Splish Splash...my girls taking a bath!

Here is some fun bath time pictures that I just love!

Ava's Baby Blessing

We blessed Ava on the 18th. IT was a beautiful day! Dave gave such a sweet blessing...I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful husband who honors his priesthood. What a blessing Ava is in our lives. We consider her our little miracle. We had many family and friends there to help celebrate and honor Ava's special day. After the blessing we had a brunch at our house. Sean said it was full of dangerous foods...he was right. Thank You everyone for coming and sharing in this special day with us!

Elle's New Toy!

For Christmas my niece Alexa got a 4 wheeler. Elle loves riding on it with her. Dave fell in love with it and "HAD" to get Elle one of her own. So that is what he did. Now Elle and Lexi can go 4 wheeling together...yeah so there is nothing safer then a 3 year old and a 4 year old on ATV's..AHHH NIGHTMARE!

Fat Talk

Some of you may understand why I am posting this. I am posting this mainly for myself, but also to put it out there for all of you. I am posting this that in hopes it gives myself the right to feel better about weight. As Ava is aproaching six weeks on monday, I have my final check with my doctor. I have to say that it is scary for me. "Week six" means so many things...mainly it means it's time to face the baby weight...it's time to invite ed...or fight ed. Saying I am scared about week six is an understatement, I am completely horrifide, anxious, and nervous. I am afraid that if I don't lose the weight fast then the world will be judging me. Many of you will say "don't care about what the world thinks" well I do care, that is part of the problem. So by me putting this out there it is giving me the freedom to let you my friends and the world know that I want to fight the worlds notions of beauty and thinness. I do believe it is time to say to the world that it is not okay to put self worth on how you look, how thin you are. If we as women,as men, as friends, as human beings start to put self worth on more then how we look there would be less of us who determine our worth on being thin, on how we look. It is time to stop the fat talk!

Virtue

So on Sunday it was our ward conference and in Young Women's a member of the bishopric was conducting. He did things somewhat out of order and I was joking with the other leaders that I had been gone for so long that they changed everything. (mind you I was gone for 4 weeks with the baby). We all had a good chuckle. Well it was time to re sight the theme. I stand up and I am re sighting it with the young women....."faith, divine nature, individual worth, knowledge, choice and accountability, good works and integrity..." the girls add..."and virtue" WHAT?! I really was gone for a long time. I was stunned and the young women's president Amy is getting a good laugh at my shocked face. So instead of it saying "and integrity" it says "integrity and virtue"
Virtue is a great value and I am glad they added it, I was just surprised at how I was joking around asking if they changed everything on me...and low and behold..they changed the theme.
I adore the Young Women's, and I am grateful I still get to work with them. I think Virtue is a great Value that everyone can have a little more of
President Hinckley said "Believe in Virtue! It is the only way to happiness! It is the only way to peace in one's heart. It is the only way to feeling right before the Lord and before one another."

P.S. Many of you commented about the Natalie on Ava's pictures and were concerned that they would be on all my prints. No the Natalie is simply her copyright for blogged pictures, her name is not on the actual pictures.

Ava's first pictures

My good friend Natalie came to my house last week and took some pictures of my girls. Although Ava fussed a little, we got some really great shots. Thanks Nat for doing this for us! To see Natalie's work here is a link to her photography blog!

Ava Elaine Broadhead

Okay I know some of you have been checking for the news, and I am sorry I haven't posted sooner. I don't have much time to post so this will have to be quick and I will post more later.
On Monday December 8th Ava made her debut into the world.
I had her C-Section and it went very well.
She is so adorable, I just lover her.
She is a whole lot bigger then Elle was, and that is okay. I am happy she is so healthy.
She weighed 7 pounds 10 ounces and 21 1/2 inches long.
She has lots of dark brown hair, and chubby cheeks. I think she looks like me, and so does everyone else.
Elle loves being a big sister.
We just love our little family!

I know, I know...it's about time!

Okay so I know it's been a while since I've posted last, but to be honest I just haven't been in a blogging mood. It's not that I don't have plenty to say, it's just that I've been to lazy...yeah I am pretty sure it's because I'm too lazy.

In October my good friend Sarah came to visit family for the week, and I was lucky enough to get some time with her, and her little girl Lizzie. We went to the Cheesecake Factory and then browsed the mall a little. Sarah and I first met on a performing tour to Europe right before we both got married. We hit it off from the beginning, and have been great friends since. Too bad she lives so far away!


One day in October I decided to take Elle to Gardner Village to see the Witches. She loved them. While there she found this witches hat and "HAD" to have it...and of course I am a sucker, and "HAD" to buy it for her!


Dave and I thought it would be fun to take Elle to Thanksgiving Point during October and do the fun stuff at Cornbelly's. I saw the fun pictures from our friends Wes and Shannon's blog, and how much fun they said they had taking their daughter, so we decided to take Elle. They were right it was a lot of fun for her...and for us to watch her too. We were going to go through the Corn maze (we even bought tickets earlier that day) but it was getting so cold, and Elle was getting so grumpy. Instead we called it a night. But it was a fun day!





There a few traditions we do every year at this time, and one is the Pumpkin Patch. Every year my mom takes all the Grand kids to the pumpkin patch to get a pumpkin. This year there was just too much going on that we didn't all get together to go pick out our pumpkins and carve them together. However we still wanted Elle to be able to do this. So I took her to the pumpkin patch, and let her pick out her own pumpkin. She was super cute in looking for the right one...when she found it...she knew. She also picked out a pumpkin for her daddy too.
Later that night we carved pumpkins together and she was so excited. She even liked scooping out the gooey insides! Dave was so patient with her and helped her carve her own pumpkin. Her pumpkin was Ariel from the Little Mermaid, Dave's was Sponge bob, and mine was a spider with the words "Wicked". However the pictures of the finished products didn't turn out so hot...Oh well.





Elle was so excited for Halloween to actually arrive. She was originally going to be a Pink Flamingo, but when she saw the Witches hat at Gardner Village, that we "HAD" to buy she changed her mind and really wanted to be a Witch. I made her a cute little Witches Costume. She was the cutest Witch I've ever seen! (I guess we will save the Pink Flamingo for another year.)
We always go to my Mom's house and have Homemade Chili, and Witches Brew (Home made Root beer). Afterwards our ward always has a trunk or treat that we go too. Let me tell you I love Trunk or Treats...this is the way to trick or treat. You have the entire ward their, and in twenty minutes you've given out all your candy, plus the kids have a boat load of candy. It is perfect I love it!
After the Trunk or Treat the kids still wanted to go to a few houses, so we did. Elle really enjoyed running up to the door and yelling "TRICK OR TREAT".





So October was a good month! I'm going to try to be better at blogging sooner...but hey I can't promise anything!

This is so funny I just had to post it!

If you don't laugh....I don't know what to tell you!

A new Motto!

We had a Super Saturday today with our Relief Society, it was a lot of fun. One of the projects that I did was a hanging frame with a piece of glass that had the words
"Only things eternal will stand the test of time". When I saw it I feel in love with it, and I knew I wanted to have that as my new life motto. It seems fitting for what is going on around me, and what is going on in the world today.
It seems like as the world is crashing down around us, and families everywhere are being torn apart, being strong and having the faith that my family can be strong enough to withstand this time...this life....because we are Eternal.
It gives me great hope to know that we will be okay, that we will make it through all the turmoil that is going on. So today and forever in my home will hang the sign that says "Only things eternal will stand the test of time." Hopefully we all can remember that, as we move forward to the days ahead!

Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen!

The Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen is the little sister to Miss Utah. Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen will compete in the national competition Miss America's Outstanding Teen, the little sister program to Miss America. Dave's cousin Meredith asked Elle to be her Little Miss when she competed for the title of Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen.
Elle was so excited to help Meredith on stage. Elle got to wear a pretty party dress and escort her off of the stage during the Evening Wear competition. Elle was so cute on stage. She was the littlest one, and looked as if she was two. She was super cute and you could tell others felt this way too.
Meredith did so good! She won the "spirit of Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen" aka Miss Congeniality, she also was given the award for scholastic achievement. These were the only two awards that they gave out other then the runners up and the queen. Then Meredith was crowned Miss Utah's Outstanding Teen! We are all so proud of her, she looked amazing on stage, her onstage answer was awesome...and she played her harp piece beautifully. Meredith will compete in Orlando next year at Miss America's Outstanding Teen!
Elle was so proud of her, and I think she felt a little like she helped Meredith win.(even though we know she won on her own merits)
She will represent our state beautifully this next year!

I love my Mom!

I have a really great relationship with my mom. I enjoy just sitting and talking with her for hours over nothing, or everything. She is such an inspiration to me, and I hope I will be an inspiration like she is to my girls.

My Mom has the inner strength of Superman, the beauty of Miss America, and the pure love of Christ. The word AMAZING can't even describe her. She cares more about others then she does herself. She gives more then she takes, and rarely expects anything in return. She gives more of herself emotionally, and physically then anyone I personally know. She will give up her own plans to stay with you to make sure you are okay. She tries to take all the pain that you are feeling away, and put it on herself. She loves beyond life, because she see's to eternity.


My Mom gives such great advice on everything! She can talk to you about the Gospel and never will you feel like she is better then you, but only that you are equal to her. She can talk about the economy and make you want to do better to become more self dependent. She can make you feel like you are hanging out with high school girl friends because you end up laughing so hard that you think you'll need stitches in your side! Whenever I need an idea for my young women's lessons, she has the perfect story or thought. She can help you come up with inexpensive ideas to make something special, and she makes you feel so good about the idea. She has a knack for making everyone feel loved and special. She will lift you up when you need picking up, she will tell you what you need to hear even if you don't want to hear it, and she will love you like nobody else can. She makes you want to be better just by her example of true integrity and strength.

My Mom is a shining example of hope for me. She has given me such strength and courage to be a good mother, to stand a little taller, to want my daughters to want to emulate me as much as I want to emulate her. She is a true daughter of God and I am so blessed that I was lucky enough to be sent to her.

Gordon B. Hinckley said
"Keep faith with the best that is in you. Your own constant self-improvement will become as a polar star to those with whom you associate. They will remember longer what they saw in you than what they heard from you. Your attitude, your point of view can much such a tremendous difference." She is the polar star that people look at and watch. I want to be like her, like the star that she is, because like her and like the stars they are closer to Heaven and closer to God...and that is where I want to be!

Elle my little Violinist!

Elle loves to play her violin...even though she so far only knows one little diddy..but she is so DARN CUTE AT IT!
Elle loves her teacher, and looks forward to going to lessons.

We had some pictures taken of her with her violin in a outfit that Dave's Mom wants all the grand-daughters picture taken in. (She has an outfit like this for boys too).

Here are a few of my favorites!

The grass isn't always greener!

I hate the old Cliche "the grass looks greener on the other side".

Over the last several months Dave and I have noticed changes going on in others lives. People who we care about deeply, who we love. Many times we have commented on the changes by saying "I wish they could see what is happening to them", or "they are going to do something that is going to really rock their world." Things like this. But knowing things aren't our business we didn't intrude or say anything to them. We just had the impression that we needed to continue to be the example. We decided that we would invite them to church even though we knew they would say no. We wanted to be the kind of people that they would look at and say "kandis and dave go to church, keep the commandments, and look they still have so much fun....." But they never said that. Instead their lives were clouded by the world, by the parties, by the new friends. Slowly we watched as the Light of Christ was taken from them. We watched as Satan's grasp take hold little by little. And all the while we stood back and didn't say anything. I feel that I gave Satan a little power by standing back and watching him destroy them.

It is hard to watch as things have unfolded and us being able to see that the grass that they have been looking for is AstroTurf. I wish I could be strong enough for them, I wish I could change hearts, and minds. I wish that I would have said all the things that I wanted to say when I saw the changes happening. I feel like it is harder then watching someone physically die, instead I've watched a spiritual death. And I pray that God is more merciful then I can even imagine, because eternity without ALL my friends and family I can't even begin to imagine.

So remember sometimes when the grass looks greener on the other side it is not. Many times there are horrible weeds, ugly bugs, lots of dead spots, or it is just plain AstroTurf

Toliet Thief!

So yesterday I stopped to pick up some lunch for Elle at Arctic Circle (she loves their fry sauce). I was the only one in the drive up when the lady had just handed me her food. I looked out my rear view mirror and to my surprise I saw a man BOLT out of the bathroom (you can only get to the bathroom there via outside) and start running....he was carrying the toilet...water splashing out of the top....wearing gloves and running down the parking lot. I was in shock and I started laughing. I should have told the people at Arctic Circle that someone was stealing their toilet, but they probably would have thought I was crazy. Nope I'm not the crazy one..the man who decided to steal a nasty public toilet is the crazy one! I needed the laugh yesterday...it sure was funny!

I went to the Oprah Show!! (and that's no joke)

Three weeks ago my mom was told some information on when the "call in" was for Oprah tickets. So that morning she sat on the phone all day long and called and called and called. It was busy all day, finally it rang! She was able to get her, me and my three sisters tickets to go and see OPRAH! We were so excited. The filming date that we were given was September 11th. We decided that we would leave Salt Lake on September 10th, and stay until Saturday September 13th. On Wednesday September 10th a family problem came up, and one of my sisters and my Mom wasn't able to go. So my Aunt Anna my moms sister went with us, and me and two of my other sisters. Even though our minds were back home half the time we had a great time.
Going to Oprah on Thursday was such a dream. We were so excited as we were standing in line. Because I'm pregnant I was given a little bit of special treatment, and that made me feel down right special. The Harpo Staff was so friendly and kind. It was so surreal walking into the studio and seeing what we see on t.v. It was a lot smaller then it looks on t.v. but still amazing. The whole audiance was so excited to be there, and nobody could help but wonder if this would be her "favorite things show". When the producers of this specific show came out...we were told the subject. There was an audiable gasp in the studio. It was NOT a topic that anyone wanted to be there for. They explained to us that this is the MOST important show that Oprah feels that she can do RIGHT now.
Would you like to know what the show was on?

It was on the most disgusting subject of Child Prediators. The most disturbing was that hey talked about how these preditors are people that WE know. People that WE trust. People that our children trusts, and people who seem to be the really GOOD people. These aren't strangers on the street...these are people we know such as our fathers, grandfathers, brothers, uncles, best friends, next door neighbors. People who you feel are "Safe" people. Now I'm not saying go around and accuse your loved ones of this, but we need to be careful with our children. When I first thought of child preditors I thought that they went for children ages about 8 and up..NO they are rapeing and molesting children as young as NEWBORN. Babies as new as days old with their cords still in. This is the disgusting and brutal truth. This is so horrible. Oprah was so upset by this, in fact after the show was taped, she called these people who does this some very choice names which I won't say.

The show will be airing on Monday September 15th. I am asking everyone of you to watch this show. If you have children who can understand the T.V DON'T watch it with them, but watch it with them in mind..that we HAVE to protect our children. It is happeing to children we know, but we would never know it's happening. At the end of the show Oprah will tell you about a bill that is on the Senate floor right now, this bill is to allow more money to catch these people. There are senators holding this bill up, and this bill is a good thing. WE need to pass this BILL. After you watch the show do what she says. GO to Oprah.com and find YOUR senators, there are prewritten letters you can send and email them about voting YES for this bill. WE need to do this for our children. It is SO important! Please do this. If you are not going to be home to watch the show, record it! I don't care how..but DO IT!
They showed us something that will not be shown on t.v because it is too grafic, and believe me it was the most horrible thing I've ever seen in my life, and that is the truth.

Although the subject matter was grim, and we all cried it was amazing to be there. Oprah is just as sincer in person as she is on the t.v. She looks amazing! I am so grateful for the chance that I had to go.

Remember to watch on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15th..you will be ready to go to work to stop this horrid epidemic..I know I am!

Ode to Grandma Syme!

I love my Great Grandma Syme, although she passed away in 1996 she still has a special place in my heart. Grandma was known for her kindness, and love. She never said a bad thing word about anyone. She had a keen knack for being able to take nothing and make something great. Grandma knew how to preserve and can just about anything. This she taught to my Mom. Growing up I remember me and my sisters helping Mom can her own fruits and veggies. It was just a part of summer and fall. I remember my Mom always saying that not many people know how to can now a days, and it truely is a lost art. She felt it was important that we had a basic knowledge of this. Since I've been married I have still helped my Mom with her canning, but I have never done any myself. UNTILL NOW! Over the last two nights I have been trying my hand at the legacy that Grandma left me.
My first two projects have turned out great, and I am so proud of them.
So I made Peach Jam, and Tomato Salsa.
It's so exciting! I can't wait to do Pickles when my cucmbers are ready and I am going to do spiced apples in a few weeks!
So needless to say I am grateful for Grandma Syme and her knowledge that she gave my Mom, and my Mom gave to me, and I will give to my girls.

UGGG! I have to vent!!

Okay so I was in the mall shopping for clothes for Elle, and I happened to hear this conversation that really REALLY bothered me. So there were two girls working at the cash wrap at the store, and they were just chatting. They were talking about a girl who also worked there.
Girl "A" said to Girl "B"..."have you noticed how much weight "girl C" has lost?"
Girl "B" yeah she's getting skinny
Girl "A" yeah she's lost like 20 pounds in a month
Girl "B" wow...I wonder what she's doing?
Girl "A" well I think I am going to start calling her "Annie"
Girl B and Girl A both start laughing.
I immediatly turned around and gave them a stare, as if to say "nuh uh, you didn't just say that." They of course didn't notice my blazing stare.
Then Girl "C" walks up from the back of the store and says "what's so funny?"
Girl "A" "Oh nothing..(pause) .....Annie"
More laughter from the two girls.
Girl "C" now looks like she has no idea what they are talking about and says "Annie"?

Then girl "B" said to girl "C" something like this "So how have you lost so much weight? I can't believe it...it's like WOW."
Girl "C" "well I've been watching what I have been eating and, I'm working with a trainer"
Girl "A" "we were starting to think you were Anorexic, (pause).... Annie"
Now girl "C" looks completly appauled and insulted and responds something like this "no I've just been working really hard."

Okay so this is why I am so bothered by this.
What if this girl was infact engaging in Eating Disorder behaviors? That is the last thing someone with that may have and Eating Disorder needs to hear, or wants to hear. They should be encouraging her to seek help not talking "poking fun at her".
And another thing is...you never know who around you infact has delt with, knows someone who has, or is currently struggling with a disease such as an eating disorder.
So this is my plea to EVERYONE....NEVER NEVER talk about someones weight. Even if they are losing weight and look good, don't say to them "wow you've lost weight, you look good." A simple "You look good," or a "You look good today" will work just fine. Commenting on someones weight dives weight lose, and weight gain. So please just don't say anything.

These stupied girls at the mall could have "triggered" me or someone else who overheard. Thankfully enough I am looking out for someone else right now...so I was able to deal with their insults (all though they weren't directed at me)....however I did want to karate chop someone!

Do you think Dave would mind if I start calling him Edward?!

Okay maybe I won't call Dave Edward, but I am so in in LUST with the character Edward Cullen. Some of you like Jacob but I'm a Edward girl.

So on Sunday I finished Breaking Dawn. I loved it....(for those of you who haven't read it yet..then I won't spoil anything..don't worry you can read on.) It was EVERYTHING I wanted in the book. I am so pleased.

So on Friday Night I went with one of my Best Friends from High School Mary, and her friends from her neighborhood to get the book. I met Mary at her house in Lehi, and we went over to Chili's and ate, then we went to Smiths (smart girls..cause Walmart was insane) and waited for 15 minutes and got our books. With my Drive back home I arrived home about 1 a.m and I read till about 2 a.m.
It was a fun night (Mary your friends are fun!)

I will say however I am a little bummed that there are no more Twilight books coming out. But that is okay because I feel completely satisfied with how everything played out!