Christmas and SNOW in Utah!!!

So, we drove up to Salt Lake on the night of the 22nd. We drove through the night which made for a much more peaceful ride. We love when our children are asleep :). We did lots of fun things while in Utah . . . we shopped, watched movies, ate LOTS of food and ice cream - The Dodo, Hires, Nielsen's and more, visited with Eric's family, went snowmobiling, sledding a couple of times, went to Body Worlds, the boys went to a Jazz game and we played a lot of Yahtzee games. So here are some pictures of our fun trip. There was a lot of snow for us the first couple of days we were here and the girls LOVED it! Also, another great accomplishment is that we got London off the bottle. I can't tell you how exciting that is. Other mothers will understand :).

Snowmobiling at White Pine Adventures in Park City.

London eating at The Dodo. She is always trouble.

Olivia and Ava coloring at The Dodo. I will be craving their food for the next couple of months until we are here again!!!

London in her new coat and hat. Isn't she so cute? Good thing she is cute because she is trouble.

London LOVED sledding! One of her new lines that she loved saying is " I Like Snow!" She is starting to talk a lot which is scaring me because she is like Olivia - she doesn't turn off!

Olivia at the end of the sledding hill. She was not afraid and took some really good jumps!

This is us at Temple Square. Sunday night we went with Ryan, Jamie and Ava and saw the lights at Temple Square. They were really pretty but I remember them being so much better. As a kid they just look different I think. Our little Arizona family freezing our behinds off looking at the lights :).

Eric and Olivia on Christmas morning. The white shelf on the side is one of Olivia's gifts. It's a bookcase for her room because she loves to read. She is holding one of her favorite gifts - a knock-knock joke book that Eric picked out. Thanks a lot Eric.

Olivia and London early in the morning the day after Christmas. We had a big storm Christmas night and so Papa got up early to snow blow and the girls had to go out and be a part of all the snow. They finally talked Eric into going out and pulling them around on a sled. Eric and Ryan even made them a little jump/hill in the front yard. They had so much fun - and mom had even more fun watching out the window from the warm house.

Livy, Ava and London playing in the snow.

Eric would pull the girls around on the sled and you would have to keep looking back and checking on London because she would just slide off and be lying behind in the snow. It was pretty funny.

These last few pictures are from Olivia's Christmas recital that was on December 20th just before we left for Utah. They did a ballet performance the first half that was similar to the Nutcracker but was from a book called One Enchanted Christmas. This is one of their outfits. They also had a toy soldier outfit. The second half of the recital was jazz and hip hop numbers and Livy's group did a number to Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. It was fabulous and we always love to watch Olivia dance and to see how happy it makes her. She is getting so good!

They had to have their hair in ringlets and wear stage make up. She looks pretty cute.

Anyway, I can't believe the Christmas season has come and gone. We had so much fun this year and had a lot of fun things to go and do. I am so grateful that I was finally feeling better and able to enjoy everything. I'm also grateful for my cute little family. I'm just crazy about them. So, we head home tomorrow and I have enjoyed the snow, I could probably even have it for a little longer BUT I am looking forward to the weather I have gotten used to. Oh, and by the way we are really struggling with girl names. I am really tired of looking at names on the internet so if you have cute suggestions or ideas please, please leave a comment with them!!! :)

Three for Three!

So. . . we went to the doctor today to find out what we are having. It's a GIRL!!! Eric was really relieved because he said he was nervous it might be a boy and he doesn't know what to do with a boy :). We do seem to be getting the girl thing down and we are excited to add another one to our family! I am having a really hard time coming up with girl names that I like though. So, if you have any ideas I would love to hear them!!!

Christmas Fun

We had such a fun Saturday! Livy had dance practice for 3 hours (lucky her) and so Eric, London and I went Christmas shopping. We got just about everything done in one day. That is the way to go. We had to tear London away from a few toy stores but a few minutes later she couldn't remember what she was crying about, so it was all good. After Livy finished practice we got her all ready and she had a dance performance at an outdoor mall in Tempe. She did a number to Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree. It was a jazz routine and it was DARLING!!! Olivia was so cute in it! After the number Eric looked over at me and said "I'm so proud I could spit." She of course is the cutest one out there :). She then did a ballet number where she was a toy soldier. As you can see by the pictures London REALLY liked Livy's toy soldier hat. She was not happy when Livy took it to go and dance with. It was really fun to see Olivia dance. After she performed we went and ate at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen) which was fabulous. Then, as usual, after dining with children we couldn't wait to get them in bed!! We have very cute children but they tend you wear you out after a full day of fun!!!

Seeing Santa

Santa came to Snell & Wilmer (Eric's law firm) today and as you can see from London's many frightened faces, she was NOT interested in sitting on his lap. How funny are those faces? She did not want to see him or even get close. What is it with little kids? Next year she will probably be dying to sit on his lap. Livy sat on his lap and posed for us even though she has informed us that she knows Santa is not real - Santa is just your parents. Well, she didn't last long. Oh well, it still put me into the Christmas spirit and so I think I may actually start my Christmas shopping tomorrow!! :)

Thanksgiving in Vegas

This is Olivia and William (Jerilyn's boy) at the park. They are always able to make each other laugh!

London would not let us get a good picture of her. I love this little outfit I just got for her but everyone said she looked like an eskimo. I think she looks MUCH cuter than that :). Also, I did do her hair everyday - I would like you to all know - with cute bows and things but it never lasted more than an hour. Dang her.

This is William and Matthew (Jerilyn's boys) in their chairs watching t.v. Jerilyn's friends took her clothes that she wore a lot and made blankets out of them and then gave one to everyone in the family to remember her by and to have something to snuggle with. It was so sweet of them and everyone loves their blanket. We miss you Jerilyn.

Jerilyn's oldest - Andrew - had his birthday while we were there and turned 15. So old and so mature :).

Once again London was too busy to give a smile for the camera. She is trouble.

This is Eric's dad Greg with Jack (Jenn & Tyler's dog). Jenn and Tyler brought their dog and at first the kids were a little nervous about him being there but once they warmed up to him, that was all they cared about.

London and Matthew got along really well - thankfully there were no punches thrown.

This is Lala, William, Matthew and Olivia enjoying breakfast.

Thanksgiving this year was a lot of fun and it was so nice to spend it with Eric's family in Vegas (we missed having Brittany, Jeff and Lexi there!). We drove in on Wednesday with Eric's parents and one of Jerilyn and Aaron's friends let us stay in their house while they were out of town for Thanksgiving. It was a beautiful house and they had a little dog named Sophie that London constantly tormented. That poor dog is probably still recovering! Thanksgiving day we didn't do much, which is how it should be! We ordered our Thanksgiving meal in from Red Rock Hotel just up the street. It was fabulous and no one had to do any work. That is the way to do it!! I told Eric we are going to find a place we like in Arizona to order from because that is how we will be doing our Thanksgivings! Friday and Saturday we spent shopping, going to the park, enjoying the fabulous weather and being together as family. I was able to enjoy this weekend thanks to everyone else for watching my kids every morning. I got to sleep in everyday so I didn't throw up once on the trip (yeah!!!). Not to worry though, this lovely child of mine inside of me made up for it once we got back. Anyway, we had a fabulous time in Vegas and it was great to be with the Nielsen's. Now, on to Christmas!

Oh Yeah

Happy Birthday London - 2 Years Old!

So yesterday (the 21st) was London's 2 year old birthday! We gave her her presents on her birthday but we celebrated it today. Eric's parents and my parents gave her the cute red kitchen that she LOVES! We bought her the pots and pans, food for the kitchen and some other fun toys for her. Olivia bought her a Dora doll that has hair you can brush - AND it came with it's own brush. She doesn't let the doll - or the brush - out of her sight. Today we went to Livy's soccer game and then Eric's parents came over and we had dinner and cupcakes! London's candle had a Dora candle which she tried very hard to blow out but ended up needing her big sisters help to blow out :). We kept telling her happy birthday all day and so she started saying "happy" and putting her hands in the air. I think she ended up having a good birthday and she is loving her toys which makes mom happy because she keeps herself very occupied!!! I can't believe she is 2. It seems to happen all of a sudden. She is just so dang cute. Love my London girl.

Hannah and Dee Dee

Halloween was a fun night for everyone (except the throwing up pregnant lady) and we are really glad that Mimi was here to celebrate with us :). Olivia was Hannah Montana and fully enjoyed every minute of it and London was Dee Dee Doodlebop from the Disney channel. London would not wear the pink wig - we got it on for about 10 seconds but that was it. Eric took the girls around our neighborhood and London loved it. She would not let go of her candy bag. Even when it got so full she had to drag it on the ground you could not pry her fingers off of her bag. Also, when no one was looking she would try and take candy out of Olivia's bag and put it in hers. Little thief. Our friends the McLain's came over to trick or treat in our neighborhood and it was so fun to see them. We miss seeing them everyday (they used to live on our street). Rachel is the witch, Riley is the princess and Gavin is the race car driver. Gavin and London seem to have a thing for each other :).

The girls carved pumpkins with Eric on Wednesday night and they had a lot of fun of course. Olivia did her own - she carved a skull and cross bones into her pumpkin and Eric did a spider and spider web for London's. London helped clean out the pumpkins and just kept saying "Eeww". She would put her hands in and grab more from inside the pumpkin and everytime whe would say Eeww. So funny.

Also, the girls have been into riding Livy's go cart lately because it is finally cooling off - it's in the high 80's. Oh wait, that is still hot. Yeah, we don't want to talk about it. Anyway, Livy puts London on with her and London thinks she is so cool riding around with Livy. They are just so cute together :).