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...

It has become a tradition to let the kids open pajamas on Christmas Eve...

Avery got her first nightgown and Maddy got Transformer pajamas...

They were also excited to both get their first pair of house slippers this year...

... And they've been wearing them every day since.

After the kids opened their pajamas we went back up to Salt Lake for Rich's immediate family Christmas party. Once again more good food, gifts and fun. Didn't get any pictures though :) 

Saturday 12/24/11

Back to School Dinner...

Saturday the kids and I went down to Ephraim for a "Back to School" dinner my mom planned. We had steak, scones, salad, and drumsticks for dessert. Jamie arrived early and saw that there was no bread dough rising for the scones. My mom didn't know if she wanted to make them so she teased her that that would be "false advertising," so she happily made them. By the way, I promise my feet are not dirty... they are just really tan, I guess I need to do a better job putting sunscreen on my feet next Summer!

Shalane and Jamison

Avery has recently taken to Justin! She comes right up to him and just sits on his lap... so cute. She has become really affectionate and loves anyone that will let her sit on their lap or will hold her hand.

Shawn meeting Scarlett for the first time.

Jamie modeling the latest fall accessory... a nursing cover :) Have you gotten yours yet?

Papa cooked us all up some mean steaks... to our liking-some more well, others more raw :)

Nana making yummy homemade scones... as always, they were a hit and we actually ran out this time.

Everybody enjoyed dinner... all of the kids even had steak. How spoiled can they be?

The kids got to grab for nickels again just like they did back in March. Maddy and Dallin tied grabbing the most-both $2.10

I chopped Maddy's head off in that first picture so I made him pretend to do a do-over haha!

Nana made sure Avery got a big handful!

My mom surprised us all and had put together a little school kit for each child that included a notebook, scissors, ruler, markers and colored pencils all in a container. The kids loved them and spent the remainder of the evening coloring (and have used them every day since.) Thanks so much mom!

Maddy coloring away...

The girls especially loved their Hello Kitty notebooks!

I have learned to bring the kids PJ's because they ALWAYS fall asleep on the way home. They fell asleep real quick this time and I had a long quiet drive to think about life and all that kind of stuff.

Before leaving there were lots of hugs...

... and of course kisses...

Thanks Mom and Dad for planning such a wonderful evening. The food was the best and you spoiled the kids as usual! We love you!

P.S. My brother Justin and a long time friend of his were also there.

Saturday 9/10/11

Bachelorette Party...

Monday evening (after a long day at Chuck E Cheese's), Stacy and I left our kids with their dad's and headed to Jamie's house to watch The Bachelorette Finale. Jamie made us some yummy hot roast beef & cheese sandwiches and Stacy and I brought some chips (with dip & salsa) and treats. We enjoyed each others company as always and if you can't tell we were pretty tired when we took these pictures after it was over...

Man I love these two more than they will ever know... I am so blessed to have them in my life!

Monday 8/1/11

Huck Finn Days (Strawberry Days)...

This past Friday the kids and I went to Strawberry Days in Pleasant Grove. My sisters Jen, Jamie and Stacy (and all their kids) and my Dad and two brothers (Shawn & Justin) also came. We started the day at "Huck Finn Days." We've gone the last couple years and it's really fun and the kids love it and look forward to it every year now.

The kids eating their doughnuts they got from the Doughnut Walk.

The line to have pony rides is always really long but my Dad was awesome and volunteered to wait in line while we did all the other games... he waited in line for around two hours. What a guy!

My brothers and Dad.

Jen and girls.

Jamie and kids.

Stacy and Jace (Cole was sleeping in his stroller.)

After finishing up at Huck Finn Days we headed over to the carnival...

We got some lunch and of course had to have the famous strawberries-n-cream... so yummy!

My niece Carlee got her face painted and it looked awesome!

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Of course I had to get a picture of the Ferris Wheel!

My Dad slept at our house the night before and the kids had such a fun time with him... thanks Dad!

Later that evening Steve and I and the kids went and did a little shopping and then had dinner at our favorite place Cafe Paesan. We had an enjoyable time spending time together as a family.

Friday 6/17/11