Merry Christmas

We are 1 for 3 as far as "Merry" Christmas outings go. We went to my hometown of Alpine last weekend to cut down our Christmas tree and both toddlers were in tears. It was a bitter 21 degrees, windy and snowy. The best part of the day was the marshmallows that came in their hot chocolate and visiting their cousins.

1st outing- Tree Cutting: tears

2nd outing-The Lights at Temple Square: cheers
Even though we FROZE the kids loved it. They were mesmerized by the incredible amount of lights. They also loved seeing the nativity and baby Jesus, or "Baby Finley" according to Finley. We brought my little niece Fanny along. We love her!

3rd outing- Santa- There were cheers and tears
More in the next post.

One year older.

Hey Batter Batter, Swing Batter
Tucker ropes a fastball into the left-center gap
Rounds first
and slides safely into Second.


Today Celebrates Tuck's 2nd birthday, Thank goodness we're gonna have a 2nd chance to celebrate because this little slugger was sick as a dog. It was a rough way to spend his big day. We are hoping for a Grand Slam of a Party next weekend, until then...
We love you Tuck. Happy Birthday Son.

red rock everywhere

Our Thanksgiving weekend was spent in the Red Rock.

The guys all went out for the annual turkey shoot (skeet shooting in the desert) while my mom and I stayed home and cooked the feast. Chad came home from the shoot 10 dollars poorer, and my brother Jonny came back 50 dollars richer.

They managed to high center the jeep. The youngsters got a mouthful of red dirt while watching the men folk unwedge the jeep.

Wrig got spooked by the gun shots and managed to cut the underside of her leg on a rock and received 8 staples. She hated the turkey shoot, every minute of it and will not be invited to participate next year.



The dinner was AMAZING. The nights were spent laughing. I love this time of year. More than anything I love seeing red rock everywhere I look.

Snow White

Like many other 3 year olds, my little girl loves princesses! When she was two her world revolved around Cinderella. Now that she is three her world has turned Snow White. When Chad heard that the Disney Princess on Ice was coming to town he couldn't resist buying her a ticket. We took her Aunt CC for her birthday and had one of the best Saturday mornings.

I have to admit I got a little bit choked up watching how excited she was when all of her favorite characters skated out onto the ice. It really was magical in her little mind. She brought with her a little Snow White doll and made sure that her doll could see all of the excitement too. I love this kid!


She commented to me last night as we drove home past a temple. "Mom I love that Angel Moroni he is a really cool guy. He is big just like Hercules." Perhaps there is such a thing as too much Disney...

Little Buggar

Is anyone elses 2 year old driving them CRAZY! He yells, "GET ME OUT OF HERE!!!!!" at the top of his lungs anytime he is in his crib, or carseat, or shopping cart, or stroller.... He kicks me if I'm not doing something fast enough. He refuses to eat anything except white bread and waffles. He has meltdown after meltdown. He is OBSESSED with balls, chap stick, and these 3 kitten puppets (which if he cannot find he cannot sleep) He's generally loud when I need him to be quiet, and ornery when I need him to be nice. He's just lucky he's so darn cute.

My little Cat Lover

Ballerina

Finley's 2nd week of ballet was every bit as exciting as the 1st week. She had the option of choosing pink or black attire. Without hesitation I thought she would choose pink. She had her mind set on black everything and there was no changing it. Out of her whole class she was the only one in black, and she loved it that way.

It just kills me to see 6 darling 3 year olds concentrating so hard to point their toes. Finley loves her teacher and loves practicing her new moves at home. Finally she has someone to dance with. Tuck was getting sick and tired of being her only partner.

A Cowgirl and a Cat Lover.

This weekend we spent some time in the country with some of our dear friends. We are so glad we live a day closer to you guys.

(Photos courtesy of Jenny- More like I cut and pasted them from her blog to mine without her knowing.)

Finley was able to ride a "GIANT" horse for the first time. His name was Dude. I told her that when I was young I had a "GIANT" horse named Sampson. So now she is convinced that she is getting a horse, and a pink kitten once we move into our home. It was thrilling to see how confident she was around Dude. We shall see about buying a ranch...Tuck on the other hand, was more interested in getting unbelievably filthy and squeezing the cat to death than he was in the giant horse.

We were also able to spend the night with cousins Sarah and Jefferson. We ate some delicious black licorice ice cream from Farr Better Ice Cream Parlor across the street from the Ogden Temple. I would drive the hour it takes from my house to eat another cone of that delight. SOOOO good!

One of the best parts.

The quiet beauty of the High Uintahs is one of our favorite things about our new home. We are happy to be back in the beehive state and closer to the Family Cabin.

We went up a couple weekends ago to help close the cabin down for the winter. My children were in heaven. In their mind the cabin is full of adventure, a place that awaits their exploration. It's campfires, and humming birds, horses and treasure hunts. Fishing in the creek, Beaver damns and hikes to waterfalls and freshwater springs. It's playing with cousins, late night movies, and stargazing. I'm thrilled that these memories will be part of their lives.

The Cleaning Crew
Some of Chad's Aunts and Uncles and a few cousins

After spending the day cleaning up we drove down to Park City for some BBQ ribs and cream soda. We live in a great place!

T'was the Night before Halloween... and all through the house you could hear the horific screams of one little monster who refused to wear a costume. His mother searched high and low throughout all the land to try to find the little monster a costume he would like. A baby bear, a monkey, batman...no dice. Alas, he would holler and scream with each new attempt. At the stroke of midnight his distraught mother came up with a deceptive little trick of her own. She would velcro peices of felt to his very favorite coat.
The next evening the little family set out for a night of tricks and treats. The little monster hurriedly pulled on his very favorite coat and ran out to catch up to his sister.
With each door they ran to a small peice of felt would fall from the coat. A button here, a sleeve there. Until the little monster was just as he always wanted to be... un-costumed, holding a bucket packed with sweets.

Snow White and Dopey

The "Good Witch" (Fin was adamant that I be good).

We headed back to the cousins house for donuts and hot chocolate.
Lots of sugar, 2 hours past bedtime, and a house full of cousins...
It was one crazy night

The first day again.

Finley started her first day of her new preschool this week and is loving it. She told me this morning,

"Mom did you know Jesus made preschool." He did? "Yes he made me preschool and pink birds they are just lovely."

Lovely is a new word in her vocabulary she uses it as often as she can.

today she made a picture of a
"tree with falling leaves and a really big nut (all said in a scary monster voice-she LOVED halloween)"

T.H.a.n.k.Fu.l.L

Thank you to all those who have made our lives easier these past 2 months, especially these two.
We Love You