Whitney and Ryan Get Hitched for Forever!!

Hayden walking up to greet Ry and "Whintey" once they come out of the temple.

Ryan and Whitney after almost 4 years tied the knot!!  They were sealed for time and all eternity at the Winter Quarters Temple in Omaha, NE in March.  Their wedding ceremony was so beautiful!!  Matt and I were so thrilled for them that they were recieving such amazing blessings for both living such great and worthy lives.  We love them both and are just so grateful for their choices and their love. We are grateful for their friendship and their sisterhood and brotherhood.  The gospel is an amazing thing!  Families are amazing things!!

 Dade and Carter are sharin the love, too!

 Introducing Ryan and Whitney Lawter!!

 Matt's oldest brother Cory with his awesome girlfriend Susan.

 All the nieces and Nephew!

 Great Grandpa and Grandma B came bearing gifts.  Carter got some rockin BYU hair!

 Great Grandma sweetly made Hayden and Abigail a big and little sheep stuffed animal. Grandma made one for Whitney when we was little and decided to make one for my girls.  Those stuffed animals will always be kept special!!

 We tried to get some family pictures taken. I forgot I had my wrong shoes on so we had to try again below.

 Two of my friends Heidi and Natalie did the decorating for the reception and can I say WOW!!  These two have talent coming out of them in every direction. They are amazing!!

 Every center piece was a little different and each as gorgeous as the last.

 My dear, sweet Heidi whom I love! She is the amazing lady that threw my breathtaking Baby Shower!!

 Kurt N' Meg's chubalub Elway! What a cutie!

 The Mothers!  Aren't they good lookin!!

 Carter lookin all Dapper!!

 It's always good to practic a little Karate and Ryan is always ready to play along.

 Hayden was a HUGE fan of the milk and cookie bar!

 I'm pretty sure my kids would have danced the night away if we had let them.  I don't know if they missed a dance.  This was my favorite part of the evening.  I LOVED dancing with my kids! It was just one of those "It's so awesome being their Mom" moments!

Flashback to February

Yes we are CLEAR BACK to February!!  I will get this blog caught up.

Matt and I came home from a date and saw our sleeping beauties and I couldn't help but take a picture of how beautiful they are!!

At Carter's preschool they did a donut with Dad's time and Matt took the morning off of work to go. He said how awesome it was and how much his love grew even more for Carter.

 My two girls - side by side.

Hayden looks like she is going to eat her face! Abbie is so cute that sometimes you just want to eat her up.

One of my favorite pics of her!

I love this little out fit she has own.  The shirt was given as a baby shower gift, it says, "Miss November" because I was so hopeful that even though I was due in December, I would have Abbie in November.  Abigail cooperated and she came in November. The skirt and headband is from my friend Heidi.  Her cute girls wore those adorable little things and Heidi was sweet enough to pass them down to us.

This was us all ready to go to Matt's Dr. Prom.  Whoo Whoo!!

Carter being the good big brother that he is!! I think he is singing the song to one of his favorite IPAD games "Dragonvale." Abbie checkin herself out:

Abigail Bonnie Nielsen's Baby Blessing

Abigail Bonnie Nielsen

Blessed April 15, 2012 by her Father Matthew Dean Nielsen

Back in April, when we were out in Utah visiting my family we decided to bless our little girl Abigail in my Brother Chris's home.  Chris and his wife Kari are the sweetest and warmest couple.  I love them very much and they have created a beautiful home but more importantly a beautiful family. Chris was kind enough to take all these picture to document this special day.

This picture is of the four generations of ladies. My Grandma Yvonne, my Mom Karen, myself, and little Abbie.

Four generations on my Dad's side: my Grandma Ione, my Dad Craig, myself and little Abigail.

 Our Family that I love!!

 Four Generations of Yvonnes and it's all middle names though Grandma goes by Yvonne: Grandma Darlene Yvonne, Karen Yvonne, Amber Yvonne and Hayden Yvonne.  I kinda hope Hayden carries on the tradition, but she gets to make that choice.

 The lovely ladies on Matt's side Aunt Whitney and Grandma Bonnie - Abbie's namesake.

Now we add in our handsome men and we are about complete except Grandpa Jay. Whitney's new husband Ryan and my hubba hubby Matt.

Our precious angel Abigail.

Carter's Last Day of Preschool EVER!!

Carter had his last day of preschool EVER last Wednesday!!  I got pretty teary-eyed at the thought of this big chapter we are closing.  Of his 5 years he has spent 3 of them in preschool. It's been a big part of his life thus far!!
  

 At the end of each year, each student is given an award.  This one was very fitting for my little man. He received the Future Engineer award.  My Carter is OBESSED with building with legos and blocks, etc.  During free time at preschool Carter would almost always gravitate over to the big bin of Legos that they have and he would build one of his elaborate creations.  When it came time to clean up, Carter would get very upset if anyone dared to destroy one of his masterpieces so the class learned to tear apart and put away everyone elses Legos and leave Carter's work of art on top. Then the teachers after class and all the kids were gone would nicely take Carter's Legos apart and put them away.  Now those are some loving teachers to see the need for an exception here.

I always love "before" and "after" type of shots and here was Carter above on his first day of preschool and in the top picture you obviously see him with his teacher Mrs. Courtney on his last day.  Last year the first and last pictures were surprisingly different.  This year, not so much.  Last year Carter, unbeknownst to me had the same outfit on for his first and last day.  And once again, I unknowingly tried to put him in this very outfit again but couldn't find that polo so instead he has a tshirt on with those same shorts.  So funny!!

Carter's preschool always puts on fantastic programs that get me all teared up!  This end of the year one was no different.  They first sang some of their bible songs (he goes to a Baptist preschool) and then Spanish since they have Spanish class, and ended with songs they learned during singing time.  I will add some videos of a couple of the songs they sang below.




This song below is one that I LOVE!! I hear Carter sing this song around the house and it is always done reverently, as it should. I love to see him sign so sweetly and sincerely.

Easter Egg Hunt aka Running of the Bulls

Today was Carter's Easter Egg hunt with his preschool. It's always a good time.

Both years that we have participated in this egg hunt, I have had a good laugh. All the kids line up on the edge of the side walk, one of the teachers rings the bell and the kids are off!! Both years my thought has been: it's like the running of the bulls.