Happy Holidays!

I love Thanksgiving. It's such a low stress holiday that's complete with all the yummy pies. My mom and I make pies the day before thankgiving each year. I love that day almost more than thanksgiving itself. This picture is fun because you have Aimee, Mom, and I looking lovely as ever from all of our hard work. Then you have Robb making sure to be awkward in the background. Then you have Kiley who was the master 'snitcher' of pies. We love snitchers at our house so we filled her fingers with whip cream and sent her on her way! Below we have Mom showing off her pie perfection!

 This time of year is absolutely wonderful. I never would have imagined that Christmas with toddlers would be so much fun. Sammy the elf has once again returned and I kid you not Ellie has been on her BEST behavior. That girl is what we call a true believer, and I love it.

 Santa at station park was the real deal. He sat and talked with the kids and told them all about the north pole, reindeer, elves etc... and his beard was beautiful. I could have reached out and stroked it. But I didn't and he probably appreciated that.

 Let's not forget Mrs. Clause. She was adorable too. We visited the Clause's with our cousins Elise and Cooper.

 This is the everyday life with Pyper Grace. She loves her bouncer and can get really get that thing a rockin. She looks more and more like Ellie each day.

 This December has been incredibly warm with temperatures in the 50's to 60 all month (I love it) We were out swinging and I told the kids that it's almost warm enough to pull out the pool! Max went inside for a few minutes then came out looking like this. He obviously was ready to hop in! It's not quite that warm little guy.

 Natually we had to go to temple square. Ellie told me that if I sat quiet enough that I could hear the Lord in my heart. She has a beautiful simple testimony.

This is what Temple Square usually turns out like. A human Totem pole. Grumpy kids by the end and tired parents. It's all for the pics sometimes. :)

 We enjoyed a new tradition this year at This is The Place park with the Dorius cousins. They have a live nativity and it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas. It was lovely.

Ogden Temple and A Random but Great Life

You'll have to forgive the randomeness of all this posting. I just don't want to miss a thing!

 This picture took me a second to figure out if this was Max or Ellie. But Alas, it is Max, dressed up like a unicorn. Looking just beautiful as ever in pink.

 We went to the Ogden temple open house with my parents and grandma. Isin't Grandma (90) adorable? I was really excited to have my kids there and teach them of such a wonderful place. However, it didn't turn out that way. The line through the temple was incredulously slow, and I tried to keep the kids reverent but even I started to feel for them. Max was insistint on being a 'doggy' and crawling on his hands and knees. It was making me crazy. It really was not a spiritual experience for us but it was lovely to see. Oh, and the Ice cream and Farrs was (as always) terrific.

 These two little besties love torturing each other. :)

 Families really are FOREVER and boy am I glad.

 ....and this is Mitch in a casket. Weird and freaky and I hope I never have to see him in one. But he took his young men to the mortuary to learn all about it. He and the other leaders thought it would be fun to give the boys a few scares.

 I am so happy to report that Mitch has found a sport that he actually enjoys.  He went to Southern Utah with my brother Robb and some friends and had a terrible but good time. He crashed a few times, and it was super long, but if you know Mitch, he will always say that he had a good time in most any situation.

 Here they are again, looking their toughest.

 Mitchell! Get off that ledge!!!

 Ellie played on a t-ball team this fall. She was one of 3 girls and totally owned it. She's awesome in every way to us.

 I ran a race and won this awesome hammock. Pyper and I spent a sunday afternoon napping in it. Could life had been any sweeter this summer? Good health, good babies, good life.

There is the adorable and overpriced train station by our house. My kids absolutely loved it. It's only open 3 times a year so we had to try it out. Max is very into trains so this was heaven to him. 

Living Outdoors!

As you already know, we love the outdoors. If we have an open weekend we are trying to figure out if we should head to the mountains or to the lake. We enjoy making these memories and everyone made we deeply cherish.

 Here we are up at Mitch's parents condo. What is it about kids in goggles that makes them so darn adorable!?

 This picture makes me laugh every time. I love that Grandpa Larry is playing checkers with Ellie and how she is wearing her cute nightgown and how she is still little enough to sit indian style on the table. Then there is Max. Why on earth does he have that bucket on his head? I have no idea, but I love it. He is such a ham!

 Is there anything better than being with Grandpa in a fishing boat? Perhaps it would have been a little better if they caught something... :) It's all about the memories though right?

 This summer we went back woods camping with some our neighbors the Swains, Guiles, and Pecks. Our kids were by far the youngest but they graciously invited us along. We really had a great time shooting guns, avoiding oodles of stinging nettle, and sitting around the campfire.

 Here are Mitch and Ellie shooting targets while camping. Just for the record, I loathe guns. They scare me. I would be fine if we never touched one. However, Mitch likes them. So sometimes they make it on the trip and sometimes they don't. :)

 Up at Grandpa Ricks capin we decided to go on a hike around Hinckley Pond. There is a cowboy (no really, like a legit cowboy) who patrols the property on horseback. He caught up to us and let the kids go for a walk on his horse.

 I love the Ranger because the whole family can be in it together and Mitch loves the 4 wheelers. He insists on teaching the kids how to drive, shift, etc. I keep reminding them that they are 2 and 4. I kinda like how this picture shows so much of his SEXY leg. ;)

Here we have Max sporting my snowmobile helmet. I get worried that they have to much of their dads adventurous side sometimes. I suppose that's what originally made me like him so much!

Family Pictures

The biggest problem with family pictures is knowing which one to pick! These were a few of my favorites!

Lagoon trail

If you have not been to Lagoon trail, you better get out there. It is beautiful. Not to mention we had this adorable horse to keep us company. It was lovely. Happy Fall!