die--t

so this last week I began my diet, it was going pretty well until tonight and I want to eat everything in the house so I am trying to refrain by blogging. (thanks newie for your diet post too). So if anyone has any great suggestions of low calorie foods that can fill me up so I can survive please let me know!!!

back to the blog + new family pics

So... its been a long time. Here is a quick update on our little family. Chad just started a new job with a company called Asea, he is just finishing up his bachelors and gettting ready to apply to dental school. Ashley (me) is now working part time as a nurse at the pediatricians (same place) and gets to spend more time home with my adorable girls. Kate is getting big, and is now more in charge than ever! She is excited to start a tumbling class next week and will hopefully be starting preschool in the fall (so crazy!). Emery is a doll, she is so much fun! She just started walking this week and loves to practice her new skill all day, we are still a little wobbly, and now has a new set of forehead bruises to show off. I am going to try to be better with my posts. But here are our recent family pics, I am so exicted about them!

blessing day

*disclaimer* I went on post overload so be prepared... I think there are like 5 new posts, but at least i'm caught up...right?

We blessed Emery on Sunday, the 4th of July, Chad did a great job, and it was a beautiful blessing. We were so blessed to have so many family and friends come to support us.

My mom made Emery's blessing dress from her wedding dress! She did an amazing job and the dress turned out absolutely beautiful!

Here are the girls with my parents.

Emery with my grandpa and grandma Markham (my mom's parents) and uncle Scott.

Chad's grandma Heninger (his mom's mom)

My grandma and grandpa Christiansen

Chads parents

and Chads brother and his wife, Travis and Kristina.
It was such a fun day and we are so lucky to have such great support from everyone!

fireworks, glow sticks and more!

We started our 4th of July weekend off with a bang! We spent Saturday afternoon with my family up the canyon, and came down just in time to watch the Stadium of Fire- Fireworks show.

We had some awesome spots saved thanks to the Sampsons. Emery was totally captivated by the fireworks and she watched the whole thing!

Kate was a little nervous about the fireworks at first but once they started she loved it!

Now its time for my awesome glow stick story... Kate somehow got her hands on a few glow sticks while we were watching the fireworks, and as we put her in the car to head home I noticed her pants glowing. She was not about to give up the glowstick so I let her keep it (mistake #1), but gave clear instructions to her to keep it out of her mouth (mistake #2). Two minutes later she starts complaining about her mouth being hot, I didn't think much of it and handed her a water bottle, but the complaining continued. I turned around and she was a glowing mess! Luckily I am a paranoid freak and have the poison control number memorized (and programed in my phone... benefits of being a pediatric nurse) so I gave them a call... this was the conversation.
Poison Control Man: Hi poison control how can I help you?
Me: yeah, my two year old ate half of a glow stick.
PC Man: ok is it a boy or girl?
Me: (in my head... hmm weird question but I answered) it is a girl.
PC Man: hmm that's funny its been mostly boys tonight
Me: Well at least im not the only one that lets their child eat glow sticks
PC Man: not by a long shot, ha ha. let me guess you were watching fireworks
Me: yep
PC Man: well it's not toxic but she will have some mouth irritation.
Me: ok thanks, bye
-So I hung up the phone and turned around and Kate had this crazy look on her face and says "mom your hair is purple"...(then she starts waving her hands and says) "now its green!".
Me and Chad just looked at each other and said hmm maybe we should call the man back and make sure she is not hallucinating. Luckily Kate turned out ok and we learned our lesson!

Bright and early Monday morning we were all set up and ready to watch the parade! Chad and his brothers and cousins had camped out most of the night waiting to save spots for us, while me and the girls slept not so peacefully in Camilles room.

Camille had the time of her life being a pioneer on my dad's stake float. Doesn't she look excited!

Here is all of the parade crowd! We love the fourth of July in Provo!

After the parade finished, my uncle set up a giant water blow up slide in my parents front yard. the kids had a blast! Kate was not a fan of the water but she enjoyed watching from a safe distance.

Another crazy tradition that we honor at our house on the fourth of July is torturing anyone who falls asleep during the party. My cousin Cannon was the victim this year. Me and my sister pulled out the hot pink nail polish and went to work! he looked lovely!

Emery found her future BFF Hilary. She is the newest addition to our good friends the Walkers. She was born a week before Emery. Heather gave Emery a matching dress so they could be twinners for the 4th. Aren't they so cute!

I love this pic of Emery, she is starting to be so alert and interactive, it is so fun!

Later that afternoon I found Kate totally passed out asleep on the floor in Anna's room. It was a very fun but exhausting day! We love the 4th!

happy birthday Juliett!

June 30th we celebrated my older sister, Juliett's birthday. (for those of you who don't know, Juliett was born with trisomy 18, a disorder that made her unable to walk, or talk, etc. She passed away just before her 16th birthday) she was always happy and so fun to be around. Her favorite things to do were to go to Trafalga and ride the cars, be with the family and go to grandmas house. So we celebrated by doing all of her favorite things.

Kate loved going fast in the cars!

We also discovered why Camille should never have a drivers license, it was hilarious. She would completely stop in the middle of the road, and then she would drive and swerve all over the place.

This picture actually has nothing to do with the birthday post, but I had to put it on anyway. I got the girls matching dresses before emery was born and they can finally be twinners. So Cute!!!

Landan's Homecoming

A few weeks ago we got to celebrate Landan's homecoming. Landan and Austin actually spoke on fathers day, and they did an awesome job! Landan has become a favorite of the girls! Kate draws him pictures every day, it is so cute!

We had lots of yummy food, and the weather was perfect!

Here are some of the guys hanging out (aren't the decorations cute!)

It was a fun day, and we are excited to have Landan back. (sorry to amber that it took me so long to post- love ya!)

june fun

June was a fun month for us! We got to attend out annual stake bbq at the park, Chad was most excited about the tug-o-war with all the other kids... not saying that Chad is a kid or anything.

Kates' favorite part was the cotton candy and the dora picture that got painted on her face (note to other parents: face painting is always a bad idea for a two year old!)

We spent an afternoon with my mom and sisters at the Princess Festival in Lindon. It was so cute! The girls got to get all dressed up and hang out with princesses all afternoon, Kate was really shy and would not talk to any of them, it was kinda funny.

Camille loved the carriage, and she also got to try sword fighting with the prince.

On my last day of maternity leave I celebrated by going bowling with the girls, we went with our friends. Kate and her BFF Savannah loved pushing the balls down the ramp. (check out her awesome shoes!)