We're Back!

We are back into the blogging world, once again! :)  Their are like 10 new posts below. Including: Christmas, Mckenna's 4th birthday, new house, and Halloween (yikes, I got really behind this time) :)  Better late than never!

Crazy Cousins

Grandma Collins made these cute skirts for the girls this year. Do you know how hard it is to get all 3 girls smiling and looking at the camera? We got a few not-so-successful shots. :)

and a little break for a hug.

Then Levi thought he would join in.

Have I mentioned how much I love living closer to family?

Snow

Playing in the snow with Aunt T

This girl is a master at snow angels. She practices every chance she gets.

Brielle isn't so sure of the snow. She prefers to just watch.

Love those chubby cheeks. She seemed to lose them for a few months, but they are making a reappearance!! I'm so glad! 

Christmas

We went to Idaho Falls for Christmas this year. It was so fun to see Mckenna and Brielle play with their cousins. Mckenna's princess drinks were a hit! They were one of her main requests for Christmas.

Levi made sure we all knew where his priorities were, breakfast first, then presents!

Brielle and Kaylee sat on Eric's lap watching the train go round and round and round.

Kaylee and Brielle in their matching doll strollers. I'm glad the strollers were such a hit!

This year, I made homemade chocolate cherry cordials for my dad and Devin's dad. They were a lot of work, but were a favorite.

Mckenna was really into Santa this year. We even had a little elf named Twinkle visit us to make sure we were being like Jesus. It was fun. We are so blessed!

December

December was super busy and super fun, as always! These girls sure love our house!

Silly girls

Of course, we had to spend a few afternoons outside in the snow.

Brielle does not like snow! :) But she didn't cry, she just stood there watching everyone else.

You know you are in trouble when you see this little mischievous face looking at you with a snowball in hand.

Mckenna was dying to paint Brielle and I's toenails. Why not? :)  

Brielle was a good sport and sat there patiently waiting to be done.

Brielle always finds the food. :)  She found her little chair, scooted it on over, and peeked her big, dark eyes over the counter.

and proceeded to take

just a few

little treats.

Mckenna's preschool had a Christmas program. It was so funny. She had a blast.

4th Birthday!

Mckenna is 4!!! 4 years old! So crazy! We moved to our house 2 days before her birthday. Yeah, things were crazy. But I didn't want her to get jipped on her birthday just because we moved. So, enter craziness!

Thanks to my sister, Tara, her little birthday party a success! Thanks T!

Good times were had by all!

She requested a Dress Up party, which was perfect because that's exactly what her present was... a trunk full of dress up clothes. She was in heaven! This girl is a little princess, loves dressing up, high heals, necklaces, the works.

We had a few special friends over. Each was requested to wear dress up clothes. We decorated hats and made candy necklaces.

And what's a post without a picture or two or Brielle... Wherever you find food, especially candy, you will find Brielle.

You can just see her trying to figure out how to sneak some candy without anyone noticing.

Mckenna, we love you!! You are such a sweet girl. You have the most tender heart ever. You hate being in trouble or having someone disappointed in you. You are a sweet friend. You make friends everywhere you go.  You love learning! You are a smart little thing! You know so much and pick up on so many things.  You are definitely a princess, you don't like to get dirty. If your clothes get dirty or wet, you have to change right then.  You change your clothes at least 3 times per day.  You have 5 tutu skirts, and you just rotate wearing them each day. You have tons of cute jeans in your drawer, but as you informed me "Mom, did you know that I don't like jeans? I just like skirts and princess dresses."  You hate getting your hair done, but you always have some kind of bow or headband in your hair, whether it matches or not.  You love pink! You love going to church and can't go without bringing your scripture bag.  I often find you "reading" your scriptures in your bedroom, just flipping through the pages. You truly are a sweet girl, sent straight from heaven, to remind us who we need to be.  You often say, "Mom, Heavenly Father and Jesus told me _______" (that I don't have to make my bed, that I can eat lots of candy, that I can wear my red and white dress to church AGAIN, etc). You love playing with (and teasing) Brielle. You are a great sister to her. Whenever you go to preschool, Brielle walks around asking "Where Nenna go?" We are so grateful we get to have you in our family! We love you!

Let the Work Begin

So we closed on the house and had about 2 weeks until we had to be out of our apartment. So, we decided to use that two weeks to paint as much as we could before we moved in. Boy, was it a wild 2 weeks! Every night when Devin got home from work, we would hurry and eat, then head straight to the house.  We would then paint as much as we could with the girls around. When it was time for bed, we put them to bed in the house.  Devin and I would stay up and paint until 10, 11, 12... however long it took to meet our goal for the day. Then we would pack those poor girls up into the cold car and take them back to the apartment to their beds. It was pretty crazy. But we got a lot of work done. Sweet Mckenna was helping us paint and apparently got so tired she couldn't make it up the stairs.

Complete with mask, tights, and all.

But she loved helping! She's quite the painter.

and so is Devin.