Still

Still, still, still
One can hear the falling snow.

For all is hushed,

The world is sleeping,
Holy star its vigil keeping.
Still, still, still,

One can hear the falling snow.

Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Savior's birth.
The night is peaceful all around you,
Close your eyes,

Let sleep surround you.
Sleep, sleep, sleep,
'Tis the eve of our Savior's birth.

Dream, dream, dream,

Of the joyous day to come.

While guardian angels without number,

Watch you while you sweetly slumber.

Dream, dream, dream,

Of the joyous day to come.

To all who check on my little blog and our family I wish you a warm and wonderful Christmas. May Heavenly Father's spirit surround you. Merry Christmas!

The last month has flown by!

I can't believe that today marks one month that the kids have been in school! Where has the last month gone? I never look forward to sending the kids back, I like having them at home. This year I was just really excited for them to have a great year. And so far they have. And so have I. Amazing how a couple less kids at home makes for a calmer mommy. ;-) Katie is loving school like always and doing great. I was a little worried about Nathan. With his late birthday he had 2 years of Kindergarten and didn't enjoy last year much. However he is doing great this year! And loving it! He is actually enjoying doing his school work and getting good grades. I am so proud of him. If the rest of the year goes by as fast as the first of it has, which I'm sure it will, YIKES!!

I SO want to cry!

My mother in law and I were doing peaches today. Brinley wasn't really allowing me to help much, so she and I went to get some dinner. I had a "feeling" I should take Emi with me, but she said she wanted to stay. When I got back I found this:

I've waited nearly 4 years for her hair to get to any length at all. She was completely bald until about 2. I had just decided to cut it to her shoulders now that a spot Katie and Nathan "trimmed" had grown out. All the wispy ends would be gone. It was going to be so cute! Now what!?! An ear length bob just won't be so cute. I just hope it doesn't take another four years to grow out again!

Goodbyes Stink!

My mother called me this morning and told me my blog was really boring. I know! So I am going to attempt at catching up. I'll start recent and go backwards, so you'll have to scroll through if you want to catch up on all of our "happenings". Which you do, of course! ;-)

WARNING! SAD SAPPY POST AHEAD!

On Tuesday we had to say goodbye to some dear friends. My friend Hollie moved to Arizona! Her husband has been working there for a year so it will be so good for them to be together, but we will miss them dearly. Especially Katie. Lauren is one of Katie's very best in the universe friends. One of those friends that you only find a few times in a lifetime. Before they left I got some pictures of Katie, Lauren, and Oakley. These are the sweetest most wonderful girls! I am so glad that these are Katie's best ever friends. When they left and Katie and Lauren hugged I heard Katie say "I'm sad" and Lauren said "I'm sad too" and every time I think about it I start to bawl, like right now. Excuse me while I go get a tissue... The thing that makes it tolerable is that nearly all of Hollie's family live right around our area. Hence, lots of visits! And Hollie, I better know about every one of them. We wish you all the luck in Arizona! Don't melt and we'll see you soon. Love you! (And yes I will be sending you these darling pictures!)

Party Time 2

I wanted to post some pics from the baby shower of the ladies having fun, so here's an additional baby shower post.

Party Time!

Today we held a baby shower for Hailey and Jaxon at the Firth City Hall building. Not to toot my own horn, but it was SO FUN! My mother and I have been planning it forever it seems, so it feels really good to have it over, but it turned out great. The decorations were so cute and the food was yummy! We started out with a candy bar game: match the candy bar name to the pregnancy term. Conception = Skor, Delivery = PayDay, Hospital Bill = 100 Grand and so on. Then we had a Relay Race. #1 had to fold a pile of baby clothes, #2 found a pacifier in a bucket of packing peanuts with their feet, #3 had to run with a balloon between their ankles, and #4 drank apple juice out of a baby bottle. We were all laughing so hard! And Grandma Skillings - you cheat!! She took the nipple off after a couple of sucks and just drank it! Our last game was to get a plastic baby out of an ice cube. Without sucking on it or crushing it. Most of the ice cubes instantly were placed in the cleavage, I won't mention where Briannie put hers!! Bad girl! Then we opened presents and had a light lunch. We served Italian pasta salad, my 12 layer jello - in coordinating colors with the party, rolls and a yummy punch. Dessert was cupcakes that looked like rattles and the ladies got to fill little containers with candy from the centerpieces to take home as a thank you. We filled canning jars with assorted blue, green, and yellow candies. I told the ladies that they could fill their containers after they ate and as soon as I went to help with food there was a "rush" to the candy. Girls like candy, what do you do! We had a blast! Love you Hailey and Jaxon!

Jaxon Ty Smith

Jaxon is here! He was born today at 8:45 this morning by c-section. 7 pounds 4 ounces and 21 inches. He is just like his parents were, long and skinny. And so cute! Congrats Hailey and Justin!

Pea Pickin'

This year Doug planted peas for Del Monte so we had to go out and get some for us. Nothing like 60+ acres of sweet peas. It was such a beautiful night. We picked about 1/2 of a 5 gallon bucket. Not too many, but enough to enjoy creamed peas and potatoes a few times. Which we are looking forward to.




I love Idaho. The sunsets are gorgeous, look at those beautiful pink clouds. There is nothing better than standing in the middle of a lush green field in the cool evening air enjoying nature's beautiful artwork.

July 4th

We always do the same thing on the 4th of July. Start the day with the parade, hang out at Grandma's for a while, come home for a rest, then head over to the green belt somewhere to have dinner and people watch while waiting for the fireworks. Pretty much the norm, and it was a fun day. We also always celebrate Hailey's birthday, which is on the 5th, while we are all together. And I get to make her cake! This years cake turned out really cute. Usually I do something Patriotic because she loves it, but with her being pregnant I had to do something different.




I wish I'd gotten a picture of her with the cake. She laughed and thought it was cute. I was a little nervous. You never know what reaction you'll get when dealing with pregnancy hormones!



Playing cards and enjoying some fabulous food while waiting for the fireworks.




Me with my sweeties. Unfortunately Doug had some farm work to do and didn't meet up with us until almost dark.



Everyone ready and waiting for the fireworks to start.

The last couple of years my grandparents have met someone and gotten us a spot on that persons yard for the fireworks. I don't know how they do it! This year we were able to watch the fireworks on Dr. Orchards lawn. I guess my grandparents and uncles know him well. It was such a nice spot and they invited us to their family barbecue! The food was amazing and we had such a good time. My favorite part of the day is the fireworks with Klassy's radio program in the background. How blessed we are to live where we do. We have so many freedoms that others only dream of. I am amazed at the sacrifice that has been made for our country by so many. It is a great blessing to be an American!

Happines Is...

... a new bike! Since we have moved into our new neighborhood Katie and Nate have loved riding their bikes all over the place. Even though they have clearly outgrown them. Doug and I have talked about getting the kids new bikes for the longest time. We finally stopped talking about how they needed them and just did it. Nathan looked like he was riding a mini clown bike. It was so funny watching him ride. Now we really can't get them off of the bikes. They were even going out before school to ride, I have never seen two kids get ready for school so quickly! Here are the before and afters.

I love weddings

Last Thursday I was at Wingers with my mother and sisters for lunch. My mom told us that my uncle had decided to get married on Saturday. I wondered if they might ask me to do the cake. Not twenty minutes later my cell rang, "Do you still have all of your cake stuff?" (I did cakes for a couple of years when we were living in Firth.) Spur of the moment wedding cake - so fun!? I couldn't refuse though. I love weddings and cakes and the whole bit. I would love to be a wedding planner! My only guidance was that yellow and pink were the colors. So here's what I came up with and the happy couple enjoying it. Congratulations James and Heather!

Hooo's There?

Yesterday at 4:00 am I was up feeding Brinley when I heard some squeeking and scratching by my front door. Freaked me out! There was no way I was opening that door to see. I turned on the outside lights and couldn't see anything through the door window and after a few minutes it stopped so I went back to bed. In the morning I cautiously opened the front door and this is what I saw.

I hurried to wake Doug up and tell him there was an owl on our front step. He looked at me like I was crazy, but sure enough there it was. The kids thought it was totally cool. Doug looked it up online and found out it was a barn owl and the kids liked learning about it. Our guest didn't stay too long though, he flew away about 11:00.

Weak in the knees

I am dying to go see these guys! Again. I admit it, I am a big NKOTB fan. Have been since I was 12. I went to their concert in SLC last November with my mom and sisters. Hailey and I did the meet and greet and had front row seats. (I even got a kiss from Donnie!) It was SO GOOD! We had a blast. I really want to go again. My husband said if I can find the money I can go. We can live on hot dogs and mac 'n cheese for a while, right? ;)

"Katie Girl"

Katrina turned 9 on Mother's Day. And with Brinley only two weeks old, I feel like she got the bum end of the deal. Normally I make invitations, decorations, and cake to match. It just didn't happen this year. I made some very simple invites and got a cake from Broulims. It was a Hannah Montana cake and she did love it. I don't know what I would do without my "Katie Lady". She is not only a huge help to me but is my best bud. We help each other pick out our outfits, we love to shop together, and we love to listen to music, sing and dance. We just love to be together. She loves to write - stories, poems, songs. They're all so cute! It's probably not fair that a mom depend so much on her daughter. I can't get out the door without her help. And she amazes me at the things she can do. I don't give her enough credit for the kitchen skills she has or for how good she is with Brinley. And it seems to come naturally to her. I still want her to be little and she is growing up so fast! We're starting to butt heads more as she tries to grow and I try to hold her back. But neither of us can stay upset at the other for very long. Have 9 years really gone so fast? A couple of months ago Doug mentioned that as she turns 9 her time living in our home will be half over. Just stab a mother in the heart why don't you! I don't even want to think about it. Her smile brightens my day and her hugs warm my heart. I love you, Katie girl!

Dancing Queen

I'm trying to get caught up, sorry I'm so far behind. Katie had her dance recital on May 16. She has always enjoyed dance and I love watching her. I think I must be the biggest sap ever because I get teary every time she perfoms. Basketball game, competition, recital doesn't matter, I need a tissue at them all. She's just so cute! This year she loved the lit up mirrors in the dressing room. She felt like a super star, and I'm her biggest fan!

Brinley Grace Barrie

Brinley's blessing day was so nice. I love having all the family together and when I get to throw the party, all the better! Her blessing was beautiful and of course I was in tears during the opening hymn, so I was a mess by blessing time. Oh well. Doug and I had a hard time picking her middle name. There was never anything we loved. I liked Grace and he liked Ann, which is his mom's middle name - I didn't want to use a family name. I know, not very nice of me. So we flipped a coin and I won. But during the blessing he was sure to pause nice and long before her middle name. He can be such a stinker. I wondered if he was going to change it but he didn't. Brinley is such a sweet heart. We all love to be around her. I still love to just sit and hold her, which is good because she isn't growing out of her "hold me" attitude. Here's our little angel.

Then everyone came over for lunch. I made Hawaiian Haystacks. My favorite! For dessert we had an angel food cake roll with a strawberry filling and a chocolate creme cake roll. It was so good. My little decorations turned out cute and I hope someday Brinley appreciates it. If not, I sure had fun putting it all together! And after everyone finally left I took a two hour nap!

Fast Forward

On Sunday we were planning on blessing Brinley the first week of June. Then we found out we have Stake Conference that day so we decided we would do it on May 31. Then today Doug calls me and says "What if we bless her this weekend?" Huh?! His sisters are coming from Utah for Memorial Day Weekend. So in two days I've lost two weeks in getting ready for her blessing. Which is totally fine, I just have to my tail in gear to get ready for the "after party". I love planning parties and I probably go a little overboard for these kinds of things. Self induced stress, and for some crazy reason I enjoy it.

Don't give up on me!

I told myself that I wouldn't get behind on blogging after baby. Guess I was wrong. I just don't know where the time goes! This baby, 3 weeks old now!, likes to be held. And she isn't "out"until 1:00 am. I'm averaging 4-5 hours of sleep nightly. If I hold her she sleeps, as soon as I put her down I've got time to brush my teeth before she is awake. During the day is better, but if I don't get a nap my family pays for it. We're trying, I almost got all of the laundry folded today :) Emily has been so sweet with Brinley. Today she was starting to cry just as I was getting out of the shower so Emily was singing to her.

"Brinley, it's okay.

Brinley, it's okay.

We love you.

We love you.

We love you so much!"

The other day it was Rock a Bye Baby. It's so fun watching the kids fuss over her.

This evening was beautiful. We sat outside and ate creamies and then watched the kids ride their bikes all over the place. So nice. Doug turned on the sprinklers just after 8:00, Emily disappeared into the house and came out with her swimsuit on. She has been asking for weeks to be able to run through the sprinklers. I wish I'd had my camera. The kids had so much fun getting wet.

Tomorrow I'll try to do more catching up, I'm done typing with one hand for tonight. And because you can't have a blog post without pictures here's a couple Doug took tonight. Isn't my baby beautiful?

What a week!

I can't believe she was a week old on Monday. She is precious and we are loving her so much. I just want to sit and hold her and stare at her sweet little face. Housework can wait, right? Unfortunately it's time for things to get back to normal and for Mom to start acting like Mom again. Brinley has been such a good little baby. Her only serious cry spell was the night we came home from the hospital and the day I ate too much chocolate. I guess that's off my diet for a while. The kids are constantly "checking" on her for me and are so cute with her. Katie wants to hold her constantly and has even offered to change the poopy diapers. She is such a little mom in the making. And she'll be 9 on Sunday. Yikes! She's growing up too fast. Nathan has come around and is right there if she loses her plug. Emily likes to show Brinley her toys, very close up. We're working on not putting toys on Brinley's face. They are all very soft and sweet with her. I took these pictures of her on Monday. (Sorry about the sideways one, my computer takes too long to load them for me to go back and fix it.)

It was fun. I used to take pictures of the kids all the time, but slowed way down this last year because I'm so far behind on organizing my pictures now that I'll never catch up. I guess I'll just have to get more behind. I've got to have these pictures. Anyone have any ideas on how you've organized your pictures? Time to go see if I can catch a little nap while Brinley is asleep and before it's time to go get Katie. Wish me luck ;-)