Other cute Christmas pics

In their new Christmas church outfits.
We went to the Nutcracker at the Colorado Ballet Co. It was really good. It was a fun girls night out.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning

Making cookies for Santa

Finding that Santa ate the cookies we left him.

Santa heard Mason's request for a mote trol Lightning McQueen. The kids actually slept in until seven. Peyton was really cranky, I think because she was hungry and she had two ear infections. Here is a picture of her throwing a tantrum while opening a present.

Its Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas

We let the kids decorate a gingerbread house for family home evening and it was really difficult for me not to take over and do it myself. I tend to be a perfectionist with these sort of things and it was hard for me just to let go and let the kids have fun with it. It was worth it though because Mason said "this is my favorite night ever!" after we were done. It was probably because he got to eat so much candy.


Santa happened to be at the Park Meadows Mall last weekend so we took the kids to see him. I predicted that Peyton would freak out and refuse to even look at Santa and Mason would talk his ear off about all the toys he wants. It was the exact opposite. Peyton sat and smiled for pictures. We had to force Mason onto Santa's lap and he refused to look at the camera. As we were leaving he yells back at Santa "I want a mote trol (remote control) Lightning McQueen, and my sister wants a baby doll." This from the kid who gave Santa hugs the first time he met him.

Attempt at Family Portraits

Here are a few of the failed attempts. We were at a park with a duck pond and Peyton was obsessed. We finally had to position ourselves where the ducks were in front of us so it would at least appear as though she was looking at the camera. Seriously, getting both kids to look at the camera at the same time and not have their eyes closed is like making the stars align. We knew this would happen though so we decided not to pay a professional and feel like we wasted our money so we just had Jeanne take them with our camera. Keep an eye out for the Christmas card to see if we got a decent one.

Halloween

We had a lot of fun for Halloween this year. The kids went to two trunk or treats, then a field trip to a pumpkin patch, then a playgroup Halloween party, then trick or treating. Peyton was a trooper, she kept up with the big boys and got a ton of candy that I just handed back out to trick or treaters when we got home.

Mason's First "Camping" Trip

Enjoying some delicious hot schmoes
Inside the tent

And I use the word camping loosely because really Zach and Mason just pitched a tent in his parents backyard and made smores over the fire pit. It was really just a test to see how he would do sleeping in a tent for the first time. We didn't want to risk driving into the mountains, paying for a campsite then having Mason freak out and refuse to sleep in the tent. He did fine though, next summer we'll have to take advantage of living in CO and do some real camping. The last picture is really funny because not only did hot ashes fly out of the fire making it look like its snowing but Mason is burping (what a polite little boy) And yes they are wearing matching shirts because Mason insisted that Daddy and him be "samies."

Mason's First Day of School

So I know its only preschool, but it is still making me feel like my baby is growing up way too fast. He is in the program at our neighborhood elementary school. It is four days a week for 2 1/2 hours a day. He was so excited that everyday for the last week he would wake up and ask me if he could go to school. His teacher is named Ms. Tucker and she said that even though it was his first day, he acted like a pro. Doesn't he look so grown up with his backpack? (even though all thats in there is extra clothes in case he pees his pants.) He also insisted that I do his hair and put gel in it like Daddy. He is such a big boy. Now what am I going to do with all this free time?

Allison's Wedding

Allison got married on Friday in the Newport Beach temple. I bawled like a baby through the whole sealing. Allison was the most beautiful bride ever. She seriously looked like she came right out of a bridal magazine. The pictures do not do enough justice to how gorgeous she looked. Her dress and hair were so classic and beautiful it made my own wedding ensemble seem tacky in comparison. The reception was so nice with about 40 dozen ivory roses and candles everywhere. It was a sit down dinner with really good food and dancing afterward. They are honeymooning right now in Kuai, Hawaii. I will admit what every older sister secretly wants her younger sister to admit, "I am so jealous."

Oahu, Hawaii

We had a really great time in Hawaii, or as Mason would call it, "Hoo-why" My parents came to Colorado and stayed with the kids while we took off to paradise. Thanks Mom and Dad! We stayed in Laie on Oahu. We were only a few blocks from BYUH, the temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center. We stayed in a big rental house right on the beach. The above picture is at Waimea Bay on North Shore. I actually jumped off this huge rock into the ocean three times. We also went parasailing, but I don't have the pictures yet. Parasailing is not as extreme as it sounds. Once you're in the air its pretty calm and relaxing. We forgot our camera but Alisa took some, so hopefully I'll get those pictures posted soon.
The whole crew at the temple.

Sunset at Waikiki Beach
At the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Sea creatures were in abundance. This really rare monk seal was just sitting on Sunset Beach all day. They actually set up caution tape around him so people wouldn't get too close because apparently they are aggressive and will bite. This sea turtle was at a place appropriately named Turtle Beach. Apparently because of the algae on the rocky beach about 24 sea turtles live there year round. They were everywhere and you could get pretty close to them. But there were these volunteer turtle rangers that made sure no one harassed or fed the turtles.

I missed the kids so much, but it was a really great vacation and it was really nice to get away.

Popsicle Party

This is the first popsicle Peyton ever had. She insisted on holding the popsicle and sucking on the stick. She kept crying because it was hurting her fingers but she refused to turn it around. I finally had to take it off the stick and break it into small pieces. Speaking of popsicles... I woke up this morning to Mason standing next to my bed holding three popsicle sticks. I thought hmm, thats odd. So I sent Zach downstairs and he found three 7 empty popsicle wrappers. Mason had eaten three already and had taken four more out of the wrappers and had them laying on the table ready for him to eat. We punished him by putting him in timeout, giving him a lengthy lecture about how bad choices have consequences and telling him he can't have anymore of the popsicles and he wasn't going to eat breakfast since he already chose to eat popsicles for breakfast. Later he came up to grandma and said "Grandma, do you know what consequences are?" Then later at church, when he was really hungry, he told Zach, "I wish I never had my popsicle party because now I'm really hungry. This kid is a riot, anybody want to take him for a few days? Please?
On the up side, Peyton is adorable as ever and has not really gotten into the trouble making stage yet. She held really still for Aunt Alisa and Aunt Allene while they painted her fingers and toes. She was so pleased with her self she just kept prancing around showing off her fingers and touching her toes.

My First 10K

My friends Stephanie and Roberta and I did the Grand Prix Classic 10k in Colorado Springs. This was before the race. My mom is in town so she came with to cheer me on and take pictures. Thanks Mom!
Sprinting to the finish line.
After the race. I set a goal for myself to finish in 1 hour and 10 minutes since that would be double my 5k time but I did better than I thought I would do and finished in 1 hour and 5 minutes. Once again Roberta left Stephanie and I in the dust and finished in 50 minutes. Go Roberta! It was really intimidating at first because there aren't many of my type of runners at a 10k. They are all the super intense stringbeans like these people

You can't see me in this picture because I'm way at the back with all the slowpokes. It was actually easier than I thought it would be and really fun. I'm glad I did it, and it just goes to show that if I can do it, anybody can do it.

Guess What I Can Finally Do.......

For about a month now, Peyton has been on the verge of walking. She would take a few steps here and there but would crawl most of the time. In the past week, she has officially started walking. She walks everywhere and hardly ever crawls any more. Today was the first time at church since she learned how and she was everywhere. Only only 5 more months till nursery.

4th of July

Watching the fireworks that Daddy and Uncle Mark were setting off in the front yard of Grandma and Grandpa's house.

At the Denver Zoo. Peyton was screaming "deda" at every animal she saw. That is her word for dog. They really liked the carousel. Mason called it the animal roller coaster.
Here is where Mason threw his sparkler on the ground and almost started a brush fire. I was barefoot so I just took pictures while Uncle Mark sprinted over and stomped out the mini fire.

Happy Birthday Peyton!

I can't believe its already been a year. It has gone by fast. The birthday festivities started with a special breakfast of star and heart shaped french toast. And yes she was in the process of pooping her pants in this picture. Then we had a party at grandma's house.


She was very dainty with her cake she didn't even make it through the frosting. Mason shoved his whole face it it and destroyed his cake on his first birthday. She is definitely a girly girl.
The update on Peyton: She is not walking yet but you can tell she is pretty close. She is a pro at going up and down the stairs. She can say mama, dada, hi, brother, bear and bottle. She will nod her head yes or shake her head no to answer questions you ask her. She has six teeth and loves to smile at everyone.

Weekend in Minnesota

I went to Minnesota this weekend because my sister Allison and her boyfriend Paul were visiting. It was really fun to see everyone but the very best part was this....


Allison is engaged!!! Paul proposed earlier this afternoon and I was probably the one crying the most when she told all of us. They are planning to get married sometime in August in California. Paul is really, really nice and super funny. He and Allison are really happy together. I couldn't be happier for them.