Merry Christmas....and Happy Birthday!

For those of you who don't know....Ross's birthday is also on Christmas. He turned 27 this year, which is crazy! I am so thankful for Ross and all he does for me and Annabelle, so I wanted to make sure that his birthday wouldn't go unmentioned in this post.

We celebrated Christmas eve and morning with my family. We spent the night at my parents house. We all got new jammies, as usual, and so did the kidlets. Mine also double as exercise attire (I am not sporting them in any of the pics however).

Annabelle opening her stocking....with the help of Miss Bradee Jane, of course.

Cooper and Anna playing with the cups that were in her stocking. You can stack em' up on top of each other (which Anna loves knocking down) or inside of each other. Nothing special, but she liked them.

Anna got some new books from Grandma & Grandpa Overman...which are always a hit with her.

But I think her favorite toy was her new xylophone. All the kids, and grown ups, had to take their turn playing a song or two. It has only been a few days and the nose seems to be getting continuously louder.

Annabelle got a plethora of toys from Santa, her aunts/uncles and both grandparents...to many to take pictures and post. But I had to show off my favorite new dress for Anna. Just as I work at AE for the discount...my mom works at Gymboree so that we can use hers. Shopping for Annabelle's clothes are just as fun as shopping for mine.

Later that night we went to the in-laws for Christmas and to celebrate Ross's birthday. We had dinner, cake, and ice cream and opened presents. Did I mention I love the holidays?!

Ross got surround sound and an dvd player/up converter for the new tv.

As well as a new flat screen monitor for the computer....men and their electronics!

I was spoiled again this year. I got everything I asked for including, but not limited to: weights, a new exercise ball and workout dvds, clothing of all sorts, whitening strips, a massage certificate, many gift cards to restaurants, the 2nd season of The Office and a membership to Costco.

I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas. We love you all and are grateful for your friendship.

First Birthday

We celebrated Miss Annabelle's birthday with our families on Sunday at my mom's house. Anna had her cousin Bradee to help her open her presents. Most kids like the wrapping paper and boxes at this age...not Anna, she liked the toys!

She got toys, stuffed animals (monkey, of course), books and clothing...thanks everyone for the great presents!

Annabelle's cake. I made 2 because I expected Anna to at least play in hers. WRONG!

She loved being sang to and being the center of attention (no surprise there), but she didn't want to touch her cake. Maybe it was too big? So I cut her a slice. When she finally touched it she did not like the sticky feeling the frosting created in her hands. She would just stare at her hands and mush the frosting in her palms. I even tried feeding some to her and she didn't want anything to do with it. It was all quite anti-climactic.

Today we took Annabelle to the doctor for her regular check up. I was really hoping that she would hit the 20lb mark so she could sit in a forward facing car seat. She weighed in at 19lbs 5 oz. So close! The doctor said to wait a few weeks and hopefully she can get a new car seat - I know she would enjoy sitting forward a lot more so she can see everything.

**Side Note: She was 29.1 inches long (47th percentile) and in the 75th percentile for her head. She got her shots, which she did not like, and now is crying herself to sleep on her HUGE pillow...kidding.

Drumsticks and Thunder Thighs

This is a short post, but last night Annabelle was hanging out with her cousins and getting picked on because of her size...as usual. So I challenge each of you to guess who is who...Annabelle will be a year tomorrow, Maddie is 10 months today and Cooper is 7 1/2 months.

My family teases me that I don't feed my daughter (which I do!) and that she will forever have chicken legs like her mother...I am sorry if the latter is true.

I know it really isn't hard to guess, especially in this last picture. I like this picture however, because you can tell how Anna can't sit still ever! Yesterday she took 3 whole steps by herself from me to grandma Dinsdale; it won't be long till she is walking.

P.S. My post title is like the before and after on Wheel of Fortune - I love game shows.

Utah vs. Utah State

Last night we went to the U of U vs. Utah State basketball game with some friends. Ross and I put on our Aggie shirts and put Annabelle in the only blue shirt she owned and we ventured out for a good time.We had a really good seats, that just happened to be in the middle of a sea of red. However, everyone was still nice to us...maybe because we weren't wearing their wrong kind of blue (if you know what I mean) or maybe because we have such a cute daughter. There were a significant amount of Aggie fans who attended as well.


This was Anna's first basketball game and she had such a good time. The hawk came right by us and she couldn't take her eyes off of him. He gave her a high five and then shook his head at me (my Aggie apparel).

Even though we didn't leave until 10 PM and her bed time is usually around 8:30, she liked staying up late. She loved being around so many people and having lots to look at - she couldn't sit still.

This would be my wonderful friend Ally who attends the U of U, but used to go to USU...hence the neutral colors. Thanks again to her and her husband for the great seats. The Aggie's lost big time; they were no match to the HUGE guys on Utah's team.

Getting SO Big!

These are videos from last week. I know I do a lot of videos, sorry. I think I have the same amount of videos on our camera as I do pictures. Oh well.

Anna's new favorite game is playing peek-a-boo. She has always liked this game, only now she is the one who likes to be hiding.

We got Anna a little walker last week and this was her first day with the toy. At first I couldn't get her to even walk with it because she just want to play with all the buttons or push it while crawling on her knees. She does a lot better now, although she still walks like a zombie :) This walker also converts to a scooter to sit on when she's older - cool huh?! It is so crazy to think in less than 3 weeks I am gonna have a ONE YEAR OLD!

Thanksgiving Weekend

This year for Thanksgiving, we were with the Kennington clan (my mother-in-laws family). Everything was great; really though, how can you go wrong with a holiday all about food? Ross's aunt Bonnie makes the MOST fabulous stuffing ever with cranberries and apples and....it's just heavenly and I had been looking forward to it for the past 2 years!


Anna had her first taste of pie. I made a triple berry pie (blackberries, raspberries and blueberries) and I figured it wouldn't be so bad if I just gave her the berries from the pie.


She LOVED it! The pictures don't do her justice. Her lips were stained red from the berries.


The Kennington's had a Wii and I have heard how fun they are and had yet to play this game. So I challenged Chelsea to a game of tennis...and won; Caleb to a game of boxing...and won; Ross took his turn...and I won again. Booyah! But then, Ross's cousin Gordon (who is, I think, 12?) was my next opponent, and he beat me in record time. It brought me back to reality quite quickly. And I have to admit, my arms are a tad sore from boxing. So very sad.



Then came Black Friday...who would have ever pictured Ross to be one of those who got up at 4:30AM to stand in line?! He wanted a flat screen so bad and they were having this uber good deal on a 37" at Target. He had to run past people and fight his way through. But he did it! He said there were almost 20 and he grabbed the 3rd to last and by the time he was walking away from the display...there were none!

He came home and set it up that day. He had to take apart the entertainment center because the tv wouldn't fit and ended up taking the entire top off and just leaving the bottom. The only problem now is, I have this huge empty wall that wasn't there before. Any ideas of what we could put/do with the above space?

Hope everyone elses Thanksgivings were enjoyable!

Lack of blogging

I haven't posted in while, yet again, because of the lack of pictures we have been taking. But here is a little peek into what we have been up to this last week.

Two weekends ago we went up to Ogden to the sealing and blessing of lil' Ava to her parents (Ross's high school buddy) and,of course, we forgot the camera for that part. After, we hung out with the Dinsdales and played a ruthless game of Phase 10 (I won). Anna and her cousin Danika just played with each other. Anna kept trying to pick Danika's nose.

This last Saturday was our ward's "SUPER Saturday." I found out just how UNcrafty I really was. I decided to make two projects and I told Ross I wouldn't be gone long (I don't know why I though it wouldn't take me long); I was one of the last to leave. Maybe I am destined to just admire this talent in others.

Monday night Ross and I went to the Jazz game with his parents and his little brother and their fam. Anna's aunt Chelsea (not to be confused with Anna's other aunt, Chelsie) drove down to watch Anna- thanks again! I took the camera, but the batteries were dead. So these were taken with our cell phones.

Our tickets were in the upper bowl, which I find to be funner than the lower bowl because of the people around us. The funny little kids, crazy fans and the drunks alike. Plus, the Jazz won - It was a good time had by all!

Lately when it's Anna's bath time and she takes off for the tub, she has been trying to swing her leg up and get in by herself. I hope she isn't able to accomplish this for a while or there will be bruises to follow.

However, the real reason I haven't posted for while is because I have been caught up in the book series "Twilight." There have been a few days of not exercising or getting ready for the day, so that I could just read.


I started reading the first book last Monday and I am done with the third book (this includes a few days off I had given myself so I could actually get things done). My mom heard they were good and bought them, but I didn't want to start them knowing I would do exactly that. But thanks anyway...anyone who hasn't read them yet...BEWARE!

HaLlOwEeEeN!

I haven't posted in forever because I planned on posting on the fun we had for Halloween; however, I forgot to take my camera and had to get some of these pictures from my sister Lacie. So here they are....

We took all the kiddos trick-or-treating at Papa's work. We went from office to office to collect candy. However, most people just thought Bradee was collecting (seeing how the rest were so young). So I would stand there with the bag out and Anna on my hip until they asked if I wanted some candy too. Hey! I gotta look out for my husband!

This is the best picture we could get of so many kids on my dad's desk. Anna kept trying to crawl off the desk, Bradee and Maddie were distracted by Anna and each other, while Cooper just looked around like "These girls are crazy?!"

Anna was lovin' on her sixlets. She was like this for probably a half an hour just sucking on the package, grunting and laughing at herself. It was pretty entertaining. Needless to say the chocolate was all melted inside once she was done.

Later that night, Ross took Anna trick-or-treating at the University Mall. They didn't get a lot of candy, but it's not like she could have any, so it was no big deal....or could she??

Ross gave her a sucker and I freaked out at first, but she knew exactly what to do with it. It only lasted about 2 minutes before she had had enough. Phew!! All I could think of is her two little teeth being rotted away with sugar. I know...I am a little paranoid!

P.S. For all of those who knew me and my craziness I call a childhood...I didn't misspell Halloween :)

I've been tagged

5 things I was doing 10 years ago:
1. Trying to grow my hair back out from the mushroom bob
2. Dancing with Rhythm Plus at good ol' Dance Est.
3. Selling suckers at school to earn money to go to the E.D.G.E. dance studio in Cali
4. Watching Clueless
5. Shoppin at Contempo for smiley faced anything


5 things on my to-do list today:
1. Vacuum
2. Clean bathrooms
3. Go to the gym
4. Call visiting teacher companion (I only got a week left!)
5. Go to work


5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Fiber One Bars (they are like candy I tell you!)
2. Kashi TLC crackers with peanut butter
3. Yogurt and granola
4. Apples with peanut butter (I REALLY like peanut butter with anything)
5. Roasted Almonds


5 songs I know the lyrics to:
1. Salt n' Peppa "Shoop"
2. House of Pain "Jump Around"
3. Blink 182 "The Party Song"
4. Fountains of Wayne "I want an alien for Christmas" (especially if he looked liked Max from Roswell)
5. Cake "The Distance"


5 things I would do if I was a millionaire:
1. Pay of Ross's student loans
2. Buy a home
3. Buy new furniture for my new home
4. Get a new car
5. Invest!


5 bad habits:
1. Staying up late
2. Telling Ross a specific time I will be home from something (it will usually be at least 15 minutes later than I told him, much to his dismay)
3. Working at American Eagle/buying too many clothes
4. Not calling people back
5. Eating so much peanut butter


5 things I would never wear again:
1. Keds
2. Huge frilly bows in my hair
3. Tapered denim pants
4. My brothers Guess t-shirts 10 sizes to big with the sleeves rolled
5. Fluorescent anything


5 favorite toys:
1. Annabelle and Ross
2. Computer
3. Cell Phone
4. Jogger Stroller/Treadmill
5. Camera


People tagged:
1. Brynn - I think you are the only one on my list who hasn't been tagged by someone for some various form of a tag. I was supposed to fo 5 people, but since everyone else has been tagged recently.....

Our Crazy Daughter

Over the weekend Anna made us laugh quite a few times. First was Friday evening; Ross and I were getting Anna ready for bed, which includes giving her a bath. While the tub was filling up and I was gathering her stuff, Ross was changing her diaper. She must have been super excited about her bath because as soon as her diaper was off she bee lined it straight for the bathroom. I turned around to see this lil' naked girl crawling right towards the tub. She pulled herself up to the tub, but couldn't get herself in (thank goodness!) Once I put her in, she had a blast! For some reason, this video wouldn't upload to blogger, so you gotta follow the link to watch.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6373107280864435925&hl=en

I know I have mentioned how much Anna likes to read her books and I don't know if it's just me, but I think it's so funny! Sometimes it actually looks like she is reading the books to herself. This is before she went to bed that evening. Sorry, it's kind of dark.

I was getting Annabelle ready for the day the following morning (hence she is only wearing her onsie) and she went over to her key board and started dancing. I tried to capture it on video, but the batteries went dead before I could get her REALLY jammin'. But it's still funny.

I know I have mentioned how she likes to pull everything out from under the entertainment center, but now she likes to get in it as well. She likes when I open and close the door while she is inside and play 'peek-a-boo' she is just the right size!

I know it was a lot of videos to tolerate, but at least you had Ross's voice to narrate 2 of them this time. Seriously, I spend half my day just laughing at my daughter - she cracks us up!

Trick-or-Treat

Since everyone else is posting pictures of their kids in their Halloween costumes, I thought I would share some of Anna with you. She will be a fairy this year. I was so worried that the costume would be too big for her, but as you can tell, it's not. Ross thinks she looks like the fat kid in class who wears clothes that are too small. It really isn't too small for her though.




I gave her my phone to play with and then took it away so I could get this picture of her. She was not happy about it at all.


She is constantly grabbing at her headband and shoes, but I figure for the short time she will be wearing it, it's all good. And yes, she will be trick-or-treating this year. Ross has been looking forward to this part of fatherhood since before we were even pregnant.

What We've Been Up To

I know it has been a while since I posted last, but I couldn't really think of anything to post about. There wasn't anything spectacular that happened that deserved its own post. However, looking back over the last couple of weeks there were a few things that TOGETHER could make a good post, I suppose.





On September 29 I ran a 5K with my dear friend Barb at the American Fork Hospital. Our goal was to beat the hospital administrator (if you did, you won free movie tickets). We both beat him and now we both have a paid date night for the future. I actually got first place in my age division and Anna loved playing with the medal.

Ross loves making Anna do things he likes to do and to document the moments by making me take pictures. Anna looks as enthused about playing X Box as I do.

The other day I was feeding Anna her breakfast when she took a huge bite and then sneezed. She has done this before and made a mess, but this sneeze must have had some extra force with some extra food. This is my arm covered in mixed veggies and the wall behind me sporting them as well.

And finally, the other day while Ross and I were eating dinner, Anna was hanging out in her high chair, eating some rice puffs and listening to us talk. Ross has been trying to convince me how he needs an X Box 360. Somewhere in the conversation, I forget how it exaclty was brought about, I said "Yeah! An X Box 360!" in a very sarcastic voice. We looked at Anna in her high chair and she was clapping and saying "Yeah!" It was too funny. She is trained! Although, Ross took it as a sign that he really should get the X Box. So I thought I would post her showing off her talent.

The many faces of Annabelle

Chelsie inspired me to do a post on the many faces of Anna (much like her many faces of Cooper post). So here we go....

What?! Isn't this a toy drawer?

I'm so innocent

Pick me up Mommy....NOW!

OH! That is sooo interesting!

And my most recent favorite - Fishy Face!

My weekend

We left Thursday evening, after dropping Anna off with my "cousin aunt" (as Ross calls her) Pam, and headed to St. George. Since we got there late, we didn't do anything that evening. Although I was so excited to sleep in, I must be used to getting up with Anna every morning and I woke up at 7:30 AM (much to Ross's dismay). We got breakfast and decided we would walk to the temple and go through a session.


It was such a beautiful day and I miss how you can walk pretty much from anywhere TO anywhere in St. George in a short amount of time. We got there right when one session was starting and the next one didn't start for 40 minutes and it was nice not worrying about leaving Anna that long. But, by the time we got out, walked back, changed and got somewhere to eat, it was like 2:00 PM.



Ross picked where we were going for lunch and I really didn't care but....



....we ended up here. Now I don't know if it was because we ate here or if it was because I didn't have much for breakfast, it had been a long time since I had ate and then I ate a lot, but shortly after I didn't feel so good. We headed to the store to get something for my tummy and when we got outside I took the bad from Ross, took the stuff out and gave it to him and puked right there unto the bag in the parking lot.

So we drove around for a bit, headed back to the hotel and I took a nice nap (something I haven't done in a while, but considering the circumstances...) When I woke up we decided to go to the movies and we had about 10 minutes to make the 7 o'clock show (once again, something we haven't been able to do in a while). We saw the Bourne Ultimatum and it was FANSTASMIC!

When we got back we went to the pool and swam until the pool closed for the night. And it's a good thing we went when we had a chance cause the next morning we woke up to this.


I have never seen it rain so hard for so long in St. George! The streets were flooding. We were planning on going on a hike and hanging out outside today, but obviously we did not check the weather before we planned our trip and got our days mixed up and did all the inside stuff yesterday. So we ended up heading back a little early and it rained the ENTIRE way home!

Although, it may sound like this is a story straight from the life of Brynn and Nate or that I didn't have fun, it's untrue. We really did have a good time. Most of all, we handled being without Anna much better than expected and she didn't even seem to miss us at all :( She had too much fun hanging out with her cousins and being spoiled with all the attention. Thanks again to Pam and my mom and dad who watched her. I think we might be doing something like this again...hint hint!