Christmas Pumpkins

 I think it was November 29th when we finally got around to carving our halloween pumpkins.

They had been sitting so prettily on our doorstep for Halloween and Thanksgiving, but with the cold and the change of season we couldn't just leave them sitting there while we were putting up Christmas lights.

So The girls rallied Tyler and they got to work.

Meanwhile I was gutting and cutting the second pumpkin to make what would turn out to be the most fantastic Pumpkin Chocolate chip muffins EVER. 

 The next day we went to Grandma Jake's house and spent the day making carmels and jellies for the traditional Brady chocolate dipping!

 These two are the best of friends.  They spend just about every minute of everyday running around together.  Playing fairies, or mommies or doggies or just sisters.  I am so glad they have each other.

 I've started making a list of their differences because they baffle me.  Heidi melts down if she finds berry residue in her pancakes- Alex LOVES berries.  Alex HATES mint and can detect it hidden in the slightest amounts.  Heidi constantly sneaks into the car dash to steal spearmint gum.  Therefore Alex hates Candycanes and so Heidi gets them all.  Alex puts up a fight to eat eggs, and Heidi will eat her share and then steal what's left of mine.

The girls are such a delight to have around.  I have to keep reminding myself that there are always phases, some good and some bad.  Within the past month or two we have entered the most amazing phase of them all thus far.  It gives me hope for the future when I start getting sad about my babies growing up and changing.  I miss 2 year old Alex, but 4 year old Alex is my best friend.

On Sunday Tyler and I snuck downstairs for a nap while the girls played contently upstairs after church.  When we got up we found this hilarious lego trail leading us from our bedroom door down the hall, up the stairs to the couches where there was a pile of books and a pile of goldfish for each person in the family.  Alex is the mastermind of so many hilarious little things, and Heidi is all too willing to help out and learn the tricks.

We've learned that Alex is teaching Heidi everything she knows.  I think we did a pretty good job teaching Alex, but if I had known this is how it would be, I would have spent a little more time refining the first child.

Yesterday we took the girls to the dollar store so Heidi could pick up a gift for Alex for Christmas.  She had decided on a bucket, mop, broom and other cleaning supplies because much to my delight- Alex LOVES cleaning!  Alex came around the corner and found us in the middle of our load and then happily helped Heidi fill up the bucket with the appropriate sponges, spray bottle and accessories she would need.  Today we took Alex to the toy store to pick something out for Heidi and I was blown away by her generosity, thoughtfulness and kindness in picking out a toy.  We had counted her money the day before and she was so excited that she had so much saved ($15 from Grandma's and helping clean the shop)  so she could get a big gift for Heidi and still have some to buy things for everyone else.  At the checkout counter she even splurged on a roll of mento's for Heidi and then decided to get one for herself also.  This was after she helped me sweep, mop, wash windows and take out the trash at the shop- happily with no complaints.
   Tyler and I are pretty pleased with our little gaggle of girls and can't wait for April and our little bundle to arrive.  I am excited for her arrival, the move, the new school and Alex entering Kindergarten, but I'm so nervous for these things as well!  When I was a teenager and single in college I couldn't wait for things to change and looked forward to the challenges and adventures that the unexpected brought.  Now I find myself trying to hold on to every day because my little angels are growing so fast!  There have been so many times these past few months that I've lain sick on the couch while watching Alex monkey from cupboard to cupboard getting Heidi her bowl, cereal and milk and then pouring it and proceeding to take care of her.  It melts my heart how sweet these girls are!
   

An Arizona Thanksgiving

This year was our "Brady" Thanksgiving.  This usually means we don't have to travel for the holiday because for most of the last 6 years we have been in Provo.  But we decided to do things a bit different and drive down to Arizona to visit Kate, Ben, Archie and Annie!!!

"When we went to the cact-atis- those were pokey" Heidi
The kids were great on the drive- we split it into 2 days and the scenery changed so often it was actually enjoyable.

Not our most photogenic moment.
 Heidi- "I was not smiling, i was just grumpy" Alex-"You were being grumpy at the ground."
We couldn't get over our excitement seeing the cacti.  These giant things were all over the place!

Heidi- "I got on it and the turtle was getting into the sea."
We arrived in Sahuarita Thursday afternoon to find that Ben and Kate had prepared a true Thanksgiving feast for us!  The kids picked up right where they had left off and played nicely and happily for the next 4 days straight.  We chatted and stuffed ourselves and went to bed early that night.

 Alex- "I'm trying to get on and Archie and Ben were already there, and the turtles were winning the race."

On Friday the kids slept in forever and then we headed to the park.  There was this great safari park with all these big bronze statues the kids could climb on and they loved it.  The trick of the entire trip was getting the girls to keep their sandals on.  Heidi's strapped to her feet but she kept pulling them off and running through scorpion country barefoot!

The boys went to Walmart accidentally on Black Friday- but it was the Walmart in a retirement community so apparently the traffic was about normal.  The big thing was Tyler coming back with a little digital camera!!!!  This is why I am actually in the pictures of our vacation, now I have my awesome big bulky camera, and he has his little pocket sized one and we are a happy family.

Friday night Kate and I skipped out on the boys and the kids to see a movie and get some girl time. We came back to find that the kitchen was clean, the children were fed AND bathed, they had watched a movie and were in their PJ's.   It was beyond amazing.  

Saturday it was decided to make the drive to the Ostrich farm!!!!!

 This reminds me of a picture I have of myself at about the same age, in about the same pose on a rock.

All our great family pictures are in the oddest of places- fish hatcheries, ostrich farms, I think I'll scope out landfills for this years Christmas card.

The Ostrich farm was pretty darn cool.

 We took a Monster truck tour of the place but somehow I didn't get a picture of the monster truck.  It was huge, the tires were taller than the adults and we had to walk up a big ramp to get into it.  Annie did not appreciate the ride and unfortunately Kate had to take her back to the van while the rest of us finished the ride.

The tour guide was a hoot and full of information, but when she started taking us offroading in this giant bus monster truck- I was picturing it rolling as she went off jumps and I thought maybe it wasn't the greatest idea to take the pregnant lady and all the kids on that ride.

 There you go, my first pregnancy photo.  I'm still clinging on to "normal" clothes- but perhaps I shouldn't be.

 Heidi wasn't at all timid about feeding the donkey's and deer by hand.  With the last of her giant cup of food Alex finally got the nerve and fed a deer by hand but then resorted to the cup when we tried to get a picture.  Heidi tried this technique and had her entire cup stolen by a deer.

 I think everyone's favorite was the Lorikeet cage.

 There were these big turtles walking around the kids could interact with.   Heidi informed Uncle Ben that these were small, because she had seen a bigger one once.

 When Kate and I are together ALL the kids defer to Kate's judgment and run to her with their problems and owies.  There was one moment though on the Monster truck in front of 20 people when Annie wouldn't stop crying.  Kate put her down and she ran straight to ME!  She chose ME over Oreo's!  I picked her up and she stopped crying for a good 2 minutes, but I had everyone on that bus convinced that I was the coolest Aunt around.

 Ben was the bird whisperer.  Not only could he attract the things to land on him by the arm fulls, but he didn't flinch and act like a 4 year old girl like I did.

 One landed on Heidi's head and she laughed nervously.  Alex was in a panic the entire time- but I can't blame her, all the swooping and landing of these big birds was crazy!

 Feeding the deer was my favorite part.  I had to laugh when Ben said "So let me get this straight, we are paying these people to give us food and let us feed their animals?!"  It was highway robbery- but so fun!

 The Ostriches were pretty cool!  They went nuts for the food and were a pretty strange site for a couple of toddlers.

 A sign said if you got pooped on your wish would be granted.  Fortunately no poop on my head, Unfortunately, no wish granted.

After the farm we went back home, picked up some pizza and went swimming!  Swimming the end of November and we were hot! Crazy.  The whole time we were there was like a time warp.  We were swimming outside at 3pm in November and it felt like 6pm in July.

 Saturday night was game night and pie and Sunday was full of walks and naps and lazy chats.  It was sad to think we would be leaving the next day, but we had packed our days full of fun.

Monday Tyler woke up at 3am and decided it was time to go.  We loaded into the car and snuck out of dodge.  We were up for hours before the sun rose and made it home just after sunset, about 6pm.  It was a long day of driving with only a couple stops, but the kids were great, it was fun, and Tyler and I MIGHT have actually agreed on a baby name- while confined in a car together for 15 hours.

It was a blast.  I highly recommend visiting.  Not Arizona, I don't think I'm a fan.  But the Brady's who live down there, THAT'S the attraction.

6th Anniversary

Wedding Day. November 18th, 2006. 

So it's our 6th wedding anniversary.  Today Alex brought me a piece of paper- on it was written the words, Mom, Dad, Alex and Lizzy.  Not a bad Anniversary gift, a reminder of all the blessings that have sprung from that wonderful day 6 years ago.  We are well on our way to marital bliss- although still figuring out this family thing a day at a time.  We enjoy a bright 4 year old who is learning how to write and a spunky 2 year old on the edge of potty training success, not to mention another little girl on the way!  Looking back it seems like we have been married for more like 10 years, we have been through a lot, grown a ton and ended up on a different path than we envisioned for ourselves in the beginning.  We've learned a lot of things the hard way, and are in no way close to "keeping up with the Jones",  but we are happy and finally feel like we are close to growing up.

1st Anniversary- Denver roadtrip- I was 5 months pregnant and barely showing- we were both going through a terrible haircut phase.

Here's to a husband who is finally starting to realize that I am actually hilarious after all.  Who wakes up at 5 to drive to work and returns home exhausted, but still wrestles and rilles up the kids for a solid hour before bedtime.  Who understands (or at least pretends to understand) that pregnancy women (or at least this one) don't like to be kissed, or hugged, touched or looked at and expect the Sun and the Moon plus a foot rub on top of working and being the perfect Dad.  A guy who respects the fact that it's not a party, or a date, book club or bedtime unless there is food involved.  And that no matter how many boys we may have after this 3rd little girl- his life, his decisions and his definition of fun- will always be ruled by his women.

2nd Anniversary- Road trip to Oregon. Alex was 8 months old- we were still adventurous.

3rd Anniversary- Got to overnight without the kid!  Went to exotic Heber for 15 hours. I was 3 months pregnant with Heidi- this begins the years of no pictures of us together.

Happy 6th Anniversary Tyler. We're getting old.

4th Anniversary- Both of us were sick.  We bought a wood burner and stole away for the night to make a growth chart for the kids.  Ordered domino's.  

 
 Friday we celebrated by getting Grandma and Grandpa to babysit while we made grand plans.  We went to the grocery store to pick up some bubbly for our chinese take out dinner that we planned on eating on the floor while watching a move, after doing some sealings at the temple on Friday night.  The man at the checkout stand asked us why we were all dolled up.  We informed him it was our anniversary and he said "I've got 2 pieces of advice for you.  1. Happy Wife, happy life.  2. Never go to bed angry with each other."  I looked over at Tyler and said "You remember that first one and we won't have to worry about the second."  We enjoyed the temple, sort of enjoyed the chinese food and I fell asleep during the movie on the couch.  I think I've either been pregnant or had a small child for each of our anniversaries- kind of looking forward to the stage of life where anniversaries are celebrated by weekends away, mini vacations and fancy meals.

5th Anniversary- Drove to SLC and did sealings at the temple after we ate philly steak sandwiches at a dive we had seen on Food network.  Didn't even get a picture of either of us in that month.

Didn't do a good job getting pictures of the kids either.

Well, the month isn't up yet so there is still time for Tyler and I to break the trend and not only take pictures of ourselves, but perhaps even get one together.  I'm 5 months pregnant and showing a LOT more then I did 3 kids ago and my hair is no longer awkward (at least I don't think so- we will check back in 5 years and find out).

Halloween- Kate week- and the first snow.

We got super lucky for Halloween this year and got to have Annie, Archie and Kate come visit for a week!  Things slowed down a bit after 4 days of nonstop fun, junk food and late nights, and we got 

to relax and enjoy the last few days as though they were never leaving.  

Halloween was a day of candy.  We took the kids to Grandma's office trick or treat party and then went straight to Grandma Jake's for pizza.  After that we ran home to get coats and head around the block.  Heidi and Annie made it about 6 houses before they went home and Grandpa and I took Alex and Archie around the rest of the neighborhood.

 This is Alex's response to me saying "You have 5 minutes to eat all the candy you want." She made it through about 3 pieces.  I've found this is the perfect way to let them feel like they are indulging, without actually letting them binge.

 Heidi and Tyler had spent the evening grazing through Heidi's candy and watching "Strawberry Shortcake" cartoons.  She was so exhausted she only ate about 3 M&M's.

 The rest of the week was just full of cousin fun.  We hung out with friends, and went to parks, visited DI and watched movies.

 The kids got along really well the whole time and surprised everyone!

 Saturday, while Tyler was in Pennsylvania interviewing for a spot in Chatham Universities PA program, I watched all the kids so Ben and Kate could go to their friend's wedding.

 I was the Mom walking around temple square pregnant, with 4 kids running around me.

 Luckily they were so well behaved and could be counted on to stop everything when a Bride would walk by.

 Annie was the little charmer that loved on everyone and made us feel like she had never left.  I might actually have a shot at favorite Aunt with this one.

 We finished the week off by celebrating Archie's 4th Birthday!

 I don't think I thanked him for requesting a giant chocolate Costco cake, and then leaving half of it behind when he went home to Arizona.

 Heidi loved to baby Annie, and Annie loved being a big girl.

 There was also lots of fun Grandma and Grandpa time.

 We were sad to see them go, but so happy they had come to visit!  It wasn't too hard to say goodbye seeing that we are driving to Arizona for Thanksgiving this year!

 Just after the cousins left, we got our first real snow of the season.  We weren't super prepared. And yes, I let my kids play outside looking like this.  I felt a lesson needed to be learned about snow and appropriate clothes, and there were no other adults around to stop me.

 It snowed all Friday and the next morning we woke up to a winter wonderland, complete with broken trees all over the neighborhood.  The girls and I spent the morning listening to Christmas music and playing in the snow, while Tyler walked the neighborhood with his chainsaw fixing trees.

 Heidi spent a good 20 minutes sitting at the window admiring all the snow, it was adorable!