Image Map

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Christmas Week in Vegas

I've spent the past week in Vegas...mostly hanging out. It's been great. Here's the picture recap of the trip.
Karson turned 7 months 12/24. Time is flying, and he's getting so big.
We went to the Bellagio on Christmas Eve. Looks like that's becoming the new Christmas Eve tradition. Karlee really liked the water show this time. She didn't really love the picture taking though.
attempting a family shot
I've never seen the waters shoot as high as they did to O Holy Night
more attempts for family picture. try getting 2 kids to look and smile.

Christmas morning was pretty fun. Karlee loved opening presents. The kids got a ton of stuff.
I got the kids a tent and tunnel. Karlee insisted I stay inside for a while even while we did skype with my parents.
they liked the tent a little more than the picture shows. Karlee wants to go in it all the time now.
She's probably going to kill me, but here's one of Chelsea's Christmas presents from me
This picture is hideous, but in my head it was so cute. I can't even believe I am posting it. I look huge!
Karson is smiling and laughing all the time now
More attempts at pictures. I have several empty frames, and I was hoping to get some cute pictures with the kids to put in them

I took the kids to McDonalds when I was here another time so Chelsea and Jeff could go to the temple. We did that again on this trip. Karlee has so much fun and talks about it all the time. She will also probably talk about how I spilled my full drink on the floor of the playland while trying to juggle the tray and hold Karson.

I've had a great week down here. It is always fun to come and play with the kids and spend time relaxing. It's about the only time I'm not completely overscheduled and I love it.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

B DAY

It's no secret that I don't love my 3 days before Christmas crappy December birthday. Karlee loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and had a Mickey party with a Mickey cake for her birthday this year. A couple months ago she asked me if I was going to have a Mickey party for my birthday. I told her if grandma made the cake I would. We celebrated my birthday with the family while we were home in Missouri. My mom made the Mickey cake so we had a Mickey party. Karlee loved it so I loved it too!

My poor mom got up super early to decorate the cake. Karlee was so excited to show it to me right when I woke up. She helped me blow out the candles.



My real birthday was full of celebration too. I started out the day at the gym. I went to breakfast with Anne (in town from Arizona) and Kimber and Michelle (from work) at Kneaders. I forgot to take pictures but it was so fun catching up.

I went straight from breakfast to lunch at Fats Grill with Michelle, Andrew and Drew, Dy and Bracken, Nettie, and Katey (in town from Philadelphia). So much fun!


I flew to Vegas at night to spend the week. My flight was delayed so my birthday dinner consisted of airport food. Good thing I had such yummy meals earlier in the day. I got lots of calls, emails, texts, FB messages. It was a great day. Now onto the joy of embracing being 31.

New Phone


My Blackberry completely 100% died on Tuesday. I was really hoping there was something I could do besides get a new phone. No luck! 3 hours and a lot of money later I walked out of the Verizon store with this. Hope it's as great as everyone says it is.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Christmas in Missouri

We celebrated Christmas a little early this year. Chelsea, the kids, and I went to Missouri for a week to hang out with the fam and celebrate the holidays. My mom had lots of fun things planned to keep Karlee (and the rest of us) entertained. It was probably the busiest week we've ever had in Cape, and we had such a good time.

There's a new place in town, Discovery Playhouse. Not sure who had more fun...Karlee or my mom.

Karson is getting so big and smiley. I think these pictures are SO cute!
They had everything for a real store including the checkout. Pretty impressive.
Karlee and Ashley in the big firetruck
Bowling (see previous post)
Ashley and I took Karlee to the park. She didn't care that it was freezing out there.
Swimming at the gym. Karlee loved having the boys help her play basketball, and Karson was pretty content in the water.
Gingerbread house

Making sugar cookies
Opening presents. This extended through several days. The kids needed toys to play with so they opened theirs at the start of the trip. They had so many so we saved some for when the rest of us opened them later on. Those kids (and all of us really) are so spoiled but it's just so fun to buy them stuff.
Christmas clothes. They weren't super excited about the picture taking after church. They both look so cute and so grownup in these.
Karlee is kind of a stinker with pictures but does pretty well if you tell her to strike a pose. I just love her model shots.
Mickey party (more details to come later)
Karlee was really excited about the Mickey cake even though she doesn't really look like it

We had such a fun week at home. It's always nice to see the family and so sad to leave. I came back to 3 days of work and then a 2 week break. I love my job! I'll head down to Vegas to spend Christmas with Chelsea, Jeff, and the kids.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

BOWLING

We're all in Missouri for an early Christmas. Today's fun activity was family bowling. Karlee went bowling in Vegas a while ago and loved it. Unfortunately Dad couldn't come, but the rest of us were there. Jake was the top scorer out of all of us, and I might have had the lowest score. Bowling probably isn't my sport, but it was a fun time with the fam.

Zach showing off his skills


Chelsea in action

this picture of my mom is so funny. she actually got a spare with this shot.

Karlee is definitely the cutest little bowler. She got so excited when it was her turn.

for some reason i think i need to throw the ball.

group shots



Sunday, December 5, 2010

Holiday Fun


Anna and Patty had a little trouble with their house.


Shutterfly

Remember when scrapbooking was an art?!? Ok so it still is, but sometimes there's just not enough time. I never thought I would go digital, but here I am 5 books later. I love Shutterfly for everything digital. Their photo books are great, and their cards are so cute...especially their holiday cards this year. Check out their photo christmas cards.  I ordered some cards last year and loved them so much. I've seen some really cute cards for other special occasions too (birthday cards) and  (invitations). I've tried a few other companies, and Shutterfly is my favorite. There are enough ideas so you don't have to think too much and enough options for a little creative freedom. The best part is Shutterfly is doing a promotion this year to get the word out about their holiday cards. Check it out HERE. The emails for addresses have already started, and I even have one hanging up (nice job Chelsea on getting them done early). I better get going or at least start collecting addresses. Now the questions...which card do i pick? what pictures do i use to highlight the year? so many things to think about.