1st day of spring + boyfriends

Last week was soooo nice outside. We spent a lot of hours playing on the grass with the neighbors. The kids loved it. I'm glad we soaked up the close to 70 degree weather because this week has been chilly. Its even snowed a couple/few times! Of course, and thankfully, it didn't stick. Well, here are the kids celebrating the first day of spring last friday...Addysin and Drew saying "cheeeez". Drew's expression cracks me up.

I took a picture of Drew handing the unwanted cracker back...

So of course Addysin thinks to herself "that must be cute or something, I better copy him so I can get attention too." That is really what happened, I'm not making up stories.
For some reason Addysin is ultra shy around Jack (our nieghbor) and will hardly say a word or show emotion around him. He is 7 months older than her. He is so sweet and likes to lead her around by the hand. She usually DOES NOT like to be touched by other kids because a lot of times it ends up with a push or getting a toy taken away. Wierdly enough, she lets Jack hold her hand though. I think they might have crushes on each other. He "ROARS" at her and she stands there all bashful. If any other child does that she for sure ends up crying, especially if I'm around.

So here are the love birds taking a stroll all happy...

And as I'm taking this out of focus shot, Addysin starts crying. But keep in mind she just keeps walking along, hand in hand with Jack. She is so scared to pull away or just say no. Should I be worried?

Well, it was cute. Moral of this post: Addysin likes to be copy cat and she's a follower.

Lee Weekend

On Friday March 13, Chris' parents drove down from Richland, Washington to visit for the weekend. It was really fun to have them here, especially since Chuck doesn't get much (if any) time off during the school year since he works at the High School in Connell. So Friday night we all went to dinner at Tucano's. Four of their six children were there. Anna and her family live in Ocala, FL and Melissa and her family are up in Connell, WA, but everyone else is down here (well Tony and Rachel live in Rexburg which isn't too far, but will soon be moving to Utah, YAY!). It was really fun to all get together. After dinner everyone came over to our house and we talked untill late, like midnight! The 6 kids were all wired and didn't realize how late it was. I'm sad I didn't get the pictures from Chuck's camera before he left so no pictures :( The next day Becca, Rachel, Addysin, Caiden, and I went to Olive garden for lunch while Chris and Tony were with their parents shopping around. Carol and Chuck stayed with David and Kira Saturday night and left to go home on Sunday... quick trip! That night we played Mario Cart. ha ha, this is Tony's face when jumping, turning, or basically doing anything besides going straight. Chris is in my "racing chair". I might as well not even play if I cant sit there... it does wonders for me.

It was a fun, but short, weekend with lots of family!

Stephanie and Rachel

A couple weeks ago, one of my good friends from hair school came to Utah to visit. Stephanie now lives in Texas and it was SOOO fun to see her and her cute kids. Rachel still lives here so we see each other often. The three of us, plus 5 (nearly 6) kids got together a couple of times that week. The first day we let the kids make a disaster of my house while we tried to talk over the top of them and the TV. The next day we went to Olive Garden with our kids. It was a lot of work and we didn't get to talk very much but it was still so worth it. My kids were definitely the worst but I still take them everywhere with me. They don't hold me back, they just give me a workout most the time. See what I mean, how much fun does this look like? Seriously Addysin, can I have some space? (not such a good picture of me, just proving a point)Here are some fun pictures. Looking at these got me started and I got looking at all of our pictures together with our friends from hair school. I wanted to post them all, but I held back.

Here is a pic from two years ago of our first three. Braxton and Ava had just turned one, and Addysin was 4 months old... little chubby bunny. I cant believe its been that long. I still remeber that day clearly. I spent forever doing my hair in hot rollers for the first time and it didn't turn out right, I was mad... This was 2 weeks ago... wow they've grown up! Ava loved Caiden, it was so cute. And you know he loved the attention, look at his eyes gleaming...

Rachel had her baby 6 days later, a little girl named Madison Vella. Between the three of us we have Aidan, Caiden, Addysin, & Madison (and Braxton & Ava, but they don't rhyme:)! Funny huh? During dinner, a very elderly couple walked by super slowely and just smiled at us. They looked really amused. I know we look a little young to have so many kids. We looked like a day care. And I felt really bad for the people sitting around us. After the chaotic dinner...
We missed our other friends from school, but everyone has moved away :( I'm so glad Steph took the time for us from her busy vacation schedule!

Just a thought...

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday. "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals, but I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!"

I love 4 seasons- and Caiden

I really love living in a place that has 4 seasons. I don't really like (slightly hate) January- March, but if it weren't for these ugly, cold months I wouldn't love the warm 60 degree weather that we have had. People else where, like my sister in Arizona, would probably say 60 degrees is chilly but once the thermostat gets up there I LOVE taking my kids, and myself, outside. Its so fun to watch the trees get buds on them outside our front door and await the white popcorn-like flowers that come in April. So tonight for FHE Chris and I took the kids on a walk around the neighborhood. Even after the sun set, it was still nice. Addysin and Caiden loved it as well and even though it was bedtime they were wide awake. In spring I love the long awaited green grass and trees growing leaves. Summer is the best for obvious reasons: warm, pools, tan skin, fun outside, vacations(unless you're a summer sales family), long days...etc. Fall is so beautiful and means the holidays are coming. Its kind of refreshing to have some cooler weather as well. We usually get our first snow once the leaves have all fallen and everything is brown. I love snow because it hides the deadness and is beautiful. Winter just isn't my favorite. I love snow until march, then its annoying because it reminds me that warm weather is not very close. Then comes spring...AHHHH! And here we are. Well on March 20- FRIDAY!
I love watching Caiden blossom as well. Caiden has changed all of the sudden. He is so interested in things. He rolls to get to toys he can see out of the corner of his eye. If he cant get what he wants he whines until I get it for him, and then he is amused for a bit. He loves attention. At church he is usually happy because there are so many people for him to look at and they are always smiling and waving at him. If I spend the whole day holding him and entertaining him, he is happy as can be. But he is also whiny as can be when I walk out of the room and try to get things done. He will definitely crawl someday (unlike Addysin). I can tell because he doesn't mind being on his stomach and is using a lot of different muscles to move around that will help him crawl. Even at a year old, Addysin would flip out if we put her on her stomach. Caiden is getting to a really fun age. He still cant sit up, but I know its due to acid reflux/spit up. He still gets stomach aches and sitting obviously isn't comfortable for him. He tenses up and lays down whenever I try to get him to sit. He can sit in a high chair, but he just cant do it on his own where the ab muscles are being worked. I'm just waiting for his stomach to develop so we can move past the spit up all over the place... its messy! He got his first two teeth a couple weeks ago, he looks so cute and a little different, to me at least.

Best Friends...almost... ok, not really

Addysin is not very affectionate or loving towards Caiden. In no way, though, is she mean. She has never ever hurt him or even tried, but she also has never wanted to hold him or hug him. She just doesn't acknowledge that he is her brother. She will say cute things like "where's Caiden?" or "He's sleepin'?" or "OH NO!" when he's crying. So, you would think she just doesn't like affection, but she loves hugs, kisses, and cuddling with me and Chris. I'm pretty sure she just wants to be the baby, as shown in the picture below. I dont think she is laying beside him so she can be close, I think its because it looks cool to lay on the blanket and she wants to be baby-ed so she'll do what the baby is doing. She has her moments though when she shows her love and I just have to take pictures whenever she is paying attention to him.

.....So that is why this little photoshoot is soooo adorable.

My precious babies

In the next pictures Addysin didn't actually say those things, its just funny to imagine what they are thinking at that moment.

"So anyways, then I said..."

Addysin: You know I'm just doing this because you are and I dont want you to get all the attention, right?

Caiden: Still dont know what you're saying..

I'm sure when Caiden is able to play and get around, Addysin and Caiden will have tons of fun together. Right now he is just an attention stealing baby.

1:00 Church

When we moved times at the beginning of the new year, we got the much despised 1:00 time. My mother in-law says she loves it so I am choosing to embrace it as well. I do love how getting ready is so easy and you have 1/2 the day to do it. I love spending family time and I enjoy Sunday mornings at home with no worries. I don't rush around getting things done like my typical day, I just pay full attention to my children and husband, try to read the lessons if Caiden will let me, and one time I even had time to make bread for dinner. If I had the choice though, I would pick 11:00... but I don't. One thing that is so hard is nap time for Addysin (Caiden will just sleep in our arms or his car seat so its not a big deal for him). A few times she has held off until after church and then crashes at 4:30. She'll be eating a snack in her high chair one second and then the next she'll be asleep. Its hilarious. Or sometimes she'll get a partial nap before church and she'll be ultra grouchy for sacrament meeting because she's still tired. Thank goodness for nursery! No matter how angry she is, she will always be a little angel for the whole two hours in nursery. She always says "play" and "kids". I'm so thankful for the nursery leaders that put up with all the two and three year olds that desperately need a nap.

Sometimes I have to really slow down to notice how much Addysin and Caiden are growing up, learning and developing. A couple of Sundays ago I was bathing Addysin and she has bath toys that are foam letters and numbers. I started asking her, "what is this?" and to my HUGE surprise she knows most of the alphabet!!!! If she gets it wrong, its usually because she said the sound it makes (which I think is OK), or she just gets it confused because they look so similar or sound the same as another (Like 'E' and 'D', or 'X' and 'K' look alike). I'm just a really good mom! Actually I didn't teach her, I bought the fridge magnet from Leap Frog. Its obviously the best. It teaches the letter and what sound it makes. It also sings the alphabet song. We got it for her this passed Christmas. (And here is her FAVORITE stool. She loves standing on it for no reason, or to get things- like cookies- off the pantry shelf.)

All ready for church and just hangin' out...

I got this table and the chairs from IKEA for $25. I painted it white before I assembled it. It looks really cute in her room and she loves using it.

I love Scentsy!

I love everything about scentsy. I love:

No burning, so its safe and when you turn it off its not like blowing out a candle that takes over the good smell with smokey-ness.

I leave it on sometimes when I leave for a bit so I can come home to my house smelling wonderful- I would NEVER do that with a candle.

The warmers are sooooo super cute, and they just came out with 10 more!

The scents are devine and they have so many to choose from (80 to be exact).

The prices are just as good or better as the best candles (i.e. yankee candle co.) and they look way cuter.

The new catalog just came out March 1st. with new stuff.

So with that said, you'de think I would be a consultant. Nope, I'm just going to have a smelling party. They are seriously so great. If you want to come on Tuesday to my house from 5:00-7:00 pm, you can smell them all and I'll have some yummy treats! It'll be a little girls night out. You're welcome to bring kids of course and husbands if they want to come along. You can just come to hang out as well, even if you think you aren't interested.
Email me if you want to come so I will have an idea of how much food to have. andreadawnlee@hotmail.com

2009 spring/summer catalog: http://www.scentsy.net/ click on link on top right corner to view. You can also just look at the catalog and let me know if you want anything. Its free shipping if you get it sent to me.

Mall Walking & The Gym

So I have been working out for a few weeks now and LOVE IT! I got started with my friend/old roomate, Veronica. She invited me to join her and another girl walk in the mall at 9:00 am. I thought "people do that?" Oh yeah. The first day I got there I almost laughed cause its like an indoor track for moms and cute old people. Both malls here open early just for walkers. It is the funnest hour of excercise you will ever do. I get to spend time with friends and get caught up on the latest fashions in the window displays. Chris was convinced for the first week that I only did it so I could shop. Ok, I bought a much needed better nursing bra. Can you blame me, I was walking past the store I had needed to go to for months. He just couldn't believe for the first time in our marriage of 3 1/2 years that I enjoyed working out. Well, walking got me motivated and I re-activated my gym pass at Gold's. Its all thanks to Veronica. She text me three or four days in a row asking me to come and I kept saying I would go the next day, so I finally did. I have gone to a few classes at the gym and love those as well. The best part was Addysin loved the day care and I realized I was doing myself and her a huge favor... until today. I think the novelty wore off (way to quick), and she doesn't have friends there. Addysin is not the type of child that just makes friends. She is super shy at first and needs me to be with her to meet kids. (TRACI, I NEED YOU TO TAKE JACK SO ADDYSIN WILL STAY!) It was a blessing in disguise that she cried for 30 minutes and I had to come pick her up. I went to an awesome class called sports conditioning, but it was super tough and I am OUT-OF-SHAPE! Seriously, I am so sore that I cant even do anything... and I missed half the class. I can hardly carry out a conversation. I called my friend afterwards to chat and she thought something was wrong with me. Thank you Addysin for bailing me out, but next time you better have fun at day care-or else! JK, but I am worried my workout plan is over. We'll see.

How working out has benefitted me:

1. I am losing weight, especially belly fat
2. It gets me and my kids out of bed around 7:30, which is much earlier. Just before I started working out we got up around 9 or 10! But keep in mind we were all going to bed later as well.
3. I am like double happier. Working out gives me the best endorfins. My sister told me after I had Caiden, and had a little post pardom depression, that getting your heart rate up for 30 minutes a day can be as good as anti depressants. I think thats what she said, but dont go telling everyone that fact before you look it up for sure.
4. Addysin definitly loves getting out of the house.
5. I love getting out of the house even more than her.
6. I get to talk to and see friends, and its really fun.

Anyone that wants to work out with me, please come. If you dont have a gym membership or your child wont stay in daycare, come to the mall with me in the mornings on Tuesday and Thursday. I usually walk for an hour and it flies by. If you dont have a child, you can push my stroller- I know, I'm super nice.

The Bachelor

Ok, I'm not sure if I will continue to be a Bachelor lover. This was the first/only season I have ever watched and I realized how fake and weird it is. First of all, Jason is such a jerk for breaking up with Melissa on TV and then getting together with Molly on TV when you know Melissa is going to see it. Maybe they weren't right for each other (thats not my problem, even though I was rooting for Melissa) its just HOW RUDE AND INSENSITIVE! I dont think of Jason the same anymore- Jason, in case you're reading this, that was not nice! So when it doesn't work out with Molly is he going to think... oops again and call up Jillian. He might as well be a poligamist so he can be happy. Thats my problem. Bachelors and Bachlorettes most likley will never be happy with just one person because of their experience on that show. Well it was fun to watch anyway...

And super fun to watch the Finale at the clubhouse theater with a bunch of girls. Thanks to whoever had that idea, and for the dessert- yum!

Our Christmas letter 2008

Here is our Christmas letter from this past year...

This year has changed our lives forever. Since last Christmas, we have two wonderful additions. First and most importantly, Caiden Christopher came into our family on August 11. We LOVE him, of course, and our family feels much more complete with two children now. Chris and I each have one to hold and I NEVER have a spare minute to be bored. Secondly, Chris and 2 partners started a security company here in Orem, Utah called "Five Diamond Protection". Things are going really great with it and it looks like we will be staying in Utah for a lot longer than we had ever thought when we moved here for school at BYU three years ago. We really love Utah and don't mind staying here at all. We do miss Washington, though, and hope to be able to move back to our families someday.
Well here is our year in review:
Exactly one year ago Addysin turned one and we found out I was pregnant . We were so excited. After the holidays Chris started a new semester at BYU studying business. I had gotten the hang of things with being a mother to one and couldn't wait to have another. With the cold weather, Addysin and I sat inside. Maybe I should say "laid inside". I was so sick during the first couple months, but thank goodness for TV to occupy Addysin. In March we went to Las Vegas for the first time for a company retreat. It was really fun. What made it even better was that we left Addysin with Chris' Brother and his wife and kids for the 3 days. That was our first time leaving her so it was hard, but made the trip so relaxing. In April my family came for my sister Kara's graduation from the MBA program. At the end of April, Addysin (about 16 months old) FINALLY learned how to walk... and crawl. She just skipped crawling, but not because she was so anxious to walk, it was because she figured out that scooting around in the sitting position worked good. In May Chris moved to Las Vegas to sell security systems and manage a group of guys. That was a very hard summer since I didn't move with him. Addysin and I stayed there 3 weeks in May and 2 weeks in June. When I wasn't in the most deathly hot desert, I went to Washington to visit family, and Chris came home to Utah a couple of times. We both had a hard time being away from each other and I felt like it was never going to end. That was a good trial to go through. It made us appreciate being together and was a witness that all bad things come to an end, you just have to keep on pushing through. In July Chris' whole family came to Connell, WA for a Lee family reunion. At the end of July we had to miss the Bleazard reunion because I was 9 months pregnant. In August Chris moved his sales team up to Tri-Cities, Washington where sales picked up a lot. He finally was able to move home a week before Caiden's birth. I was induced a week early because Chris' job was so far away and we didn't want any surprises. Just like my first, this labor was easy and quick (thanks to epidurals). He was 7 lbs. 10 oz. and 21 inches long. He was, and still is, perfectly healthy. My mom and two of my sisters came to help out. The rest of my family came for my sister Kara's marriage to Adam in the Salt Lake Temple. The day my family left, we followed them back to Washington for the reception and another wedding the next weekend. Chris' sister Becca married Caleb in the Columbia River Temple. While there, we blessed Caiden with most of our family present. Our life returned to normal for the first time in about 6 months when we returned to our home in Utah in September. That is when Chris started his company. He put school on hold to do so and turned out to be a good decision because he has been so busy. Caiden was a month old when we got back and that was the very first time that I was left alone with both children while Chris went to work. It was HARD! I have adjusted now and so has Addysin, which is great because she hated having another baby around. (Note to young mothers-just because your only child likes playing with baby dolls and looking at other babies, does not mean she will like a new baby in HER family.) I didn't see that coming. After Caiden's birth, Addysin decided she needed to start talking to get attention and it has been so fun and cute to see her communicate and express herself. We have had so much of our family come stay with us this fall. We would only go a couple weeks without someone coming to visit. It has been so much fun. In October we went to Rexburg, Idaho for Chris' brother's wedding. Tony and Rachel got married in the Rexburg Temple. That was a really fun weekend getaway for us. We LOVE seeing our family. For Halloween, Addysin and Caiden were Minnie and Mickey... soooo adorable! In November we went to Florida with another couple, and our children . While there we saw Chris' sister Anna and her family, stayed on the beach, and went to Disney world. It was an unforgettable vacation, and I know as our children get older, our vacations will be even better. Chris and I are Christmas fanatics and as usual we decorated for it before Thanksgiving. (Meanwhile, we are still having friends and family stay with us almost every week.) For Thanksgiving we spent it here with family. On December 7th Addysin turned 2! Caiden is now 4 months. I cannot believe how our lives are speeding by. I can still remember being a kid; how can we already be parents? The circle of life is amazing.
We have had a great year with so many blessings from our Heavenly Father. We are so grateful for Christ and this time of year to celebrate his birth. This amazing season reminds us of the reason for life, and that is to become more like Christ. May you have a joyful holiday season and wonderful year ahead of you. We love you all and want you to know that you have a place in our hearts.

Chris, Andrea, Addysin, & Caiden Lee

Just for Laughs. Here are some funny things Addysin likes to say:

"Stop it Chris!"
(fake cry or whining) followed instantly by "Sorry Chris" to whoever is nearby.
8,9,10....or......10,9,8.....or ....9,10,9,10,8... etc. Sometimes she'll say "two, tree!" but never says one.
"Peas!" = Please.
"eyes, beet, eyes, nose, toes". Beet =feet.
"teat, teat, teat" = eat.
"go, go to church" whenever I say let's go anywhere. I guess she loves church!
"Caiden! Mommys! Daddy!" Yes, I am plural to her. No, Chris doesn't have more than one wife.
"Dance! Dance!" while running in place. That's the way she dances
"oh, my!"
"Stary" = Scary. She is scared of most everything.
"Ewe, Sick, gross, stinky!" or "owie" when she needs her diaper changed.
"Oh no, what do I do?"
"I got cheese" She likes to say at any random time.
"Who's that?" when a phone rings.

Chris' Birthday weekend

Chris became a quarter of a century old on Feb. 20. It was a fun day, well for me it was. I hope I helped make his day special. First of all I made better than s#! cake and cookies, which would make any day wonderful for me. Chris worked all day untill we went to Tucanos with some friends for dinner. He loves work and works with his friends so I dont think it was bad. I also went and spent some time with him at the office. Amy my sister watched our kids for dinner so it was a ton of fun and so relaxing. Afterwards we had the cake and he opened the gifts from me and the kids. They had no part in picking them out, but they were with me so they are included :) I gave him new scriptures with his name on them because he lost his mission Book of Mormon :( ...sad I know. I also gave him Mario Cart for the Wii which arrived on his birthday-phew! His brother bought it for him as well. Thanks Tony and Rachel, it was a super good idea- I just had the same idea. So we played that for a bit and then Chris had to go back to work to prepare for a training the next morning.

I LOVE CHRIS!

Amy stayed with us for over a week. I got mickey and minnie

"buy one get one free" at the disney store! My dad and Bryan came down to Utah for a couple of days.

Bryan's birthday was 2 days before Chris'

Addysin's blanket died!

In memory of "the tag"...

For those of you that are ever around us, you know that Addysin was obsessed with her blanket. It is one blanket in particular, not just any soft pink blanket. OK, its not even that blanket that she was in love with. It was the silky tag that used to say the brand name and how to wash it. I hate tags and usually cute them off of new stuffed animals or blankets but never did on her blanket. When she was about 7 months old she started sucking on it. It comforted her so much and I LOVED IT. After a few months the once white silky tag was starting to turn brown. After 19 months of being constantly in her mouth, on the ground, and in the wash whenever possible, the poor tag was brown and NOT silky. It was super embarrassing because she had to have it everywhere we went or she was a pill. I would wash it and that same day somebody would ask if I ever washed it. Thats how grungy looking it was. I was not going to try weening her off it. Why make my life harder? That made absolutely no sense to me. I knew the day was coming that it was either going to fall apart or we would lose it. Most likely fall apart though because I watched that blanket like it was a child. It was Addysin's better half. She could fall down the stairs and almost get a concussion, fall in the shower and split her lip open, wake up screaming at night or after a nap and the tag is all it took to make everything better. It was literally a miracle worker. I was never good enough, but the tag was. That blanket made being a mother to a whiny infant (Caiden) and a toddler so much easier. If I could not take care of her because Caiden was upset or I was feeding him, i would just give her the blanket. I saw the end coming and I dreaded it. I even went a bought her the exact same blanket to replace the disgusting old one. She was about 22 months at the time. I tried to do it discreetly while she was falling asleep at night in the dark. She put it in her mouth and then spit it out and kept saying "yucky". It made her mad! Chris thought maybe he should suck on it to make it old and nasty so she would like it, but that would defeat the purpose of the new blanket.
Well after being her best friend and comfort, she ripped the tag with her teeth. It hung on for another week before she killed it by completely ripping off the half she liked to suck on. That was February 1st. It was totally frayed so I cut it mostly off. I left just enough so she could see that it was still there but not the same. If it was just gone, she would have had a nervous breakdown. She obviously knew what she had done because she didn't care that the tag was gone. As she was going to bed that night she looked at it and said, " Oh no, tag went away!" and threw it on the ground. It was so bittersweet for me. As a mother, I think I get attached to things my children love. I was very excited to only have Addysin to take care of and not her blanket. She was completely fine for a day or two and I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. I put the blanket in a closet so she would forget about it. Then a couple days later she realized what had happened and she has been so hard since. From there, she dove into the terrible two's. This is the hardest stage she has ever gone through, but I know with time she wont feel like something is missing. I gave her her blanket back to comfort her but sometimes it just makes her more angry, but sometimes it works. Its so funny... she latched on to her new pink blanket (that she never liked) so now she sleeps with two blankets and carries them BOTH around the house. Addysin is a funny girl.

Poor Addysin, Poor Tag...

Here it is after i chopped it off

This picture is so funny to me. I bought Caiden the same blanket as her (except blue). Dont ask why I left the tag on his blanket as well, but in this picture
Addysin is sucking on hers and checking out Caiden's tag.

Valentines Day

So Chris and I decided that we are going to take turns planning V-day and our anniversary. I planned our anniversary last september so he took Valentines this year. If you dont do this already, I would suggest it. It is so hard to know what to do, because he might do it too. for example, imagine waking up early to make breakfast to suprise him and as your cooking away, he walks in to prepare you a special breakfast. So instead of having that happen we both just dont do anything to avoid any mishaps. And another thing, its hard to come up with something creative and new two times a year.
This year Chris went ALL out. In the morning I cleaned the house and then was getting ready when the doorbell rang. I went to get it with the underside of my hair in curls and the top as straight as a ski slope. There outside was a group of four men. They came to serenade me with two wonderfully harmonized songs and a rose made of feathers.

Chris and I left for Salt Lake around 2:00 pm. My sisters Amy and Sara came to watch Addysin and Caiden. I had no idea what was planned untill we pulled into the Grand America Hotel.

A feeling of panic came over me because I knew we were going to spend the night without the kids... without Caiden, my baby. Its so hard for me to be a mother and relax when I'm away from them. I knew we were staying there before he even told me we were because everytime we see that hotel in Downtown Salt Lake we wonder what the rooms are like. It was really nice. So we took our stuff up (that Chris had packed) and looked around. Then we had dinner at The Roof, which is a fancy buffet on the top level of the Joseph Smith memorial building right next to the Salt Lake Temple. We had been dieting all week with Nutrisystem so I ate A LOT, especially the desserts. Afterwards, we went to Nordstrom Rack to shop (he knows what I love). I found some good deals and we left to rush back to the hotal before the pool closed at 10:00. We only got to swim for about 20 minutes, but it was really fun. After we got back up to our room, Chris ordered Pizza! Yes, thats right. We ate a buffet and then 3/4 of a large pizza! I seriously was sick untill monday. Thats what people call "crash dieting". I could not wait to get back on my diet though because desserts and pizza in mass amounts dont make a person feel their best. We woke up at 8:00 sunday morning and went home (we have church at 1:00). It was so fun, but I called to check up more than necessary. I needed to know everything was ok. I drove Chris crazy. Well that is just who I am... a paranoid protective mom and nobodies gonna change that. My children are my life. I think I need them more than they actually need me. Thank you Chris for a romantic, almost care free, get-a-way. I love him so much! I'm so thankful that my sisters were willing to watch our kids. That was really sweet of them.

A NEW ME

Ok, Caiden is 6 months old today! I CANNOT believe it. Its even harder to believe that I cant find time to update my blog. Whats wrong with me, when am i going to get it together? TODAY! YAY ME!

Well, I'm not going to attempt to catch up since November. I'm sure all of you dont care to read my huge long posts. The honest truth is that my last two updates (that seriously took about 4 hours each) were journal entries for myself. I dont keep a journal (which I am not proud to say) so this blog serves as one. Someday I will print it off. Too bad I procrastinated that and now my printer doesn't work. One more thing on my list...

Anyway, this is a new year... Ok yeah, i missed the boat by a month and a 1/2. Its still a good time for me to set goals and work on improvement. Caiden is 6 months and Addysin is 26 months. If I live like this for the rest of my years of raising children I will not have much to show, except wonderful children of course. So here are the things I am going to improve upon.

1. Write in a journal or blog at least once a week
2. Pray and read from scriptures or church material every day
3. Nutrisystem! (that will be a future post in case you're wondering what I'm talking about.)
4. Get some excercise at least 3 times a week
5. Stay caught up on laundry and dishes ALWAYS
6. Take time away from kids once a week so Chris can have time alone with them and I can have sanity
7. Make a budget and stay on it
8. Spend more time with friends and family, even if its only on the phone
9. Take Addysin to fun places to play instead of letting her watch TV so much
10. Get Addysin and Caiden on FABULOUS sleep schedules

Whew, I'm excited to get started.

Flordida & Disney World (November 16-21, 2008)

Ok, I have got to get back to my old blogger self. I used to dig through my brain trying to think of something exciting to blog about just because I loved making new posts. Now with a new baby (well, not so new anymore) and all the holidays and excitement, I have plenty to write about and I just dont have (or make) the time.

We went on an amazing vacation. The fact that it was 2 months ago and I'm still raving about it says how much fun it was. Heres the travel log:

Sunday 11/16


We arrived in Florida after two long squishy flights around 9 pm est. After waiting for Colling and Dani Brinkerhoff's flight, renting a car (mini van actually), and driving to Chris' sisters house (Anna) a couple of hours away, we were exhausted. We went to bed pretty late and woke up the next morning to a boy that Anna was babysitting. To put it nicely, he had a pretty annoying cry. It was a good wake up call though.



Monday 11/17


After breakfast and getting all ready for the day, we headed to our resort in Daytona Beach. It was another couple hour drive. We got there and we all put on our swim suits. We went all that way, I was gonna work on my tan... NOT. we got out to the beach and it was FREEZING. It was windy and in the low 60's... which, by-the-way, was a degree or two from record lows for Daytona beach in November. Anna's three girls and Addysin didn't seem to mind though. Chris and Collin couldn't care any less. They were in the ocean probably for an hour. Afterwards we warmed up in the hot tub, then checked into our beach front resort. Chris' parents had given us the vacation for Christmas 3 years ago and we never found the time to use it. The condo had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, full kitchen, living room, dining room, laundry, and a balcony facing the ocean. Anna and her girls went home and we went to a cute Diner across the street for dinner. Addysin was so tired she just fell asleep on the booth's bench.

How sad... our only picture of the four girls together.

Tuesday 11/18

We woke up later than planned and got ready to go to Disney World. Once we got in the car and a few blocks away, we decided to wait untill the next day to go and we would wake up early to get to the park when it opened so we could spend more time there. That day we saw the town a little and hung out. It was just sooo windy so Dani, Addysin, Caiden, and I stayed in the room and watched Chris and Collin boogy board in the ocean. They dont let anything ruin their fun. For dinner we went to a delicous homestyle kinda restaurant.

Wednesday 11/19

We got up early and drove the hour and a half to Orlando. We starting the day with Waffle House, an east coast restaurant chain. At Disney World, we each got a 2 day park hopper pass since their are so many parks to see. You could EASILY spend more than 2 days at Disney World. We started in Hollywood Studios. Addysin LOVED seeing all her friends from Playhouse disney. She really does think they are her friends. She was so shy when she would see the characters in real life. We were sooo glad we waited a day because the weather got a little warmer and we didn't have to wear jackets the whole day.


Collin and Dani

Addysin saw Minnie, look at that smile! Not Chris'... Addysin's :)

We went to a playhouse disney performance. Addysin loved it... and so did Chris. He sang all the songs :)

Caiden was so good for us. He was just over 3 months when we went.

For the evening, we went to Epcot. It was super awesome. I thought it was just the big golf ball thing before we went. Nobody ever told me it is like a big city around a lake. It has houses/builings from all around the world. I felt like a literally walked around the world in an hour and saw so much!

Colling and Chris had been dying all day for a turkey leg. They looked like carnivores. Dani and I got Chinese food. You could eat food from where ever in the world you wanted, but since we're cheap skates we found the cheapest place there.

The park closed at 9 and finished with fireworks. We got to bed late and woke up early for our second day.

Thursday 11/20

We started at Animal Kingdom. The weather got a little warmer and we were soooo happy. Animal Kingdom is also really cool. Its like a big, awesome zoo full of exotic things you never see.

This is how I carried Caiden the whole week when we was tired of being neglected in the stroller. He LOVED the sling more than anything in life (he has finally out grown it). My back and shoulder got very sore after so long.

This is how we got through the park.

Ok, just kidding.

Look at the huge fake mountain built just for a roller coaster. Disney doesn't mess around. That was my favorite roller coaster.

Addysin wants to be a grown up. She loves to mimic everything.

I think she was most excited to see Pooh, Tigger, and Eyore.

We went to Magic Kingdom for the second part of the day. Collin and Dani say that it is almost a replica of Disney land in California. The was my least favorite park. Maybe I was just exhausted. It is definitly a great place for children though.

We just happen to be there on the night they did the Christmas kickoff. It was sooooo beautiful. Everything was lit up and they had a fake snow machine. We figured out it was tiny little bubbles stuck together, but it looked exactly like snow was falling.

Our trip was so wonderful. Disney has made everything so perfect. Every building and ride are so cool. You just feel like you're in another world. You know that commercial where the mother and daugher are there and then the mom becomes the daughters age and they have a ton of fun together? That is kinda what its really like. You feel so excited, amuzed, and happy like a child!

Friday 11/21

We made the drive back to Orlando one more time (whew, we spent A LOT of time on the road) and flew non-stop to Salt Lake City. It was the perfect flight. We got 3 seats, even though we only paid for 2, and the kids were wonderful. It finished off our vacation nicely.

Thanks MOM & DAD LEE for the vacation!!!