Becoming a Family of Four

I discovered something about my daughter a few weeks ago... She gets bored when she is by herself.  Since she was a baby she has had play mates around and so when she is home with momma she wants me to play with her every minute.  Not that I mind, but it makes it very difficult for me to get anything done. 

As the oldest of seven, I always had someone to play with.  There were times in my teens that I wished to be an only child, but as I have gotten older I have realized how lucky I am to have so many siblings that I get along with and enjoy being with.  This is why I am so excited that Olivia gets to be a big sister next month. Nathan Scott is scheduled to arrive January 10 and we can't wait to meet him.

Christmas Time

We had a wonderful Christmas! There is something magical about seeing Christmas through the eyes of an almost two year old.  Santa spoiled us this year and so did Grandmas and Grandpas.  Some pictures from Christmas morning...

 

Later that day... I am not sure why she thought she wanted to play under the table...

Making cookies for Santa...  she loves to roll things out.  Grandma H made her a cute little apron and gave her her own rolling pin for Christmas.

Temple Square Part 2

On Saturday BYU had a second basketball game at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City.  We decided we needed to get away for a couple of days so we rented a room at the Raddison for Friday and Saturday night and spent a wonderful relaxing weekend in Salt Lake.  Friday night we ate dinner and then took Olivia swimming in the pool.  It took her a couple of minutes to remember swimming (we haven't been since August), but she loved it and didn't want to go out.  Saturday we went swimming again,  went shopping, went to the basketball game in the afternoon,  and went to see the lights on Temple Square in the evening.  We came home Sunday feeling relaxed with a plan to do it again next year.

Polar Express

In Grandpa and Grandma Magleby's neighborhood there is a family that does the Polar Express for all of the neighborhood families each year.  The train carries up up to 12 people (more with lap riders like Liv) and runs on tracks the family has built into the sidewalks around their houses.  The first part of the trip is all about Santa (you pass lots of lights, Christmas trees, and snowmen) and then you arrive at the North Pole.  There you get to meet Santa and tell him what you want for Christmas.  After all the kids have a turn to sit on Santa's lap he tells a little story about the Candy Cane... how if you turn it upside down it looks like a J and that stands for Jesus.  The second part of the train ride is all about the Savior and his life.  It was such fun night and a wonderful reminder of what the season is all about. 

Most of the Magleby Crew.  This was as we had to stop to put the train back on the track. 

Liv was not to sure about Santa, but really like the candy cane that he gave her.

Me and Liv (with Chase and Camaron) on the train

Grandma even got to sit on Santa's lap.

Lights at Temple Square

BYU had a basketball game at the Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City last night and since  Chelsey and Mom were in the general neighborhood they joined us.  After the game, which BYU won handily, we walked over to Temple Square and looked at the Christmas lights.  It wasn't too cold and it was simple beautiful.  Here are some of the highlights:

(Sorry Mom and Chel- both pictures I took of you guys had your eyes closed).

O Christmas Tree

I am excited for Christmas this year.  I hate to say this, but for the last several years I have been a little grinchy when it has come to Christmas.  Yes, I have gone through the motions - put up the tree, make and wrap presents, decorate the house, make the fudge... but my heart has not been into it.  This year is different and I think it has a lot to do with this little girl:

This is not Olivia's first Christmas, but last year she was only 10 months old and was oblivious to the excitement.  As we pulled out the boxes this year and started unpacking all the pieces of Christmas- the light, nativities, the ornaments, the tree... she squealed with glee as we pulled out the tree and plugged in the lights- "Pretty mama-lights".  A great big smile broke out on her face when she realized that the angel in the Fisher Price nativity set plays music and there was nothing but pure joy on her face when she unwrapped her Elmo ornament.  It is so fun for me to watch her experience these things and I really think I will enjoy Christmas this year.

Behind

I have been a bad blogger this month... I am committed to be better in December.  Here are couple of fun things we did this month...

Harry Potter Premiere- Have I mentioned I love Harry Potter?  Liv and I drove to Brigham City to watch the midnight premiere with Mom, Brittany, and Chelsey.   It was a lot of fun... Brittany made a HP inspired dinner with Kidney and Steak Pies (pots pies), wands (licorice),  and Bernie Botts every flavored beans (jelly beans).  Chelsey made our shirts- we decided to be on the dark side and went with team Voltemort this year. 

We spent Thanksgiving in Idaho with my family.  Our normal 3.5 hour drive to Idaho Falls took us almost 5.5 hours due to the icy roads, but once we got there the fun began.  Brittany, Chelsey, and I got got up on Thursday morning and ran the Feed the Hungry 5K around the greenbelt.  It was a little cold (2 degrees) but a really pretty run.  We ate a ton of food, watched movies, played games,  and went shopping.

The Little Girls enjoying a bowl of popcorn.

The Grandkids (less Sophie and Evan- we missed you guys)

21 Months

Yesterday Olivia turned 21 months.  It is truly hard for me to believe in a couple of months she will be two.  Here are some facts about Olivia at 21 months:

Picture from September 2010

• She loves to sing. Favorite songs right now include the ABC Song, The "temple" song (I love to see the Temple), Popcorn Popping on the Apricot Tree, and Once there was a Snowman.
• She loves to dance.
• She can count to 19.
• She likes to read books and enjoys our weekly trips to the Library
• She has started to ask to use the potty.
• Everytime she sees a football or basketball game on TV she yells "Go Cougars".
• She likes to talk on the telephone.  She is constantly picking up our phones and saying " Hi Grandma"... "See ya, Bye".
• She likes to eat pickles, popcorn, chocolate, apples, and scrambled eggs.
• She is starting to pick out letters.  We were at Costco the other day and she said "O mama O" as she pointed to the Costco sign. 
• She likes watching Curious George, The Cat in the Hat, Superwhy, and Elmo. 
• She is the smartest and cutest 21 month old I know (but I may be a little biased)

Picture from September 2010 taken by Annie 

All Hallows Eve

Saturday morning was warm and beautiful- we worked in the yard and planted daffodils- but around 2:00 the clouds rolled in and the rain came down in buckets.  Between showers we were able to ride the Halloween train at Grandma and Grandpa's (okay that was during a rain shower, but still fun) and go Trick or Treating.  We had been practicing saying "Trick or Treat" all week, but when we got to the first house and she saw a big bowl of candy bars she was being offered all my chocoholic could say was "CHOCOLATE!!!".   She is definitely my daughter!  She looked so cute in her her duck costume, but she wouldn't hold still long enough for me to get a cute picture of her looking at me. 

While at Grandma and Grandpa's the kids made cupcakes- Olivia was only interested in eating them...

The whole Magleby crew... (I love how Josie and Liv are holding hands)....

BYU Basketball also started this week- it looks like it is going to be a fun (and winning) season for the Cougars.  Scott and I had our first official date at a BYU Basketball game... now we take Olivia.  Seven years ago I would have never believed that I would be living in Utah and would be married to and be the mom of die hard cougar fans, but here I am and loving it!

Love this video

Pickin' Pumpkins at the Red Barn

With Halloween less than two weeks away we decided it was time for a visit to the Red Barn in Santaquin to pick out our pumpkins (okay I decided and Scott put up with it).   Liv really liked the hayride, but did not want to pick out a pumpkin so I handed her a couple and said "say cheese"  this is what I got...

Tonight I was unpacking some boxes I got in the mail and Liv thought it would be fun to play in the boxes with all of the packing peanuts.   She kept saying "So Fun"- why do I bother buying toys?

This Weekend

What a fun busy weekend we had at the Magleby residence.  On Saturday morning we walked in the BYU Homecoming parade to support one of our favorite causes  (FSA) Families Supporting Adoption. I had never been to the BYU Homecoming parade before and I was amazed how many people came out.   Olivia rode on my shoulders most of the way and she kept waving and saying "Hi Everyone" and every once in a while would break out a "Go Cougars" since everyone was wearing blue and white. 

Later that day we went to the  BYU football game (Thanks Broberg's for the great tickets).  I have been a little worried about taking Olivia to the football games because of her short attention span, but she  loved it.  There was so much going on I don't think she had time to get bored.  She clapped and cheered with the cheerleaders (who thought she was adorable by the way), flirted with the boys behind us, yelled first down as the Cougars made their way up the field,  hopped up and down the stairs,  and hi-5ed everyone around us.  


Our seats were on the 2nd row-right next to the BYU Basketball players. 

 

 From the parade: