Christmas Morning

These are some of their favorite toys of the morning.  It was SO fun to see the excitment on their faces!  They were up at 6 a.m., of course, so we had time to make it to church in Nephi with the Cooks.  After our party there we came back home and had our party with the Lymans.  Thank you everyone for all the fun gifts, yummy food, and great company!  We love you all:)

Santa and Christmas Dance Recital

Em asked for more Polly Pockets and some Seashells

Haven wants a Doodle Bear- she is in her dance costume because she was in the talent show.

 

Anya wants a big keyboard so I can continue to teach her the basics of piano- She and her friend Gabby made
up a dance for about 3 minutes and then performed it.  In her jeans.  There were lots of splits:)

They wanted make-up on- we're in trouble!

Haven did great for her first big performance

Anya's pose- so funny!  She is the best in her class at actually remembering the dance.

We are just busy enjoying the holidays.  We got to go to Salt lake yesterday and help pick up Cousin Sethie at the airport- he just returned from his mission to Brazil.  We all went out to eat at Sizzler's and then took all the cousins to see the lights on temple square.  What a great day!  WE CAN"T WAIT FOR CHRISTMAS DAY!!!

He's All Boy!

All of these pictures were taken within 10 minutes, but this is seriously what he did ALL day long.  He was obsessed with the IFA ad and carried around the tractor page everywhere we went.  He also finds Greg's hunting magazines and looks for the 4-wheeler ads and pictures of Elk or Deer.  By the end of the day the ad was ruined so I had to secretly stash it in the trash:)

Eating Dad's red Oreo's- loves them!

Happy Halloween- 2011



Grey wouldn't hold still of course

Halloween was SO fun this year- it was the perfect weather for it!  The girls have been dying to go trick-or-treating for a month now so after going to their school carnival and a friends Halloween party a few days before it was the perfect ending to a great holiday.

He learned pretty fast what it's all about

Our Vampires- the wigs were a hit

What Greyson did most of the time- I think he ate 4 suckers

Our little Snow White

Best Buds- Haven and Aiden

 

All the Vampire friends- Gabby, Anya and Haven
Oh- and Jack the Pirate with his peg leg

Katie and Bry- don't let em fool ya- they LOVE to get into the Halloween spirit!

Goblin Valley and Arches 2011

If you've never taken your kids to Goblin Valley you are definately missing out.  Our kids could run around and climb there for days! They literally started running around like headless chickens the moment we got there.

Our girls with cousins Mason, Laine, Sawyer and Kamryn- Tal was down sitting in the shade:)

Best friends- Laine and Haven

Cute Em

Our trip photographer- Anya

 After Goblin Valley we headed to Arches where we spent two days hiking.  Greg and I had been before but we've hadn't taken the kids yet.  Of course they loved it just like I did growing up.  We hiked all the usual hikes- Delicate Arch, Double Arches, The Windows and Turret Arch, and Landscape Arch.  The kids all did great- regular little moutain goats.  Even Em- who I had worried about with her short little legs- hiked and climbed like crazy.

Double Arch.  To my sisters- do you remember climbing up in the Arch on the left
and throwing Cheetos down the other side?

Cousins

Where Greyson spent most of his time- hated it at first!

Looking out the Windows

Delicate Arch- we didn't let them walk around the bowl like we did as kids. 
Maybe next time when they are a little bit older:)

The sand canyon on the way to Landscape Arch.  Sisters- do you remember playing here for hours???

Grey was happy to get out of the backpack and dig in the sand

Haven sliding down the sand

Running down the sand and Kam wiping out

What a fun vacation- we are slowly making our goal of taking the kids to all the state parks in Utah and the surrounding areas as well as a lot of the National Parks.  We are planning Yellowstone for the Spring and hopefully Mesa Verda sometime after that.  I just love that family vacations are free from all distractions and a time to just have fun and hang out as a family.  My girls love all the vacation junk food  and swimming in the pool:)

Look who's 4!

Little Em is finally four- she has been waiting for.ev.er!  She still measures the size of a three year old though.  I am glad that she misses the cut off for Kindergarten by 2 weeks, because instead of being the youngest AND the smallest- she will be the oldest and maybe not quite the smallest in her class.

She wanted a Princess cake- like Haven's- so I attempted it again.  Every time I say NEVER AGAIN!  It takes SO much cake and I can't ever get it to come out of the pan without falling apart.  Anya informed me that she hasn't had it yet so I will- of course- make it one. more. time:)  I know it doesn't look that hard- but I must be a little bit challenged in the cake decorating department.  Em didn't even get the vines and flowers on hers!  But all she cared about were the Princesses anyway:)

I love how she blows out her candle through her front teeth.  Sure do love ya Emerson!  Thanks everyone for all her cards and gifts- she is a spoiled little lady for sure.  Oh- and we were talking about her cousin Kenzie's birthday coming up and Em told me that her party was going to be just "Fabulous!"  And she wishes Sparky (Our nephew's big black dog) was a "Posh Puppy" instead.  We have been reading a lot of Fancy Nancy these days- can you tell?

1st Family Picture with Grey- July 2011

I wanted to put this family picture in a post since it won't be at the top of my blog forever.  This is our first one we've had taken since Greyson was born.  I thought it turned out pretty cute.