Christmas in Utah

Snow is one of my favorite things in the world! It's one of the things I miss about living in Utah! We were so excited to stay at Sundance the week before Christmas!! We used the time to ski, snowboard, be together, eat and have a blast!!

The night we arrived at Sundance, we turned a corner and our car slipped into a ditch... we were stuck for an hour and a half. We called AAA for a tow truck and while we were waiting for it to arrive we were lucky enough to be rescued by a big tractor that was heading up to scrape Robert Redford's driveway.

We had some of the best snow of our skiing life at Sundance!! It was pure powder up to our waist!! It was awesome!! We had so much fun!!

We ate Christmas Eve dinner at Sundance. We had a special table right by a roaring fire to help keep us warm.

We left Sundance on Christmas day and went to Christmas dinner at Mark's parents. They were very thoughtful and invited my parents to the festivities. We had so much fun being with everyone!!

We spent time with my parents and my niece, Lacey. She brought over her little 13 month old son Davey... he is SO cute!! The only one he wanted anything to do with was his mom and for a few seconds Jack! My other niece Lyndsie and her husband Johnny came over a few days later...unfortunately I didn't take any pictures :(

Tamara came over with her girls and we had a good visit... although it wasn't long enough!! In a couple of the pictures you can see Jessica (the 6 yr. old) trying her best to give Jack a kiss...he's fighting her off but I think it's just for the cameras!! I'm sure he enjoyed every minute of the attention!

We want to make sure the Chase family knows how much we appreciate them letting us (and our dog) stay with them for a whole week!! We pushed people out of their beds, stayed up way too late, almost watched doggy porn...but we had a TON of fun!! We love you guys!! We love all our family in Utah, Washington and California!! We MISS YOU!!

Brynn took some beautiful photos while we were at Sundance. She has quite the talent!!

45 year olds Still Enjoy the Lake

We went to Lake Lanier for the day to celebrate Mark's 45th Birthday!! We LOVE you Mark and appreciate all you do for our family!!

Recital Time

The kids had their annual piano recital. They have taken from the same teacher for 9 years. This was Jack's first year playing and they all did a GREAT job!!

Brooke had her dance recital. She was lucky enough to have a class with her best friend Summer. I just want to know... how is it that each costume costs $50.00?

Summer Vacation

We spent the month of July in Park City, Utah. We LOVED it!! The kids got together with some friends that they've known since birth... they had a TON of fun!!

They usually make some goofy spoof movies... from the looks of it this has something to do with Harry Potter?!?!

Our favorite thing is to spend time with family! We love and miss them all SO much!!

Mark's sister Sue came up to Park City with two of her daughters (and 2 grandchildren) we swam and went out to dinner. We LOVE them and MISS them!! Alec started teaching Caden the finer points of hair styling and how to comb your hair.

We had so much fun in Park City - biking, swimming, hiking, taking walks,Farmers Market, Park Silly Sunday and being together!!!

Mother's Day Relax Parlor

Aren't I lucky?? For Mother's Day every year I get an awesome back and foot massage from the kids!! They get better every year!!

Spring Break in the Georgia mountains (funny what they call a mountain)!!

We went to Blue Ridge, GA for spring break! We stayed at a nice cabin and had a great time together going on hikes, walking the town main street, watching movies, soaking in the hot tub! We were able to take Sundance with us, she loved it after the first night. On the way home we got a little lost... what should have taken 50 min. actually took us 2 hours! Our phone GPS systems were telling us wacky ways to get home - Mark and I loved it because the drive was so pretty but the kids just wanted to get home!!!

Skiing in Utah

We had a GREAT time skiing/snowboarding and spending time with family in Utah!! We LOVE being together and feel blessed we are able to do fun family things!!

Christmas here we come!!

I can't believe it's DeCeMbEr?? We started to get in the spirit early... we each painted a miniature nutcracker soldier. There is nothing better than spending time with each other!!

Hotter Than a Jacuzzi?!?!

Sunday, Jack was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When he and Poppy got in the font they soon realized the water was way too HOT!! They wanted to get out but the crowd just looked at them like "come on... just get er' done" (a Southern expression)! When they emerged from the water their legs were beet red (just like this...)
Everything is FINE!!! There are no lawsuits pending... only a lot of jokes about the whole thing!! We've laughed so hard about it we've cried!!

Another Year Older and Labor Day

On Labor Day we went boating on Lake Lanier to celebrate Mark's Birthday! It was AWESOME!!! Surprisingly it was not crowded and it was the perfect temperature!!

Summer Fun in Utah

The first stop we made was to see Grandma & Grandpa Orgill. We arrived on their 64th Wedding Anniversary... hence the flowers.

Grandpa has macular degeneration, the kids used his magnifying glass to take some cool pictures - but there is NOTHING cool about macular degeneration!!! I hate that my dad suffers from this... but he is doing his best to stay positive and active!! He turned 86 on August 13th!!

No trip to Utah would EVER be complete without a trip to Chuck-a-Rama (according to the kids... not me)!! We met up with Lyndsie and Johnny and had a great time!

We spent 4 nights in Kamas for the Josie Family Reunion!! Megan, Josh's wife, has a family cabin that her family let us use... it was AwEsOmE!! We had SO much fun!!! We fished, laughed, danced, practiced yoga, saw Harry Potter at the town theatre (which was very funny... the theatre that is)played games, roasted marshmallows, laughed, played with the cutest babies, we had a GREAT time!! We love being with FAMILY and miss them all so much!!!

FUN!!!

fUn!!!

and MORE fun!!!!

We then took Brynn to BYU cross country camp!! She met up with her best friend Marlee. They had a GREAT time!! She ran her bum off...and she didn't have a bum to begin with!!

We stayed at SUNDANCE the week Brynn was at camp (wish Brynn had been with us). We had an incredible time!! SUNDANCE is so AWESOME!!! Lyndsie, Johnny and Jack came up and we hiked Stewart Falls!! I loved this hike... we were with family and it was a beautiful sight to see the falls!! We then went to La Dolce Vita in Provo!! One of our all time favorites!!

We had never been to Timpanogas Cave so we hiked that lovely climb (oH mY GoSh!!) What made it even more fun was Jack... he said his back hurt, then he said he had a headache... we were literally dragging him up that steep incline!! To top it all off... I am claustrophobic and didn't want to go in the cave for the life of me!! The Park Ranger stood by my side and gave me his flashlight... and I made it through... I NEVER have to do that again!!
We had a great day biking the Provo trail!

We picked Brynn up from cross country camp and went to stay in Park City!! We stayed in a beautiful condo and had a great time...we were glad to be back together as a family!!

We missed seeing a lot of our friends because there is NEVER enough time!! We never spend as much time, with those we love, as we would like to!! and feel bad when we miss seeing those we love!! Hopefully next time...

We LOVE you family and we LOVE spending time in Utah!!!

He Rocks!!

On our craft day we made Mark these FATHER'S DAY gifts!! How did we all get SO lucky?? He's is a great father and husband!! WE LOVE YOU MARK!!!!

15 years since one of the BEST days in my life!!!

For Brynn's birthday we went shopping and she chose all of her favorite things for dinner that night!! I LOVE YOU Brynn!!! You are a GREAT girl!!!

The Cranky Dancer

Brooke had to perform in two dance recitals this year... which would make anybody cranky because they last 3-4 hours each!! This picture is after her first dance recital... this girl does not hide how she feels...

In between the recitals we went out to eat and then to the mall... Brooke perked up after eating (as demonstrated by her mall photos). The mall was a photo opportunity rather than a shopping opportunity (much to Brynn's dismay)!

Spring Break FUN!!!

We went to New Canaan, CT and New York City for Spring Break!! We had such a great time visiting with the Thomas Family!!

The first night of our drive we stayed in Winchester, VA at the cutest place "George Washington Hotel"

We then drove to New Canaan, CT to visit our friends the THOMAS' (sans David...he was in Japan)!!

THIS NEXT PICTURE IS A JOKE!!! SO ALEC & ERIN PLEASE DON'T HATE ME!!!! THESE TWO ARE JUST FRIENDS (almost like cousins)... THEY HAVE BEEN FRIENDS SINCE BIRTH... I COULD NOT RESIST POSTING THESE PICTURES! WE MADE THEM POSE THIS WAY TO BE FUNNY!!

ALTHOUGH...Erin did give Alec his first Star Wars light saver when he was two...how can you resist a girl that does that??? Alec should be so lucky!!!


Monday it was rainy and cold... so we decided to go to the Korean bathhouse we were SO relaxed when we left!! This is the nicest Korean bathhouse we have been to!!

We spent 3 nights in New York City doing some of our favorite things!!
New York LDS Temple
Levain Bakery SHREK the musical Mary Poppins Museum of Natural History Brooklyn Diner Pinkberry Madame Tussauds Wax Museum M&M World Central Park