2011 in Review

Looking back at the photos we took in 2011 brought the events of the year rushing back to me...it was a busy year, (as they all seem to be) and I am still wondering where the days and months went.
In February we enjoyed celebrating Sadie's first birthday, followed a month later, with her finally deciding to walk. It was bad timing as we had planned a car trip down to Moab and Arizona the same week she decided to take off...her cries of frustration at being strapped in for hours on end was enough to drive us all crazy by the time we got home and we vowed that the family car trips could wait a few more years.

We had a loooong winter this year. In April, the kids had a week off of school, so we packed up and headed down to Moab to visit my brother and sister-in-law for a few days. The trees were just starting to get their leaves and the warm desert sun and smooth slick rock was just the right medicine for our Spring fever. We enjoyed a few desert hikes together and lots of time in Uncle Andy's pool. From Moab, we headed down to Sedona, Arizona, where again we bathed in the mild 70 degree days, hiked and swam, went horseback riding, visited Native American ruins and the African Animal park just outside of Sedona. We went on Safari where Maggie and Brian were kissed by a Giraffe named Kebo and where Sam became fast friends with a hippo named BoomBoom. 

In June, we headed down to Lake Powell with some neighborhood friends and enjoyed a fun-filled week on the Lake. Sam wasn't so sure about sleeping on a boat, until he realized the boat was a floating house. The kids slept out under the stars every night, on the houseboat roof, and played in the water all day. Maggie tried wake boarding and Sam tried water skiing. Brian and I surfed for the first time behind the speed boat. Sadie rolled with it all and enjoyed 'driving' the boat.

Captain Sadie

Rainbow Bridge, Lake Powell

Afternoon face painting

Exploring the beach

The summer flew by. We spent a lot of time on the soccer field and at the pool and when we weren't at those two places, we were working on the big job of finishing our basement...that was an all consuming project and we're relieved it's finally done! We managed to sneak in a few picnics and canyon hikes as well.

At the end of August, Maggie swam her first mile and completed it in under an hour. By the end of the summer, Sam had managed to outgrow all of his size 6 pants and shirts and is now officially a 7. Sadie finally graduated from the 'screaming in frustration' stage and so there might be another car trip in our distant future.

October's Pumpkin Patch

"Visions of sugar plums dance in our heads", Ephraim, Utah,  candy store

We feel blessed to have health and a home over our heads and we are ever grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives. We know that He lives and loves us. We are grateful for this Christmas season that helps us pause and reflect on the matchless power of his birth, life and atonement.