Christmas 2011

 Doesn't get any better than this!  Kids running in to find out if Santa had come.  This was about 7:00 a.m.  Tate, however had been awake since 4:15!  Of course he wouldn't go back to sleep.  So I made muffins and did everything else we could think of to keep him from busting into the presents or waking up the girls too early.

 Santa brought Allie and Tate new bikes and Miah a hand painted rocking horse (painted by grandma Sherry)

 The presents continued at grandma and grandpa's house with Allie getting a box of dress up cloths and...yep, makeup.  Thanks a lot Sherry :)

 One thing I love about St. George is the winters are so mild that we could go and play at the park in just some jackets the day after Christmas.  Tate had to fly his new remote control airplane!

 This is just Miah being cute.  

 Tate also got a K'nex roller coaster set from great-grandma Wilcox.  It took him and Alex 2 1/2 hours to put it all together.  As you can tell it's huge so finding a home for it in his room wasn't very easy since it was already full of the other things he's built, like mini catapults and a dozen different Lego projects.

Merry Christmas!

{Our growing family}

 This year for Thanksgiving we went up to my parents house!  I was so excited and it took no small miracle to get there.  It was literally the last minute that the deal Alex was working on went through and we were able to go.  I was so excited!  Not just for my mom's AMAZING corn bread stuffing, but because for the first time in about 10 years my entire family was going to be in one place at the same time!  It was so fun and I am so grateful for such wonderful siblings and parents and for my own growing family....

 Sisters = best friends

 The whole family!

In October we went up to our cabin and took some pictures in the beautiful fall leaves. 

 Can I just say how much I love by super hot, amazing, sweet, incredible (did I say hot?) husband, Alex!

 Tate turned 7 on November 30!  I can't believe my baby boy is seven years old.  He is so funny and smart and even though he's getting so big he still loves to cuddle with his mom :)

 My sweet little Miah refused to smile or even acknowledge the camera, but she would sit there as long as her best friend and big sister Allie was there with her.  They are so cute together and I'm so excited that they have each other just like my sisters and I.

 My adorable little Allie!

On December 28th Alex and I will celebrate our 9th anniversary!  It's amazing all the things we've been through in the last nine year and I'm so excited for the next 90 with my best friend and biggest supporter.

Picture Overload!

 Miah loves her Daddy!

One Sunday afternoon Allie told me that because she looked "so cute today" that I needed to take her picture :)  I love this girl!

The illusive cheesy smile from Miah.  And I caught it twice!  I love those dimples!

All three of my adorable kiddos.

We headed up to our cabin for UEA weekend and a fall break.

 Two little monkeys jumping on the bed...

 Taking a walk

My handsome Tatter-bug :)

 Fall at the cabin is my favorite! I love all the leafs and the fresh mountain air.

Time for School!

 Our first week of school turned out pretty good.  Considering that "Tate the great" is now a first grader, Allie and me are preschoolers (I'm the teacher of course :) and starting next week Alex is a full time college student again.  The only one who I was really worried about adjusting to all the business was Miah, who just kind of gets passed around.  But I am relieved that she seems to be the one accepting the scheduling changes the best.

 This was the first day of school and they both did so well.  I am really enjoying being a preschool teacher and  am trying to do some adjusting myself.  I guess I'm going to have to accept that some days my house just will not get cleaned.  Oh well, it's all been for the best and me working (and our new car, a Nissan Altima) has been a huge stress reliever for Alex and I as he prepares for his bachelors program and then law school.

 I just wanted to add a little update about my adorable little redhead.  Miah is growing up so fast and is so smart. She has already perfected the temper tantrum (at 16 months)  no thanks to a couple other kids I know ;) but she is so happy and sweet despite that.  She loves to give kisses right on the lips and you can't help but melt when she flashes that toothy, dimpled smile.  She's also been talking more and more each day.

I would try to list what she says, but it would take me too long since she says something new everyday, but some of the really cute one's are "wa wa" for water, "Emma"  her cousin, "Mace" Macey her other cousin, "A-yee"  Allie, "Ate" Tate, "poo poo" no explanation needed, "Pee-Pa-Poo"  Peek-a-boo, "Mo" No.  "Na"  snack.

 Just my adorable girls.  Allie is so eclectic with her wardrobe.  I just love it.  And thanks to Allie's love of the camera, Miah is finally starting to get the concept of smiling for pictures instead of after.  Yay! I love that gorgeous smile!