Christmas Break

I've been meaning to write about Christmas and all that jazz, but haven't mustered up the strength to do it. I always end up spending forever trying to upload pictures, get them in order, write stuff, etc. Yesterday my sister texted me, suggesting I update my bog because she's bored at school and needs something to do during Financial Lit class. So, this is for you Abs. I apologize in advance for the long (hopefully not too boring) post.
I flew out to Utah a week before Ryan got out of school to spend extra time with my family, leaving Ryan to his studies. Poor Ryan was without his perfect wife (yes, that's me in case you were wondering;) and his adorable little boy for an entire week. He was sad, but I kept telling him that he was finally going to have an entire week nag-free! Luckily his awesome parents took care of him while we were gone. They fed him burgers and pizza all week to help him feel better. He works so hard in school and we're so proud of him. Even though school is really stressful, he always makes time for Brax and me so I'm really grateful.
The first week home I had sleepovers with my favorite sis in the world! It was so fun, except when she whipped out my journal from high school and harassed me. She had all the ridiculous and embarrassing passages (mainly about loser boys) marked and ready to remind me of my young stupidity. She read some to Ry and I about died! Was I really that retarded??? All my high school friends reading this...you are probably laughing right now because you witnessed it firsthand (we were ridiculous human beings). I guess it was a service to my sister. She says she now knows what NOT to do. hahaha She seemed to have missed all the spiritual and mature passages that were also in there:) Oh well!
My family kind of wanted to see me, but really it was all about Braxton! The first night I got there, he was laughing and smiling all night long. He loves being with lots of people, especially when he's in the spotlight. Yep, he definitely takes after his father. My family was in heaven (especially my mom). She spoiled him rotten! She climbed the top of Braxton's list by giving him little tastes of ice cream, chocolate, and the list goes on. Grandma taught him all sorts of bad tricks (j/k mom.... I love you). But really, it was nice being with my mom because she helped me relax a bit and think more about Brax than my little schedule. I guess you could say I'm one of those paranoid first-time moms that is learning to relax:). Brax is eight months now, always wanting to eat whatever we are eating. He has learned how to feed himself and he grabs the spoon from me all the time. He is definitely a spit fire, but all that personality is so much fun!

Here's some highlights from our trip...

Braxton's first plane ride! He did pretty well. Luckily one of Ryan's good friends, Tim Hansen, randomly ended up on the same flight as me. He sat by us and helped me with my luggage! He was in Dallas for an interview and we have since found out that he got the internship. Congrats Tim!

Went to lunch with some of my favorite girls in the world! I'm so sad because I forgot to get pics when I saw the rest of my best pals. So this is a shout-out to my girls who aren't in the pic... you know who you are:)

Hanging out at Grandpa Park's house.

Brax with his Aunt Madi (Ry's sister).

We celebrated 3 years of marriage on Dec. 20th. Ry continues to make me a better person, and he's perfect for me. It's crazy how two people come together and become one over time. I've become more like him, and him more like me... which is a good thing most of the time. It was our first night away from Brax (thanks mom) and he did great! We went to dinner, roller skating, IMAX, and then the Hilton downtown! We told the guy at the front desk it was our anniversary and he sent up a slice of cheesecake, a slice of chocolate cake, and Martinelli's! It was awesome. Not to mention that cheesecake is my favorite and chocolate is Ry's.

We went to The Park Cafe for breakfast in Salt Lake. It was by far my favorite breakfast place. The food was yummy and I loved the decor. All my fellow Utahns need to check it out!

Playing with Grandpa. Brax was always ripping off people's glasses.

Skeptical of his great grandma... I think it's the white hair.

First encounter with Santa at the Thorpe family Christmas party.

Loves the bag...

Hates the bag.

Brax met his great grandma and grandpa White for the first time!

Two peas in a pod.


Christmas Eve in our new J's.


Christmas Day! Just look at those cute little reindeer feet! He loved this walker.

Opening presents.


We got to see Brandon and Lindsey Anderson, and their little boy, Grant! Linds is one of my good friends and we lived together at (the one and only) Liberty Square.
Braxton and Grant.

Brax and his second cousin, Hudson. We spent the night with Randy and Marissa Brown (Ry's cousin and his wife) at Marissa's grandpa's cabin. Brax and Hudson had a great time.... until they both got sick and kept us up all night!

Randy and Marissa took us to Fleming's Steakhouse downtown! It was AMAZING. I love steak, and this was definitely the best steak I've had. We had a lot fun with the Brown's. They were so nice to take us poor, low-class citizens out on the town for a great meal. We had a night out alone without our kids. It was refreshing be able to eat in peace. I got the Prime New York Strip.... so good! Ry got the Filet, but ordered it medium-well (no good;).
Just look at those steaks...mmm



We saw our good friends, Tim and Anna, who aren't dating but I think they should be. This is the Tim who was on the flight with me! We all hung out at BYU. Tim is Ryan's freshman buddy, and Anna is mine.

I almost forgot to mention that Brax took his first trip to the ER while we were in town. They only had a big bed for him. I just had to take a picture because it was too cute. The last week in Utah he got a really bad fever and ear infection:( After five days of a fever, we took him in on Saturday morning and got antibiotics. He just loved spitting the bright pink medicine all over whoever dared give it to him. Luckily Dr. Ryan got really good at it;)

It was a great Christmas break! We didn't want to come home. I felt like I had my husband back because he didn't have any school or studying to do. So thankful for all of our wonderful family and friends. Christmas is the best time of year, and I must mention the reason for the season, our Savior. I know He lives and loves us. So thankful for his atonement and all of our many blessings this year!

Our Little Skeleton

I feel like time is flying by! Braxton is about five and a half months now, and we love seeing more and more of his personality (most of the time:). He knows exactly what he wants and he will always let us know. For example, when he wants out of his bouncer, he doesn't just start fussing... He does this thing where he arches his back and pushes so hard that he practically falls out of the freaking thing. While doing this, he's not really crying, its more like a yell or a grunt (imagine the sounds you would make if you were strapped into a chair and were trying to get out. That's what he sounds like;) The minute I get him out, he's all smiles.
He already has his two bottom teeth! His second tooth came in last week.
He recently learned how to roll from his back to his belly, but he gets stuck on his belly and gets all mad and starts crying. We usually have to help him roll back over and he acts like we were the ones who made him do it. A few seconds later, the kid is back on his belly and the cycle continues. Just barely, I went in his room because he was crying and he was stuck on his stomach with his legs tangled in the bars. It was hilarious.

Brax Man is my running partner! We run with two of my friends and their kids. It's a blast. We love chatting about kids, husbands, embarrassing moments, happy news, sad news, basically EVERYTHING.

He loves chillin with his daddy. Here they are studying (although I wouldn't doubt that Ry has ESPN pulled up on that computer).

Ryan and I love playing with our little man! We love his little laugh and funny looks. See for yourself...


We had a fun Halloween weekend! On Saturday night, we swung by our ward party for a little while. For those of you who watch baseball (or who have crazy husbands who do).... you know that the Texas Rangers lost the world series in game seven last Friday. So, Ry and I dressed up as "Broken Hearted Rangers Fans." Ryan truly was broken hearted over this tragedy. After the ward party, we went to a party that our friends, the Lee's, were throwing. It was a blast!


Two little skeletons. Braxton and his date, little Sophia, at the Lee's party.


We love our friends here in Texas!


On Halloween day, we had a pot-luck dinner with our med school friends. It was fun to relax, chat, and eat yummy food!

Life this past week...

Ryan's cousin and wife, Kevin and Melinda, are joining us in Texas! Kevin took a job in Fort Worth. We're super excited to have some more family down here! Ryan's other cousin and wife, Randy and Marissa, came down to help Kevin and Melinda and also visit us and Ryan's parents. We all had baby boys within 3 months of each other! Brax was the first, Hudson (Randy and Marissa's) came three weeks later, and Easton (Kevin and Melinda's) came a month after Hudson! My in-laws' house was busting with babies last week! It was crazy, but a lot of fun.
Easton, Brax, and Hudson

Brax and Hudson



I love this boy!



Like father like son. Already addicted to watching sports.

Taking a nap with Papa T.

We also took Braxton to his first BYU game! We went with our good friends, the Meier's, to Austin to see BYU v. UT. Us and the Meier's must have bad luck because this is the third road trip we've taken to see the Cougars play, and they have lost EVERY time! Seriously, what is up with that? Every time I tell my family that we're going to a BYU game they beg me to stay home because they say we're bad luck. I assured them that it would be different this time because now we have Braxton. Unfortunately, the child brought no such luck Saturday night. But, despite the loss, it was fun. However, going to a game with a kid is quite the change. I spent most of the time sitting outside with Brax because it was so loud. But don't worry, there were a million other mormon moms out there with their kids. Was I in the halls at church or a football game?? I couldn't tell. The UT fans were so thrown off when they would walk by and see all these young girls with a bunch of children. I don't blame them for their reaction;) Ry and I found a cozy little spot on the grass where we could see the jumbo tron.

It's never too early to start teaching your kid what's right!

What we've been up to...

My family came down a week before Braxton's baby blessing, and we went to Pensacola, Florida! It was so nice to get out and enjoy the sun. We've basically been shut up in our house all summer for two reasons: One, Texas is hotter than HECK and the pools are even too hot to swim in! Seriously, you hop in the pool, and ten minutes later you realize that you are still sweating hot. Summer in Texas is like winter in Utah, no one goes out! Reason number two, Braxton is still so little. So, Florida was amazing, and the beach was so much fun! The water was beautiful and felt great! We rented a condo right on the beach. A bunch of my extended family met us down there. I hadn't seen some of my cousins in years. My grandma even flew down and chilled at the beach! My family is in love with Braxton. My parents were always willing to watch Brax so Ryan and I could go play.

My sister, my mom, and Ry at the beach.

Happy Family!

My sister and me. She's going to pass me up. I'm going to be the shortest in my family:(

Brax chillaxin at the beach.

Some of my aunts and cousins.

My parents have some friends who retired in Pensacola. Al took us out in his boat early one morning. He,my dad, and Ry were fishing. My brother, Ian, and I went to spot dolphins. One swam right alongside the boat!

We went to the U.S. Naval Air Museum with all the kids and my dad. We are standing in front of the famous Blue Angels jets.

On the way home, we stopped at the Battle of Vicksburg in Mississippi. This is one of the Civil War Union ironclads that traveled up the Mississippi River during the battle.


Here are some pictures of Braxton's blessing! I just can't describe how much love I have for him. Little Braxton is everything to me, and I would do anything for him. Having him has strengthened my testimony and understanding of Christ's atonement. I better understand why God was willing to give His Son for us. I don't have to fear the future because I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for my little boy, and everything will be okay through Christ's atonement; no matter what happens! We are a family forever!



My grandma brought down this beautiful blanket to use. Braxton's great, great Grandma made that blanket. He is the third generation to be blessed in it.