Something Special!!

They say that you have to have rain to have a rainbow, and that is totally how I feel about the way the babies came, and the people we met along that crazy journey. Today the babies got an early birthday present in the mail from Tena....the most amazing NICU nurse at Primary Children's. We fell in love with Tena instantly, she was there for us to cry on her shoulder, answer our many many questions, and to celebrate the good! She called Reese "button" and loved on her for us when we couldn't be there...I was always so relieved to call up there and find out that Tena had her....

So today the babies both got presents and a card from her (she always kept track of Whit and Tate too..and made sure that they were doing good). I love getting the letters, it makes me cry, but they are always happy and grateful tears. It takes me back, and reminds me just how lucky we were to get these babies home and healthy. I am not sure how many nurses would remember a birthday both years....but apparently it is someone special!

Thank you Tena.....thank you, thank you, thank you.....we think of you all the time. I am so taken back that you remember my babies and love them so much!! I can't wait until Reese is old enough to hear the whole story and understand what an important person you are in her life. We were all so happy to hear from you...Thanks again for the presents.....but most of all for remembering.... You are definitely something special!! We love you!!!



This one is for you Tena!!

Very Thankful!

Thanksgiving was great this year! I really think it was one of the yummiest I remember...everyone brought such good food! I love that our family and families are all so connected. We have a pretty cool group. We ate, and ate, and ate, and ate...( you get the picture!) we played a little ping pong, and just hung out with everyone, which is what I like best! Thanks for coming everybody, I love you all so much and am thankful for you everyday, not just on Thanksgiving!!!!LOL!!

The gang...and yes...we ate on the ping pong table...maybe a little redneck...but it worked pretty good!!! We even found a bottle of "Taylor Wine".... we had to have it!!! Not bad either!


The kids table....they thought they were a big deal!!! Sparkling Cider and all!



Reese was helping a little in the kitchen that morning!! We only had to do a little adjustment on the apron to fit!

And this is what you look like when you run a 5k at 8am...when the temperature is 3*!!!! Taylor said I looked like a Ninja!! Holy hell it was cold....I'm pretty sure that my fingers were only a degree away from frostbite!!!!!

Hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving...and are looking forward to the Christmas Cheer!! Enjoy the simple things that happen over the next few weeks.....Christmas parties....baking cookies, and candies, the magic in your kids eyes when they see a house full of Christmas lights..... because in the end those are the memories that will last a lifetime!

A Little Backwards!!!

This little boy is going to give Taylor and I a run for our money!!!! He is Hillarious.....he is so sweet and lovey, but such a little shi#^ at the same time. He is ALL BOY, and all COWBOY!! This had us laughing so hard because he thought he was a genius!!!

Date Day with The Kiddo's

Yesterday was one of those days that was just good. We all spend the day together outside at the field chopping wood and exploring. Then we headed to Monkey Island!!! But even better than that for me and Taylor was we got PURPLE PIG PIZZA!!!!!! Only the bet pizza ever!!! I grew up on the stuff, and then they closed..so sad!! But now they are back and it tastes exactly the same!!!SOOOO GOOD!!!! It was way fun!! It was one of those days that when we all got back in the car, and I turned around and looked at 3 car seats full of kids drinking sprite, with pizza sauce faces...I knew it didn't get any better!!


Reese...she is afraid of NOTHING......she climbed all the way up to the top BY HERSELF..she wold not let us help her...and she went again and again and again!

Tate was running around the place like a crazy man..he had so much fun!

These two!!!!

This is Chad waiting to help!!! HA HA HA!!

They played so hard and had so much fun!

Halloween 2010!

I have to admit that I am a little sad that Halloween is over....I look forward to it all year so much, and it is here and gone before you know it. It was tonz of fun....Tate was Shark boy...GG made him the most awesome costume ever!!! I was Cruella Di Ville, and the babies were my Dalmatian's!! Reese was so into it...Whit WAS NOT!!!!! He had to wear his camo ball cap, not his Dalmatian hood, and it wouldn't keep the costume on long enough to get to many pictures...but he was all about the candy!! My mom went all out again on the party...yummy soups, and treats, and the best treat bags in the WHOLE WORLD..( according to some subdivision treat or treater's)!!! But they really are great Swag!!! I love it because it has become such a fmily thing, and there is nothing better than that to me!! Thanks Mom!!!

Me and the girls ran the Provo Halloween Half Marathon....I have a great group of running gals..they are so much fun..I didn't do as well a I had hoped... 2:10.....if I would have had a cell phone with me I would have called Taylor from mile 6 and said come get me....but throw up and all I finished, and I am happy about that!! I didn't get any pictures, it was insanely crowded, and really..... I was doin good to make it to the truck!!!! Good job Jen, Tif, and Trista....you guys were amazing !!!!!!! I hope we can do it again!!!! And Thanks to my family....all of you for coming and fighting that crowd, and ALWAYS supporting me...you have no idea how good it was this time to see all of your faces!!!!!




Grandma Hopes, Nok, GG, and the babies!!!

This is girl power right here!!!

We got to go to Tate's school and listen to a few very cute Halloween song!!! He means business about this stuff...one of my favorite parts of the weekend!!!

10 Years & Counting.......

Ten Years have gone by...3 kids have came.....a few heartaches have happened..... along with lots of love, lots of laughs and tons of great memories! Who knew that the rotten little boy that pulled my hair on our 3rd grade baseball team..... and the rotten little bugger I had a major meltdown over having to live by !! .....the boy who I thought just couldn't get any worse......would be the boy that I just can't get enough of!!!!!!!! Funny how things work out!!!

Happy Anniversary...... here's to a another 10!!!

Breakfast With a Witch!

We kicked of the Halloween season last weekend with our annual trip to Gardner Village to have Breakfast With a Witch. So much fun.. the babies were totally into it this year. My mom, Steph and Tanner and Carson all went too. I LOVE HALLOWEEN!!!!!! It is by far my favorite holiday!!! I have wanted to be Cruella Di ville for a while now, and since the twins can't tell me yet what they want to be they are my dalmations.... Tate can tell me what he wants to be.... and it wasn't a dalmation!!!!....He was hell bent on being Shark Boy..... so my mom worked her magic and made the most awesome cotume..he loves it. We danced and ate, and sang.... Whit even made it up on stage..he's not afraid!! Thanks everyone for the fun....when do we get to wear our cotumes next!!!!!