Wedding Bells!

In January we received a phone call from Jeremy's mom saying she and her fiancee, Suzanne, had picked a wedding date of February 1, 2014.  We love Suzanne, and in my opinion, she is one of the best things to ever happen to the family.  Suzanne is always positive, and has a kind word for every one.  In the six years I've known Tammy, I have never seen her as happy as she is with Suzanne.  

Jeremy and I were able to get the time off from work to head west for the wedding.  Per usual Madelynn and Kimber were well behaved. 

Madelynn got to play with her California cousins, Landon and Devry, or as Madelynn would say Landry.
I think everyone had a good time.  There was little fighting, and everyone seemed to get along.

The Wedding

They had their friend Selena officiate.

Landon handed over the rings.

Married! 

Madelynn eating breakfast the morning of, and then being goofy at the reception dinner.

Baby Bella is 2!

                                                  

Our adorable, little a niece turned two on January 17th.  We celebrated her birthday the following week.  She was too cute for her own good.  Case in point the video below of her randomly worming her way down the hall.

Our baby girl is getting so big, and a silver lining to this Utah thing is I can watch her grow in to the little girl she's meant to be.

Worming it.

Maybe her head was cold.

Apparently brother is a horsey.

Waiting for Presents

A cell phone, a doll house, dress up and make up for Bella

Madelynn is putting make up on her cousin.

Pretty Princess

                                     

Play - Doh

For Christmas last year my uncle Sam gave Madelynn a 24 pack of play-doh.  This year her grandmother gave her some play-doh and tools.  As of late Madelynn has insisted we all make horse, and other animals with the colorful clay.  It has been a fun few nights creating with my imaginative little girl

Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash & Twilight are all accounted for.

We're so talented.

Our Tinkerbell

"Daddy, I don't know how to fly, but Tinkerbell does".

"I think we can fix that"

New Year and Geocaching

Just before the Charger game (I mention the game to explain the pictures below) came on a couple of weeks ago we decided to go geocaching.  We found three in the Salt Lake cemetery.  There are more up there, but they were covered in snow.

We returned home to watch the game, all of us dressed for the occasion.  Unfortunately the team lost, but it was a fun family Sunday in spite of it.

Christmas Day

We spent the holiday the three of us.  Madelynn is a joy to give gifts to because she is such a grateful child.  When asked what she wanted for Christmas she asked for crayons, which allowed us to delight her with princess dresses, and Leap Frog Books.

I have no idea about the order of the videos.  The come from Jeremy's phone.

Fighting for Equality

On December 20, 2013, Federal Court Judge Robert Shelby found that Utah's Amendment 3, which prohibits same sex marriage was a law that currently denies "its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason".  This ruling allowed same-sex couples to marry until the Supreme Court on January 6, 2014 order a stay pending the outcome of the appeal filed by the Attorney General's Office. 

One December 23rd  Restore Our Humanity held an event at SLC City Hall celebrating the marriages, and the ruling.  Jeremy and I attended the amazing gathering.  The excitement, the hope, the love that was in the air that night is not something one can forget. 

While I am fairly confident when the case gets in front of the US Supreme Court ( this is inevitably the case because whoever loses in 1oth District will appeal to SCOTUS) they will rule as they did with the Prop 8 case, and overturn the ban, I can not stand quietly by and not act.  We've donated to the cause, and continue to attend rallies to show our support to those who just want the same rights as everyone else.  

Disciplining Pooh Bear

Madelynn was placed in time out for ill behavior early in the morning, the same poor behavior apparently got Baby Pooh Bear in trouble.  He was supposed to stay on the bed during his punishment, but disobeyed Madelynn, and "hid" from her.

Putting Up the Christmas Tree

Jeremy and I had said if Madelynn came to us and asked to get a Christmas tree we would.  We are not doing Santa with her, but have explained that others believe in him, and it is not her place to spoil it for them. Madelynn asked specifically for a white tree, and she had a blast setting it up with her dad and decorating it. 

Madelynn's stocking.  The glue got messed up, she will get a new one before Christmas day.

My little girl and our tree - she no longer resembles my baby.

The final product - our Disney/Whidbey Ornament Tree