And Now Presenting...

Is this not the cutest thing ever? (Obviously I am biased :), but really!?) Every time I think about it I can't help but smile. Last week Gracie had her first dance recital. Her teacher is Miss Sweetie, aka my mom! She takes the class with her friend KD which makes it that much better. (Shout out to KD's mom for the great pics! brittany k photography!)

The accumulation of the last 3 1/2 years of parenting was repaid in this simple 65 second dance! I have dreamed about the day that my little girl would get up on stage and dance- and this was better than a dream...she was the cutest! She even kept her smile on the whole time! Afterwards her dad gave her roses and took her to Lucille's the (their favorite restaurant). I loved it all, the dancing and the eating part...ha.

"Earrings & A Open Mirror"

So right now I am awake with small contractions, I guess this baby is already preparing me for his arrival! (Although it is very convenient to update while everyone else in the house is asleep.) So, what better use of my time huh?

Over Thanksgiving Weekend we went to St. George..(surprise..haha). While we were there I finally got the courage to get Gracie's ears pierced. Her Auntie Dani and I took her to the mall where she got to pick out her own earrings. She picked the "snowflake ones". I am sure that I was more nervous than her, and she did soooo well! No tears at all! I was pretty impressed.

Here is the before picture

Here is the after! And she still has a smile!

Then we took her to sit on Santa's lap. She has never cooperated until this year, so this was her first time! All year she has been asking for an "open mirror". We have the commercial recorded so it is always fresh in her mind! It's actually a Disney Princess vanity set, but she refers to it as an "open mirror". So many people have asked her what she wants for Christmas and when she sees the confused look on their faces with her "open mirror" reply she has learned to further explain that "it it like a vanity." It's pretty hilarious. I just hope she has been good enough this year for Santa to bring it to her! :)

Halloween Enchanted

A Princess on a Mission!

We went on a field trip for preschool to the pumpkin patch.

Making pizza with Papa Brett

Making carmel apples with the grandmas! Grandma Whitney always has the best plans! (Gracie told me yesterday that I don't have plans, only Grama Whitney!)

Her Hero

Can you see the theme?

I love this one!

Their nightly routine!

Like daddy like daughter!

These past few months Gracie has grown to have a profound love for her dad! She only lets HIM brush her hair/teeth, do her hair (which he is pretty good at a pony tail now!), take her potty, get her dressed...the list could go on forever. Bottom line- She loves her dad!

I am so grateful to have such an amazing man who I get to be with forever and who is the father of my children! Love you! (And we both know Gracie does too!)

Oh Boy!

So today I am grateful that I can say I'm twenty weeks along, with a BABY BOY! We are super excited about the new addition. Although when we came out of the ultrasound I asked Gracie if she was excited to have a little brother, she said, "I think its a little sister Mom." Haha, no we are pretty sure, along with the sonographer, that it's a little brother. Dallyn is proud, he can't wait to have a little boy. Th entire time he said it was a boy, and with Gracie he knew it was a girl; I don't know how he knows, but he does.

Now Gracie has warmed up to the idea and is excited about a little brother.

The older I get the more I realize how much true happiness I get from my family. Other things are fun, like Dallyn went on a crazy hike yesterday in Kolob Creek in Zion, but nothing brings me joy like my family.

Since I have been writing this Dallyn told me that he would teach me how to repel, but he won't because I would die, so I guess we can count that out. haha. It's not really a desire of mine anyways. I would much rather spend a fun day at the beach with the fam!

On another note Gracie has eaten a cookie and a carmel popcorn ball for breakfast, and tonight we are going trick-or-treating. Needless to say we are at the grandparents in St. George and I know others can sympathize with me, Megan. What is a mother to do?

Birthday Lady!

Gracie turned 3! (in July...yeah I know..)

We had birthday celebrations with the Bleazard and Moody families. It was a week of celebrations for that girl. G&G Bleazard came down for a day showered Gracie with presents and took her to Chuckie Cheese and Grimaldi's (yum)! When we got to Chuckie Cheese Gracie said, "It's not broken anymore!" I couldn't figure out what she was talking about until I remembered that we had told her about four months before that we couldn't go there becuase it was broken ...haha. This girl is full of surprises, and is the princess of the house...to say the least!

Gracie, Dal, and G&G Bleazard at lunch. I am grateful for such awesome in-laws!

Handing Grampa the tickets at Chuckie Cheese.

Gracie blowing out the candles on her "Princess Cake." (I had good intentions of making a serious princess cake, but it kind of fell apart at the last minute. (literally) Next year, and for years to come, I will buy delicious Bundt cakes and ice cream cakes for the fam's brithdays. Lesson learned. ) Luckily for me, Gracie liked it.

Here is Grace in her all-time-favorite dress-up. She wears it around the house almost everyday. She got the matching shoes for her birthday. I think now she has almost every Disney Princess dress with matching shoes. This girl doesn't mess around when it comes to princess stuff! Even when we go to the library she refuses to check out any books that are not princess. I think we've read them all by now. I am so grateful to be her mom! Happy Birthday Lady! I love you!

Really??

I recently had a conversation with someone that left me thinking, "Really? Did she just say that? Is this really happening?", and unfortunately the answer was loud and clear: Yes, Brooke- this is happening...
A few weeks ago we found out that I was pregnant. We were ecstatic- more so, elated!- including the little lady. I have been sick and super tired, not to mention a couch potato and an avid Dora watcher.
When I went to my first doctor's appointment on Friday, which Dallyn met me at, I was so excited to see a heartbeat- at least I would know that this sickness would be amounting to something, we were expecting an eight week old baby. Too soon, we learned of the opposite. There was no baby...just a clot. My body still believes that I am pregnant, which explains the sickness, the hormones and my growing uterus. I hope soon enough this will change.
I decided to write about this for a couple reasons because normally I would think this is way too personal to put on my blog:

1. I do not want to have to explain to everyone who knew that I was pregnant what happened. I still get teary-eyed thinking about it, and I can't imagine explaining it over and over.

2. I want to share my testimony: I know that the Lord gives us trials so we can become stronger. I admit that I do not understand the reasoning behind this right now, but I know that it is for my own good. Through this I have a deeper appreciation for my knowledge of the Gospel. I am so grateful for my beautiful, healthy baby girl and my rock of a husband. Even more I am grateful to know that we can be together forever. I know that the Lord hears and answers prayers. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he has also become my salvation." 2 Nephi 22:2. Amen.

Bonnie Springs

(I guess if my hubbie has time to update, there's no excuse for me...right?)

Last week we took Gracie to Bonnie Springs. She was ecstatic (Fancy Nancy word)! She loves seeing all the animals, this place is better than any zoo Vegas has to offer! Here's a couple pictures to document our travels.

Giving the camera their "game face".

Wild ride on the mechanical camel!

Talking to Dad about pettin that pony. The signed warned that he may bite!

Feeding Bambi. Definite highlight!

Thinking bout pettin that llama. "Diego does it all the time Mom!"

Sitting on the train, that doesn't chug.

Alright, I have never done this so give me a break and don not plan on hearing from me for another couple of years.

I just want to wish Brooke a happy mothers day and tell her how much I love her and appreciate all that she does for Gracie and. She is such a wonderful example and tries in everyway to live like Christ.

Also, thank you for making life so enjoyable and always lookin so dam (yes the misspelling was on purpose) HOT.

I love you so much and always will.

Love, Dallyn

F-A-I-R

When Gracie says "Cheese" she gets that real concerned look on her face. So unless I capture the moment with her natural smile, this is what I get. I love ya Lady!
Ashlee, Michelle, and Markie. (If you look closely you will see the spattered powdered sugar all over from their funnel cake. haha) See, they like the food too!

The definite highlight! Gracie is still talking about this pony...

Her pretty butterfly face. She picked out the purple butterfly.

Eating the best thai chicken ever! I would drive to the fair just for this!

Yes, I have had this event on my calendar for over a year. The Clark County fair just gives me that small, hometown feeling that I love. I probably talk about it everyday for the entire month leading up to it. (Thanks Dal for putting up with me.)This year we went twice, and once to the rodeo. During the rodeo Gracie kept telling me she had a secret, she would get as close as she could to me ear and then spit-whisper, "Is it over yet?", it was hilarious. Needless to say that was not her favorite part.

All-in-all I probably am exaggerating, and it's not as spectacular as I make it in my own mind. It's just a small, po-dunk(sp?), fair, but I love going to it, especially for all the yummy food!

I encourage you all to go next year! If you need the dates, just contact me, I'll give you all the LD.

Some say it doesn't get better than this...

But I think it does...

4 Year Bliss!

Waiting to eat her crab!

Wow, we've been married four years! It's so cliche, but true when they say time flies when you are having fun! I love you Dallyn, and I am so excited to spend eternity with you.

We celebrated by going on our traditional Flemmings date and to the movies. (Unfortunately forgot the camera.Thanks for babysitting Ashlee!)
We celebrated at home too and made some king crab legs and shrimp. The Lady loves king crab and begs for it everytime we pass it in the grocery store. So I thought I would splurge and get it this time. (Beware boys, she really loves king crab and really good steaks!)

? Question ?

Sometimes Lady asks crazy silly things that we don't know how to answer. The other night we were driving home from cleaning and she asked her dad:

G: Where is the sun?

Dad: It's sleeping.

G: Where is the sun's bed?

Anyone have an answer to this conundrum? Haha.

He's Here...and already a month old!

I just gotta give a shout out to my sweet new nephew Brody! We love you and talk about you everyday!

Hoppy Easter!

Dallyn and Steven made us a delicious breakfast Easter morning while one-legged Spence and Gracie and I sat and ate our candy.

Moki puppy, which was Steven's birthday present, was the highlight of Gracie's weekend. (Neither of them would hold still long enough for me to get a good picture.)

Gracie's Easter egg hunt!

Grama Whitney made eggs for us to dye. It was a fun mess for everyone!

Easter morning!

When Gracie woke up she was a bit confused:

Mom: Gracie, the Easter Bunny came last night, come see what he brought you!

Gracie: He left, or can I still pet him?

This Lady says the funniest things somtimes!

Recent Happenings

All the "Moody Girls" at Shanna's baby shower last week. I can't wait for my new nephew!

Dallyn turned 25 (in November). Crazy!
Grama Whitney made a half the cake for Dallyn and half for Logan since their birthdays are only a day apart.

Our annual Homage to SLC.

This is in the Joseph Smith building where you get to go watch the movie. I love that movie. I encourage everyone to see it who hasn't. Thanks Grama Whitney for keeping Gracie and making "plans" with her!

Me and the lil' Lady on the carousel at the District.

It was freezing outside, but she was determined to ride it. Thanks Dani for all the pics!

Family Ice Skating.

Gracie did not take to it well, but her little ice skates were so cute I couldn't resist getting them on her.