Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we drove to Arizona to have Thanksgiving with my Mom's side the family. It was GREAT! The kids did awesome on the drive and the weather was perfect! It took 10 and half hours to get there, but coming back we hit a snowstorm and it took 15 hours to get home! We were so sick of being in the car, but the kids were wonderful and we made it home safely. Here is what we did.

Shad drove the whole time! I guess he doesn't like my driving abilities.

Easton in his car seat

Brooklyn in the back of the van

Me

Chandler in the back just chillin'

Me and Chandler at Thanksgiving dinner! It was yummy!

Shad spent most of Thanksgiving holding the baby and watching football

My parents!

Happy Boy

Brooklyn holding a gecko she found

We played Settlers of Catan a few times while we were there. My cousins had a bunch of expansion packs for the games so it took a LONG time to play, but it was fun.

This pic is Alyssa (my brother Bryce's fiance'), Bryce (my brother), Sharae (my sister) and her husband Brady

Brooklyn holding Easton (at least she is enjoying it)

We put up my Grandma's Tree while we were there, here are Boston (my nephew), Brooklyn and Chandler showing off their handiwork.

We also went and saw the Christmas lights at the Mesa Temple and they were gorgeous. And it wasn't freezing while we were walking around which is a change for us since we usually go to Salt Lake.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Halloween 2010

I realize this post is late, but. . .here is what we did for Halloween this year. Chandler was a monster, Brooklyn was a scary witch, and Easton was a bumblebee.

Chandler Roaring!

Brooklyn making a scary face

Cute little Bee!

All 3 ready to Trick-or-Treat

Me and Easton

Our Pumpkins

Easton's Blessing & Family Pictures

In October we were able to bless Easton. It turned out to be quite a warm and beautiful day. Shad gave Easton a very sweet blessing and I am grateful for his worthiness to be able to do that for our children. We had some great friends and family participate and it was a wonderful day. Easton wore the same outfit that Chandler wore when he was blessed and he looked absolutely adorable!

Our Family

Easton in his little suit! I just love those cheeks!

.....................................................

That same weekend we also had some family pictures done. Shad and my brother in law Tyler took the pictures for us and I think they turned out great! I have already printed them and they look great on our wall.

all 3 kids

Shad and I

Brooklyn & Mom

Dad and the Boys

September Fun

So during September we didn't get out much because of the new baby, but we did make it up the canyon to see the leaves. We spent most of our time getting to know our little guy Easton, who is getting bigger everyday. He gained almost a pound at his 2 Week visit. He has a little double chin and everything. Here are some pics. . .

Up AF canyon, making silly faces

Easton just stayed in the car all bundled up

Me and the kids

Chandler and Easton

Easton getting more and more alert

Brooklyn loves to hold the baby

1st Grade & Soccer

Brooklyn started first grade this year! I can't believe how grown up she is. She was SO excited to go to school ALL day, but mostly she was excited to eat lunch at school and play on the big playground.

Brooklyn & Chandler. Saying goodbye to big sis!

All Ready to Go to 1st Grade!

Brooklyn also started playing soccer this year. These are pics from her first game. She absolutely loves soccer! She had a great time, and even got to play goalie sometimes.

Getting ready for the ball

Playing Goalie.

Introducing......

EASTON KASH GIFFORD

8 lbs. 15.4 oz

21 in

4:53 pm August 16, 2010

Our little man

Shad had a cold so he had to wear a mask

Me holding him after they cleaned him up

Proud Mom & Dad

Our first family photo

Me holding Easton

Alta View brings you this nice little date night dinner for you and your hubby!

Shad and the kids

Easton getting ready to go home

Me and Easton are ready to go home!

Birth Story:

Shad and I went to the hospital around 8AM. At about 9AM they broke my water and started me on pitocin. Everything was going well, but a little slow. I had to wait what seemed like FOREVER for them to get my epidural. I think I waited about an hour and half from when I first asked for it. NOT FUN! Oh well it happens. I was still progressing really slowly. My mom & sister had come for a little while, but then left to check on Brooklyn & Chandler and help my Dad get them lunch and put them down for a nap. I was still at 5 cm for what seemed like FOREVER. Then at around 3:30-4pm I started to seeing stars and not feeling well at all. Shad was getting worried when I kept falling asleep and my blood pressure machine kept beeping. The nurse came in and checked my blood pressure 2 more times and it was 70 over something, but REALLY low. So the anesthesiologist came in and gave me some blood pressure medication in my IV. Then I started feeling A LOT of pressure. So the nursed checked me again and I was at a 10! So Shad hurried and called my Mom & sister to come back. They came in to set up my room and they paged the doctor. I was pushing for just a few minutes when the nurse said just to do half pushes because the doctor was 5 min away. UGH! I was annoyed. But he finally got there. While I was pushing the nursed asked me if I signed the Hep B paper and I very rudely said "I have no idea" and everyone laughed and my doctor told her this probably wasn't the best time. A couple of pushes later Easton was here at 4:53pm. This labor was only about 8 hours and I pushed a total of 10 min, so not too bad.

Flaming Gorge

For our family vacation this year we went to Flaming Gorge for a week. We had a blast. The weather wasn't the best, but since I was 9 months pregnant, and Shad had knee surgery, neither of us could do much, so we didn't mind. We love going there, it is so beautiful and there is so much to do!

Chandler and Uncle Skyler

Chandler and Uncle Tommy playing on the tube

Shad and Chandler fishing. Shad caught a couple of these little guys.

My nephew Boston, my Sister Sharae, my Dad (a.k.a Captain of the boat) & Brooklyn

Tommy and Brooklyn had a blast tubing, and since it was windy they got to go a ton.

Brooklyn, Shad and Chandler swimming

Chandler driving the boat with Papa

Beautiful Brooklyn

Shad on flag duty

That tiny little speck out there is Brooklyn knee boarding. My mom got in the water with her to help her and Brooklyn loved it! She just looks so tiny. Way to go Brooklyn! Maybe next year she'll learn to ski.

We love Flaming Gorge and hopefully we will go again next year.