!Puerto Rico!

Back in October in celebration of our 14th Anniversary, wow! we're getting up there, we went to beautiful Puerto Rico! I knew it would be a fun trip right when we landed because the plane which was filled with mostly Puerto Ricans erupted in cheers and praises when we landed safely on the ground. It was a colorful trip to say the least.

First on the agenda was to just relax and relax we did along with some little friends.

The beaches and the water in the Carribean are beyond compare- Our favorite so far. The water is as warm as a bath and we were more than ok with that!

Once we layed around plenty we decided to hit the town in Old San Juan and explore.

Puerto Rico stands for the "Rich Port" and was highly sought after because it's like a gateway to the   Carribean and controlled which ships could come into the Gulf and harvest Mexico and South America's Gold. The Spanish kept possession of it in large part due to several massive forts on the island built to defend it - we toured them and they were amazing. Many of the walls of these forts are 18 feet thick. The US gained possession of Puerto Rico durning the Spanish/American war - making San Juan technically the oldest city "in the US" or part of the US.

This was a beautiful old cemetery that was right on the ocean. All the graves are above ground.

 I had to get a picture of this souped up hot-rod car. Puerto Rico has rich history and culture and also a lot of flare - this car was very Puerto Rican!

Old San Juan was beautiful and there was music in the air everywhere. People dance in the streets and we were pretty smitten.

 On a side note, I had broken my pinkie toe just a few days before we left - I still hobbled around everywhere on it but it definitely slowed us down.

 Very Large Iguana that seemed to be guarding one of the forts - Sam, keeping watch and enjoying a coconut to drink from one of the street vendors.

Had to include a shot off the balcony of our hotel at night - when you step outside at night there's a symphony of creatures, frogs, and all kinds of jungle sounds added to by soft salsa music being played somewhere on the beach - every night we liked to step out and just listen.

We loved it! We'd go back in a heartbeat - Viva Puerto Rico! :)

 

 The last of Christmas before I can move on.... Audrey again had an amazing experience participating in Ballet West's The Nutcracker - we're not allowed to photograph the costumes at all due to copyright but she looked beautiful and regal. She again reinforced her bite by the showbiz bug - she truly loves it there, we are always so proud to watch her on stage and off.

 

Christmas Eve Cookies

 

Christmas morning excitement and the one time a year when Sam shows affection toward Nigel.

We had a wonderful and blessed Christmas, and haven't slowed down in our new year since.

What a Blitz

December has come and gone and with it some of the unrelenting busy schedules. Not that we're not busy still, but December really took the top prize for the busiest month... Reese's birthday always kicks things off nicely and moved us right along into performance schedules, school parties, shopping, mailing cards etc, etc, etc!! Here's some pictures form Elle's first performance displaying her pep/spirit/and general bouncy-ness. She's taken on to cheer leading like a fish to water and it seems to be the perfect thing to use all that energy. It was so fun to watch her and she excitedly told me, Mom! they need me!! She enjoys lifting up her teammates for the their pyramid formations. So fun to watch her grow.

 On to Audrey's performances - there were two of her local ballet's production of The Christmas Carol - I was in charge of the entire concessions department definitely adding to the bustle; but we seemed to survive and it was amazing to watch Audrey dance her four different parts - her main part being the ghost of Christmas future in which she danced with absolute grace and poise - we couldn't have been more proud. Her other dances included the waltz of the flowers, a snowflake dance and a Christmas present dance. These in addition to her performances for the second year in Ballet West's production of the nutcracker making our December extremely filled with dancing! I'll have to write about the Ballet West experience in a separate post. We are completely enjoying our talented teen.

 The traditional picture of Audrey kissing Dad while on pointe - she's really catching up to him! 

We also had fun heading into the city to enjoy the famous Temple Square lights- We haven't made it in the last few years due to the bitter cold but this night was just perfect and we were lucky enough to have some adorable newlyweds with us - My niece Jessica and her cute hubby Mark. It was a good night and the lights and temple grounds were oh so beautiful

  Had to do our traditional picture by the tree after church - I've been enjoying wearing my Grandma's shirts and jewelry especially during the Christmas season this year to remind me of my sweet Grandmas. This Sunday I was wearing my Grandma Livingston's Christmas tree pin on my jacket. The week before I had worn my Grandma Melton's green shirt - just a fun way to think of them and feel close. We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year and that your new year is off to a great start!



Happy Birthday Reese

He's getting so grown up! Reese celebrated his 11th this Month! We are so thankful to have our energetic, smart, funny, caring boy in our family. Reese still loves building with legos and he's enjoying his friends and growing up. Despite his affinity for baby-talking at times... Also on a side note, the blog format seems to have changed and so I'm struggling to know how to continue posting on the blog the way I always have... hopefully I can get it worked out because there's lots of fun that needs documented from the month of December.

Reese had the hardest time trying to keep his friend list from getting too big for his celebrating - he hates to have anyone feel left out. We took as many boys as we could fit to the swimming pool, maybe next year we'll just have the parents drop them off there. What a rowdy bunch!  

On his Birthday Morning he woke up early so he could open his family presents with Audrey there. As you can see, Elle isn't used to being awake at that hour in the morning. He also wanted to have pie with his friends from the neighborhood, as well as go to subway since no one in our family other than Reese really enjoys subway, he made sure to include it as one of his birthday requests. Also included on his list was unlimited back tickles until 2013 and some dry ice. Go figure.. He's pretty happy with simple things I guess.

Swimming pool fun

A boy in his element  - happy with his legos

what a cute kid, we're so proud of you Reese!

Thanksgiving and Fall Mash-up

There is nothing cuter than those little paper hats that Elle makes at school. There is nothing sweeter than the pies that Tarah and Sean my sister and brother in law have mastered. There's nothing yummier than the turkey Sam made this year, and nothing better than willing teenagers who will help in the kitchen! and maybe nothing quite as fun as staying at your sisters for a long four day weekend. We had a great holiday!
We've been outside playing in the leaves and enjoying our gorgeous Utah Fall weather. Going to Princess parties and having fun dressing up. I love that I get to have Elle with me so much. She makes things fun.

Timpanogas cave is an amazing wonder. We give it our family high-five and our stamp of approval!  

This fall has also brought lots of fun opportunities for me including fashion shows, hair shows and some photoshoots - Sometimes when I get home I don't even recognize myself but thankfully it can all be washed off!

Park City =s a great mini get away - we had a fun Labor Day Weekend seeing the sights, visiting the Utah Olympic Park and goofing off in general.

 

With November comes voting season, and family - all gathered for these two cute boy's baptisms. Laura's roses still looked amazing as of the first weekend in November - then two days later while eating lunch at kneaders with Grandma and Grandpa it was dumping snow!! That was fun too while it lasted. Just a quick post and  here comes Christmas!

 

Halloween Hullabaloo

Here they are, my little devil, scary scream scarecrow reaper guy, and the little vampiress. What gorgeous weather we've been having this fall! It was nice not to freeze while trick or treating.
So a word about the costumes... Audrey and her cute friend Morgan decided to do a joint costume and use stuff we already had in the house - and this is what they came up with. When I asked Audrey why she had to be the devil she said because Morgan has the white skinny jeans! Ahh, yes, of course. Reese has officially moved on to wanting to be scary - I guess no more Harry Potter for him, he's past that... and Elle I begged to be Cleopatra because I found the prettiest little costume and she declined, opting for the vampire dress. My influence in this realm has rapidly diminished. Oh well, cute they will always be, and I love that I get to do all these fun things with them. I love Halloween - all the candy and none of the stress of Christmas.
Audrey and Morgan's mini photo session

This year Sam was gone for work - it was the first time it's ever happened. We missed him being home for sure but everyone was so busy and excited running around all day I'm afraid it was Sam who felt the most sorry. I kept him updated all day with pictures and he vowed to try not to schedule a trip next year. The kids visited his cubicle at the work Trick or Treating party to leave him some sweet messages on his board.
This time, I was in Reese's class for the class party - the dry ice was such a big hit that Reese said he's going to wish for some for his birthday. Yep, apparently, it's that amazing to kids.  Trick or treating was a giant success with more candy than anyone should ever ingest. Yet somehow, it's nearly all gone just 10 days later.. After we got home we kept up with tradition and watched the Nightmare Before Christmas while counting up all the loot. A fun time indeed.