The Randomness of January

So January was really busy. We had a lot of fun events, but here's some pictures that didn't make it into our other posts: 

I can't figure out how to get this picture to go the right way, but it is too cute to not post. 

I love taking Brynnli to church. I absolutely love getting her dressed up, and I love that she gets to hang out with me for two hours during Relief Society and Sunday School, just the two of us (and the rest of the people who stare at her adorableness... yes, it is a word).

 Makayla is now in Sunbeams and she LOVES it!

On the first day, her teachers came and told us that she was so good and was answering all the questions. They also told us that she volunteers to say the prayers every time. I have to wonder how that goes since we have never taught her how to pray,  but she must be catching on because she tells us we need to say the prayer all the time. Last night we were having banana bread and she said the following in her prayer, "Heavenly Father, Cheezits Christ, thank you for this day, thank you for banana bread, and thank you for plates. Amen." I was trying so hard not to laugh!

Makayla has also become our moral compass. Every time I get mad at her or Caden, she tells me, "Heavenly Father is so mad at you because you are being mean to us. You need to be nice and then Cheezits will like you." Thanks Makayla for keeping us all on track.

Caden is in nursery by himself, and he is struggling with it a little bit. He relies on Makayla a lot, and now that she's in Sunbeams, he doens't know what to do without his best friend. Every time we start driving to church, Caden starts crying and tells me, "I will be scared in my room." It breaks my heart every time I have to leave him there, and I can hear him crying the whole way as I am walking to Relief Society. But every time we pick him up, he is always so happy and so proud of the picture he colored. As hard as it is to leave him, I think it is really good to help him get some confidence.

Speaking of Caden, this should come as no shock: Caden is a picky eater. He rarely eats what I make for dinner. Some days we pretend to be strict parents, and we tell him he can't leave the dinner table until he finishes his dinner... so he falls asleep on his chair.

 I know, we are mean parents.

Makayla got a bike for Christmas and Daddy taught her how to ride it. It took her a few times to get it, but now she's pro!

 Brynnli is so lucky because she has the greatest brother and sister to watch over her. They are always so good to make sure Brynnli has everything she needs. They still like to hold her all the time, and they still smother her a lot. In fact, I think I have to say at least once a day, "Caden, get out of Brynnli's face!" or "She doesn't like it when you lay on her!"

 Plus Makayla and Caden are so nice to share their toys. We all had a good laugh at this one.

 Snuggles with Daddy! FYI, have I mentioned that Brynnli is now rolling? She can roll both ways now. She obviously didn't get the memo that said she had to stay three months forever. I'm really struggling with the fact that she has to grow up.

 Just being adorbs (Yes, that's a real word, too)

 One night Tyler was helping the kids get ready for bed while I was getting Brynnli down. When I was done I came out to see this. I don't think I have ever laughed so hard.

 Pretending to be sad

 Brynnli is loving her new hand-me-down toys. Love her huge smile!

 Yep, 2015 is off to a great start! January was busy, but we love our busy lives... even if it leaves us feeling like this:

A Frozen Event

Since about June of last year, Makayla has told me she wants an "Elsa and Anna party" for her birthday. In fact, Makayla has her birthday parties planned out for the next five years. I told her before we get too ahead of ourselves, we need to focus on one party at a time, so we started planning her Frozen 4th birthday. 

Do you know the great thing about Tyler? I tell him what theme we have in mind, and he comes up with all the great details to make it perfect. To get us in the Frozen spirit, Tyler came up with (aka looked on the internet) for all these ideas. We had the drink and cupcake table set up with Frozen icy blue drink, and a pitcher of water with a sign of Olaf that said, "Some people are worth melting for." Get it? The snowman melted into a pitcher of water.

 On the main table we had a picture of Makayla when we were in Disneyland and she met Elsa and Anna, plus some marshmallows, pretzels, chocolate chips, and orange tic-tacks with a sign that said, "Do you want to build a snowman?"

 On the tables we had M and M's with a sign that said, "I want to stuff some chocolate in my face"

 and this one with Hershey Kisses that said, "A kiss to melt a Frozen heart."

 If you've seen the movie a million times like we have, you totally get all of these, but if you haven't seen the movie, just smile like you think it's cute.

The rest of the basement was decorated as such:

 After dinner we opened presents. Makayla got spoiled again with a lot of Frozen gifts, Tinkerbell toy, Cabbage Patch Kid (named Makayla), and clothes.

Thanks to all of our family and friends for supporting our sweet birthday girl!

 We were about to have cake and ice cream when a special visitor knocked on the door... And you wouldn't believe it, but it was Elsa herself!

 She crowned Makayla as a special princess, then talked to all the kids about her special powers

 Then she sang "Let it go"

 After that she took time to take pictures with all the kids.

 Makayla was really shy of Elsa through the whole thing, but since then she has been telling me and every person, "I can't believe Elsa came to my birthday party!"

 Hannah and Brynnli posed with Elsa

 And Caden looks just thrilled. He really was, but he was just scared of her.

 To end our fun Frozen party, we sang Happy Birthday to Makayla and she got to blow out the candle on her Elsa cupcake.

Happy Birthday Makayla! Hope you loved your Frozen party. Now it's time to start planning your 5th birthday. 

Brynnli's Blessing Day

January 31 was a very special day for our little Brynnli because it was her blessing day! She looked absolutely beautiful in her blessing dress, which was also Makayla's blessing dress. 

We decided to bless Brynnli at our house and we had so many family and friends come support us on her special day. 

My dad gave her a very beautiful and humbling blessing that brought me to tears. We all feel so lucky that Brynnli decided to be part of our family, and we love her so much!