Christmas Day

So fun to have a child that can participate in Christmas! :) Spencer and I soaked up this day as much as we possibly could. It was a wonderful time for our family! :)

Waiting on the Stairs to open presents

Santa has come!

Maddie's FAVORITE present, a baby doll w/ stroller


Maddie strolled her baby around EVERYWHERE that trip!


Eating a fruit snack from her stocking! How'd Santa know that was her favorite treat?!?


A tired Momma & Dadda


Christmas Breakfast
(Breakfast Souffle, Cinnamon Rolls, & Hot Coco)

Christmas Eve in Michigan

Now, I know this is like a month late, but better late than never, right? Since pictures are worth a thousand words, I will only write small captions for each picture. Here's our Christmas Eve with the my Mom and Dad, my brother Gary, and the Dyal's (my sister Julie and her family). We had 3 of the 5 siblings together!

Siblings (Julie & Gary), Dad, and me


Christmas Eve Breakfast at IKEA (A Dyal Family tradition)

Aunt Julie & Maddie


Cousin Logan & Maddie


Christmas Eve Afternoon Movie:
Girls went to "Princess & the Frog" and boys to "Avatar"


Cooking for Christmas Eve
Family tradition of hors d'oeuvres for dinner




The Cooks on Christmas Eve
(notice all the prepared food! Lots of work!)



Logan & Maddie playing hide and seek


Empey Family Matching Pajamas

Siblings Matching (3 of 5 children-missed you Kristen & Kimmy!)


Williams Family (Mom-Dad taking picture), Dyal Family, & Empey Family

Almost February?

I have come to find that is is VERY easy to neglect a blog. My last post was on December 1st and it is already almost February! Time sure flies! I will make sure to post pictures of our Christmas in Michigan/Columbus soon!

Here's a quick update on our family's progress:

• We had such a FUN time visiting the Dyals and the Brown's on our vacation this Christmas! It was so fun for Maddie to get to spend time with all of her cousins and for ME to see and spend time with my family, too (all were there except for the Buhlers--we missed you!) It's times like those that I wish I could live close to every member of my family. We had an absolute blast! Thank you, Julie and Kimberly, for opening your homes to us. And thank you, Mom and Dad, for helping us get there! We enjoyed every minute! :)

• I currently have only 84 more days as an employee of Liberty Square Apartments (not that i'm counting.lol). Being an apartment manager of 166 units can take a lot out of you and i'm very excited to be done with this part of my life. There's so much about this place I just won't miss--mainly being away from my Maddie girl. It's a struggle every day to leave her, especially when she won't let go of my leg!! haha. I'll be glad when I can spend all day with her soon! ;)

• Applying to dental schools: Spencer started the application process for dental schools back in September and we're still waiting to hear back from UNLV. This has been quite the process and has required a lot of faith and prayer, especially for me. I have a HARD time with the uncertainties of life; the sheer fact that our lives are dependent on an admissions committee freaks me out. I know that Heavenly Father will do what is best for us in the end, but i've certainly had to try and align my will with His. Easier said than done...

• We have a 19 month old! I know this quick update won't satisfy, but Madisen is continually amazing us with all her knowledge! She can literally quote and sing most of the words to every "High School Musical 3" song and even gets a lot of the dances moves accurate too! The first time she started to sing it aloud, Spencer and I looked at eachother in amazement. She calls this movie "Sixteen" because that's the first musical number of the show. EVERY day, she asks for "Sixteen" at least 4 times. And as a result, both Spencer and I have become well versed with the lyrics and dance moves as well. Anyone need performers for their next party? :)

• A family cruise: Thanks to my wonderful Mom, the Williams family will be celebrating my father's birthday on a cruise to the Caribbean (shh--if you talk with my father, he doesn't know about this! It's a surprise!) We'll be touring in Haiti, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, and Cozumel at the end of May! But before that time, I have resolved to lose ALL my baby weight so that I won't be bashful in a bathing suit. My wonderful husband is being so supportive and helpful in this area--i told him to MAKE me exercise even if I fought him on it----it reminded me of when Dumbledore tells Harry Potter to keep making him drink the water to get the horcrux in the 6th movie. (I'm a nerd! lol)---so i'm finally becoming serious about it! Only 15 more pounds to go! Wahoo!

• I was released as the primary secretary and called to be the Ward Choir Pianist! I haven't really broadcast the fact that I can play, so when they asked me to be the pianist, I thought it was a joke at first. lol. But i've loved it so far! I do miss the kids with all my heart, but if anything is to fill the gap in my heart, it would be music! :) I'm thoroughly enjoying it thus far! :)

That's mostly it in a nutshell! More updates to come, I promise! And i'll be better about updating more frequently too--I should've made THAT one of my new year's resolutions! But I didn't wanna set myself up for too much failure. :)