New Years Eve...

After a real quiet week with no kids or work Rich and I decided to make a quick trip to Vegas for New Years Eve. We spent New Years Eve on the Vegas Strip and it was quite entertaining to say the least. It was packed and you could barely walk. We walked almost the entire strip and back before midnight. Lots of people watching :) We actually kind of felt a bit out of place being normal and all haha! I guess we were too distracted with everything going on to take any pictures because this is the only I took (and of course I look like a big goof!) I took the picture at the top of the post during the long drive down on New Years Eve.

Saturday 12/31/11

Christmas Afternoon 2011...

The kids and I right after church... they are wearing their new clothes (Maddy is being goofy but it was the best of the few pictures that were taken of us.) This year my sisters and I switched up who was hosting which holiday party (I usually host Thanksgiving) and so this was my first year hosting Christmas. I really enjoyed it! Rich helped me make a yummy honey ham and sweet corn and then I had everyone else bring the rest of the sides/drinks/dessert. Besides the obviously good food, there was great company...

A cousin gift exchange...

And of course our favorite part, the adults White Elephant gift exchange...

Of course there are always the gifts that are not so desirable...

And those that lots of people want...

Re-gifts...?

Hmm... what am I suppose to do with this?

Carlee ended up participating in both the cousin exchange and the adults so she made out good... with a bunch of money! 

Good good times!

Thanks for coming everyone (and for all the yummy food you brought!)

We miss you Jen and family!

After our party ended Steve picked up the kids so they could celebrate Christmas at his house that evening. They stayed with him until the morning of 1/3/12 when they went back to school. So I took the week off from work and had a much needed long quiet 9 day break/vacation.

Sunday 12/25/11

Christmas Eve Eve...

On December 23 the kids and I went with Rich to his Dad's extended family Christmas party in Salt Lake. We ate yummy food, played a fun (long) round of Bunco and had a great time chatting. Rich was behind the camera so of course there are no pictures of him... (Rich's parents, two sisters and one of his nieces pictured above-he also has two brothers and many more nieces and nephews.)

Rich's brother-in-law Kodi and I hanging out...

There was no shortage of kids and they had a blast (didn't get a picture of Maddy though)...

Rich's sister Jessica (she recently had knee surgery.)

Deep in thought I guess...

Goodbye hugs...

Friday 12/23/11

Little Gym Halloween Party...

A week ago Saturday my sisters, my Mom and I took the kids to the Little Gym Halloween Party. They had trunk or treating, face painting, cookies, carnival games and of course let the kids play on the gymnastics equipment. As always, the kids had a blast...

My little monkey girl...

My nephew Dallin was trying to figure out how to do Avery's tricks, it was pretty funny...

Saturday 10/29/11

Legacy Center Halloween Party...

A week ago Friday Stacy and I took our kids to the Legacy Center Halloween Party. They have a bunch of carnival games, face painting, balloons, trick or treating (upstairs), food, etc. The kids love it every year!

Digging for treasures...

Stacy and I may have gotten a little goofy in an effort to entertain ourselves while the kids trick or treated (and somehow I look more pregnant then she does, I promise it's just the bulky layers of shirts lol!)...

Good times!

Friday 10/28/11

Stringtown Nightmare Express...

The Thursday before Halloween my sister Jamie, her mother-in-law Renae and I took the kids to the Stringtown Nightmare Express in Lindon. It is a little haunted train ride that goes around a block of houses. It is so well done and best of all it's free (they accept donations of course.) We went last year and the kids loved it again this year. Here are some pictures...

Thursday 10/27/11