Temple Square

Ahh my FAVORITE place to be during the holiday season. Temple Square. I love the lights, the getting bundled up, the crowds of people. It brings back so many great memories of time with family. And I love seeing the temple lit up at night. Like a beacon standing out, guiding you home.. Er, to downtown anyway. Cheers!

p.s. Look at Heather! She's due in 7 weeks! how exciting. Even McKenzie's super pumped!

The Griswald's Fun old Fasion Family Christmas!

So.... I'm pretty sure I married Clark Griswald.. As he was putting up the Christmas lights, blowing each fuse, resetting each bulb, and plugging in both extension cords, lights FINALLY shining, I heard the faint chorus of "Messiah's Hallelujah" in the distance. Oh what an experience. But, we finally got our house lit, and being our first home to have Christmas lights to hang, I was so overjoyed that Shawn was willing to climb on the roof, almost break his neck, hang the lights, and build a snowman with the excess snow on the roof. There's no place like home for the holidays.

We decided to kick off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols, and picked out our very on Blue Spruce Christmas tree. We hauled it back with a 4-wheeler, McKenzie enjoyed that, and Shawn single handedly threw it up on the car roof top, and strapped it down. What a big buff man he is..







So we're all set for Christmas. Now to really focus on what matters. Now that all the materialism is purchased and adorning our home. Bows hung, tree aglow, candles set. It's time to remember who this season is all for. Christ. Good talk Russ.

Twister

We introduced McKenzie to the game of Twister. I think she likes it. We are so naughty. I mean, she's only 21 months and already playing Twister? Yikes!

Random

I've been really lazy posting all the fun pictures I have of McKenzie. So Here's some random pictures of my cute girl in our new yard, playing with our neighbor friend, Cami. This girl can't keep her hands off my computer, so i finally put her to work. Looks like she's buckling under the pressure! She's too cute! I love my bug.

Better late than never

This summer, right after we came home from Florida, we went to the fair with Shawn's family. I for the first time saw the side of the fair that involves, farm animals, enormously large fruit and vegetable, and other such boring .. oops I mean, AMAZING stuff. I mean, who goes to a fair to ride the rides, loose a ton of money on the games, to win a big stuffed animal, and eat funnel cake? NOT ME! So here's a few pics of the fun night. Shawn managed to squeeze in the chance loose almost $100.00 trying to make a basket in the hoop that was magically too small for the ball he was throwing. McKenzie, got to ride the ponies, I got my funnel cake, and my magical kiss at the top of the Farris wheel with my hubby. Good Times. Can't wait for next year. I need another funnel cake!!

This is why I never made it big....

Who is this chick?!?!?! This is why I never made it big... I'm doomed to be a groopie for the rest of my life.. Well, wannabe groupie anyway. I don't think you can be an actual groupie and be married.

McKenzie in the Fall

We had yet another great experience taking fall pictures in the pumpkin patch with our FAVORITE photographer Kara Simmons. Check out her blog at karasimmonsphoto.blogspot.com. Here's some of our favorites! Ok, here's all our favorites!

Bunny Slippers

This girl cracks me up. I love her to bits!

Let there be grass!

My yard is done! It is here! Finally! Ready for me to lay in the grass and relax and watch the leaves change colors from my backyard. Right now! er.. just as soon as the grass settles.. 2 weeks? who gave that rule??? Oh, and here's proof that I helped too.. Flowers and bushes to be added later. I'm still waiting to lay in my grass first.

Don't feed the bears in Jellystone!

Ok so we didn't find any bears, but what we did find in our recent adventure to Yellowstone was adventure, peace, tranquility, beauty, and a total LACK OF SLEEP!

We decided to rent a cabin, outside of West Yellowstone. The campsite was beautiful, right next to a lake. The beauty and peace I was seeking, I found. It was a bit colder up there, which I expected, so we were sure to bundle up. McKenzie LOVED hangin out with Mom and Dad. We cooked breakfast and Dinner on the camp stove. I was so proud as this was my first time cooking all by myself on the stove, and I think I did a pretty good job. But at night, it kept getting below 40 degrees and our little space heater in the cabin kept kicking on, and waking us up.. Oh, and I was deathly sick from the bug McKenzie gave me before leaving home. No big deal, I threw up in the temple, before we left. It' cool. I'll save that story for another day. But other than that, the trip was a great success! We saw lots of elk, buffalo, all of which has no problem walking right up to our car, and sharing the road. We saw Old Faithful, and lots of other geysers. Little did I know, that Yellowstone is one big busy volcano, so there are lots of geothermal pockets everywhere, providing beauty and stinky sulfur air. But it was very cool. So glad it decided not to erupt while we were there. We saw Old Faithful erupt, and waterfalls, lots of lovely views. Next time we go, we'll stay closer to the Teton National Park. It's very pretty and closer to Wyoming. Great trip! Got some much needed res. Shawn and McKenzie and I were able to bond and reconnect, which was my goal going up there. Ok enough talk! Lots of pictures. I realized how dang cute my little gal is on this trip. She is growing into a little girl and no longer my baby!

Prep work

Shawn PROMISED to take me camping as soon as he gets home. We're going to Yellowstone. Just the three of us. I can't wait!!! So to get us ready for the mountain air, we went on a little hike with gramps and grandma in Cottonwood canyone. A pic of me and my cute kid on the hike.

Ducks in a Row

This chick's got her docs in a row. How efficent.

Tampa Baby!

My big Sis Heather flew in to visit. While she was here, we drove up to Tampa for a couple of days to enjoy the other side of Florida; excuse me, the BETTER side of Florida. Holy cow! The beaches are amazing here! Just as Clint promised! The sand is loke powder Sugar, the water is clear blue and 80 degress. it was absolutly heaven. I loved it soo much. I am so jealouse that Clint and Jenna and Their cutie Aleigha get to go to the beach every weekend! It's practically their backyard! Thanks guys for being such wonderful host and hostess. we have a blast! Can't wait to see you again!