Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Sun Valley 2011

Well we went to Sun Valley again this year...it was LONG overdue since we hadn't been in almost 3 yrs. We went with our good friends the Miller's and as always it was seriously such an amazing vacation! We stayed at the Lodge, Lydia was loving that they gave us chocolates each night. We ended up leaving Audrey at home with my mom and my mother in law helped too. It was nice not to have to wrestle that little stinker all day while trying to get some skiing in as well. I am pretty sure that she LOVED all the attention from my parents and brothers and didn't miss us a bit. I know it was much needed one on one time with Lydia too. She seriously couldn't stop smiling the whole drive there, and any time anyone asked her if she missed her sister her answer was a very definitive "NO" can you blame her...she is only 3 afterall (ha ha ha!)

Day 1: Anyways we got down there Friday afternoon and after checking in we headed to Smoky Mt. Pizza and Pasta. It is a tradition and I used to work at the one in Sandy while I was in college so it holds a special place in my heart...and I LOVE their Greek Penne it is the BOMB!!!
Lydia so excited to Finally be in Sun Valley (or Sun Balley as she says it!)
Smoky Mt. Pizza...Cash was so good the whole trip but he didn't want his picture taken for sure (ha ha ha!)
Chris wanted to go get a treat at Rocky Mt. Chocolate but it was closed...so we resorted to taking pictures instead!

Day 2: That morning we woke up hit "Gretchen's" this really yummy restaurant in the hotel and headed to River Run Lodge. First on the list...teach Liddy to ski. Not going to lie I was super nervous because she tends to be very stubborn (not sure where she gets that at all...ha ha ha!) But honestly she LOVED it, she kept saying "mom go FASTER!" They had a little magic carpet conveyor and she loved it. Perfect first introduction to skiing. It was also a fun day because Chris and Colby got to ski (yes Chris and I both skied this trip.) And Meg and I got to ski as well. It was so much fun. That night we went to the village and got some yummy hot chocolate and cookies, got to see the Christmas tree lighting and Santa even pulled up in his Sleigh. We were next in line to see Santa and the lights in the entire Sun Valley resort went out...it was still great and Santa was so cute with Lydia, she LOVED it! Afterwards we got one of Colby and Meg's niece's to watch the kids and headed out for a nice dinner kid free! Because the power was out everything in town was CRAZY so we actually ended up driving into Hailey and going to a FABULOUS mexican joint! It was delicious! Afterwards we headed to the Herriman house where Colby's brothers were staying and had some yummy dessert! Great day had by all for sure.
Faster mommy...faster!
My little Ski Bunny...I was so glad it was warm I think if it had been as cold as usual it might not have been as much fun for her.
Riding the magic carpet up
Weeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!

Day 3: The boys woke up early and headed to the slopes. They were going to try to get a few runs in before we got there. Meg and I met for breakfast and the Konditoeri and then we took the kiddo's to the day care at Dollar Lodge. It was such a cute daycare and Liddy was so excited to have friends and kids to play with. It was also great because we all got a good 4 hours in skiing and snowboarding. Chris and Colby snowboarded and meg and I skied. Then we picked up the kids and we took Liddy to Dollar Mt. It is an entire mountain with lifts, magic carpet all dedicated to beginners and kids. Lydia LOVED riding up on the lift and this time we let her hold onto our pole and eventually Chris even tied my belt to her pants and we let her go down on her own but we slowed her down with the belt. It was such a great day and I loved spending it with friends and our little family! That night Colby's Sister in law Jen made the best Taco Soup for everyone and we got some ice cream and hit up Ice Skating. It was so much fun, Lydia wasn't as sure on her ice skates as she was on her ski's but that is to be expected!
At the top of Seattle Ridge...Chris really wanted a pic of the view, it is seriously so AMAZING!
This pictures seriously doesn't do it justice but it is always so hard to explain to people how steep and how long the Sun Valley runs are. Just when you think you have got to be close to the bottom you will see that there is a lift dropping off which means you have a ways to go. There really isn't a resort nearly as amazing anywhere else (that I have been...that is)
Lydia after she was finished...and yes she still has a smile on her face!
Holding onto mommy's pole
This was the night at the Christmas tree lighting...before the lights went out!
P.S. DOn't you love Cash's hat...I am a little obsessed with him, he is seriously so stinking cute and such a good baby, Colby and Meg definitely got a keeper!
I love that Sun Valley has all of these ice sculptors everywhere. And seriously I felt like I had Hot Chocolate running through my veins, I have never drank so much in my entire life (and I loved every sip!)
Lydia petting one of Santa's reindeer
Telling Santa what she wanted for Christmas
Meggie and Cashus
Lydia with her game face on...ha ha ha!
I think you can tell by her face she eventually loved it!
So many fun family memories were made...I can't wait until we can take Audrey too and share all of these fun things with her too!
Colby, Meg and Cash...our besties!
Lydia had given up, and Sky and Izzy got her to go one more time around the rink.

Overall it was an AMAZING vacation, it was so nice to get away and spend some quality time together. Chris has been super busy at work and I think he needed it more then any of us! I am always grateful to be able to spend time with great friends and my family!



Temple Square Lights

Let me just start by saying if you know me you know that I LOVE the holiday's basically Thanksgiving til New Years is my FAVORITE time of year. I love the smell, the lights, the treats, the songs (yes I LOVE the music being played after Thanksgiving.) I loved going to see the lights every year as a kid so after being married for 6 1/2 yrs. I was finally able to convince Chris A.K.A Scrooge...he hates that kind of stuff, to go to see the lights at Temple Square. I can also officially say I think it is going to take another 6 yrs to get him back. It was fun to take the kids but it was SO crowded. We had a lot of fun with the couples in our ward that we went with, and we were glad that they were able to get us to go!
The kids weren't quite as excited as I had hoped...ha ha ha my unreal expectations coming out for sure!
Audrey was a snug as a bug in a rug!
Liddy did love playing with any kid she could find!
Yup gotta get a one armed photo in their
Not going to lie..."I'm in Love, I'm in Love and I don't care who konw's it"-Buddy Elf
It was so crowded it took us 10 minutes waiting in line just to get up to see the Christ statue...one of my all time favorite parts of Temple square for sure though!
It was also FREEZING
Merry, Merry Christmas...and Bah Humbug!




Gingerbread House

One of my favorite Christmas traditions has definitely carried on to Lydia. She had so much fun and couldn't wait to decorate it. I know why she loves it so much...I caught her practically inhaling the frosting, and who wouldn't love all that candy!
She decorated her own gingerbread man


The final product!


Old pics!

Here are a few pics I found on my camera that I haven't uploaded in forever...

Hair cuts, Halloween face painting, sister's wrestling and the yummy applesauce my neighbor and I made this year!








Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Academy of Dance Winter Concert 2011

Well we had our 7th dance recital as Academy of Dance. It was a bit stressful, but extremely rewarding all at the same time. This year they double booked us with the high school so we ended up having to move our rehearsal to the Jr. High and had our recital at Herriman High School again. It worked out, but I will say I don't ever want to have them at 2 different places again (ha ha ha...I lost way too much sleep over all of that:))

Anyways as always my girls did AMAZING, it was so much fun seeing them all up on that stage. I am always amazed how much they have progressed over the past couple of years. I can't even begin to say how lucky I feel to be able to do what I do. Dance is such an amazing part of my life and I feel so lucky to be able to share it with such incredible little girls! I am also so lucky to have such great teachers teaching at the studio this year...they are all so dedicated and LOVE dance just as much as I do:) Anyways here are some pics from last night!

P.S. My dad took pictures and I had him video Lydia's class because our card on our video camera was full so I don't have any pictures of Lydia's class...but they were stinking CUTE!!! I am sure I can track some down so I will try to add them in later!
Lydia waiting to go to her recital...she was being a stinker and I didn't get any great pics of her before
I love their little flapper costumes!~
2-3 yr old Big Girls Don't Cry...they were darling! I am always amazed with how well little 2 and 3 yr olds do on the stage.
5-8 yr olds When will my life begin, our darling Rapunzel dancers...they were absolutely FABULOUS!!!
Marie Choreographed this one and it was so well done!
3-4 yr olds..."Little Itty Bitty" they were so cute...each one had a huge smile on their face the whole time. This was another one of Marie's and it was so stinking cute!
Academy E (4-7 yr olds) "Party Rock Anthem" Let's just say this was one of my favorites...they got so into it and with the song it was so CUTE!!!
Academy C (7-8 yr olds) "Pump It" Keri choreographed this one and it was so cute...the girls have improved in their hip hop a ton this year!
Academy D (5-6 yr olds) "Can't Buy Me Love" They were so stinking good, most of these girls have taken from me for a few years and it showed, they were seriously so good!
Academy A "Imma Shine" Keri Choreographed this amazing hip hop for the oldest girls, she did a fabulous job and the girls honestly looked AMAZING they had worked hard and it showed!
Academy E (4-7 yr olds) "I can't get no Satisfaction" These girls danced their little hearts out, they are such a fun group and it showed in their dancing!
Academy B (9-10 yr olds) "Beggin" Keri choreographed this hip hop as well, it was so good and so fun to watch, the girls did amazing!
Academy A "Sky Scraper" Nichol choreographed this AMAZING lyrical...I was in tears by the end. The girls have grown so much over the past few months and it is hard not to get emotional about them. I love these girls, they are the BEST!!!
Loved this shot!
Acadmey D (5-6 yr olds) "That's what little girls are for" Oh my goodness I can not tell you how much I loved this dance and these dancers. It was a hard routine and they knew it so well and danced their hearts out. I am so proud of what a good job they did!
Academy C (7-8 yr olds) "Jump Jive n' Wail" this was one of my favorites by far, the girls were so into it and they had so much fun. It is so fun when they get a little older and really start to get it...they were AWESOME!!!
Academy B (9-10 yr olds) "Magic" Oh my goodness these girls are seriously so AMAZING...they have improved so much and the difficulty of this dance was insane. They worked so hard and they looked so stinking cute up on stage. Love it when they get to show off how hard they have worked!
Academy A "Good Luck" What else can I say other then AMAZING...these girls looked so good and are such great examples of what a lot of hard work and dedication will get you. I loved watching them up on stage and seeing how much they have grown over the past few months. I seriously can't say enough nice things about these girls...so fun to watch!
FINALE'
Part of Academy A...I LOVED their costumes, so cute!
My teachers, Keri, Marie, Nicole and my Best Friend Meg to ran the show back stage...they are all so amazing and I am lucky to have them as teachers and friends!

I am so lucky to do what I love...don't know what I would do without this in my life!




This is my favorite pic of her holding on to grandpa's finger

Baby Girl

Baby Girl
This is our baby girl at 16 weeks. It was such an amazing thing to see her moving and count all of her fingers and toes for the first time. I know I bawled and Chris won't admitt it, but he was pretty emotional as well.

It's a girl!

It's a girl!

She's going to be a dancer