Ketchup 'n' fries

For dinner I made some hamburgers and fries. I made Madison a hamburger and then finished up setting the table. I asked her, "please don't eat until we say a prayer." She sat at the table as good as gold...so I thought. After we said the prayer and started eating I noticed Madison didn't have anything in between her bun except hamburger. She had eaten the onions, tomato, pickles, and lettuce while I wasn't looking. She is so sneaky. Then she left the bun together so I wouldn't notice. When I asked her about it she just grinned and nodded her head.

Then while we were eating she said, "what's in your mouth?" I told her "ketchup 'n' fries". To which she replied, "I want some of 'n'". It took me twice to understand that she thought the 'and' in ketchup and fries was a food and that she wanted some. I apparently need to practice enunciating my words or else my daughter will get to school and not understand that and is the same word and 'n':-) Having kids makes me realize how I act and what I say!

Then she wanted to just run around the house in just her underpants. I told her no because the Home Teachers are coming over. But she insisted that she was doing exercises and couldn't wear her pants to do them:-) She is one smart one!

So COLD!!!

It's freezing here in the morning and sometimes throughout the day. Brian went out to start the car (which has a hard time starting in this weather) and came back in. I asked him if it was cold and he said, "not too bad." He then looked on the computer to see the temp and it was -9 degrees. You know that we have had FREEZING mornings if -9 "isn't that bad.":-) Welcome to New England!!!!

Jam Session!

I keep my camera on top of my fridge to catch moments like this. I was preparing dinner and Brian was entertaining the girls so I could cook. He wanted to play a song with Abby on his lap, but then Madison had to join too! Brian was playing at the far ends of the piano, while Madison and Abby were playing in the middle. It was so cute. Abby and Madison would even try and turn the pages on the hymn book from time to time. I loved watching the girls with their daddy. He is such a good dad. I marvel every day at the love and patience he has for the two...and me at times. I am sure that Madison and Abby won't ever think for one second that their daddy doesn't love them...at least until they are teenagers:-)

Best Friends

So, you are probably wondering what they are doing. I thought the same thing until I heard the same noise that Brian makes when he blows on Madison's belly coming from Abby and Madison. They were blowing on the leather chair and making that sound and then laughing at each other. It was so cute. They play so well together at times and then other times I feel as though I am the mediator of a wrestling match. I just relish in the good days and times:-)

Feeding Time!

Madison loves to feed Abby now. It's just hard for me to let go and allow her to make a mess. Abby loves it though and is laughing a lot of the time. Madison cries to feed Abby every time food is brought out. Madison is such a good sister!

Kim and Joe's Engagement Pictures

So, how do we know Joe? He's like a little brother to Brian and I. I met him in a second hand store and the spirit let me know he was ready to hear the gospel. Little did I know he was searching and had read many pamphlets and books on different religions and was truly searching for truth. I was able to bear my testimony, identify the spirit, and teach a mini version of the first discussion. He came to our house two days later for dinner and a lesson from the missionaries and from there the spirit taught him and he was open and excited. He was baptized a while later thanks to great teachers like the Mender's and others in the ward. He was taken in and loved. He was off to the Navy soon after he was baptized and faced temptation, trials, and there his testimony grew! He bore his testimony the last time he was home visiting and about blew Brian and I out of the water. He has been fully active and finds a singles ward or church wherever he is stationed. He has held callings, performed a baptism, and shared the gospel with others. Then, a few days ago he calls us up and tells us that he is engaged and is getting married in the SLC in March. You can imagine Brian and I's excitement! We then get to have Kim stay in our home while they are visiting family for Kim to meet them. It was a wonderful blessing to have Kim in our home. She radiated joy and love and was so friendly, posative, and in love with Joe. It was so fun to take their pictures and see the gospel at work as it changes people and can bring people together. They will be great together and will raise a wonderful family. I am just so grateful God allowed me this opportunity to experience so much joy by allowing me to share the gospel with Joe whom the Lord had already prepared. He has changed and grown in ways only the gospel could change. Thanks for staying with us Kim and for loving Joe . He's like a little brother to us:-)



We took these at Dartmouth. Isn't it a great and beautiful place?

More clothes Please!

Madison is obsessed with putting clothes on and taking them off. She goes through 3-4 outfits a day and more shoes than I care to say (just the mere fact that she has that many). I will start taking pictures of her many different outfits and post some. She found daddy's hat and gloves on the floor and put them on and wanted me to take a picture of it!

Abby the Adventurous Woman and Madison the Pirate!

This is the smile Madison gave me when I told her to smile.

Argh Matey! Madison insisted I take a picture of her holding this up to her eye. She thought it was cool!

Abby heads straight for the dishwasher whenever it is opened. It's the dishwasher and the fridge being opened that could draw her from almost anywhere.


She is truly such a joy to have around. She is so cuddly and loves to give open mouth kisses:-) She always smiles when we say her name and just loves to be held and given attention!

Shot Time!!!!

"What are you going to do to me?" Madison loves to have other people get shots, but not her. She feels that every sickness can be fixed by going to the doctor. I was hurting the other day and she said, "You go to the doctor and get better." She also likes to act as the doctor.
Abby has become Madison glorified doll. She gets put through more than any baby should:-) Abby loved it, but didn't really know what was going on.


She survived through the whole ordeal and even liked Madison afterwards.

Utah Flashback...

We went sledding with Dan and Clare in Utah before we left. Madison loved it!

Madison and Mesia built a snowman at Tamara's house...they ate off all the candy buttons:-)

Today's Weather Forecast

-21…Need I say more?

"Grandma, Are You There?"

So young! Abby already knows that we talk in phones. She holds it up to her ear, blabbers something and then takes the phone down and just smiles or laughs. It's the cutest thing!!! I had to take a picture of it. She is only nine months old!

So serious...She is focusing on what to say:-)

She loves to chew on the top part. This oral phase must last forever. Madison has even started to revert to sticking everything in her mouth because, "Abby does."

My Sista!!!!

I was playing around and learning more on photoshop and played with this picture and loved it. You are gorgeous Melissa!!!! Love and miss ya tons!

Madison's first day of Ice skating!

"Let's do it again!" paid off in this case. Madison enjoyed it at the beginning and then we took her around with Brian and I holding her hand. She enjoyed it and even hit the puck while being pushed around in the stroller (she was holding a hockey stick). It was a fun Family Home Evening.



Kids learn how to ice skate around here by pushing around crates or a chair. It teaches them so they can eventually go out on their own. We will see how good she is by the end of the season:-)

Madison and Mesia and Cannon

Cannon is such a studd. Emily and Cannon came by to say goodbye before we left. It was so good to see them. I love how Abby and Cannon are only 2 days apart. They will grow up being best of buds:-)

Madison and Mesia were best of friends. They would call each other to come over and play and would cry when they had to separate. It was so fun to have them together.


It was hard to get them smiling at the same time, but this is the best of them:-) What cute girls huh?

My Parents (Lacey took these pictures)

Sledding at the bowl!!!! It was so much fun until Seth, Lacey, Melissa, Lael, and Emily all hit a bump together since they were in a train. It was pretty bad. All had whiplash for a few days.

Madison was so tired one night she just couldn't stay awake and fell asleep while eating dinner!

The whole family except for Joshua who is on a mission.

Madison and Uncle Sethy!!!! It was so fun to see them and even hold Mason for the first time.