The Day of L~O~V~E

We had such a fun Valentine's Day this year. Austin worked the weekend and then had Monday off so we had the whole day to spend together. Elena had a preschool party, then afterward we gave the girls their Valentin's gifts.

Then we had some great babysitters (thanks Nona and Boompa) so that Austin and I could spend a few hours alone. We had planned to race at FastKarts but didn't realize that they open later on Mondays, so we opted for a movie instead. Then later we all met up for dinner at Red Lobster. Mmmm...and then we went home for dessert:)

I loved spending they day with ALL of my Valentines!!!

Cupcakes are courtesy of Sprinklebelle Cakes:o)

Ahhh...

...I think I'd rather be anywhere but in freezing cold right now, with my favorite people in the world! Is anyone else craving weather and a vacation like this?

Elena's 5th Birthday

Elena just celebrated her 5th Birthday on January 5th! We had preschool at our house that day so we threw her a birthday party with her school friends.









Then the following Saturday we had a family party at Chuck-E-Cheese. Elena had known she wanted to party here for a whole year (since her last birthday:) She got to meet Chuck-E, play games, eat pizza and cupcakes, and hang out with family and friends! (It was hard to get a picture with all of the kids looking at the same time).








Elena is so important in our family and she has become so independant, but in a good way. She is such a big helper with C and they have so much fun together. Elena usually always makes her bed on her own, gets herself dressed and turns on her own cartoons without even waking me up:) she carries Chanel around and helps keep her out of trouble.






Bug,

We love you so much and you continue to enrich our lives every single day! We are so amazed at the beautiful young lady you are growing into. You're incredibly smart, and consistantly make us laugh. Thank you for helping us remember to say prayers every night and for the amazing person you are and will always be.
We love you, your family

10 Months

This happy little girl just turned 10 months old! She is so smart and is always laughing, smiling, dancing, EATING, or sleeping. She has 3 teeth, one on top and two on the bottom. She eats 3 full meals a day (plus snacks) and if you eat anything in front of her, you better plan on sharing...she'll smack her lips until you give her some:o) She WILL NOT keep on her socks or her headbands. She loves dancing to music or to daddy's attempt at beat-boxing. She is definately a cuddler and I hope she never grows out of that. We love her so much!

A Wonderful Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. Santa sent Elena a letter telling her he knew she had been good, that his elves had made something special for her, and that she needed to remind Chanel to be good, too.

The Eve of Christmas Eve we went with our friends, The Olsen's to the Grand America to see the ABC's of Christmas window displays and at the end they gave us a cookie from La Bonne Vie. Then we went to Temple Square and dinner...thanks guys!

Then Christmas Eve we made gingerbread cookies for Santa and read the story of The Nativity.

The girls just before bed!






This is what Santa brought!

Christmas morning...Bug woke us up at 7! Then she woke up Chanellie and she could tell something excited was going on cause they both were very giddy for that early in the am.




On their way to see what Santa left:)

After playing with toys and opening presents, we visited family and opened more gifts. It was a wonderful Christmas. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas, too!

The Lights

For Family Home Evening we went to see the lights at Temple Square. I love this time of year and this is one of the traditions we have to keep. I am so excited that Elena is old enough to understand the reason that we celebrate Christmas is to remember the birth of Christ. Of course she is still so excited for Santa but while we were at Temple Square I was able to realize how much she really knew and understood about the birth of the Savior. I'm a proud momma!
(my photoshop knowledge isn't advanced enough to fix a poorly taken picture...so this is the pic you get:)



We had a fun Christmas party at my parents last weekend kicking it off with a birthday party for my dad. He turned 50! Not all of my sisters could be there and we missed them but we still had a good time with yummy food and great company!

A few quick family shots before opening presents.

Josh, Jess, and Kaden

The Nearly Empty Nesters-- Mom, Dad, and Dallen

Every year my hometown puts on a live Nativity. It is so neat because it takes place outside of town on a farm. They have Ceasar Agustus, Taxpayers, Merchants, Inns with the Innkeeper, Wisemen, Shepherds, and live animals. And of course a real little baby representing the Baby Jesus in a tiny stall. This year my dad was a Shepherd. It was fun to take the kids out and show them what it was really like that special night.

It's a Love Story

I've had a few friends post their love story on their blog and it's been fun to read how their happily ever after began, and since Austin and I just celebrated our 6th Anniversary on December 4th, I've decided now would be a good time to blog about our love story...
(Warning: This is a LONG Post!)


In July of 2004, Austin's brother and my cousin had just started dating and they both had talked about setting us up to double with them. I was a little hesitant to go on another "blind date" since the few previous ones had been a disaster and I wanted to take a break from the dating scene. I was finishing up work for the week and was getting ready to head out to meet my family for our annual Flaming Gorge trip the next day when my cousin called and asked if I wanted to go out with this guy and double with them that night. I was home alone by myself, had everything packed, and had nothing else to do the rest of the night, so I agreed. I met up with her at her sister's house in Nephi and waited for the guys to show up. They walked in the door and right away I thought this guy was good looking. He introduced himself to me and I could tell he was really shy. We then went over to his grandma's where he had been living (he had just moved to Nephi from AZ a few weeks prior so that he could work and get ready to start school at the U)and I was able to meet his sister, brother-in-law, and of course his grandma Lois. I have to point out that just as we arrived, I quickly told my cousin that I didn't even know this guys last name, she said "It's Brough, Austin Brough" and as soon as she said that I felt this tiny spark inside...sounds incredibly cheesy, I know, but little did I know that it was confirmation that this little "blind date" was a pretty big deal...anyway, back to the story. We all hung around just talking and setting off fireworks. Then we hung out in the garage playing music and the guys played their guitars. It was so much fun. All the recent dates I had been on, the guy had tried hard to impress, but being around Austin just totally being himself and laid back had won me over imediately. He was shy so I had to work hard to get him to talk much so I could get to know him but what I did learn was that there was something about him I already felt like I had known forever. We gave each other a hug at the end of the night and I tried to assure him that I had a fun time so that he would eventually ask me out again. He went on to tell his brother that he felt like he didn't have a chance with me, which I thought was so funny since he had already won me over. I went on my vacation the next few days and he was all I could think about. When I got home he called me up so that we could go out again. We were pretty much inseperable after that. Then on October 9th, we took a four-wheeler ride up the red cliffs near Nephi where he had laid out a blanket with his guitar and some sparkling cider and brownies. At first when I saw it set up I thought some hunter had left their crap lying around until I realized what it was. I was so impressed...and then, it happened...he pulled out his guitar and sang to me a song he had written to propose. The lyrics went like this:

Goodbye Gilbert Arizona

Hello Nephi Utah,

I think it's the best thing I've done

since I first yelled "Yee-haw:

I'll have to say lots has gone down

Since I moved to this hick town

I met a little country chick

And boy, what a pick

I was a nerd in high school

And never missed a math class

She was the head cheerleader

And she has a really nice butt

She has the most beautiful hazel eyes

That anyone has ever seen

Sometimes they match the blue of the sky

Other times they can be green

When she got back from Flaming Gorge

We hit it off just straight

It only took me two more dates

To know it had to be fate

Every night I thank the Lord

For sending me someone so perfect and sweet

Now I know the one of my dreams

Is a girl from North Sanpete

We've been dating for two months now

And there are some things I gotta say

Kara, I love you with all of my heart

Will you marry me someday?

So obviously I swooned and it took me a minute to say yes, but I did! We set the date for December 4, 2004. We were married in the Manti LDS Temple and it was one of the best days of my life!

Love you Gust-can't wait for eternity!