My... Have Things Changed!

So here we are...enjoying the train in Anthem and truly basking in the beautiful weather in January. We thought a little day-get-away is what this little family needs!
 Just a simple way to get the time to move as we continue getting ready for baby...

We know we need to spend a bit of focused attention on Sophi, we have been warned that once little miss #2 arrives she may feel a bit overshadowed!

One part of the day included my dad getting a haircut in a parking lot- as you can see here! I guess a blog is the only way to show those odd pictures we all seem to take to capture the
funny moments in life! 
Yes he would rather "save" the money and have his untrained daughter trim his hair!
 * see dad I didn't say you were cheap!*

 

Another great part of January is Nathan and Sophi's Birthdays....

Guess who Turned 3??? 

Sophi LOVES everything girl!

 Princess dresses-Sparkles-Nail Polish-Hair pretties- Band-aids-Glitter-Crafts...you get the picture!

Since- she adores my makeup so we figured we would get her own!

Lets just day January is pretty great to this family......A week Later... Jan 29   Everli finally caved on the eviction notice!

 

Like it or not she made her way-2 very long hours of pushing and her little head finally moved into a better position to make her way but lets just say holy cow---ouch :)  Yes- felt like eternity! Thank heaven for the epidural that unfortunately failed- but there was some relief with the last hour of labor!

Boy this mamma was tired!

 

And then there are these little magical moments- amazing to share this with the one who makes your world complete!  Grateful is an understatement.

 

There is never words to express to your partner for putting up/

 helping with a woman in some of the darkest moments of pain...ever- he did it and truly was amazing.

Her sweet announcement-----Our Second little sweetheart is here!

She was so alert, we are all loving the bright eyes that truly express the little person she is!

She is such a sweet baby-who sleeps!

(Sorry Sophi but you were an insomniac..)

Nathan wearing his Tottenham Hotspurs (English Football) Jersey--for good luck!

Bringing her Home!

Big Sister Sophi is beyond excited-she loved bringing her home as much as she loved the hospital!

Winter Begins

A little re-cap of the late fall to early Winter season brought so many changes- a loss as well as continued anticipation of our little miss.

*With a bit of fun along the way!*

-Halloween-

Halloween prep---we only did 2 pumpkins since we would be spending this little holiday celebrating at our wards party! As a primary presidency I must admit we really rocked the event :) 

-Sesame Street Live-

Well when Grannie (Mum Julia) called and asked if we had considered taking Sophi to this little event at our local Tim's Toyota Center- I put it mildly "You know I'm too cheap..."  She solved my thriftiness and took Nathan and Sophi-saving me from yet another kids program! Yipee and a night just for me...

-Immigration Journey Concludes-

We have truly learned a lot about our nations Immigration System  Sorry to say it is the most taxing, repetitive, greedy-backward system. Add it to the list right!  Needless to say it was a very necessary evil one we have been waiting to finish-

So here is the celebration recap. After the last set of $800 finger prints, bringing the same documents they have in their file. We attended the mandatory Ceremony 8 am in downtown Phoenix. Every country of origin was mentioned, pretty fascinating to hear people from Uganda, Yugoslavia, Iceland, ENGLAND---shocker Mexico too:) and many other places. 

Nathan collected his little American Flag--- waved it with the rest of the soon to be Citizens, to the good ole extended version of Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American." The typical entitled American within me found it utterly painful- but rest assure many were rocking out! Glad for them :)

The Proud Parents celebrating at Phoenix's English Pub George and Dragon

Bangers and Mash, English Patties, Sheppards Pie and Fish and Chips-
Oh!  and my club sandwich... too funny

-----The End of Immigration----

-Francis Thanksgiving-

With the English side of our family not celebrating Thanksgiving (American's forget that we are celebrating the first meal that Natives spent with Pilgrims- or so we have been taught) So its not a holiday traditionally celebrated by British folks! But rest assure Nathan is always willing to participate! As am I- So we headed to my brother Chris's house and enjoyed a great meal!

Cousin Jesse, grandpa, aunt Babe, bro Chris, dad and grandma <3

One month later our grandma would pass away- I have learned in life as many others have as well- to accept that our journeys are not held constant within any time line. We are given these bodies and asked to live the best we can. When we are called home to live with our Heavenly Father- our families do mourn. I know that there is more beyond this world and I feel that my grandmothers passing at the honorable age of 82 is part of this plan and as we are waiting the arrival of baby girl #2 we look at one door closing and another opening. 

-Christmas Morning-

The Doyle household had probably the most lazy morning ever. Sophi didn't care about presents until 9:30 and we felt the same!

-----She loves to take pictures of herself---

We had a quick present opening and a great
breakfast my gram and aunt Lisa came for.

Let the princess dress up begin.

She loves her little scooter. Aunt Lisa got her a light up bug and she adores it!

 

<--------Before Grannies House

&

 

After - Let the dress up begin!

 

 

 

 

 

                                   

*No Laughing at the small Christmas Tree :)

Late Summer Adventures

We have had some fun times these last few months...We really took the Dr.'s advice and enjoyed the 2nd trimester this  pregnancy!

 
Enjoyed a play date at Imagination Avenue in Phoenix

Some fun around the house

She can't seem to fight the chocolate and the etch-a-sketch!

Sophi loves her toys, but likes me to watch or play with her...needless to say it will be nice to have a sister for her!

Sophi loves to spend as much time outside as possible- and I have realized that living in a "planned community" is great, Sophi is bricked in the backyard! My world truly revolves around her and daily before bed she ask, "can I please see my friends tomorrow?"  Her friends are such an important part of her world...go figure, wonder where she gets it??

 

 What else is new?

 

                                                                                                                              

We did make some changes around the house over the last few months..we scratched the stained concrete idea after the bathroom trial run! We chose the fake...faux wood vinyl look and also got new carpet for the living and den areas. Our favorite change was removing a hug built in desk, ugly to boot out of the den and making it more of a play room! 

We really love the new look!

We also had to remove a sad dead tree and my dad and Nathan enjoyed the chainsaw too much!

We are always watching..ha ha

The adventures continue---

Baking Moments

 Hey good lookin what ya got cookin? 

Look at this silly smile

Sophi is teaching us how much she likes to help, we have to slow down and let her show her independence and how capable she really is.

Its amazing how we teach kids at such an early age about food and cooking. She has a play kitchen which she prepares little meals for us in and makes us lemonade!

Fun Around The House

 Our Summer Goal-teaching Sophi how to unstack the silverware! She is doing great regardless of the direction of the utensils:)

Nathan tries so hard to spend a little bit of time with Sophi- just "their" time! 

She really wishes she had whiskers to shave!

I love to catch her in these little moments.I always know something is going on when she is just a bit too quiet!  

Girls just want to play in their shoes...

Where is the summer going?

May was pretty great...or was it? Who knows I cannot really remember what we did in May! We did sit for a family in Prescott and truly loved being with the boys! Sophi thought it was pretty cool having older kids to hang out with.We lost our camera at a park in May, and had it returned the next week! Yay, unfortunately all the pictures were deleted but I was able to look at several of the pictures of the family that found it! Weird!

              We did go to the valley (PHX) and spend some time with my dad and bro+fam!

Sophi and her daddy...both drool and have an arm bent...to cute!

            

                     June Lets see what can I congure up and try to remember what happened in June...

We have a nudist

eating

eating again...

surprise...eating

Prescott 4th of July Parade with Aunt Lisa

She was very ready to go!

 

 Bye for now!