Carriage Ride

Sunday night we went caroling with the McLachlans. We sang "Jingle Bells", "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger". Bradlee and Brock especially had a good time. They knocked on the doors and rang the jingle bells. Every single person there forgot to bring a camera even though we talked about it before we left the house. I am sad we didn't get any pictures because I think everyone had more fun than they thought they would.

Monday night for FHE we went out to Red Lobster for dinner and then on a carriage ride around Temple Square. Once again I forgot to bring my camera. I was ready to forget all about pictures, but Tyler (being sentimental) didn't want to miss their first time on a carriage ride, so he ran all the way back to the car to get our camera. The kids had a great time!! They love horses, and they love lights. We still couldn't get very good pictures of the kids because they were too excited to look where we told them. Our horse's name was Wesson, and he did a fine job! Also, we had the only carriage with a heater...sooo nice!

Here's Brock petting Wesson's nose.

Bradlee wouldn't take her eyes off Wesson long enough to take a picture.

She's still trying to get a look at the horse.

Brock was pretty pumped that he got a free candy cane. Ok, technically, I guess it wasn't really free at all.

Gotta love the Christmas season. Today I watched White Christmas with my mom. It is sort of a tradition. I swear I love that movie more and more every year. It might possibly be my favorite movie of all time. They just don't make 'em like they used to.

Two of My Favorite Teenagers

The other weekend Jordan and Max came to visit. While they were here we watched some movies, went to some Christmas parties, went out to lunch and went to the mall. They also came with us to see Bradlee's second dance recital. After the recital we went out to eat at Iceberg. Pretty sure those two were bored out of their minds most of the time, but they were good sports about it anyhow.

FHE with the Jacksons

Last night we had FHE with Kate, Hunter, Keelia and Hadlee. We went to Gardener Village and went on an Elf Hunt. We had to find about ten different elves doing a bunch of different things. After we found all the elves the kids got free candy sticks from the candy shop.

We also stopped to have treats and hot chocolate at the bakery while we were there. My kids both chose to have chips. I don't let them have nacho flavored Doritos or Cheetos at our house because of orange fingers, so they ALWAYS want them when we are out somewhere. As you can see, Keelia is the only child who cooperates for pictures.

Hunter is all about the PDA!

Keelia with her blue frosting face.

Bradlee with her nacho cheese face.

which brings us to Brock...?

I don't know about everyone else, but I had fun. I love being out and about during the holidays. Plus, Kate and Hunter are always entertaining!

Bradlee's First Dance Recital!!!

Bradlee had her first dance recital ever tonight! It was held at the Festival of Trees at the South Town Expo Center. She did AMAZING! Tyler and I could not have been more proud of her. She told us that she wasn't nervous, and she wasn't lying. She did everything exactly like she was supposed to, and was easily the cutest girl out there (I swear I am not biased)!

Oh my goodness! Look at that face! Those eyelashes just DO NOT stop!

Here she is at the venue before the show started showing off her costume.

When I picked her up after the recital was over, the first thing she said to me was "Mom, my lipstick is coming off!" She was so excited when I took her to see everyone who had come to support her. She seemed really surprised!

This picture is just precious! Tyler loves that girl like nobody's business!

When I was growing up my dad gave me yellow roses every time I had a performance, so Tyler is carrying on that tradition! She LOVED them, and that is an understatement. She wanted to carry those flowers with her everywhere!

Grandma and Papa Bricco also brought her flowers. She couldn't get enough of them!

I am the proudest mom ever! Can you tell? I think it is because she has changed so much in the last few months, and dance has made such a big difference in her! She loves her friends in class, and she loves her teachers.

Daddy is pretty proud, too!

I did not mean to only take a picture of my mom with Bradlee. I was a little anxious and excited this evening, and that is just how it worked. Papa Bricco, Grandma and Papa McLachlan were also there. I wish I had pictures of them, too! I hope no one takes it personally! Megan, Cory and Lisa all came to support this little angel too! She was eating up all the attention. I don't think she has EVER been this cooperative while taking pictures!

Brock wanted to show Bradlee some love too! He yelled for her as soon as he saw her come out on stage! I wish I also had a picture of this pose from the back, Brock had his arm around her!

Afterwards, per Bradlee's request, we took her out for pink ice cream with sprinkles. The McLachlans all came to celebrate with us! She has another performance on Friday, and we hope to get video of the actual dance to post! We'll keep our fingers crossed...

Jazz vs. Bucks

Last night we had free tickets to go see the Jazz vs. Bucks. Not the most exciting game ever, but we had good seats. The Jazz won, and NBA games are always a good time! Pretty sure my parents thoroughly enjoyed themselves also (mostly because the company was amazing). My mom made some crude comments about the Jazz bear, pretty sure Tyler swore once or twice, I overate, and my dad gave us his trademark look of disapproval at least half a dozen times. So, all in all, I guess it was a pretty routine outing for our family.

I loves me some cotton candy!

Thanksgiving Weekend 2010

The weekend started out with a 5k run out in Draper on Thanksgiving morning. It was Mom's first race ever, and it was my dad's first race since his open heart surgery in April. My dad had a little trouble getting dressed for the event, as you can see, but other than that they both killed it!

It was only 9 degrees outside on Thursday morning, so we had to dress as warm as possible. We ran with handkerchiefs around our faces because the air was too cold to breath. I literally had an icicle in my hair when the race was finished!

Thursday afternoon the Jamie Bricco family rolled into town. Oh my gosh! Laying down with a sleeping baby is the best thing in the world! I swear I could sniff Keira's head all day long. I was so glad to meet her finally. She is so sweet and has the cutest laugh and smile!

Thaiya gets more beautiful every time I see her! Bradlee was SOOO glad to have Thaiya for the weekend. She had been talking about it for weeks. Thaiya was a super good sport and spent lots of time doing things with Bradlee. Bradlee cried for about two hours when they left because she wanted to go home with "her" Thaiya.

I think it is awesome that Jaiden and Thaiya are so close with their grandparents. It is pretty special.

Look at the smile on that baby! Bradlee is looking a little rugged in this picture, but I just had to post this picture of Keira!

Tyler and Jamie...REPRESENT!

Did I mention that they are pretty close? Those two are constantly trying to spoon with each other.

Brock loved having some boys to play with. Jaiden is really good with the kids and they all love him. Brock and Jetrin only got in a couple of "altercations". Other than that, they had a really good time together. We could never get a picture of them because they never stayed still...ever.

Saturday morning, Bradlee woke up and clearly had a UTI. Tyler was a good sport and took her to urgent care. I don't think he knew he was going to have to spend 3 hours there holding a cup to try and collect a urine sample from her. Bradlee refused to cooperate for the longest time, and Tyler tried to bribe her with a pink balloon, but Bradlee drives a hard bargain. She wasn't going to do it for any less than FOUR pink balloons.

SOOO HOTT!

Princess Keira

We had lots of good food over the weekend. Some of us went to see Harry Potter, and some of us went to see Tangled. We played some games, and just had a lot of fun hanging out together.

Family Pictures 2010

We have never taken family pictures ever since we have been married. I have felt guilty about it, but always rationalized that my kids would never cooperate and it would just be a waste of time and money. Well, my niece, Jordan, takes amazing pictures and my kids love her, so I thought now would be the perfect time to give it a go. The pictures turned out more AMAZING than I had even hoped for. I LOVE Jordan, and I LOVE our pictures!!!