The Greatest Presents EVER !!

Getting ready for Christmas

 









We decorated today ... I love love love Christmas time !! Mike and I got married 7 yrs ago on Dec 18th 02 ... He was the best xmas present!! Anyway, Zoie was so excited to dress up as Santa and walk around saying "hohoho" - She is a riot !!

Toby's Blessing Day

Two weeks after Toby was welcomed to the world ... Mike blessed him in church. It was a wonderful blessing - giving him the name Toby McKay Potter. He told him how much we love him and are so happy he joined our family. He blessed him to have the desire to be close to the Lord and serve a mission. When the time comes that he falls in love with a daughter of God ... he will take her to the temple to be sealed for all time and eternity. It was a very special day.

October was sooo busy !! Playing catch up...

 

Here is a collage of Oct 09 for us ... closing on our home - having Toby - and moving on Halloween!(Dylan was a skunk and Zoie a poodle !!) It was a madhouse for awhile ... but we are finally getting settled in a month later. This home was a foreclosure - and even though it is only 4 yrs old - it really needed some work. We took out all carpet and tile (which is pictured with the drill) and painted and redid the counters with granite and sink and added shelving and towel holders and new toilet seats ... the list goes on and on !! Owning a home again is wonderful but MAN - it requires sooo much work. Our backyard is a clean slate - they did nothing to it at all ... so, we will be slaving away out there pretty soon. We absolutely love this home and making it ours is more than exciting. We feel really blessed to have it and our adorable kiddies !!

With love

 












Becoming a parent is a truly amazing thing. Love just bursts out of your heart and no words can explain. I love this photo my friend took of me and Mike - celebrating the birth of our 3rd child - it is raw and real. A bond beyond measure is built with husband and wife - father to son - and mother to her new baby. We are so blessed.

Back Peddlin'

 












Hi everyone ... well, we are finally moved into our new home and got our internet up and running !! Toby is 5 wks old now and we are crazy in love with him !! My girlfriend - Summer - took these pics for me during my hospital stay ... and she had them on her computer - so, it is my 1st time seeing them today and I wanted to share some of the memories. (click on photo to enlarge)

More of our baby boy !!!

Toby McKay Potter !!

After nine months and being overdue ... we were all soooo happy and surprised to meet our newest addition - Toby McKay !! The old wives tales say - if the heartrate is fast and if you carry high, it is a girl - but not in our case !! After going to the hospital with contractions at 3 am on Oct 17th ... I was monitored and checked and told that I was a 4 and to walk around. My girlfriend, Summer - was with me, along with my mom and husband ... but it was Summer that strolled the parking lot with me for a couple hrs !! Once rechecked - they admitted me at 5 cm. The dr came in around noon and broke my water ... and it was on !! I got an epidural at 6 cm and LOVED IT !! and within an hour and a half I was fully dilated and ready to push ... Toby was born after 3 pushes - shocking us all !! The dr had Mike make the BIG announcement for all to hear ... boy or girl ?? "IT'S A BOY !!" Weighing 8lbs 8oz and 20.5 inches long at 3:51 pm ... We are super happy to add him to our family.

Home SWEET Home !!!

We FINALLY closed on our home !!! It was a long and grueling process ... but it is done and we have the KEYS !!! HURRAY !!! We are replacing the carpet and putting in some hardwood and then painting ... so, the official move in date won't be for a couple wks ... but our new baby- that has yet to arrive -(YES I AM OVERDUE NOW)- will keep our attention until the big move. It has been a whirlwind these last few wks trying to close our a home AND have a baby. I will never attempt to accomplish these two MAJOR adjustments in life at the same time ever again !!

Our 1st Born Turns 4 !!!

Happy Birthday DYLAN !!! Hard to believe this adorable boy has been in our lives for 4 whole years !! Amidst all the chaos of trying to close on a home, have another baby, and move ... we started the day off at Chuck-E-Cheese ... had lunch at In-N-Out ... had a little family bday party ... and finished the day off at Baskin Robbins !! I felt like a bad mom because we didn't have a big party like we normally do, but when Dylan said his prayers tonight - he thanked Heavenly Father for all the birthday surprises and that made me feel like it was a success !! We love you son !!

Back to our old stompin' grounds !!

So, we decided before the baby comes to make a quick trip to Santa Clara to visit some family and friends. It was only for a couple days - but it was really nice to hang out and have fun. Mike helped his dad finish up his tax extentions ... and the kids and I went to park with the Lopez's. The babes loved hot tubbin' with Uncle Stevie and riding the train and "horseys" at the coolest park ever. Love and miss you all in the bay area ... back to Sacramento to close on our home and have baby #3!

More of our babes ... Oct 09

Getting SOOO BIG ....

Here are some pics of our kiddies today. The weather has cooled off here in Sacramento and it is soooo nice. We are on the edge of our seats to meet our newest addition that is still cooking away ... but we absolutely adore these two that have melted our hearts for years. Dylan is about to celebrate his 4th birthday and Zoie will be 2.5 yrs old. We feel very blessed as a family.

Cuddle Snuggle Session !! (and a few zzzz's)

So, ever since we had little kiddies - Mike has always wanted to cuddle them ... and as loving as our children are ... they do not stay put for long. A quick hug and kiss and they are on the go !! Mike keeps saying that we better have ONE that will snug for longer than 2 seconds ... so, I took this pic for proof that IT CAN HAPPEN !! The opportunity is just few and far between ... but Zoie gave in ... and snoozed with her daddy. Love these two !!

Date For Eternity

Ever since we moved to Sacramento about 3 months ago - we haven't had the opportunity to attend the temple until this last Saturday ... It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful date. Truly love visiting the House of the Lord! (Oh and there is a recent 38 wk pic of the belly too !! SOOOO READY )

Great Day at the Park with Daddy

We took our monkeys to the park across from our place to get some of that 3 and 2 yr old energy out !! Since Mike has been slammed at work with extentions for corp and personal tax returns ... it was a real treat that he was able to join us this night. Our kiddos are absolutely, positively IN LOVE with their daddy !! It makes me super happy that they adore him so ... but sometimes I have to remind them who labored and birthed them !! Not that they understand ... but I like to throw that in there. Mike equally is crazy about them and is so excited for our new addition to arrive ... Counting down the days!!

A Weekend with Papa Potter

Mike's dad came in town a couple weeks ago to visit us and the kids ... he said he didn't want too much time to pass before he was forgotten by Dylan and Zoie ... but they know exactly who he is and they were elated to spend time with him !! We moved to Sacramento only a couple months ago ... and it is less than 2 hrs to get here ... so, we were extrememly happy he decided to join us for a few days. We felt so spoiled - He took us out for every meal ... I didn't cook once !! We played and stayed up late talking and just had a blast ... WE love You Papa !!

Our trip to Utah - 3 months later !!

We took a family summer vacation to Utah to visit Grandma and Grandpa Callaway - as well as, the rest of the family. We had a great time ... although, we weren't able to see all of our friends ... we had a jam packed schedule. Anyway, sorry they are so tardy - but here are some more recent pics of the babes.

Getting BIG !!

I know I have be absent for sometime now -- but life has gotten sooooo busy ... #3 is well on its way ... we moved to Sacramento with Mike's work - we are buying a home and life is just crazy busy ... not to forget the 2 and 3 yr old I have at home! ... but don't get me wrong - we are loving almost every moment of it !!

From January until Now !!

 

Here we go again....

Hey people ... just to update since our computer broke and I cancelled our internet service ... we are expecting Potter baby #3 Oct. 09 !! We are very excited and look forward to the addition. Dylan will turn 4 the day before my due date and Zoie will be exactly 2.5 yrs old. We will be very busy but it will be a blast!

Seriously People ....

I know I need to update my blog and that I am a major slacker right now ... but believe me ... there are good excuses !! For one ... our computer finally was pronounced dead ... we moved ... and because we don't have a computer ... we canceled our home phone and internet service ... which really makes it hard to post! But I do have tons of photos ... I just have to go to my friend's house in order to update ... and when I am there ... I usually just pay bills online and ck email ... b/c my kids are destroying her house !! There you go ... my excuses !! Love everyone ... and I will try to do better !!

Christmas Bells are ringing ...

 











We celebrated Christmas day at Papa Potter's house. We relaxed, ate yummy food, and opened gifts. (Dylan also decided to work out!) It was a good day. We love having family here and spending time with them. Family is where it is at !! I am grateful for Christ's birth and all that He has done for me ... HE is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to all. (click on image to view)

Merry Christmas !!

 











Hi everyone ... well, this was our xmas photo of the family. I think I take too many pics of my kids everyday that when it comes time to really smile and be cute ... they are not interested! My girlfriend, Melanie, took over 30 photos of our family and I really didn't care for any of them ... but getting Mike to have another photoshoot was out of the question ! Therefore, here it is ... our family Christmas picture. Hope everyone has enjoyed this holiday season and are looking forward to the new year !!

6 Yrs and Counting !!

Mike and I celebrated our 6 yr anniversary on Dec.18th. Thinking back on that cold Utah day ... it was perfect. We were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple - tons of our closest family and friends were there to celebrate with us ... and it was awesome !! One week before Christmas ... he definitely was my best present ever!! During the 6 yrs of matramony we have lived in Utah, Hawaii, and California. We have visited Florida, northern and southern CA, Kauai, Oahu, AZ, NV, and southern UT. We have moved 6 times in 6 yrs ... (this is the part I dislike! Moving stinks!) We have welcomed the births of a son and a daughter - whom both we absolutely adore !!! And we have grown together throughout the years in laughter and love. Thanks Mike for being my eternal companion ... there is no one else I want to share this life with ... and the next! (I will post a pic soon to go along with this entry!)

Can't get enough ...

... Of Edward and Bella ... Seriously - how cute is this pic ??!!! I have been listening to the soundtrack for a few days now ... and me and my "Twilight crazy" friends have figured out where every song plays in the movie ... ridiculous - I know !! ( You know who you are - MELANIE and DRENA !!)

Splish Splash

 

Not sure how much longer I will have these two bathe together ... but it sure is fun right now. They are such great buddies. We love you guys !

Tom... Girl !!

 











This little one is so girly ... but there is a side to her that loves all of her brother's things ... including his toys, clothes, and assessories!! She is so much fun !!

What fun we had ...

 











Of course I had to show my parents the "real" California by taking them to In-n-Out burger the 1st night they were here! It was delicious ... just check out that photo of my mom !! They only stayed a 2 nights and 3 days because they needed to get back to their lives ... so, on their last night - we got a babysitter and went out. Chipotle was for dinner and then we went to a local church that was performing a live nativity. It was wonderful. We had a really good time. Thanks for all the memories ... and next time - you will be staying for much longer !!

My Parents

 

Well, this weekend was the 1st time my parents visited me in CA ... and we had a blast! Unfortunately, they came out for my grandma's burial in southern CA (she passed away shortly after my trip to Utah). They decided to head home to Salt Lake via me in northern CA. We laughed and then cried because we laughed so hard. They are the best parents a girl could ask for - love you guys !