4 MONTHS OLD!

Where is the time going?! I can't believe that we are already in Charly's 4th month on the 24th. She is the sweetest baby ever! I still can't seem to get enough of her. She is very alert and very interested in everything going on around her. She adores her sisters and always has the biggest smiles and coos for them. Her daddy is the love of her life. No one can make her laugh and giggle like him. Her newest accomplishments these past few weeks are rolling over from her tummy to back, laughing, talking non-stop, going from 40 min. cat naps to 3 hour naps in the morning and best of all....sleeping most nights 6pm-7am STRAIGHT!!! She is such a joy to have in our lives and we all couldn't imagine our family without her.

POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN

THE POLAR EXPRESS

A few days before Christmas T'chad had time off of work and we went to Durango, Colorado (one of my favorite places) to take the girls on the Polar Express Train. It left me speechless. I didn't know what to expect, all I thought was that it better be good because the tickets were a little pricey for an hour train ride. When that train pulled up it was magical and left me in tears. I don't know exactly why I was so emotional. I think knowing the story and then watching my 4 year old's face light up with excitement and wonder was truly priceless. Taiyah burst out crying when she saw the huge train come towards us because she thought that like the story and movie we were literally putting her on the train by herself to go up to the north pole. Addisyn on the other hand had a grin ear to ear the entire time. The baby was so great and the train's jerky movements lulled her to sleep the entire time. Everyone dresses in their pajamas and we take the train to the north pole to see santa. On the way they read the Polar Express story and serve hot chocolate and cookies. When we pulled up to the north pole we got to see Santa walk down the hill and onto our train. He then handed out a silver bell to each individual child and then wished us a merry christmas and left. Then on the way back Addie was chosen to help sing christmas carols to the rest of the train. It was such a great experience and the girls still talk about it. I highly recommend it to everyone with children!

WELCOMING A NEW YEAR

2009 was a great year for our family. I know that money has been tight and we've had to cut back on a few things, but overall, 2009 has brought us many wonderful memories and blessings. We started the year off by finding out I was pregnant with our 3rd girl. Taiyah graduated from preschool. Addie was accepted to a WONDERFUL preschool. We took many wonderful trips which included camping a few times, the lake a few more times, keeping cool in the pool and Taiyah learing how to swim! Durango and our wonderful roadtrip to Montana.Taiyah and Addie are really getting good at soccer and look forward to their practices and games each week. Addie started preschool and has grown leaps and bounds with her speech! She's riding the bus to school and learning so much. Taiyah started Kindergarden and suprises us and her teachers daily with her knowledge. Charly was a wonderful addition to our family. She is such a sweet, happy and mellow spirit. We ended the year with a great trip to Durango again with some friends and had a most amazing experience riding the Polar Express Train with the girls. We have all been healthy and happy and have grown closer as a family. We've turned off the TV more and read books and play lot's of games instead. We are so blessed and grateful for all that we truly have. We are excited to close on a wonderful year and to open new adventures in 2010. We love and miss all our friends and family that we don't get to see as often as we would like and keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

ALMOST 3 MONTHS OLD!!

BEST 9 YEARS OF MY LIFE

T'chad and I recently had our 9th anniversery. We spent it very different from past anniverseries celebrated. T'chad is so good about suprising me and planning great anniverseries. We've gone to Mexico, Santa Fe, Vegas, Moab, the list goes on and on. This year however, we spent it low-key at home since we recently have had a new addition to the family. We went to lunch to celebrate with Addie and Charly along for the ride. Taiyah was in school, so she missed out on the fun. Anyways, it doesn't matter how we celebrate...all I know for sure is that I married my best friend and soul mate. We have such a strong love for one another and I can honestly say that with each passing year and each child born into our family I fall in love deeper in love with my husband. He is THE most wonderful man, father, husband, son...the list goes on and on. He's always understood me in a way that no one else could. Thank you T'chad for 9 wonderful years. It's been quite an adventure and I'm excited to continue on this journey and see what comes next.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2009

We had a wonderful thanksgiving. Very mellow and low-key, just the way we like it! We started out VERY early...6am-ish and hung out in the morning and the girls gave lot's of love and hugs and kisses to their baby sister, Charly. Around 8am daddy went to play football with some guys from the ward and the girls and I went walking with Auntie Jessica, Hayden and Callin in 24 degree weather! The kids played at the park and ran around playing hide and seek and tag for awhile and then it was back home where Charly took a nice long nap (in her crib) and we all got ready to go. We had Thanksgiving at T'chads brother's house this year. The food was delicious and the girls had such a great time at their own private table with their cousins. I couldn't have been happier because my little angel slept most of the time. I am so grateful for so many things. I have been blessed beyond measure. I'm so grateful for my beautiful family. My girls couldn't make me any prouder. I love being their mom. I have such an amazing husband who I am still madly in love with after 9 years of being married. I'm so grateful for my health and for my family to be healthy. I'm so grateful for wonderful parents who worked so hard to give us all the best life possible. I'm grateful for the knowledge that my family and I have of the gospel. I'm so grateful for all the men and women serving our country so that we may be free. I could go on and on and on...the blessings are endless. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We love and miss all you family and friends who we couldn't be with today and keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. Happy Holidays!

THERE AIN'T NOTHING LIKE A SISTER!

Taiyah and Addie both LOVE holding their new sister. Charly's face lights up whenever she sees them enter the room. She tries so hard to talk and coo to them and smiles like crazy. It's so sweet to watch these girls with their new baby sister. Taiyah told me the other day before she got out of the car for school "mom, Addie, me and Charly are going to be sisters like you and Jessica and Boppy." I thought that was so cute. She sure does love her sisters.

BALLON FIESTA 2009

These girls were troopers! A few days after the Charly was born, T'chad took the girls to opening day of ballon fiesta. They had to be there at 4am!!! Way too early and cold for me. They had so much fun though watching the ballon glow in the dark and watching all the ballons take off.

HALLOWEEN 2009

Well, I know I'm a little late on posting the Halloween pictures, but I figure better late than never. These girls were too cute in their costumes. Addisyn was obviously Snow White and Taiyah was a Zoo Keeper AKA Bindi the Jungle Girl. :) Taiyah blows me away with her knowledge of every living species on the planet. Don't know an answer to a question about a certain animal? Ask Taiyah, she'll tell you. She's a walking encyclopedia. Addie is obviously very knowledgeble about princess as well. The girls got plenty of use out of them between a few trunk or treats, birthday parties and school events as well. I secretly was glad not to get these costumes on after the week of festivites had passed.

MY BEAUTIFUL GIRLS!

I am so lucky to be blessed with three wonderful girls. I love watching them grow and develop their own passions and personalities. T'chad is in big trouble with these three.

SHE IS SIMPLY DELICIOUS!!

I can't believe Charly is going to be a month old tomorrow! Where has the time gone?? It feels like we just brought her home from the hospital. She is definitely delicious though. I can't seem to get enough of her. My mom will agree..i can't seem to put her down. Maybe that's because I've never had a newborn that wasn't screaming all the time? Maybe it's because she is our last? Maybe because she looks like a doll? Probably all of them. All I know for certain, is that the newborn stage goes by in the blink of an eye and I am doing my best to soak it all up! I am so grateful and proud of all my girls. Poor T'chad, definitely outnumbered in this house, but in return he has 4 princesses that love and adore him. :)

ALREADY TWO WEEKS OLD!!!

I can't believe this little angel is already two weeks already. That has been the quickest two weeks of my life. I am enjoying this little one so much and have had plenty of alone time with her since T'chad has been home for the past two weeks taking care of the other girlies. I don't know if it's because this is our last baby, but I am much more "in the moment" with Charly and cherishing any and all time I have with her. The girls LOVE being big sisters and are so sweet and gentle with her. They love having a baby in the house. I have to agree with them...it's been way too long. The time is going by so fast...sigh.

JUST IN TIME FOR SCHOOL PICTURES!

So, of course murphy's law...Taiyah had her front tooth loose for a really long time and the day before pictures at school she woke me up early in the morning and showed me her "window" in her mouth. Too cute!

CHARLIZE LILY LEEDS

She's finally here! Charlize, AKA Charly came suprisingly on my due date, September 24th at 1:51pm. She weighed 7lbs 12oz and was 20 3/4 " I wasn't too scared because it was my 3rd delivery and it seemed to get easier each time. Boy was I WRONG! I NEVER planned on going natural, but by the time the pitocen kicked in, I went so fast that when I did get my epidural it was time to push and I felt EVERYTHING! Boy oh boy, it was an experience. BUT...Charly has been such an amazing baby and so precious. She just fits right in our family and I can't imagine our family without her. Jessica, my sister was able to come into the delivery room with T'chad and I and I am so grateful to have had her there. She was such a big help and comfort to me. T'chad did amazing like always and I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Jubee

Didn't mean to forget Jubee. We brought her to Taos with us and she had a blast!!! She looks happier already in the month and a half that she has been with us doesn't she?