Wedding dress to Blessing dress

I had been mulling over this idea of getting my wedding dress made into a blessing dress for Hannah for about a month. I didn't think Hannah would want to wear my wedding dress when she gets married (by then my dress would have been at least 28 years old) because styles and things change!  I was worried about someone cutting up my dress and making a terrible dress for Hannah.  But what else was I going to do with my dress?  I couldn't even fit in it anymore because when I was in the best shape of my life after one of my kids I tried it on and my rib cage had expanded so I couldn't even zip it up.  I asked around, looked on the internet.  A lady in Lehi was recommended and she was going to cost $100.  All the dresses I had been looking at buying were around $65-$85. I decided that for just a little bit more money I could get a dress that would be extra special to me and hopefully to her one day.  I felt good about it and decided to go for it.
I took tons of pictures of my wedding dress before handing it over to Monique.

It took 10 days for her to make the dress and when I picked it up I almost lost it.  I was so incredibly happy.  It looks so similar to my wedding dress but in a baby girl way!  Some may think this blessing dress is extravagant but to me it was perfect. The plan was to surprise my mom on Hannah's blessing day but I just couldn't hold it in.  When I went to pick up the other kids (the seamstress lived 5 minutes away from my mom) I ended up telling her.  She was shocked at first but very happy for me.  The seamstress and I talked and I have enough of my dress to make a baptism dress for Hannah.  We will need to get a bit creative because she had to cut up more of the breaded part than she had originally thought but I'm thinking just a plain white dress with a band around the waist with the beading would be beautiful.  Anyway, that's still 8 years away! I can't wait for Hannah to wear her special dress at the end of the month!

Hanging with Hannah

7 weeks of Hannah!  She is such a joy and just the best baby every.  

First smiles?!  I'd like to think so!

Jeffrey just lovin' on Hannah and needing to know where she is at all times.  He loves her SO much!

Busy Black Friday

We took excellent use of Black Friday this year.  We hung up the Christmas lights on the house, went to see The Good Dinosaur with Grandma Murray and Mike's family, then put together the Christmas Tree and decorated it.  It was non-stop but it was so nice to have it all done!

Here are the boys being spectators again!

Andy really wanted to help me with the garland but soon learned how tricky it can be!

I really hate this part of hanging up the lights.  Brian and I have to climb up to the porch roof and then I hold the ladder on a slanted roof while Brian uses it to climb up to the top roof.  It is scary and I worry the whole time I'm going to see Brian fall off the roof to the driveway.  

My view from the porch roof.

The kids loved the The Good Dinosaur!

Silly and happy boys in front of the decorated Christmas tree!

Thanksgiving 2016

We had Thanksgiving dinner at The Carlsen's home this year. 

A sleepy baby girl's 1st Thanksgiving!  Also, if I remember correctly the night before Thanksgiving Hannah baby slept from midnight until 7am!  That was something to certainly be thankful for!

The best picture I could get of my FOUR kids.  I still can't believe I have four kids.

On November 28th we had our Thanksgiving meal with the Murray's.  Here is Hannah in another adorable outfit.  My mom ordered the food from Harmon's so it was nice to not have to worry about prepping a bunch of stuff.