I can sew!

My parents gave me a sewing machine for Chrismtas and I have had a blast figuring it out and learning how to use it.  So far I have made a recieving blanket for Matt's cousin and a tablecloth.  I learned how to thread it and wind the bobbin all by myself tonight...I am quite proud of my little accomplishment!  I've got a few more basic projects to try next and then maybe I'll try something challenging.  It's been a fun way to pass these bitter-cold January days.

 Baby Blanket

Tablecloth

Happy Sewing!

Christmas

We had a great Christmas break enjoying our time in Utah with family.  We spent Christmas Eve with the Wrights and McKay ran wild with his cousins.  We opened a few presents Christmas Eve- the annual pajamas, a story, and the cousin presents.  My sister-in-law, Amanda, made McKay this cute cape with SuperMan on one side and BatMan on the other.  He had a blast flying around!  They also made him the dinosaur pajama pants.

 The Wright cousins in their new Christmas PJs.  None of them are looking at the camera, but they are all sitting in the same spot and kind of smiling...sometimes, that's as good as it gets!

Santa found us in Utah.  We got all sorts of fun treasures- I'll be baking and sewing all year long! 

Good Morning boys!  Don't you love sleepy Christmas morning pictures?  McKay and Daddy showing off the goods.  For McKay it was the Christmas of books, but we had to read each one as we opened them so it took quite a while!  He got into the presents more than last year, but the wrapping paper was still the hit!

 My boys showing off McKay's new radio.  He already ran the batteries out once...but it came in real handy at the cabin without power.  McKay was our entertainment!

Merry Christmas!

THE CABIN

Every year after Christmas we go up to the Rowley Cabin up Provo Canyon above Sundance.  We have many fond memories over the years but I think this year will take the cake...  We knew it was going to storm while we were up there but we didn't expect 2 feet in less than a day, an avalanche closing the road, or the power being knocked out.  We ended being snowed in an extra day (which gets a little stressful when you have a VERY limited number of diapers) without power (heating food by the heat of the gas fireplace) and were very glad when we were able to get back to Payson with hot water!!  It was a lot of fun and it'll take a lot to top this year's adventure!

Matt trying to dig the car out but it was snowing faster than he could dig!

 My parents got snowshoes this year and we had a blast hiking around in them.  It made it a lot easier to walk in the snow.

Matt and I went out first thing one morning with the snowshoes and saw these moose walking along the road.  We tried to get closer but a car drove by and scared them away.

Look close and you can see our snowed in cabin!

So pretty with all the new snow!  Breathtaking view.



We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Excitement!

I love Christmas season!!  Matt has almost a month off between semesters so we came back to Utah for a couple of weeks for Christmas.  We've had a blast so far.  McKay is loving the Christmas lights, trees, music, snow, treats, nutcrackers, presents...the list could go on forever because he is just loving all the festivities!!  He runs from one thing to the next so excited to see something new.  His excitement is contagious- our house is magical with him!

CHRISTMAS MUSIC...well, we listen to 3 Christmas songs- Frosty, "Pear Tree" (12 days of Christmas), and Jingle Bell Rock.  Why he has picked these as his favorite I have no clue!  He begs for us to play these songs and then puts on his Santa hat and dances away. 

This was so sweet- I walked in and he was sitting there talking to the Christmas ornaments.  I have no clue what he was telling them, but they must have been having quite the conversation!

We have had a week of snow.  After the first storm we built this snowman, then it rained and melted the snowman, and then over the next two days we got over 19" of snow!  We need to go build another one but Matt is pretty sick of the snow after pushing it for almost a week straight.

The snow is almost as tall as McKay but that doesn't phase him- he loves the outdoors.

We went up to Salt Lake with Matt's family to see the lights at Temple Square.  Bright me thought it would be fun to ride Trax up- a choo-choo train, the kids should love it right?  And it's just a quick ride right?  Well all the kids liked it except McKay and it isn't just a quick ride it is like 30-45 minutes...  At first it was exciting and new, but that ended fast and McKay and his Mommy were done.  We finally got there, enjoyed the lights, and thankfully McKay was so tired on the way back he just cuddled up with me and ignored all the "strange people"  (anyone who isn't Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, or Grandpa is strange in his book).  Next time I'll fight the traffic and parking and just drive into downtown!

We've had a blast so far and only a few more days to go...kind of bittersweet- I don't know if I want it all to end yet!  We hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving

I am a terrible blogger lately- sorry.  Does anyone else go through those phases?  I take pictures like crazy and document everything for a while, and then I get sick of it don't do anything for a while....well I am on the lazy kick right now so hopefully by Christmas I'll be camera-happy again!

We had a great Thanksgiving back in Utah with all of our family.  It was so nice to see everyone and just spend time together.  McKay even started to warm up to everyone by the time we left so hopefully over Christmas he'll turn into a social butterfly (we can always hope, right?).

Elise and her family flew in for the holiday so we were all together for a few days.  It was fun to watch Brooklyn and McKay try to "play" together.  I think it was more a game of "My toy", "No, mine!"  But it was fun nonetheless!

 It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without all the pies, gingerbread houses, and chocolate houses and this year didn't disappoint!  We went from one party to the next all week long.  (I haven't been able to justify making cookies since we got home.  We ate too much!)

I don't know who had more fun with the train- Matt or the boys.  Matt and Daniel had a blast putting it together and McKay had a blast destroying it (It was very entertaining to watch!).

Our little family!   We had a great time spending Thanksgiving with our family.  We have been so blessed to have great family support and we love and appreciate each of them.  It is nice to have an excuse to spend time together.