Christmas Cards

So a while back my cute friend Josie had something on her blog about free Shutterfly cards for Christmas.  I didn't think much of it figured I'd already missed out and put it out of my mind.  Well when I got her darling Christmas card I started thinking about it.  How did she get free ones?  I want some.  I had decided that this year I was going to simplify the Christmas season for me best I could so I might enjoy it a bit more.  So one of the first things I thought of was I AM NOT MAKING CHRISTMAS CARDS! or my kids p.j.s!  I looked on Shutterfly and saw all their cute designs.  I am already a Shutterfly fan and have made books of their site so it was really the first place I looked, not to mention I plan on making a book for Baby Beans for Christmas.  Anyway I googled 50 Free Shutterfly Cards, and found the deal and I was in luck it goes till the 10th of December.  So thanks to Shutterfly and I hope this works and thanks to Josie, and getting her cute card with her darling family in the mail today.  I love Christmas cards, I even made a simple place to display them this year and am hoping I fill it up. 

Here are some great gift ideas: http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts
Here are all the awesome card options http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-photo-cards
I wonder which one I will pick
Here is something also want to do one day make a calendar:
http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars/desk-calendars

Their photo books are amazing. I love them.  They are awesome gifts for family.  Since we love to travel its the best thing for me for actually assembling my photos so that I have them and can share them.  I never scrapbook and have given up that hope thanks to Shutterfly and their awesome products. I can't wait to design my Christmas Cards, I know they will turn out great using Shutterfly.
I am hoping to be back blogging some more here in a few days, gets some Halloween posts on here, and Hawaii and Thanksgiving!

Baby Beans...

I have been wanting to put this on the blog for a while.  Well since September.  Finally doing it, maybe if we are lucky we will get Halloween on before Christmas. After school started we got to spend a weekend in Park City with Nathan's Brother and had a blast with their family.  I wish I could find the pictures for the proof of what we did, but I can't and I am wondering if some little cute one year old wandered of with one of the secure digital cards.  So I will have to skip that post and go to this one.

Our Kayla Jean's First Birthday

I love birthday parties I love planning them especially first birthdays I think I planned this one for at least 5 months in my head and it was so fun.  Nothing huge just dinner with family but everything I wanted it to be.

I just used Kayla's nickname for the theme which is Jellybean's for the mere fact that, that is what her big brother wanted to name her when I was pregnant.  Elise wanted escargot, for her love of snails.  Luckily Jellybeans rhymed and thus we have an awesome nickname, now it has become more like Baby Beans or all sorts of variations.  So I went with Jellybeans and the rainbow colors they come in.  Enjoy some of the photos and the fun I had putting it all together.  For some even better photos see Jess's blog she is AMAZING and I was lucky enough for her to bring her camera and take some photos for me.

 

Cake, decor, take homes, and invitations!

The best part!  Enjoying the cake.  She was pretty dainty at first but then got a few fist fulls in.  She even wanted to share!

I can't believe she is one.  She started walking the day after her birthday we bribed her with Jellybeans from one end of the kitchen to the other.  I still remember thinking when I was pregnant that she would never come. She was enjoying her Grandmas in heaven a little to much.  Kayla keeps us laughing and on our toes. She has a fantastic personality and she isn't afraid to let you know what she wants.  I still love those blue eyes and blonde hair, but am surprise that she has them. You have changed me in so many ways for the better and am loving learning how to be a mom to a baby again and to have THREE kids.  Kayla we love you and our family wouldn't be the same with out you! Happy Birthday Beans!

SCHOOL

Well once again I am doing the catch up game.  Here are pictures from the first day of school so the end of August!  I forgot how cute they were, so its fun to see them again.  I can't believe we are finishing up with our first term.  The kids love school and literally CRY when I check them out early I know because of Dentist appointments they were both sobbing, I guess I should be happy.  Elise is loving first grade and her amazing teacher Ms. Smiley (how cool of a name is that for a first grade teacher).  Anyway she is doing great and learning so much.  She loves having lunch at school.  I miss having her around the house. She loves wearing dresses to school and would wear one everyday if I let her. I just can't believe how fast she is growing up! And yes I cried the first day of school, both times I dropped off kids.  The house felt so lonely, with Kayla napping and the older two gone.

Brycen is loving Kindergarten and his teacher is loving him. Its been great to see him excel and be a helper in school.  He knows all the kids names and tells me the funniest things, like how he gave one little boy his sticker since the boy had lost his so then the little boy told Brycen he could be his Cousin.  I just laugh, I am also the Class Captain for his class so I try to be in there as much as I can, its fun to see all the kids and get to know them. Brycen has quite the memory so he quite of tells me word for word what the teacher has told him, like how in their classroom "We are a family of Friends" and how the hallway and his classroom is a NO FOOD ZONE, because someone has allergies.  Oh Brycen you make me laugh.

One of my favorite things is that their classrooms are right next to each other. I secretly was hoping they would be and I was so happy they were...

After school on the first day we stopped on the way home and got Slurpee's, I think it was a treat for me as much as them that I made it through the day too. The funny thing is I always thought I would have so much more time when my kids were in school and I swear it is the EXACT OPPOSITE! Oh well I will just enjoy the Journey!

LOVE THEM

See what I mean

I took this photo this morning...

Just how...

Am I ever going to get mad at this little lady.  I am in so much trouble. Love it, and definetly LOVE HER!

She happily unrolled an entire roll of toilet paper, and we all laughed.  I am toast!  I was just mad that the battery in the camera died and I only got this one shot, but I am sure it won't be the only time this happens!

Yellowstone and Island Park

To finish of summer we went and spent a few days at my brothers beautiful cabin in Island Park. Jason and Tricia were nice enough to let us go spend some time at there getaway.  Most of my family had been there but it was our first.  I had done quite a bit of vinyl lettering for it, so it was fun to see all the designs my Mom had got me to put together for her vision.  Anyway the cabin or home was beautiful it was neat to see all of Jason and Tricia's hard works, so THANK YOU Jason and Tricia!

The first day we went into Yellowstone and spent the day sight seeing and animal watching and just enjoying nature and all the many wonders that God has created. I love Yellowstone and have great memories of visiting there. We also waited around to see Old Faithful and it still amazes me.  Nathan did a great job taking a TON of photos for us to enjoy!

The second day we just stuck around the Island Park area.  We got up and drove up the road to the top of Sawtooth Peak and the views were outstanding.  We had fun taking in the view, and  taking photos of us jumping, but how could you not when you are on TOP of a mountain!

We also ventured over to Mesa Falls and enjoyed the mist from the falls, and the neat visitors center and then got to see the beautiful clear water at Big Springs, I was just sad the Johnny Sacks cabin closed when we got there.  Maybe next time!

The next day on the way home we came down through Jackson Hole and into Logan for a family anniversary party for some of Nathan's Mom's Family all and all it was a great way to end the summer!

Pictures of us on our way home stopping to enjoy the view and Kayla with the FAKE squirrel outside the cabin my mom is just a little nuts!

So BEHIND

I am so behind on this thing, that I am almost to the point of just DELETING IT ALL! But I won't yet and I will try. Its sad when you haven't even blogged about the last day of kindergarten for your daughter and she is starting FIRST GRADE in the morning. You know you are behind for sure.

None the less I am going to make this a marathon of a post and put some stuff from all of this summer and what not, so I am sorry if it is so LONG and BORING.  Just leave a comment, and maybe I will get better at this blog stuff.

ELISE

Elise finished of Kindergarten and had a great time with Ms. Lambson, who was amazing. They had a graduation program and she still sings the song she learned. She made some fun friends in Kindergarten and I am hoping First grade is as wonderful. She also lost her two bottom teeth at the end of the year. Crazy at how fast it all goes.

Here is the missing tooth picture, I had to use all my Mom courage that day and pull it out, we were both in tears. I hate pulling teeth!

This summer Elise also learned to ride her bike with out training wheels. She loved to do this all the time, and anytime there was some one at our house she asked if they wanted to see her. Brycen and Elise put on many endless hours of Talent Shows for Nathan and I.  Elise loves her bike for sure, and has gotten quite good with all the practise.

BRYCEN

Finished preschool and had a great time with a fun class of BOYS! I don't know how Ms. Sarah did it, she was amazing though.  We loved seeing all the fun projects Brycen came home with and all he learned. One day I got him to school a little late and he didn't want me to walk him downstairs so I stood at the top of the stairs as he went in, I heard the door open and all these little boys scream out BRYCEN, I loved it and just had to laugh.

Brycen also had a birthday and turned 5.  Brycen loves anything MARIO so we had a huge Mario party with about 10 of his little friends, I had a blast getting all together and planning it all. The only down fall was that the cake fell over minutes before the party.  The boys didn't mind and it was easy to scoop up and serve when you didn't care what it looked like.  Here are some fun photos on it all:

 The birthday boy and some of the guest.

 Chocolate mustaches, the loot, and the pinata....

Games and Invitations...

A Luigi and Elise with a mustache

The cutest Baby Luigi EVER....

Brycen also got a scooter for his birthday which he preformed his many talent shows on with Elise.

KAYLA

Our littlest Beans just seemed to keep growing and keeping us entertained and on our toes. She loves her Grandpa Miller and loves to be carried around by him.

She finally started getting some bottom teeth at about 9 months, her favorite teething item has been a golf ball luckily we have almost 7 THOUSAND of them. (Which is what her Dad and Grandpa have been doing this summer)....

Kayla has also gotten in on the being outside and being on at least a Tricycle, and enjoying the summer weather.

 We also got to spend some time with family around the 4th of July my grandparents had their 60th wedding anniversary.  We had a good time just spending time eating and visiting with relatives. 

 We also got to spend sometime shooting and enjoying being in Tremonton that weekend, and having Tess and Kelly stay with us which is always fun.

For the 24th of July we got to have our annual King Benjamin Night with Nathan's family. It always includes wonderful food, lots of cousins running around together, and great memories.  Nathan's Dad has done a wonderful job of keeping the tradition going since having lost Nathan's mom.  I know she is proud and so pleased with all of his efforts that he has continued the great legacy they built together. I don't know how I didn't manage to get one photo that weekend, probably because I was just having to much fun.  We know its one thing to always look forward to. 

As for me I have just tried to keep up with it all, and enjoy the adventure. Hopefully I can embrace this Back to School thing as well...

Now hopefully I will stay a bit more up to date. I still need to post about Island Park, but hey at least that happened this MONTH!