Sophie's Smiles

My little baby girl is getting really good at her smiles.  She used to save them just for her daddy but it's getting easier to get them out of her.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving time again.  I honestly can't believe it.  I have so much to be thankful for it's overwhelming. These are a few of the things I have been thinking about lately. 

1. I have a wonderful husband who is capable of taking care of our family.  My friend Whitney has a cousin who's husband has brain cancer.  It's times when I hear about tragedies like that I remember how truly grateful I am to have a healthy husband that can work.  I love him more than anything and would be lost without his guidance and friendship.  I am so lucky to be married to my best friend.  
2. I have three healthy and happy children. We are so lucky to have children that are healthy.  I have had several friends that have had to have their babies be in the ICU for long periods of time.  We were so lucky to have Sophie come without any complications.  My boys are also so healthy.  Caleb had a small urology surgery this year and being at Primary Children's hospital made me very grateful that we don't have to spend lots of time there with a sick child.  Having healthy children is such a blessing that I take for granted so often.
3. I have a warm home and warm clothing for my children.  I think about the pioneers all the time and how they were so cold.  How they had to trek through the snow with their babies and small children.  It makes me cry to think about having to be out in the cold with my small children.  I freak out about having to take Sophie outside to go get Jacob from school.  That's nothing in comparison.  We are so lucky.
4. I have food for my children.  One of my biggest fears is having my children come to me and tell me they are hungry and telling them we have no food for them.  That would be so horrible for me.  I'm glad I have healthy food for my children to eat.  When I was in Ecuador it always broke my heart to see the little children on the street who were hungry and begging for money and food.  The children in the orphanage always had something to eat, so it was the ones on the street that broke my heart. 
5. I have love.  My husband loves me more than anything.  My children love me and have people who love them.  I think about my orphanage babies all the time and wonder if they have someone loving them, and I'm so glad my own sweet babies have all the love they can stand.  I have loving parents and sibling that would do anything for me...and they have.  I have wonderful in-laws and siblings-in-law that are a great support system for us.  My children will know the love of aunts, uncles, grandparents and great-grandparents.  I have wonderful friends and neighbors that never cease to amaze me with their spirit of service and love.  I have so much to learn from them.
6. I have the gospel.  I have the opportunity to learn so much and I too often don't take that time like I should.  I'm so grateful for the things I do know and for the joy it brings to my life.  I'm grateful I have the gospel to teach to my children so that I can hopefully be a better parent. 

This is just the tip of the ice-burg for me.  These are the things that have been on the forefront of my mind lately.  I am so lucky to be in my situation with so many wonderful things going on around me.  I praise God and thank him for my blessings this day.


Our Thanksgiving celebrations took place in Vernal this year.  We spent the morning listening to Christmas music and baking.  We made rice krispie treat turkeys which were a huge hit.

 Caleb and his creations

 Jacob making a gun and lasers for his turkey so it could fight back

 The finished project

After dinner and Clay's parents house the girls and the little boys went to see "Tangled".  It was honestly one of the best movies I have ever seen.  I Loved It!! It was in 3D which was kind of lame because the glasses were so big.  I think Caleb held them on his face the entire time.

Jacob and Caleb with their cool glasses on 

Grandma Dianne and Aunt Caitlin

 Aunt Sam and me with a very sad Sophie, who ended up having her daddy come pick her up because she hated the movie

And cute baby Sophie being a total doll earlier in the day

Skating On The Ice

We went ice skating with Clay's family last night.  It was so much fun...for the kids.  Clay wore himself out by pushing the kids around and I just sat on the bleachers with Sophie.  The boys had a blast, especially Caleb.  He cried when they told us to get off the ice.

Caitlin home from Ephraim

The boys watching the Zamboni go around the ice

Cute baby Sophie all bundled up

Uncle Michael helping Caleb and Clay helping Jacob skate

Aunt Sam taking a turn

Grandma Dianne with Caleb

They have those things the kids can push around which make it so much more fun for everyone!

Lizzy vs. Sophie

 This is Lizzy and Sophie. They are best friends...or at least they will be.

Lizzy has a plan to get Sophie's binky

 Phase 1: Locating the binky

 Phase 2: Extracting the binky

 Phase 3: Inserting the binky

 Phase 4: Enjoy your success

I love how happy Lizzy is with herself

They will be best friends...eventually.

Sophie's Bows

Clay thinks I am ridiculous.  I love baby bows and flowers.  Sophie always has one on her head.  I still stick one to her head at night because I love them so much.  She has gotten really good at knocking them off of her head though.  Clay thinks it's just her way of telling me she hates them but I know deep down she loves them.  At least that's what I keep telling myself. 

Pizza and Friends

Our very good friends the Bunnells moved to Huntington in July and we have missed them so much!  They were so nice to come out and visit us last week.  It was so fun to see them.  The kids just played together like they always did.  It was so fun.  They played "Mom, Dad and Kid" and we made pizzas for lunch. 

Jacob and Madi with their pizza ready to bake

 Caleb and Madi smashing their dough out

 Brekker boy giving his dough a good whack

Caleb with his yummy pizza.

Thanks guys for coming out.  We love and miss you guys tons!

Goodbye Fall

I honestly can't believe how fast fall has gone.  It seems like yesterday we had Sophie and it was still very warm outside.  The boys have been begging me to rake leafs so they could jump in the piles... but that requires effort!  I finally did it before it snowed.  Here's the boys jumping in the leafs. 

Batman

Batman and his sidekick Robin came to my house to save the day.

They came complete with homemade play dough masks.

Tu-Tu Cute

This is Sophie. She is wearing the tu-tu that her friend Ava sent her. Ava lives in Illinois with her mommy Aubrey. Aubrey and Sophie's mommy are friends too. Ava and Aubrey came to Vernal for a little visit. Sophie and Ava got their pictures taken in their tu-tu's.

They look very similar in this picture, don't you think?

Sophie looks likes she was enjoying herself, but she was on the verge of crying

Miss Ava and Miss Sophie

They kept holding hands, it was so cute!

This is how Sophie really felt about the whole thing...she was very tired and grumpy

Ava and Sophie. I love the look Sophie was giving me.

Best Friends.

It was so fun to have Aubrey come out for a little visit. We love it when people come out to visit us. It was fun to spend some time with Ava and get to know her a little bit. Ava is exactly 2 weeks younger than Sophie. It was fun to have 2 babies here but it made me really glad I didn't have twins. Thanks Aubs for coming! We miss you already!