Update!!

SO once again we have been slacking on the blogging thing. We have been pretty busy the past few months. On May 1st we had a fundraiser for Mel. I can not believe how many people showed up. There were so many awesome things donated. It was a great day!





On Saturday, Taylie had her first horseshow! She was so excited. We went and bought her a new shirt, some new boots, and a new cowgirl hat. She looked so Cute! It was Health Days in Smithfield so we started the day out with a parade, and then headed over to the show. Taylie rode Krisann's horse Peppy, Jessie rode my horse Sierra, and Preston rode Cowboy! Then Niki, Krisann, and I rode in the adult classes and had a great time! Taylie was so cute, she would smile at the Judge and wave at Grandpa Balls and Mel. Basically I just lead her around the arena and then we all line up and the kids back there horse up for the judge. The Judge asked Taylie what her horses name was and Taylie got shy but said "Peppy" and then she asked if she new how to back him up and Taylie shook her head yes and then pulled on the reins as hard as she could, it was so funny! With a little help from mom, she got Peppy to back up! Then they say the placings and of course all the kids got first! She got a cute medal with a horse on it and some Taffy. We all got a little sunburned but it was a fun day!

The Best Babysitter!

Today was such a nice day that we decided to let the girls go ride horses for a little while. Jordan and Jessie came with us. It is so nice because it takes about 5 min to get horses saddled and then we just put them on the horse walker and throw kids on and they will ride forever! All we have to do is have a seat and enjoy the sun :) The horses are great and always behave for the kids. Taylie loves the horses and is fearless. Lindsey on the otherhand, she freaks out in the shopping cart at walk mart, so needless to say she was a little scared!

Lindsey's First Birthday!!

So my baby girl is going to be 1 tomorrow (March 6th) but we decided to have her birthday party a day early. Taylie was so excited to have a birthday party for Lindsey! She was telling Mike and I where we had to hang balloons and what decorations she wanted to put up, she is going to be quite the party planner when she gets older! We had Niki and Jake with there 7 kids (minus Bryce), Kaden and Grandpa Balls, Cami and her family, and aunt Krisann over for cake and ice cream. Grandma Balls and Aunt Mel watched from the computer (skype). Mike and I were thinking that Lindsey was going to dive right in to her cake and make a huge mess, but she took after her sister in that department and ate like a lady (or maybe she was just scared of the cake) but we had to feed it to her with a spoon but she loved it. Afterwards we opened presents, even though Taylie did 90% of the opening! Cami's family got her a really cute baby and a toy. Taylie got her a glow in the dark sea horse that plays music, and mom and dad got her a little table that has a piano, book, and other fun thing on it. She is funny, she will snuggle up to her baby and hold it over her shoulder and will dance like crazy to the music on her table. She has such a fun personality!







Just a few things we Love about our Lindsey
She is the happiest baby, she rarely ever cries and if she dose its for a good reason. She always wakes up with a smile on her face.
She is so snuggly. She loves to be held and snuggles right in to your shoulder. She is never shy with anyone.
She has her favorite blanket that she loves to snuggle with, when she gets tired she will crawl around the house until she finds it.
She knows how to hold her own and will beat up Taylie if she's had enough of big sister.
She can walk but chooses not to because she is a big chicken! She knows she can get there faster by crawling.
She has always slept through the night. From day one when she gets tired and ready for bed all we have to do is put her in her swing or lay her in her crib with her favorite blanket and she will go right to sleep without a fuss. And she sleeps in (which is nice for mom!)
When she knows she isn't supposed to do something, she will look at you and shake her head no.....then do it anyway.
And finally, she can cut some rug. (Killer dance moves)

WE LOVE YOU LINDSEY!!!

Where To Find Lindsey!!

Lindsey is such an active child, she is always getting into things she isn't suppose to. She is so close to walking, she has actually taken two steps on her own. She is obsessed with the bath tub, I have to keep the bathroom door closed all the time or she gets into everything. I have found her in the tub, in the bathroom closet, on Taylie's bed, in the entertainment center, in the kitchen drawers, in the microwave stand, and under the bed! She is so funny because most of the time she gets in these crazy places and can't get herself out so she will start crying and I have to look all over the house trying to find her. She is such a fun baby and we have really enjoyed her fun personality! Here are just a few pictures of Where To Find Lindsey!

Christmas (Really Late)!!

So I am a little behind on my blogs! We had a great Christmas. On Christmas Eve we went sledding on the little hill behind our house with Taylie, she had a great time and wasn't even scared this year!




We then took the girls to see Santa Clause, and Taylie was freaked out trying to hide behind my legs so that Mike couldn't grab her. After Lindsey got a picture with out crying then Taylie went and sat by him but would not sit on his lap. As you can see she was not thrilled about this!


In the afternoon, Jake, Niki, and I went for a horse ride. Afterwards Mike, the girls, and I went to Jake and Niki's house for a nice dinner and watched a scary movie! We had a great time. We got home and tried to get Taylie in bed so "Santa" could come. She was very excited and it took us a while to get her to go to sleep :)

Christmas morning, Mike and I were so excited to get the girls up and open presents. Lindsey woke right up in her usual great mood! She is such a sweetheart! Taylie on the other hand, we woke her up and told her "Taylie, santa came. Come see!" And she rolled back over in bed and said "no he didn't, not yet" and she goes back to sleep. So we finally get her awake and she was excited once we got her opening presents (eventhough in half the pictures she looks really grouchy!)










We had a great Christmas! It was so fun to just have our little family and be able to start new traditions.

An Offical Snorkling Cowboy!!

Third Person Perspective:
As most of you know, Mike had never ridden a horse until we met, now he comes and rides with me on a regular basis. Today we decided to go for a little ride and Mike got bucked off! He was riding our colt Sierra, and I guess Sierra was just having an off day but took off running with Mike (Mike hates to run!) so Mike was doing his best to stay in the saddle when Sierra started bucking. Mike did GREAT! He stayed on for a few bucks and then decided he was done and wanted off so he let go of the reins and as he goes flying through the air, HE PLUGS HIS NOSE!! It was the funniest thing I have ever seen. Mike is a water skier and is used to bailing from a tube into water, not a horse into snow. So as he plugs his nose and goes flying through the air he very gracefully lands on his feet in the snow! Jake and I were laughing so hard we both about fell of our horses. He can now say he is an offical cowboy since he has been bucked off a horse :)

First Person Perspective:
I have never been bucked off a horse. This morning as we were driving in the car to the horses Steph reminded me of this fact. So, I would like to thank Steph for ginks-ing me. :) We got the horses saddled and ready to go. I noticed a problem I had with Sierra's saddle and fixed it. I was confident that there was nothing that would go wrong.... We all took off on our horses to the field across the street. As we went into the snow Sierra was acting really weird. He would turn even when I didn't ask him too. He would even turn away from the other horses which is unlike him. Then I had us go right behind Steph and Jake, so Sierra would be following someone. He was walking really weird at this point. He was going as slow as a turtle and kept turning left and right when I never told him to. Next thing I know I feel Sierra just take off. I really really do not like to run on horses, not only is there minimal room in front of you on the saddle, but there are a lot of things that could go wrong. I scrame "$*#&!!!!" Jake and Steph told me to turn him in a circle, but I had a hard time doing that as one hand was fastened to the horn of the saddle. After about 30 yards I felt like we had the hang of things and I was just going to get him to settle down. Then he turned the other direction and started to buck. I could feel my feet start to come out of the stirrups. I don't know if I was bucked off or if I bailed, but I had the feeling you get when you know that the tube you are on behind a boat is going to tip over. I can't go under water without plugging my nose. So, as I came off of Sierra I unknowingly plugged my nose. I flew to the ground and landed on my feet. I thought to myself "Why are you plugging your nose? I hope no one saw that." I turned and watched Sierra run clear back to the barn. I learned very quickly that Steph and Jake saw my plug before the plunge. If only we caught it on tape. :) Steph rode Sierra after that and he did just fine.

Update

So poor Lindsey has not been feeling well for the past couple of weeks. It started out about a week and a half ago with an ear infection, so we put her on antibiotics. Then between now and last Friday she has gotten 3 teeth with one more trying to come in. She has been such a sweetheart through it all. She is really clingy during the day and just wants me to hold her but she has still been sleeping all night (which is very appreciated!) It has been a crazy week and my poor kids are kind of getting ignored. We basically had to get Mel moved out and us moved in with in two weeks so I have been busy. Mike and I wanted to say thanks to all those who have come and helped! We have a great family and ward and appreciate all the help. Mike finished another semester of school (GOOD JOB SWEETY!!)I am so amazed at how he dose it all. Hopefully once we finish with the moving we can have a little break from all this craziness!