twas the night before chirstmas...

becoming my favorite new tradition....

jesus: perry (braxton was asleep)

mary: hallie (very appropriate because she is so nurturing)

joseph: bentley

angel: madi

shepard: steeley

two wise men: ashton and linny

 santa came....

 christmas morning...

we had a wonderful christmas at both the brady's and skousen's.

i didn't get very many pictures at the brady's. 

we loved talking to both elder skousen and elder brady. 

both are such positive hard working missionaries. 

lynn always makes christmas a special day for everyone.

and steele was content the second he opened buzz from santa.

we should have just let him be done opening presents. 

all he wanted to do was play with his dear friend buzz light-year.

is it kind of ridiculous that i got kind of sad for woody and jessy?

i think the movies got to me. 

toys aren't alive. 

are they?

 every year just gets better and better 

merry christmas to everyone

.....................

xoxo

our christmas customs

one the of the dearest things that ties families together is tradition.

i love that we have combined tradtions from brett's side of the family and mine.

we hope to pass on our family's christmas traditions onto generation after generation.

this christmas for steele is absolutely the best!

he is so into every little christmas thing. 

our count down rings, treats to friends, christmas cards, wrapping presents

christmas music and he loves his christmas tree in his room. 

he also has a music rudolph that sings "rudolph".

he listens to it every night as he's falling asleep.

i can't image a better little boy to spend christmas with than steele.

and then there is my pear who lights up my life.

she is such a sweet addition to our family. 

aren't her eyes enchanting?! 

she studies everything wit her eyes,

and then with her mouth!

{rubber spatuals are a great makeshift teether!}

yep. her tops get soaked in minutes. 

and that tongue! it is so funny.

 {gingerbread houses}

every year we build gingerbread houses at grandma bubbles.

one of my new favorite traditions.

 {playing in the first snow fall}

when ever we wake up to snow we are outside in it!!

i just wish it would really snow already. 

i mean i want feet. white fluffy snow!

i love snow and think it is such a beautiful addition to the christmas season.

come on and snow! please!!

this little 1/4" stayed around for maybe an hour. 

steele and i went out in our jammies and played while it lasted.

 {santa}

we love when santa comes to visit. 

last year steele was terrified but this year was different.

he was the first one up on santa's lap, 

talking poor santa's ear off.

steele asked for;

buzz, woody & jessy

lots of treats

& a tool set

 we have much much more we have been up to,

but this will do for now.

we hope you are enjoying your christmas as much as we are!

......................

xoxo

the winks, month by month six

she's getting some chub that's for sure.

the rolls are coming slowly but surely.

she is the smallest of the three babies in the brady family.

it's so fun seeing them all progress together.

you can tell they're all the same age.

there are quite a few people that adore our little pear.

brett and i happen to be two of her biggest adorers. 

the little stinker just wants to suck on her thumb now. 

she keeps going back a forth between her thumb and two fingers.

i've been persistent with giving her the binks instead but i think it is so dang cute! 

 perry has had a lot of firsts in her sixth month of life...

her first thanksgiving, first time eating baby food (which she really did not like),

first time sitting up on her own, first time rolling from back to stomach. 

this month pear has also discovered her tongue and her toes. 

she has her tongue out and feet in hands at all times. 

her outfits gets soaked in minutes with drool.

she wants to chew on everything... especially whoever's fingers are closest.

still no signs of teeth. i think she is just a little explorer with her mouth.  

i love that perfect triangle lip pout. 

you can find me kissing this little face all day. 

she really is so squeezable, kissable, lovable and eatable! 

i've gotta remind myself not to squeeze her too hard.

but sometime i just can't help myself.

..................

life is good and the holidays are sweeping our hearts away!

tis the season

 every year we go as a family to pick out our christmas trees.
this has to be one of our very favorite christmas traditions.
this year we are really missing a certain someone...
but we know he is where he is supposed to be!

we decorated our tree over the next few days.
steele could not get enough of helping with lights and ornaments.
we cut out snowflakes, which steele felt made him adult because he got to use scissors.
we hung stockings and ate chicken pot pie.

my uncle jonny made us these cd's of classic christmas music.
i love the jackson 5 christmas renditions.
it brings me right back to my childhood when we would decorate our tree.

isn't this picture cool. i want to have in enlarged and hang it on our wall every christmas.
steele really loved cutting snowflakes! but who doesn't.

we are very busy with parties, festivities and being with family and friends.
merry christmas everyone!
xoxo

The Riley Tree

There was a special spirit at Primary Children's hospital the moment I walked in the front door. An overwhelming feeling that the veil was very thin throughout this miraculous place. We saw an ity-bitty little girl in a gown pushing her IV stand as if it was no big deal, a baby being pushed in a crib down the hall, parents holding their baby going for a walk. I'm telling you I was on the verge of tears the entire hour we were there.

Brittany and I had the privileged of going with Grandmas White to set up a tree on the 3rd floor of the hospital. The tree is filled with toys, coloring books, puzzles...all kinds of things to brighten a child's day. Grandmas has been doing this tree for years. She started doing this tree when a young neighbor boy passed away. This is how the Riley tree came about.

We completed the tree and with much thanks from the nurses we headed down the hall to leave. One of the nurses decided to go get a boy who was recovering. She said he had a rough morning and hoped this would help him smile. We stopped and watched the boy come from his room. Sadness filled my heart as I saw this maybe 7 year old boy. His head was swollen, shaved and had large zig-zagged stitches from ear to ear. His eyes were glassy and red. Down the hall and around the corner he went. As soon as he saw the tree he just lit up. He crouched to his knees and started to pick out his present.

I can't really put into words how I felt. My heart ached. This year, can we all please take the time to give of our time, talents or monetary means to help someone in need. We are unable to put on the Bloggers Give Back Project this year, so I'm looking for another way to help someone in need. Do you know of anyone? This season is just not the same for me unless I find a way to brighten someones life.

Keep the spirit of giving and love bright this Christmas season. Love you all!!

..........

XOXOXO     

my world is...

this picture is me and steele to a tee.

look at his little bashful smile.

his coyly shrugged shoulders combined

with his "mom's going to tickle me again" smirk.

i can say my whole heart loves steele.

every mischievous bit of him.

me...

 always wanting to squeeze his guts out and then kiss him to death.

asking him for loves way too often and he almost always replies "ok".

in love with steele's personality right now.

makes my heart melt into million pieces by the things he says.

he talk well beyond his age.

serious smarty pants on our hands,

but i'll refrain from bragging.

he also has become quite the photographer. 

i let him take pictures with my old camera now that i have a new one.

he's gotten pretty good. 

i can't help but laugh at the pictures he gets.

pretty good right?

love my steele wheeley. 

just wanted to make sure he got some love here too. 

i'm one lucky mommy!