New Years Day

New Years Eve...Gary and I stayed home and worked on a puzzle and watched those crazy stunts on ESPN. At midnight, I made blueberry muffins! Gary had gone to the store earlier and came home with a few poppers, horns and bubble wrap! We broke out the bubbly that was in our stocking from Christmas and had quite the party (as you can see in the picture below). We finally got our puzzle done and went to bed at 3:30 AM! New Years day, we went hiking with some people from Gary's work. It was a super nice day and we had to hike quite a ways up before we got to any snow! It made me really excited all the hiking and camping that we promised each other we'd do this summer!

Give Away!!

Steph entered a giveaway...and I'm doing it too! Check it out! I'm pretty much planning on winning this, but ya'll can still try! :) Go HERE for more information.

River of Lights

Gary and I had tickets to the River of Lights. Each Christmas season, the Botanical Gardens set up tons and tons of fun looking lights for all to see and enjoy...fun fun fun! I wish I was motivated to learn how to post little movie clips on here, because there were some fun little 'moving' lights too! See that Cactus? Yes, folks, we're in the southwest!

Family Pics

We attempted to take family pics...not sure how they turned out. Ryan?!? Look how cute these two little girls are!

I heart this man!

While in Utah...

Gary and I had an opportunity to go rock climbing with Bran and Steph. We had a lot of fun! Made me really miss rock climbing! Thanks Dad!

Christmas Morning

Bright and not so early on Christmas morning, Chan and I ran around and woke everyone up by jumping on their beds and telling them that "Santa Came!" - I'm thinking some were not so impressed. Lincoln still believes in Santa ;) So he was really excited to get up and see what was under the tree!

Yes, even Mom got some of the excitement!

We had just sat down to begin the gift openings when the doorbell rang and in walked THIS beauty! (I wish I had a picture of them coming in the door, but I don't). I haven't seen this cute girl since we were in Canada forever ago! Her Mom had just had a baby on Monday, went home from the hospital on Tuesday and packed the car and drove down to Utah on Wednesday. Talk about TROOPER! We're SO glad you guys made it!!! :)

Meet Austin...FOUR days old and already traveled to a different country! Cute isn't' he?!?This was the year of the dolls for Mady. She was SO cute, every time she opened one and saw it was a doll (still in the plastic and tied to the box) she'd bend down and almost hyperventilate as she tried to grab the doll through the plastic.Ok, this is a serious face...her actual reaction to the gift she just opened up! Merry Christmas!

The return Missionary

This Christmas was extra special...it was going to be the FIRST time in over ten years that our entire family was together for Christmas...we've ALWAYS had a missionary out during Christmas every year. Until this year. Jordan came home on Christmas Eve! Here we are all waiting excitedly for him to come around the corner. (Sorry these pictures turned out strange looking)

Here is everyone...can you spot the missionary?!?Afer, we headed home for some food and Christmas Eve festivities!Gary and GrandmaTara and GrandpaGary and the missionary!Lincoln...the youngest! What a cutie! Lincoln, do girls drool over you?!Haley...so I asked her to smile. This is what I got.Grandpa read the story of the Nativity while we acted it out. Here is Mary riding on the donkey...with Joseph making sure she doesn't fall off!Oh, Mary and her newborn baby...GIRL?We couldn't end the night without cards! Grandma and Grandpa taught us a new game! We love it...so any friends who want to learn a new card game, give us a call! We're always up for card games (or Monopoly)!And Gary finished with ONE point! Lucky!

More fun...

Gary and I work VERY hard to make sure we're the FAVORITE aunt and uncle! I sure hope it's working! One night...very late...like we're talking about 1:00 AM we decided to take two of our nephews sledding...why? Because it snowed SO much that day!!! I have to admit, we all sat around for about 45 minutes trying to decide if we were REALLY going to go sledding at ONE in the morning...I was SO tired and secretly wouldn't have been offended if they decided not to. BUT, after no one offered to make the final decision, I broke in and decided we were going to do this! (WHY? I don't know...I was the one falling asleep) We sledded good and hard until about 3:30 and then went home for some hot chocolate. It was fun! The snow was freshThis is Ethan, he had to work the next morning at 8:00am! I texted him later that morning and asked him if it was worth it. He wrote back and said "I'm not sure, I'll let you know when I figure it out." He texted me back a few hours and said that it was deffinitely worth it!

More Christmas...

Sunday before Christmas, we went down to Spanish Fork to attend church with Gary's sister and her family. The choir was short a few male voices, so Gary joined his brother and nephew on the stand. I think I heard him make a few minor mistakes, but overall...he did FABULOUS! Look how cute Addison and Susan are in their matching skirts!