Thanksgiving Weekend

Our Thanksgiving was great! We got to start the festivities on Wednesday instead of Thursday which was nice. Charles and Erica came down with baby Reed to share in the festivities. Thanksgiving started with our annual turkey bowl at 8 am followed by food and more food. Black Friday events started late Thursday night. Before we know it, Black Friday will start late Wednesday night and the name will be changed. Zack loves the thrill and excitement of all of it! Charles joined him in the fun.

The rest of Friday and all day Saturday was for playing and cuddling little babies. The kids had fun playing with family. We ate and ate, played and laughed all weekend, I guess that's what happens when you have such yummy food ready after a moments notice. Aren't microwaves just great?!?

Coloring Contest

Our little William took 1st place in his age group for a coloring contest from southernutahdeals.com. He was pretty excited to share his joy with everyone around him! He got two free movie tickets, a Jumping Jacks pass, a free cupcake from the Sweet Tooth Fairy and a Kit Kat bar. This is one excited guy! He did an awesome job too! 

Time sure flies when your having fun

Our sweet baby Brooklyn is one month old already! She is 22" long and weighs 10 pounds. She is such a joy to our family. We all loving her sweet spirit and content ways. She is a very easy going baby which is such a blessing. Brooklyn didn't take to nursing but loves the bottle instead. This was very discouraging at first but we are adjusting well. She was rapidly losing weight the first couple weeks and after supplementing she refused to nurse. Rather than fighting it, we succumbed to the bottle. Now she is more content and gaining weight steadily. Brooklyn loves bath time with her big brothers, Matthew and Joshua. She just relaxes completely in the warmth of the water and coos. She enjoys being surrounded by people and doesn't like to be alone. This is a blessing at our house as it is very full of happy and loving but loud children. Her brothers absolutely adore her and Katelyn is just like a second mother to her. Katelyn immediately goes to her with every cry. They have a sweet sisterly bond that will continue to grow as she gets older.

A couple weeks ago we were able to travel up north for two days where Charles and Erica's baby Reed's blessing took place in Roy, Utah. Brooklyn was a trooper! She traveled very well, now Matthew was a different story but she slept most of the trip. We were able to show off our little miss to lots of family who wouldn't be able to meet her otherwise. Traveling with such a young baby can be rather overwhelming. I'm thankful she was so relaxed and calm for the most part. We survived without any breakdowns just snow storms going to and from. It does make Saint George a little more appealing after traveling on snowy roads.

Brooklyn is adjusting to sleeping at nights but hasn't quite mastered that one yet. She is still getting up every three hours to eat and play. We'll keep working on it. She lets me know when she's hungry as she has a nice healthy scream that sends me in rush mode. She smiles all the time and loves kisses! She doesn't care much for being strapped in her car seat but is fine when it's all over. Brooklyn melts into you when you hold her, which I just love! We feel so blessed to have our sweet baby with us. She brings such a light to our family. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father has entrusted this sweet little girl to our care.

Veteran's Day Program

The whole third grade performed a Veteran's Day program for our local veterans. He worked hard at memorizing his part and learning all the songs. He did an excellent job and was so glad that we were able to make it and see him.

Katelyn's participated in the Veteran's Day parade and program in Washington City. Her class sang a few songs and participated in the flag ceremony as well as the parade. She always does a great job! She had several family members watching and cheering for her throughout the parade. She felt pretty awesome!

Happy Halloween 2011

We had a great Halloween! Tim and Stephanie threw a Halloween kid party on Friday which got the kids in the spirit, for candy that is. The older kids participated in their Halloween parade at their school on Monday afternoon. We watched them make rounds on the field all decked out in their costumes. Daddy even was able to make it! It is a pretty big deal too! They all had great time in class partying until school let out! Joshua even got to participate since the preschool kids were included in the festivities. Daddy headed off to work but got home just in time to enjoy trick or treating; it is fun to see all their excitement! Matthew barely made it past our block before nodding off. The kids got more than enough candy. Joshua says he has enough to last him until next Halloween! We'll see...

Zack is a whoopee cushion, Katelyn a vampiress, Taylor a red ninja, William is Captain America, Joshua is Ben 10 (alien guy), Matthew is Superman, and Brooklyn is a kitty cat.

Pumpkin Carving

We finally got the pumpkin carving in just before Halloween. Zack found two great pumpkins for us. The kids drew out their designs and we made two pumpkins with a little bit of all their ideas. Taylor wouldn't have anything to do with pulling out the guts. He thought that part was gross. The other boys and Katelyn didn't mind it too much. Zack was elected to do all the carving. Katelyn wanted to roast the pumpkin seeds after. We found a great recipe that turned out sweet and cinnamon instead of the traditional roasted pumpkin seeds. Everyone helped out to make our fun pumpkins except Brooklyn but she smiled lots for us while we worked.

Matthew's Photo Shoot by Aunt Stephanie

Stephanie took these adorable pictures of Matthew and Jaerick at the park. He looks so grown up! Jaerick and Matthew love playing together. They are good buddies and loving cousins! Stephanie and Jaerick got to come stay with the kids while Daddy and Mommy were at the hospital with baby Brooklyn. Matthew loves playing with Jaerick!

Brooklyn's First Photo Session by Aunt Stephanie

Welcome Home Baby Brooklyn

All the kids were so excited to have their baby sister home and made her a banner which reads  "Welcome Home Baby Sister!" Everyone of them colored and decorated it for her.

Brooklyn was born the day Grandpa Belt got home from the hospital from open heart surgery. He was thrilled to finally meet her. We brought her over to meet her great-grandparents right after they released us from the hospital. She is getting spoiled from all her extended family with well wishes, visits, gifts and kisses! She is a very loved baby girl!

Brooklyn enjoys her sponges baths! She loves to be cuddled, kissed and talked to. She smiles all the time and snuggles right into you when you hold her. Our family is quite complete with this little angel! We feel so blessed to have her here.

Introducing Brooklyn Krystal Alvey

Our little miss Brooklyn was born October 10, 2011 @ 7:12 am.

She is 8 lbs 15 oz and 20.5 inches long!

She is a very happy little baby with all of us quite smitten by her!

We are so grateful that she arrived happy and healthy! My water broke just before midnight which I was so thankful for since that has always been how I knew to head over to the hospital. Stephanie came over to take care of the kids and we headed to the hospital around 1am. By 3 am I was ready for my epidural since my contractions had started getting a bit more intense. I didn't want to wait too long and experience the whole thing drug free. Zack went to sleep as soon as the epidural kicked in but almost missed the delivery since I couldn't get him to wake up very easily. He did wake up just a few minutes before she arrived at 7:12am.

She is absolutely adorable and all her siblings are so thrilled to hold, cuddle, and kiss her. Matthew was a bit confused at who this baby was or why I was holding her but after a few minutes, he was in love with her and wanted to hold her. She seems to have that effect on everyone. She has her daddy wrapped around her little finger already!

We are so thrilled to have her home with us and spending all the time we can getting to know her and love on her! She is such a blessing to our family! You can instantly feel Heavenly Father's love when you hold a new baby. The spirit they bring to your family is so strong and peaceful. She really does complete our family.