Temple Square

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is going to Temple Square to see the lights. We made our annual trip down there. I'm happy to report that we didn't have any meltdowns so that made the trip quite pleasant. Caden was very excited to go and see all the Christmas trees and he loves it every time we get to see a temple. Halle enjoyed all the lights also.

Can you tell the kids were excited to go?....



The kids haven't been very cooperative lately when we want to take pictures. I'm sure when they get older and look at all their pictures they'll wonder why they were never smiling. We do it for the memories.

Christmas Trees, Beds, and Birthdays

I'm sorry it's been forever since I've posted on my blog. We finally got a new computer after our old one died. We got a Mac so it is all new to me. I couldn't figure out how to download pictures, but I think I've figured it out. I know I'm a little slow. I am loving our new computer! It doesn't take me 20 minutes just to check my email.
December has been a busy month for our family. We've had preschool parties, ward parties, family parties, Christmas concerts, Jazz games, and a whole lot of other stuff to do. It's been a lot of fun and I can't believe December is half over!
Here's a few pictures of what's been going on....
Last year we bought a Christmas tree at one of the after Christmas sales. We decided we would put it up in the living room and let Caden and Halle (mostly Caden) decorate how they wanted to. He took this very seriously. He found every little toy he had and put it on the tree. Every time I looked at it there was something different on it. For a while I couldn't find any of my spoons and I decided to look on the tree and sure enough they were all there. He got very creative and even put dish rags and pens and random pieces of paper. I am very glad he found so much joy in it. The first thing he does when he wakes up his plug in his Christmas tree. He is very proud.

Here's a picture of him by it. He said I could take his picture if he could take a picture of me and Halle too.

He needs to work on his picture taking skills...
I tried to take a close up picture of it so you could get the full effect...

We finally decided to turn Halle's crib into a toddler bed. I was kind of sad, but I knew it was time. She was very excited. She's only fallen out a couple of times. Hopefully she gets used to it. She still calls for me to come get her in the morning. I wonder when she'll figure out that she can get out by herself.(hopefully not for a while)

We celebrated my Birthday a couple of days ago. I'm slowly getting closer to 30 and it's scaring me. Lucas and I went to Texas Roadhouse to eat and we went to the Jazz game. It was a lot of fun!

Halle's 2 year Pictures

I can't believe my little girl is 2 years old! She makes me laugh every day! I am so happy she is a part of our family.
About Halle:
Favorite TV shows-Caillou, Blues Clues, Yo Gabba Gabba
Favorite Food-Mac and cheese and chocolate milk
Favorite toy- Ernie or anything that Caden is playing with
Talents- She can do impersonations of most of the Sesame Street characters, she can count to ten, she is a very good dancer
We love you Halle!!!!

Disneyland!

I have been waiting a long time to take my kids to Disneyland and it finally happened! I was very excited! As I was looking through my pictures I realized I am not very good at taking pictures and my kids aren't very cooperative. They are either screaming, hiding their face, or running away. I'm sure you'll find a lot of these pictures amusing. I'll have to steal some from my family and post some more later.
Just a warning that there are a lot of pictures!


The first day we were in California, we stayed in Oceanside right by the beach. It was so pretty and these pictures don't do it justice. I didn't put Caden's swimming suit on because I didn't think he would get in the water. I was very wrong. He was soaked by the time we went back to the condo.




The next day we went to Sea World. It's been a long time since I've been there and they have changed it a lot. The kids loved seeing the fish close up and they especially liked all the Sesame Street stuff they have.
They have a Sesame Street 3D movie that was really cool. Even Halle liked it!


Here we are waiting for one of the many shows to start.
(Dallin, Gracie, Caden, Audrey, and Emily)
Clyde and Heather
Adam was happy to be there!
Halle and Caden loved the dolphins!


This one got a little too close.

Of course we got our picture with Shamu. I don't know why they put him in front of this weird looking plant. It looks like he has crazy hair.

Halle loves Elmo!
She was very excited to see Elmo and Zoe in person. She started screaming when we had to say goodbye.

Caden and Halle both loved the Sesame Street playground.




That night we went and got some Mexican food in Old Town.


The next day we went to Universal Studios. This is probably the best family picture we go the whole trip. Everyone is actually looking at the camera.

This picture didn't turn out so good. You can see the top of Caden's head as he ran away.
We went on the tram ride and Halle fell asleep like 2 minutes into the ride.
This is me and Lucas in front of the Hard Rock Cafe on the City Walk.


We went to Disneyland for the next 3 days.
This is me and my sisters. (Me, Mal, Audrey, and Emily)

This is our family picture.
Me and Halle and Norma on the Buzz Lightyear ride. I kicked butt! I got like 68,000 points. Don't ask me how I did it while holding a screaming child.
Me and Halle by Buzz Lightyear

Caden freaked out on almost all of the rides, but we did find a couple that he liked. He liked the ones that were outside. He enjoyed Dumbo.

Halle liked Toon Town.

Caden also liked Autopia. He was peaking around the fence to make sure everything was Ok and that nothing was going to jump out and scare him.

He was a crazy driver! He could barely see over the steering wheel.

Lucas, Me and Halle on the Jungle cruise.

Caden also enjoyed the tea cups. (nothing scary and no scary buildings to go in)
(Caden, Lucas, Audrey, and Emily)

Halle was so excited when she saw Woody and Jessie. Caden freaked out and wanted nothing to do with them.
When it was finally our turn to get our picture taken Halle decided to be shy.

Me, Lucas, and Halle in front of the Haunted Mansion. They had it decorated for the Nightmare Before Christmas. It was very cool! I think I like it that way better than the other way.

This is my favorite family picture. Lucas and I are glowing and Caden is stealing Halle's toy.
The cousins. (Gracie, Halle, Dallin, Caden) Notice how Caden is picking his nose.
Halle celebrated her 2nd Birthday while we were there!


On our last day at Disneyland, we went over before everyone else. As we got closer to the castle Lucas said, "That guy looks a lot like Jason." It really was Jason! He surprised Audrey and proposed to her in front of the castle. It was very cute and we are very happy for them!

I had to get a family picture in front of the castle. At least me and Lucas look good.

Me and Halle in front of It's a Small World. They had all the Christmas stuff up inside.
On the boats...
Every time I went on Splash Mountain I got soaked. I am never letting Lucas sit in the front. He claims that isn't the reason, but I believe it is.

Halle loved "Winnie the Poo Poo." (That's what she calls him) She would've sat there all day if we would've let her.

After 28 years of begging, my dad finally gave in and bought me a churro. My childhood dreams came true!

We found one thing that Caden and Halle loved. It was the Playhouse Disney show in California Adventure. I have never seen them so happy!


Caden also loved the letters right outside California Adventure.

I won't bore you with all the pictures for the Christmas parade, but here is one of them. I am so glad we got to see Disneyland decorated for Christmas. After the fireworks it even snowed on Main Street. (fake snow, of course)
Can't you tell Halle is excited?!

This is us in front of the HUGE Christmas tree on Main Street.
And this is us after a very long vacation...

I can't wait to go back!!!