Christmas 2010

We had such a good holiday season filled with lots of family. Both my sister (Cadie) and Matt's sister (Mindy) and their families came to visit from Washington. We had so much fun having cousin sleepovers, playing games, and celebrating the season. It's always sad when everyone goes home, but we made lots of memories. FHE...Temple Square

Santa Claus comes to visit our Elementry. We waited way too long in line, but the kids got a huge bag of candy!

Christmas Eve. The kids all got new pillows and Owen got a sleeping bag that he lasted a whole two minutes in. They love sleeping together on Christmas Eve.

The loot

Owen got a train, shoes, a sweat outfit, a mini Book of Mormon, and a miniature Buzz and Woody.

Taylor got tools, a kit to make a catapult, a remote control car, club penguin for the wii, scriptures, and a sweatshirt and track pants.

Alli got a sweater, shirt, boots, a hair dryer, 3 barrel curling iron, a caboodle with hair accessories and headbands, and scriptures.

Caden also got tools and catapult kit, a remote control car, lego creationary game, a sweatshirt and track pants, and scriptures.

Matt gave me a weekend getaway to a hotel in SLC and tickets to a Jazz game. He also took me shopping for some much needed updating in my wardrobe. I gave him clothes and a watch (just what he wanted :).

We spent Christmas Eve at Matt's parents house and Christmas day at my parents house.

We also spent New Years Eve at the movie theater then Thayne and Amber's house playing games and stuffing ourselves with junk! Family and food...not a better way to spend the holidays! I just wish I would've taken more pictures...as uaual!

Gingerbread Houses

One of our favorite Christmas traditions is making Gingerbread houses (okay...grahm cracker houses). It's messy, but oh so fun!

Thanksgiving

Matt and I hosted Thanksgiving this year. This is only the second time we've had Thanksgiving at our house and I loved it! I love decorating and cooking for it. It was extra fun this year because we had a big enough table to seat all 14 of us (actually Will was asleep in his carseat for most of it, so really 13). The thing I was most thankful for that day was that the turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce all turned out and it didn't make anyone sick! I was especially nervous about the stuffing because I had read in a lot of places that if you don't cook it to 160 degrees (because of the juices from the turkey) then it could make you really sick. But it all worked out beautifully and was so fun to gain a little more domestic experience. I love Thanksgiving time!!!After dinner we watched "White Christmas" and then had pie and played games. It was a great Thanksgiving and now we are so excited for Christmas!

Family Pictures

We just had Kim take our family pictures again and we LOVE the way they turned out! Here are a few of our favorite!

Halloween Fun

We had such a fun October with PLENTY of opportunities to wear Halloween costumes. Between ward functions, school and family parties, trick or treating at Matt's work, and our own family traditions, we are Halloweened out! We love this time of year though and are ready for more holidays! Alli the hippie

Owen aka Superman

Caden aka Zorro (we made his hat out of cardboard boxes)

Taylor the Jazz Bear

Bobbing for apples at Gpa and Gma E.

Dax and Owen after trick or treating (they were troopers! They loved it!)

We made these bats for FHE

Trick or Treating at DFCU. I think they got more candy here than on Halloween (Eve).

Carving Pumpkins. Yes...Owen has a screw driver. Too young for a knife.

Decorating sugar cookies

Pack's Pumpkin Patch

Gardner Village

For the Last Time...

We took the crib down for the last time yesterday. Owen figured out how to climb out of it, so before he could get hurt doing so, we took it down and put the toddler bed up. This was bitter-sweet for us since Owen is our last baby, but this is the longest any of our kids have slept in a crib. He wanted NOTHING to do with it after Matt set it up. He wouldn't even go near it for his nap. So we made sure he was REALLY tired when we put him to bed and he didn't get out once! He did just fine going down for a nap in it today too. It's sad to see our baby grow up, but I'm really thankful the transition has gone so smoothly! Knock on wood!

Birthday boy #3

Our baby turned 2 on the 16th. I have to say his 2nd birthday was 100 times better than his 1st. On his first birthday, he was so scared of everyone outside of our immediate family that he just cried and clung to me because Matt's mom and dad and sister were here. He wouldn't touch his cake and when I stuck his fingers in it he cried hysterically. On top of that I had a terrible toothache that ended up needing a root canal. It hurt so bad I didn't care if Owen ate his cake or not. I just wanted his party to be over so I could go cry in private. This year on the other hand, was so enjoyable. Owen LOVED his presents (a ball from Alli, a Toy Story 3 dish set, a jacket, and his all time favorite, a little people farm-he LOVES the horses and carries them everywhere), loved picking out pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, and made a bigger mess with his cake and ice cream than last year. SUCCESS!

Alli gave Owen breakfast in his new dishes. Chex in his bowl, half a donut on his plate, and milk in his cup. All he ate was the donut...go figure.

Pack's Pumpkin Patch

The party crew

Proof that he liked his cake!

Happy Birthday Little Owen! We love you!

Stats at 2 Years

25 lbs (15 %)

33 3/4" (41%)