HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY ASHLEY!!!

Today was a very special day in the Holbrook House. Ashley has been waiting and waiting to celebrate her birthday for many days now. We were supposed to have a birthday party for her this past Friday, but I came down with the worst food poisoning ever and had to cancel the party. I have felt awful about this, but we made today very special and I think she has forgotten about it. This picture was taken right before Ashley left for preschool. Her preschool teacher gave her a little princess doll, made her a princess crown to wear while at school and had everyone sing Happy Birthday to her. She was thrilled!

Madison was very excited to give Ashley this "Sleeping Beauty" present.

A birthday just isn't a birthday to Ashley without a new dress that "swirls" around as she twirls!

And of course she loves her shoes too!

In typical Holbrook fashion, Ashley continues to grow upward and has outgrown her bike. She was totally overjoyed when she saw her new pink, princess bike.

Being the very awesome, fun daddy that Joe is, he allowed Ashley to have a little frosting war on his face.

GARDENING!

Our neighbor across the street, who was also our Bishop when Joe and I were in highschool, has been amazing in helping us landscape our front yard. We have a little area sectioned off where we let the girls choose what flowers they want planted. They love going to OSH and picking out different flowers every few months and then helping to plant them. They even get excited to help keep the flowers in bloom with weeding and watering.

DISNEYLAND 2009!

We were able to get back to Disneyland again. I can't believe it has been about a year since we last visited the happiest place on earth. I guess that is due to being pregnant and throwing up for nine months and then having a new born. So, we are finally done with all the drama and got our annual passes again. We had a total blast and we were able to walk on almost every ride. I love going when it isn't so croweded. Having little Tori with us wasn't so bad at all. In fact she was an angel and just went with the flow!!!

As you can see, the girls were exhausted after a very fun-filled day at the Happiest Place On Earth!!!

GOOOOOOOO LAKERS!!!

We got our studly husbands tickets to the Laker/Jazz basketball game for Christmas! They, of course, had too much fun and loved sitting close enough to see the beads of sweat coming off the players!!!
From left to right: my twin brother Gary, my brother Steve, my dad, and my hubby Joe!

Christmas in Utah!

We just got home from one of the best vacations ever! This was the first Christmas, in a VERY long time, when all the Holbrook Boys could be together. Due to missions, which all five boys served, getting together just never happened. So you can imagine the joy and fun we all had being under one roof on Christmas morning!

Because I posted my pictures backwards, you can see our week starting with the visit to the cemetary to see Joe's Dad and my Grandpa! Due to the snow we weren't sure where exactly Joe's Dad was buried and it had been several years since we had been there. The snow was about 8 inches deep and nothing had been plowed. Joe walked back and forth for about 20 minutes trying to figure out where to start digging first. I kept trying to tell him that he didn't have to find the grave and that just being there was what really counted. Finding the right place was like finding a needle in a haystack. After much deliberation Joe started to dig and miraculously the first place he tried was the right marker. Can you believe that? Talk about being led by the spirit. It was such a neat experience!

Joe's Dad's family all lives in Utah. Aunt Tracy invited everyone to her home for an amazing dinner. It was so fun to see everyone and get all the cousins together to play. Below is a picture of Joe's Grandma, his mom, and Aunt Lexie. Just beautiful women.

We were able to meet up with Emily Winslow and her cute daughter Elena for lunch and take a picture of the girls. It was just like old times!!!

We found out while in Utah that Ashley is allergic to cats. The first night we were in Utah Ashley had an allergic reaction and couldn't stop itching her eyes. We took her to urgent care to get some type of drops that would take the swelling down. I am so glad we did so that we had the drops for later in the week when she got even worse.

My girls had never seen the snow before. You can imagine how excited they were to get all dressed in their snow gear and go outside, everyday I might add, to throw snow balls, and play!

My girls are with their cousins Caleb and Mason who are Ryan and Julie's adorable boys. Madsion and Ashley just love their cousins and miss them dearly.

This is the amount of snow that we woke up to on Christmas morning. I have a much better appreciation for everyone who lives in the snow. It takes forever to shovel your car out before you can go anywhere.

Christmas Eve Joe's mom gave everyone matching jammies.

We are also thrilled to have Joe's Unlce Kurt and his wife Lexie, and their son Hayden over on Christmas Eve.

Tori was there too!

Christmas Came Early To The Holbrook House!

Madison, Ashley and Tori sent Santa Claus a letter telling him to bring gifts early to the Holbrook house since we would be out of town in Utah. We took all the gifts up to my parent's home and let the unwrapping begin. The girls were so excited when we told them Santa had come by and dropped off some presents and that they could open them NOW!!!
Ashley had been eyeing this Barbie Cash Register every time we walked by it in Costco! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!!

This is my mom telling my girls that their Great Grandpa (who died Feb 2008) had left them some money to put away for their college funds.

Madison really wanted this cupcake maker from Santa Claus. I, on the other hand, wasn't very excited about it. I know it will just sit next to her "little oven" in the kitchen that she got a couple of years ago. We made cupcakes with it this morning. Lets just say making one cupcake at a time takes forever, but the girls seemed to really enjoy it. Especially frosting them!

We always wrap Santa's gifts in this boring newspaper wrap so it looks completely different from all the other gifts. The girls seem to really like this idea!!!

Happy 6th Birthday Madison!

I can't believe my baby girl is six years old today. Wow, time has just flown by. I remember bringing her home from the hospital and Joe leaving the very next day for a dental school interview in Arizona. Madison is such an amazing little girl and brings so much love and happiness to our family. She is still obsessed with her girlie, princess stuff, yet can run faster than all the boys in kindergarten and kicks some major booty on the soccer field. Every day is such a joy and I just love her to pieces.
We had a BIG family/cousin party on Sunday and today (Monday) being her actual birthday, we spent the day doing everything she wanted to do. Including going to Jack in the Box for curly fries for dinner and getting a churro at Costco. I love how she asks for such simple things. I would have loved to go get an Outback sirloin special or Ruth's Chris, but we can do that on my birthday!!!

Madison has needed a new bike for quite some time. Her knees would literally smack her in the face while riding her old one. She rides without training wheels like a pro!

Madison loves her Leapster and has been so bummed that it broke. She was thrilled to open up a new one tonight.

Grandma Holbrook sent Madison the "Holiday Barbie"!!! I let Madison open this before she went to school. Can you tell how happy she is in the photo???

Madison specifically asked for a flat cake with princesses on it and not a barbie cake. I was kind of surprised by her request! We used rings with jewels and pushed them into the cake to give it some bling.

I was a little worried about Ashley because she wanted some presents to open too, but surprisingly she did pretty well.

Her cousin Kayla (my twin brother's daughter) gave Madison the whole Snow White ensemble. Madison loves dress up.

And Tori just hung out all night being the little sweatheart that she is!

Nutcracker Performance and Santa Claus

We have had a very eventful weekend with office Christmas parties, ballet rehearsals, shopping, and visiting Santa Claus. When Santa asked Madison what she wanted from Santa Claus she replied "a cupcake maker". When Ashley first answered the question she said, "a drink" then she quickly responded, "a ball"!!! She is such a funny little kid.

After many months of practice, Madison was so excited to finally perform in the Nutcracker. She was a Suger Angel and just loved her costume. Her class got to hold candles (fake ones of course) during their performance and wear wings. The costume couldn't have been more perfect for Madison. We were able to get seats right next to the aisle that Madison would be walking down so I could get a close up picture before she went up on stage.

Madison is the one right in the middle!

Thanks Todd and Christianne

Way back when I first found out I was having another girl, Todd and Christianne bought this cute onsie. I have been waiting for the day when Tori would be big enough to wear it. I just love the "frog" rear end. Too adorable! I just love Tori's chubby, dimply, legs. How come its not adorable on all the Mom's???

Thanksgiving Weekend!

Wow, what a weekend we had. I just love it when Joe has a few days off. Too much food and WAY too much fun! We spent Thanksgiving day at my parents' home with my brother Steve and his family and my sister Karen and her family. I have to say how blessed we are to have this new, sweet little girl! Tori is such an amazing, GOOD baby I can't believe it. She is cooing and smiling all the time. It just melts my heart!

I think with each girl I have the flowers and bows just get bigger!

I am the only one that likes yams with marshmellows on top in my family (besides my parents) so I make them every year! I can't have Thanksgiving Day without my yams! That is my nephew Tyler who snuck into my picture. I can't believe he is going to be 20 in February!

My dad about to carve the turkey!

Joe and his girls enjoying a day off from school and work!

Ashley adores her baby sister Tori and is always wanting to hold and kiss her.