Katelyn and the Christmas Tree

Christmas is a magical time of year.

Believe. Hope. Dream.

And miracles will happen.

Around here

Sorry lovely friends.

The week of Thanksgiving and most 

of this week just flew right by me.

It was quite the lovely long weekend around here.

A grown-up date with Katelyn to Noodles and Company.

Of course, we ate Wisconsin Mac and Cheese.

My sister-in-law and I escaped to Chili's. Best part?

Look in the right corner. Yep, molten choclate cake calling my name for sure.

Sweet Jane turned one.

We bought her and her sister Lilly matching Christmas dresses,
my new thing is to not buy loud noisy toys.

And since it was a busy Saturday, morning worked best for a party.

Instead of cake, why not chocolate waffles!?!

Kevin and I ran a 10K on Thanksgiving.

I was so sore and tired.

Even after all that, it made us both want to get ready to run another race!

There's one check off of my 12 by 2012!

On a good note, it made me realize how much Kevin and I are a team.

Yep, we hit a very large bump and are making our way through it.

My dad's famous pumpkin and chocolate pecan pie.

It's literally to DIE for.

Kevin took me Black Friday shopping. I was impressed that he

waited in the hour long line to checkout at Target. Brownie points to him!

What I'm listening to around here.

Festival of Trees is this week through Saturday!

More details to come about this tree.

And now finals of my final semester are approaching.
Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

I'M THANKFUL FOR YOU.

My Katelyn

It's about that time of year, when all the kids get their pictures taken at school.

I hated it growing up.

Standing in line and then sitting down, a quick smile 

and two shots later, there was a picture that would

determine whether or not I was pretty enough

 for the entire school year. Ugh.

I'm so glad that's over.

But for my Katelyn, I want to let her know that's 

she's always beautiful and that she will always be just that.

When Jen approached me to take pictures of her

instead of the school pictures, I couldn't have agreed more.

Plus, baby doll came along too.

Katelyn,

I love that you're six and in the first grade, and oh so smart.

It's been a joy to help you with your homework and see

you do so well in reading and math.

You're a wonderful big sister and love to help.

It's a lot of fun to see you play with Aiden

and how both of you can laugh for hours together.

I love you forever,

Your Auntie Lisey

She just had this way of brightening the day.

~She. . .

Embrace the Camera

An old one of Katelyn and I at our favorite frozen custard place, Nielsen's.

It was funny, Katelyn saw me posting this picture and said,

"Can we go back?"

That's my girl. Love my niece, can't believe how much she's grown up.

I think we'll have to go soon,

we haven't been back since this picture was taken.

Counting your blessings

There's this song that I love from the movie "White Christmas" that I think applies all year long.

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep 

and I'll fall asleep counting my blessings."

I can hear Bing Crosby singing it in the movie 

and my dad humming it whenever things are rough.

It's a great reminder on how lucky I am

even though my situation is pretty crappy at times.

My greatest blessing right now happens to be a one-year-old little girl.

I have the opportunity to play with her three times a week and get paid for it.

It's a two-way blessing because her parents needed me when I found them.

You can find me going to all sorts of places in Salt Lake with her.

Children's Museum

Walks at the park, feeding the geese is a MUST

Of course, everyone's favorite is the train at the zoo. 

I've been so blessed to have several great friends, family, and opportunities surround me.

I can't but help share them and think that I'm the luckiest girl ever.

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts 
our hearts are conscious of our treasures."
~Thorton Wilder

Joyful Moments-Miss Katelyn

The hardest part about moving,is leaving our sweet nieces Katelyn, Aiden and Madeline behind.
We have so many lovely memories, that will make us laugh until the next time we see them.
They're so beautiful and are growing up so fast.
But before we left,we had to have one last special date with Miss Katelyn.Of course, it was to our favorite place.
Nielsens Frozen Custard

On Fridays when I had some extra time,I loved taking Katelyn out and listento her chat about her day and the kids at school.

So happy that Kevin could join us this last time!

Yummy!Best frozen custard, period.
We love you Katelyn! 
Now, won't you help us in our journey to find JOY?What's your joyful moment?  Please, join us!
I will blog about my joyful moment every Fridaywhere you'll be able to link up your moment as welluntil the following Tuesday.
Remember, a joyful moment can be anything that made you smile!
Here's the little details:1. Write a post about a joyful moment or what brings you joy2. Include our button (on the right)  or simply link back to this blog3. Use Mr. Linky below to link up your post4. visit other joyful bloggers and leave joyful comments (because you never know when someone may need an extra hand)
HAPPY FRIDAY!

Embrace the Camera Day-Katelyn's birthday

I can't believe that our Sunshine Girl turned six!

She's so grown up.

Last night for her birthday,

the family gathered to watch her soccer game.

She was thrilled.

With Nana

With Uncle J

Then we went to dinner

where she was able to open up

her princess dresses from

Kevin and me.

They're from the Little Dress Up Shop.
Believe me, she loves it and they'll last her until she grows out of them!

It was sweet.

Kevin and Katelyn when she was four.

Happy Birthday Sweet Katelyn!

Joyful Moments-Wedding Memories

When we came outside from our Temple Ceremony,

Katelyn came running up to us and said, 

"I have balloons for your wedding!"

We smiled and laughed, she was thrilled.

Definitely a joyful moment.

Last week I loved these pictures by Becky from Rub Some Dirt On It

 These beautiful butterflies are in  Baby Em's room.

How fun! Finger-painting!

What's your joyful moment from this week?

I will blog about my Joyful Moment every Friday,where you'll be able to link up your blog as well,until the following Monday.
Here's the little details:1. take a picture that brings you JOY2. blog about that Joyful Moments, include our button (on the right) or simply link back to this blog3. link up your post below4. visit other Joyful Bloggers and leave JOYful comments!
Happy Weekend!!! 

Joyful Moments-Soccer Days

We're a little late this morning.

There's nothing like sleeping in on a sunny day.

It's quite nice to take easy for once.

Wednesday, my sister-in-law Jen was a little bit under the weather.

She called asking us if we could take Katelyn to her soccer game.

Why of course, we'd love to!

It was hilarious with lots of smiles and laughs.

The hardest part?

Knowing which way to kick the ball.

Here's to our soccer star! More pics to come another day.

What brought you JOY this week?

Please join us in the continuing journey of finding JOY!

I will blog about my Joyful Moment every Friday, 

where you'll be able to link up your blog as well, 

until the following Monday.

Here's the details for you to join in the photo challenge:

1. take a picture that brings you JOY

2. blog about that Joyful Moment, include our button{on the right} or simply link back to this blog

3. link your blog post up below

4. visit the other Joyful Bloggers and leave happy comments

Joyful Moments-Piano Memories

{don't forget it's the last day to enter the giveaway here}


I was her age when I started playing the piano.

Mary had a Little Lamb.

Over and over.

Until everyone couldn't stand it any longer.

Thank goodness my dad taught me another song

and when he got to be a little bit too busy,

he found me a great teacher.

It's a talent that I don't regret having and worth every practice session.

I really don't have time to play anymore {or have much access to a piano}

but I smiled when I heard Mary had a Little Lamb once again, over and over.

Music washes away from the soul

the dust of everyday life.

~Berthold Auerbach 

Please join us in the continuing journey of finding JOY!

I will blog about my Joyful Moment every Friday, 

where you'll be able to link up your blog as well, 

until the following Monday.

Here's the details for you to join in the photo challenge:

1. take a picture that brings you JOY

2. blog about that Joyful Moment, include our button{on the right} or simply link back to this blog

3. link your blog post up below

4. visit the other Joyful Bloggers and leave happy comments

5. enJOY!

Embrace the Camera-Katelyn

{ehem, you'll have to excuse me-lady with a horrible ear infection lying on the couch 

in jammers with hot chocolate and a movie is not photo pretty, I'll share this instead}

I absolutely love my niece Katelyn.

She is very outgoing which is something that is very hard for me.

When she has something to say, she'll definitely say it and let you know.

I love that about her.

These pictures remind me of spring.

I want the flowers and sunshine to come.
In the meantime, Katelyn's definitely our sunshine girl.

Dear Katelyn,

You are so sweet and full of life. Your energy is wonderful. I love that you inspire all of us to be happy. Your Nana calls you Sunshine Girl for a very special reason. Did you know that it was my nickname too when I was your age? I'm happy to share it with you because you bring light into everyone's life. You are beautiful and have many gifts. I can't believe how fast you've grown and how helpful you are. You're an amazing example to all five of your younger sisters. Don't ever let the world take away your light. We will always love you.

~Auntie Lisey and Uncle Kevin

After School Fun!

A little bit before Madeline was born Katelyn asked, "Can we go out after school?"

With her five-year-old sweet eyes could anyone say no?

I think not. So one day we headed over to Nielsen's for some FC Toppers.

A hot fudge FC Topper is my new crave. 

Katelyn loved it. She ate the whole thing.

We were also excited because they are all decked out for Valentines.

Classic diner.

Then this week Katelyn asked the same thing again.

Most of the attention is now on Madeline and whatever is left, is given to Aiden.

Sometimes being the oldest can be a little rough.

And again, why not? I needed a break as well.

I asked Katelyn what she wanted.

"A brownie, please," she said.

I took her to Dick's and they had the best carts. The front of it was car where she could sit and play.

She was thrilled and $3.50 later with a case of brownies, we couldn't go wrong.

Katelyn with a crazed look from her sugared up bug juice. Aiden is in heaven eating her brownie while peering over to look at the T.V.

Thank goodness there were enough brownies to share! 

I love these girls.

Happy Saturday to all of our readers!

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts. Coincidence? I think not!  

~Author Unknown

Surprise Outing

Originally from December 22nd.

Yesterday, I was in a bit of a crappy mood even though I had slept in all morning and had taken my sweet time getting ready. I talked to Kevin on the phone and my-to-do list drew a thousand times longer. Sigh.

So what did I do? I decided to put it all off for one more day and take my sweet niece Katelyn out.

I've always talked about taking her out, just the two of us but have never had the time. I thought it would be perfect timing since she's out of school, I'm out of school and she's not at her dad's. Hooray!

It was a little last minute but Jen let her come. 

Me being the poor student and all we didn't have a lot of money or could do anything extravagant.

We hopped in the car and went on our little adventure with Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas playing in the cd player. Katelyn especially loved hearing The Twelve Days of Christmas, with Alvin singing "I'm getting tired." My mom has a book with each of the days and it's her new favorite song. She said that the song is a bit long for anyone to sing the whole thing. It was pretty funny.

We first stopped at Target and scoured the sale rack. I told Katelyn that she could pick out anything she wanted. I didn't see this one coming but she really wanted a new swimsuit. I reminded her that it's December but she didn't care. That girl loves swimming! She asks me all the time when we're going to the pool. Luckily, there's an indoor water playground at the local Rec Center. It's actually pretty sweet and we didn't have anything that nice when I was growing up.

Katelyn showing off her new swimsuit. She picked this one because it was pink with princesses and the tutu. Oh, to be five again!

Then we picked up some $4 sweats (don't think it gets better than that) and they were pink, of course. :)

Then off to the shoes. I wanted to make sure that she at least had some of the basics. However, I was a little surprised that she didn't really like the princess ones they had there. She ended up picking out some cute brown Mary Janes with pink flowers on the side, lovely pink.

Those shoes will match more outfits. That's my girl!

We then headed to the fairy where Katelyn asked for a strawberry cupcake. This girl reminded me how she is not shy and ordered it all by herself. She definitely has none of my shy-ness which is good. I hope my own future kids will be as outgoing. They might have to take lessons from her.

Katelyn pretty much only ate the frosting which is my favorite part about the fairy as well. Love that girl.

This little outing reminded me of how I went out with my Auntie Webbie so many times when I was younger. Just the two of us and I got to pick out anything I wanted. Yep, I was spoiled and I'm going to be Katelyn's Auntie too. This is going to be a tradition for us, for sure. 

No worries, once Aiden is older, I'll take her out too. But I think I might have to be saving my pennies more once these girls are teenagers and decide they want designer brands. Thank goodness they're going to be young for awhile.

Only an aunt can give hugs like a mother, keep secrets like a sister and share love like a friend.