Corey's bday/Christmas 2012

December was a fun month! We had a lot going on! Take a peek at our pics.

Here is Ben holding Kennedy. It is amazing how big she is getting, and Ben is really starting to interact with her. It is so fun to see them together!

This year Ben was old enough to help decorate the Christmas tree. He is sporting a nice mo-hawk, thanks to Corey. That haircut only lasted a couple days before we buzzed it off.

Here is Corey and our sweet baby girl!

Ben helping me make Christmas cookies.

Kennedy sitting up nice and tall in her high chair. She is just so cute, I can't get enough of her!

Benjamin looking cool with his winter hat and no socks or shoes. Good thing our winters are mild!

Benjamin, Kennedy, and I went to the Phoenix Children's Museum. It was a lot of fun for Ben and Kennedy had a lot to look at. It wore me out!

Another pic from the museum. This was one of Ben's favorite parts-he got to pretend to grocery shop just like mom.

Corey had his birthday when the world was supposed to end, luckily it didn't! Ben helped blow out the candles!

Me, mom, Lauren and Ben making Christmas cookies.

Corey and Ben helping decorate the cookies! 

Kennedy with her Great Grandma Nat. 

Lauren and Kennedy with Kennedy's stocking on Christmas morning!

Kennedy with Uncle Matt

Corey and I helping Ben with his stocking. Both our kids have hand knitted stockings made by their great grandma!

Kennedy and Lauren checking out her stocking!

Grandma and Kennedy

Ben playing with one of his Christmas gifts!

After we got home from Christmas at my parents and Corey's mom, we had a nice big Christmas package waiting from Corey's dad. Ben got this really sweet play set of Thomas the Tank Engine. He loves it!

My two little ones! They get bigger everyday!

Thanksgiving/baby blessing

For Thanksgiving this year, we went up to northern Arizona to visit my parents. My siblings, Matt, James, and Lauren were there. My brother, Jeff, and his wife, Amanda, and their two children also came for Thanksgiving. My favorite part of Thanksgiving is my mom's creamy mashed potatoes and her mouth watering rolls (they are so good that I request them whenever I visit). We took advantage of having my older brother in town and had Kennedy's baby blessing done at my parent's house. Corey performed the blessing with my dad, Jeff, and a member of their bishopric in the circle. It was very beautiful and Corey did a great job! I am so thankful that he holds the priesthood and I am so grateful that my dad and brother were able to be a part of it. Below are a few pics of our Thanksgiving break. I even got a few of Ben and Kennedy together! You can also see how cute Kennedy is in her blessing dress.

Family Photos

Here are some of the pictures from our family photo shoot! My kids are so adorable, don't you think? The pictures were taken at a pecan grove right in our town.

A Busy October

Things have been pretty crazy around here! The month of October was a busy one for us! Look below to see what we have been up to!

Here is a picture of Kennedy from September, sooo cute!

And here she is again with a big, happy smile! She is such a happy, sweet baby! She smiles a ton and laughs a lot too. She loves being tickled on her tummy!

At the beginning of October, we went up to northern Arizona to visit my family. we got to go apple picking and made/canned a bunch of applesauce. In the above picture you can see Ben with Grandma by the apple trees. Below, you can see me with Kennedy picking apples.

Here is Kennedy smiling really big for Grandma!

In October, we also went camping with my family up by Payson in the Tonto National Forest. Benjamin had a blast being outside all day. Although it was a little chilly, we bundled up both kids really well and they slept just as well as they do at home! Above, you can see me with Kennedy as we went for a walk and below you can see Ben hanging out with his dad by the campfire.

In October we also checked out the carnival in town. Benjamin got to eat a Funnel cake and a big pretzel. He also went on his first carousel ride with Dad. You can see him in the picture above. He was too scared to ride one of the carousel horses, so they hung out on the bench.

And here is Corey with both kids as we leave the carnival. Kennedy was a good baby and didn't mind the stroller.

Here is another cute picture of Kennedy! Such a happy girl!

Towards the end of October, we took Ben to Dewitt Stables in Mesa. Ben went through the hay maze with Corey.

Ben also got to check out the petting zoo. He was fascinated by the goats and sheep.

We then went on a wagon ride to pick out a pumpkin. Ben needed help from Corey to carry it.

Here is Corey and Ben carving the pumpkin once we got back home. Corey did most of it! ;)

Here is the pumpkin all done! So spooky, right?

Here is Kennedy all dressed on Halloween day!

And here we are as a family for Halloween, all ready to go trick or treating. Corey and I were graham crackers, Ben was a Hershey's bar and Kennedy was a cute marshmallow, so as a family we make a s'more! Ben really liked getting all the candy, but wore out after about 40 minutes. And then of course, the next day his diet consisted mostly of candy!

And finally, we ended October by signing Ben up for an intro to sports class for little kids. Here is learning the basics of basketball!
Kennedy will be 4 months old in 6 days! I cannot believe how quickly it has gone by. She is so big now and Benjamin is getting bigger too. They both keep me busy! Corey has started a new job, which we hope will be a good fit for his future career and I hope it allows him to work a little less. It will be nice to have him home around 6pm instead of as late as 7:30 or 8:00. It also means we will be staying in Arizona for now, which I don't mind. Gotta love all the sunshine!

A one month old and a two year old!

I can't believe it has been a month already since Kennedy was born. She is doing really well. At her one month check up she weighed 10pounds 12 ounces. She is a good baby most of the time. We are still working on establishing good eating/nap times. On a good night she wakes up around 3am and eats and goes right back to sleep. Other nights she likes to be awake for a while. During the day she is a happy baby. So far, no reflux like Benjamin. I think she looks a lot like Ben when he was a baby. Same face, just different coloring since she is a lot darker than him.

Benjamin turned 2 last Saturday. Corey had to work most of the day, so we made the best of it we could. Ben helped me frost and decorate his cupcakes. I made a cupcake train, since he likes playing with trains so much. We celebrated when Corey got back from work. Also, he got a play pop up tent. So far, he enjoys playing in it. I can't believe he is 2 years old! He seems so huge now, compared to Kennedy. He is definitely not a baby anymore. The same week we brought Kennedy home from the hospital, he learned how to climb out of his crib. So, he is now in a twin bed. We are still working on getting him to stay in bed at night. Sometimes he goes right down. Other nights, it takes a couple tries before he settles in for the night. The toughest thing is that he wakes up really early now. while in the crib, I wouldn't hear him until 7 or 7:30. Now he is up and in my room by 6:00, sometimes 5:45am.

Benjamin has adjusted really well for the most part. Sometimes I think he is a little jealous and misses having me all to himself, but I try to make sure we do quality one on one time while Kennedy is down for naps during the day. He tries to be helpful sometimes, which is really cute. For example, when I am feeding Kennedy, he will sometimes go all the way downstairs and bring back up my big hospital cup for me.

I am doing alright. Right now what I am missing the most is sleeping and "me time." Between night time feedings and Benjamin getting up early, I am pretty tired. And with  a new baby you have to adjust to no longer having your nights free to do whatever. Taking care of the two during the day has its challenges, but we are starting to get a good routine down. Corey is a huge  help on the weekends with Benjamin, which works out great because Ben loves his dad.

Here is Ben giving Kennedy her passifier. This was the first time he got close enough to her for me to take a picture of the two of them together. Benjamin's opinion of her changes frequently. Sometimes he ignores her or finds her interesting. Every once in a while he will try to pick her up! He has yet to hold her.

Here is Kennedy nice and awake.

Corey and Ben in the pool.

Corey with Kennedy

Kennedy

Benjamin and his birthday train

Ben enjoying his cupcake. He mostly ate the frosting.

sleeping Kennedy

Ben with Abby in his tent.

Kennedy with her tongue out.