Weekend trip to Show Low :)

My Dad has been working up in Show Low so on the weekends my Mom and brother have been going up to see him. He rented a cabin for 5 months so we could come visit him and it was so nice! We left around 8pm and got in around 11:30... which was great since the girls slept :) The first day there wasn't much snow, David and Ryan hit the slopes... I was still battling a sinus infection so sadly I had to pass. So it was just my Mom the girls and me. Gigi played in the little snow there was...

Ella zoomed around the kitchen backwards in her walker!

As the day went on a storm came in... high winds a ton of snow... and my sister and her hubby made it past the rim just before they closed it. The road conditions were terrible and praise God they made it safely! Unfortunately my older sister and her hubby didn't make it up after the storm hit there was no going in or out... we sure missed them :(
The next morning we all woke up and saw snow EVERYWHERE! We had planned to go to church to hear our old student pastor speak... but we couldn't leave... we had also planned to hit the slopes but without chains our car wasn't going to make it up the mountain. So we improvised... all 7 of us had our own little "church" we dug deep into the scriptures in 1 Timothy and it was such a nice time spent as a family. After "church" everyone went out to play in the snow!

David and gigi made a snowbaby and the boys of course played some crazy rough games... Ella and Mommy stayed in to keep warm and I was so close to finally being freed of the sinus infection!!!

After they were practically frozen, everyone came in for lunch. David and Dan grilled some burgers and dogs OUTSIDE in the snow haha and we all enjoyed some good movies. The best part is watching my parents and seeing just how in love they are with one another!!! After 10 tough years and some separation my parents are going to be renewing their vows!! Our God is so good... we never stopped praying and they are finally living together again... the way it should be :) It is so fun to tell Gigi we are going to Nana AND Papa's house!!! Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and goodness to our family! You are a God of miracles and I am so encouraged every day by your great works!!

On the drive back, we got stuck for half an hour due to an accident... I took the time to snap some photos of the snow... God's beautiful creation leaves me breathless!!

We are looking forward to going back again and hopefully hitting the slopes... as nice as it is to spend the weekend up there it will be nice when my parents are back down here in the valley... and closer to us :)

Valentine's Day Celebration!!

I am one of those crazy Mommas who covers the house in cut out paper hearts and strings LOVE and XOXO banners across the windows. We have cute window clings and of course valentine's themes homemade crafts everywhere!!!! I can't get enough of holidays and I get so excited to make things with Gracelyn :)

THE WEEK OF:

We baked cookies with Nana... and "Bamma" no picture :(

While Ella took a nap :)

We took a trip to the Zoo with some friends on a VERY cold day..

 We covered the front door in paper hearts for Daddy... so when he came home from work he would have a "Heart" attack ;)

We planned on hosting a cookie decorating day but everyone got colds... maybe next year.

We made cookies to take to Daddy at work... though the day we were going to bring them he wasn't there... so instead we have them to him when he got home :)

We hung up a banner out front that had two little owls on it ... I let Gigi pick it out and hung some cute decor on front door :)

We decorated paper Valentines and stuck lollipops on them for my family

We attended the "Evans Family's Traditional Valentine Dinner" (yes another tradition... my family has a ton!) Since we were young Daddy would treat us all to Valentine's dinner at Black Angus... well.. as our family grew we decided it would be cheaper and more fun to go ALL OUT on a Valentine's dinner at home... this has become one of our favorite traditions :)

Gracelyn asked Daddy to be her Valentine :)

The bar... sparkling cider, shirley temples, french lemonade...

Ella's first Valentine's day :)

Strawberry Shortcake

Our table favors: box of chocolates, socks and dish towel... my Mom is too cute ;)

Chocolate covered strawberries :)

The spread ;)

The Food!! I made stuffed mushrooms, My little sis picked up fresh bread and made honey butter, My older sis made cooked asparagus and shrimp dijon. Mom made cheesy twice bakes, chicken courdon bleu, and the men grilled the filet mignon and ribeyes MMmm

We also had the pleasure of having the adorable newlyweds at our dinner!! My Grandma and her new hubby!!! It was a great meal filled with WAY too much food, TONS of laughter and love coupons!

THE DAY OF :
We went to Costco for some chips and I found David and Gracelyn walking towards me with a bouquet of red roses... (Gracelyn is STILL convinced they are for her)

We met up with some friends at the park and enjoyed some yummy cookies. Parker gave each of my girls a rose... ah young love ;)

We stopped by the house where my Mom nannies because the little boys had both made Gigi valentines and Gigi made them cookies :)

and finally for Valentine's Evening ... I put the girls to bed a little early so when David got home we had the evening to ourselves... complete with shirley temples, homemade salsa and chips, pizza and the Bachelor ... the best part... PEACE and QUIET :) He also surprised me with my favorite candy bar a SCORE!! I am so thankful for my family :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day To the love of my life! David Royal Noland I can't imagine living this wonderful life without you! You are my other half and my best friend! Thank you for asking me to be your wife... 

I am so blessed to walk through life standing by your side :)

You are my forever Valentine!

5 Months Old!

Our sweet Briella Rain! I can't believe five months have gone by since we and many Dr's and nurses brought you into the world! God has been so very good to us and he spared my life so I could live to watch you grow. You bring me so much joy sweet girl! You are truly the most happy baby! Everyone and everything makes you smile and I LOVE IT! We had a few rough months while you suffered from colic and some reflux... you don't even seem like the same baby.

* You are now sitting up without support... which means we have started to try bath time without the baby tub. You also like to sit up and look at your toys.

* We have finally decided to surrender our nursing ways... or should I say we are no longer trying to keep up the supply. I was taking 9 fenugreek a day, pumping and letting you nurse (though you weren't getting anything) I have decided that it is okay and I still make our bottle feeding time just as special.

* You tried cereal for the first time and you HATED it! It started off with many tears, and then gagging and eventually everything came back up. We have been trying it everyday and now on our 5th day of torturing you (poor thing) you ate it all tonight with no gagging and actually leaned into the spoon for more YAY!

* You got to experience your first SUPER BOWL!!! Even though the team you were cheering for lost.. that is okay!! It was fun to hang out with family and watch everyone else snack on a TON of food ;) You got to watch the game from the best seat in the house... your exersaucer... you LOVE that thing!

* Our BIGGEST and very exciting thing is you are now in cloth diapers!! We tried every disposable brand, Huggies, Luvs, Pampers, Parent's Choice and you still had a rash from them all. Not to mention the leaks all day and you would have a blow out EVERY TIME you pooped... seriously I was washing clothes all the time AND sometimes even throwing them away. We have been using prefold (burp cloths) and own about 9 covers... we also have 12 AIO diapers on the way. These are just like disposables you put them on and then you take off and toss them in the diaper pail. No snaps, folding, using snappis ... they are so easy and we were able to get our entire cloth diapers stash for under 100.00 Most people spend a lot more initially. So I am not buying diapers YAY and I we haven't had any blowouts... we are still trying to figure out the best diaper for naps/bedtime because you wake up soaking wet (ewww sorry baby) So far I am very happy with our decision to switch and I only have to do laundry every other night after 9pm of course :)

* You are wearing 6-12m clothes ... boy oh boy does that formula make you one healthy(chunky) baby!! I love every little roll on your little body especially when I tickle them... and you laugh like crazy!!!

* You still sleep on your tummy... we still swaddle you under your arms or you wear a sleeper sack to bed... I have tried a few times to put you down on your back but you just can't fall asleep like that. You have started getting tired earlier so we put you down at the same time as Gigi. 7-7:30 and you still for a good 12 hours sometimes more!

* You used to take almost 45min to finish a 6oz bottle... then after some hits from friends we tried the level 3 nipple and boy you can down an 8oz bottle in under 10 min!

* You really enjoy your play mat that the Hockersmiths let us borrow!! You spend at least some time on it each day on your back... on your tummy... playing and grabbing onto the animals!

* You continue to LOVE your big sister and want to be with her most of the time. If she walks away from you you fuss and if she comes and plays with you.. you are all smiles. You have special crib time in the morning and bath time together :)

We love you so much Ellabellaroo and I can't wait to see what you will teach us this month!

Who Am I :)

My friends wrote one of these and asked me to write one... so here you go :)

I am- A child of God

I want- to learn to live in the moment... I love to plan and think ahead :)

I have- been so blessed to be the Mommy of two sweet girls!

I wish- I had a bigger home so I could host things more often!

I hate- it when my 2 year old whines... I want to join her sometimes ;)

I fear- losing my husband and children.

I hear- my 2 year old sing Jesus loves me and my heart can't get any bigger!

I search- for new toddler meals... like all the time... she eats like a bird ha!

I wonder- if heaven will be covered in sparkles...

I regret- not saving more money when we were both working and didn't have children yet.

I love- dancing in the rain... especially as a family :) Very rarely do I pass up the chance!

I ache- for orphans... and wonder why it costs so much money to give a lonely child a home :(

I always- kiss my hubby and tell him I love him... even if I am just running into the store!

I usually- try to host something at our house every other week... then I actually get excited to clean our home :)

I am not- good with math AT ALL... it is actually funny that I can't add or subtract... and that I am married to a finance whiz

I dance- all the time with my 2 year old... we turn up the music real loud and dance all around the house... I love it :)

I sing- and use hand motions in the car... People stare all the time at the lady holding up five fingers and doing the hand motions to "Five little monkeys jumping on the bed" at least my daughter loves it!

I never- go to bed without checking on my two sleeping angels... at least twice ;)

I sometimes- have no desire to make dinner... so I always have waffles as a back up!

I cry- when I watch sentimental movies or commercials ha!

I am not always- patient... when both my kids are screaming/crying sometimes I just want to scream with them.

I lose- my phone right when I am about the leave the house... I am always running back in after I have loaded the kiddos to search for it :)

I am confused- when people get upset about little things... life to to short to let things bother you.

I need- Dr. Pepper after a long stressful day... 

I should- be better about enjoying every single moment since we don't know when it will be our last.

** A few of my friends started this... and encouraged me to take a few minutes and make one. It really makes you stop and think... I now encourage you to take some time and ask yourself these questions :)