Rhino Ride

When my parents bought the house in Alpine, my mom and dad bought a Rhino to go exploring up in the mountains behind their house.  We were able to take a few rides - and I have to say that this thing is absolutely unstoppable.  It's quite remarkable what it will climb.

 My hotty and the Rhino.

 The sun was setting as we were coming down the mountain trials

 We saw a couple herds ? of white-tailed deer.  I did my best to capture a pic of them.  I wasn't too successful.

 A peek of Utah Lake

 Proof that I was there...We got to the top of the mountain and could see the Draper Temple behind us.  Too bad for the inversion - it was pretty hazy.  We were surprised to see so little snow while we were in Utah.  It was warm and dry the whole time we were there.  Lois was pretty disappointed that she didn't get to use her "snow" coat.

 Hardcore, babe.  I like it.

 We love how Alpine is tucked up in the mountains - so much so that the inversion didn't even touch the quaint little town.  We fell in love with Alpine.

 A picture of the sky from my parent's backyard.  It was a gorgeous night. 

Smith Christmas Festivities

We spent New Year's Eve and that following week with my family.  

We ate lots of delicious food.

We played ping pong.

We watched movies.

We played with cousins.

We went on Rhino rides.

We laughed.

We all got a horrible, but quick flu.  Not so fun.

We played games.

We shopped.

It was all good times!

My beautiful mama - what would we all do without her?  She's the best.

This was the hub - the kitchen.  There was always something good to eat.

On New Year's Eve, we had our sibling gift swap.  Here are some pics from the night.

Preston got some golf bracelets from Raleigh.

Jason gave Mack a RC remote control helicopter.

Kels got some bracelets from Tandi

Jordan got some golf gear from Mack.

Jordan gave Raleigh a golf bag.  

(Can you see a recurring theme with the Smith boys?!?  Obsessed with the game of golf.  No, I'm serious.  They're OBSESSED.)

I bought Tandi a watch.

And Preston bought Jason a sweet messenger bag.  I can't find the pic right now.  Kels got me a darling shirt and some perfume from a boutique called Soel.  

And grandma supplied the chitlins with some awesome matching jammies!  (Too bad we didn't get Simon and James in the picture...they had the same ones, too.)

This is quite possibly one of the best photos ever.  Lois is cheesin' it up and Stella is laughing at Phoebe, who is totally diggin' for some not-so-delicious gold.  Priceless.

There's nothing like a cousin party and watching a movie in sleeping bags.

Kelly was the keeper of the stairs.  Thankfully, the next time we go to Utah, Simon will be a pro at going up and down those suckers.  At that point, he was just able to go up, so it was a little unnerving.  I had to watch him like a hawk!

Smiley James

Raleigh and Graeme

This kid looks just like Stella when she was a baby.  Look at those delicious cheeks!

Climbing and happy.

Chubby-licious.

My cute dad and Loey - I love this picture.

Rals and Tandi

Phoebe, Mack and his friend Lauren

Preston playing it cool with the two little ladies

Jord and Kelly

What a cute little man!

Graeme and Raleigh

 My man and my boy

 AH!  That smile!  

 The kids had a blast watching Mack fly the helicopter.  James was especially enthralled/terrified of that thing!

This picture definitely doesn't do this tree justice.  I think it was about 16 feet tall and a gorgeous Noble.  It was so tall that it had to be put in the foyer!  I wish you all could have seen it in person.  I love tall and non-bushy Christmas trees.  They are so elegant.

And that's our Christmas 2011.  We drove home with Jason around the 13th, I think.  It was a nice, long visit and we had so much fun spending time with our families.  Thanks to all for the memories!  

And a little note about that awful flu:  It started with poor Jill (Jason's cousin).  Then Jason's dad got it.  Then Nate.  Then Jason and Simon.  Then Lois.  Then me.  Then my entire family (except Tandi, my mom and Jason's mom, I think...) got it over the next few weeks.  I think that nasty little bug left only a few unscathed in all of Utah.  It was quick moving (like 24-36 hours) and super strong.  My dad hadn't thrown up since he was eight.  Anyway, that was not cool.        

*I'd also like to note that Jason and I have considered adopting a three-year-old playmate for Lois.  The best part about the week was that Lois was so happy and content. Like all the time. She barely even whine/cried/talked back, etc.  She, Stella and Phoebe were inseparable, played well together and were pretty much just doing their thing.  It was an absolute dream.  It's so nice to have cousins for your little ones, isn't it?  They'll be the best of friends their entire lives.  I'm so happy that my kids have cousins close in age.  It's will always provide great memories at family gatherings and vacations.  Three cheers for cousins!!!

Wright Christmas Festivities

We flew in late on Friday night and arrived at the most beautifully decorated house!  We got there around 11:30pm.  We were expecting grandma to be at the airport, but unfortunately she was sick.  So, when we got there and Simon was screaming his guts out, she assumed it was a cat. :)  Until she figured out that it wasn't a cat...but her little grandson Simon!  

I survived the my solo plane ride with two kids relatively unscathed.  It got a little dicey at times, but we managed!  Thankfully, there was a member of my bishopric on my same flight (he was flying to Utah to join his wife and kids).  He was a total lifesaver...especially in helping me get to my next flight during the layover in Phoenix.  It was a huge answer to my prayers!

This was such a pretty tree!

This is the only picture I got of these two.  It's not the finest, but we had fun with them!  Kristen is about to have a baby boy in April.  Yay for cousins!  

Christmas Eve was spent at Jason's grandparent's house, where we ate their traditional Mexican (enchiladas and tamales) feast.  It was delicious, of course.  We were then entertained by all the grandkids who had put together a wonderful Christmas program for great grandma & grandpa.  It was a great evening.  So glad we could enjoy this with the family!  We missed Jason, of course. 

 Here's little Isaac (Elyse and Brandon's boy), Lois and Simon playing together.  

Lois was recruited to be the angel in the nativity scene.  She was totally excited - even though the picture doesn't reflect it!

Lois' acting debut!

Grandma Janny and her little people

I love this picture.

Christmas morning, we woke up and opened gifts after going to church.  Here's a cute picture of Simon.  

Grandma and Simon

What?  Simon's zoning out?  No way.  He never does that.  

Despite Grandpa's efforts to engage, he was still zonin'.  Penny for your thoughts??!?

CHEEEEEEESE!

Spunkster  

We packed in the car and headed out to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point - and they were awesome!  Here's a few of our favorite displays.

Lois was excited to see that elves work on "light" houses.  

They were really well done and we loved it.

Thanks, grandma and grandpa Wright for the awesome Christmas!  We love you!

Christmas Festivities

We got an early start to Christmas in 2011.  This past year, Jason had to work on/over Christmas.  It was decided that because he'd be working on Christmas day and through the 28th, the kids and I would fly (um, I was absolutely terrified to fly alone with two kids, by the way...) to Utah on the 23rd to spend it with the Wright family, care of the fabulous Nate and Kristen.  (And we also got to surprise Grandma Janny, too - which was totally awesome!)

So, we had our own little Christmas on the morning of the 22nd.  

Then we had Christmas with the Wright's.

Then we had Christmas with the Smith's.

I think Lois was in heaven with all her Christmases.

Here's a recap of our little Tucson Christmas together. 

 Christmas Eve, while Simon was slumbering away, Lois, Jason and I read the story of the birth of Christ from the Bible.  Lois was really trying to be patient.

 I had bought a few games to have in the house and had wrapped them a couple weeks before Christmas and put them under the tree.  Lois inspected them EVERY single day.  She was pretty stoked to finally get to open them on Christmas Eve!  

She also opened some Christmas pajamas - a tradition that is still alive in the Smith family!

 It looks like Santa made it!  

And Lois loves her tricycle the most.

 We gathered in Lois' room Christmas morning.  Lois was pretty antsy to get downstairs.  Simon, on the other hand:  oblivious!  

  

 Lois got quite a few books from Santa, but this one was her favorite because it's about a chameleon.  Why is that significant?  Well, because Pascal, Rapunzel's side kick, just happens to be a chameleon!  That's how we roll around here.  That girl knows her princess trivia.

 This is a "jumping ball."  Lois is just figuring out how to bounce on it.  Good times!

 Leading up to Christmas, Lois repeatedly said, "Santa's bringing me a dog" or if you asked her what she wanted from Santa she'd reply, "A dog.  Or a hamster."  This is as close as she'll get to a hamster or a dog for a few more years.  This little fake hamster rolled all over the floor for days!

 Simon got a ball popper.  It was love at first sight.

If he'd just have the patience to let the balls pop out!  He kept grabbing the balls before they had the chance to pop out.  I love his concentrated look here.   

Recap of Christmas #2 and #3 are on their way!