Happy Turkey Weekend

Morgan sporting the indian costume he made at school. Anytime I ask Morgan to show me something or to take a picture Pepper always joins in. She cracks me up.
Morgan's indian name was "Growling Bear." Seems very fitting to me.

We decided to stay home this Thanksgiving holiday because I didn't want Hazel around too many people in close quarters. Luckily, our friends, the Lloyds, were also staying in town and we decided to celebrate together. The day before I spent baking two pies, mincemeat-chocolate chip cupcakes, sweet potatoe cassarole and rolls. Pepper was my little helper for most of it. Morgan helped for about a minute but Daddy was home too so he had better things to do.

Hazel's 1st Thanksgiving.

She kept up her usual angel babyness and slept most of the day/evening in her car seat.

Ava always has the coolest toys. These kept Morgan busy most of the afternoon. Especially, having to rebuild every time Ava knocked it all down. Good thing he really likes her and she's not his sister or there would have been a lot of tears and possible blood shed. (just kidding...kind of.)

My traditional apple/dried cherry pie. Pepper helped with the cutouts.

Ava and Pepper getting ready for movie time and then bed.

The Lloyds watching "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," in their movie room.

Morgan taking it easy on the super huge bean bag.

Morgan being a nice brother and playing dress up with Pepper. We had a lot of fun being together as a family on this long weekend but I am glad school is starting again tomorrow! Morgan and Pepper do better with breaks from each other. Me too!

Saturday night we decorated the Christmas tree but for some reason I completely forgot to take pictures. It was a little choatic trying to keep Morgan and Pepper from breaking everything and stay calm. Hazel slept through it all of course. Yesterday afternoon Cody and the kids decorated our front tree. It was a little rainy and cold but they enjoyed themselves.

We are very excited for the Christmas season to start. I am especially happy to start listening to christmas music non stop.

In honor of the holiday weekend, I just want to say how grateful we are for our little family. Life may not be perfect, or our parenting skills, but we wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world. We are also grateful for our friends and family that live close and far. Life is much sweeter with all of you in it. Thank you for all you do!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Breakfast with Santa

Last Saturday morning, the kids and I headed out to the Smucker's Store & Cafe to have "Breakfast with Santa." We did this last year as well and really enjoyed it so despite the fact that Cody was in NYC on business, I decided to venture out myself. I was a little nervous to do something this big with the three of them myself but it went surprisingly smooth. Hazel slept the ENTIRE time. She fell asleep at home before we left and didn't wake up till we got home. Even with me getting her in and out of her car seat and the car. Such a great baby! Morgan and Pepper were also on their best behavior and we all had a very nice time together.
My little Hazel with her perfect baby face. Both of our other kids have had a lot of baby acne and clogged tear ducts. So far Hazel seems free from both ailments.

Pepper and Morgan were both super excited to see Santa. We had been talking about it all week and getting their lists ready. While waiting in line they both kept trying to see him and were perfect angels because they were both too excited to act up. Finally, we made it to the front of the line and the little one year old boy in front of us started screaming when they put his parents put him on Santa's lap. All of a sudden Pepper got this terrified look on her face and Morgan started hiding behind me. When it was our turn I couldn't get Morgan to stop hiding behind the stroller and Pepper wouldn't let go of me. I was worried. I asked Morgan to be brave for Pepper. I tried to lure him out by asking him to go show Santa his list. Well, that was all Pepper needed to hear because she grabbed the list and headed right over to Santa and Mrs. Claus and started telling them all about it. Well, Morgan didn't want to be left out of the discussion of his list so he marched right over as well. Smucker's Santa and Mrs. Claus (same ones from last year I believe) look so fantastic and are super, super nice. They made the kids feel totally at ease and they crawled right up into their laps. I was worried they wouldn't want to hold a new baby but they were both excited and held Hazel with no problem.

I was so happy with this picture! Such a great first Christmas picture for Hazel. This is totally what Cody and I are going to do with our retirement!

After the picture, I told Pepper and Morgan to tell Santa what they wanted. Pepper piped right up, "I want a big bed, a dollhouse and one doll." Mrs. Claus couldn't believe how well Pepper spoke and so clearly. Morgan's list had binoculars, a lightsaber that actually glows and a keyboard and guitar that, in Morgan's words, have buttons that work and has batteries. He was very big on everything having batteries. I guess he's caught on to my game of letting the batteries die on everything or never putting them in and saying the toy is broken.

After visiting with Santa, we headed over to the cafe for breakfast. You didn't have to buy their $3 breakfast specials to get the picture time with Santa and you take your own picture so that part was completely free. I love this place! Pepper of course didn't eat anything because she doesn't like breakfast food but Morgan and I enjoyed it while she ate goldfish.

Hazel sleeping through all the fun. The store is always decorated so nicely. It makes me want to buy all the different china and decorations.

An elf came to entertain the kids for awhile and dance with Pepper. Pepper wanted to know who the elf was and I said the lady in the costume. Morgan informed me that those were her real clothes and she can never take them off. It is really funny this year with Morgan. He is getting old enough to try and figure everything out but still young enough to believe and not question too much. We really have to be on our game.

A little sister diaper changing time.

I know a lot of people don't want two in diapers but it's really not proving to be a problem and at least right now I don't have to worry about anyone having accidents.

She's such a big girl now!

This one is getting bigger everyday as well.

Pepper is doing really well with Hazel and the whole transition thing but she has been a bit more emotional. Especially, when you try to reprimand her. If you get too harsh with her she completely falls apart and then you get no where. It is such a learning process to see that we can't discipline her the same way as Morgan. Definitely something I need to work on as a mother!

And finally, a grumpy fairy queen. She wanted her picture taken but wanted to look sad in the picture. Such a great look don't you think?

Oh, and yesterday I discovered this little gem. Hazel's first curl. Morgan thought it was awesome and kept playing with it. He just loves Hazel and can't stop talking in this high pitched baby voice to her. I told him he could talk to her with a regular voice but he just couldn't do it. It was pretty funny.

So we have managed to survive without Gramma, barely. Cody left two days after my mom and was gone for three days. I was a little panicky at first but it went pretty well. I was a little grumpier than I needed to be but on the whole not bad. Of course, Morgan did pray that "Mommy would stop yelling and hitting," but I don't think any of us were too scarred by the whole experience of being on our own together. And for the record, I don't hit but spank and only on a rare occassion. Yelling however I do WAY too much of. I have to work on that...just thought I'd clear that up:)

Fall with Gramma Goodier

Sadly, Gramma Goodier had to go back to Florida this week. We're not sure how we are going to get along without her but I guess we'll find out. We had a lot of fun spending this fall with her and are so grateful for everything she did for us. We're most grateful for her time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

So here are lots of random pictures from the past few weeks with Gramma. Newest favorite picture ever! Enough said!

This past Saturday morning Cody needed to finish raking up the ton of leaves that were still in our backyard so that they could get picked up this week. Since mom, the kids and I were not going to be very helpful, we asked a young man in our ward to come help. Daniel was a huge help and Morgan and Pepper loved playing with him. Oh, and Pepper is screaming because one tiny leaf went down her shirt.

These two are such great helpers.

Gotta love that big smile.

Camera shy.

Just an example of how we like to save space around this house. If you can't tell Morgan is sitting on my side and Pepper is on my legs. Thanks guys for making me feel wanted.

Pepper pretending to be Mrs. Potato Head.

Saving more space while mommy tries to have a snack.

Big smiles for time spent hanging out with Daddy.

Pepper has finally been allowed to watch some movies on the "baby tv" and she is very proud of herself.

"Sisters, sisters...there were never such devoted sisters!"

Hazel looks super excited about this whole matching hat thing.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to get Pepper to stop scratching her nose?! Maybe one day her nose will heal.

This past Sunday was stake conference but since Hazel and I were not going, everyone decided to stay home. It was a really nice day, cloudy but warm for fall, so we decided to take a long walk to see a big wasp nest mom had spotted driving home one day.

We were all very excited to be out of the house and run off some energy.

We made it to the wasp nest.

Cody and his big girl enjoying the fall weather.

Thank you again, Gramma Goodier for coming and spending so much time with us. We loved having you here and are so glad you finally made it for the actual birth of our newest baby. We already miss you like crazy. Come again anytime:)

Hazel, Hazel, Hazel...yay for baby Hazel!

So here's what you've all been waiting for. Tons and tons of pictures of Hazel...mostly cute pictures of her sleeping but every once in awhile she has her eyes open. We are just loving our little miss Hazel. She is such a sweet baby and hardly ever cries. When she finally does make a noise, besides squeaking when she's trying to wake up, all you have to do is pick her up and she stops. Where has this baby been all my life?!

She is all cheeks!

Such a cuddly little pink girl.

Always such a great place to take a nap, on daddy's chest.

Or Gramma's.

This girl can sleep through anything, even oddly positioned arms.

She has really long skinny feet and toes. Oh, and for those who understand I think I finally have a child who inherited my toes. Sorry, Hazel.

This picture just cracked me up. Doesn't it look like she's hanging on a wall or something.

Her "I'm filling my diapers right now" face.

More fun expressions.

"Life is so hard I guess I'll sleep some more."

"What did you call me?"

"Ooohhh, that sounds fun, let's do that!"

Morgan just can't get enough of his new baby sister and makes sure he includes her in all prayers. He gets upset if anyone forgets to mention her. Such a good big brother...at least to this sister, kneeling on the back of Pepper's neck earlier was not his finest moment.

Pepper's new favorite picture face.

Hanging out on the new blanket Grandma Adams made for her waiting for her first regular bath.

As with everything else in her life, she quietly enjoyed the new experience.

We are just loving this little baby to bits. I still look forward to her sleeping in her own room through the whole night, but right now I couldn't ask for a better baby. Seriously, she only wakes up like once a night...I'm sure I'm jinxing myself here, but I really could not have asked for a better baby.