Merry Christmas 2011

This year we went to Utah to visit my family for christmas! It was so fun but went by so fast! We go there on the the 20th and stayed till the 28th. Unfortunatly, the day before we left tanner and blake were diagnosed with step throat and then the morning before we left emma was also diagnosed with strep throat. That led to very long flights and lots of meds. Luckly we got them on meds so quick that it never got too bad. When we got there we did lots of christmas shopping before the big day. On christmas eve everyone came to my family's house for breakfast dinner with buttermilk syrup, pancakes, bacon sausage, eggs, etc... and then on christmas day we all go to my aunt's house for a turkey dinner. It was so nice to visit my family and i hope to see them again soon!!!

Emma 10 months!

Emma is growing up so fast i can't keep up with posting about all of the milestones she has hit. Here is a quick summary!

July 4th - emma sitting up (5 months old)

6 month appointment she was in the 50-55% for height and weight 16.11lbs and 26.5 inches.

6 months old emma is talking like crazy, loves attention and smiling! Moving onto all fours.

September 2 - Emmas favorite game is to pop her lips and me so i will do it back to her.

September 7 - Scooting all over the place and wanting to crawl.

September 11- lay on belly -to- sitting up.

September 30- Emma is crawling!

October 1 Emma has her first tooth! ( she is 8 months old here, Blake was almost 13 months before his first tooth!)

October 11 - Follows me around the house crawling.

October 13- Emma is pulling her self up on furniture to standing.

October 14- 2nd tooth

November 19- walking along furniture and transferring from couch to couch.

December 3- Emma is walking with her push cart (toy with wheels) all by herself!

Emma is bright, happy, very smart, loves her big brother blake, loves to eat, loves babies and other kids her age, excellent sleeper, dimples, mommies girl, busy, and beautiful. She loves to play peek-a-boo and wrestle with Blake. Blake is a very good big brother and does not seem to mind at all to play with her. If emma is sad and i am busy i ask blake to go play with emma and he does! it is so nice! Emma will take a lot before she starts crying, not that blake is being mean just because he gets carried away and forgets she is smaller. She can't get enough of him!

Thanksgiving with Friends

Its hard to be this far away from family but we have to many friends around us they are like our family. So this year we had thanksgiving at our house with our friends! Tanner and I made the turkey, it was quite the task! Here is the turkey recipe we followed. We had 8 adults, 4 kids and 2 babies a full house! Luckily our table has a leaf and everyone fit comfortable. Our friend brought a toddler table for the kids to sit and the babies played! It was so fun to visit and talk about what we where grateful for. (pictures to come!)

Halloween 2011

This Year for Halloween was a hard one. The whole month of October our house went through Strep throat, Stomach flu, then ended with a virus (similar to strep throat but no meds). It was hard but we were determined to celebrate Halloween because it is one of our favorite Holidays! We were sad to miss a couple of the parties but we were able to do a few fun things. We were able to go to our ward halloween party friday then went trick or treating monday night!

Emma was a pumpkin, I think i will make all of my kids be pumpkins for their first halloween and just use the same costume. I love that costume! Blake was a cowboy/ sheriff with a horse! He loves horses! Especially to ride them, so tanner and i decided to make him a cowboy so he could ride a horse all night!
Blake was pretty good about riding his horse all night!
and emma was pretty good about being the cutest pumpkin around!
Halloween night we walked around our neighborhood to go door to door trick or treating. There were so many people out trick or treating in our neighborhood that made it so fun! blake rode his bike so he didn't have to walk. It helped make him last so much longer! We made it a whole 1 1/2 streets!
Emma just hung out in the stroller cause she is to little for candy!

family pics at the Beach

Our sister in-law was so nice to take everyones family pictures while we were at the beach! Here are a few that we liked!

the beach with the barratts

After we got back from connecticut with my family we flew out of Ky to Az to visit Tanner's family. We spent a couple days in Az before we all drove to California, and spent a week at the beach, balboa island, and disney land. It was so much fun! Blake loved the sand and water. He did so well, and just played all day, most of the time we didn't even hear from him. We brought emma's pack and play so she didn't have to be in the sand to play and could take naps. It was nice to see tanners family and to spend time with them. Blake and Emma had fun playing with their cousins brighton (3) and ellie (1). On the last couple days on the beach the waves were huge (well, huge for me). I tried to get some good pics of Tanner and his brothers riding them, but they were kind of far out and honestly I'm not very good at taking pics. It was nice to just relax in the sun all week. When the week was over we drove back to Az for a couple more days then home to Ky. By then summer break was over and Tanner had to go back to school.

Corona del mar Beach.
Blake loved playing in the sand and being outside all day everyday!
Cousins eating lunch, a crunchy lunch!
Disney Land with Goofy!
Tanner and his Brother Johnny.
Emma and Mommy.
Uncle Johnny, Blakey, and daddy Playing lacrosse!
sitting around the fire pit after long week at the beach.
We got to go to a Diamondbacks game while in Az. Blake thought it was so cool he just sat on our laps and watched almost the whole time we were there. We tried to explain to him what was going on, he sat and listened and watched. Blake loves all sports and games, he's a bit competitive.

summer break with my family

I know its october but i want to catch up. We had such a fun summer break i need to share a little of what we did. First my mom and siblings came to ky for about a week to visit us. We had so much fun! we went to the children's museum, out to eat, movies, etc... It was so nice to see my family and for them to spend time with my kids.

Then my dad finally came for a day before we all drove out to connecticut for a family reunion with my dads side. It was nice because i got to see family i havn't seen in years and tanner got to meet them for the first time. My cousin Jody has a two little boys a little older then blake and emma, and we stayed with them for a few nights. It was fun for blake to have someone to play with.

Connecticut is also where Tanner served his LDS mission so it was nice to see the area he stayed in. i also got to meet some people he taught and had dinner with a family from the ward.

I loved being able to visit my family and can't wait till christmas when we go to utah and see them again!

Blake turns 2 yrs old!!!

i am so behind on posts! Now that Im home for the week with strep throat i guess this is the best time to catch up!

Blake had his 2nd Birthday party!!! His birthday was June 26, but we had his party on the friday before. We invited all of his friends to his party and had it at the park. The adult played volleyball while the kids played at the park. I also brought bubbles and chalk for blake and all his friends to play with. We brought food for everyone then ended with cake, ice cream and gifts! Blake had so much fun with his friends! I can't believe he is already two!!!

Blowing bubbles! Blake and his shaggy hair!

It is so much fun when everyone comes to hang out!
Blake and his buddy George!
Blake and his girl buddy Kenz!

emma's 6 months!

Emma had her 6 month apt about a few weeks ago. Everything looks great! She weighs 16.11 lbs and 26.5 inches long, 50% for both.

Some of her favorite this to do are laughing at blake (doesn't matter if he is trying to be funny), Eat (probably at the top if the list), play with toys, take off daddy's glasses, make popping noises with lips, and grunt/laughing game we play together.

Currently she is almost crawling, she gets on all fours and rocks back and forth. She scoots everywhere and can get anywhere she wants to go. Tonight was the first night i noticed that she goes from laying down to sitting up. Emma is so fun and a very happy girl.

Blake loves to play with Emma. He loves that she thinks he is funny, and gets so happy when she wakes up from her nap. He has his jealous moments but for the most part he is a big help. He shares his toys when she is sad, throws away her diapers, and gives her hugs and kisses.

Basketball

Blake's favorite game is basketball!!! He calls it "baketba". He goes on the deck and plays all day!

Emma will be able to play soon!

emma eats cereal

she loves it so much she wants to hold the spoon!

there is that goofy smile again but add the crazy bed head...love it!

emma at 4 months and crazy blake!

emma is growing up so fast! we went to her 4 month apt about a month ago and she was about 11.5 lbs and in the 55% for height and weight. she is healthy and everything looks good. her hair is still dark brown and her eyes are still blue. she thinks everything is so funny especially her big brother blake! she loves to eat and play with her toys. she is a very good girl!

This is Blake in the bath. I told him to show me his teeth and smile for the camera and this is what i got! quick goofy smile then right back to playing. im pretty much obsessed with my kids!

projects

i have been working on a few projects around the house...

i got this mirror at a yard sale for $2 and painted in antique white and then distressed it.

We painted our table black...

...so it would match the rest of my house:)

i also got this little table at another yard sale for $5. it wasn't in the best shape so we sanded it and painted it blake to match our table. Now it sits in the corner of our dining room and holds my hand and dish towels.

happy faces...

... except emma, she's just concerned!