Dancing With Ellen

I watch Ellen every day, and Oliver loves dancing with her at the beginning of each of her shows. Here's a little clip of his most recent dance moves.

Instagram anyone?

I absolutely love Instagram. For those who don't know what on earth I'm talking about, Instagram is a phone app similar to Twitter, but instead of "tweets" you post pictures. I love it because I can quickly snap a picture while I'm going about my day and share it with friends and family.

My Instagram username is Mariebee1309. Do you Instagram? If so let me know, I'd love to follow you (but not in a creepy stalker way)!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'd like to wish all of our family and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm so grateful for so much in my life, and I like to take this time each year to count my blessings and make a list of those things that I am most happy to have in my life. Here is my 2011 list.

1. My three boys.  Life wouldn't be worth living without them.

2. My parents. They give me so much that I can never repay them for.

3. Friends. No matter how long it's been since we've seen one another, I keep you close to my heart.

4. Orem. I complain a lot about living here, but I think it's also one of the most beautiful places ever. The mountains are mesmerizing and call to me often.

5. My health. I've worked hard, made many sacrifices, and am almost back to my pre-pregnancy weight. It's wonderful to have a fit, healthy body that can carry me throughout the day.

6. Self-acceptance. This has been a year of reflection, and I feel I've come out the other end feeling a lot of love for myself. I've finally accepted the things I've always fought against, and it feels great. Peaceful.

7. Creativity. It's incredibly therapeutic when I can break out the sewing machine or knitting needles or hot glue gun and let my imagination run wild.

8. Sleep. I don't get nearly enough of it, but it's one of the simple things in this life I cherish most. There's just nothing quite like getting good sleep.

9. Hot showers. Another simple pleasure that I take advantage of as much as possible.

10. Love in all forms. The love I have for my husband, for my children, my extended family, my friends; for those I've lost, for those who've forgotten me, for my fellow mothers, fellow women with one common goal of raising the next generation. I just love feeling love.

I hope you all have a fantastic day with your loved ones surrounding you and that you take the time to think about those things in your life you are particularly grateful for. We are blessed.

Mommy the Marshmallow Monster

Pretty much sums up how crazy this whole family is. I apologize in advance.

Down Dog

Oliver has officially mastered the yoga art of downward dog.

Reminds me of another little boy when he was this age. 

Namaste.

Ten Year Journal-In-A-Box

I just listed these journals in my Etsy shop and I'm really excited about it!


This is such a simple, easy way to keep a journal! Every day of the year has one line to write whatever you'd like - what you did that day, how you were feeling, who you talked to, etc. When you've gone through the entire year, simply start again on the next line down. Once complete, you'll have a full ten-year record of something you did every day of each year!

For more information click HERE to go to my {jill of all trades} blog! 

How my morning has gone so far.

1. Set Oliver on the living room floor.
2. Oliver immediately crawls over and climbs into his toy box.
3. Oliver realizes he's stuck and starts crying.
4. I walk over and take Oliver out of his toy box.
5. Repeat. Again and again and again.

You're Still the One

Looks like we made it
Look how far we've come, my baby
We might of took the long way
We knew we'd get there someday

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together, still going strong

And you're still the one

You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

Ain't nothin' better
We beat the odds together
I'm glad we didn't listen
Look at what we would be missin'

They said, "I bet they'll never make it"
But just look at us holding on
We're still together still going strong

And you're still the one

You're still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You're still the one I want for life
You're still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You're still the one I kiss good night

(Lyrics by Shania Twain)

2011 Family Pictures

My friend Heather Mildenstein has taken our family photos every year since 2008, and I was so excited to have her take them again this year. We've always had them taken at Sundance, so this year we decided we'd try something new and went to Lehi Roller Mills. The boys were pretty good (I worried most about Ollie, but it was Taylor who had the hard time) and we got some amazing shots! Here are just a few of my favorites (sorry, picture overload!).

Thanks, Heather! You're the best!

Halloween 2011

The Nichols family takes Halloween very seriously, and we had an absolute blast on the 31st!

Monday morning I helped Sean get dressed up for work. He went as a pirate (and if you know Sean at all, you can see the irony in that costume). Unfortunately he was one of the only people dressed up at work. I don't think he minded much though.

After Sean left I got the kids dressed up and headed to my mom's work to go trick-or-treating around the office. Taylor dressed as Optimus Prime and Ollie was a monkey. I was really surprised that Oliver kept the little headpiece on the entire time we were there.

Me and my boys. I had a hard time convincing Taylor to keep the mask on for a picture. It was bugging him the whole day so he hardly ever wore it.

That afternoon Sean came home and we headed straight up to Park City. You can trick-or-treat at all the businesses up and down Main Street and it is so fun to see all the great costumes people are wearing!

We had fun and made it pretty far before Oliver was done with the whole thing.

We got some fast food on the way home, and as soon as we got back Tay and Sean headed out again to go trick-or-treating with my cousins Laura and Marie. Taylor didn't make it very far before he was completely pooped out.

By the time we got all cleaned up and got the kids in bed Sean and I were completely exhausted. It was a really long, really fun day. I'm excited for next year when Ollie can go trick-or-treating with his big brother. We love Halloween!

11 Months

Oliver is only one month away from his first birthday! This month has been pretty eventful for our little Ollie bean.

Oliver has started pulling up to a stand more easily and has started showing interest in his little baby walker. In fact last night he walked back and forth across the living room with it until he literally couldn't go anymore. I think he'll be taking his first steps close to his birthday!

We all went through about two solid weeks of the flu here in the Nichols household. It was miserable and awful and completely messed up Oliver's wonderful sleep schedule. We're finally getting back to a regular routine, but he's definitely not sleeping the 10-11 hours he was last month. The most frustrating thing about it is that we switched rooms with the boys to put them in the same room just before everyone got sick, so there were lots of late night re-arranging of sleeping quarters so that poor Tay didn't have the baby keeping him awake all night.

Ollie is right on par with Taylor at this age as far as communication skills go. He can now say the following words and phrases:
- Mama and Dada
- Grandma (when he really, really wants to say it)
- All done
- Bye-bye
- Hot dog
- Cracker

He also understands a lot of the words we say. For example, if I ever say the word, "breakfast," "lunch," or "dinner," Oliver takes off for the kitchen. This little chunker takes his food very seriously.

Speaking of food, Ollie is an absolute garbage disposal when it comes to eating. He eats just as much if not more than Taylor does! I don't know where all that food goes, but he's definitely been chunking up lately and is most happy when he's got a full tummy.

Oliver and Taylor have started playing together more this month. Ollie will tackle Tay and they'll roll around on the floor laughing and screaming at each other. I love watching them interact and goof around together.

Now that Halloween is over I'm in full party-planning mode! Oliver's first birthday party will be fish themed (his very favorite book is "Friendly Floppy Fishy") and I'm just finishing the invites to send out soon. I can't believe my baby will be a year old in one month!