Better late...........

than never right?? We have had a busy last two months. Chandler and Dawson started playing soccer, so that is 2 days a week and goes until March! I love watching them play especially in this beautiful weather.

Then of course there is my little Layla who is hilarious. Her favorite thing is to climb upon this coffee table and take the lid off this box that holds our remotes and she sits her little bum inside and giggles. She is so much fun, I can hardly stand it. (Hadn't done her hair yet that day!!)

I went to get a pedicure the other day and took Layla with me who sat on my lap the entire time:) I've always wanted to paint her cute little toes but she never holds still for me. Well I asked the girls at the nail salon if they would paint her toes and of course they did and she didn't move an inch. Her toes were so dang cute, red with little white polka dots. When I put her in the car to go, she was grabbing at her toes, not knowing why she couldn't get the paint off. It was so funny. Anyways this is her cute foot in my high heels. She loves trying on my shoes and walking in them.

She thinks she is so big!! She will be wearing them before I know it.....she is growing up so fast!!

Cutest little piggy's ever!!! I love her feet, baby feet are the best!!

My dad came to visit over Halloween weekend and we had a blast. We carved pumpkins with the boys, but really the adults did all the work. Chandler and Dawson thought it was "disgusting" sticking their hands in the pumpkins.....but they picked the faces the pumpkins had and Ry and my dad carved them.

Well it was 90 degrees and we had to take advantage of it so after the pumpkin carving we headed to the splash park to cool off. Only in AZ can you do that!!! Nicest Halloween weather I have ever seen!!!

We then got the kids dressed for trick-or-treating and went and got some dinner. We ate outside the restaurant.......doesn't get better than that!!

Chandler is Megatron and Dawson is my little pirate. Layla was to busy to get in a picture with them!!

But here is my precious Ladybug Layla!! She looked so stinkin cute in her costume and was the talk of the town that night. Everyone loved her costume!

Grandpa holding Layla before we go out!

Layla at the trunk or treat! Love that cute little face!!

Layla wishing she was in preschool. We are at Dawson's preschool party!!

Quinn and Dawson who had just won the potato sack race. They are good little friends!!

Racing for the finish line!!

Kolby and Dawson decorating their Halloween cookies. They are little cousins and enjoy preschool everyday together!

Cutest picture of my pirate Dawson!! I have so much fun with this boy......I wish he would stay 4 forever!!

Layla sweating at the Phoenix pumpkin patch..........it was a hot day!!! (what else is new??)

Layla playing in the fountains with her boyfriend Canyon who came up to see her from Utah!!

Dawson, Layla and Canyon at the pumpkin patch!

Dawson looking like a pro riding a horse!!

Wedding!

Ryan and I outside the Mesa Temple. Ry's sister Chantelle got
married last Friday!

Here is Ryan's family. (left to right) Jeff, Danielle, Mike, Nanette, Grandma Gigi, Janet (mom), Chantelle (bride), Zack (groom), Me, Ryan, Tiffany, and Jim.

Me and my sexy husband!

Ryan's sisters, mom and Grandma.

What a good looking family!!

Ryan, his sisters and mom.

The BEAUTIFUL reception at the Boojum Tree in Phoenix. Ryan's mom Janet did all the decorating including ALL the flower arrangements. It was unbelievable!!! It was quite the party with dancing and all. Of course this picture was taken before it all started!

Ryan's side of the family once again with sisters, spouses and all the kiddos! Can't believe we all live within 10 minutes of each other!!

Yummy food........brownie pops!

Edible chocolate shot glasses filled with creamy mousse.

Shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate, fruit skewers, and 18 bundt cakes!!!

More beautiful yummy food!!

Layla and I at the reception. Nanette and I made our necklaces, bracelets and all the flowers you seen worn on our clothes and girls. We had a lot of fun and put in many hours as well.

More decorations...........we also spray painted all the cute boxes and decorated them with flowers, paint and pictures. This took weeks..........lots of work but it all paid off!

Me and my better half. Sorry ladies he's all mine:)

Reception!

If you look close underneath all those flowers is the cake. Only the very top was real and to be eaten.

Me and Ryan's grandma Gigi. She is one of my favorite people in the world. I love this lady so much. She is so sweet and reminds me so much of my mom.

Me and my beautiful sister-in-law the bride, Chantelle!!

Dawson loving the bundt cake!

Chandler eating the chocolate covered strawberries!!

And my baby girl Layla half way through the reception...........all partied out. This cute girl Hannah was holding her on the dance floor and danced her to sleep. She was out the rest of the night. It was a beautiful perfect wedding day for Chan and Zack!! Congrats!!!

Little of this, little of that!

My little Dawson always cracks me up between the things he says and the things he does. Above is him modeling my shoes and wanting me to take a picture of him. He is doing this pose all on his own. I think most kids like to try on their moms shoes.....or at least I hope so!!!

Here is Chandler and Dawson riding my dad's riding lawn mower on the 4th of July!! They loved it. They took turns driving it. They love going to Grandpa's!!

Here is a picture of my boys and their two cousins after playing in the fountains in AZ. They aren't quite as spectacular as the Gateway fountains in S.L. They only played in these for like 20 minutes then wanted to go. Oh and the drive to get to there each way was 30 min.

Above is my little Layla who isn't so little anymore. She started walking for good at exactly 14 months. She is all over the place and into everything. More adventurous and curious than my boys were at her age. She is so much fun and I just can't get enough of her!! She dances every time she hears my cell phone ring. Her favorite place to climb is on the coffee table. She loves to carry the computer mouse all over the house........who knows where it might end up. She loves to hide in my kitchen cabinets. She is so much fun and I am so glad she is mine.

And last but not least are my two handsome school boys. Chandler started 2nd grade today and loved it. And my little Dawson goes to half day preschool everyday. They are growing up way too fast. I sure enjoy my little guys but I also enjoy a quiet house for a few hours everyday!!!

We made it......

and survived the move to the hottest place on earth, at least to the hottest place I've ever been. We happened to move in on the hottest day this year reported so far in AZ at a blazing 117 degrees! I know, I know our timing is impeccable as always but it is over. I am sitting in our office in our new house with the a/c on so I am comfortable and ok. I am so thankful for modern day marvels such as a/c in the car and in the home, a roof over my head to get out of the sun, and a comfy place to lay my head at night! I don't know how people use to do it hundreds of years ago! I love my new house and think our movin days are over. I plan to be here until our kids our raised to say the least but hopefully even after that!! I don't recommend moving with 3 youngsters in the dead of summer! So we are alive and well. So to my family and friends, come visit me often and you are always welcome to stay here as long as you like. I don't reckon I will see many of you here in the summer, but I believe you will all come in the winter months to escape the cold and stay with me. That is when you will be lovin where I live and want to be my neighbor!!

Pictures are in....

of Layla's one year. Go to www.heatherbrownphotography.com and scroll down and click on 'studio blog' and you will see them. The first 3 are my favorite! It was so fun cause we were in matching skirts! Heather Brown is fantastic and did her newborn pictures as well. I highly recommend her. I can't wait to get my hard copies next week!

One year has past.....

(above my sisters, Hollie, Me, Kris and my Mom)

...................since I lost my very best friend ever!!

My mom and I had the best relationship anyone could ever have. We were so close and always together. I called her everyday just to talk even if it wasn't about anything special. She was so good to me and always there for me. And oh how she loved Ryan and our kids. They meant the world to her and she loved to spoil them. They loved her back as well. It was so fun to watch them together. For those of you who had the wonderful opportunity of getting to know my mom and feel of her sweet spirit consider yourself blessed. Those who didn't get to know or meet her definitely missed out. Loosing her has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through in my life. But I understand completely why Heavenly Father would want her back......she was so sweet and perfect. Heaven is definitely sweeter now with her there! I am just so thankful she is pain free and happy. It was SO hard to see her suffer the last couple weeks of her life and then to see her pass away right before my eyes was excruciating. Since this experience I now realize just how important it is that families are forever. I cannot even begin to imagine not ever being with my mom again, or any other loved ones for that matter. What a comfort it is to know I will see and be with her again and I honestly can't wait for that day! There has not been one day go by that I haven't thought about her nor will there be. She is so near and dear to my heart and I am privileged to be her daughter. I just hope I can be half the mom she was. There aren't words to express my love and gratitude for her. She sacrificed so much for her family. She suffered and held on as long as she could. Lymphoma ended up taking my mom from this earth but not without a fight. She was so strong. I love you more than words can say or express. You are the best mom and I look forward to that day when we run into each others arms. I miss you so much it hurts. Thankfully you are in heaven with other family and I'm sure so happy. We all miss and love you down here more than you can imagine!!