Christmas in Utah

We flew to Utah for Christmas this year and spent about a week with family before we had to return to "regular" life.

Here we are after church:

love Cameron's face?

I just love this "little fairy" as (Mom and I call her):

Look at this gingerbread house! They had a lot like this on display at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake. I think that's Sinterklaas with his white horse. :)

Making our own gingerbread houses with Aunt Kara:

We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly and partied like no tomorrow! :-)

More pics to come soon.

Grandma Visits & Gobble Wobble 5K

We all had a wonderful time when Grandma Jill came to visit! We wish our parents and parents in-law could visit more often!

We did a lot of fun stuff, but here are some pictures of our trip to the Denver Children's Museum!

Chicken puppet!

Hi ya Grandma!

Brother. Try to get this kid away from the fire truck. Oh MAN. Fo'get about it!

I did my 2nd 5K this past Saturday, the 20th. Oh my HEAVENS it was frigid. Cam was fine until the last 1/2 mile or so. He was just plain cold by the end. But Liesel. That kid bawled her face off the WHOLE 3.1 miles. I think she just hated the stroller. Anyway, since Brian is the real runner, he said he'd take care of the kids so I could run. I don't know how many times he had to stop and carry Liesel for a bit. By the time we crossed the finish line (yes, he caught up to me each time he stopped), both kids had EXPIRED. We grabbed our "light lunch" and bag o' congratulations-you-did-our-race junk and drove home.

Here are a few token pictures:

Before the race start. Brian was shivering violently. But I brought my down coat, so I was good. :)

 

 

 

 

 

comin' around the bend.

I was making that face because Brian was holding a crying Liesel while taking this photo. Poor kid.

And when I'm worried and I can't sleep,

I'll count my blessings instead of sheep,

and I'll fall asleep 

counting my blessings.

-Irving Berlin

 Happy Thanksgiving you all!

Halloween Festivities

The Halloween Costumes! I had ordered these handmade from a website called Etsy. Liesel won the best costume for girl age 12 and under at our church's ward Halloween party. We went to 3 parties: a friend's little boy's birthday costume party on Friday, the Family Housing Halloween Parade and Party on Saturday morning (which I helped run) and the Church Party that evening. Saturday was looong day. Anyway, the weather was plenty warm enough on Friday afternoon that Cameron could go in true Bamm Bamm fashion:

This little boy named Sean is dressed up as a Samurai. (It was his birthday party.)

At the Family Housing Halloween Party. The Cat in the Hat family and Thing 1 and Thing 2 won this one!

Winter Gardening & Pumpking Carving with Daddy

Brian is a little how do you say... obsessed with gardening these days. ;-)  He built a mini greenhouse and is growing some lettuce and ...carrots? I can't remember what exactly is growing in there. Sorry, Brian! But, seriously, I think his gardening is a great thing. Here are some pictures of the latest developments:

I know I'm going to miss these scenes. I know they are not that photo-epic or whatever, but I'm going to miss Family Housing and my children's little-ness.

Another for memories' sake. This is the community garden.

Behold the mini greenhouse built by the hand of Brian.

Little sprouts!

Showing Liesel

 Two nights ago, Cam's preschool had a Daddy-preschooler date: Pumpking Carving with Daddy. Complete with cookies, and warm apple cider with cinnamon sticks. When they sat down to carve the pumpkin, Brian asked Cam:

"Do you want a big smiley face?"  

Cam: Yeah! 

Brian: Or do you want a big frowny face?  

Cam: No, yeah! A big FROWNY face!

The results:

Chewing the cinnamon stick. Mmmm.

Mr. Frowny

Concentrating. (See his mouth?)

I laughed when they showed me his pumpkin.

Best Daddy-Cameron date ever.  He was really excited about that night.

Geocaching: Boulder Resevoir

Yesterday we did a short little geocache with the kids. What IS a geocache, you ask? Watch this:
 

Here's what we looked like while we did it ;-)

The GPS' battery was low and it kept saying we were in the middle of the water. Um...

"Will you hold my hand?" (There were lots of dogs on this little walk.)

"I like this tall grass. Stop for a picture."

"Oooh, that'll be a good one."  :)

Cam actually didn't like the tall grass. Oh well. I think the shot is awesome.

We found it! Yaaay!

We got a dreidel and put in a McDonald's skateboard trinket in the cache.

Rocky Mountain National Park

We finally made it up to Rocky Mountain National Park two Saturdays ago. It was a bit cold up there, and at times Cameron made sure we knew that. But, we were determined to have a good time anyway.

Moraine Park

Moraine Park again

Pondering the glory.

Uh... NO, we were not eating highly processed snack-treaty foods. And NO, we did not let Liesel have one for each hand....

Sprague Lake

"D'you know what? I'm cold."

Sprague Lake again. Yes, there are people on the water behind me. They were fishing while standing on a rock under the surface of the water. No miracle.

Looking at the elk at Este's Park. We thought she'd be more enthusiastic, but all she would say is "Dat."

After 10 seconds at this scene, Cameron goes, "Mom, d'you know what? Let's gooo. Let's go now."

Dad's Birthday/General RS Broadcast

 On the 24th, I took the kids and we took a little jaunt to Utah for me Dad's birthday and for the Relief Society General Broadcast. (Mom said the closing prayer, which was great!)

Dad is a master gardener. Here he is in his glory!

Harvesting tomatoes

day of the Broadcast. Mom, sisters, aunts, and cousins went to the Lion House Pantry for lunch. Such a wonderful day!

Playing at Temple Square!

A few minutes after we took these pictures, an Ensign photographer came and took more picture of us. We'll see if we make into the November Ensign! In any case, he said he'd email them to us!

After the broadcast with Mom, Dad, Kara, Janna, and I. We ate at Leatherby's with everyone. Almond Joy sundaes are the BEST!

 

A new favorite breakfast at Mom and Dad's are spiced pancakes topped with applesauce and whipped cream. Liesel insisted on more and more and more and more whipped cream. We indulged her.