Winter is Here!

Today we had our first "real" snow. It was beautiful to wake up to, and even more beautiful when the sun came out this afternoon and made the snow sparkle.
I didn't get a picture of it, but I found this one that I really liked.
(Besides, I really, really needed to update this blog. I'm sure you were all getting tired of looking at Max's face - as handsome as it is!)

Happy Birthday, Max!

Isn't he handsome?I can't believe my little boy is 15 years old!

Sundance

Last weekend, Nikita & I went up to Sundance with the sisters in our ward for a Relief Society Retreat. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We hiked up to Stewart Falls.

We got right up to the falls, and eventually went right into them.

We rode the ski lift up into the mountains.

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend.

Disneyland

Well, we FINALLY got our family do Disneyland. Jim and I hadn't been in 20 years, and the kids had never been at all. We went with Kerri & Emily, and Vera, Dylan & Kiersten.
We spent the whole day there. Sixteen hours is a long day, but it was fantastic! Being with family made it extra fun!
We went in August and I'm just now posting the pictures.

Tower of Terror with Kiersten & Vera.

The little kids opted out of this ride.

Andre getting ready for Buzz Lightyear 3-D.


Ivan & Max watching the High School Musical parade.

Max & Mickey

Nikita & Mickey

Ivan, Andre & Dylan in the skull cage on Tom Sawyer's Island.

Carpinteria Beach

We took the kids and the cousins to Carpinteria Beach. It was a perfect day!

Ivan, cousin Dylan, and Andre.

Ivan , Andre, Dylan, Max and Nikolas.

Max and his little cousin Nikolas are best buddies.

Bryce Canyon

Entering Red Rock Canyon, heading into Bryce.

Our first view of the Hoodoos.

The Boys

The hike we were about to take down into the canyon.
(Notice all the switch-backs!)



These trees were growing out of the barren ground, straight up through the rocks.

Resting halfway down the canyon.

Bridges on the path.

Notice how the trees are growing at an odd angle.

Great views, huh?

All that hiking really took it's toll!

We had such a great time! I'd forgotten what an amazing place Bryce is!

(Be sure to see the video in the following post.)

Bryce Canyon

This was such an amazing hike. And this view was just an average one compared to all that we saw there.

Don't Panic

If you come into the house at night, sit down at your computer, and hear an odd hissing behind you...you may have one of these on your back: Don't panic. And don't let anyone squash it! Just calmly go back outside and have someone brush it off. It's really harmless!

Birthday Boys

July 17, 1998

June 18, 1990

Seems like it was just yesterday.
Has it really been 19 years?
Happy Birthday, Nikita...you'll always be my Baby Girl!

Ivan and Andre are 10 years old now. You'd think they'd be growing out of the "stuffed animal" stage, wouldn't you?
Well, last week while they were away at camp for three days, I took over the task of cleaning out their room, top to bottom. I ended up with two bags of trash and two and a half bags of stuff to donate to D.I. One bag was just stuffed animals and other stuffed "characters". I was sure they wouldn't miss them. They had a huge tub full of them. I know which are their favorites and kept them. I only got rid of the ones I thought they didn't play with. What do I know???

Today, they decided to play with them. And guess what?
"Mom.....Where are the 5 little dogs with the big heads? Where is the gray seal...the rainbow seahorse...the honeypot bears...the ballerina mouse...the girl duck...etc, etc, etc...........???"

Luckily I hadn't yet taken the stuff out of the house. I got the bag, looked inside, and realized that they knew exactly EACH AND EVERY ONE of the toys that I had taken!

Well, I suppose if they are all that important that they know them all individually, they deserved to keep them! Luckily they didn't ask about any of the stuff that I threw away!

How time flies.....

Just got a new scanner. Still trying to figure it out.

(This does not look at all like I wanted it to.)

Graduation

The Graduate

She spotted us in the crowd.

Nikita and her girlfriend, Christina.

Andre was all ready to graduate. My parents came down for the big day.

Aren't we the proud parents?