St. George - October 2014

While Phil's parents and sister Rachael were here visiting we decided to make a trip down south to show them another part of Utah, one our beautiful National Parks and Las Vegas. Our first stop was St. George where we explored the historic LDS sites in the area. We visited Brigham Young's "winter" home, the historic tabernacle and drove by the Jacob Hamblin Home.

Brigham's Bed

Eating our suckers like Jayne

Then we enjoyed the beautiful St George weather and  relaxed in the pool and played on the hotel's playground. Jayne loved swimming in the kiddie pool and even took a few toddling steps.  She didn't even mind when she fell over and plunged into the water (with mom and dad right there of course!)

We visited Zions the next day (will post about that day soon!) and then that night we went to the Tuacahn to see one of my favorites, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat. Phil's mission companion and his wife kindly watched Jayne for the night while we enjoyed a child-free buffet dinner and show. We loved it. The Tuacahn never disappoints!

Our wonderful babysitters!

On our way out of town the following morning we were able to visit Phil's mission secretary, Carol Dudley. She had nothing but praises for Phil and even though it was a brief visit, we enjoyed seeing her

Then we hit the road and headed to Vegas (yet another future post). Thanks St George!!

Holiday Season 2014

We've loved this holiday season. The weather has been beautiful (except we'd love some snow!) but if it isn't going to snow, then it may as well be warm right? And guys, kids make holidays 100 times better. Jayne points out every Santa Claus, Christmas Tree, lights, elves...anything and squeals "iiiiis dat!?" So cute!

We went to the Festival of Trees early in December. Its a festival where people donate Christmas items for auction and all proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital. Rows and rows of Christmas trees, gingerbread houses, wreaths and anything else Christmas-y you can think of = happy Phil and Jayne. I love it too, don't get me wrong, but my Christmas loving husband and squealing child were the highlight of the night for me :)

Big trees and mini trees this year

The big trees have a whole scene set up with them. It all comes as a whole package-this one was elaborate!

BYU!! Go cougs!

And the gingerbread houses...oh they are amazing! I was in awe of how talented people are!

Despicable Me!

This snowman was insane--each snowflake made out of candy and it covered the entire body-each flake was different. Crazy!

Later this month we went to an AF Band "Brinner" fundraiser where Jayne met Santa for the first time. After loving Santa from afar, she became like any other child, scared and clinging to Daddy. Once she got a candy cane and realized Dad was staying right there, she gave us a little grin :)

We've visited the Riverwoods (where Jayne touched every christmas light within reach), the Dicken's Festival and the Alpine Live Nativity. We are loving this holiday season!

Merry Christmas everyone!

Halloween 2014

Halloween this year was a lot of fun. We dressed up Jayne as a cute little bumble bee, handed her her pumpkin bucket and she was ready to go! We bought her bucket about a week earlier-she knew what her "pumpkin" was and would get it if you asked, and loved carrying it around. It was so cute!

Phil dressed up as a GI-Joe and I was Katniss Everdeen.

Such a stud! :)

We were lucky enough to have Rachael visiting us so she joined in on the festivities. Her costume was so cool!

We hit the ward trunk-or-treat first...it was epic! So many cute kids and lots of trunks to go to. Jayne loved holding out her bucket for people to put candy in!

The weather was so perfect to be out that night and Jayne loved taking it all in!

Our best friends, Keri and Keith aka Forrest Gump and Lieutenant Dan, plus their cute little Liv as a Bubba Gump Shrimp! 

and their cute little princess Jade. I love seeing all the little kids all decked out!

We finished the night off in my parents' neighborhood.  Later in the night, Jayne became really good at grabbing a piece of candy (or two!) from the bowl and putting it into her bucket by herself. She loved it! By the end of the night, her bucket was completely full!

Happy Halloween!