a cold morning snack

I felt this deserved a post of its own. 

Siri watched Chamberlain all morning in the snow. 

We were outside playing for about 2 hours when she caught on to eating the snow.

Chamberlain would take big scoops and shove it in his mouth.

Siri soon followed and ate snow until we went inside for the day. 

I think she liked it. I never got a smile out of her she just kept going back for more.

Of course we made sure it was clean snow. 

snowed.

Saturday we woke up to snow and Chamberlain was ready first thing in the morning to make a snow angel.

As for Siri I think she didn't know what to think. It was her first time as a walker in the snow and she was ever so curious. 

I have been enjoying the warmer sunny days we have been having but in the back of my mind still knowing those dreary, cold, wet, snowy days are ahead. I thought for sure those days of warmer weather were over. Nope we had a great snowy day on Saturday and back to warmer sunny days thus far. I like this kind of snow. However, I know its not good for the land and especially my beloved Lake Powell. I know the snowier the winter the better. But this year I am loving the scarce snow, and the more time we get to spend outside.

First Snow angel 2012. 

I believe she is wondering "what is all that white stuff."

So far she likes it and Chamberlain likes throwing snow balls at her.

Of course it wouldn't be complete without Josh dumping snow on Chamberlain.

Tuesday mornings with Siri

Some of my favorite times with Siri is on Tuesday and Thursday mornings when Chamberlain is at school and Josh is at work and I have Siri all to myself. I love the uninterrupted time she has to be her.  When Chamberlain is around she is monkey see monkey do.  Siri does everything that he has to do, and eats everything that he eats, and she pretty much follows him around all day and just plays by his side.  When Josh is in the mix she runs to him when Chamberlain chases her, and runs to him when she needs help, and runs to him when she wants something to eat.  

So when its just the two of us I feel like I get the true Siri. She plays more with her babies and purses.  The one thing I notice that she does the most when its the two of us is play dress up.

Siri loves wrapping herself in her blankies and putting on her coats along with any shoes she can find in the shoe box.

 I love this 2.5 hours I get twice a week to have her all to myself. 

 She dragged her coat all around the house until I finally put it on.

Siri is currently into wearing Chamberlains snow boots from last year. 

She puts them on pretty much everyday and its usually just one so she can keep her balance when she walks.

 Yes this is what my house looks like every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Siri's toys and blankies and clothes and shoes are strung throughout and by evening somehow it all gets picked up and put away until the next morning.

I love this little girl.  

New Years Eve

We met Shelbie Tim and the boys in Kanab for New Years. 

We thought it would be fun for the boys and Siri to celebrate together and spend some quality cousin time since it had been since Octoberish when we last saw each other.

I'm pretty sure we found our New Years Eve tradition, thanks to Lloyd and The Mayor.

They brought over a pinata full of Mexican candies, little bears and elves for the kids.

 It was too cold to go outside so Tim did a great job manning the pinata.

We had a whole list of games to play for the evening and the pinata seamed to be a big hit next to 

Don't Eat Pete (my childhood favorite).

We spent the afternoon in what we call "Gods Country" enjoying the views of Zion and Bryce Canyon.

We saw at least 80 deer and 6 bucks. The kids loved riding in the back of the suburban without seat belts, bouncing around the dirt roads while cheering on Grandpa when we climbed muddy, slipper. hills, and scouting for wild turkeys and cotton tails.

Last buy not least our party hats followed by sparklers.

I love that we celebrated midnight at 9 pm and had the kids in bed before 10.

We are excited for 2012 and the adventure it will bring. 

Happy New Year!

There is a video worth watching linked in this post.

I try to make it tradition that every time we visit Irvine we make it to the beach. Even if its for 30 minutes we still have to go. There is something about the beach that I love.  I find it weird that we don't go to the beach more often when we are there since its like 10 minutes away.

We finally made it to the beach we even stayed an extra day just so we could.

The one thing Chamberlain wanted to do while at Ken and Sandi's was to go to the beach. I think because he was determined to see a shark.  Sandi had the great idea to have dinner at the beach and my amazing technology advanced Brother-in-law David of course pulls out his phone and "Yelped" us a place to eat.  Of course it was as good as Yelp said it would be. Thanks Dave. Oh and thanks again for posting the best crash and burn video of Siri. 

We finally got to the beach as the sun was going down. Chamberlain was off as fast as he could to the water and Siri was right (well as fast as she could) behind him.

Siri has NO FEAR of the water and ran straight in. Even though it was FREEZING cold she just kept going back for more even when she took a big spill. 

I love the beach and I love pictures at the beach. 

What a way to end our time in the OC.

This is Sirs's face seconds before she fell. 

Pure joy I think is what she is feeling here

and not so much HERE (click HERE)

 A little catch at the beach.

 My Brother-in-Law David and his beautiful fiance Sarah

The family at Mama D's which was packed on a Thursday night.

And might I add so very tasty I think it should be a tradition as well.

Beach and Mama D's sounds good to me.

Santa came

I really liked waking up and instead of going straight to presents we hurried up to get ready and get to church on time.   We enjoyed hearing Sandi sing and being feed by the spirit. Then we went back home and opened up presents. 

Well ran back to the hotel to change and then headed to Sandi and Ken's for presents. 

Such a warm and relaxing day.

I just wanted to remember some of the smiles from that morningafternoon. 

I think everyone was happy and there were no tears. 

 Siri's favorite gift of the day!

Warm Wishes

I found myself thinking I could live here while visiting my in-laws for Christmas. 

The weather was perfect and the company was even better. 

First thing decorating sugar cookies for Santa and his Reindeer outside on the deck overlooking the lake. I really could get used to 74 degrees for the holidays. The funny thing is I swore I would NEVER move to Orange County and every time we go for a visit I am proving myself wrong. You can't beat flowers blooming outside year round. You just cant!

My mother in law goes all out for the holidays and her house becomes a Christmas wonderland. 

All things red and Christmas. Even wall art comes down in lieu of holiday cheer.

She does a fabulous job and the kids loved it. 

I just wish I would have taken pictures to show. 

We even had the pleasure of listing to her sing "I Know that My Redeemer Liveth" in the ward Messiah sing in. Which was a real treat. I have not heard her sing in this kind of setting ever. I think that was my favorite part of Christmas.

and Santa ate them all!