Governors Gala and Jazz game

It seems like lately Lance and I have been able to go out on dates more often which has been so much fun! A couple of days ago Lance won tickets to the Jazz vs. Spurs game so thanks to Benjamin and Emily Lance and I got to go and sat in some sweet seats! Go Jazz!!!!!





My dad called me the night of the Governors Gala and told me that I was responsible to fill up his table for 10. I literally had just a couple hours to find people to go and as you know, tables at these kind of events don't come cheap so I had to fill up his table... so we invited our friends Jake and Celia and my sister Lisa cam and the Blatters. Gotta love my last minute spur of the moment dad :) We did bring Graham with us as you can see, but he was gem the whole time like always. Very fun night. Thanks again dad for the opportunity!

Happy HALLOWEEN!

Our Halloween events kind of started Tuesday. To give you a run down... Bella had her first dance performance where she was able to wear her Halloween costume. She was so excited to invite all here cousins and Aunts and Uncles to come see her do her dances. I was such a proud mother. But to my dismay she got MAJOR stage fright. I couldn't believe it. I go to all her dance classes and watch through the window. She is that child that has to be first in line, does everything her teacher says and shakes her booty like you wouldn't believe. I was so sad that when an audience appeared she FROZE. Nervous hands in her mouth and literally broke down in tears. Pathetic. I guess she's only 3. I should cut her some slack. But I do have to admit it was disappointing especially since I knew she could do it. Oh well good practice for the Christmas show they will be doing in a few months. And PS I was so frustrated with her throughout the whole thing I didn't get one picture. Lance did get some video so when I load it on here I'll post it. It's pretty entertaining.

Friday we spent the afternoon at Grandma Dona's school to have lunch with her and watch the Halloween parade. Bella and Bodie loved seeing all the costumes. Bella would get so excited when she saw another Tink. She would yell "Oh look mom another me!" I think she now believes she IS THE Tinkerbell.

Saturday (actually Halloween) we got dressed up in our costumes and went and visited Grandpa at work. It was fun to spend a little time with Grandpa. He loved our get ups (Peter pan clan if you couldn't tell) and took lots of pictures. We hit the trunk or treat party at my parents ward, went and did the mall trick or treating and stopped at a few friends houses. It was a long fun day. I am glad that it's over. I think I love/hate Halloween. Wish me luck with all this candy my children now have....

THe Peter Pan clan---Michael Darling, Wendy Darling Tinkerbell, John Darling, and the dashing Peter Pan!



My sweet little Tink

Jon Darling



Wendy and Peter Pan




... and yes Grandma Dona was Captain Hook!

What a beautiful day!

I was able to attend my cousin and her family's sealing. It was the first time I was able to be a part of a sealing like that, including children. What a beautiful experience. I feel so blessed to have been able to witness it. The spirit was so strong and their family was beaming. A testimony builder for me, that what happens in the temple is amazing and such a miracle. Lance was so kind to wait outside with the kids so I could be there. Thanks love!!!!

Big boy, princess parties, dance class and more!

Ok so I'm going to do my best to update my blog at least every two weeks. I swear time flies. Shoot before I know it all my kids are going to be all grown up.

First things first. My little Graham being the third child has just missed out on pictures. I swear the more kids you have the harder it is to get your camera out and take pictures. So I made the effort to take some pictures of the big boy.

Bella got invited to a princess party of one of her friends, Sela. She was so excited. From the time we got the invitation she would have me read it to her at least 10 times a day and she had to keep it in her purse. The day of the party she laid out her princess outfit she was going to be wearing that morning and couldn't wait to get all ready. She even requested pictures of herself beforehand... Bodie I think was a little jealous he couldn't be part of the fun. Unfortunately Sleeping Beauty who was suposed to be at the party slept through the party and didn't make it... Come on Sleeping Beauty you can't do that to a bunch of 3 year olds.

Great Grandpa Seely lives about 30 minutes from us and we don't get out to see him often enough. But when we do go to visit him the kids have a blast. They sure love Great Grandpa Boyd and Great Grandma Betty.

And finally, Aunt Helen came out from DC to visit with a few of her friends. We spent time with them up at Temple square. Yes, Bella is getting really good at posing. More pictues to come from Helen and friends. I think they took at least 100 pictures of us. My sister-in-law is from the Phillipines and her two friends are from the Phillipines and China. They kept saying our kids should be models.... funny :)

Oh yes, can't forget, all three of my kids did just get over having Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. it SUCKED!!!! Never been more miserable in my life. Poor little guys had sores in their mouths on their feet and hands. No joke all three, Bella first, then Bodie and poor little Graham.
Our Temple Square outing... And yes, Bella posed all on her on in each picture.






Before her long awaited Princess party at Sela's





visiting Great Grandpa Boyd

Don't you want to just eat him right up?!?!



Bella is taking dance class now and can I tell you how dang cute and funny it is to watch 3 year olds dancing. I love it!

OK IT'S BEEN WAY TOO LONG

you know it's been a long time when the last post your baby looked like this...


...and now looks like this! Yes Graham is pushing 20 lbs. Big boy!

Here's a quick update:

We have been crazy busy around here. I swear with 3 kids life never slows down. We've recently moved into my mother-in-laws house temporarily to save money. We are going to start building our house in about two to three weeks. I can't wait to finally have a place that will be my HOME! Hallelujah! Lance's business is doing great and growing. Bella turned 3 last week and we celebrated in California at Disney Land. The best Disney Land trip I have ever been on. It makes it a different experience when you have kids that literally say in their prayers "please bless Disney Land and that I can go there every day" My sweet Bella. We were also able to spend some time with our Cook family and went to Sea world and the Zoo.

Little Bodie Kai is as wild as ever and is the definition of BOY. Busy, crazy, wild, and a little tease. We sure love his spunk though! Can't live without our Bodie boy.

Graham has gone from this little peanut to this HUGE chubby, rolly, thunder thighed boy. He is laughing all the time and is seriously the BEST baby. I thought Bella was a good baby and then I had Bodie and now Graham... They just get better and better each time. Watch out I might be having 10 more kids :) I think I am addicted to having babies. Oh dear! No I am not pregnant but give me a few months and I might be...

Enjoy the pictures!!!

DEMOLITION DERBY





CALIFORNIA TRIP/BELLA'S BIRTHDAY

...and almost 3 months later here I am

Well to put it bluntly I have become a facebook junky. The time that I used to spend updating my blog has been taken up by getting on facebook. I know, it's ridiculous, but with the new club I'm a part of I have felt it be worth more to me to spend it there. I will still continue to post here on my blog it will just be sparatic. So if you want to talk to me, become my friend on facebook. Here is a mumbo jumbo of pictures and what we've been up to the last few months... I'll try to do them in order, but I don't know if I'm that good on here. Love you all!!!! And I think I did the pictures backwards and after loading them all I realized they are all of our kids... not one of Lance and I... oops

The 4th of July- I seriously am terrible at taking pictures. Just sitting here thinking of all the fun things we did on the 4th and these pictures actually aren't even from my camera. Pathetic. I need to take more pictures. We started our 4th watching the balloons, then headed to the parade, then had an awesome pool party at the most amazing pool and then took naps and then went to the Stadium of Fire, but the coolest thing is is my dad parked his motorhome in the parking lot of the stadium right in front and we were able to hear everything going on and we put our chairs out and had a salmon BBQ with all my family. Watched the fireworks right from the comforts of our own Motorhome! IT was fabulous



Bella still loves Grahaminsky

And yes, this is how I manage to get around. Bella converted the double stroller into a triple stoller all by her self. She asked me one day if she could sit in the front and it just works out great! Brilliant little girl she is creating her own seat.

We visited Temple Square...



We took our first road trip to Arizona to see Auntie Karen and Papa Smurf. Bella had a blast swimming and as you can see riding on the quad with handsome little Damon. Didn't take hardly any pictures but we all had tons of fun. We were even able to hang out with Erin and James a little. So Fu!!!





Lisa my beautiful sister had a little girl on Mother's Day- Sayla Ann Stradling (we call her Lala)

Little Graham's photo shoot

My sister is starting a photography business and wanted to do some practicing on little Graham. I think she is natural :) Good job Trish! I guess it kind of helps that Graham is so darn cute...

GRAHAM FRANKIE FORD

Our little guy finally arrived!!! Yay! My story goes like this....

Thursday morning I had my doctors appointment where I asked the doctor if she would please strip my membranes and see if maybe by some small chance it would put me into labor... I say some small chance because when I was 5 days over due with Bella they did it to me two times and neither times worked. I still wanted to try again so my midwife stripped my membranes at 11:00am Thursday. I went on with my day normally and felt no different. I pretty much was depressed all day thinking this little guy was never coming out. Lance and I were watching the Jazz game when I started having contractions. Now you see I had been having contractions pretty much every night for the last few weeks so it wasn't that suprising that I was having them. They started up about 11:00pm and continued. I tried to go to sleep and at 1:00am couldn't really take it anymore so I got up and walked around thinking if I did so they would either go away like nights before or continue. They continued. At 2:00am I was really not feeling hot, the contractions were hurting pretty bad and were about 5 min apart. I called my mom and said here's the situation do you think I can go to the hospital now? I really didn't want to be one of those people who go to the hospital and claim they are in labor and get sent home. Finally I woke Lance up and said I think I'm having a baby can you wake up and go to the hospital with me? He said, "are you sure?" I don't think he wanted to wake up. Loser. I'm the one in pain here get your lazy butt up. We got to the hospital around 3:30am they checked me I was 5 cenimeters dilated and they admitted me. I was so glad I was actually in labor. SO GLAD! I got the lovely epidural at 4am and at 6:20 they checked me I was at a 10 and in one contraction pushed the little tiger our. And guys, pushing out a 6lb baby is so much better than an 8lb baby. It was awesome!!! Everything went so good. Graham came out perfect. I only tore a little this time instead of in half like with Bodie. Our little Graham is so handsome and looks nothing like Bodie or Bella. He is his own little person and I love him so much already. Being a mom of three kids is going to be an adventure. Bella can't get enough of him and Bodie wonders what the heck is going on. He's not quite sure about this little person. He has no idea that some day they will be best of friends. We are so blessed to all be healthy and happy. The Lord really has blessed us.

EFUSJON!

I just joined this club and LOVE it! If any of you want to know any more about it let me know!!

Bodie's surgery

Our precious little Bodie had to be re-circumcised. Poor guy. I was a nervous wreck about it because it wasn't going to be just a normal newborn circumcision, we had to take him to Primary Children's Hospital, they had to put him under and it was going to be 2 hours long. We had to be there at 5:30am so it was an early morning and a long day. The whole time in the waiting room I was antsy and nervous and sat and just stared at the clock, Lance on the other hand went to sleep. Ya, I know how could a dad sleep at a time like this, but he did. I guess it's the mom's that do all the worrying. The surgery went very well and Bodie did great. He had a pretty rough time waking up fully, but other than that... He had a little blue cast on his peeper for a few days and then we had to remove it, that was the worst part about the whole thing because then his little guy was just being rubbed raw on the diaper. It has been about 4 weeks since the surgery and I have to say it has been great. He was only in pain for a week and then was just fine. He's back to normal and I do have to say so myself his peeper looks marvelous! Thanks little Bodie for being such a trooper. I am very glad that's over and done with and I'm sure he is too!

What we've been up to...

Well life here at the Ford's is pretty normal. I'm just trying to be a good mom, Lance is working really hard and Bella and Bodie are as busy as ever. Lately I've been thankful that Graham is on his way for a few reasons, one being I am soooo done being pregnant and two because even though Bodie is a tough boy, having a big sister Bella he thinks he needs to wear her princess dresses and loves Cinderella probably more than she does. Ok so he's one and there's nothing wrong with it, but I have been excited that Graham will be here soon and Bodie and him can be buds. Even though I am nervous a little, ok a lot to have three kids I am very excited to add another little Ford to the bunch.

Also we have been so lucky to have Jessica my sister and her family move back to Utah from Nauvoo and have had many a fun times at their house. They recently bought cows from the church farm and we were invited over to have farm day with them and gather eggs from the chickens and also pet the cows. Bella was sooooo brave and actually touched the cow, yes folks she touched the cow. Later that afternoon she fell down the stairs and smashed her face and I told her she was so tough and brave for not crying when she fell and she said to me "no mom, I was brave when I petted Luke (the cow)"

Disney on Ice

My dad and I have a tradition every year that we have been doing for a while. The tradition is that on his birthday he gives me a present and on my birthday I get him a present. It has been really fun. I love when February 19th rolls around cause the anticipation of what I'm going to get on his birthday is so exciting. This year he got me Disney On Ice tickets for our family. Bella has been so in love with Disney lately that I was SO excited for her to be able to go. We were right in the front and Bella had a ball. My dad couldn't have picked a better present for me on his birthday. THere is nothing better than seeing joy in your little girls eyes and Bella was in Heaven the whole show. Thanks dad! When June 28th comes around you will be getting a great gift from me.

Tea Party with cousins

Bella was invited by her Aunt Emily to come over and have a little tea party. It was so darling. Emily made mini muffins and had lemonade for them to drink. She even taught them to drink out of their tea cups with their pinkies up. Bella had a great time and we are thankful for lots of fun family that live so close to us.


Kahlan Bella and Ellie

32 weeks

And this is my LARGE AND IN CHARGE belly! 8 weeks sure seems like a LOOOOOONG time.

Celine Dion concert

For Valentines Day Lisa, Becky and I all had our sweet husbands give us tickets to the Celine Dion concert. Dona and her two friends also came with us. We had a great time. Celine is just as good or better live. The concert was AMAZING. The woman is incredible. Thank you my love for the ticket :)

A FUN TAG!

I normally hate tags but this one was easy and fun. Lisa my sister posted this tag on her blog so I'm doing the same. So anyone out there who does tags this is a fun one.

So what you do is go to your photos on your computer and pick the 4th picture in your 4th file then explain the picture. It's quite fun.

My picture brings a few tears to my eyes. This picture was taken back in June of 2006. This was a picture taken the night of a Mitt Romney fundraiser we had at my parents house. A very fun night. The reason it brings tears to my eyes a little bit though is because in this picture is my Grandpa and Grandma. My grandpa passed away just a year later and I really miss him. Seeing this picture (which I haven't looked at in a long time) brought back a lot of memories. I was also just a couple months from having my little Isabella. Good times!

Anyone who wants to do this tag do it! It's fun

THE CRUISE

My two little sisters and my mom and I all took a cruise this last week and had so much fun! We had many adventures starting with me leaving my purse on the long term parking shuttle. Ya, great way to start the trip. I obviously got it back and it wasn't too big of a deal, just a little crazy. We had a relaxing time and I actually enjoyed myself quite a bit. The reason I say that is because this was the FIRST time I had EVER been away from my two little babies. I had moments on the trip where I wish I was home with them, but for the most part really had an enjoyable time, sleeping in, reading, laying out. You know, those things that don't happen with a two year old and a one year old. Lisa and I were obsessed with ice and lemon water and drank it like crazy. All of us were obsessed with our card game, hand and foot. Mom was a sport to let us lay out in the sun so much. And also a sport to let us get her all ready for the formal night. We had so much fun getting her all dolled up. If you know my mom you know she doesn't wear much make-up so it was a lot of fun. There were a lot of fun memories made on this trip and I am so glad we all got to go. And to all my other sisters... our BIG sister trip is going to be soooooooooo fun!

Our little SKI BUNNY!

Lance couldn't find anyone to go up skiing with him on Saturday so I suggested he take Bella. He was suprised that I would even suggest it. We dropped Bodie off at Grandma Higginson's to take a nap and Bella, dad and I headed up to Sundance to ski. I was pleasantly suprised that she did so well and she actually loved it. Lance was such an amazing teacher and it was so fun to see how proud he was of her. I have a feeling she is going to turn out just like her dad and become an awesome skiier. Go BELLA!!!

California to see Lala and some Bellies :)

I decided since my best friend from Hawaii was in LA visiting her family that I would make a trip out there to see her too. I was brave and lugged my two babies on an airplane and we went to California for a few days. It was a lot of fun besides the fact that both Bodie and Bella were terribly sick the whole time. Therefore resulting in NO sleep. We played a lot of Settlers and had some yummy yummy food that Grandma Dee Dee made. Bella really took a liking to Grandpa Wayne and Grandma Dee Dee. I wish I had pictures. It was so fun to see Lala with a little tummy. She is having a girl in April. Yay!!! She is going to be the best mommy. Thanks for letting us come visit. Miss you already.

PS if you want to see a few pictures of our Christmas Disney Cruise go to my sisters blog stradlingfam.blogspot.com. I can't figure out how to load pictures from my new cam corder. I'll figure it out

Christmas #1

Yes we had two Christmas's. Because of the family cruise we went on we decided to do and early Christmas with Grandma Ford and we let Bella open her big presents. All she asked Santa for was a vacuum, a kitchen and a baby. We spoiled her. She got it all.

THERE ISN'T ANYTHING BETTER THAN THIS

I FOUND MY TWO LITTLE ANGELS STANDING ON THE COUCH LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE FIRST SNOW STORM TUESDAY MORNING. I SWEAR THEY STOOD THERE FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES AND DIDN'T MOVE. I HAD TO GET MY CAMERA OUT. THIS IS WHAT MAKES BEING A MOM ALL WORTH IT!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY BOY!

Bodie turned 1 today! We threw a Polar Express party and it was tons of fun!!! Happy Birthday buddy!

BANGS!

I don't think I've EVER had bangs... Let alone taken a picture of myself with bangs... I went and got my hair done Saturday and my hair dresser convinced me do do something a little different. Cut bangs. What do you think? Let's be honest.

The Polar Express

Grandma Dona took us to this amazing Polar Express ride in Lindon on Friday. It was so much fun. There's a house that has a built in a train track throughout their property and it's all decorated with lights, pictures and a little train that you can ride on to the North Pole to Santa's Workshop. After the train stops at the workshop you board back on the train and the whole rest of the ride has pictures of Christ in the yard and beautiful music playing to help us all remember the true meaning of Christmas Bella loved it!! I loved it! I hope we can do it every year. We had a great time and will always remember why we celebrate Christmas. To celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas!!!!

While we waited to board the train they had us wait in a huge heated garage and had The Polar Express playing on a big projector. It was all so well organized and so nice we didn't have to wait in a line out in the freezing cold. Not to mention we only waited for like 10 minutes. Amazing!


Bella and Grandma Dona on the Polar Express train


Our family with Santa at our North Pole stop


Before Bella even got to Santa's lap she was already saying as she was approaching him "I want a vacuum and kitchen and a baby, where's my candy cane?" I have been very surprised that the few times Bella has sat on Santa's lap she hasn't freaked out. It's probably because I've been talking about Santa for like 3 months now in hopes she would not be afraid when the time came. I think it's worked. She's done pretty darn good, but she does get on the lap say what she wants, demands her candy cane and is DONE.



My two little bundles of joy!