Haul out the Holly...

We need a little Christmas.

Right this very minute.

Candles in the Window.

Carols at the Spinet. 

Christmas Morning is something special.  But the events and traditions leading up to the 25th of December create memories that will last forever.  Here is what we did in December of 2013.  

We picked out a Christmas Tree.  A real tree - something Jody and I started doing on our first humble Christmas in Butte, Montana.  There is something fun about seeing those evergreens strapped to the top of vehicles during the holidays.  The night we found our tree was FREEZING - a whopping 7 degrees outside.  BRRRRR.  The girls were still all smiles and super excited.  

I always love how the freshly cut trees smell...however this year...once inside our house, our tree smelled like marijuana or body odor...or something not good.  Remember, I was pregnant and smells were not my friend during this time.  

Nonetheless - it was a nice tree - a nice, stinky (to me, at least) tree.  

Gracie had her Christmas Dance Recital.  She was great!  As she walked off the stage at the Legacy Center, a lady on the tech-crew said, "Wow she really likes to shake it!"  Yes - she's not messing around with those hip shakes.  Both sets of grandparents came to watch her.  She had a big fan base in the audience. 

Before I had to go into work on a Saturday, we visited Thanksgiving Point to see the Reindeer and get a sweet treat at the malt shoppe.

There was Gracie's School Christmas Program.  ((Insanity))  Because there was nowhere to park, I parked in a neighborhood forever away...Sienna was with me and walking the speed of molasses.  I carried her blocks, and then we entered the completely full gym.  We went into the back of the lunchroom.  I zoomed my camera lens out as far as it would go...and this is the best picture I got.  

No face.  Some paper antlers.  Ha Ha!  

Just know I was there Gracie.  And that one song the Kindergarten classes sang... it was great!  

Then there were the parties.  While at Papa and Grandma Tait's house, there was a knock at the door.  What do you know?!?!  It was the Jolly Old Elf, himself.

Gracie collapsed from excitement when she heard the bells and saw Santa Claus.  She was REALLY excited. 

 Aunt Kylene and Uncle Greg gave Gracie this awesome craft/art set for Christmas.  

 Next up: a Christmas Party at Uncle Reed and Aunt Sandy's house.  Grandma Wiscombe organized a short nativity program for the kids.  Every family brought a soup to share. Jody made our soup.  It's one of my favorite tortilla soup recipes.  He totally helped me out by picking up a few ingredients I needed and then...he put it together.  He's awesome and such a huge help!   When I took a big slurp at the party - my mouth was instantly on fire.  Turns out, he didn't realize taco seasoning packets come in either mild or Super Hot...he grabbed the Super Hot one.    

And Christmas Eve....so magical.  We spent the evening making Grandma Wiscombe's delicious sugar cookies for Santa.

Gracie - Age 6

Sienna - Age 3

Holiday Kick-Off

We spent Thanksgiving with the Tait Side of the family in 2013.  As always, the food was a feast.  And this year, Grandma and Papa Tait treated us to a fun holiday kick-off weekend.  All of the Utah Taits stayed at the Little America in downtown Salt Lake.  The kids enjoyed swimming in the pool and going on a scavenger hunt that Papa Tait had set up for them in the lobby.   

 We enjoyed seeing the lights at Temple Square, which are always stunning.  Gracie and Sienna loved riding TRAX around town and looking at the Macy's Christmas Candy Windows.  Downtown Salt Lake City at Christmas Time is a beautiful place.  Papa and Grandma treated us to a yummy dinner and breakfast at the newly remodeled Coffee Shop at the Little America.

Saturday morning, we walked around the City Creek Shopping Center.  I was reporting that day...so I stayed downtown to head into KUTV.

But not before, one last ride on TRAX...which the girls LOVED!  

Cousins - Gracie and Nahla seeing the sights downtown.
Gracie carried her Tinker Bell doll with her during the entire getaway. I thought, for sure, Tinker Bell would get lost in the crowds, but Gracie held tight to her new birthday gift.  

The Birthday that was a "Little Bit Boring..."

Gracie just wanted 'more guests' at her Sixth Birthday Party.  As she explained in the video, she had a decent time; she appreciated my effort...but when she was being completely honest with herself...the party was...well...just boring.  But just a "little bit boring" (as to not totally hurt my feelings).

This video cracked me up.  I was trying, the entire time, to not burst out laughing.  Polite Gracie, hesitant to explain that next year she would like to see some changes made to the way I throw parties.

Gracie and her 3 "Guests":  Morgan Rich, Alexa Peterson & Ruth Pilling. 

I made Gracie a Rainbow Dash Birthday Cake.

  Gracie was excited about the Princess Luna Pony Morgan gave her as a present; so excited she toppled her over with a giant hug.

And what would a Rainbow Dash Party be without cups full of skittles?!?

We also celebrated with Grandpa and Grandma Tait at their house.  
Gracie had decorated this cake for us to enjoy.  

Aunt LaMae gave Gracie a Tinker Bell doll for her birthday.  Her reaction was awesome!

Gracie's birthday always falls around Thanksgiving.  It's a busy time of the year, but we wanted to take her out to eat.  She chose to eat at the 'Spaghetti Factory' in Orem.  Then we went to Build a Bear to stuff some highly talked about My Little Ponies.  The girls were so excited!

 

Gracie knew Sienna would be devastated if she didn't get to take home a pony too!  Gracie was way happy to share the fun with her younger sister.  Gracie chose Rainbow Dash (of course) and Sienna picked out Twilight Sparkle.  All was hunky-dory until little sis changed the music that big sis was rocking out to.  Sometimes you just want to let loose to "One Direction"...and then....

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.