To be home

We had a great time in Utah be it is so wonderful to be back home. Sarah is eating squash! and loving it..we're also trying to 'cry to sleep' method with her.. it's hit and miss at the moment. I was itching to decorate for Christmas too. I'm excited to see the rest of my family for Christmas in a few weeks.. but until then, we're just glad to be home.

PS: I've been trying to recreate my blog friends list but for one reason or another..I'm having trouble getting to your sites.. if you could post your blog site for me, that would help a ton! Thanks

Temple Square Lights

We went down to Temple Square on Black Friday to see the lights. I forgot how much I loved seeing them! They have MILLIONS of lights and a nativity set up around the temple. This is the tree in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building

Sarah fell asleep..so adorable!

Much to be grateful for

Kurtis' sister Lina and her husband Jordan were able to join us for Thanksgiving. We cooked up a storm and had a FEAST! Oh man it was so good.. I loved cooking too. It's just so fun and I guess all those years of watching the Food Network paid off..Kurtis can't stop telling me how wonderful it was and how 'it was the best turkey he's ever eaten.' Thanks babe! Gotta have the Martinellis..
My turkey..I was so proud. It was yummy..but the popper didn't pop! Oh, and we got it free! A nice lady at the store gave us her coupons and it added up to enough to get a 16lb turkey FREE!
Thanks nice lady...

Instructing Kurtis on how to cut it..it was just so hard to hand over the reigns..

the FOOD!!

Jordan the eating machine!

We are so blessed. We're grateful to have been able to spend this time with family, to have wonderful food, to be warm, to be healthy, for our sweet baby girl, for each other, and most of all, for our Savior Jesus Christ. We hope your holiday was just as special.

Utah Adventures...Logan

The second week we spent with Kurtis' brother's family in Logan. Sarah met Lucia, 11 months her senior and the two held their own. Lucia couldn't stop loving Sarah and Sarah was mesmorized by all the action. It was adorable. Thanks to Chauncey and Paola for letting us stay! We had lots of laughs. Sarah started really sitting up while she was there and we think she's teething..that or she refuses to sleep because she wants to be with all the excitement. Pao with Sarah and LuciaThey had this bouncer and Sarah LOVED it. She spent hours in it happily jumping away. Lucia 'helped' her jump higher sometimes too..they graciously let us take it home with us and Sarah couldn't be happier. She even jumps herself to sleep too. It's hilarious! Lucia is a bundle of joyful energy and always willing to give hugs. I don't know if I'm ready for Sarah to be such a busy girl yet..I love my little immobile baby!Lucia loved Kurtis...well, she loved to be anywhere Sarah was. She copied Sarah's cries, laughs..anything. I think she was jealous of the attention. But she was so cute with her! We went out on Kurtis' grandpa's property (it's where Chauncy and Pao are living) where the lake is frozen over..the boys had fun playing on it..can't you tell? They were nuts. Ahhh..brothers
The lake..it is really beautiful

Oh, and we went shooting. I knew I would always cave and do it. Turns out, I'm a natural (of course). Seriously, I hit the targets really well. Ask Kurtis. I refused to shoot the field mice though..that's just mean.

Utah Adventures 1

3 weeks ago we embarked on a 19 or so hour drive to Utah. We were originally planning to go for the week of Thanksgiving, but Kurtis was contacted by one of the MBA schools he applied for and got an interview on Nov 12th in Salt Lake. To save on a plane ticket, we drove out early. Luckily, Kurtis can telecommute and we have plenty of family to split the time with in Utah. We got to see old friends and family we hadn't seen in years. Here are some of the memories we made... My brother's family drove up from Las Vegas. I just can't get over how big his kids are! I'd never met Ellie either.. that little cutie! We stayed with my grandma for the first week and went back a few times later when my mom and brother came. Such special times for us to get together!

Playing with cousins

The 4 generation picture

Us with my brother's kids: Ellie, Sean and Stuart

My mom introducing Sarah to my grandma's Christmas tree..it was quite prickly, Sarah didn't know what to think of it

My cousin Nicholas with Sarah, they are a generation removed

With old roomates! Amy and Melanie. It was so fun to see them!! We went to the yummiest brunch place in Salt Lake too.. can't remember the name........