Gone Fishing.

The first weekend in June of 2014,

 we rented a pop-up camper and headed out to Sevier County to camp at Fish Lake in South/Central Utah.  

I love Sienna's pudgy hand holding tight to the net, while her other hand rests on her daddy's leg.  She is such a daddy's girl.  

Gracie wasn't the least bit worried about the wiggly worms.  She loved the fishing experience!

Gracie talked about this trip for WEEKS leading up to it...so when Jody pulled up with the Pop-Up Camper - she couldn't wait to get on the road.  We spent the weekend with our friends, the Jensens.  It was a Great Weekend in the Great Outdoors.  There was a little bit of everything; sunshine, rain, hot-dogs, roasted marshmallows, sleeping in the hammock, catching fish, laughter, and major heartburn.  I was seven months pregnant, and couldn't sleep because of heartburn.  But I loved breathing in the fresh mountain air.  

The Sleeping Arrangements were a big hit with the girls.  They loved snuggling up in their sleeping bags and using the lantern to light up the camper.  This was not Glamping, Folks.  This was camping.  Good, dirt under your fingernails, camping.  Gracie didn't think she could make it all the way down to the campground bathroom (It was pretty far away) so I explained she could go to the bathroom in the trees...she was a bit horrified.
Real Camping.

Jody caught the first fish.  Gracie was thrilled.  We ate it for lunch.  I felt like I was on one of those survival shows - 'Naked and Afraid'.  It tasted good.  Really.  And I love that Gracie isn't a picky eater...she totally tried it with no complaints.


We also had some extremely efficient helpers, on the shore, scouting out fish with the binoculars.
Sawyer and Gracie were excited about the
'catch of the day'!  

  

As we were taking down camp, Sienna was taking full advantage of the adults being distracted.  She was shoving as much candy into her mouth as humanly possible.  When I spotted her, I told her she couldn't have anymore candy for awhile, because I didn't want her tummy to get sick.  She didn't like that idea.  So she left camp.  Parked herself in the middle of the camp circle road (I was watching - it was not busy...no cars were coming.)  But I was slow - 7 Months Pregnant Slow.  Can you zoom into this picture and see her mean face?  Geesh, girl.  Let's talk about Sienna.  She has the most vibrant personality.  She is smart.  And...she is stubborn.  She, like most 3 year olds, knows what she wants.  I finally convinced her to come back to camp...and here she is running to me.  Oh, Sienna.  Please always come back home, and know that your father and I love you.  Sienna has the type of personality that is solid.  If Jody and I can teach her right from wrong and help her gain a testimony of our purpose here on earth (to serve others, be Christlike and make uplifting choices) then she will not waiver.  I just hope we can implement a love for righteous living in her heart.  She is strong-willed.  And the heavens know we need a future of strong women who can represent themselves well.

Three Sleepy Campers

It was a great weekend!  (Gracie - Age 6,  Sienna - Age 3,  Adalynn - in Mom's Tummy)

We Have Some News....

Chocolate didn't look good.
My brand new liquid eyeliner suddenly smelled like a beef stick...so I buried it in a drawer.
The scent wall plug-in's in my home that used to smell so good - sent me running for the bathroom to throw-up.

Something was happening to me - I was pregnant!



I found out I was expecting the end of November 2013!  I was thrilled.  We had been trying for nearly a year, with some medical complications and a miscarriage mixed in between - so this was great news.

The foods I look forward to at Christmas Time weren't nearly as appetizing.  There were days I sipped on sprite and ate 2 saltines...and avoiding throwing up every time I brushed my teeth was one of my main priorities. 

I started prepping the girls by asking Gracie when we should have another baby.

"Probably when I'm ten," she replied.  "That sounds like a good time.  I just don't want you to get a giant tummy, Mom...okay?"

Well - that was a problem.  The giant tummy was inevitable.  And months later (when I was 9 months pregnant) she was singing a different tune.  Gracie was very complimentary about the expansion in my mid-section.  She told me, all the time, that I looked great.  It made me feel happy.  She was very sweet during my pregnancy, and now that baby Adalynn has arrived, she is a great helper.

Sienna was also excited.  In the beginning, she insisted we name the baby 'toothbrush' or 'twilight sparkle'.  She gave my tummy kisses nearly every day.  We had these pictures taken in November - soon after I found out I was expecting.  Our little family was about to grow.

We would later find out we were expecting our THIRD girl.  Another sister to love and make memories with.  Look at these two; such different personalities...yet even in the moments where they disagree - we all know they could never live without each other.  Sisters have a special bond.  I never had a sister growing up.  I love being the mother of little girls.



The second week of February 2014 - we surprised Grandpa and Grandma Tait with our news.  Jeff, Lacey and their girls and Greg, Kylene and Summer were there too for the announcement.  Gracie and Sienna were WAY excited to tell everyone.  I was 13 weeks.  My talented friend from High School, Kelsey Behrend, made these darling cookies.  Gracie & Sienna offered everyone a cookie...and waited for their reaction!

   We shared the good news on Social Media when I was 15 weeks along.

Halloween 2013

I am behind (by about nine months) when it comes to blogging....but slowly and surely, I will make some progress.  Life is so busy.  It's so difficult to find time to sit down and blog.  I love the journaling, pictures and documentation.  Looking back - the blog is so beneficial.  So if you are interested in reading about what we did and how we felt 

three seasons ago

this is the blog for you!  Ha ha.  

Halloween is so fun!  We had an UNDER THE SEA theme in the fall of 2013.  I appreciate that Jody is willing to dress up and have a good time. Gracie and Sienna look forward to the family themed costumes, and get a kick out of seeing mom and dad in character. 

Jody went as Prince Eric (look at that black hair...who is that guy?!?!?!) Gracie was Ariel, I was Ursula the SeaWitch and Sienna wanted to be Flounder.  Everyone was happy.  I was somewhat expecting Sienna to throw a fit about not being Ariel - but she didn't care.  My friend from Junior High sewed this custom-made Flounder the Fish Costume for Sienna.  She loved it!!!  Not only did it keep her warm, but the details on this costume are so cute!   

The weather was perfect, and the girls had a blast Trick or Treating!

My mom bought this Candy Corn outfit for Sienna -
perfect for a little girl who loves tu-tu's!

Before the Spooky Holiday - we had a party with some friends in our neighborhood.

Ben * Pete * Scott * Jody 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

There were games (who knew balloon popping could be so potentially dangerous?)  When the dart or knife (seriously - what were we using?!?!) bounced back and sailed right by Jessica's face...then we knew the party was getting real -- No one was injured.

Bekah * Brittany * Brooke * Lindsey 

There was dancing (Bekah Ackerman - even pregnant and dressed as a 1st Mate - had some killer moves), spooky stories, chilling drinks and frightening food. 

Papa and Grandma Tait stopped by for a visit before they left town for California.  

Uncle Michael and Gracie 

Grandma Wiscombe put together quite the legit witch costume!  

It's the Little Things...Like Pockets

During a walk around Temple Square with Jody and Papa Tait, Sienna became acutely aware that she had pockets in her shorts.  

Glorious Pockets. 

And even better, Papa and Dad had pockets too.  So they were the same.  

She just kept saying, "I have pockets...like you Papa!!"  

It took her twice as long to make it around the Temple Grounds.  Because when you're two-years-old, walking and having both hands inside your pockets...is not easy.  But she had two understanding people who were willing to take it slow with her.  

This Trip to Temple Square was all part of a week of fun, enjoying time with our Family from Florida.  Kerry & Stacy and their three kids visited in August, and the cousins made LOTS of great memories.  Look at how sweet they are! 

We are missing three of the cousins in this picture.

Left to Right: Sienna, Lindsey, Gracie, Lauren and Gavin....or "The Boy" as Gracie calls him.  Apparently when you're the one boy cousin among seven girls...Gracie just calls you "The Boy."
 

They really do have a special bond.  Gracie and Sienna look forward to seeing their Florida Cousins every summer!!!

We also visited the LDS Church History Museum.  The museum has an entire area dedicated to children.  Here the kids, are getting a lesson in culture and dancing.  

We ate at the City Creek Center in the heart of downtown and then headed to the movie Turbo.  The kids thought it was funny; Gracie thought it was Laugh-Out Loud humor.  I got a kick out of her giggles.  

After the movie, it was time for more playing at Grandpa and Grandma Tait's house.  

Can you even see Lauren?!?!?!  It's never fun to be at the bottom of the haystack or cousin pile.    

Come back and visit real soon!