Sunbeams

 I don't know how it happened, but Kelsey is old enough to be a Sunbeam. It was such a weird day. She definitely is way too old for nursery, but it was also weird to have her go to Primary.
She carried her Book of Mormon, sang (and danced) to all of the songs, and actually stayed in her chair most of the time. She even volunteered to go to the front. Since I am in the Primary Presidency I was able to sneak and watch her.

The week before Primary, they had a practice run for all the incoming Sunbeams and Kelsey got so nervous that I was worried that she wouldn't want to go this week but oh how wrong I was. She practically ran to primary and was smiling the whole time. 

I asked her to smile and she said "Mom! I'm trying to sing" I know, I know! I try not to be THAT mom but I totally am.  I can't help it. She's so adorable!

 I hate watching Kelsey get older because, in my dramatic mind, it just makes me think about the time when she has to leave the house for good, but she is growing up so beautiful that I feel so blessed to get to watch her. Kelsey is so obedient, so happy, and so kind. She is confident, but willing to learn and try new things. When it comes to new situations, Kelsey always gets a little nervous,but she never shys away from a new challenge. Even when she's scared she tries new things. I am so grateful for the things that I learn from Kelsey every day.

New Years

New Years weekend was really fun and filled with a whole new bunch of friends and family. Hannah had to leave and although it was sad, we had Uncle Brian and Sandy to look for forward too. It was a really fun weekend.

On New Years Eve, while Ethan was at work, the girls and I started taking down Christmas stuff. I still wasn't feeling great and Madison was getting some teeth so we had to take it slow.

When Ethan got home, we went to the Randells house for a neighborhood barbecue. My favorite part about this was that the baby monitor worked in the Randells house which meant that we could put Madison to bed and still be at the party. We were back and forth so much that I didn't feel too neglectful. Partially, but not completely.
The Randells was actually really fun. Phyllis and Roy came over too and we all had snacks and played golf. Around 8 Ethan and I fired off some fireworks and then played more games. The days leading up to New Years I had been really sick and on New Years, although I was eating I was still only like 80%. Because of this I was really tired, Kelsey was tired because she was up so past her bed time and Ethan was tired because he was running the house all by himself so once 10 came, we celebrated a New York's New Year's and went to bed. For the first time in my life, I went to bed early on New Years and you know what! It felt awesome. I wasn't super tired the next day. New traditions all over the place.

Ethan had New Year's day off and we spent the day playing and cleaning up Christmas. Two of my favorite things. Oh and we used the last of the smoke bombs. I don't know ho enjoyed it more: Kelsey or Ethan.

That night, after we got everything cleaned up, we got to go to Aunt Kays for a snacky dinner with the Robbins, Uncle Brian and Aunt Sandy, and Robin and her husband. Kelsey thought Uncle Brian was Grandpa Wing and followed Sandy everywhere so it was a pretty fun party.

 

When ever Madison goes to aunt Kay's house, she claims the armchairs as her own. She climbs up and down and up and down and up and down and up and down. She LOVES them. If you try to sit in them she FREAKS out. I tried to catch in on video but she got annoyed that I was in the way of her game. It was adorable. 

 

The most patient man in the world

On Saturday January 2 we wrapped up the holiday weekend by going to the Fiesta Bowl parade and then one last dinner with Brian and Sandy on Sunday before they left.

We weren't going to go to the parade but I'm so glad we ended up going. The weather was PERFECT!! and the parade was really fun. I really think it was like 75 degrees. It was so close to Kay's house and the weather was so perfect that after the parade we ended up just walking home to Kay's.

 

The game was a few days before the parade so the winning team got to march in the parade. Fun fact: the stadium where they played the game was up by our house so traffic that day was a bit crazy. That stadium is also where they played the National Championship. Fun fact, not so fun

We know everyone in this picture and then some! The ward here has been so loving and kind

Adventures with Hannah

After Christmas, Hannah was with us for a few more days and Kay and Ethan took some time off so we spent lots of time together. Two of the funnest things we did as a group were going to the zoo and Glendale Glitters.


The zoo was crowded and chilly but Kelsey and Hannah got to ride a camel named Jasmine so it was well worth the trip. (Kelsey named the camel)

While Hannah was here we spent a lot of time playing with our new toys. Ethan got a calligraphy set and wrote everybody's name.

On our anniversary, I got sick AGAIN! I was so mad. This time it was my stomach thing.  I haven't had an episode in so long and I haven't ever had it this bad. I worry that it will just be getting worse from here on out. I could hear the acid in my stomach. It was awful.

 

Happy six years babe! Thanks for all you do. But for real, Ethan took the day off so that I could be sick in bed. I read the whole Selection series while he ran the house like a machine. He is too good to me. And side note, the Selection Series is AMAZING! 

At some point while Hannah was here we went to Glendale Glitters. We never made it to the Mesa Temple lights which I am really bummed about, so I'm glad we were able to make it to this. Afterwards, we warmed up in a little cafe with milkshakes.

 

I don't know how, but she knew what it was and wanted it!

Side note: Sometime during the holiday we went on a walk and finally got a picture of this awesome owl. He lives on the final hole of the golf course and is always out at sunset. The golf course owls are really tiny, only about 6-12 inches high.