New Bed.....Is this a Good Idea?

My wonderful wife did a little bartering last week and traded her skills in canning chicken for a toddler bed for Brindi. Brindi was so happy when it was all put together. She laid on it and placed all her babies and stuff animals on it. It was really cute. We thought it would be an easy transition from the crib to the bed. So that night came and about 2 AM I awake to a little cute girl trying to climb into our bed. We tried to put her back in her bed but if we left she would follow. We would have to lay with her in her bed until she fell asleep and then come back to our bad only to have her come in about a hour later. Were not sure if the bed is such a great idea. We liked the idea of the crib and her inability to get out of it. Now she seems to find her way into our room every night, in the middle of the night. Any ideas anyone?

Crafty Resurrection

My Grandma Lovell originally made this tractor blanket for my eighth birthday over twenty years ago. The blanket went through a lot over the years and was about to be retired. It was actually lost and my mom found it outside in the yard this past summer. My wonderful wife then took it and gave it a much needed face lift. The tractor is still original but the tractor was given a whole new field to work in and a new border. For those who remember the original will surely understand the work Celeste put into it. She said it took her the whole two weeks she stayed in AZ after I left. One of my favorite gifts and memories of my Grandma Lovell has been resurrected. Thank you so much Celeste. I love you.

GrandDan's Barn

As a little kid I spent hours of fun at my GrandDan's barn playing a ton of different games with my cousins. Well Tansey took Cade to get pictures at the barn and they turned out so cute, so we decided to take Brindi up there and do it too. The saddest part about the whole thing is, when we were growing up we would have thought it was so stupid if our parents made us take pictures by the barn, but now that we live so far away from all the ranch stuff, I find my self taking pictures of the littlest things when we go home, so Brindi will remember where she came from.
She loved playing with the hay.

Brindi and Grammy feeding the horses. She is still a little afraid of the horses...hopefully we'll brake her of this soon.
This picture just confirms my fears...She already gets annoyed with me...I was hoping I would get to smother her a little bit longer.

El Paso or Mexico

Brindi and I headed over to the great state of Texas to see my sister Amber and her family. Well Joe's boss called and asked were I was, knowning he is from Texas, I said happily "Well I'm in Texas", he then asked,"Really, well what part?", and I told him El Paso, he then got all serious and said " oh, well that's not Texas, that's Mexico". So I guess accourding to Texans, El Paso isn't considered to be part of Texas, but either way we had a great time...shopping and playing. Brindi had so much fun! The sad thing is I only took one picture and it is Bryant trying to kiss Brindi.

1st haircut

We broke down and took Brindi to get her first haircut. Grammy got sick of her having hair in her eyes all the time, but in my defense if Brindi would just leave in her cute bows and flowers that Amber, Liz, and Tansey have made her, then we wouldn't have had to cut it. Oh, well. Brindi really liked it and it must have been relaxing because I think she almost feel asleep. It was so cute!

New Year's Eve

On New Year's eve we headed to round valley for a great dinner of steak and shrimp with all Heaps. Later on we headed to the Town dance which started at 8:30. Since we had Brindi we thought be better go early since she wouldn't last long. When we showed up we were the only ones there. But that didn't stop Brindi from getting out there and shaking a leg. Eventually people did show up and Brindi danced with GrandDan and Virginia, GrandDad, Celeste, me and by herself a lot before we headed home. As you can tell from the video she had a ball. Listen for her scream. We got home we played rook until the ball had officialy dropped and rang in the New Year.

Frank LeSueur

Celeste was asked to give a story of an ancestor during a church activity before we came to AZ. She decided to tell a story about one of her ancestors Frank LeSueur. So when we arrived in AZ, we decided to head out to the place where the story took place, which is where Frank and his friend, Gus Gibbons, were killed by outlaws. Today the piled rocks stand as a monument to them. Once there GrandDan told us the story. Frank and Gus just turned nineteen and were recently deputized to help track down outlaws that were in the area. Frank was waiting for his brother Jim to return from a mission before he would serve one himself. As the posse was out and about the Sherrif headed back with the posse to get fresh horses and told Frank and Gus to keep tracking. As Frank and Gus headed up a finger canyon they were ambushed by the outlaws and shot. Killing them, however, was not enough for the outlaws who proceeded to take Frank's scriptures from his pocket and placed the scriptures on Frank's head and shot through them multiple time while also mutilating Franks body. A really sad death.

Later on Frank's brother Jim had arrived home from his mission and was having a hard time with the death of his brother. He was pleading for comfort and understanding from the Lord through prayer. He then had a dream and was taken by an angel to the other side of the veil. There Jim was shown a large building about the size of the old conference center. Inside were hundreds of people being taught by one man. The angel told Jim that these were his ancestors being taught the gospel and being prepared for their work to be completed on earth. When the man that was teaching the group of people turned around, Jim could see that it was his brother Frank. Frank was a righteous man and when killed was called home to serve his mission as a teacher for his ancestors. It is a great story from Celeste's side and a cool experience to go out to their graves and hear the story from GrandDan.

Tubing

We headed over to the old ski run near sunrise to do a little tubing with my parents, Brennon, Ethan, and Venessa. Brindi's first exprience in Leamington didn't go so well. She wouldn't even go on one ride. So we wanted to give it another shot. I guess she only needed to be a little older, because she loved tubing. She would even get mad when the ride ended and always wanted to be sitting on or touching a tube. The video is Brindi's first tubbing ride. Sorry its a little fuzzy. After tubing we had hot cocoa and then headed to DQ for a cherry dipped cone. It was such a fun day.

Hancock Christmas

We had quite the ordeal trying to get down to Arizona for Christmas this year. The weather was not cooperating with us very well, however we finally made it down on the 23rd of December. It was great being able to see everyone. All the Hancock siblings were able to make for Christmas this year. As you can see Brindi loved her grandad, playing the piano with Bryant and Brennon, relaxing in Wyatt's swing, and is just an all around cute little girl. Wyatt looked the best with his santa suit on and his mother, Adelle, holding him. There is also a good picture of Amber and Bryant.

A part of the Heap family party is the greatly anticipated pinata. All the grandkids got their shot at taking off Spiderman's head. With a little help from mom, Brindi was able to get a couple good swings in. You can also see Celeste's reaction when the pinata finally broke, classic. Once the candy hit the ground the little ones were all over it. I only got pictures of Taryn with her little ring pop and Brindi trying to decide which sucker to suck and then trying it with the wrapper on until mom finally helped her out.

We then had our Nativity reenactment with the voice of Brennon telling the story of Samuel the Laminite and then the story of the Christ child in the manger. Ethan was Samuel, Byron was Joseph, Vanessa was Mary, and several of the older girls including Celeste were roped into being angels. Brindi felt a little left out so she decided to go and stand in the middle of it all. Celeste also played the piano as we sang a variety of christmas songs. The video is everyone singing and Brindi and Taryn dancing.

Next was the opening of our Christmas pajamas. This is one of my favorite Hancock traditions because the pants are really warm and have pockets. There are some really cute ones of Brindi with her grandad and grammy and a couple of her giving some pretty funny faces. Finally Christmas morning had arrived. Brindi had a rough night with too much candy which made her throw up but she was okay once she saw her present. Her biggest present was getting to spend time with the grandparents but she also got a lot of books with stickers and magnets, a new chair, a hula skirt and necklace, and rubber duckies and frogs. She quite enjoyed opening the presents and I think has finally got the hang of it.

Remember if the pictures are too small you can click on them to make them larger.

Lovell Christmas

Because everyone was headed to the in-laws this year but almost everyone was at the wedding we decided to have Christmas early at my parent's home. The Sunday after Jonathan's wedding we had our traditional Christmas party to exchange gifts and play games. Then on Monday we headed to Heber City to ride the Polar Express. We didn't have our camera so you will have to check out my siblings blogs for those but it was a fun little ride.

Brindi reading her new book from Grandma and Grandpa Lovell.

Brindi drawing with her Kent cousins.

We played a lot of "rook" and "dang it to heck" card games a long with our family Christmas games of Christmas Bingo, White Elephant, Garbage wrap (Not sure the real name), and Snow ball toss. The last game Celeste and I went a perfect 10 for 10 as we tossed marshmellows to eachother catching all of them with our mouths as depicted by the picture above.

Celeste got a new blender and is excited for her many smoothies she will make. I am also excited.

Brindi giving me my birthday present, Into the Wild by Eddie Vedder. Thanks babe.

Newlyweds

My brother Jonathan was married the weekend before Christmas. It was a great opportunity for us to come visit family and support my little bro. I am so happy for him and Susie. He has married such a great girl. Its amazing how much they have already been through together and have came out of it all that much stronger. We wish them good luck and hope their marriage is full of happiness and joy. Marriage is a such a fun ride:) Congratulations you two.

Brindi really never let grandpa visit with people in the line. She sure does love her grandpa.

Susie had decorated the church amazingly. Celeste and I agree its the best set-up we have ever seen. My uncle Roger married them and he gave them some great advice about really getting to know each other and each others families. Some great advice.

Brindi loved pushing Dax around in the stroller. Some cute kids.

The family all dressed up with matching clothes. All the girls had matching blouses. The little girls had matching skirts and the men had matching ties. It looked really good.

Brindi, Easton, JaCee and Kadee playing with grandma before everyone arrives.

A Good Attempt

During family night we decided to take a crack at making graham cracker houses. We bought the candy and graham crackers and made the frosting. We made so much frosting we decided that we would cake it on and maybe we would not have to use hot glue, since we didn't have a glue gun. This was our big mistake with pictures as evidence.

Can we just eat the candy...that is all I want.

Off to a good start mom.

Dad really struggling with his house.What a pretty house mom. Can I eat it?

It only lasted about a minute before it crumbled. It was a good attempt.

Playing in the Frosting:)

Nursery? No no no no no

18 months is a great time of life. It is at this time that adults can once again enjoy spiritual messages from Sunday school lessons. No longer are we roaming the halls chasing our little sweetheart. I will admit though, I do like roaming the halls but it was pretty nice being able to attend Sunday school. Today was Brindi's first day to attend nursery by herself. This week she has also learned to say NO and does to everything we say to her, even nursery until we said the magic word...toys. She is such a cute girl. Plus, no one had to come get us today, so we assume she did well. No crying or anything.

La La

Story Time

Brindi loves us reading to her but every once in a while she likes to hear stories from her bear. She is such a cute girl.

Harvest 72"

I would love to win this product...it would make storing all our cans so much easier...check it out! It is next Friday's prize...Harvest 72″

Shelf Reliance B-Day

Shelf Reliance is having great give aways next week...just go to their blog...

http://www.shelfreliance.com/blog!

The "Good" Food Storage

Who needs the wheat when you have the good stuff in your food storage? You can't go wrong with canned candy:) I love my wife!