Christmas Eve

Our Neighbors, Rachel and Jeff invited us over to their families big Christmas Eve celebration. I actually was very honored to get to be with them for the evening. Rachel's mother was a wonderful host and welcomed us as her own. Ethan and I both commented on not only what great food we enjoyed, but particularly what great company these good folks are. We are very blessed to have them in our lives!

Rachel made us feel right at home!

Rachel and Jeff's 3 beautiful daughters, along with Brynlee and Addy! I really wish I could have gotten a better photo of this bunch, but this was as good as I could do. They absolutely adore each other! It's so fun to see them having such a good time together.

The Lone Man!

(BTW if I have not mentioned Trey is the only boy in the mix in the neighborhood with oh about 10+ girls... pretty funny)

I wish I had gotten more picture. This was a wonderful night which ended with the girls sprinkling "reindeer food" on the lawn for the awaited guests! (this was actually a "new" thing for me!) Most of all I felt very blessed to have Ethan with us. We have been very lucky to have him home on most of the big holidays. These days its a real treat to enjoy and evening with him!

Class Christmas Program/Party

Brynlee had been looking forward all week to this program.

She is one of 9 in this small class which I LOVE! Am I more in love with her being in this class or is she? It has been wonderful for her and such a blessing to me as well.

I'm so glad I got a picture of this! This is the classic "Brynlee nervous maneuver". Every-single-time she gets nervous she puts her hands behind her neck. We notice a pattern in this church talk, church prayer, even just singing in front of an audience with a ton of other children. It's her thing and really I love it. Some day she will no longer do this when she gets nervous and then... I will be sad!

Here it is again! Santa has ALWAYS made both girls nervous. She has come a LONG way that she got this close. Addy was there and would no even think about looking at him, much less talking to him!

Bryn with Ms. Eileen

With Ms. Martha

My efforts to get them together with their cute Christmas clothes.

It was a great day for Brynlee. It's fun to see her in a setting she is always in but I am not. Makes me realize how fast she is growing up!

First Snow

As much as a pain/mess as it is to put on and off snow gear for the girls we really have enjoyed the snow! The first snow fall was in December and it was pretty mild actually. Addy especially could not wait to make a snow angel she talked about it forever!

We have many more snow adventures to come!

He's UNO!

One Year

Six Months

One Month

I was not quite ready for this day, but ready or not it came! It's been a long year in many ways and has gone by fast all at the same time- hard to believe! We had an "uno"party for little Trey. He had a great time playing with his sisters, sucking on balloons and eating cake!

In case you can't tell he LOVED LOVED LOVED the cake. We all laughed so hard we barley stayed in our chairs as we watched him devour his cake. I need to learn how to get video on here! The girls especially could not quite laughing!

He was not too into opening gifts, but the girls didn't mind helping with that part! He loved playing with new toys for a change.

Trey has almost since day one had a smile on his face. His smile is contagious in fact. As I have watch him and other people in the last few months, he never fails to put a smile on other peoples (even strangers) faces with his own smile. I tear up now just thinking about what a joy he has been to me and many many others! I thank my Father in Heaven for allowing this bundle of joy to come to our home! We love you more than words can say baby Trey!!

Maryland State Fair

Our super nice neighbor Jackie took us to the Maryland State fair! We had lots of fun seeing all the usual fair things, and Jackie was wonderful company.

Brynlee got to ride her first fair ride, and was so excited she could hardly contain herself!

I was so sad to see Addy watching on the side lines, she was too short to ride. I'm afraid that is going to be the story of her life! Yet not even a fit about it, what a good girl!

Jackie's not a fan of the camera, but a snuck a shot in. She LOVES my kids, and they love her!

My girls!

Been farmin' long?

Trey soaked it all in. He loves any ride in the stroller, sweet boy!

This is some sort of Maryland tradition. Jackie Got us one and as odd as it seems it was really good! It's a peppermint stick stuck in a lemon, you suck on the peppermint like a straw, go try it it's fun!

I have TONS of catch up (story of my life as most of you know) so stay tune there is lots of Dalley fun to come!

5 going on 25!

I say this about every kid and every age, but I can't believe Brynlee is 5! She has always been adult like in a kid body, but man alive she is seeming more and more grown up. She is so much fun to be around and I really am blessed to be her mom and be around her 24-7!

Brynlee started out her big day with a little doughnut party with the neighbors, who she loves!

That evening after pre-school and what not she opened some of her presents and the fron porch with Addy, Lilly, Scarlett, and little London. I am not kiddin ya, she was just as excited to open her gifts with her best buds and she was the gifts themselves. These 2 things wraped in one made the day for her!

Talking to Grandmas and Grandpas who wished they could spend the big day with her!

A few days later when Grandma got into town we had a party with the family. She was so excited about this "check out" as she calls is she could hardly part with it to go to bed (it has been the BEST use of money for any toy I have purchased, she plays wit it almost e-v-e-r-y day! Also both Grandma-Grandpa and Mema-Pepa gave her a watch which is the only thing she asked for, she LOVES them!

Later we had a friend party at the park. It was cold and windy (and we are not even in west texas any more) but she had fun!

Top things I LOVE about Brynlee:

-She loves to pretend that she is an adult!

-She likes to know that she is pleasing me.

-She is a SUPER good helper.

-She would much rather go outside and play than stay in side and play or watch T.V.

-She LOVES to go for walks and bike rides- LOVES it!

-She will talk on the phone FOREVER and can carry on a rather adultish conversation.

-She loves to have her back rubbed.

-She likes to learn

-LOVES to ask questions. She will ask anyone, anywhere, questions!

One of our Favorite things...

I realized the other day that we have not shown family and friends the beautiful area in which we live. It still amazes me to see how many trees are here!

This is the NCR trail which we have the privilege of walking on almost daily. It really is beautiful! And with all the shade stays pretty nice even in hot weather. The girls ask to go for walks SEVERAL times a day, so this is awesome to have so close.

Our cute friend Kate and her brother Jacob enjoyed a nice walk with us the other day. We sure feel blessed to have meet good friends like this to help make the Baltimore "settle in" a lot easier. They have been WONDERFUL to our family!

I also have gotten to jog an this trail a few times thanks to my good neighbor Rachel for switching off with kids! I was SO HAPPY when I found out we moved in next to a family of 3 young girls, my girls adore them!

(I have so many more updates- stay tuned, you people know how slow I am at getting to this.)

Small and Simple Things With Love

My oh so Creative (in baking, decorating, entertaining, party panning, and you name it) Sis in law Nicole has come up with this cute Blog as an outlet for her mega creativity! She just getting started, but watch out people she is good and it is addicting to see what wonderful thing she will come up with next!

Click here to see her MAGIC!

(BTW I'm so proud of my self for figuring out how to do this, I mean thanks Honey Hubby!)

Thoughts on Mothering

I have been going back through the May 2010 Ensign to review April Confrence talks.

This is the talk that I can't quit thinking about.

It is EXCELLENT.

I take my "job" as mom very seriously and feel blessed that I am able to stay home with my children. I often get frusrated, I often raise my voice, and I often wonder if I am doing any good. BUT I love being able to see the bajillion smiles that Trey gives me everyday, and answer Brynlee's 101 thought provoking questions, and see the cutest looks a 3 year old can possible give from Addyson.

Reading and re-reading this talk I have a renewed desire to be a better teacher to my children. I totally know that this time will go by in the blink of an eye. I want nothing more than to teach correct princliples, enjoy even the crazy times, and most of all make memories that not only my children will never forget and look back on, but that I too can remember about my "mommy" days.

My biggest worry is that this time will go by faster than fast (and it will) and I will regret not doing more.

I worry I am not doing enough, cherishing enough, listening enough, and the big one teaching enough.

So I am trying to make that extra effort to forget about the dishes/laundry/computer/decorating/cleaning WHEN the little teaching moments come along! Now I must get a little shut eye if I expect to BE that mother!

Sneak Peek

So my friend Heather took the kids picture a while ago and par for me I am just now getting around to doing something with them. She did a wonderful job as always and I can't wait to get them printed off and hung in the new house. Since I still don't have it all together (sorry heather), if you want to see some REALLY CUTE Dalley kids go here:

Quick trip to PA!

My good friend Melissa was in Pennsylvania visiting her family a few weeks ago. Originally we were all going to go to the beach together, but since that did not work out we went to them. And I am SO SO glad we did. It was only about a 1 1/2 hour drive. Last minute I put all 3 kids in the car and made the trip. Ethan was on call so it worked perfect.

We went to the park, ate ice cream, went to hands-on-house, and did ALOT of gabbing. I really enjoyed seeing a familiar face... Thanks Melissa for the great visit!

Oh and I can't forget, PA has Sonic, so I had to get a diet vanilla coke- oh SO good!