• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

We are in CHRISTMAS MODE here at our house. We’ve been doing so many fun activities to get ready for my favorite time of the year. Last week we went to the Farmington Lights with both my family and Randy’s family. Graham was LOOSING HIS MIND he was so excited about seeing so many fun balloons. He loved Woody and Buzz, the Star Wars guys, the Minions, Mr. Potato Head, and the animals that popped in and out of boxes and such. He was just going crazy and didn’t want to leave both times that we went.

We did a fun painting craft making Nutcrackers that Graham loved. He’s kind of obsessed with Nutcrackers and it was really cute to let him make his own. And we also made gingerbread houses which was a BLAST. Graham just wanted to eat the candy and Randy got very into it, sanding it down and using glue, but it was a great time. We’ve been eating yummy food, wrapping presents, and Randy and I even escaped to a little date on a Friday night to take gifts to my friends.

We’ve been doing a Christmas Countdown focused on the idea of “My Own” (Scripture, I come unto MY OWN) and that’s been really fun, full of fun activities. Graham also discovered SNOW this past week and has been WILDLY obsessed. He doesn’t love it on his hands but he loves crunching it and playing as long as it doesn’t get on his hands or face hahaha. He’s the best.

We’re loving this Christmas season and I’m not sure how it’s gone by so fast. And every day we’re getting even closer to a new baby which is wild! We’re just lucky to have such a sweet boy who makes this time of year so amazing and wonderful.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Every year we try to find a service activity for our family. For the past several years we have adopted a child in foster care for Christmas and it’s seriously been so awesome. We have picked a child close to Graham’s age which has made it so meaningful for him. As he helps us shop and wrap up toys he would love to play with, I think it helps him appreciate it.

My high school friend Jessi has put together this amazing service opportunity and I’m seriously so grateful she has made it such a good experience for our family! Finding service for Christmas makes the season so much more meaningful and special.

Amber is our angel photographer always getting the best shots for our family. I’m obsessed with these two!

We are having a baby!!! We are SO thrilled to be welcoming a new baby to our family in June!

I did a HORRIBLE job of filming how we found out and telling everyone. Second baby syndrome I guess!

But basically here’s the story:

I was wondering if I was pregnant but thought it would be too early to tell. I was making Graham lunch and started to feel SO sick. A wave of nausea. It was EXACTLY the same feeling I had when I was pregnant with Graham if I didn’t eat enough food. I just knew in my heart I was pregnant, but I didn’t have any tests in the house!

After Graham’s nap I got him in the car and just told Randy I had to go buy some candy from Target! I bought a test and brought it home. I bought a 3-pack and thought I should wait because it was still SO early and it probably wouldn’t show. But then I reasoned that I had a 3-pack and could take another one in a couple of days.

I took the test and after just a few seconds the digital test flashed PREGNANT. I was SHOCKED I couldn’t even think. Before I even knew what I was doing I walked into the other room and said RANDY OH MY GOSH LOOK. I was going to come up with a clever way to tell him but I couldn’t believe it was showing so early! I couldn’t even think!

We told Graham he was going to be a brother and it was so fun.

My brother and his wife were driving down from California to surprise my family and we thought it would be so fun to surprise my whole family together. SO my brother and his family knocked on the door and everyone was so surprised, and then I had Graham walk out of the bathroom with a BIG BRO shirt! Everyone was SO surprised and I started crying and was so overwhelmed I didn’t even film it! It was SO fun and wonderful to surprise everyone all together.

And then of course we went to tell Randy’s family. We were waiting for Sam’s almost fiancé to arrive and Graham had his big brother shirt under his sweatshirt. He went upstairs with Grandma to get some toys and walked down the stairs and she said “Uhhhh I think Graham told me a secret…” and I said “Graham what did you say!” And he said “I said I’m getting a sister!” We were DYING laughing. We explained we didn’t know if it was a sister but we were having a baby!

I’ve been feeling really good, pretty tired and sick some mornings, but I haven’t thrown up yet which is so awesome. Graham is CONVINCED it’s a sister and won’t really accept the idea that it could be a brother haha so we’ll see how that goes!

We’ve been having so much fun getting ready for this little baby, Graham loves asking where the baby is and loves the stuff we are getting shipped to the house for the baby already. He’s going to be such a good big brother. I’m honestly SO nervous to have another baby but I also know it will be so wonderful!

We’re getting in the full Christmas swing here at our house! We helped my parents decorate and Graham has been OBSESSED with all things Christmas, particularly the decorations!

After Thanksgiving we spent a great weekend playing games, decorating, watching Christmas movies, and eating leftovers. This whole week we’ve been just enjoying Christmas activities, countdowns, buying and wrapping presents, and more.

We also got to go see the Layton lights which was SO fun! It’s one of my favorite family traditions and taking the kids was a blast. It was cold, but the masks actually made it warmer! They were also doing a Christmas Carol socially distant outdoor performance so that was actually very cool!

It was a very different Thanksgiving compared to normal due to coronavirus. But it was still wonderful!

Liv and Grandma nanny Graham during the week and we have all been quarantining from everyone else, so we could gather for Thanksgiving. We made all our favorites—turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, yams, Brussels sprouts, rolls, and ONION RICE. And everything was absolutely delicious. We spilled water and Martinelli’s all over the table so we did have to reset the table twice, but what else can you expect from 2020! We enjoyed being together, playing games with Graham, talking to Beth on her mission, and going for a nice long walk.

It wasn’t the big family gathering we are used to, but honestly it was so special and fun no matter what!

I’m honestly THRILLED to be writing this. After 3 years as a contractor for WGU and other clients, I’m moving up! COVID-19 has brought many hardships, but remote work has helped many employers, WGU included, feel more comfortable with working at home. For me, this means that I can continue to work from home mostly while now being a full-time employee, instead of a contractor. Benefits, PTO, a promotion, and raise are all part of this and I couldn’t be more thankful!

I’m mostly just so happy to work for a place that is dedicated to helping others, doing website work I love, while still being at home with Graham. I feel so lucky.

November so far has been so exciting! But also I have not documented a lot hahaha. WOOPS.

We decorated for Christmas WOOHOO! Graham has become OBSESSED with Play Doh which is so fun. He’s also wildly obsessed with Hamilton music and asks us to play it every time we get into the car. Which I’m totally OK with.

We’ve been loving home church, cooking new recipes, coloring, working working working, doing our gratitude journal, and all kinds of other fun activities.

I’m still running a lot which is awesome, and Graham and I go on walks and feed the ducks and enjoy the weather while it’s still a little warm.

I’m going to be better at taking pictures!!! And we’re geared up for a fun, small and safe Thanksgiving which will be really great.

I’ve had big opinions about the 2020 election. All I will say here is that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris embody so much of what I think is important for our country. Donald Trump has set out to divide us, and I believe that Joe and Kamala will try to bring us together.

Today, we found out they won. Of course there are still votes to count, there will be lawsuits and drama for months and weeks, but it appears that we have great things to look forward to for the next 4 years. And I couldn’t be more thrilled.

I’ve been more open with my politics this year than I ever have before, which has been scary. But it’s been really cool to see people who feel similar and have them reach out. Connections like this have been so important and I think it’s been so crucial for me to understand how people can feel very differently while still having lots in common. I really have loved it.

During all the craziness I took some time for some self-care at the Dry Bar in Utah. LOVED IT. It was such a fun and relaxing time. Can’t recommend it enough!

We had the MOST FUN Star Wars party with my family!

Grandma and Grandpa were Admiral Holdo and Chewbacca

Ben and Kim were Boba Fett and Han Solo in carbonite

Candace, Tommy, and Allison were Darth Vader, a Storm Trooper, and an Ewok.

Liv and Mel were Padme and Leia.

Mom was Rey, dad was Kylo Ren, and Graham was Luke Skywalker.

We ate a TON of delicious food that was perfectly Star Wars themed. We had a great scavenger hunt, went trick or treating at family’s houses, had a dance party, did crafts, and just had the best time all together.

The Target toy catalog came and Graham was SO beyond pumped. He can’t stop reading it and pointing out “folk” (Hulk) and Spider-Man and Captain America and Paw Patrol. He wakes up and asks for his catalog all the time. We also made adorable pom-pom halloween creatures and he’s OBSESSED. He calls them his kids, and loves the little spider the most. He’s getting so good at counting and the alphabet. He had way too much fun playing with his cousins while they were here, running around playing hide n seek and with blocks. They would run around singing “Find a way to play together” the whole time they built towers and it was so adorable.

All month long Graham has asked us to play “Spoopy Scary Skeletons,” the dub step version, and “Let’s jam!” every time we’re in the car. He loves driving by houses that have inflatables and he says “See the ghosties and bad guys?” It’s been super fun. He’s also obsessed with Toy Story of Terror and that makes me so happy.

For Halloween Graham and I went on an adventure to find pumpkins. On Halloween there aren’t a lot of pumpkins left! We finally found some and got some kettle corn too. We carved one and painted the other and it was so great. We spent the evening eating yummy treats, trick or treating at family houses, and watching movies. It was such a fun Halloween.