The Giddings: 2011

12.12.2011

Merry Christmas from our Family to Yours!!

Dearest Friends and Family,

I can't believe another year has come and gone! It's been another year of rollar coasters, moves, and exciting things to look forward to. Topping that off is the news of expecting our third child, another girl, in April. This pregnancy experience is a repeat of my last two, full of sickness! Happy to report I am now passed that at 22 weeks and looking forward to "nesting" after the holidays.

We moved back to California this summer from Florida and love it here. We are staying with my parents and they have been life savors :) Paul started a new job, with a new company that is still growing. He has high hopes for the future and I continue to go along for the ride. He is such a hard worker, and always optimistic about EVERYTHING! We are ever so grateful for him and his many sacrifices.

I finally took the plunge with one of my dreams this year and started a wedding planning business with my sister-in-law, Brooke, and we have had lots of fun. We did a few weddings this fall but have since taken a break due to my pregnancy. Looking forward to getting things up and moving again after baby girl makes her appearance :) So if you know anyone looking for help with their wedding plans, please send them our way!

Miss Maylee Kate is our little spit-fire, almost 2 year old who keeps us on our toes! She has entered the stage of independence and wanting to do everything on her own. She also thinks she is just as big as sister and can do whatever Brooklynn does- ha! We just recently cut her hair for the first time into a bob and it fits her perfectly! We love it. She is into all things baby right now so we are excited to see how she responds as a big sister come April :)

Paul and I celebrated 6 years of marriage last month and it is crazy to think of all we have done/accomplished in the last 6 years and where we will be 6 years from now. He continues to capture my heart and make me laugh. There are growing pains for sure, but I love that we are going through them together! It truly amazes me that the Lord blessed me with such a wonderful man. True, committed, eternal love does exist!

This photo captures life for me. Sweet, tendor moments wrapped up in the craziness and stressful ones :)

Our Brooklynn will be 4 next month and I cannot believe how grown up she is becoming and how quickly it is happening. She has the sweetest, most tender heart that I just love and adore to pieces. She is all girl and loves everything princess. She cherishes her friends and family and loves learning! I know the Lord has many wonderful things in store for her and she will accomplish a great work!

We hope this Christmas is filled with the love and laughter of family for you, making memories that will be cherished forever. Our plans are to be in Utah doing just that with ours :)

We are ever so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and everything he has done and continues to do for us. I am constantly seeing his hand in our lives and am so grateful for it.

Here's to a happy 2011 and an even better 2012.

We love you all.

Thank you for being apart of our lives and for loving us unconditionally.

The feeling is mutual!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Love The Giddings Gang,

Paul, Ashley, Brooklynn, Maylee, and Baby Girl #3

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving was a wonderfully relaxing day, full of family and yummy food- as usual!
The day before we had a little scare because Skyler took a hard hit at BYU's football practice and ended up with a nasty concussion and a separated shoulder. We weren't sure if the Dr.'s were going to let him fly home, but eventually they did. He was pretty out of it when he finally got home and having a rought ime with his short term memory- which we kind of got a kick out of and messed with him a bit (what kind of siblings would we be if we didn't give him a little bit of a hard time- that and the fact that we tease he is the "favorite" Ridley child).

Thanksgiving day was just spent at home. We played games, watched some movies and football, ate food and visited. We had dinner with just us and Dolph (my Aunt Dari's husband) and then later Ryan and Brooke and Paul's Mother and boyfriend, Adam, and Adam's mother came for dessert. We played a little "Just Dance" and enjoyed the evening.

After putting the girls, and Paul to bed, I stayed up and talked with my mom and Skyler until 2 am! The latest I have been up in some time. Ryan, Brooke, and Shayna went and did some Black Friday shopping so we also kept Nixon (Ryan and Brooke's new puppy) while they were gone.

Thinking about my family on that special day, I am always overwhelmed with gratitude for who each of them are to me. Feel so, so blessed to call them family and have such supportive, loving people as a constant in my life and in my family's life. They mean the world to me. They are all my best friends. Life for me, really has become ALL about family and I couldn't be more grateful!

Let's Eat!!!

Of course, the olive fingers!

Skyler always wants Shayna to be his "wife" in family photos because he feels so awkward that he has nobody to stand with...haha. Soon enough I'm sure, soon enough!

My beautiful Mommy and sister.

**These pictures make me want a new camera!!! So blurry..grr...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

My baby sister turns 17!!!

Hard to believe little miss Shayna Paige is 17, a senior in high school, being accepted to major universities, holding a job, having a boyfriend, and growing up! It seems like yesterday I was praying so hard and begging my parents to have a little sister! She is so beautiful- inside and out! The #1 word people use to describe her is sweet- and that is the truth!

We celebrated her birthday with taco salad-her request- and presents! She got the new Just Dance for her WII and the girls LOVE dancing with her :)

This girl is SO special to me, and not just because she is my sister. She is going to accomplish so much in her life and I couldn't be more happy or proud to be her sister! Love you Shayna Paige!

Say Cheese.

It's so fun to watch Shayna with my girls. She is a great Aunt- but I laugh often because this is Shayna's first experience with "younger siblings" almost, since she is the baby of our family. The age difference between her and Brooklynn is almost the same as her and Ryan- so I often remind her when Brooklynn starts to bother her that Ryan and I used to feel the same about her :)

Love, love, love this picture.

Does Brooklynn have a Ridley smile or what!?!

There is no denying she is my daughter.

I told Shayna she has to know it's a special occassion if I actually got dressed and ready for it :)

Brooke is laughing so hard because Brooklynn wrapped her arms around her and just held on to her bum! haha. I guess it was just at the perfect height!

My silly happy girls.

They LOVE having each other!

First Fieldtrip- Firestation

Brooklynn had her first fieldtrip at school- to the local firestation- and Maylee and I got to tag along!
The kids all walked over with their firehats on. Brooklynn didn't wear one- probably knowing she is my daughter, she thought it would mess her hair up :)

B was so excited, but once we got to the firestation her nerves kicked in and she wasn't too sure about everything. She was hesitant and kept her distance, while still being a little curious. Maylee on the other hand wasn't scared at all and loved every minute of being with the big kids. She was quite the hit too with EVERYONE! Funny thing is though, strangers first impression of her is that she is so well behaved and mellow. And I just laugh! She is two! And my fiesty sassy pants. Her nickname is stink bug and she responds to it! Seriously, she will give you a run for your money but we love her and all her independence and attitude!

Walking over. Sophia. Brooklynn. Chase.

Checking out all the hoses.

See Maylee in the mix?

B wasn't interested in touching the hoses.

This was as close to the truck as I could get her at first and she wanted NOTHING to do with the fireman.

All the kids got to sit in the truck and take a picture but Brooklynn didn't want to.

Stink bug herself with big sister.

The whole class with their teacher, Ms. Estella.

Sophia is Brooklynn's best friend.

Seriously these two are attached at the hip at school!

It really is so cute.

Glad we got to go spend the afternoon with Brooklynn.

Moments like these blow my mind- how quickly she is growing up!

She is soaring in school. Really she is doing so well.

I think she has Paul's smarts and my memory!

Her teachers say she is just a gem, a breath of fresh air- especially with a busy class mostly filled with boys! Always a joy to hear your child behaves properly :) I must be doing something right! At least from time to time :)

Downtown Disney with the Giddings

A few months ago The Giddings came down from Utah during their UEA break to come visit everyone and meet baby Benjamin Paul (Josh and Cassie's new baby). We planned a quick trip to downtown Disney for the day and Brooklynn could not be more happy to have her favorite things- a GOOD reason to wear her Belle dress, Anna, Violet, and Disney!

We first ate lunch at Rain Forest Cafe. That didn't pan out to be what we would have expected. The food was sub-par and I was so nauseous the ENTIRE time. And expensive! And the girls did not like the gorilla we were sat next to when the forest started it's show. Maylee cried and hid in Paul's shoulder for our whole lunch. Poor thing. But then it was off to the Disney store...where of course Brooklynn could pick out EVERYTHING to take home. Paul and I gave in a little and bought her a minnie mouse polly pocket- which she has LOVED!

We walked around a little bit and headed back home. It was nice to spend the day with family- and to be with the Giddings is always a special treat :)

Anna and Brooklynn.

Can you tell how much B loves her Aunt Anna!?!

Uncle Adam and Zach

So happy.

Bates Nut Farm

Please don't mind me backing up a few months to play a little catch up here on my neglected blog!

Uncle Ryan and Aunt Brooke invited us to go pick out pumpkins with them and Jayden at Bates Nut Farm. I really wanted to go and take the girls so I mustard up enough energy and health (thanks to Zophran) to go! I was a bit surprised how far away it actually was, but it was worth it! The girls had fun. I underestimated the heat that day and dressed the girls a little too warm, so we were stripping different layers of clothes throughout the day.

We were so happy to spend the day with Grandma, Ryan, and Brooke- and Brooke's family too :)

The girls picked out a few cute little pumpkins and the intent was to paint them to decorate them for Halloween, but we never actually got around to it- but the pumpkins were perfect decor in the house until after Thanksgiving! I'd say that was a success!

My girls LOVE their Uncle Ryan... he is SO good with them!

And of course Grandma too!

I don't know what it is about kids holding hands and walking together-

I think it is the cutest thing.

Silly Maylee and I taking a break in the shade on a barrell of hay- took awhile to wipe all that off our clothes :)

Perfect size pumpkin for Maylee Kate.

She would have sat there all day if we would have let her.

She loved it.

11.14.2011

Halloween 2011

Of course holidays are becoming more and more exciting with each passing year as the girls are getting older, understanding more, and showing their excitement!

For Halloween this year Brooklynn wanted to be a princess- no surprise there- but I wouldn't let her be Belle because she literally dresses in her Belle dress EVERYDAY and I was tired of seeing her in it. I wanted to get and do something different for Halloween, so we decided on Cinderella. Cassie and I decided it would be so cute for Maylee and Zach to be Bam-Bam and pebbles. Since Cassie is super talented, I knew she could make the most adorable costumes for the two of them and of course she did! They were a hit wherever we went! They are 5 months apart but look like they could be twins.

We trick-or-treated in Josh and Cassie's neighborhood and Grandma and Grandpa came along- which we LOVED- and so did Crazy Grandma (No worries, she likes to be called that). Daddy and Uncle Joshie even got into the spirit and dressed up as well. Gave us a good laugh for sure but we have learned to expect that when Mother is around and the boys are together :)