Christmas 2011

We had a blast for Christmas this year. We were back and forth between Heidi's parents' place and Mom's place. I know Ruby and McCoy had fun: here's photographic proof!

Oh Christmas tree oh Christmas tree

I can't believe Christmas is already here. Its a tradition for my family to pock out Christmas trees the monday after thanksgiving. McCoy loved picking out a Christmas tree but he probably loved running through that isles of trees just a bit more.

He was so excited to decorate the tree with what he called balls. I even let him put the star on it. I love how our "Charlie Brown" tree turned out.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

McCoy loves watching Monster's INC. He's been getting so into it lately and quotes some if it throughout the movie. We caught this on video and I'm so glad we did. The first time he did it, it was much louder and lasted longer. You'll know what I'm talking about once you watch it. I'm sure you'll get a good laugh. (link below)

McCoy's reaction to Monster's INC

Happy Halloween!

We were really excited for this Halloween because McCoy was old enough to dress up and go trick-or-treating. 

The first step to a great Halloween: carving pumpkins. 

 McCoy absolutely loved being able to stab and cut into the pumpkins. Once it got to the mushy gushy stuff, McCoy ran for his life. He really didn't even like to look at the pumpkins insides. 

 The second step: great costumes and a good neighborhood to go trick-or-treating. 

 I'm super happy with how our costumes turned out. We had something planned for about a month before but it just didn't work out. We gathered ideas for McCoy's vampire costume and my scarecrow costume Halloween day. 

I was kind of bummed we didn't get a better picture of the whole family. Steele's costume was awesome and according to him he was, "Dangerous! But I'm a nice Wolverine okay?" 

McCoy had a love hate relationship with his costume. He hated the cape when we first put it on him but once he realized that when he ran the cape would follow behind him, he had a hoot with it. We caught the perfect video of him while trick-or-treating. 

(Links Below)

House #1

McCoy's Cape

The third step: great leaves and great fall weather. McCoy seriously has a huge obsession with leaves. That's his new daily activity that he can't get enough of. I honestly think I have at least 5 movies of him paying in leaves. Here's one of my favorite. (link Below) 

Fall Fun

It was a special treat for McCoy to spend some time at the game center at Walmart. He spent at least 45 min in this ice team truck.

Day Off

Today was my day off and I always try to make it a good day for both McCoy and myself. Today it wasn't too cold and still sunny enough out side for a day out. McCoy and I went to the park and I let him roam free. He absolutely loves being outside so the colder weather scares me for the future. It was good to get out and I find myself being more appreciative for my iPhone. It's so nice to have a "point and shoot" camera at hand for what ever may come up. 

After we went to the park we were playing in the front yard of our apartment. The leaves are turning and the colors are absolutely beautiful. McCoy had such a blast playing in the leaves. (Link Below)

Fall Leaves

While we were outside, I saw this younger girl next door banging on her front door followed by the distressed look on her face before she covered it with her hands and sat down. I put two and two together and knew that she had to be locked out. 

When I was about 6 years old, I came home from a friend's house before my mom was expecting me. When I went home, no one was there and the doors were all locked. I remember going into the garage, scared and so lonely. I wanted my family to come home so bad and the feeling of being helpless was so discouraging. I remember saying a prayer to Heavenly Father and then falling asleep. The next thing I knew, my mom was waking me up from the fetal position on the fourwheeler in our garage. 

When I saw this little girl, my heart went out to her because of this specific memory of mine. I walked over there and offered her my cell phone but she protested saying that she didn't know any numbers to call. She then told me that her mother works at Wienerschnitzel in Orem,. Thanks to Siri on my iPhone, I was able to look it up in seconds and she was able to get a hold of her mom and it was all resolved. In the midst of all this drama, McCoy felt like it would help if he sat next to the girl. He climbed right up the stairs without hesitation and sat right down and started talking to her in his own little language. I couldn't help but to take a quick picture of how cute he was being during all of this. 

 McCoy has been doing the cutest thing lately. He covers his mouth with his open hand as he gasps. He kept doing this over and over every time the little girl would say something to me...it was almost as if he knew that it was a stressful situation for the girl and he wanted to show his concern for her. He even managed to do this with his little mittens on. This kid seriously makes me smile all day long! 

After that we came back inside and made some hot chocolate and homemade pizza. It was delicious! After Trevor got home we went and picked out our Halloween pumpkins. We got McCoy ready for bed and he picked out some books. Here's a couple movies of McCoy and Trevor reading some books while McCoy shows off his animals-noise skills. (Links Below)

Story Time

Animal Noises

McCoy Fun

The first picture is of McCoy watching Disney's Cars with headphones on an iPod.

The second picture is the product of a golden opportunity. Here we are at Costco. And McCoy starts picking his nose. Everybody saw it and I just happen to have my phone out. So I took advantage of the opportunity and got a great shot. Here it is.

Sunday Haircut

McCoy's before and after pictures from the haircut we just gave him. He really did not enjoy it but we're glad it's done because he definitely needed it.

Zion

IT's finally here! I've collected all the pictures from our once-in-a-life-time vacation. This trip was such an amazing experience. We had the chance to go just us two, Trev and myself. My mom watched McCoy for the 5 days were gone and it was such a great gift. 

Day 1: 

We arrived to a beautiful house that Traci and Dave rented out for us. It fit all 20 of us and we were excited to see the family all together again. We spent the night reminiscing and just spending time together. 

Day2: We had a great day going through Zion National Park taking mini hikes her and there and getting to explore the amazing nature. 

 This is called the Weeping Rock. Such an interesting experience and so refreshing after a heated hike. 

 Dave and Grandma Clo beat all of us every time. They cruised up every single hike. 

On the way into Zion, Trev and his brothers decided to take a more scenic route. Check out this video from the GoPro. (Link Below) 

Cruisin' through Zion National Park

The boys all jumped in the water for a cool break. Trevor took it another step and stripped all the way down to his undies. 

Here's avideo of the boys in the water. 

Cooling Off

Day 3:

This was our day to go on the hike of our lives. We had some amazing guides and they made it such an amazing day. 

This was our first repel. 110+ ft. So crazy but soooo amazing. Trev was a little more scared than I thought he would be but who wouldn't be, it was quite the drop off. We all did though and it and loved it. 

Yes, those little black spots are actual people down at the bottom...I told you it was high.

 I was the first one down. I knew that if I didn't just do it then it would get harder and harder. (Link Below)

Heidi's First Repel

 Trev went next. (Link Below)

Trev's First Repel

 There were 5 miles of hiking on terrain like this. 

 Then the water came...

(Links Below)

Getting Soaked 

 Water Fun

All in all....it was an 11 hour hike with 13 repels and we all had the time of our lives. 

Day 4:

We spent this day exploring the greatness of Bryce Canyon. 

Day 5:

We had the opportunty to spend time with Dave's mother, Clo. She got to show us her home town where she was born and raised: Kolab.We also got to shoot some of Grant's guns that he gladly brought.  And Finally we explored the Grand Canyon.  

Clo's grandfather built this house and it's now the historic focal point of the city.  

 A sewing machine from her age that we found in the attic.

 This is one of the first designed vacuums, also from the attic. 

Now it's shooting time.

 On the main road heading in and out of these canyons and little cities we passed by these police cars multiple times. After a few times of noticing that the cops inside didn't move one inch from day to day, we discovered that they were dummies and were just there to scare people into obeying the speed limit. 

 Then....the Grand Canyon. It was beautiful. To see such amazing creations and getting to enjoy it with everyone we love so much, was just so breathtaking. It was so great to enjoy God's creations. 

Now that this was the last day, we all crashed on the way home. Craig took this candid picture with his iPhone and it really does capture the moment. 

Thanks Dave and Traci for such an amazing family reunion!