Hailee is 2!!

It's official, our baby turned 2 yesterday! I feel like we have been doing the terrible 2 thing since she was 18 months old, but maybe 2 will be better. We actually ended up having a party for her on Saturday night. My sister Cailee was home from school and we had some other things we were supposed to do lastnight. It went great! We had a house full and Hailee absolutely loved it. We sang "Happy Birthday" and she blew out her candles. As soon as she blew out the candles she said, "lets do it again!!" Craig lit candles in the kitchen for a little while and let her and Breanne take turns blowing them out some more. We didn't even have cake and ice cream served before she was asking to open the presents (with prodding from the cousins of course). She was hilarious!! She finally got it this year. She just couldn't wait to get into those gifts and giggled with delight the whole time. My aunt made her cake and it was perfect! Hailee has been obsessed with princesses lately. She got a school bus, puzzles, a back pack... all sorts of new treasures!

As far as Halloween went...(i know, a little overdue) Hailee was extremely tired and it wasn't until we got to the trunk or treat in Lovell when she got it figured out. She thought it was great fun after that. She was such a cute skunk and kept telling us, "I stinky!"

Becca and I are having a Scentsy open house tomorrow (Wed.) at my mom's house. We will be there all day making pies, so if you want to come smell stuff, feel free! Or, if there is something you would like to order just let us know. I know I am ready for some new scents, and excited!! These also make great Christmas gifts. There is a variety to price levels, so if you are looking for ideas this is a great one!

Comings and goings at the Winterholler's

Okay, so we haven't posted anything for months now... We have been busy and just haven't taken the time. As most everyone knows we went straight from summer to winter around here. We are really missing the fall!! This week hasn't been so bad though!

We finished a busy summer and went into volleyball and football season with full force. I had quite a few volleyball games this year. We are so grateful for Grandma Suz and all of the time she spent watching Hailee! Hailee loves grandma and is finally glad to stay there. It is so much easier on me when she doesn't cry. We got there the other day and she told me, "Ema's fun!!" She is talking up a storm and coming up with new things everyday! She went from calling the grandma's "ma ma" to "ema"... I don't know where she came up with it, but it is kind of funny. Another funny one, last week we were getting ready to leave for church. It was snowing out, the car and sidewalks were covered, and Hailee opened the front door while I was finishing getting things together. Anyway, she looked out and said, "oh mom, it's a mess!" I thought it was pretty cute. I just love little kids' perception. Craig is being an assistant coach for the high school football team this year. It has kept him extremely busy. He goes straight to practice from work and doesn't get home until 6:30 or 7:00, so between volleyball and football we haven't seen much of each other! He is really enjoying working with the kids though. It's almost over and we have survived this far.

Other than volleyball and football my days have been filled with canning and running to town in between. It seemed like we did a lot of canning... it was more that we had to do it so many different days. We didn't really have time to do it all at once, so we just did a little bit at a time. Thankfully we got most things done that we were really in need of. So really, not much excitement around here just a lot of craziness! I just kept thinking that things were going to slow down for us one of these days, but before we know it the holidays will be here and we'll be busy again. I suppose busy is better than bored!

Ok, so I have been really bad at blogging this summer. We have been super busy and hardly home, but I got this in an email today and thought it had some pretty good advice so I thought I would share.

This is simple and true!
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. 14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do. 35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back. 41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44.. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.."

wedding

So, this is pretty much the first day I have been home in like 3 weeks! The trip down to Kev and Chanda's wedding went pretty good. The ride down was really not bad at all, we left Thursday morning. Lauren came with us, so that was fun. Hailee really enjoyed some company in the back seat. We drove through the Yellowstone Park to Idaho Falls. The park was really pretty except for there were like NO animals out. We saw like 6 buffalo and 2 elk... I was a little rainy, so maybe that is why none of them were out. We saw lots of different license plates from different states though. We stayed with Craig's aunt Marcie. It was SO nice!! We got there and went to dinner, did a little shopping, and went back the house. Dan and his family came over for a few hours. It was really fun to visit with them. Friday morning we got up and did a little more shopping. At around 2 we took off and headed for Richfield. We took our time and had a pretty smooth trip until we hit Salt Lake at 5.... rush hour. That seemed to take forever, but we finally made it to Richfield around 9.

Saturday morning we just hung out at the hotel until it was time to get ready for the wedding. It was overcast when we got up. We got to Salina for the wedding and it was kind of sprinkling... but it cleared off enough to get through the ceremony and part of the dinner. Then, it started to POUR!!! I took Hailee and ran to the car. We just hung out there for a while. After all of that it cleared off and was actually rather nice for the reception. It seemed like a long day, but we are happy to have Chanda as an offiical part of the family finally! They are perfect for each other. Despite the weather is was a really nice wedding.

Hailee wading in the little stream and Marcie's. Her favorite part!!

The happy couple.

Kev was tired of having his picture taken!

My mom made Hailee this dress for the wedding. It turned out SO good. She fell asleep right before the ceremony. By this time she was puddle jumping in it...

Any by the end of the night she was laying in the wet grass. Her dress was filthy! It came clean though, so we are glad for that.

What a week!

We have had quite the week at our house... I feel bad being the first to post this because it isn't my news, but Becca had her baby Monday night. We were so excited for her, it seems like we have been waiting for forever. I'll let her give all of the details. Anywho, I was over in Burlington Monday night after cleaning all day for my cousin Branden's reception/open house til' late. Then, Becca finally had the baby, so I planned to go back first thing Tuesday morning so I could ride up to Cody with Mom and the kids to get a peek at the baby. I had also left my car in Burlington Monday night and drove my Mom's home because mine was scheduled to be serviced first thing Tuesday morning.

Anyway, after a long afternoon in Cody we finally made it back to Burlington. I just stayed the night at my Mom's so I could help with the kids. I slept in a room with Brac, Breanne, and Hailee... needless to say, not a whole lot of sleep. Hailee whined a couple of times in the pack n' play, Brac was talking in his sleep for a good part of the night, and Breanne was in bed with me; need I say more. Today mom sewed on Hailee's dress for Kevin's wedding and I wrangled kids. I went out of Becca's for a couple of hours to try to clean up a little for them. For as long as I was there, I didn't get a whole lot done. All I can say is it is A LITTLE better than before I got there.

Becca came to Mom's after they got home cause Eric had some things to do. So, we all got to sit and hold the baby while Becca rested. He is such a sweet baby! I felt bad leaving, but I had to get home. We are leaving first thing in the morning to head down to Utah for Kev's wedding. We will be traveling to Idaho Falls tomorrow. We are going to stay at Craig's aunt Marci's house. It is a little out of the way, but it will be nice to visit and also break the trip up for Hailee. Friday sometime we will head down to Aurora and the wedding is Saturday. Hopefully on our way through Ogden we will be able to stop and see Cailee for a little while!!! This will probably be one of our only trips this summer, so we are cramming a lot in. I am looking forward to it.

I am bummed about not being able to be at home. My other sister Jaime is actually scheduled for a c-section tomorrow morning, so we will miss that too. I feel bad for my mom, there is a lot going on at home, hopefully she can keep up and everyone survives the weekend! But, I suppose I should start packing. Wish us luck!

A few pictures

Here are a few pictures taken over the last month or so. The ones with all of the kids were taken yesterday.