oops...

This picture somehow got deleted from the previous post. I can't believe it! It's pretty much my favorite picture from the trip. I just love these two. I can't imagine life without them.

Utah 2010

We had our first family vacation just the three of us last month. We spent four days in Utah and had an absolute amazing time. My best friend Amy and her family were there for a winter ski vacation so we decided pretty much at the last minute to go and meet them in SLC.

Tiffy's brother Blake was kind enough to let us stay at his house. We got to meet his girlfriend Estee (WE LOVE ESTEE!!) and hang out with them a bit. It was so great to see Blake. I hadn't seen him in years, but we definitely are kept up to speed on each other's lives via our amazing Tiff. So it was really fun to talk in person and discuss how cute our nephew and nieces are.

Okay so we took a ton of pictures. The next part of my blog is a sampling, if you can call 26 pictures a sampling! haha!

Our first stop. Troy was in heaven. A Sonic and In and Out on the same street.

Maddie and Kaleb together at last!!!

Madison loved her Mimi!

Our first night in SLC, we drove around for hours with Megan. I wanted to show Troy everything. We had a blast. You can't help but have a blast when Megan is around.

Prom picture #1

Prom picture #2

I bought this headband for me, but how cute is it on Madison?! I'm going to figure out how to make the flower. Its a zipper. I know! I'm obsessed with it.

SHE IS ALREADY SNEAKING INTO MY PURSE!!

I worked at the Sundance Resort when I was in college. I loved working there. Driving up Sundance canyon was the highlight of my day. The people I worked with were so fun. It was just a great time in my life. I was so excited to take Troy and Mad around Sundance and show them somewhere that meant so much to me.

One of my favorite views!!!

The BYU bookstore. Amy and I used to go here pretty much everyday and get samples of fudge which you now have to pay for. I don't remember ever paying for it which is why we went everyday. We would also go there to buy pens. We have a weird obsession with pens. I know this isn't the best picture of Amy, Kaleb, and me, but did you see Madison. Too cute!

Pretty much the only picture of Amy and I together and I had to cut the kids out of it. And yes that is a Twilight poster behind us. haha!

Isn't she just so stinkin' cute?! I can hardly stand it!

I love this picture! It was Troy's attempt at a family picture. Maddie could barely keep her eyes open because the snow flakes kept flying at her face.

This is the Christus statue at Temple Square.

Every time I look at this picture I crack up laughing. The walkway up to the Christus statue is a long curved ramp. So Troy thought it would be funny to freak me out on the way down to act like he had let Madison roll down by herself and her stroller fell over at the bottom. Unfortunately for Troy, I saw him laying her over on her side. She was a great sport about hanging there while I got a picture. hahaha!

Can you even see us in the corner? Amy did a great job fitting us in.

I love this temple. I love the history. I love the architecture. I love the symbolism. I love that my parents made sacred covenants here. I love this temple.

Madison thought she was so cool riding this horse. I guess on her first ride while I was in the bathroom, another boy jumped on the back and tried to get a free ride. Troy kicked him off and the kid acted like Troy was the meanest guy ever. haha!

The new SLC t-shirt. I mean seriously! Who thinks of these things? I know someone in my family would. My brother lives in Kentucky and wants to make shirts that say I heart KY. And there is a little town in Ireland called Muff. My dad wants to open a dive shop there and call it Muff Divers. haha! Don't steal his idea. He will do it one day, much to my mother's dismay. Poor Eva.

A swim in a pool and a night in a hotel...

We decided around 11 am on Wednesday that we were going to go to Eastern Washington with my parents and brothers to visit the ranch and see Annie and Jeff. We had a blast! There was snow the whole way from Snoqualmie Pass to Connell. Troy was in heaven. I didn't get any pictures of Madison with the cattle because it was so darn cold. We'll be back over in a few months so maybe I'll get some pictures then. We stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool. We were so excited to take Mad swimming for the first time. The water was a little cold so she didn't last long, but it was fun while it lasted. We then went and had some take out Chinese in my parent's room or as Eva put it "Party in Room 134!!!". Mad didn't got to bed until almost midnight. She sure loves to party. ha!

Christmas 2009

We had a great Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house with a bunch of our family. Lucy and Shawn even joined us for the evening. Mad loved opening presents. Well really I should say she loved opening one present and then she would ignore all the rest and play with whatever the toy she opened was. Her cousin Noah did a great job of helping her open the rest. Christmas Day was spent at our house. We woke up and open presents together and then had my parents and brothers and Lucy and Shawn come over for brunch and more presents. All in all a great holiday. We are so grateful for all that we are blessed with!

(No he wasn't neutered. He got a flea bite, which we found out later he is allergic to, and chewed his fur to the skin. So he has to wear this cone until it's healed. Poor Kaiser.)

My attempt at Christmas pictures with Mad...

Troy was away this evening so I decided to try to take pictures of Madison in her Christmas dress that Granny Eva bought her. It was a disaster. Maddie was hyper and easily distracted and my camera is slow. I tried all different poses and even added Kaiser to the mix. Nothing worked. But I had to share the results. Sometimes the best pictures aren't the prettiest. haha!