Here's to 2010!

It has been WAY too long since I last updated our family blog, but Adam convinced me that it was time. Although I try to update my private blog often, I choose not to relay all the important, private family details from my life to the public. So for all you great close friends and family, Here are some fun pictures and the latest with our family!

January brought Highland lots of snow. One Saturday morning we woke up to TONS of snow, and so while Chad took a nap Adam shoveled walks and Bryson and I started to make our little snowman. When it came to the time of putting our snowman together, Adam came to the rescue! It was one of those days that you want to freeze in time. Bryson looked out the window everyday, to make sure our snowman was still there. He was so sad when he finally melted!
February brought two exciting holiday's! Bryson turned two years old on February 13th. He got a new train set, some cloths, a basketball hoop, a baseball tee, some balls, his own set of scriptures {read the story here} and of course, a few more Trucks. Bryson loves anything that has to do with trucks and is hilarious on the freeway! Every time a truck passes, Bryce exclaims WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA! DA DAT! That means, WHOA mom, look at that truck! I can't believe it has already been two years since his birth. He is becoming such a big boy!Next was Valentine's Day!
Then came March: Adam and I had waited since October for a night like this. I drove up with Tiffany & Devin, (Mandy's sister & Bro-in-law) and met Adam at work. We had dinner at my FAVORITE restaurant in SL called Cafe' Molise, walked Adam's Job site (which was the two buildings directly across from the south entrance of Temple Square), and then to Brian Regan. It was a night to remember. Especially because we laughed so hard that our cheeks still hurt the next day.Spring time also brought a little good weather, so swinging was the next best thing. It was Chad's first time, and he loved it!Next was a long awaited event for Adam. He finally got his RC car! This isn't just any remote control car. It can go up to around 60 mph! Adam LOVES it, Bryson likes it until it gets too close to him, and chad just stares at it like a puppy would. Regardless of the $, I am sure glad that my boys love it!Next was Easter. It was General Conference weekend, so there was lots going on. Chad was sick, we bought a some shelves for our garage and Adam enjoyed putting them together while listening to conference, I was asked to take pictures of my sister's extended family (husband's side) and It was Easter. So many things but so much fun. Chad wasn't really quite sure what to think, however he didn't care much cause the poor little tyke just didn't feel good. Bryce, however, got REALLY excited about the easter egg hunt. We had a little family Easter Egg hunt in the morning, followed by Waffles with fresh strawberries. and another fun Easter egg hunt at Grandma's that afternoon after Conference was over. Rather than give you more than you want to read in one sitting, I will start off my next post with fun things from late spring and this summer. Hopefully this will get you excited for more!!

The END of 2009

We thought we would finish our year with updating our very very neglected blog.

Starting off with Thanksgiving. We spent the day with the Dudley side of the family and had a great Thanksgiving Dinner held at my sister Tiffany's home. Yes, 30 people all at one table!
Following dinner we all split up and went to see a movie. Adam and I already had seen the Blind Side, which was the first choice in movies everyone wanted to see. So we drew the short straw and went to see Planet 51. I wouldn't recommend it. My parents were so nice to watch the kids. Sadly enough, Bryson and chad slept through dinner, so they enjoyed Thanksgiving pie with us!
Next was three very exciting events. The day after Thanksgiving, my oldest nephew came home from his mission in London. Then two weeks later my nephew Tyson came home from his mission. This was the first time that both of them have met both of our kiddos. And last but not least, my nephew Taylor got his mission call to the Qutezaltenango Guatemala mission.
We all know that the season is FILLED with eating LOTS and LOTS of yummy food. Bryson and Chad seem to think so. Chad ate food for the first time. He wasn't quite sure he loved it at first, but now JUST LOVES IT! His favorites are Green Beans and Squash. Bryson also decided that spaghetti tasted better on his head than in his mouth. He is such a great eater and LOVES food.
Not only did Chad get to try food for the first time, but he also got his first haircut. Unlike Bryson, it really was not a good experience!
Next came Christmas. We went to my sister Marney's house for Christmas Eve, where we did our traditional scones and soup dinner, followed by a pinata, and last but not least ... decorating sugar cookies for Santa! Bryson loved them all, but especially hitting the pinata. Santa came, and Bryson and Chad sure didn't really get it, but after a while, the present opening sure became fun. Bryson and chad got fun toys and lots of trucks and cars. This was our first year by ourselves on Christmas morning, so we invited my parents to come and open gifts with us!The day following Christmas we headed to Kanab to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa Douglass. We planned it just right and met up with two of Adam's brothers and their families (Ryan & Jarrett). Me and my two sister in-laws were pregnant at the same time and had our boys within 3 weeks of each other. They played and played and had so much fun.Grandma just loved spending time with her grandkids. We sure enjoyed visiting with the family and staying up way late each night playing games! Last but not least ... we came home for one day and headed to a cabin with my family at Timberlakes, which is east of Heber, Utah. Although we were hoping to spend most of the weekend snowmobling ... we spent three days dealing with our little Chad who we found out had the stomach flu. We were hoping that Bryson would be able to ring the new year with us, but he was too tired. In fact, the cabin was so cold, we found him curled up in a small ball. Poor little guy! Because of our sick little one, we didn't sleep much ... and neither did anyone else ... we all left exhausted and somewhat relieved that the holidays were finally over.



We are now back to life, and trying to get back on a schedule ... but sure had a great holiday season and hope your holidays were great too!

We're Back

So sorry for the delay in posting. So much has gone on the last little while in our family and it was time for us to take a little break from something and it just happened that our blog was the one that took the break.

First ... We moved! Yep, we live back in Highland Utah. I will have to post pictures later when I actually take pictures of the outside of the house. We are just renting for the time being until we are a little more sure of our situation.

Adam has been working a lot but loves spending any extra time with his two boys! For a few weeks after moving he commuted back and forth from highland to Page (5 1/2 hours one way) and now finally is here permanently! He finished the resort in Southern Utah and is now on the City Creek project in Salt Lake city. He is building an 11 story tower and over Quality control. The job responsibilities are very different than what he was doing on the resort, and the commute isn't what you would call ideal, but he seems to be enjoying something new. This building will be finished sometime early next year. He is applying to University of Utah to work on an MBA starting next fall. We are waiting back to hear and hope our plan for him to continue working for Okland construction and go to school will work out.

Mandy is still adjusting the whole "two kid" thing. Two this close together in age has been challenging, but also has been really fun. She is still working for American Crafts designing class projects and samples, as well as working for Creating Keepsakes Magazine writing articles and contributing samples pages. Most of you are aware, but she has been struggling with some health issues. She has been diagnosed with a disease called NMO. So far the only effect has been the complete loss of eye site in her right eye. She is hoping nothing else will occur, but we are just living each day to it's fullest and trying to get through this trial the best we can.

Bryson is just becoming our little man. He was a Chef for Halloween and was known as our little "Pepe". Most 20 month old kids would squirm tear off a hat of any sort. Bryson is the exception. He LOVED the chef hat. He also loved trick-or-treating with his cousin Jace. He is finally starting to say a new word every day, and really expresses himself with excitement by saying WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA!!! That means there is either a truck or a dog. He is hysterical and has more personality in his little finger than Adam and Mandy combined! He got his first REAL salon hair cut and looks so handsome!

Chad is now almost 6 months! Can you believe how time flies? He has been such a happy baby and slept through the night at 8 weeks. He now plays with toys and loves to smile at Bryson when he isn't being attacked. We're waiting for him to roll over anytime. He was a lobster for Halloween and was the cutest lobster you have ever seen.

There is so much more that we have done in the past few months but thought we would just post the pictures for now. Hope you enjoy them and are doing well!
Bryson's first time riding a horse at the Utah State Fair
The Pumpkin Patch on Halloween
Playing at the park in Highland
Photos from arriving in Page with no kids, and leaving Page with two!
Packed and leaving our home
This was our last night in Page, playing games with our friends. We sure miss them a ton!

Adam's 30th Birthday

We had a great celebration for Adam's 30th Birthday. It was on June 1st and me and Bryson decided to throw him a surprise Birthday party. I am SO excited that it really ended up surprising him!

First, on my other blog you will see that I sent out a little invite ... and for those who could not attend the actual party, I had them write a card to Adam about a special memory or something they enjoy about Adam. I put together a little book of Adam's life ... also included on my other blog ... and gave it to him at the party. Thanks to everyone who helped out with that.

Here is how the day's events came together:
I woke up early and made the famous Douglass Family Texas sheet cake. Then Adam came into town, a rare occasion, to go to lunch with Bryson and I. We went to Slackers (Which is an INCREDIBLE burger joint in Page). Following lunch, Bryson and I ran errands, picking up 30 black balloons, getting birthday cakes, and dropping everything off at our friends' house so they could help me decorate for the party that night.

Adam's Parents and brother with his family came to Page from Kanab to celebrate with us. Adam just thought he was going to dinner. We went to Adam's FAVORITE restaurant, Fiesta Mexicana, and then back to our house ... where a babysitter was waiting. She put Bryson to bed and I blindfolded Adam. We headed to this GREAT pavilion that is located behind our church ... where our closest family friends and even two of Adam's co-workers were waiting. We enjoyed opening presents, and eating lots of cake and ice cream. What a great event!

Happy Birthday Adam ... I love you and don't know what my life would be without you! Here's to 30 years!

Photos

Our baby boy was born at 5:33 p.m. yesterday. He weighs 6 lbs. 12.5 oz. and is 20 in. long. We aren't 100% sure on a name but are leaning heavily toward Chad Powell Douglass. Mom and baby are both doing well. More to come...

When it rains it pours

It started raining last night and didn't stop until about lunch time. Mandy had some deadlines for work so Bryson and I went and took some photos. The water filled are condo complex parking lot, but fortunately went down about 2" prior to flooding some of the units. We need the rain because it's been pretty dry, but best of all it helps the lake levels come up.

This is an asphalt road...






This shut down the highway...