Pioneer Day July 25, 2011

This year July 24th, or Pioneer Day as it's called around these parts, fell on a Sunday thus it was celebrated on Monday. John had to work during the day but after we headed up to my oldest brother Jay's house for a BBQ and fireworks. My parents and my other brother Chris and his family came as well.

Halloween 2010

We enjoyed a ward Halloween party and a very wet trunk or treat for festivities this year. We also spent time with family. Here are some pictures from Halloween this year...

Pumpkins all of which my dad grew in his garden this year.

My sisters kids and my girls.

Johns mom was at the Huntmans Center for a few days one of which was Halloween we got dressed up and visited her a couple times.

The girls love running around the patio outside the windows.

The back of their Tinkerbell costumes.

I love Katies yelling face in this one.

Katie and Grandma Hughes

Abi and Grandpa Hughes

At home we got some more pictures. The girls were very cute in their costumes.

Yup I was Tinkerbell too! So three Tinkerbells and John was one of Captain Hooks fellow pirates.

Our Fourth of July Weekend

We enjoyed a quiet fairly low key weekend. Saturday we were lucky to have John home from work and we enjoyed playing outside. That evening we enjoyed dinner at a friends home. We came home early to get the girls bathed for Sunday and to light a few fire works.

Abi getting ready to eat some grass.

Playing in the water.

We strapped the girls in the wagon to keep them from trying to get the fireworks it worked great!

John lighting fireworks.

Abi loved the fire works and would sign "more" after each one ended.

My cheesy Katie.

Sunday was spent attending church, having naps, throwing pop-its with Papa Nolan and then visiting Gramma and Papa Hughes.

The pop-it before Katie.

I got a pop-it!

Getting ready to throw pop-it. She had to jump while throwing each pop-it.

Pop-its after Kaite.

Abi clapping she was happy to watch Katie throw pop-its.

Abi "monkey walking" as I call it. She wanted to eat all the papers from the pop-its yuck, luckily none were eaten.

Playing catch up Easter

We started off Easter morning with baskets from the Easter bunny. Abi got some baby snacks a stuffed lion and a cup for bath time. Katie got a book toothbrushes and a scavenger hunt because of the snow. We spent the test of the day eating yummy food (see conference cake post) and watching General Conference. My girls were good and let me listen to quite a bit. I love listening to the words of the prophets and other church leaders. As always I was left with a determination to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend.

I have tons of pictures from the scavenger hunt, I'm posting them all so I can remember what we did.

The girls and me

Katie wanted to carry both baskets

The first egg and clue was where eggs are stored of course.

Mmm! M&M's

The next clue was under her chair.

Down the hall to...

where Katie takes her baths.

Outside on her way to her big surprise under the slide...

a tricycle and helmet!

Ya the helmet is big, but was the smallest one we could find.

Cute Abi!

Cute Katie!

Yay for the Holidays!

We spent Thanksgiving dinner with my family at my parents, we enjoyed being with family and eating good food. Katie loved having her cousins to play with and to chase after. Although we did miss my brother Chris and his little family, as they spent the day with his wife's family. The day before I helped my mom brine a turkey for the first time, it turned out awesome. My only problem with roasting a whole turkey is the dark meat, I am a white meat fan and there is never enough. Later in the afternoon we went to John's parents and were happy to be able to see all of his siblings and his parents. Some of the things I am thankful for are my family, my friends, a home to live in, the health all four of us are blessed with, a wonderful husband of nearly four years, for the beauty of earth and the desire and ability to enjoy it first hand.


John hasn't been able to watch as much college football as her would have liked this fall so we made sure to tune in to the BYU vs. UofU game. John's dad came and watched the game with us and ended up holding Katie is silly positions for part of her afternoon nap. Katie loves her Grandpas, next to daddy they are her favorite people.

John's mom found these very cute matching dresses for the girls. They look great on our beautiful girls.

I was getting pictures of Abi for her monthly picture and Katie had to join in. Katie has learned to get undressed except for those darn snaps on the bottom of the onesie, thank goodness to otherwise we would have a naked two year old most the time.

Abi is three months old. At her checkup everything looked great, she is in the 98% for weight coming in at 13 lbs 15 oz (her big sis is in the 10% on the other hand at 24lbs). Abi finally is starting to enjoy tummy time, as long as it is the right time of day. She gives lots of big smiles and I just can't seem to get a picture of one.

The Saturday, Sunday, and Monday after Thanksgiving were spent decorating for Christmas. I have many cute decoration mostly thanks to my Grandma Arlene and Grandpa Jay who gave me a new decoration every year. I got all of my houses, my nativity, and other items not pictured from them. Under our tree you'll see one of our wedding pictures, I took down some of the pictures and items from our wedding to make room for Christmas decorations. I thought how sad to take it all down the month of our Anniversary. The picture here we are on the mezzanine level at the JSMB and (not that you can tell, but...)the top of the Christmas tree in the lobby is visible as well as other decorations so I thought this would be a fun picture to display under our tree. We put our tree up on a side table to keep Katie away but of course being the little monkey she is climbs right up.

This last Sunday we decided to put together a gingerbread house. Katie loved putting candy on and licking frosting off of her fingers. John did all construction and I did the decorative icing that isn't so decorative. When we decided we were done with it Katie was already picking off her favorite candy to eat. It was a lot of fun I think we will definitely make it a tradition.