What are you doing New Years Eve??

Always been a big fan of Zooey and her sister Emily...

Enjoy!

Christmas Time

I love Christmas time! I love the music, the feeling, the magic...the message...

And of course I like decorating my house. I've never really felt like I could decorate in the other places we lived...the decorations just added to the clutter and just weren't quite right...

Now with our "new" place, I love putting things into place!

The red berry wreath...it would get ruined on the front door so its on the coat closet door...now I get to see it all the time!

our tree...you have two choices for seating...by the tree or in it!

I LOVE red berries!

I apologize for the quality of the photos...the battery died on the camera so I was using the iphone...maybe santa will bring me a new digital camera for christmas....

Poppyseed Projects

Many of you who know me, know I'm not a very crafty person. I am a math person...I can make something if you tell me exactly what I need, and how to put it together...

Over Thanksgiving my sister Cyndi from Colorado came to visit and we had sister craft night...ugh...but then she introduced me to this great little store (and they are online too! poppyseedprojects.com) that's right across from where I work. This store was created just for people like me! And they are cheap!

Above is a project I made for James's teachers and Molly's teacher. I have also made two other projects with plans to make more....I am on a roll!

Lacy

Our sweet Lacy-dog passed away on November 28th.

It was a bittersweet experience for all of us.

We were relieved because she was so old and was in so much pain.

We are sad because we miss her a lot.

I miss her more than I realized I would. I was mostly relieved because she kept pooping on my new carpet...then of course I felt guilty for getting mad at her...she couldn't help it, she was getting so old...

But now when I come home the house is empty and cold and there is no one to welcome me home...

She has definitely left an empty spot in my heart...

Winter is here!...Kinda

Over Thanksgiving Break we went sledding with the cousins...

Too bad the only snow is in the mountains...

Fall in Review Part 1

James turned 6! He is loving his kindergarten Dual Immersion class and learning Spanish. He is currently reading on a first grade reading level. We are so proud of him!

Steve had his first gallery showing at the Alpine Art Gallery with two other artists. Many thanks to all who came out to support him! Steve, by far, had the most patrons that night.

Fall in Review Part 2

In September we moved back into our condo...Steve worked very hard to make it liveable after our tenants left...here are the fruits of his labors...

Brand new bathroom upstairs

new kitchen cabinets, counter top, and floor

new paint, flooring, and doors throughout the entire place

Everyone loves the circus!

A rare glimpse of fall in Utah...don't blink or its gone!

Fall Break 2011

During Fall break we went down to St. George to visit Steve's parents and enjoy the warm weather. We hiked in Red Canyon and Zions National Park. We took the kids on Angel's Landing...and yes even the first part of the chains. We were planning on doing the whole hike but we left the kidpack at home and James was set on doing Angels Landing so we made the best of it. James hiked the entire way and Molly hiked all the way down. They were awesome little hikers!

Fall in Review Part 3

We spent UEA break down in St George enjoying the warm weather. We took the kids hiking in Zions on Angels Landing. James hiked the WHOLE way and Molly hiked all the way down. We made it to the first break in the chains...maybe next year we'll make it all the way!

Happy Halloween!

The last swimming day...

The last swimming day of the summer

(Why does james always look like he's going to cry in these photots?

I think its because he's trying to smile too hard!)

I don't know about you, but summer went by WAY too fast for us. I only had about a month off so we tried to make the best of it with trips to the pool, Lagoon, and a campout in Yellowstone National Park. Read all about it in the posts below. :)

First day of school...

On August 29th, James started kindergarten!! He's going full time in the Dual Immersion Program at Midvale Elementary School. He is so excited to be in school!

I promised myself I wouldn't get all emotional. Being in education myself, I know how awesome and wonderful school is (especially this school!)....but I admit, even I shed a tear or two...ok a lot...in the car as I drove away.

My little boy is in kindergarten!! He's growing up so fast!

A REALLY big slide.

The first weekend in August we headed up to Park City to attend the Arts Festival and ride the Alpine Slide.

it was nice to get out of the valley and spend some time together as a family. Something we haven't been able to do much as Steve spends most of his free time either working one of his two jobs or working on the condo in Murray....

Yellowstone 2011

July 20 - 22 we took a quick jaunt up north to Yellowstone National Park. Both Steve and I had camped there when we were little and it was amazing to see how much it was the same and how much it had changed.

4Life Lagoon Day

July 16th was 4Life Lagoon day.

This day was more for the kids than for Steve and I...once you've been to Six Flags and have ridden the Superman rollercoaster...well, nothing else can compare :)

I have a picture of me when I was about this age in these boats...except they were blue

The simple things of summer we love...part 1

...simply watching cartoons in the morning, while waiting for the day to "start"...

...rainbows after a summer rain...

...cousin time!...


...sister pedicures...

...a "new" car...

*(this was a ONE time summer love...it'd be great to get a new car every summer!)*

The simple things of summer we love...part 2

...playing in the fountain...

...backyard games...

...4th of July breakfast...
...crepes....they were AMAZINGLY easy...

The simple things of summer we enjoy...Part 3

...corn on the cob...

...and last but not least, fireworks...

...really BIG fireworks...