Our Awesome New Friends

So these past couple weeks we have been hanging out with some fun couples from our ward. I am so excited to get to know them better! These girls are so adorable and really fun. And I might add that when the boys get together, it always gets a little crazy. You never know with these fellas... :) Anyhow, we all went on our first big date night for Jared and Myca's birthdays to the Kodiak Grill... yummy food, some yummy desert, getting silly at the table, and to top it all off, Gabe singing karaoke and dancing! Thanks for such a fun night everyone.

Myca, Christy, Me, and Amy

Adam, Brandon, Gabe, and Jared

Dance Recital

Saturday Ashlyn had her 1st dance recital! I have waited for this for so long, so I was way excited. She did so well, I am so proud of her. Their little outfits looked adorable, and she did almost all of her dance. After she was done she came a sat with us for a minute - but then during another performance she got up out of her seat and took off toward the stage. (First, I have to tell you that she has 2 imaginary friends - Ella and Eva - which at times she refers to as "my girls" and they play and come places with us) She ran up the steps and to the wall on the side part of the stage. Luckily it was not very noticeable, but it was still on stage. She stood in front of the wall, talked to it for a moment, then came back. I was kinda freaking out because I could just see Ashlyn, being her spunky little self, getting on stage and doing her own dance with the other girls up there. But she came right back and I asked her "What were you doing?" Ashlyn responded "Mommy, I was talking to Ella and Eva!" Oh nice! Then we had to have the talk that her "girls" and she need to stay sitting with us until the recital is done. Anyhow, it was so much fun to see her do her dance, and to be a parent watching your child learn a talent is so great. It's never a dull moment when her "girls" come along!

Ashlyn is 3!

I can't believe my princess is alread 3 years old! It seems just like the other day she was born. She has blessed my life in so many ways. I love being her mom. Some cute things about her; when falling asleep she will snuggle as close as she can to me kick one leg on top of me and rub my arm until she falls asleep, she has TONS of immaginary friends that we play with and talk to, loves all the disney princesses and likes to play pretend princess where I am Sleeping Beauty she is Cenderella and Daddy is Prince Charming usually putting on dresses and going to the ball is a daily thing for us, randomly throughout the day will say "I love you momma!", doesn't call me mommy anymore it's Momma, and loves her sister so much. Those are just a few obviously but I am so grateful to be her mom.

We first had a little party with Cooper on Friday. It's so cute the friendship that they have since they were just babies until now. Its really fun to watch them grow up together. Then on her birthday we had a big party with all the family. All 28 people for a BBQ and cake! I made her a fun birthday tutu. She was very so excited when she would open every present it was really cute! Of course the family knew exactly what she loves and that is ANYTHING princess! She is in love with all the princesses! She really wanted a pink DS game but we thought she was a little young to have one of those so she got a leapster game that is pink and has a little pen so she thinks it her DS. But her big present was a bike and Brandon made this huge box that looked like a house to hide the bike and then when it was time for her to open it I just lifted it up. Being a typical kid she saw me lift the box up and watched it go away and wondered why we were taking her box house away she wanted to play inside! Then turned around a realised there was a bike, she started jumping up and down with a huge smile on her face. It was so much fun to watch her! I hope she had a wonderful princess birthday, I love her so much!

An awesome day!

Last Friday was my birthday and I had a blast! My girlfriends surprised me with a surprise lunch! I just want to thank them all for doing that. It seriously meant so much to me! I am very blessed to have so many wonderful girlfriends. They sure know me, having my favorite things..a big sonic diet coke, pink decor, a yummy lunch, and of course chocolate cake! Thanks again girls! And it was so nice to see everyone and their darling kids. Then my wonderful husband surprised me with a SPA DAY! Yeah I have never been and always wanted to go. So I got all pampered, and hour massage, hour facial, and a pedicure! It was perfect! Thank you hunny for spoiling me! I love you! I then celebrated with all my family in the evening. What a great birthday, I think this might be my favorite birthday EVER!

Where has April Gone?

This month has just flown by! It is always a super busy month because there are so many of my families birthdays. But anyhow first I have to say I am super excited that my brother Tyson got his mission call! He is going to Puerto Rico, and leaves on May 20th to the MTC. That is so soon but I can't wait, I am so proud of him for making the decision to go!

Second, Easter last weekend was so much fun. Ashlyn really got into the annual Bailey Easter Egg Hunt at my parents house. She loved looking for everything and so surprised every time, it was very cute! Then we had Easter dinner with the Reads. Ashlyn has been on this kick about marriage and where we get married. She kept saying, "I'm going to marry Jonah!" Now if you ask her where she is getting married she will say, at the temple. But then she usually proceeds to say with Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Little Mermaid because she thinks they all live in the temple. One time while talking about the temple I told her she will look like a princess when she gets married so she made the correlation that they all live there and get married there too.

Lastly, Brooklyn is 10 months old! Holy cow I can't believe it. She is starting to have her little personality pop out. She is a big mama's girl. Already has taken 6 steps on her own, so walking is just a matter of time! She is a very inquisitive little girl loves to get into things and watches everything her big sister does. I love watching her learn and discover new things, it so much fun being a mom!

Disneyland!!

We went 2 weeks ago to Disneyland! Or should I say what Ashlyn calls it, Dizzyland. I don't know if I have ever been so excited for a trip to Disneyland in my life (and my family has been there quite often). But this was the first time I got to see Ashlyn be old enough to take it all in. Oh my goodness she was so ecstatic when she saw each princess! There is this new Fairytale Fantasy Land where you get to meet 3 princesses at a time and they take your pics, sign your book, and then the princess dress store that you of course can't pass getting your princess a dress. So we spent much time back there! It was so cute to see her meet Cinderella (her favorite princess) she was giggling and jumping up and down! I loved watching her. I couldn't believe Ashlyn went on almost everything but 2 things that she wasn't tall enough for. Yes, she went on Matterhorn and the monster didn't even scare her...she thought he was a silly monkey. Yes, she went on Splash Mountain and loved it. The last time we went on it she got soaked but realized we all did and started laughing and singing "zippidie do da"! But her favorite rides were Toy Story and Monsters Inc.

Brooklyn did great on her first plane ride there! She was such a happy baby the whole trip. On the rides that we could take her on she would sit so still just taking it all in! I guess that is what we all do our first time! She luckily got lots of grandma time while we rode the big rides which my mom loved. On the way home she had a hard plane ride. She had just cut another bottom tooth earlier in the trip and the started to get real fussy the last hour of the plane ride. I was trying everything that I could in my seat of the pane and all of the sudden right after take off...she threw up all over! Lovely smell for the rest of the ride but she fell asleep and was happy. The day after we got back she had her 9 month appointment (yes she is 9 months already) she apparently has a double ear infection! So that explains the plane ride, but I still can't believe what a calm happy baby she was with her ears hurting the whole trip.

We also went down to watch Aubrey compete at the cheerleading national competition. Mountain View did great they got 1st in both categories they entered into and got best overall. And I have to add Aubrey is such a cute cheerleader! She flew in this one part in their dance and she was picture perfect! Way to go Aub!

Well Brandon and I had such a great trip with my family as we always do. So much fun talking, playing, eating, and bonding even closer. Thank goodness for families! Ashlyn still asks every day if we can go back to "Dizzyland"!

Whats been going on?

Well I was going to post an update about what has been happening with the Reads but not much is really going on right now. Brandon is still working hard as always and can't wait to get out and start golfing and for March Madness to start (both are not too far away)! I am just loving being a mom there's nothing more rewarding than to watch your kids learn and grow! Ashlyn is still the boss and was able to participate in a dance clinic again. She did so good until her bow fell out then spent the rest of the song trying to fix her hair, it was so cute! She is such a great big sister, loves to do arts and crafts, dressing up as a princess or a cheerleader is daily, and has a WILD imagination! Brooklyn just turned 8 months last week and is growing like crazy. She is steam-rolling to get from one place to another, giggles at everything, now has enough hair for a tiny ponytail, and is pulling herself up on things...so not too much long until she is running with Ashlyn! Well we are all happy and healthy and loving life!

Our 5 Year Anniversary!

On January 24th we celebrated our 5 year anniversary. I can't believe its has been 5 years, I feel like I have known Brandon forever but at the same time it seems like yesterday that we got married. I just feel so lucky to have Brandon as my husband, a father to our girls, and my best friend. I can't even think of how life would be without him, he always knows what I need or ways to help me. He is constantly making me smile and laugh brightening each and every day. I absolutely love watching him with our girls! He is such an awesome father and provider of our family! I know that we were meant to be I have always said he is my prince charming and he surely is! (Even though he does get to play prince charming now with Ashlyn as Sleeping Beauty and he as the prince) I just want him to know that I love him so much and am so thankful for all he stands for and for all he does!

So for our anniversary we went to Barbacoa, which was very good! However there was a near death experience with some meat getting stuck, me not knowing the hymlic, and Brandon choking and puking numerous times at the table! After two trips to the bathroom making himself throw up and then FINALLY the meat coming dislodged, Brandon returned to the table a little frazzled and tired but ready to finish his delicious meal! After it was all done and over we were laughing about it and then enjoyed the rest of the evening with each other. It was so nice to have good quality alone time with Brandon. It was wonderful night! I love you Hunny! xoxo

Sledding Fun!

Last weekend we went up to our cabin with my family. We had such a blast sledding and playing in the snow. There was so much snow we had to hike into the cabin and the snow filled the entire deck up which is always a great opportunity to make snow forts on the deck. Ashlyn had fun sledding she was a little more hesitant than last year but she still went down the big hill. She got so worn out that she ended up falling asleep on the tube with Brandon. We always enjoy our fun times with my family and the cabin is such a relaxing close get-a-way! We just love the snow!