Marley at Gateway Center

When we were down in Utah it was cold and the girls do not want to shop all day...bummer :) I was also getting very tired of swimming in the cold hotel pool! I found Discovery at Gateway. This place was amazing and the girls could of stayed all day. They had a miniture city that they were able to be all these different things. Marley loves the store and the little house that she could bring the food too. We will definitely go again!
My little Top Chef

She loved the horse and the farm.

Most of all she loves shopping.....that's my girl!

She was also able to check out her own food! She had a blast!

Acquarium

We went down to Utah for the weekend to go to my new sis in law's wedding shower. I took the girls to see the aquarium down there. It actually was not half bad. They had a touch tank and a bunch of ocean life. The pictures are dark, but atleast you can see the fish :)

Wedding Dresses

Andrew, my brother, is getting married next month. His fiance, Jessica, has graciously said that Avery and Marley can be flower girls, or girls that just wear pretty dresses :) Well, Avery when trying on the dress that grandma has ran all over the country trying to find for the 3 grand-daughters, said I think this will be beautiful for MY WEDDING! I know she feels like this will be her day:) She is going to be my bridezilla...the poor guy who is out there somewhere doesn't know what he is going to get himself into!!

Mani Pedi Birthday Party

For Avery's 6th Birthday I decided to try a party at our house. This is the first year, I have always done something at a different place. I was trying to be thrifty and thought I could seriously do this cheaper and easier. UMMMM NO!! I had to clean my house twice, once before and then once after. I bought a bunch of stuff to do hair and nails, and paid some students to come over and help. By the end it was almost the same as some of the places we had been in the past, where I did not have to clean up, make a cake, or buy goodie bags!! I have decided it is better to go somewhere else :) I love just leaving and coming home to a clean house :)

We did have a great time with 16 little 6 year olds getting their hair and nails done.

Happy Birthday Avery! Avery at her Kinder class...she got to where a crown for the day!
Even Marley got to be invited to the party!

I love all the pink hair!

Birthday Girl!

Best part is opening the presents!

Happy Birthday Avery!

My sweet, sweet, little Avery. She is one of the nicest little girls around. She tries soo hard to be a great friend and person. Avery is a great big sister and she is Marley's little idol. Avery has been a complete joy. I cannot believe it has been 6 years that she has been in our lives. It makes me sad that the time has gone by soo fast. I love spending time with her and we are now having great conversations. She has recently started having a little attitude and thinking for herself, which sometimes is not fun :) It has been soo much fun to watch her grow from a fat little baby into a kind and thoughtful little girl. Avery, your daddy and mommy love you soo much!

HOCKEY!!

Troy is on an adult Hockey team, where all of his old Steelhead teamates and himself play a couple of games through out the year. It is fun to get out of town and support Dad. We had a great time in Sun Valley. We went tubing saw a couple of games (never made it through a whole one...sorry Troy). We had a great time seeing old friends!!

PS. All of the players decided to grow mustache's. They looked like a bunch of 1970's guys out there on the ice. Thank goodness that thing is gone now!!

Christmas Break!

Avery got the infamous cupcake maker..the cupcakes taste like soap!!!! Santa brought Troy some new pajamas.....ummm they were a little big and he looked like an old man with his pants pulled all the way up.....it was the thought that counts though....thanks Santa!! Marley and Avery got their beautiful princess night gowns....Marley will not take the thing off!!! We had fun making cookies at Grandma's house and we had some fun play dates with friends!!

I absolutely love this time of year. I love the Christmas season...but, most of all I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas Break. While a lot of you out there dread these two weeks with your kids back at home....I love it :) Troy works from home, so we have had a ton of family time. Our schedules are pretty crazy, soo it is nice to have a couple of weeks to just hang out and do whatever. We saw some movies, went to Rafiki, went sledding, and slept in (my favorite!), and caught up on my tivo'd Top Chef!!..In my next life I want to be on that show and learn how to chop that fast and make stuff out of 3 ingredients ;) I usually have a list of things I want to accomplish....but just like summer time....I usually never get to them or do not end up having the motivation! It's funny how fast two weeks goes when you are not at work!!!

Christmas Race

I cannot believe it has been another year...I ran this last year and it was soo much fun. This year was soo cold and snowy, I was a little nervous. My neighbor friend Holly and I talked ourselves into it and went for it. We had a great time and it is a fun way to start the Christmas Holiday! The problem is afterwards you stuff your face with soup, bagels, and cookies..all your hard work goes down the drain!!!