China Girl

My sister Rachelle recently got home from teaching English in China for four months. While she was there she picked up a little something for our little girl. I am absolutely dying over how beautiful it is and cannot wait until our little girl is big enough to wear it!

Love the color. Love the design. Love. Love. Love. Can't you totally imagine a cute little red headed girl wearing this?! *eek*

Numbers

5 years

7 jobs held
2 states lived in
2 college degrees
3 different cars
5 moves
1 (and 2/3) kids :)

We have learned a lot the past five years.

We have prayed a lot and laughed a lot and wondered a lot and stressed a lot.

But most of all, we've loved a lot.

Here's to 5 wonderful years with forever in front of us.
Love you Chad!

A Wonderful Christmas!

We had such a great time in Colorado for Christmas. Every time I visit Colorado it gets harder and harder to leave. Someday I am going to live there... hopefully sooner rather than later.

I flew out to Colorado about a week before Chad so that I could spend some more time with my family since Chad didn't have very much time off. Leading up to Christmas we kept ourselves busy picking out adorable fabric for our little girl's quilt, making throw pillows for Cayden's new bed, cooking/baking up a storm (seriously, over the course of two days we probably spent close to 10 hours cooking and baking), picking out tile for mom's bathroom makeover (which by the way is going to be beautiful!), wrapping presents, and eating way too much yummy food. The Friday before Christmas Chad made it out and the next day my sister and her husband and baby came. I think it was the first time we have all been together since Chad and I got married.

Christmas was wonderful. It is so much fun to have little kids at Christmas. This was the first year that Cayden really got into it. He doesn't quite get the Santa aspect of Christmas, and that's totally fine with me, but he sure enjoys unwrapping presents and playing with everything inside! He was totally spoiled, both with attention and toys.

Sporting some of his spoils from Christmas... a tent (in the background), a cute new shirt, and McQueen slippers. Oh, and I absolutely love his little smirk!

As for Chad and I, we got spoiled too. We both have wonderful families and are so blessed. Not to wish away the coming year, but I am already looking forward to next Christmas... wonderful time spent with our families, yummy food to eat, and TWO little kids to spoil and love on. I can't wait.

Look What We Found! ...

... A real life Mater!

Little boy was so excited.

Sneaking up to give Mater a hug before quickly running back to mom. Apparently a real life Mater is fun, but a little bit scary too. :)

Cayden's Recent Adventures

I've been bad at blogging lately; I just feel like we do pretty much the same things every day/week so I lack any desire whatsoever to share our boring-ness with everyone. But for Grandma's sake, I thought I'd post some pictures of Cayden's adventures the past little while.

Cayden has a friend named Sienna that he loves to play with! They are about 9 months apart (Sienna is younger). Chad and I trade several times a month babysitting with Sienna's parents so that we can go on dates. It works out great as we don't have to pay for babysitters and Cayden and Sienna get to play together. They even call each other Nenna and Cay-Cay - so cute! Here are some pictures of their fun at our house.

Reading lots of stories.

Playing in their house. They both thought that Sienna's hair was fun. :)

***

Walking in the costume parade. Believe it or not, by the end of the night Cayden's bag was so full of candy that it was dragging on the floor and one handle had ripped off.

Sienna and Cayden again. This picture cracks me up. Cayden = cheesy smile... Sienna = whatever. LOL.
* I know these pictures are from Halloween (our ward Trunk-or-Treat), but I haven't posted them yet. So... yeah.

Cayden and Chad at our ward Christmas party. It was really neat. Everyone dressed up like they were from Bethlehem, we ate food they would have eaten... pretty much the whole shebang and then some! Seriously though, love these goofy smiles!

The Forgotten Carols

Last night Chad and I got to go see The Forgotten Carols! I absolutely loved it! It was so fun to see the play of one of my favorite Christmas stories. And the music. Oh goodness. I LOVE the music! What a perfect belated birthday present and a great way to kick off the holiday season.