Holidays 2011

We had a rough start to our holidays this year. Vaughn's Grandpa Charlie passed away on November 19th. He was a fun man to talk to. He was full of stories about his amazing past. He always called Layla "Tyke" We are going to miss him greatly. During the funeral services I noticed a robin sitting outside the window as if he were listening to the talks. He stayed through the whole thing till the end and flew away. I decided it was Grandpa Charlie listening in.

Thanksgiving this year was pretty low key. We had dinner with Vaughn's family. I made the turkey this year. I made the famous turkey that I won Vaughn's heart with when we first were dating. It turned out wonderful.

Starting the 28th of November I took a "vacation" from my business. It was my birthday week and I decided I deserved it. I started it off just right by going to the spa for the day. Oh it was so wonderful! We celebrated my birthday early with the family since I was going to be gone on my birthday. I got a new stove! I was so very excited. Our old stove was so tiny you couldn't fit a pizza pan in it. In order to fit the new stove in Vaughn had to do some remodeling of the kitchen counters. It turned out great.

On my birthday I hopped on a plane and flew down to New Mexico. I went to go visit my birth children. I went by myself. I flew into Albuqurue which was a 3 hour drive from where my birth children live in Roswell. I rented a car and spent the night at a hotel since the weather was bad. In the morning I had a very scary drive down to Roswell because New Mexico does not know what a snow plow is. I was praying the whole way. Once I got into Roswell I got a little lost because my map was wrong. But eventually I found their house and Kendrick was outside in the driveway hullahooping.

My visit with my birth children and their family was amazing. We had such good times reconnecting. I am so proud of them. They are beautiful and so smart.

And Silly!

For Christmas I made them an advent claender of sorts. They had 24 fun gifts to open. Here are the fun straw glasses!

It was so hard to leave but I am so glad I got the opportunity to spend time with them.

It was hard to believe it was Christmas time this year. We had such a warm winter so far and hardly any snow. To get us into the holiday spirit I bought us tickets to ride on the North Pole Express. Both Layla and I LOVE trains. She was so excited when we got there and realized what we were doing. It was a great experience and a great memory. I think we will do it every year now.

The train took us to the North Pole where Layla got to meet Santa and tell him she wants a trip to Jamaica. All she got was a jingle bell. She wasn't quite sure about him but she was pretty excited he gave her something. While we were on the train they had a high school choir sing carols and served us yummy hot chocolate.

Layla had a blast!

Christmas morning when Layla woke up I told her Santa had come and she somehow knew exactly what I meant and ran straight for the tree. She said "WOW!" It was precious! She got pretty spoiled this year. It took her all day to open her presents. She would open one and want to play with and not open any others.

After we opened a few presents we got all dressed up and went to my dads for breakfast and went to church. Then came home and opened more. For dinner we went to Vaughn's parents house and opened even more presents. We were all spoiled this year.

The Wednesday after Christmas we headed down to sunny Mesa, AZ. We drove down and Layla did amazing. It was in the 70s the whole time we were down there. We went down to Mesa to attend Vaughn's cousin, Kelson's wedding. We stayed with Vaughn's sister Maren and her family. The wedding reception was held outside at night and it still felt great! As always it was so fun to hang out with all the cousins and their kids. Layla had a blast playing with her cousins and her "other" cousins :)

We were still in Arizona for New Years eve. Vaughn's mom watched Layla for us and we went over to Vaughn's cousin Andrea's house. It was pretty cool to sit outside around the fire and roast marshmallows on New years Eve.

We hope you all had great Holiday season and Happy 2012!

Fall Time

Even though I was sad to see summer leave I was very happy to say hello to fall. Fall is my favorite season. It never lasts very long though.

Vaughn's brother Mat graduated from schooling with the Marines and came home on leave for a few weeks. While he here his sister Maren and her family came up for a visit. It's always so fun to have the whole family together. Because we had the family together we got pictures taken. Hopefully we will have them on our Christmas card this year.

With the end of summer comes the Utah State Fair. We go every year and every year we regret paying so much to get in. They just don't know how to do fairs here in Utah. But I thought this was a cute picture.

October 4th was Vaughn's 29th birthday! The weekend of his birthday we went to our annual Pink Floyd concert. We had awesome seats this year. The show was amazing as always.

October was full of Halloween events. I took Layla to a event at the Senior center where the kids give candy to the older people instead of getting it from them. The next day my mom's group I belong to had a trunk or treat. Layla dressed up as a fairy again this year. On Halloween Daddy took her out trick or treating around the neighborhood while mommy stayed at home to pass out candy.

Mommy and daddy had fun for Halloween too. We went to a party at my friends house. I dressed up as a pirate and Vaughn was very original. He dressed up in all black and wore a shot glass around his neck. He was "A shot in the dark" Silly boy!

We had fun in October but we also experienced much sadness. 5 people I knew died. 2 of them hit me harder then the rest. First my very dear friend and neighbor, Dawn passed. It has been very hard to let her go. I miss our talks and waving to her every morning when I leave for work. Here is her obituary

Then second was 7days later. One of my favorite client's 17 year old daughter died tragically in a car accident. She was beautiful and sweet. I'm going to miss her coming home from school and chatting with me while I clean her mom's house. It's been very tough for my client and it hurts me to see her in so much pain. Here is her obituary

Even though it was such a sad month I know my friends are in a better place.

November has been a much happier month so far. One of my best friends from Wisconsin moved out to Utah and we got together with her sisters went to see a play. We went to see "My Fair Lady" What a blast!
November 7th was my inlaws 31st anniversary. Oddly enough they took all of us out to dinner instead of the other way around. It was so much fun.

Well things are staying busy. I finally hired someone to help me with my cleaning business. Vaughn's work continues to be busy as well.

We are all looking forward to the coming holidays and we hope you enjoy yours.

WHOOOHOOO I'm finally caught up!

Wisconsin Trip 2011

For Labor day weekend we went to Wisconsin! We left on the 1st of September. All 3 of us went plus my sister Elise. Layla did amazing on the plane this time. Now that she's 2 she has to have her own seat. So we brought her car seat with us. She fell asleep for most the ride and watched movies. We were very lucky to get cheap tickets to fly right into Madison. We rented a car and stayed at my mom's house. She has a new house now in Sun Prairie and it was my first time seeing it. It was weird to come home and not have the same house to go to.
The first night we were there we went out to eat at Pedros with my friend Megan and her family. She has a son Bradyn, who is very close to Layla's age. It was so great to have Layla and Bradyn see eachother again. This is what they looked like last time we visited Megan's family.

And now they have grown so big!

Our second day in Wisconsin hung around town. I showed Vaughn my old elementary school Royal Oaks! And some other fun things in Sun Prairie.

We ordered some pizza at Papa Murphy's that night. Mallorie drove us to go pick it up. Now that was strange. She can't be old enough to drive. We ate pizza and watch RIO. A little before the movie was done my sister Nicole, and her family got in. They were staying the weekend as well at my mom's. I was so very excited to see my neice and my nephews. Especially my newest nephew Emmet that I had not met yet.

The 3rd day my mom was an angel and took all the grandkids to the children's mesume and Vaughn and I got some time to ourselves! I took Vaughn down to Hilldale mall so I could get me some FannieMay chocolate. They don't have it in Utah. And we had lunch at The Great Dane! YUMMY! That night Vaughn and I went over to my best friend Melissa's house to meet her boyfriend. We of course made the ritual trip to Bowl a Vard and played some darts.

On Sunday we went to church at the Sun Prairie Ward. It was so neat to see so many people I havent seen in years. After church my brother Eric came up from Milwaukee and we all went to one of my favorite places in Madison, Olbrich Gardens!

The cousin's had a lot of fun together!

Monday, Labor Day, we went to the zoo. We had a picnic and then walked around to see the animals.

We unfortunately had to leave the zoo early because Layla needed a nap. We had to say good bye to Nicole and Steve and family since they were heading back to Iowa after the zoo. It was so wonderful to see them and their kids. It feels like it will be forever till the next time. Monday evening Vaughn and I went out to dinner with Melissa and her boyfriend again and my friend Korri and her husband Brian. It was so fun to be with my girls again!

That last day in Wisconsin was very hard for me. I did not want to go back to Utah and back to the real world. But I am so very thankful we got to go this year. I miss my family and friends so very much!