Top Ten

Here's the Top Ten reasons why I am excited to be having another girl:

10. Girls rule; Boys drool!
9. I'll have 3 helpers to do the dishes for me.
8. I can bathe them at the same time--saving me time and also money on our water bill.
7. We can go shopping together when they are older--maybe this won't save us money!
6. I get to plan 3 weddings and pick out 3 beautiful wedding dresses with my daughters someday.
5. I get to threaten the lives of 3 young men who want to marry my daughters.
4. No psycho daughter-in-law
3. No Thomas the Train toys
2. The toilet seat will be down more often than not!
1. Sugar and Spice and all things nice, that's what little girls are made of!!!

Where do I begin...

So, I have lots of blogging material and I just can't keep up! So, here I go trying my best to update my blog. I think I'll start at Thanksgiving (even though I could probably go back further).

Thanksgiving '08

This Thanksgiving we traveled down to Mesa, Arizona to visit Abe's sister, Stacie. She's Mackenzie's "favorite aunt" and also the "best girl in the world" according to Mackenzie herself. Sorry to the other aunts out there! Abe's parents and all of his siblings along with spouses joined us there(except for Ryan--he's on his mission still). It was so much fun to spend time around family. We don't have much here in Vegas, just a "foster" child (Abe's brother who is living with us). Most people would probably think I am crazy that I want to hang out with my in-laws but they are lots of fun and really good people. I definitely married into a great family. We spent lots of time playing games and hanging out. It was kind of rainy down there and not super warm. Saturday was fairly nice so we took the girls and their cousin, Calli to a park and then to the Mesa Temple to check out the lights.

Feeding the Ducks at the park





Brooklyn and Calli on the Slide

Mackenzie doing "gymnastics"

Abram teaching Mackenzie how to throw a frisbee

Mackenzie and Stacie and Austin

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Abram with Brooklyn

Grandma Tammy and Mackenzie

Grandpa Kendall and Brooklyn

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The Magical Forest

This past Monday, I took the girls to the Magical Forest with Mackenzie's preschool. The Christmas trees were so beautiful and Mackenzie had a blast with her friends. Brooklyn was not very interested except for the train. She's such a funny girl.

Macky and her friends

Brooklyn looking confused

Mackenzie and Brooklyn in front of the Peanuts display

Riding the train (Brooklyn did like this even though it doesn't look like she is.)

Mackenzie in Santa's sleigh

This is so funny! Macky and Brooke both got to meet Santa! Brookie freaked out! Just like last year! Check out and compare the two photos!

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My girls!

So, we get to find out if we are having a boy or another girl in less than two weeks. Christmas day is the big day! It will be exciting regardless of what we are having. I think lots of people are hoping we have a boy. I know Abram really wants a son. But, would three girls be so bad? We have the best girls in the world. They are beautiful, smart, compassionate and very loving. I couldn't have asked for better kids. They seriously were the perfect babies. Brooklyn rarely cried at all. They both slept through the night super early. They were just so cute, calm and happy. And for the most part, they still are. Mackenzie and Brooklyn have been such a blessing in our lives. So, if another sweet girl comes along, it will still be very exciting. I just hope nobody comes up to me and says, "Oh, you're having another girl," because I'll probably punch them! I never said they got their sweetness from me!!!

Abram reading a bedtime story with his girls. He does this every night with them.

Mackenzie let me style her hair today. We curled it with the curling iron. She's so pretty. I can't believe how fast she is growing up!

Bodies!

The following is a conversation Mackenzie and I had about our bodies:

Mackenzie: (Just as she and Brooklyn were getting ready for bathtime) Mom, me and Brooklyn both have bodies!

Me: Wow! Who gave you your body?

Mackenzie: Jesus!

Me: Why did he give us bodies?

Mackenzie: So we can poop!

Brooklyn turns TWO!

November 13, 2008

I can't believe our little "baby" is 2 years old! She had a wonderful birthday and loves her new baby doll. She named it "Ella" even though I think she was trying to say "Dora."

I can have my cake and eat it too!!

A new cradle for "Ella"

Baby "Ella" arrives

Grandma and Grandpa Rutter sent me a musical star.

Halloween--finally, I know

I know, it's been almost 3 weeks since Halloween. Better late than never, I guess. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, but this year wasn't the best. Why? Because I feel like death everyday! Okay, a little over dramatic there. The girls did have lots of fun though. Macky got to dress up several times for dance class, preschool, the ward trunk-or-treat and then finally for Halloween night. Abe took them down our street to get candy and I took them down another block. They made out like bandits! Brooklyn's bucket (or "umpkin" as she called it) was completely full. She refused to let me hold it for her. It was so heavy she could barely hold it. I thought her little arm was going to break off.

Beautiful Belle

The Itsy-Bitsy Spider

Halloween '08

Maybe a boy...Probably a girl

We are happy to announce that we are expecting our 3rd child. This is the reason I haven't been blogging much lately. I just haven't felt very normal lately! Not only do I feel sick at my stomach, but I have horrible headaches. Abram and Mackenzie have been so good to help me while I have been sick. I can't wait to feel better. I am now just over 12 weeks along and my due date is May 23rd. We recently got pictures of the baby. I think it looks like Abe. What do you think?

Pumpkin Pickin'

These pictures are a little late but they are here at last. A couple of weeks ago we went with Mackenzie's preschool to the pumpkin patch in North Las Vegas. It was fun watching Macky hunt for and pick out a pumpkin for school. She wanted a big one. Brooklyn picked out a pumpkin too. Afterwards, we ate pumpkin bread and had fresh apple cider from the orchard. Yum!

Just a few questions....

The following is a quiz my friend Becky posted on her blog. It was really cute how her daughter answered the questions, so I thought I would asked them to Mackenzie. Here's how she responded:

1.What is something dad always says to you? Go to the corner.
2.What makes dad happy? When I listen.
3.What makes dad sad? When I scare him.
4.How does dad make you laugh? When he says silly songs.
5.What was daddy like as a child? He liked toys.
6.How old is dad? Big now--12
7.How tall is dad? Big tall.
8.What is dad’s favorite thing to do? Work at his work.
9.What does dad do when you’re not around? He laughs.
10.What is dad really good at? At being happy.
11.What is dad not good at? At listening.
12.What’s dad job? Working at the computer.
13.What makes you proud of dad? When he is happy and good.
14. What do you and dad do together? We go to his work.
15.How are you and dad the same? We are skinny.
16. How are you and dad different? He has different hair.
17. How do you know dad loves you? He gives me kisses.


1.What is something mom always says to you? You can get out of the corner.
2.What makes mom happy? When I am good.
3.What makes mom sad? When I bite her like a crocodile and make a hole on her knee.
4.How does mom make you laugh? When she tells me there is a goose outside flying at us to eat us.
5.What was mommy like as a child? She liked animals.
6.How old is mom? 11
7.How tall is mom? This big (holding her arms about a foot apart).
8.What is mom’s favorite thing to do? Clean the dishes.
9.What does mom do when you’re not around? She plays.
10.What is mom really good at? Computers.
11.What is mom not good at? At listening to me.
12.What’s mom’s job? Cleaning up rooms.
13.What makes you proud of mom? When she listens to me sometimes.
14. What do you and mom do together? We play.
15.How are you and mom the same? We love each other.
16. How are you and mom different? Hair, glasses and eyes are different.
17. How do you know mom loves you? I don’t know.

Have you ever heard of the game called Soccer?

Mackenzie's first day at Soccer Camp.

Happy Birthday, Mackenzie!

Mackenzie's fourth birthday was last week. I can't believe she is four! We decided not to have a birthday party since we just got home from our trip. Instead, we had a birthday dinner and opened presents. Grandma Hoover and Great Grandma Powell came to visit Macky for her birthday.

Brooklyn thinks it was her birthday too. She loves this scooter!

Trip to Washington D.C.

Arlington National Cemetary

Mackenzie at JFK's grave site.

Brooklyn, the sign says stay off the wall!

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Brooklyn on the Metro

The National Mall

April and the girls in front of the Capitol

The first day, the girls and I set off on the subway to go to the National Zoo. Mackenzie loved the turtles, the pandas and especially the elephant who decided it needed a bathroom break right in front of us. Somebody should really have his bladder checked! Brooklyn was quited fussy that day--still adjusting to jet lag, I'm sure. We came back to the hotel where she took a much needed nap on her "special bed" that Abe made her. He basically just threw some pillows in the floor. After Abe was done with his classes, we grabbed a bite to eat and then headed off to see the White House, Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial. We walked and walked and walked!!! Finally we caught the subway and headed back to the hotel for some much needed zzzzzz! Stay tuned for the pictures from the rest of the week.