The big 3!

Today is our little Princess's birthday! She has been lucky and had a weekend of fun and celebration. But the fun hasn't stopped yet! Today we went to the park, she has dance class, and we are going out to lunch and maybe to a store to find her some shoes. Tonight we are having a family party with Grammy and Papa and her cousins. So fun! Isn't she one lucky girl?

In celebration of Reagan's birthday I thought I would tell you a little big about our sweetheart at 3 years old. Reagan is a big bag of surprises. One minute she is a princess and the second her dress comes off she assures me that she is not a princess. She is just Reagan. She loves her baby dolls and cares for them well. Everyone is her friend. She is very polite and generally happy. She loves her little brother because she always has someone to play pretend with. And Crew can't get enough of her. He follows her every move. She loves the color pink and anything that is frosted. She is our Princess and our lives wouldn't be the same without her!

I have a lot of pictures to share from her friend party on Saturday, but for now this will have to do. We love you Reagan and are so happy you are a part of our family!

My little man

I thought it was time I had a post about our little man. The Crewser. He has been a little neglected with everything going on around here and I think it's time I put him in the spotlight.

Let me tell you about this kid. He is mobile. And that means he is getting FAST! I can barely keep up with him! He is always on the go. If he isn't strapped in his car seat, or stuck in his crib he is on the move. Some of his favorite things is chasing his big sister around the room, climbing the stairs or emptying every drawer or cabinet in his reach. We lovingly call him "Trouble" because generally, that is what he is up to.

He is happy 90% of the time. For a little boy who's big sister is teasing him and who can't always tell his mommy what he wants, that is pretty good. He loves to smile and laugh. The other night, Steve was getting him ready for bed and Crew started tickling himself! It was a total riot! What little kid does that? Only our little boy, who loves to laugh! He thinks everything is a game. Which makes things hard when I am being serious about NOT doing something. He seems to find a way around all of my "No's" and gets into trouble anyway.

We love him and are so happy he is ours! I tried getting a few shots of him this morning, but like I said, he doesn't generally stop moving. So here is what I was able to get:

Fall Conference 2009

Each year we spend the fall conference weekend with my side of the family. Each year we have packed up and headed off somewhere close just to get away. Each year is a nice break and this year was no different. This year my mom rented a hotel room in Deer Valley above Park City. Well, it was more like a condo. It had 3 bedrooms attached to a family room and kitchen. It was super nice. The perfect place to sit and relax and listen to our leaders.

On Saturday we hit Main Street in PC which was nice. The weather was beautiful and the company was great. This is the first year that I really got to listen to a majority of the talks during all 4 sessions of conference. Really, the morning session on Saturday was the only one cut a little short so we could do something before the kids had to go down for their naps. But since they were sleeping during the afternoon session, Steve and I got to listen to the whole thing. It was really great! What a great conference we had this weekend. I love being able to listen and be uplifted and motivated to be a better person.

Here is pops hangin' out

This little guy wouldn't slow down for a second. He saw the camera and hit the road running so this was all I got

He is still pretty cute, wouldn't you agree?

Sky and Reagan. Sky teases her like she were the little sister he never had. And Reagan hates it, like Sky is the big brother she will never have. But in the end, she loves him. And there is no question that he loves her.

Heather and Sky. They are two pees in a pod. It was so fun to have her along. She is my new book buddy. I think I've found a match for my read-a-thons.

Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of Steve or my mom. Sorry guys. They were both there. You can tell Steve was there because I have so many good things to say about this weekend. He makes my life easier. And you know my mom was there when you see me and the extra pounds I gained eating her fabulous food. Nothing was forgotten. It was a fabulous weekend! Thanks, mom & dad, for letting us come along!

Happy October!

I have been feeling bad about neglecting my blog lately. I just haven't been updating it the way I always want to. If I did you guys would be seeing a couple of posts a week, but instead it is sitting here gathering dust. I apologize. I have much greater intentions. One day I hope to achieve them.

So today, in honor of me trying to achieve my intentions, and in honor of the greatest month of the year, I am writing this post! HAPPY OCTOBER! This is by far the best month of the year! Why, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

1 - The seasons are changing and the Earth is beautiful

2 - It's starting to get a little cooler outside and that means I get to pull out my sweaters, love them!

3 - My hot cho maker is going almost everyday

4 - I gave birth to my first child (she will be 3 this year)

5 - Holiday decorations are coming out by the truck loads and I can't seem to get enough

6 - We get to dress up for Halloween, everyone needs a reason to act silly every once in awhile

7 - It's my BIRTHDAY month! (probably the best reason of all)

So in honor of this very special month I want to challenge all of you to get out and experience it! I know it is getting cold and the indoors seems like a much warmer place to be, but outside the leaves are changing, our breath is starting to make an appearance, and our coats are begging to be brought out of the closet. Go to Gardener's Village and see the witches, take a walk around the neighborhood and see what spooky things are out, or take a drive up the canyon and see all the beautiful leaves in full color. That is what my family did for FHE last week and it was great. I did underestimate the temperature and didn't dress accordingly. But we did walk away with a great picture of me and my kids, which you don't see very often, and a great excitement for the new season!

I hope you all enjoy this great month as much as I do!

And baby #3 is a...

Boy!

And we couldn't be more excited!

The more I think about it the more perfect I think it is. Crew is going to have a little brother to pal around with and I hope they are best buds. It also seems like everyone around us is having boys right now... my cousin is due a few weeks before me and she is having a boy, my neighbor just had a boy, and two of Steve's good friends just had boys. So many boys! Which means a lot of fun! So here is to our new little man...

Isn't the tape so cute? I saw it on a friends blog and had to get them for myself. If you would like to check them out you can by clicking HERE. They come in 10 different colors and I can't wait to try them all!

Ballerina Class

Reagan has recently started dance classes! This is the highlight of her week. She asks every day if she is going to dance and I have realized I should have put her in something that was twice a week. She LOVES it. To say the least.

Here she is on her first day of dance

She is a total poser, and I love it! She is taking the class with her friend, McKella who lives across the street and together they are total hams! This next one is really posed, but I had to do it. When I was close to Reagans age I was in dance and my dad took a picture of me sitting just like this in my dance outfit. I still have it and so I had to have Reagan do it too...

I can't wait for their performance in December. These girls are too cute!

I'm a BIG girl now!

As many of you probably know, I have had a rough time trying to get Reagan potty trained. You might know this because I was asking everyone I knew for any advice or tricks to help this concept "click" in Reagan's mind. She just didn't seem to understand what I was trying to get her to do. Now, I know I am her mother, and mother's always think this about their own children, but I think Reagan is pretty smart. She said her first word at 9 months and the mouth hasn't slowed down since. She started walking at 13 months. Both of these things seem momentous compared to Crew who didn't walk until he was 17 months and still has yet to say a word at 19 months.

But the potty thing - nothing. She just didn't get it. I tried 3 different times spending full days cleaning up messes and washing clothes with no successes at all. Not one. She just wouldn't go in the potty.

One night, at FHE, I was talking to my cousin and expressing, again, my frustrations with Reagan going in the potty. She has a little girl who is a couple of years older than Reagan and one who is 3 months older than Reagan. Both of which are potty trained. She started explaining to me how she got her oldest to go in the potty after she had some struggles and I knew she had hit the nail right on the button. THANK YOU TARA!

So the next day Tara brought over her little kid potty for Reagan to borrow and we started our routine. Here is how I got Reagan to go in the potty:

When Reagan woke up we went right down stairs. I got her breakfast and she ate it while she sat on her little potty and watched a movie. That sounds crazy but she went in the potty for the first time that morning and I think that was the "click" I had been trying for all along.

When she finished I would wipe her and she could stand up and we would do her "potty dance".

She, then, carried her little bowl of pee upstairs and poured it into the big potty and got to flush it.

We washed our hands and went back downstairs where she got a sticker for her sticker chart and a small treat like a starburst or taffy.

This sounds a little extreme, I know. We did that all day long every time she went to the potty. And you know what? It worked! Reagan didn't have a peeing accident after 3 days. The poo poo thing was a little harder to figure out, but all of a sudden that "clicked" and it has been a long time since she has had one of those accidents. She doesn't wear a diaper at all any more. Not for naps or bedtime. What a big girl! We are so proud of her! I am so happy that she is out of diapers! Yeah for growing up! I miss the little girl that she was but am loving the big girl she is becoming! We love you Reagan! Good job!

Bear Lake ~ August 2009

We spend a lot of time at the lake (if you haven't figured that out yet). But this year has been a bit of an exception. We have had a hard time finding time to go up. When Steve and I first got married we seemed to go up there every weekend. Now, I realize this is probably an exageration, but that is what it seemed like. Then, we had Reagan and it slowed a bit but we still found time to make the trip. After Crew we made a huge effor to keep going but this summer, time has finally caught up with us. Life is just crazy busy. With my church calling I feel like I need to be at church on Sunday and that makes it hard to do weekend trips. Plus, we have had family vacations/activities, holiday events, etc. that have kept us at home. Steve is having a hard time with this. Hopefully we will be able to find a happy medium so that we can participate in the things here at home and Steve can feel like he is getting enough of his Bear Lake fix. We'll see.

This last trip to the lake, the kids pulled out this handcart. I'm not sure if this is a new addition to Bear Lake or if I just never realized that it was up there but I swear I have never seen this thing before. It sure was a hit. All the kids wanted to ride and Eli was a champ and pulled them forever! Thanks, Eli!

I have been feeling like my pictures all look the same when I go to the lake. Although my kids are getting older in them, the scenery never changes. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but sometimes you need a little change, you know? So I have tried to switch things up the last few times we have gone up. This has proven to be a tough challenge. So thank you, Steve, for this great idea! I am wishing we lived closer to the lake so I could do more shoots here! This was a great spot!

We had a great time as usual. Hopefully we will be up there again soon!

Pioneer Day 2009

This is a little late, you say. I think Pioneer Day was like 3 weeks ago. Well, you are right. It was over 3 weeks ago. I am a total slacker and I apologize. Please forgive me. I think this is just going to be the way it goes for a little while. I am playing catch up.

For Pioneer Day (24th of July) we usually head to Bryce Canyon with the Henrie Family for the holiday. Most of the time all of my dad's family attends and it is a fun and large event. This year it was still fun and the festivities were great, there just weren't as many of the family around. That's what happens, I guess, when you get older. But we had a great time anyway.

We started off the trip with a parade in Panguitch, UT. The Henrie's originate from this great town. There are actually monuments dedicated to our great family. Pretty cool. But that is a side note. The parade is truly one to be rivaled. It has everything and everyone is a part of the fun.

Here is the Crew man in awe of all the action

This guy was awesome! There were a bunch of little cars driving around, princesses on horses, and even a man in a bath tub. (I didn't dare put that picture on here) It was great!

Reagan takes everything very seriously, and this was no exception. She wasn't sure at first if she was going to enjoy this parade or not. It didn't take long for her to decide she was going to LOVE it!

Here is my Grandma Henrie. She is wonderful, isn't she?

And here is my wonderful Grandpa Henrie. We love you guys!

Papa and Reagan had a great time at the Parade. Papa made sure she had a bag FULL of candy

Crew really enjoyed himself. Never before has he been able to run free in the middle of the road. It was a miracle I was able to get any pictures of him at all! He was in heaven running around.

At the end of the parade the fire engine from town stops along the route and blows water out of the top. This is a grand tradition that the kids look forward to every year. I was safely keeping me and my camera out of range from this water, but I decided it would be worth it to run in and get a shot of Steve and Reagan getting cooled down.

Steve thought he was safely close to the fire engine so they would only be misted by the overhead spray of water. He was wrong. When the fire engine turned of the water the end of the waterfall slowly came towards the truck and before Steve realized what was happening he and Reagan were DRENCHED! It was awesome!

Reagan thought that was the greatest thing! She talked about it for weeks. Steve is so good to get himself soaked so that Reagan can have a little fun.

On the last day of our trip we decided to head into Bryce Canyon National Park. We have never actually gone into the park before. We usually stay just outside of the park. It is a breathtaking Canyon and the weather couldn't have been better. It rained a lot and the smell was divine!

Sky and Heather... Isn't the sky in this picture beautiful?

The little princess. Sometimes she does cooperate.

We just started potty training Reagan before this trip and here she is truly ruffing it with her very own porta-potty. I wish I had one of those!

We had a great time and look forward to this trip every year. Thanks, mom & dad for taking us!

Happy Birthday Mom!

This post is a long time coming, especially considering that my mom's birthday is in the beginning of July, but I had to wait because this picture was a part of her birthday present and she just got it. So now I can share it with all of you!

My mom is the best! She would do anything for me or anyone in my family. She is always putting everyone in front of herself. I just wanted to tell her

Happy Birthday!

Even though it is a month late! Thank you for all you do for us!