disney on ice.

brooklyn counted down months before it was finally the day for disney on ice. she'd studied the characters on the brochure and knew every single one by heart. who was she most excited to see? jasmine and aladdin.

she couldn't wait to get all dressed up and get on the road.

we met my mom and sister/her kids for dinner downtown before. brooklyn and liv could hardly focus to even eat. they just wanted to 'ice skate'. they loved having grandma with them there.

she was even nice enough to buy the girls souvenirs: a princess-like plastic horse that brooklyn hasn't put down since that night. they were spoiled.

cutler and kendall were so good. they were either watching the show, or being fed. i think they kind of loved it.

brooklyn loved every second and cried when it was over. she wanted it to keep going and she wanted to go home and sleep at grandma's. the end of the night was very disappointing for her. she did not want to go home with her boring parents and baby sister after such a fun night. tough life.

she's already talking about next time. 

the night i became an auntie.

after james got off work, we headed to utah county. i couldn't have gotten there faster. i was so anxious to see my sister and know how she was doing. and obviously, i wanted to be there the second my niece was born. i couldn't wait!

we got there before anyone else and got to spend time with just whit and chandler. the epidural had been administered so whit was feeling good, and tired. she had been in labor since 3 that morning. brooklyn really wanted her auntie ween to hold her darn it, but whit was hooked up to too many things for that to be safe. 

so she let uncle chandler read to her.

the rest of the family got there, checked on whit, and then we went to the cafeteria for dinner. pastrami burgers and tuna melts all around. we ate quickly, checked on whit again, and then waited some more. 

the waiting room nearest whit's room had a tv and seriously, a halloween miracle, we found hocus pocus playing right when we turned it on. seriously, i was sad i hadn't seen it this year. i'm kind of a sucker for movies that go with their holidays. this one being one of my all time favorites! and being able to watch it with my siblings who love it just as much as I do, made it all the more fun!

whit progressed pretty quickly and olivia was born a little after 9 PM. i got the call from my mom who was in the delivery room and i heard that sweet baby cry. ahh. tugged at my heart strings. oh that baby. what a sweet little thing. so precious.

oh my gosh. i love her so much. my heart could just burst. 

her daddy thinks she's pretty special too.

she didn't let go of her daddy's finger the whole time she was getting cleaned up, poked, and everything else the nurses do in the first hour of a baby's life. she looked right at her daddy and held on tight just to make sure everything was going to be alright in this big cold scary bright world.

whit was a birthing champ. we also know now that she is a super duper cute baby making machine (chandler too of course). 

we left the hospital that night around near midnight with tired eyes and bursting hearts. provo was as far  as we made it before we crashed at a hotel for the night. only my little family of three was ready with over night stuff...so we improvised. kayla and haley took advantage of the fact that james packed for a week and used his basketball shorts and t shirts for bed. and all the ladies used my make up and hair stuff in the morning to get ready.

we anxiously headed back to the hospital as soon as we were all ready. i couldn't wait to hold that baby. my first niece. i could. not. wait. 

there's something about holding a newborn that is utterly and completely on a cloud 9 of its' own. it's indescribable. oh that sweet tiny baby. she just nestled into her blanket and slept peacefully. i wanted to just kiss her to pieces. i'm sure whit and chandler have done plenty of that today and yesterday to make up for all my un-given kisses. 

oh baby olivia, auntie nin loves you. just loves you.

my little elephant.

on halloween morning my little brooklyn jayde got bathed, dressed, and then she turned into an...

elephant.

my little elephant.

my MIL, brooklyn, and i drove to mckay dee hospital to meet james. early morning trick-or-treating was on the agenda. brooklyn wasn't sure what was going on at first, but as soon as she realized she was getting candy from everyone and anyone, she was delighted.

she started choosing her own treats out of the candy bowls and taking off with hand fulls of chocolate and other sugary things. she loved it. she also loved seeing the other kids dressed up in their costumes. it made her forget her own costume, and the fact that it was a hundred degrees.

sometime during our time at the hospital, we got word that my sister was in labor and that we'd be heading to another hospital at some point during the day. it made the whole day so exciting.

thank goodness for early trick-or-treating and for cousins born on halloween.

mommy and daddy love you, you cute little elephant.

baby.

last night, whit had her first baby shower. that cute pregnant sister of mine.

lots of her in laws showed up to shower her with gifts. she got spoiled. it was so fun to see all the cute things baby olivia will wear and use. my goodness i can't wait to be an aunt!

You've had a birthday!

Tonight we celebrated Whitney's 24th birthday.

I can't believe I have a 24 year old sister!!!

We all met up at Ruby Tuesdays in Park City. They seated us down next to the bar with all the TV's. Football was on. Brooklyn was in heaven.

(she did this the whole time)

Whit opened her gifts, good gifts, might I add. Chuck always gets her awesome gifts and the rest of us did pretty well. She's always content with what she gets. She's easy like that. Thank goodness. Kayla and Haley, not so easy. :)

I love you Whit. We've been together since the beginning of time. We grew up together and share basically all of the same memories. You were my right-hand gal and I was lost without you. It was easy to be brave when you were around. Like the time in that alley way that I pushed you in front of me and took off when that dog started chasing us, or when I hid in the bathroom at Ben Lomond while you went to ask the lady at the concessions what we could buy with a dime. You were always a trooper. What would I have done without you? You were my built in best friend from the day you were born and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I love you Whitaker (Ween, Whit, Whitless, Toothless Wonder)!

*SSOCCOKK Mall for life!



luscious locks!

for any of you who are interested in hair extensions...

(they're fabulous!)

my sister is doing them for a GREAT price!

if you want her number or want me to set you up, let me know!

can't wait to get mine!

(sorry no pics, but i'll get some!)