Lip Smackin'

Here is a secret that is not really a secret--Elyse is stinkin' cute. She has been pretty easy going so far with a little stranger anxiety thrown in, but we really couldn't ask for more. She steals my heart with her dimply smile and is growing her teeth out of order so she resembles a vampire. She sleeps well, eats well and even fairs well in church(without a pacifier-she refuses to take it). She gets around unconventionally. She either pushes herself around with her legs or pulls herself around with her arms. Crawling will come as soon as she puts the two together. If my face get close to hers at all, she grabs my hair with her two fists and tries to eat me with kisses, so I do the same to her (minus the hair pulling) and smother her sweet cheeks with kisses while she giggles and squeals. She is another bright spot in our home. She radiates happiness and energy and makes us all smile. Tonight, she lit up my life again making kissy faces at me. Love it. Love her. Lots.

Katelyn's Sayings

I wanted to make a list of some funny things Katelyn has said, just so I don't forget them.

While picking petals off of a flower, "He loves me, He loves me too. He loves me, he loves me too!"

Katelyn calls Devin Sunday suit his "swim suit." She asks me to draw Daddy in his swim suit all the time.

Katelyn calls her legs "flegs."

When we come home from anywhere, we walk into the house and Katelyn says, "What'd you to today mommy?" Most the time I answer, "I've been with you." She then says excitedly, "I been with you today, too!"

When I ask Katelyn her full name, she answers, "Katelyn Jo Tanner." When I ask her my full name, she says, "Mommy Jo Tanner." She is kind of right.

At dinner, "You a good cook, mom." She then bats her eyelashes and tries to leave the table without eating anything.

When Elyse smiles at Devin, "She loves you daddy!"

Katelyn asked me to pop her balloon. After I did, she said, "Mommy, that is not nice. We do not do that to our balloons. That hurts our balloon's feelings and make our balloons sad." She threw away the balloon and had me look at it in the trash. "Look at what you did. That was not nice Mommy."

Katelyn handed Elyse a toy. Elyse babble back. Katelyn said, "Your welcome. She tried to say thank you, mom."

Katelyn was going to play at Kortney's house. Katelyn asked me-"To play with Camille?" Me- "Yes." K-"Noah and Miles?" Me-"No, just Camille." K-"Max and Jenna?" Me-"No, Just Camille." After thinking about her only friend without a sibling, "Camille needs a baby."

After we hung out stockings, Katelyn took them back down and put them on. She then said, "These are cool boots mom."

Everyday between September (when we visited home) and December (when we visited home) she would wake up and say "Its Christmas today. Let go see (insert family member's name, usually Brynna, here)."

Whenever Katelyn sees a bus, she says, "I want to ride on a bus." When I tell her she can't until she is five, she says "I want a pack-pack." Lucky for her, Grammy got her a back-pack for Christmas. Now she is equip to dream about riding the bus.

We got Katelyn some princess underwear. Some of them have Sleeping Beauty. She calls them her "Booty(beauty) Undies." I like it.

December 2011

December was a month filled with holiday travel and fun. My picture taking was not the best. In fact, I took...one picture when we went to Idaho. That is right, one. So most of these pictures are stolen from my sister. Sorry Elyse that your first Christmas was so poorly documented. We love you anyway.

When we went to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, Chelsea sent us some of Maddie's old clothes. She looks so cute in this dress of Maddie's. My girls, all ready for church.
Elyse wrinkles her nose like Katelyn used to. I love it. Elyse at 6 months.
Katelyn at 6 months. I can see some similarities. They are such sweethearts. Devin and Katelyn watching the Christmas devotional and eating popcorn.Elyse and I during the Christmas devotional. Photo taken by Katelyn.

The one picture I took on my camera at Christmas. Nice Heidi. Way to take a picture of Katelyn with the horse. We all went to ice cream and to see an electronic light show for family home evening.

My cute mom. Elyse first bite of ice cream. She wasn't sure about it.... ...until after. Then she decided to like it. Katelyn playing with her cousins at Artic Circle. The light show was at a house in Idaho Falls. The lights were synchronized with music on a radio station. Cars were lining the street. I felt so bad for their neighbors.

We love Grammy!

Brynna, Blyss, McKray and Elyse. We had so much fun playing with cousins. When the Bradley's would leave my mom's house, Katelyn would plead with Brynna, "Please stay. Don't leave me Brynna. Stay here." The kids were so good to my girls. Our Christmas Eve Nativity. Katelyn and I were angels. Katelyn sang,"Glory to God" (the whole chorus from Far, Far Away on Judea's Plain). The song has been stuck in my head for a month. Elyse was a sheep. (Probably the cutest sheep ever)

Devin was a wise man. We have such a fun time dressing up. My mom got a set of bells and Alli put together a song book of Christmas songs. Since we have no pictures of Christmas morning, here is how it went. We woke up and saw our stockings, ate breakfast and went to church. My parents spoke in sacrament meeting. They did a wonderful job. We then came home, opened presents and talked to Elder Hancock in South Africa. After Dallin's call, we went to the Tanner's for some sweet prime rib and lots of fun.

We had family picture with the Tanners the day after Christmas. Grandma and Grandpa Tanner with their four grandkids. It was nice to meet Chris and Becky's new little guy, Kayden. The Tanner Clan. What an amazing background! They are so lucky to live in the mountains. It makes for pretty pictures. It also makes for freezing, squinting faces!

We had a wonderful holiday and were so happy to see our family. We were especially happy to teach our kids about the real meaning of the season. We are grateful for the birth of our Savior. As a family, our resolution this year is to make Him the center of our lives all year round.