Temple Square

We took the girls to Temple Square to see the lights and attempt to freeze to death. Good times!
Me and my favorite little ladies.

On the way to UT.
OOPS! Wrong picture. Oh well, it's nice enough:)

Christmas Morning

Yep! We are officially the meanest parents on the planet. We locked our kids upstairs so they would remember to wake us up first. I look forward to seeing their faces on Christmas morning all year!!!! The anticipation was killing them.


Ave's started going "oo oo ah ah, oo oo ah ah" and jumped around the whole house. (For you that don't have small children, this is Boots the Monkey) OO OO AH AH!


The new Pink Vacuum! Santa thought that since the girls like to vacuum so much, maybe they should have one of their own more their size. I think that was a very good idea Santa had:)

House Progress

Just thought I should throw in an update on our house. It's so cute! I'm getting really excited.

Santa

When Santa asked Averie what she wanted him to bring her, she lifted up her hands and said "a pwesent." I said how about Boots the Monkey? Then she rattled off; I want Boots, Dowa, Diego, Backpack, Jaguar, and Baby Dino.


Ellie's request was simple and sweet...Pixo's. That's all, nothing else.
Maycie is getting older. She wanted an MP3 player that plays videos, and a Password Journal.

Christmas at Grammy's House

Grandma and Grandpa Jones

Maycie and Ashley checking out Ellie's new Hannah Montana doll. (BTW, I'm so happy that with this Christmas alone my family has collaboratively paid for Miley Cyrus's tuition to the college of her choice.)


The older kids waiting for the young'ins to finish opening their presents.


I am going to do my best at telling this right. When my Mom and Dad were young parents, in college, and dirt poor my Dad had to sell his beloved (something something) Savage or something or other gun. He seemed to be bringing it up to my bro. Brad a lot how he wished so badly that he would have found another way and not had to sell his gun. So, being the amazing dude that Brad is, he searched and searched for months to find the exact gun. Amazingly enough he found it in UT at the same time Paul and I were visiting there and we were able to pick it up. These pictures don't do the moment justice when Dad opened his gun and said, "OH MY HECK! It's my (something something) Savage something." I think he even teared up a bit and all night he kept saying how special the gift was, and that he just couldn't believe he found it. It was awesome.

Our (extremely) White Christmas

Runnin and Jumpin.


This was actually hilarious. I just have to write it so I don't forget. Averie packed a snowball and attempted to throw it at Maycie while they were sitting there. I still can't figure out how she did it, but she threw it perfectly in her own face:) I laughed a minute before I went to help her, I'm such a jerk mom.
Trying to truck through the deep, deep snow.

Our 11th Anniversary

Wow! Eleven years ago today, my feet were killing me, my hair was plastered with hairspray (probably bullet proof), I was freezing my butt off, but... I got to be sealed to the man I love forever! Paul still teases me because I was so nervous that day and when I said "yes" I had a frog in my throat. I sounded just like the albino in "the pit of despair" (The Princess Bride) when I spoke. I guess it didn't matter though, it worked! And here we are 11 years later, and he is still the one I want to be with (good thing). I'd rather hang out with Paul than with anyone else. There could NEVER be a more perfect fit for me. No one else would have the patience. I'm not going to lie...I am emotionally HIGH MAINTENANCE! If I could graph my emotions it would probably look something like the "Wicked" roller coaster. Paul is so patient and understanding. Now I'm not going to go on, and on, and on about how he's the bomb, and how awesome he is at EVERYTHING, and how talented he is on so many different levels, or how smart he is and is such a hard worker, and what an excellent father he is to my little girls, no, no, no, I won't do that! I'm just going to say how happy I am to be married to such a wonderful person who makes me want to be a better person. And, if I had it all to do over again, I would definitely say
"YhhES" all over again.

Nat + Paul = Love 4 ever

a few things I don't want to forget...

Daddy: Averie, I love you.

Averie: Daddy, I love gowd fishies.

Daddy: Do you love your daddy?

Averie: Yep, I do.

Daddy: How much?

Averie: Um, yike a basebaw game.

Don't know how much that is exactly, but it must mean a lot. It made me laugh.


How do you know you live in the sticks?

When on your way to church your 7 year old daughter bursts out laughing and pointing. "That is the funniest thing I've ever seen! That cow was trying to give that other cow a piggy back ride!"
Good times:)

Ellie is trying out some new "cool" words and gestures lately. She'll say, "OH SNAP!" I can't find my shoes, or whatever else seems to be a big deal to her. And now when she gets done with a sentence she'll point to her eyes and then to mine (like Doug Focker on Meet the Parents). I'm not sure if she's trying to be funny or if she is really going to be watching me at all times. She's pretty serious about it though. I just shake my head yes, like I understand completely.
AHH, things to remember:)

Totally Retro Day for May

I have to admit that I had a little too much fun getting her ready today. I almost ratted my bangs!

My Man has SKILLZ!

Paul carved this pumpkin for the McBride family pumpkin carving contest. Oh, this is Paul's dad for those of you who don't know him. Paul won the contest, but it was a close one! Those McBride's are some talented people!...Nope! I don't fit in.

Halloween Fun

Halloween was so fun this year. It started off with the McBride Monster Bash at Chris and Jewelia's house. They throw an awesome party! Paul and I went to a costume party that a friend of mine had. It was adults only, and we laughed a lot that night. And then on Halloween night, we went Trunker Treating, and Trick-or-Treating in the neighborhood. Averie was so funny. Any time we would walk past others she would yell to them, "Hi duys! Happy Hadoween! I'm weawing my pwitty dwess! I dot my twick o tweat bag!" EVERY TIME! I was laughing all night. When someone would ask her, "what do you say?" expecting trick-or-treat to be the answer, she would instead say, "I'm weawing my pwitty dwess!" She's pretty entertaining.

Some Random Fun

The kids beg Paul every night to do "sack-a-potatoes" to put them in bed. He gives in more often than not.
This is how we find May most of the time now. She loves the A-Z mystery books. For a while she was busting through one a day and taking her AR test on it the next day. That lasted about 2 weeks, and now she just reads them at a normal pace. She's a great reader!
This is my funny, funny girl. I sure get a kick out of this kid. She makes me laugh everyday!
I forgot to post a picture of Averies Dora cake. In case you're wondering, she had to go over Muddy Mountain, down the River, and through the Gooey Geyser to get to her Birthday Party.