Steve and Emilie's Birthdays!

January is a big birthday month for us... Steve's and Emilie's are a week apart at the end of the month! Unfortunately, Steve was in Berlin for a week including his birthday- so we couldn't celebrate with him on the actual day. But- don't be sorry for him- because he went sledding in the Alps with his best friend and toured around Switzerland... yes, I'm very jealous :)

The next week was Emi's birthday- and she turned the GRAND 2! It's very trite, but I can't believe time goes so fast. She is blossoming into THE cutest little girl. Her happy personality and cheerfulness around the house is contagious. Of course she still is a little shy, hates big groups, and won't let anyone take care of her... but she's getting better :) Little steps.

This week we threw her a little party with a small number of friends (scared of big groups)... we had a friend give a music class where we danced and sang. Although it took a couple of minutes, the kids definitly got into it. We had some playdough, chalk, swings in the backyard. It was very chill, but I think Emi really liked it.


Music class...


These two love eachother. (most of the time)

Balloons.

Playdough.

Thanks for taking this Steve!

My favorite picture.

Or maybe this one!

We dropped balloons down on the count of three... it was a little slow, but the kids seemed to really like it!

I totally forgot to practice with Emi to blow candles out, but she really blew them out by herself!!!

I asked her what types of cupcakes she wanted, and she said "ducky." So that's what she got! Yum!

Loves slides!

Loves her sister.

And did I mention slides?

The final shot of the party goers!


HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMI! We love you!

Christmas!!!

For Christmas break, we decided to drive through Las Vegas on our way to SLC to visit family. My dad drove down to Vegas and met us... and we stayed for 5 days!!! As a caveat, I thought I would SWEAR on my grave that I would HATE Las Vegas for all of the obvious reasons, but I have to tell you, I actually really liked it!

I didn't take any photos while we were there and left it up to my dad (so I'll post them later), but we had a great time. We stayed at the Mandalay Bay for 2 nights and the Venitian for 3 nights (we extended our stay because we enjoyed it so much). The highlights included the 9 buffets we ate at!! (no exaggeration!), swimming outside in the 80 degree pools, the spas, the shows, the shopping!! Is is quite a destination.

We really loved the fountains in front of the Bellagio. I think it was Maddie's favorite thing. I kind of have to agree with her- pretty stunning and nothing like it.

After 5 days of pure glutony... we headed to SLC for Christmas and Steve's little brother's WEDDING! The last of his siblings to get married. It is crazy how time flies... I met his little brother when he was 13! Here are some highlights:

The kids LOVED the snow this trip. Of course, we had to make a snowman!

A picture of Steve's little brother who was coming and going during our trip to get ready for the wedding... cute, right?

Enjoying the snow...

Arms of course.

Proud of their masterpiece.

We went to downtown SLC, which is decked out in Christmas lights...

Really different shot of the temple downtown, but gorgeous.

Group shot of the cold family and Steve's other brother and wife! Yay!

Delirious from the cold.

Last year my mom gave the girls a sled, so this sled has a lot of sentimental value. We hit a little hill and Maddie had a blast... of course Emi was skeptical!

Not sure of the whole thing.

A few shots of the MANY runs:

Very Happy but COLD!

My dad and the girls.

We love these rosy cheeks!

Before the wedding, all of the guys went out for a "bachelor" party. I say that in quotes, because for them bachelor party = eating lots of red meat, drinking lots of soda, and going down in the basement and unloading all of the advice they could give in 1 hour!!! Poor Pieter!! hee hee.

The beautiful couple!

They had the wedding at a lodge in the snowy canyons...it was beautiful! Here is a quick shot of Maddie and her cousins waiting while the decorating was going on.

Steve's sister has such a great talent with her flower business. I love this bouquet.

Well, you wouldn't believe it if I told you, but the couple decided to go skiing before the reception. Yes, crazy. But, very awesome. I was really worried that she would rip her dress, but it didn't, and I'm sure her wedding pictures are amazing.

Awesome, no?

Off they go...

Down the mountain...

Steve's sister and husband... and Pieter's wife's aunt!

Maddie and her gorgeous cousin!

Dancing until she literally dropped.

Here's to another great Christmas!

Yellow Leaves

Sometime before it turned grey and brown, there were these yellow trees on our street that were drop dead amazing. Every day there were people stopping and taking pictures of the leaves, of their kids in the leaves, of their dogs in the leaves... you get the point. SO, I had to capture these leaves too. I wish they could be there all year- but I guess we wouldn't appreciate it, right??

Here are some shots of us enjoying the leaves (BTW- These photos are NOT photoshopped). This is the real color of these leaves!!

Also... I guess I should take this space to immortalize how Emily is growing up! Before these last two months, she was very clingy and we were waiting for the days when she would talk! Well, these days have come :) She has transformed into a little girl, saying "Hi" to everyone she sees and her vocabulary has BOOMED! Her favorite words so far- BABY, sticky, mommy and daddy, broke, up, more, bike, shoes, "where did it go," MINE, light (which also means pen?), and awake. She is adorable. We love you EMI!