Christmas in California!
This year we drove to California and spent Christmas with Shane's family. Everyone was able to be there and we had an amazing time.

Oliver had so much fun with his cousin Landon.

Off to the beach!

Our kids loved this!

This is a little clip of the talent show. Too bad we didn't get any of the Nativity.

http://www.youtube.com/watchq?v=fJX53vbA08

DISNEYLAND!

We had so much fun with the Bills/Simmons crew at the happiest place on earth!
Sophia celebrated her 4th b-day with a funnel cake and ice cream. She got a phone call from Goofy and a special Birthday pin. She was truly in Heaven!

The look on Oliver's face says it all! Shane and I laughed so hard because we've never seen him with this expression before. This funny little grin was on his face the entire time we were around the Princesses. He hugged and kissed them all!

The entire gang minus Dallin, Russ and Sherrie

Sophia loved meeting the characters. Minnie is her fav!

Oliver had an absolute blast! He was so excited about everything. I love this picture because it really does say 1000 words and pretty much sums up his Disney experience.

Oliver and Shane giving me their best Pirate faces!

Best Buddies

We spent one day while in California hiking around Malibu and enjoying the beach.

Park City at the Archibald's Cabin.
It was fun to see Jordan Brittany and their kiddos.

I adore Oliver in his snowsuit!

Christmas Morning (actually Dec 16th) was great!!

Sophia was excited to find a dollhouse waiting for her in her room.

Of course Oliver got multiple sport related presents.
Count it!

Costume contest WINNERS at Jen and Bretton's Turtleneck Christmas Party!!

Sophia's Christmas program was so cute! I love watching any kind of program involving kids this age. They always seem to be in their own little worlds.

Sophia sang her heart out. I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little choked up.

Oliver sat very still while Sophia and I burried him in stuffed animals. It made me think of E.T.

Enjoying some hot chocolate in Park City with the fam.
Getting ready for Thanksgiving !
This year we celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with the entire Bills family.

Everyone looks so serious in this picture but we really were having a good time.

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a Turkey Bowl!
Dallin, Shane, Tyson, Russ, Derek

We took the kids on the Polar Express train ride out of Heber the day after Thanksgivig. Here's Oliver and Landon in their jammies
Snuggling up with Grandma and Grandpa while watching the elves.

Jack is in his snuggly jammies too!


Shane and I celebrated our 6 anniversary in Park City. Nothing says I Love You like a weekend without the kids!

Just trying on a little fur.

Sophia and Oliver are playing beauty shop with a dish towell and an egg beater!

Oliver loves being her little playmate. He'll pretty much do whatever she asks.

Happy Birthday to me! What would I do without my little helpers?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY OLIVER!!!

Olivers 2nd birthday was perfect. While Sophia Grandma and I stayed home to put up a few sports related decorations, Shane snuck Oliver into the BYU football stadium to toss a football around. He was in heaven! When they arrived home we all jumped out and yelled Surprise, which he was! He loved every minute of it and enjoyed being the center of attention. He especially loved his Tony Romo jersey! He has worn it every day since he got it, he even wears it over his PJ's!
Thank you to those who sent cards and gifts, he really did have a great time.

Real men can wear a jersey and snuggle...

and give a babydoll a bottle.

Happy Halloween!!
I decided to go with classic Halloween costumes this year. The kids were indifferent and since G-ma Bills was here, face painting was a must!

My little night stalking Vampire

and Wicked Witch

Behind the scenes with the creator.

Dallin and Ariel took second place in their costume contest dressed in their Juno costumes!
Just when Sophia thought she had figured out where babies come from, she got to watch me duct tape a pillow to Ariels stomach, poor confused kid.

Shane brought home a big Rainbow Trout. To Sophias delight, he also cleaned it, grilled it, and ate it.

Saturday, while Shane took Oliver to the BYU game, I took Sophia to Trick or Treat Street in Sandy at the expo center. We went with Jen and her little trick or treaters,

Kaylin and Dax. This picture was our attempt at a group shot..emphasis on attempt.



Sophia was a Siberian Tiger for the day (not her actual Halloween costume)

The whole place is decorated and the kids go from door to door trick or treating. It was spooktacular!!

More Halloween fun with the Stouts

Cookie and Pumpkin decorating. When the kids got done with their cookies, they were like 5 inches thick...below, exibit A

Vivian Park
Dallin and Ariel

Sophia and Kaylin ride the ponies at the Barnyard Boo (Thanksgiving Point)

Jen and I thought it would be cute to take a picture of all the kids peeking through the haunted house. Apparently, the kids did not share our vision.

I settled for one kid peeking through

Barnyard Boo was fun and it was great to see Beth and her little guy Tucker.

Hee Haw Farm!!

We had so much fun with the Family at Hee Haw Farm
(yes, that's the real name).
Kathy Tyson and Landon were in town and we had a great time doing fall stuff with them! This place was classic- pony rides, petting zoo, corn mazes, tractor pulls, dangerous hay slides that all the kids had a love hate relationship with, and a lot more!

Some clips that Dallin took---Petting Zoo and Crazy slide that was so fast!

More Fall Fun!

We had so much fun watching the BYU game with Uncle Dallin. Oliver and Sophia were totally captivated the entire time.

A few weeks later, Tyson joined our crew as we cheered on the undefeated Cougars. Only this time we had to bundle up- great Football weather!

Oliver has a very unhealthy obsession with football and works himself up into a level 10 frenzy every time it's mentioned. I can't even drive by the stadium without tears and the never ending question "go cougars game mommy?" over and over.

We love to visit the river that is practically in our backyard.
Here is Shane impressing the kids with his rock skipping ability.

My little artist!

She takes after her Grandma and her Mimi.


View from our balcony

Dinner for two!
Sophia and Oliver enjoying their dinner with a view.
I was praising Oliver for eating all of his food until I looked over the side of the balcony!

Happy Fall!

I'm so excited for Halloween! You've probably all seen this picture but I'm posting it anyway. I'm getting in the Fall/Halloween spirit early this year. It always seems to fly by and I'm determined to savor every moment. I've already eaten a bag of candy corn and there are pumpkins on my mantle. We have all kinds of fall activities lined up for the next few weeks. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, scarecrow contest, jack o lantern carving, you name it, we'll be doing it!
Hope you're all having a great season so far!

Getting familiar with our new Utah surroundings

Shane has been fly fishing quite a bit these days. He and Rex try to go as much as possible before it gets too cold.

Piggie Pie is a homemade pig puppet that Oliver has become attached to. It's often the backseat entertainment. He puts on a mean puppet show.

Oliver loves his batman jammies. he's also really into pirates.


Temple Square

Shane, Oliver, Sophia, (and Lulu of course)

Our little artist

Sidewalk chalk was all over the place at out temporary apartment. We wanted to give them something to remember us by.

Uncle Dallin and Sophia enjoying some peanut butter on a spoon...yuk!

Bridal Veil Falls

Just as pretty as I remembered

Park City

Park City has a great street fair on Main street in the summer. Shane gave Sophia some great hula hoop pointers!

Feeding the ducks

Our first week in Utah, Ben Cichelli and his two cute boys Tyler and Jackson, took us to the historic Wheeler Farm. We've been back twice and plan on going for the fall and Christmas festivities.
We also like the farm at Thanksgiving Point where the kids got to ride the ponies and milk a cow. Everytime Oliver meets someone he says "Hi, I milk a cow!"