Niels Turns 2!

We just can't get enough of Niels!  He is such a sweet little boy, and has always had the biggest smile.  He is starting to talk a lot more recently, and it is so cute hearing what he has to say.  For the longest time he could only say Hattie not Hazel, so when we asked who did something Hattie always got blamed.  He loves dolls, strollers, and dress up having two big sisters, but has recently started loving trucks, cars, and airplanes, so we had to get some for him to have some of his own.  Wherever we are, Niels always spots helicopters and airplanes.  When we put him to bed, he says in the cutest little voice, "Wuv you. Night night."  We love having Niels in our family!

 I made him a cookies and cream ice cream cake.

Hazel's First Season of Soccer

Hazel had been wanting to play soccer for the past two years, and we finally signed her up in the Spring.  She was the only girl on her team full of boys.  She liked playing, but it was funny to watch her.  She kind of just ran around on the field with the action, but didn't want to get into the action too much.  She was a people watcher too.  She said she wants to play again in the Fall.  Hopefully she will improve and become a little more aggressive. 

These pictures are from her last game.  I was up in Park City at a retreat all day, so Brendan took the kids to watch and took some pictures.  

Hattie's Tumbling Class

In March Hattie took a tumbling tots class at the rec center and loved it.  Hazel did it too when she was younger.  These are some pictures on the last day of class.

Moab 2015

For Valentine's Day this year we took a little trip as a family.  Saturday morning we drove to Little Wild Horse Canyon and hiked around with the kids.  They had a lot of fun winding through the rocks.  After that we ate our picnic lunch and headed to Goblin Valley.  The kids ran around with Brendan, but I was a little worn out by then.  We then headed to Green River where we stayed in a little camping cabin.  It was a little chilly out, but we had a fire and cooked our tin foil dinners and had s'mores.  The girls were looking forward to the s'mores all day.  The next day was Sunday and we headed to Moab.  Since it was President's Day weekend the parks were free to enter, so we just drove through Arches and looked around, but didn't do any hiking.  We checked into our hotel and hung out, which the kids loved.  They really like going to hotels.  It's always a highlight of our trips.  On Monday we headed to Canyonlands, but a huge rain storm started as we were driving, so we just headed home.  It was a quick trip, but a lot of fun.

 Not sure what Hattie is doing with her neck.

 At this point the girls starting whining because it was cold the deeper we got inside the rocks.  This is about where we turned around.

We captured a lot of videos on the gopro, but I guess this was the best picture in Goblin Valley.

Portraits of Kids

In January I got the idea from Pinterest to make black and white engineer prints of the kids.  They are large prints on butcher paper but only cost around $4 to print.  I just took some photos in my house and framed them, and I thought they turned out cute.

Whitney's Bridal Shower and Wedding

Whitney's wedding was on December 27, and I threw a bridal shower for her two weeks before.  December was actually a stressful month for me, and I was happy to have it over with.  I was in the first trimester of my pregnancy and feeling awful.  I was exhausted and had no energy to do anything, and the thought of food made me sick, but I was having to plan lots of parties involving food.  All I wanted to do was sit on the couch, which isn't like me.  The Tuesday before the shower I was in charge of our Relief Society activity which was a progressive dinner that started at my house and I was in charge of the appetizers.  Our ward threw Brendan in charge of the ward Christmas party only a couple weeks before hand.  I told him he couldn't do it the day of the shower, but of course that was the only day available to do it, because our ward waited until the last minute.  We decided to do a breakfast for the ward party, because it would be easier than a dinner.  So the ward party was at 9 am and Whit's bridal shower was at my house at 12 and I was doing all of the food too. Oh and I forgot to mention Hazel woke up that morning throwing up, and luckily my mother-in-law was able to come over and watch her.  On Christmas day we threw the family dinner party at our house because it was the best location for everyone.  Then I had to make two cheesecakes for Brendan's birthday that evening, and family was coming into town for the wedding and staying at my house.  It wouldn't have been that bad, but being pregnant with all of this going on was too much for me.  I told everyone I 'm never throwing a party again.

Back to Whit's shower, I volunteered to do it and wanted to and I thought it turned out really nice.  It was a brunch so I made quiche, yogurt berry parfaits, blueberry raspberry muffins, a salad, and I bought some gourmet donuts.  I did a gold, black and white theme.  We ate, played some games, and opened presents.  It was a nice afternoon together, and we got to meet some of Spencer's family too.

Whitney and Spencer's Wedding was in the Draper Temple.  This was our first winter wedding in the family, and it was freezing!  Pictures outside as a group were torture.  We actually had to cut it short and finish the group pictures inside the reception venue, because it was so cold.  The wind was blowing right through us, and I had bad earaches, not to mention the shivering children.  Whitney looked beautiful, and I loved everything about her wedding.  We had the reception/luncheon at the Grand America in Salt Lake, and it was very elegant.  Her colors were navy and gold.  Spencer has a nice family, and we were glad to welcome him into ours.

 I loved her dress.  It is from JCrew.

 All of my kids chowing down. 

 Hazel loved how this salad looked.  She kept talking about it after the wedding.

 The favor table.

The rest of the photos below are from the professional photographer, Alyssia B Photography.  She did a great job.  

 Just our side of the family.

 All of the siblings.

The nephews.

The nieces.