We've converted!!

...To the Red Mountain Lions!! Okay so its not a full conversion because lets be honest, not many could be THE Toros! But it is enough to be excited to go to the games. My lil cousin Derek is the amazing running back for the Red Mountain Lions and is doing amazing! It has been such an exciting season. He is first in the state for yards rushed and third for scoring. Its all in the blood right ;-)

Here are some super cute pics from Friday night's game. D was amazing as always. Keep it up red and black!

Her shirt says Lion Cub #20!

Here with the famous #20, Big D!

Talor Hassel, an old High School Buddy just back from the mission!

#20's girl!

Scopin the field with papa donk!

Dancing Fools!!!

Please enjoy Bryton and Ryleigh's "WIGGLE DANCE!!"

Jodi's beautiful poem. This is about her big brother Ben :-)

My Brother's Lullaby: By Jodi Nikolaus

My memories bring me back to a place,

Where the stress of the world melted away;

Laying in the soft shadows,

I listened to my brother play.

The chords he struck with intelligent fingers

Left a feeling of protection and care.

As my private concert played on and on

I fought off my heavy eyelids, but they won.

The songs he played were soft but knowing,

Relieving my wind of worries and stress,

While sowing the dreams of a peaceful rest.

Bryton Brooks' First Birthday!!!!!!!!!

Here is another post dedicated to the one and only Bryton Brooks. She is such an amazing little girl with such a big personality. Her name fits her so well. For anyone that knows her Im sure would agree what a bright light she is. She is always smiling and giggling and making people laugh. Here are some amazing milestones she has made by her first birthday:
Walking and Running all over the place!
Eating all by herself
Saying 3 word sentences, my favorite "I love dada!"
She squeels and giggles on demand
She really plays with her best friends Ryleigh Mae and Carter Craig!
She pretends to use a Cellphone and says, "Hello yaya!"
She plays patti-cake and attempts itsy bitsy spider
She takes a bath with her big sissy and likes to rub in the shampoo herself
She finally holds still while I change her diaper!
She definitely recognizes people and knows when they leave.
She knows people by name and gets really excited when someone comes to visit.
She fake cries when she wants something, (though it hardly ever works ;-) )

There are so many more and I could go on and on about this little girl. I can't imagine my life without her. To be honest after having my gorgeous little Ry it was hard to imagine loving another baby as much as I loved her. While pregnant I was expressing this concern to my dad and he told me something that turned out to be so true. He said, "Every time your mom was pregnant I worried the same thing. It seems that your heart is so full with love that there couldn't possibly be enough room for more. God blesses you with the ability to grow your heart with each and every person you meet. This definitely doesn't change with your own children. Each child is so different and amazing that the love you have for each of them is incomparable with the next. Your heart will swell and grow endlessly and you will love each child with the same vigor as the ones before. That is what is so amazing about the human heart. Its ability to love is infinite."
For any of you who know my dad you know he is a man of few words. These were the most comforting words I could have heard at the time and have been the most truthful statements I have ever heard; those of you with kids can definitely understand what I mean. I am so thankful that my heavenly father has blessed me with such amazing family.

Here are some pictures from Bryton's birthday party at home with the immediate family. We had some yummy hamburgers made by yours truly. For desert instead of the traditional cake and ice-cream we decorated our own individual cupcakes! It was so much fun, I can't believe how creative my family is!!!! Enjoy the pics! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY GIRL!
Before Cake...
During cake....

and...

after cake!!!!
Mal and Brayden with their Halloween cupcakes!
Ryleigh Mae, Such a big girl!

Uncle Jared

The whole gang :)And the two lovebirds who made this all possible! ;)

ASU College of Nursing and Healthcare Innovation

This has been one of the most crazy months of my life! I just completed my first 2 weeks of nursing school as well as my first Clinical round at a Nursing home. I am having so much fun with school but it has left me ZERO time for ANYTHING else; including blogging. I know everyone is busy so I shouldn't complain but being a full time student, working, mother of 2, and Pageant title holder is just taking a lot out of me. It helps when I can share my experiences with the people I love! Here are some fun pictures of me and my gang at school working with the talking dummies that have.....well....some real parts...! 

On another note, BRYTIE IS WALKING! She has been taking steps for a while but for the last month she has just taken off. See for yourself!!!! Ryleigh is as funny as ever, you really have to talk to this girl to get the full effect. She is such a light in the lives of anyone she knows. 

We are so happy to be back at our Mesa home! We love our ward and missed it so much! For those of you who didn't know we moved, email me and I can get you our new address! Or its our old one on Frito ave. if you already had it! 

Our awesome learning community; D-4!!!
These girls are amazing. There are like 5 Mountain View High School Alumni here, GO TOROS/DEVILS!
Having to much fun.....with a wheelchair.... practicing "nursing skills"
Yup im climbing on the patients bed...
At the lighting of the lamp ceremony

Me and one of my besties, Jaquee Weech!

My beautiful little wierdo!

Cinderella Internationals!

Okay I finally have unwound from my crazy week! I just got home from Cinderella Internationals in Dallas, TX! It was such a blast! The weather was gorgeous, the hotel was beautiful, and the competition was amazing! Even though it was so tough being away from my family... At the pre-pageant modeling competition I placed first alternate!!! This pageant is a worldwide competition so I was floored that I was able to place! After a long week of competition I placed in the top ten!!! I was so excited. It was such a fun week to get together with old friends who I haven't been able to see in so long. I love these girls and it amazes me that I am able to have such long relationships (I have known most of these girls since I was around 6 years old). Here are some pictures from the week. Thank you to everyone who wished me luck!

5 of the top ten women at the awards banquet.
Me, Prisilla and Ashley Scott at the awards banquet!
70's bash!
Me and 2 of the other women competitors from AZ before sportswear
Mrs. Tehani Douglas and I before formal wear!
Me and the Arizona royalty with our new crown toppers.
Kissing little Panda bear!
The AZ woman at the prince gilbert party
The AZ girls at orientation! 

some women before interview!

The Circus!!

This post is way over due but boy have I been busy!!! A few weeks ago Ryleigh and I attended the Circus! It was both of our first times going and it was amazing! Ryleigh absolutely loves animals so the elephants were definitely her favorite part. As sad as it is my favorite part was when the tight rope walker almost fell! It was crazy; he was about 3 stories high! Below is a video of it! I took a million pictures as always!  They speak for themselves! Thank you to our wonderful friend Arianne for taking us. She is the absolute sweetest!!!! 

CINDERELLA FEVER :-)

I am such a blog slacker! Anyway this past week I was in Laughlin, NV for the Cinderella Pageant State Finals. It was AMAZING! Before the main pageant starts there is a modeling competition, called Charm, that Mallory and I both competed in. It was so fun to compete with Mal again. Mal ended up taking third and I won! We had so much fun together:) Then the actual Cinderella pageant was all week and I ended up winning that to!! I get to go to nationals in Dallas at the beginning of August, Disneyland during Christmas, and a Mexican cruise during spring break. (not to mention some cash and $1000 scholarship money!) This is the same pageant I grew up with and started at age 6. I have missed it this past couple years and I really felt like I was at home this week. Love you girls! I can't wait for my lil princesses to compete to! Ryleigh already loves the stage, gymnastics, singing, dancing, basically entertaining in any way! Thank you for all of the congratulations and kind words. Here are a few pics from the week!

Me and my teen Shannan
After the Charm girl awards. Me and mal with our little Ali Cat!
My new overall royalty! This year is going to rock, love you girlys!
Posing before charm :)
Me and Alyssa Marie
Mal and I at the Western party!
Top 3 woman casual wear
Final awards.....down to 2!

Mommy's day

Happy Mother's day to all you amazing Mommas out there. Motherhood isn't always easy but it is the most rewarding journey I have ever had the privilege to take. 

To my girls, you both make me believe in magic and give me a glimpse into paradise. Before you I could never understand eternity and now it is what I long for. Having you makes me really believe Heavenly Father has a special plan for me and I honestly am amazed that I am so lucky to have such angelic daughters. I feel so unworthy but seeing your sweet smiles or feeling your head snuggling on my shoulder reminds me of my place. I love you so much and will forever cherish the blessed time I have been given to show you the right and teach you for our heavenly parents.

To my sweet Ben, my amazing husband. I am so grateful that you are blind to my flaws and you treat me like a queen. I love you Ben and I try my hardest every day to be who you deserve me to be. 

On a lighter note....... My mother's day freaking rocked! I woke up and there was a present waiting for me in the Kitchen. It was the amazing TWILIGHT with an accompanying poster. I have since watched it twice in the last 12 hours. Later in the day I was surprised with another present which I am SOOOOOOOOO happy about! It is a DVD camcorder!!!!!! I love videos and we, up until now, have been making due with an ancient camcorder Ben got at his bachelor party........... Here is the first of many videos to come so you have been warned!! 

The following is Ryleigh jumping on the tramp with her papa watching. She is such a little performer. She is seriously such a light. Just try not to smile

Little trouble maker!!!!

Its time for a Brytie update! Here is what the little trouble maker has been up to lately!! 

She loves her bathtime!

Kicking back with her best friends

Cooking with Ry and Momma

and yes.....shes eating the drawer handle....
Getting tangled up in power chords, and loving it.
Basically being the coolest kid on the block.

She is now eating baby food mixes, drinking juices, crawling EVERYWHERE, laughing and smiling ALWAYS, saying dada and baba, pulling up to standing and side stepping along the couch, recognizing when its me and when I leave, clapping her hands and squealing in delight (MY FAV), and loving her jumparoo!  She is growing up way to FAST!!!!!