Glad it's only once a year...

It officially looks like Christmas at our house!  I just have to say for the record, I love Christmas.  

BUT, I spent a whole day decorating, unloading boxes from storage, retrieving the christmas trees from the garage, vacuuming and vacuuming, cleaning, rearranging furniture, all just so in 3 weeks I can retrieve all the empty boxes, and repack it all to put it away only to do it all over again next year! 

Is is worth it?  Well, the smile on my daughters face as we decorated "the family tree,"  which is downstairs, with all the homemade and school ornaments, along with an ornament from all the places we have been, listening to her questions about how will Santa will fit down our gas fireplace, and how she can't wait for Christmas to get here (the innocence of children) I have to say Ok, it was worth it, but the exhaustion I felt by the end of the day, I have to say, I am glad it only comes once a year. 

Turkey In Cali

I always love going to California for a vacation or holiday.  It is always so much fun.  My brothers Brent and Brad always make sure we have nothing short of a fun, interesting, and sometimes even shocking good time.  When we come down, all of their friends they've had since high school make it a point to come see and hang out with us. They even call my mom "mom." Mike Pulley comes over and makes us shrimp tacos, and we always have to visit Victoria Gardens(which is the coolest mall ever), not to mention "The Hat" which has the best pastrami sandwiches. We also try and visit at least one of our many friends we have down in Cali.  One of my best friends from high school Stef and her family drove down to visit us.  It is always good catching up with her.  Since everyone has kids around the same age, they all get together and play.  They consider themselves all cousins.  It also is pretty much a tradition for everyone to get together for a good game of poker, mostly the guys, and the girls sit and chat.  Briaunna would have come with us but she had so much homework to do.  We missed her!

All in all, Thanksgiving was a great success!  I am very thankful for family and friends!  We love you all and look forward to next time! 

Stef, me, Hailey, mom, McKenzie and Noah

Brent and Scott doing Oh...what they pretty much did the whole time.

Me and Shannon(Brad's Girlfriend).  We both went from blonde to brown!

And the poker game... usually the shocking part of the trip...

my cute brothers and my mom

It's Final....

On November 12 2008, we finalized our adoption of Georgia.  I really didn't think it would be very emotional, but I really had to hold back the tears a few times during the questions.  It was pretty intimidating I must say, being in front of a judge having them question you as parents.  It was simply a neat experience.  Afterwards we met the judge, he even held Georgia, he also walked up to Scott's sister Stephanie and said "you must be the grandma" (sorry Steph), Just to make you feel better, I took her up to Scott's office and one of the girl's asked if she was our grandchild, yes, we will be 60 when she graduates from high school, but that is what we have Briaunna for right? Our built in mom just in case Scott and I kick the bucket.  I am just so grateful for all my daughters.  As Maddie would say "Mom, don't you think it is interesting that you have 3 kids and have only been pregnant once, and their not triplets?" All I can say is I wouldn't trade my life for anything and I am so grateful everyday for the joy and love I get to feel being a mom.  I knew we would have another child, I didn't know when or how, but I knew we would, and we did.  Heavenly Father has a plan for everyone and when we are patient, we are blessed.  We have been blessed.  She is ours through and through and we can't imagine life without her.  She has been such a blessing.  We thank everyone for coming and enjoying this great day with us!  We love you!

Of course we have to involve food in all things, so we went to Joe Vera's for dinner afterwards.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! From Michael Phelps, (Yes, Scott is comfortable in his own skin) Trixie the Seventies diva, The most flexible 80's aerobics instructor, Scary High's dead cheerleader, and  little black cat.  It was a whole day of fun.  We started with a Halloween Parade at the elementary school, then on to a 2nd grade class full of energy for a halloween party, trick or treating through our neighborhood, and finally onto Uncle Jason's house for a very fun halloween party! Thanks Jason and Carina for the great party! Sorry I didn't get any pics of you! 

Don't get to close...

The cutest kitty ever...

I wasn't kidding when I said she was flexible!

Me, Georgia, Bailey (Sprite), Amber (Rainbow Brite) Great Costumes!

Wrapping mummies in Maddie's class.

Uncle Mark (Habeeb) Aunt Stephanie (The world traveler)

Danny Zuco,(Mike) Sandy (Tiffani) Checker Girl (Aunt Patti), Tinkerbell (Presli) and 40's girl (Mallory)

CRAZY HAIR DAY!

Maddie had crazy hair day at school.  It had something to do with red ribbon week, I thought it was pretty funny.

Fall Break In Vegas

For Fall Break I decided to take my girls to Vegas to play with their cousins and enjoy the most perfect weather!  It was so pretty outside so we made it a point to spend as much time outside as possible.  Vegas has built some awesome outdoor malls with kid entertainment.  We spent most of the time shopping and playing at the kids playground.

Mallory, Maddie, and Gracie

Gracie, Grandma Karen, Maddie, and Georgia

Gracie, Maddie, Mallory, and Georgia after lunch at Claim Jumper.

Gracie and Maddie doing a dance for us in the street called

"Monkey Town."

Grandma Karen and the Girls at the park.

Me, mom, and Caysi

Gracie, Maddie, and Mallory in the treehouse. 

Happy Birthday to Mely!!

I have to admit, I still enjoy my birthdays!  My own piece of cake always makes me happy!

My Family loves me!  They all wanted to take me out to dinner, my choice! So off to Macaroni Grill we went!  Since Briaunna is at college and so busy, it is not very often we all get together as a family, so it was really a fun night!  

And of course all us girls have to have a birthday lunch!  Carina and Melyssa's birthday are 3 days apart, so we celebrated by going to Gardner Village, and we ate lunch, and we shopped.  Thank you family!  Life would be so boring and unfulfilling without you!  

Georgia is 5 months already!

Yes, time flies when your having fun... and watching your baby grow!  Georgia is now smiling and grabbing everything!  And, oh yes, she has found her voice.  She is very good at letting you know she is in the room.

And we are proud to announce our newest Denver Bronco FAN!

ARGGHH!!  GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!

So Precious!

Wow, everything is so surprising

Briaunna and Maddie Hangin Out!

Briaunna and Maddie's Sister Date

Maddie was SO excited to have a sleepover at Bri's apartment.  Bri took her to Discovery Park with her cousins Tiffani, Erika, and Presli.  

Yes, there is a little monkey in all of us, (some more than others)

Future Payson Lions!

Maddie and her best friend Shaur'y went to cheer camp at Payson High School for the week and then got to perform at the Friday night football game at half time.

History on our party of five...

Scott and Melyssa are the ones who started this very fun family. After almost 11 years of marraige, and three daughters later, there is never a dull moment in our household.
Scott is a hard working father, husband, comedian(although his family is so used to his humor, we are a pretty tough crowd), and guitar learning guy (we all can sing "Maggie May" word for word again, and again, and again). He is always ready to tell you his philosophy on the world according to him. Anywhere from college tuition and boys, to dance and diapers, he has an opinion on it all. He loves his daughters and is always there to cheer them on in all their stages of life. Even though he is outnumbered by being one boy in a house of four girls, he is our number one fan.
Melyssa is a busy mom, wife, house cleaner, bookkeeper, vacation planner...ok, can't name all that I find myself doing. With my 3 girls, I am never bored. I am always ready for a game of monkey Ball, a good jump session on the trampoline, a lunch date in between college classes, and time sitting with the baby doing really dumb things to make her giggle. Yes, life is good.
Briaunna is our very beautiful 20 year old. Yes, I know I look good for having a daughter her age. She is in her junior year at UVU and studying Psychology. She is busy with friend(s), school, travel (she just got back from a six week trip to Costa Rica and Dominican Republic), and basically making life all about her. Why wouldn't she? These are the best years of her life! She loves her sisters (even though the baby is farther from her in age than me) and makes all effort to see them and play with them as often as she can. She is great.
Maddie is almost 8! Wow, how time flies. She loves books, school, Shaur'y a.k.a Chewy (her little best friend across the street), dance, softball, Littlest Pet Shops, purses, shoes, clothes, shopping, and keeping her dad and I on our toes. She never misses a beat. She is quick with the jokes, and always questions everything. Yes, she is smarter than me already, I admit it. She is so much fun.
And then came Georgia. Our newest little 4 month old pride and joy. What can I say, who doesn't love a baby! Between Dad, Mom, Bri, Maddie, and yes, grandma, the child is hardly starved for attention. Nobody can walk by her without stopping to hold, kiss, play, or just watch her very cute facial expressions. She already has a way of making you smile and bringing lots of happiness. What a blessing she is.