Rae's 4th birthday and Tj's 29th!

Alright! I better get these pictures on here before I forget what a cute and special day this was. Raelinn was so excited it was her birthday. We had breakfast at the station house and she got ice cream from the waitresses and Bob Perchetti gave her a couple dollars as he was leaving the restaurant. We took rice crispies to school (even made Tj some fruity pebble ones to take to work). I threw together a last minute party at the pizza place here in town complete with decorations from family dollar and a cake out of the freezer section of Scolari's. Raelinn was so excited and got teary eyed a few times. I asked her what was wrong and she said "I just can't believe all these people came to my party because they love me!" It was just the sweetest thing. So far being 4 years old has been a wonderful year for her! She's grown up so much and has such a sassy attitude. Tj and I are so lucky to have had her! 

Rae got pretty spoiled on her birthday as we were getting ready for our trip to Alaska. She got a tablet for the car ride and lots of things to keep her busy in the trip...along with new clothes and a kitchen! Tj had a pretty good birthday also as he got a new phone....and knock on wood 6 months later he still hasn't broken it! Haha! Love these two birthday buddies. 

They are my heart! 

It's a girl!

Ok so I got locked out of my blog...but the good 'ol insomnia you get before you have a baby gave me time to figure out how to get back in. I should stop doing hair and take up a job with the FBI! Haha! So there ya have it, we are at the end of the pregnancy with baby Ladner #2! What an awful pregnancy this has been, but I know it will be worth it in two days when SHE makes her appearance. That's right, another girl! 

This picture was taken along highway 101 heading up to Seattle. Notice Raelinn's little crab she caught right below the letter "B" She insisted it be in the picture. 

Rae and I took a cruise to Alaska with my parents, little brothers and Grandma! On the way up we stopped in Reno and had a 3D ultrasound done just for a quick gender check. Tj couldn't go with us, so we had him on FaceTime as well as Jess and Jason. Tj was pretty dang sure it was a boy, and I wasn't really sure...I just knew I was sick. Raelinn was dead set on having a sister, so I think her mind was made up regardless of what the ultrasound said! The ultrasound tech said "ok here we go....it's a girl!" Tj says "are they sure?!" And Raelinn said "baby Laycie!" The tech commented on how we already had a name picked out and I was laughing so hard, because that was definitely not even in the list! I had no idea where Raelinn got that from. As the months went by, Tj and I would bring up different names and ask Rae about them. She would always say something like "yeah that's a nice name, but I'm just gonna call her Laycie, ok?" So one day Tj and I sat down and talked and decided Laycie Ladner actually is a pretty dang cute name so we sat Rae down and told her that we decided we will name the baby Laycie. With more sass than you can even dream of she says "I've been telling you it's a really good name this WHOLE TIME!" So there we have it, Laycie Meleese Ladner will be here in just two short days. We are excited. (I'm freaking out and frankly more nervous than I was with Raelinn) But I know Heavenly Father blessed us with this baby because we are the perfect family for her, and she will be the perfect addition for us. 

Baby Ladner!

Raelinn is beyond excited about the big news! She told me "mom, you will get milk in your boobies, so you will have to nurse the baby. I will change the diapers. And.....what is it called when you have to pat them on their back? Burp? Yeah...I will burp the baby too" 

I hope she sticks to this plan of helping so much, because I'm pretty sure I'll need it! Est due date is end of Oct-beginning of November. 

The day before a birthday!

Today is the last day my little baby is 3! Time has passed so quickly. She is so spunky, independent, kind, smart and sassy! She keeps everybody laughing with her personality. She loves riding horses. She loves reading books. She calls a wedgie "ungie-wear" she says "each othies" in place of each other. "They really love each othies." Her hair is passed her waist...just inches from her bum. She HATES when I brush it, but loves all the fun styles we get to do. We just found out we are having a baby, and she is more excited than I am. She will be a wonderful big sister. I can't wait to see what her next year brings. 

Last day of being three! Morning cuddles in bed before preschool we are eating cheese sticks and Cheetos and reading a book with Disney Princesses. We need to plan a vacation to Disneyland. :-)

I'm going to cherish this last day of her being three...so bitter sweet. 

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Thanksgiving weekend was sure full of magic. Raelinn's elf on the shelf, Eve, showed up the day after thanksgiving.

Eve brought Rudolph...and forgot the Kmart price tag sticker haha

A tin of popcorn and a warm blankie to kick off the Christmas season! 

Raelinn read the elf on the shelf book to Papa.

I decorated the tree all by myself this year! Well, Raelinn out the tree topper on, but then she went to bed and Tj was out spotlighting with Bretton. 

The next day we woke up to snow!!!!!! I absolutely love the snow. It's so beautiful! 

Tj and Rae had fun playing in it. 

That silly little elf has sure been having some fun at our house! 

Thanksgiving 2016

 Thanksgiving is not exactly my cup of tea....I hate to cook! But spending time with family, and stuffing your face until you can't move is pretty fun. It was a bittersweet year, this being our first year without grandpa Lynn and with my Uncle Deans recent passing. But they are in our hearts, and that's what matters most. 

Bretton and my mom did most of the Thanksgiving shopping. 

Dallynn changed his name to Buford Sanchez on Facebook, (he's so funny) but he tagged my mom and I in this picture...and even said "thank you". Sweet kid! 

Me and Dallynn worked our booties off and made lots of deviled eggs!with crumbled bacon on top. 

Bretton was in a normal teenage mood the whole day. 

Shane and Aunt Dixie came to eat!! 

Tj finally got to fry a turkey the way he wanted to!

Jace loved the cider....

Maybe a little too much.....hahaha!

Bretton and his dog Freckles. 

Me and Rae stuffed our tummies full!! 

Aunt Dixie's famous cinnamon rolls. She uses my Grandma Coralee's dough recipe. All the measurements are done by hand...look and feel. It's amazing! 

Before my Uncle Dean passed, he went to the early voting polls and made sure he got his vote in for Donald Trump. He told Shane that when he passes, if Trump won, he wanted Shane to go out a Trump sign on his grave. So that's what they did after we ate Thanksgiving dinner. Dean got his sign :) 

The whole crew that went down to the graveyard! Such a special moment. 

Later in the evening Lane, Tristan and Bretton headed out spotlighting!! Love these three boys so so so much. 

Shane summed up our feast pretty well on his Facebook post that night! :) 

We had such a wonderful day! This time of the year is my favorite because of the time gathered with family.