What we've been up to!!!

Ok, I know it has been since before Christmas that I updated our blog. Things have been super busy!!! Here is a little of what we have been up to lately.



Skyler is busy working full-time, going to school full-time (he only has 1 more semester after this one) and we are still renovating our house we bought last year. He also stays busy with 2 church callings...he is the 1st counselor in the Stake Sunday School Presidency and also a Sunday School teacher in our ward.



I am working 2 days a week as a nanny taking care of 4 boys. This job is really great, b/c I am able to take Maclane to work with me. I also work 2 days a week at Lancome cosmetics. My Mom keeps Maclane 1 day and then Skyler has "daddy-daughter" time with her the other day I work. I have several other projects I am working on. I am also enjoying my calling as a Primary teacher for the Valiant 8 class. Most of all I love being a mom and wife.



Maclane has been the busiest of all. She is learning so many new things and has more energy than Skyler and I combined!!! She loves playing with her friends, Barbie movies, learning about anything, dancing, singing, counting, drawing and being the cutest girl I have ever seen. Maclane has also developed a smart mouth that has gotten her in a lot of trouble. She says the funniest things.



The other night we took Maclane to the circus. It was so much fun. We all loved it. Maclane keeps talking about the elephants. Skyler and I were amazed at the skills of all the performers. We are already looking forward to going next year.

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

On the 16th and 17th of December we took off to have a Christmas family trip at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. The lights and decorations there are always dazzling and the nativities located throughout the building always bring in the holiday spirit. One of the amazing decorations is the ginormous 100 ft Christmas tree we decided to take a picture by. That's the tree behind us, it was a little hard getting the entire tree inside the picture

Everything was very fun. We walked through Opry Mills Mall going from shop to shop trying to tie up any loose ends of our holiday shopping. Our experience was going great until this shark decided to get into our family picture and make a move on my wife outside the Aquarium Restaurant. Try their new shark steaks.

Ashley and Maclane are dolling it up in front of an entire Christmas tree made up of Poinsettias. The tree was about teen feet tall and there is no telling how many pots of flowers were used to create the tree. Maclane was especially thrilled being near this tree because of the huge silver and blue wrapped presents under it. She is ready to open some presents and we were ready to go after she tried opening two or three of them.


Beautiful falls of Christmas lights twinkled in the air all in this part of the hotel. They were joined by large hot-air balloons piloted by zebras dressed like elves and parachuting giraffes with Santa Clause outfits twirled about with festive glee. Our pictures really do little justice to the grandeur of decorations on display. Maclane often had to ride horse back to get a better view and keep the decorations and flowers in tact.


Cracker Barrel is always one of our favorite places to eat except when they give you a pork barbecue plate that looks like it came from the kids menu. Maclane and I had a great time though and Ashley snapped this quick shot as all of us worked on Maclane's activity menu. Around the corner from our table sat a gentleman with a stars and stripes bandanna. The entire time Maclane pointed out we were sitting by a pirate and was yelling over to him, asking him where his treasure was. Another thing that was funny is that there was a deer head mounted on the wall and Maclane was calling it Rudolph and asked where was Santa. We hoped looking around we wouldn't find Santa's head mounted anywhere.


To all our friends family and loved ones we hope you have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Our little Princess

We had such a fun Halloween this year. Here are some pictures from our weekend.

I think Halloween might be Maclane's favorite holiday. She LOVES chocolate and was so excited that people were just giving it to her. Ever since she learned to say "Trick or Treat" she has been asking everyone...cashiers, demo ladies at Sam's club for candy. It is so funny.

About to go Trick or Treating. This was her 1st year actually going around the neighborhood.

This is from our party at church. It was a lot of fun. Maclane was having a Diva moment in this picture.

My niece Rachel in the back (Miss America). Maclane loved that I dressed up as a kitty.

Family pictures

If you have time please visit this link and see our new family pictures. The photographer is amazing. Thanks again Becki. Love to you all!!!

http://www.agalwithacamera.blogspot.com/

And the little one said rollover...

I love this picture. This is what Maclane's bed looks like when she goes to sleep. We have had a hard time getting her to sleep in her bed (since she was born). We let her take a stuffed animal to bed with her and this is what it turned into. Every night she has to have certain toys in her bed and she wants to read them a book. It is so cute. We have to go in there after she falls asleep and move the stuffed animals, so she can actually sleep in her bed. It is so funny. All her animals are special to her...she even prays for them by name. :)

We celebrated Great Grandma's birthday. Maclane loved helping blow out the candles. We really enjoyed having G.Grandma for a visit.

We borrowed a kitten for Maclane to spend the day with. We have thought about getting a pet, but after spending a weekend with this kitten we decided to wait alittle longer. Let's just say that Maclane loved it almost to death. :) She was like that little girl on the old Looney Toones cartoons. We laughed, but felt sorry for the kitten.

My sister Michelle gave Maclane this princess hat. She wants to wear it all the time. It is so cute.

Who says girls don't play dirty?

Ok, so the other day we came over to my mom's house and I let Maclane play outside. This is what she looked like when she was done. I just had to take some pictures. :)

Maclane goes to school

Maclane goes to the library twice a week for storytime and let me tell you it's the highlight of her week. We call it school, b/c she wants to be a "big girl" and go to school like some of her friends. Her teachers are amazing. We have been going since we moved into our new house and Maclane and I both have made a lot of new friends.

Craft time with Maclane is so funny. She's into "I do it myself" lately, so no matter what the craft is she wants to do it her way. Its pretty cute just to watch her and see what she comes up with. Of course I'm always there to help if she wants me to. I just wanted to post what a normal day is for us. The life of a mom...what can I say. :)