD!!

Then, right before the confirmation, Liam was sitting on a chair, and I turned for a second, and he fell face first on to the wood floor. He immediately had this huge purple bruise on his forehead. My cousin, Nate, kept making comments on how this is the type of bump that will affect his SAT scores... he's still a smart kid!!

Dance Recital

Brooklyn had her third dance recital. She tap danced to "Hard Knock Life" from Annie, and a ballet dance to "Start of Something New" from High School Musical. She is quite a natural dancer!!

Brooklyn loved having Cori as a teacher, and will miss her since she just graduated and will be moving to BYU this fall. She loves being in the same class as Katie.

Nikki, Cori, Katie and Brooklyn

Haircuts

So, I am a little late in posting these. I started a post in June when the haircuts took place, and I never finished!!

Liam, at 21 months, just got his second haircut. His first was at 18 months, and I held him the whole time, and he didn't like it. I decided to take him to a place called Cookie Cutters which specializes in Children's haircutting, since I had only heard great things about it. Liam picked Thomas the Train to watch, a "pire" (fire) car to sit in, and was a little nervous when the clippers came out! But he did great! They gave him a sucker that got hair all over it, and he screamed "Liam's sucker" when we tried to trade! It turned out okay, and he's so cute!!

Brooklyn had been asking for months for a pixie haircut. We were waiting until after dance recital so she could have her hair in a bun. She was so excited and decided to keep her hair a little longer than "pixie" short. It turned out SOO cute! And she had 13" to donate to Locks of Love!

California Trip- Leo Carillo

We don't make it to the beach often enough. I love the beach, and I love tide pools. By the time we made it to the beach, the tide was coming back in and there wasn't too many things to see in the tide pools we could access (the beach was busy!) I had told Liam that we would see "starpish" at the beach. I couldn't find any close in tide pools, but could see several on rocks out a ways. I swam out to get one (it was pretty windy, so got knocked down several times). Liam loved it!!

To be, or not to be...

...that is the question!

Check out these beach beauties!!

Chasing the waves.

I loved this of the two sisters.

Too many kids in the tub!

Thanks Mandy for letting us stay with you and Michelle and Zack for putting up with the kids and me in the car! We had a great trip!! Next time we'll take Nathan with us!!

"They got me!"

Liam is at such a fun age. He talks amazing well, and is always saying fun things.

One thing I loved about Disneyland was when we were in California Adventure starting out the day. Michelle, Zack and Brooklyn were on Tower of Terror, and I was out waiting with Liam. I pulled out the map to make a plan, and Liam immediately said "They got me!" I turned the map over, and there was a picture of Buzz and Woody from "Toy Story". I laughed (finding it hilarious), not sure where that came from, and he kept saying it! I told Michelle and Zack. Apparently Zack had been playing with Buzz with Logan (my niece who loves "Toy Story") and would say "You got me!" So, Liam was apparently listening and picked up on it! He kept saying "They got me!" every time he would see Buzz or Woody!

California Vacation- Disneyland

The kids and I went with my sister, Michelle and her husband, Zack, to California. (When we can get into Disneyland for FREE, why not go every chance we can get?!) Nathan stayed home since he took time off to go to Disneyland about 7 weeks before!

We left Spanish Fork at 4:00 am Tuesday morning and we were playing in Disneyland by 2:30. (After lunch at In-n-Out, of course!!) My SIL, Mandy joined us with her two girls for a day at Disneyland. Then we spent a full day at California Adventure, and a more relaxing day between the parks, seeing some of the shows and "filling in". I'm glad that we had spent a couple of days already because by Friday, the park was PACKED!! We were going to get fast passes for Splash Mountain, but the line was almost an hour and a half wait, and the fast pass return time was 5 HOURS later!!! Liam was quite the character the whole trip, but loved entertaining all the people around us while we were waiting for Fantasmic (dancing, giving high 5's). Then he slept through the show and missed it! He loved the parades and imitated everyone dancing.

"Oh, no! Pire!" (Fire) Liam kept saying this over and over as he danced in front of this fake fire place!

I was SOO excited for Tower of Terror and got butterflies just thinking about it! (It's scary!!) This is a picture of the picture taken on the ride (hence the low quality). I love that I look so scared, and Michelle looks so calm!

Don't mess with Brooklyn!!

Awwww!! Cute!

Liam is getting ready for the 3D movie!

Yeah, right!

When Brooklyn was about 3, she used to always say "What you said?!" That's the first thing I thought of when I saw this picture.

The night before we left, we were at Michelle and Zack's getting ready for bed, and the kids were excited and being loud. I told Liam that it was time to be quiet, but when we were on Dumbo he could be loud. The next day, as soon as he saw Dumbo he shouted "Loud!!"