So, today was my family Christmas party and a lot has been happening in my family, but the most important, most significant thing that has happened in my family is Bryn, my little angel joined our family. Each day of my life is better because of her, I guess I don't need any presents this year, because she is all I really need. This is my cousin Terra and her husband Josh. They are hoping to adopt a baby and need your help to spread the word that adoption is about love. Terra and Josh are really great people, with huge hearts and goals to have an eternal family. It is such a great blessing for me to be able to share their story, in hopes that soon they will have an addition to their family and more joy than they can ever imagine!! Please take a minute to check out their story and pass it on... its about love.

https://www.itsaboutlove.org/ial/profiles/25286681/ourMessage.jsf

http://joshandterra.blogspot.com/

We went shopping down in Salt Lake and met up with Uncle Dee! He spoiled us and took us all to lunch. Thanks Dee! I think Dee and Bryn have a very striking resemblance, but it will probably go away once Bryn's hair grows in:)

We got so go down to Temple Square to show Bryn all the beautiful lights around the Temple. I forgot my camera so these are from Shane's phone. We had a great time seeing the lights, hearing the music from the Tabernacle Choir, listening to the nativity story and feeling the wonderful spirit that envelopes all who go there. I love being able to share this place with my family and teach Bryn about the temple.

Quinn

I have to make a post honoring my little brother Quinn. I owe him big time so I'm letting the whole world know how much I love him, look up to him, how cool he is, how smart he is, how good he is, how faithful, humble, loyal, friendly, nice, kind, trustworthy, and what a great listener he is. Quinn has always been the nicest little brother and always helps me in making life choices, pre-calculus, and being the best person I can be. He works so hard and has great and lofty goals that I know he will accomplish. He is a great example of someone living in the world but not of the world. He spends his time making himself the best he can be and becoming closer to the Lord. Quinn learns quickly and doesn't ever do dumb things (because he learned by example from his big sister). Quinn never does anything half-way and always does really cool things, like making rockets, dance class and making stuff out of duct tape. He is creative and crafty, strong and silly, and super duper smart. Quinn, I love you so much and am so grateful that you are a part of my family and that I have the opportunity to learn (all the good things) from you. I'm so glad Bryn has an uncle that can love her and be such a great example to her. Thanks for liking Shane :) and for letting him marry me. I know that you will always take care of our family by being the great and wonderful person you are!! Thanks for being you!

Bryn got to help us with gingerbread houses. She was the designated candy-cane holder, complete with Christmas stockings compliments of Jannae and Joana.

Quinn made an IronMan and arc reactor with little minions working for a big boss man.
Jannae made the cutest horse stable, with hay, grass, flowers, and all the tack. She cut out everything herself!
Joana made the sweetest house. I think her goal was to put one of everything on her house, complete with sprinkle snow on the delicious roof!

The roofers
The sod
Our under construction house
You can tell Shane is a builder because everything in this house had to be realistic, he even built rafters and window frames!
We have a gingerbread tradition in our family...but surprisingly, Shane and I haven't done it, ever. So, this year we built an under-construction house. Not bad for a contractor that has never built with gingerbread!

We had a great Thanksgiving feast at the Fredrickson home. I brought treat bags with coloring books, stickers, treats and stamps. This is proof that I'm a rookie mom because we had blue, pilgrim printed kids before dinner even got started! We had a good time hanging with the family anyway.

No School!

The school district finally closed school for a snow day. Good thing too since every road in the county has been closed. I woke up this morning and while feeding Bryn saw Grampa trying to get someone driving a station wagon unstuck from a huge drift in front of our house. Then I watched the tractor get stuck, and then another little car! So... i got all my snow gear on and went out to help. By the time I got out, the tractor was out, and a jeep had come to pull out the little car. We had to dig the station wagon out three times before it got far enough down the road we couldn't see him anymore. I hope they all got home okay. It is definitely a blizzard out there! I'm really glad I didn't have to go anywhere today because I wouldn't, and I couldn't even if I wanted to. My car has a four foot drift all the way around. This pic is from the front door, I'm not going back out there unless absolutely necessary!

My beautiful giggle girl!

Last Day of Maternity Leave :(

I have been feeling nostalgic, melancholy, and downright sad all day long. Today is my last day of maternity leave and I don't want it to be. I really like my job... but I love my baby and there will never be enough time in the vast spectrum of time to spend with her. In the last three months, a lot has changed. Number one, Bryn. She has grown so much! Three months ago, she could barely keep her eyes open long enough to eat, now she has her beautiful (turning brown!) eyes open to the world. Her eyes hold a sparkle that I never knew existed. She looks at everything and watches, and I know she is holding back her wisdom. I also know she is forgetting some of it and it breaks my heart that she had to leave her Heavenly home to come here to this dirty, mean old world. At the same time, I have never been more blessed and I am so grateful to have her here to teach me a little, okay a lot each day! She smiles, she giggles, she is ticklish, she talks to us, and is an amazing cuddle-bug. I honestly don't know how my heart holds all the love, every day it grows, and grows and grows.
I have changed too, not as much as Bryn perhaps, but I know I will never be the same again. I loved being an independent student, having lofty academic and professional goals. Now, I love being totally depended upon, a student to my baby, and a totally dependent student to my Heavenly Father. I have to trust in Him so much, and I am humbled by the awesome responsibility of parenthood. I know that I cannot comprehend many things with my little human brain, but I look so forward to the day when I can see Him again and hopefully learn to love like He does.
My whole perspective of life has changed. Things that used to be important are now nonexistent. Things that used to be nonexistent are now the most important things of my life. Change is good. It shows us what we really want to be.

Naughty or Nice List?

I made this new apron for my secret swap partner for Shawnee's Apron Swap... I guess everyone there likes it! I was a little worried...but I made the list, you choose which:)

Goodbye Fall

Bryn and I woke up to a blustery Monday. I guess for being November, it's about time for the weather to turn cold. We had a really nice fall with the leaves turning slowly so we could enjoy them. I looked out our window and saw snow blowing horizontally, so we went back to bed and snuggled. At least one good thing comes from cold mornings!

How's this for a flirty apron swap?

While I was trying to register for Shawnees Flirty Apron Swap, Shane came in and told me if I went into the kitchen, I could see our family apron swap. So I wander in and everyone is wearing cute aprons we have made and making fudge, then I found out that Dad was helping and wearing an apron too! I just had to get a picture of that but he wasn't exactly excited to let me.

Surrender!

Not sure what got into him, but he finally let me take a picture...good Daddy!

Terra hosted a great Halloween party with lots of ghoulish food and games. Shane and I created these worms and even won a prize for them!

We had a great Halloween week. I think we went to three parties, and it isn't even October 31st yet! I have had so much fun showing Bryn off, this holiday is much better when you have kids to share it with. I have also enjoyed being a stay at home sister... Conner and Jannae went with me to the parties while Mom and Dad were working. Just another testament to me of how much I love being a homemaker! Conner was a pirate, Jannae a fairy, and Bryn was a sunflower, and a perfectly adorable baby.

We had a blast carving pumpkins this year. Everyone had a pumpkin and we ended up with very unique pumpkins. Moms pumpkin is the sneezer, Conner carved the wolf, Jannae made the man in the moon, I traced my hand and Bryns hand inside, Joannas pumpkin is very afraid to be made into pumpkin pie, and Grandma, Grampa and Shane all made silly face pumpkins. Shanes is the one with the 3-D ears. If I can self-appointed myself the judge of the pumpkin contest, the cutest pumpkin in our patch is Bryn!

First Day of School

Bryn got to go to her first day of school today with Jannae, as show-and-tell! Jannae wanted to take something new and exciting, well, new and exciting she got!! Jannae told her class all about Bryn: how old she is, how big she is, how big she was when she was born, how old Bryn will be when Jannae is in high school and how much fun they have together. Her classmates had a hard time grasping the concept that Jannae was the Aunt, and not the big sister. In fact, Jannae is my little sister and Bryn is my daughter and Jannaes niece. One classmate said that he was an uncle, but most of the kids just looked confused. Jannaes teacher said that she has been very anxious to get her niece and then to bring her to school to show off. I think they both had a great time together. Bryn was happy at least... hopefully that is a good sign of things to come in about five years!

I finally got around to replacing what Shane took:) It is just as well because now I have seven pints! This batch tastes better anyway. Here's the recipe if you want some fall bliss in your mouth!

• 1 (29 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
• 2 cups apple cider
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine all ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Pour into freezer containers. Refrigerate up to 1 month or freeze.

I finished my apron for Shawnees Fall Apron Swap finally. When I started this apron I thought it was going to be tricky, but finishing Bryns dress in the middle of it made this apron seem like a piece of cake. I've never made this style before so I hope my partner likes it. I was so excited to find the pattern and fabric, I think it fits her perfectly! The recipe is for Pumpkin Apple Butter. I made some yesterday and it turned out great. So great that my sweet husband took the entire batch hunting today! I guess that gives me an excuse to make it again, and keep my house smelling sweet and fallish!

The Court Jester... Jesters!

The Joust

The Royal Family

This is another four generation picture of mommies. Bryn, her mom (me), my mom Shannon, and her mom Marjorie.

I burned the midnight oil to get Bryns dress done in time, but I did finish, and it turned out exactly like I wanted. It looks very similar to my wedding dress and the bow is even from my dress. I have never worked so hard on a single project before. Now I know I can do really great things! Princess perfect.