christmas letter and pictures

2008
Dear family and friends~
What an exciting year this has been for us. We started if off by welcoming our two beautiful girls into our home. They were born on April 30th, Ali Ann and Alyssa Jean. Ali weighed 5 lbs. 1 oz & 18 ins long and Alyssa weighed 5 lbs & 18.5 ins long. They are now almost 8 months old and are scooting around like crazy. They love their baby food and taking baths. They are so much fun and can always put a smile on your face.
Brian is still working for Hertz. He started his own business up this year doing videography. He has filmed many weddings. He is excited to see how his business grows over the next year. You can check his work out at http://www.mypreciousmemoriesutah.com/.
Kandice started a new job this past October working for IHC-IMC hospital. She is working as a phlebotomist. Going around to each patient’s room. It’s different than her last job, but she is enjoying it very much.
We made a trip to Disneyland this year with Brians Family (thank you Bobbi and Mike). We had so much fun. The girls even enjoyed some of the rides and all the colors and characters.
We also welcomed another dog into our home at the beginning of the year. “Boston” is a Jack Russell Terrier. He is a great brother to “Bucky” our other dog.
We are so grateful for all of our family and friends and their love and support for us. We could not have done it this past year with out all of you. Thank you very much. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love~
Brian, Kandice,
Alyssa & Ali

babysitter dilemma again-ugh

so for awhile I was feeling good about the babysitting situations we have in placed. I know I shouldn't have thought that because now I'm back to the dilemma where I'm without a babysitter again. My neighbor Ester (thank you) will be watching them for a few hours until My MIL Bobbie comes to get the girls on Wednesday (I'm hoping this will all work out- I still need to talk with everyone and double check.) Thursdays my dad will be watching them. Now Fridays are my big problem. Brains step mom, Shaunna wants to watch them, but she feels it's too hard to watch them a full day (they are only 8 month old babies-I think how hard can it be to watch them play and feed them a bottle or two and change their butt every few hours, well apparently hard) but she does want to watch them so I just need to find someone for half of the day on Fridays now. either until Brian gets home or until Shaunna gets there.

ANY VOLUNTEERS?????

Excited

so this is kind of a silly blog. so beware.

I get so excited when I hear of a friend of neighbor having a baby. I think it's the most incredible thing to do and feel. I work in the hospital and so I get to see all those tiny babies and hear those tiny new baby crys. I told Brian the other day that if we didn't already have two babies that we would defiantly be having one now. I even think some days that I'm ready for another one. I know I'm just thinking crazy stuff and I'm so not ready for another baby along with everything else that comes with a baby, but I just miss my babies being that little and I had little babies. I miss those little cries. I think alot of it is cuz I was so out of it for so long with being so tired, I don't remember much of those first few weeks at home except for us all trying to sleep alot.

SO anyways. Good luck to everyone that is pregnant, and please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. and come and visit me so I can see that cute little belly of yours.

my babies when they were two weeks old. Look how little those legs and hands are. When they were born, their ears were so tiny. I will never forget that. i wish I would have taken a picture and campare to something how little they were. SO CUTE!!!! :-)

5 generations

For those who dont know. We have five generations alive right now. This was taken quite some time ago (mother's day to be extact) the babies were only 2 weeks old. I just wanted to share with everytone how exciting it is to have all five generations alive at one time.

From left to right-Merili, her baby Betty, Great great grandma Bowen (92 yrs old), Great grandma Sorensen, Me holding one of the babies, my mom (grandma) holding another baby.

It was so fun to take these pictures.

Scentsy's party

Hey everyone

I'm throwing a SCENTSY PARTY!!!!

DAY: 12-2

TIME: 7pm

PLACE: my house (e-mail me if you need the address)

Leave a comment if you want to come.

teeth

When do babies usually start to get teeth???? My babies are 7 months old and still NO teeth. not that I mind, it's just lately they seem so cranky and they are constantly gumming on their fingers and whatever toys they can get their hands on, drooling like crazy too, but no teeth yet. I didn't get mine until i was a year old and Brian got his at 5 months. My sisters baby (who is 8 days older) has 2 teeth and a Friend of mine whose baby is 2 weeks older than mind has 5 teeth, but mine have none. crazy.
They are trying to scoot. It's so cute to see them try so hard to get some place but not getting there. It's funny.

5 fun things

Here how this works. You name your child and how old they are and five things that they do that are funny, or cute, or something they say. or just whatever you want to say about them. And than you tag five people that have kids so you can hear about their funny kids as well. Post a recent picture of them if you can.

Alyssa- 6 and a half months

1- She LOVES her baby food. She opens her mouth wide and sticks her tongue out waiting for another bite. It is so funny.
2- When she sleeps, she flares her arms around. Yet she has to have the blanket covering her face. She has this bear comfort blanket that she loves to sleep with as well.
3- She is more of a mommies girl. Mommy can always calm her down and make her happy. She loves mommy picking her up in the morning.
4-She has learned to 'cluck' her tongue. she will do it all day.
5--she loves her belly rubbed. it calms her down.

Ali- 6 and a half months

1- She loves to take a bath. She kicks like crazy, splashes, gets everything wet when she is in the bath and even if the water is cold, she screams cuz she doesn't want to get out.
2- She also sleeps with her blanket on top of her head and she has a lamb she cuddles with.
3- When she sleeps, she likes to play with the silk on her lamb or her blankets.
4- When she eats, I don't think she even tastes it. It just goes right on down into her tummy and than opens wide for another bite. -such a good eater.
5- She is a daddies girl. she loves to snuggle with her dad.

5 people I tag

1- AnneMarie

2- Becky
3- Kalee
4- Stephanie
5- Easter
And anyone else that wants to brag about their kids. WIth mine being so young it was a bit more challenging, but fun to notice the things that are so fun.

What I have learned from my new job

With working at the hospital, it can be very challenging. I have never really thought of myself as a really softy until I had my babies. I watch, read, hear of anything that could be sad and I cry. Most recently, I dont know if you guys have heard or not, but a north Salt Lake police officer died. He was only 30 years old. Him and his wife just had their own set of twin just 4 weeks ago. They just bought a house. They were living the way they should have been. He told his wife recently that "he felt like his life was PERFECT' This man died at our hospital. It breaks my heart to think of what his wife is going though. I Go around room after room, seeing people dying, sick, getting transplants, car accident victims, wounds, things that I never thought I would ever see. But I do. I was telling a patient the other day that I don't know if I would be able to keep myself together if there was ever a disaster in our area. He told me that I would do what I had to to help those people, but I would end up going home and crying, yet being grateful at the same time. and that's what I seem to do lately and their wasn't even a disater. it breaks my heart seeing what I see. I pray for that family that lost their husband, daddy, brother, son, friend. I often wonder how I do this everyday, and I don't know the answer to that. I just know I go home every night to my wonderful husband, my beautiful babies, and I get to see my family again and I am grateful for that. I am grateful for my life and health.
Please pray for those sick and in need. Everyone needs a little prayer.

6 month check up

so I already went to write this and the computer took it away. SO here goes it again.

I can't believe the girls are already 6 months old. Time goes by so fast. I was going through some of their clothes to give to charity and I found their preemie clothes and it just amazes me that they were that little once. It makes me so sad to think that they were so small and now they are big tanks. And their preemie clothes were too big on them. It's just so amazing. anyways 6 month check up. It went really well. Alyssa weighs 14 lbs 7 oz and Ali weighs a grand total of 15 lbs and 5 oz. She is such a tank. They are both 25 inches long. They all got good check up and are doing really well. They eat everything we give them. They are growing so fast. Scooting and talking. It's so fun. I wanted to add a picture we took in the hospital to show you how small they really were. Alyssa is on the left and Ali is on the right.

Our first Halloween

Our first Haloween was not as fun as it could have been. I had to work. The babies were at my moms most of the day so Brian went and picked them up and got them ready there. Betty came over as well so we got pictures with her too. I did get to see the babies though. They came to my work and I got to show them off to everyone. We had dinner. Ali slept pretty much the whole time. It was a rough day for them. So needless to say by the time Brian got home it was almost 8pm and Brian took them to the neighbors to show them our cute babies but after that we didn't even have one tricker treaters. I'm sure it was cuz it was cold and rainy. oh well more candy for us I guess.
Here are the babies 6 month pictures. Ali is the Butterfly and Alyssa is the flower. we took these at the house. brisn friend, Niringa did a great job.

Both Girls happy. :-)

Alyssa in her flower costume.

Alyssa just about done with having her picture taken. I love her face here. (just take the picture allready-she says)

Ali all happy in her butterfly costume.

Ali fell asleep while we were taking Alyssa pictures. She did not want to wake up either. It was really funny actually.

Here are their fall pictures. Ali in pink and Alyssa in brown.

Alyssa on the haystack. She is just so beautiful.

Ali all Happy on the haystack. She is so cute.

Alyssa upclose. She loves chewing on her fingers lately.

So that was our October fun. It was a busy month and it's just going to get busier as the holidays approach us. But I am so looking forward to them as well. It will be so much fun to see what the girls learn and how they progress.

I am one brave chicka

Not to brag or anything, but I have attempted something I did noy think I would do for awhile. I took two 6 month old babies to Coscto.
I know it sounds silly, but I was really scared to take them for awhile. Every time I take them anywhere I have to either feed them, or find a bathroom to change one of them, or they have one of their fits so I was really nervous.
Normally I would wait until the weekend to go to the store, but I noticed that we were completely out of cat food, and my cats wont even try to eat tuna fish to by me another day so off I went.
I was pondering if I should out them in the cart or leave them in their car seats. I decided if they were awake I would put them in the cart. First I found the perfect parking spot, I still don't know how I got to lucky to be in the front near the entrance. If anyone knows the Sandy Costco, their parking lot is on a slight incline and the carts roll away while your putting your stuff in the car so I didn't want to be on the incline. so anyways, they were awake so I put them in the cart, buckled them in and they sat their the entire time. we had NO crying, not a fuss, not one bathroom stop, no feedings, They were so excited. They kicked and was laughing, looking all around. Of course I got stopped left and right for having two beautiful looking girls, but over all I got what I needed and it turned out to be a great experience. I'm sure next time I wont be as lucky but oh well.
I got a picture of the girls in the cart for the first time on my phone but I don't know how to upload it. I will figure it out one day.

My new job

so I started my new job last week. It went pretty well. The job is going way easy, cuz I"m used to haveing to work in my little lab ordereding everything and processing it all and resulting and drawing the blood and ordering supplies. The only thing I do here is draw blood. The other differenace too is that I'm running all over the hospital. you see things that you have never seen before. It get very intimadating when you walk into a room and the patient is hooked up to all these tubes and have oxygen with big blue tubes and other tubes going who knowes where. It can be very scary. Some patients are out of it and some are not. It will just take some adjustments. The biggest adjustments I think is going to be have to be away from Brian and my babies so much. I hardly every put them to bed anymore. I think they are crancky for Brian cuz they dont see me as much. I feel so gulity and get depressed when I think about all the things I"m missing, but in the end I have to keep reminding myself why I am doing this. I have to do this for my family. I dont really have a choice right now. If I did I would be at home. It will be great I keep telling myself. It's not so bad. It will work out.

YAY!!!!

Thanks to Stephanie I figured out how to put you all on my blog page. something so simple yet I coudlnt figure it out for the longest time.
Thank you again Stephanie. one day MUSIC............
one step at a time.....

blogging

so I want everyone to know that I'm kind of dumb when it comes to this website. I have yet to figure out how to add people to my page. I know it's silly, but I know where to put the info in and all but I dont know where to find the url thingy. so one day when I actually figure it out all your names might be put on my blog page. In the meantime, your all in my favorites on my computer so I will just have to look at your page from there.

Babysitter needed

I really need help finding a babysitter. I need one for Thursday and Friday from noon until about 6 pm. I will pay them and we can talk about an amount once I find a babysitter. I really need one that is reliable and that will love and take care of my little babies. please help me anyone????

8 things tag from Kalee

8 things I am passinate about:
1. Brian
2. Ali
3. Alyssa
4. My family
5. my testimoney
6. My work
7. books
8. life

8 words or phrases I use:
1. ewww you stincky
2. SUCK!!!!
3. I'm so tired!!!
4. Ali Badali
5. Alyssa Bug
6. honey
7. I'm such a cluts
8. cuz I said so.

8 things I want to do before I die:
1. go to japan with Brian
2. see my girls grow up
3. Have more babies
4. Live in a bigger/nicer house
5. Go on a cruise with Brian
6. Go on a real honeymoon
7. get into shape
8. not have to work

8 things I have learned in the past
1. You are only given what you can handle.
2. life is not always easy
3. you have to work hard for what you want.
4. moms are always right.
5. the easy way is not always the right way.
6. Your family is always number one.
7. I chose my huband not my famly.
8. That once you have a baby, you will never get a full nights rest again.

8 things I want or need:
1. loose weight.
2. get into shape.
3. more energy.
4. more sleep.
5. a bigger house
6. more money.
7. more time with Brian
8. a bigger car

8 places I want to see or visit:
1. Japan
2. Mexico (the nice area)
3. New york
4. Disneyland in Japan
5. England
6. Paris
7. Italy
8. Space

8 people I tag:
1. Stephanie
2. Mindi
3. Kim
4. Anne Marie
5. Ester
6. Natali
7. Kristin
8. Roxy

cute baby pictures

the babies are getting so big. take a look. these are all from Auguest. Ali

Ali

ALI

Ali (left) Alyssa (right) in the mommy and daddy onsies.
Alyssa has learned to pout (however you spell that)

from left to right- Gabe, ALi, Alyssa, and Betty - all the cousins on labor day weekend.

Alyssa and Ali How cute are they????

Alyssa

Alyssa
Alyssa and Ali in the outfits that Stephanie gave us.

Alyssa

Naked babies (it was a really hot day) Alyssa on left and Ali on right (Ali has a bigger belly)

SO here are some pictures finally. I will try to update more often.

NEW JOB

I GOT A NEW JOB!!!!
YAY!!!! I got a new job with IHC at their new hospital. I'm still doing the same thing working as a phlebotmist, but I needed different hours so that we didn't have to have so many babysitters. I think it will work great. I will be working Wed, Thur, Fri, and Sundays and every other Saturday. Wish me luck!!! I start on October 8th.

OUR TRIP TO DISNEYLAND

We got invited to go to Disneyland with Brians family. We had so much fun. Not only did we go to Disneyland we went to California Adventure and KNotts Berry Farm. WE all had a great time. here are a few pictures from our trip.
All of us with Classic Micky. (We tried to go and see Micky Mouse one other time and Ali decided while we were waiting in line that she was hungry and threw the BIGGEST tantrum I have ever heard her from such a little thing, therefore we came back when her tummy was full)

Ali and I at Kotts Berry Farm.

At the charecter breakfast. The girls are dressed in their Minny outfits.

Going on the new Toy Story ride. Yes Ali is going on too!!!

Day 2- Alyssa in the princess hat looking like she is going to go to sleep.

Me and Ali (is she tired or what??? They were both so excited the first day)

Brian with his favorite charecter Tiger.All of us at the front entrance.

Thank you to Brians family for inviting us and for showing us a great time!!!

DINNER HELP

So latley Brian and I feel like we cook all the same stuff and everything is just getting so bland. We dont seem to have alot of time or mney to be cooking big things. Does anyone have any fast, easy, cheap dinner ideas? We are not really picky. We eat pretty much anything, I'm just running out of ideas. HELP!!!!!

baby blessings, 1st time in the great ourdoors, swimming lots of fun stuff going on

July stated out to the girls meeting their Aunt Shawnnee for the first time. She was in town from boston for their Blessing. as you see below. The got blessed on July 6th along with Betty. It was a hot sunny day, but over all it was nice. It was so nice to see all of our family and for the girls to finally meet them all.

Than towards the middle of the month the girls took their first swim. we went in the evening when it's a bit cooler and not as many people. I dont think they actually understood what was going on, but they didn't cry or anything. they seemed very relaxed. It was fun for all of us.

ON July 25th we welcomed little Gabe into the world. That will be 4 grand kids all born within 3 months of each other. In this picture you see from youngest to oldest. Look at the size differences. You will see what a difference all of them are. It's really cute. To celebrate my mom's birthday we all went up to Tanner flats. We cooked some dinner and went for walks. It was so nice to be in the outdoors. I'm not sure if the girls appriciated as much as we did. they seemed to, becasue they would stare up into the sky like they had never seen something quite so beautiful. It was really funny. Everyone is sleeping here but me. You would think since I was the one out all night I would be out like a light, but no.

So July was nevery busy for us. I went back to work. The girls went swimming, were blessed, got a new cousin, helped in his nursery, celbrated the 4th and the 24th of July and celbrated Grandma's birthday. it was a fun month. Oh to top it off Ali weights in at 11lbs and 4 oz and Alyssa is 10 lbs 4 oz. They are SO BIG!!!! Can you believe it????

Breaking Dawn book release

SO a bunch of us love the Twiight books and to celebrate the last book release we went to it. We got all daled up in our evening dresses and went out to dinner first to Applebee's and than went to Branes and Noble. It was so much fun. I have not had a giels night out in a long time. Some freinds from work and my sister Amy and cousin TC where there. Here are some pictures of our fun. When we got to Barnes and Noble it was so crouded. We all had preordred the book so it wasn't like we were picking up the book so we just went to see the compotion. It was still fun no matter what. what I didn't realize was that if you preprder the book online they mail it to you but you dont get it until 2 business days so needless to say i am still waiting for my book. I sure can't wait to get the book and read it. To all that have read it already, i dont want to know anything. It's going to take me some time to read it.

Traci and me

Amy and TC

everyoneI

I really wanted to tell everyone how much I have enjoyed reading their blogs. Things have been SUPER nutty latley and I tend to not call or see my friends as much and it's a nice way to see how everyone is doing. I love reading how my friends are just having babies or that they are expecting soon. It's so much fun to read about vacations everyone is going on and seeing pictures. Everyone please keep blogging and I will try to do the same. It really is so much fun. Thanks everyone!!!

2 Months old

Can you believe it has been 2 months already. Time goes by so fast.

so the girls had theire 2 month appt the other day. Ali weighs now 8 lbs 13 oz and is 21 inches long and Alyssa weighs 8lbs 8.5 oz and is 21 and a quarter inches long. They are getting so big. They are blowing bubbles now and smiling. They are so fun. They are finally wearing 0-3 month clothes too. YAY!!! They had to have their shots too. It's so hard to see them cry and be so unhappy. for the past two days they have been so crancky. Other than that they are great little babies.
I also went back to work this week. It was so hard to leave them. It was nice to be back to work since I have been gone for 4 months but I miss being at home. If it wasn't for the whole deal with needing money and all, I dont think I would work. But it was great to be back. my sister Amy watches the girls in the morning and Brians mom's watch them in the afternoon. It works our for now at least. we will see how the rest of the summer goes.

This one is Ali. I think she might be yawning eihter that or playing with her tongue.

This one is Alyssa. She is playing with her keys.

I'm not sure just looking at them who is who here but this was last week. They look so cute.

6 weeks later

one of these days when I have the energy and time to sit down and figure this website out I will have more on here as for now this is what you all get.
The girls are 6 weeks old. can you believe it??? Time goes by so fast. They are just fitting into their newborn clothes now. They were wearing preemies for about a month. At this rate they will probably wearing 6 month clothes when they are 9 months old. They really are the most beautiful little girls. I know everyone thinks their babies are beautiful, but I have to say that my babies are just so so beautiful. We are so blessed. Right now they have little colds but other than that they eat well and sleep great. Beause they have been feeling yucky they are bit more cranky but other than that they are great babies. They go in to the Drs in 3 weeks for their 2 month check up and it will be interesting to see how much they weigh now. They are filling out so much even though they can't wear any of their 0-3 month clothes yet. I will have to put some updated pictures up here soon. I am so lucky!!! :-)

TO BLOG

So I thought I would finally sit down and start a blog. anyone want me to add you to my page let me know anyone want to HELP me get this going please let me know. Im kind of dumb when it comes to this stuff.