TWO big birthdays!

December has been a month of celebrating for our family. Tyson turned 30 on December 6th and our little Mia turned 2 on December 22nd.
We spent Tyson’s birthday weekend at the Canyons ski resort in Park City. We had his family up for one night and his friends up the next night. It was so much fun to see everyone. We also got to ski/snowboard a little bit, although I think we missed the good snow that they have now.

Mia, my mom and I after Tyson and I tried to take Mia sledding.

She told us it was "scary"- maybe next year.

My girlfriends and I at Tyson's party

 This situation looks bad.....

The birthday cake! In all of my party buzz, I forgot to get a picture of the cake before I put the candles in. Ooops!

MIA'S BIRTHDAY

Mia’s has been talking about her birthday for weeks. She would tell me that her birthday was coming up and she was going to get presents, and cupcakes and blow the candles out. I am not sure who she got all the details from, but she had it all planned out! On her birthday, we had dinner and PINK cupcakes with family. She was so good about sitting with her Daddy and opening her presents one-by-one. She would say “oh thank you!” after each one and then wanted to open it up and play with it. She got about 100 hello kitty stickers (no exaggeration), which she loves. Little girls and hello kitty is just a perfect match! She also got a little hello kitty outfit and when she wears a pink bow in her hair, she looks just like the hello kitty.

Mommy and the big birthday girl!

You can just see what she is thinking...

"I wonder if I could just stick my finger in the frosting right here!"

Tyson got home from work just in time to eat and open presents.

Little cousin Jake sneaking a cupcake

After the party, Mia wanted to put all of her presents in this ottoman that goes in her room.

When everything wouldn't fit, she got it to press it all down to make room! Oh Mia, we love you!

November and Thanksgiving

AHH! Where does the time go? Between working, finishing up with school for semester, Tyson's 30th birthday, Mia's 2nd birthday and Christmas, I have had no time! November has flown by. We spent the weekend before Thanksgiving visiting Tommy, Ashley and the kids in San Antonio. Tyson's parents were visiting at the same time. It was so fun to have most of the family together! The highlight of our weekend was the Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday. I am not a fan of the Cowboys, but that huge monstrosity of a stadium was a sight to behold. We had unbelievable tickets that allowed us field level access. It was very cool. Thanks Tommy and Verizon wireless!

 Tommy, Ellie, Nannie and Jake

 Mia, Tyson and I on the river walk in San Antonio

Best buddies- on a boat ride in San Antonio

DALLAS COWBOYS GAME

 Hello arms! This is how close we were.

It is hard not to notice....

 Tyson and Tommy trying to get some love

from the players after the game

Ashely, Rachel and I.

Rachel went to college with us but now lives in Texas.

Thanksgiving seemed like it was last weekend. We were up in Pocatello for the weekend and it was mostly relaxing. Long story short, I went up to Pocatello early to avoid bad weather and do some clinic time with my Dad. The plan was to have Tyson fly up and drop Mia off because he had to work over Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, due to the unpredictable weather, things did not go as planned. My mom and I ended up driving down to SLC the day before Thanksgiving to pick up Mia. Then on Thanksgiving, I sent my 2 brother-in-laws to the airport in Idaho Falls to pick Tyson up for the day. Poor Tyson had less than 24 hours off from work. This is just how our lives are these days... Crazy! Once we were all finally in the same place, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Pre-dinner toast

The girls and their guys

 What crazy person did we let carve our turkey?!

 Amar and Kate- Wedding planned May 2011

 Mia is thinking "I don't think my mom lets me play with guns" 

On second thought, this gun looks like fun!

My sister Hanna and her little man



Halloween

Our Halloween was not so eventful this year and unfortunately did not include any trick-or-treating. We went to Denver for the weekend with our friends Chris, Emily and Austin to see the Utah/ Air Force game. We were traveling on Halloween and were planning to take her out when we got home. BUT.... since Utah is so unique (aka wierd), when we got home on Sunday there were no lights on and no trick-or-treaters to be seen anywhere! Poor Mia showed up on Nannie's (Tyson's mom) porch in costume on Halloween thinking this was what it was all about. She got some chocolate out of Nannie's fridge for a treat and was loving it. Next year we promise we will take her out on Halloween to experience the fun!



Cutest baby monster I have EVER seen!



Lookin a little confused. Why I am dressed like a cow again?

 Mia and Austin





 Mia loved playing football with all of the boys. I think most people think she is a boy when they first see her- it's the hair cut! It doesn't help that she was totally dressed like a boy on this day.



Mia and Tyson before the game.



Summer fun

I can't believe that the leaves are already starting to change. Summer is almost over! It never lasts long enough. Here are some of my favorite memories from this summer.

This is the second year that we have had a backyard garden. These picture are from the beginning of the summer when there were more weeds than vegis or fruit. Mia loved the strawberries. I think she ate our whole crop by herself this summer. When we would eat dinner outside, she would be in the garden picking and eating all the strawberries!

 

I came home from school one day to find this. It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen! Tyson and Mia were making strawberry cupcakes. Strawberry.... weird, huh?! She was so exicted to help. She had her little chair pulled right up to the counter.

 

Waiting patiently for the yumminess to bake!

I think this was before dinner, but I didn't care. She was so excited to dig in!

We took Mia to the fair last week. It was the first time I had ever been. Mia absolutely loved all the animals. I think she would have climbed in the cages and rustled around with them if we would have let her!

Mia was being very soft with the bunny

 

Pony ride

Mmmmm! Cotton candy. My favorite treat and Mia's new favorite.

Tyson and Jordan going up the scary ride that drops you at the top. I did not take part in this.

Mia with all her tacky fair prizes the next morning. She wanted to carry them around everywhere she went.

Tyson, Todd and Jeff have been working so hard up at the cabin this summer. They are finishing the basement and doing some much needed updates. Todd is smiling in this picture but there aren't many smiles throughout the day. It has been hard work.

 

Mia, Nanny and I were fishing at the pond while the boys were working. I would put them in this bucket after I caught them. Mia wanted to pet and kiss all the fish that we caught. That must come from Tyson because I can't stand touching the slimy things!

Chanel, Nigel and Mia

This picture is hard to see but they put the kid's handprints in the new cement pad in the back of the cabin. It is cute. Mia's shoe print is also in the cement because she wandered out onto the wet cement when no one was looking. There is a little foot print with a Nike swoosh! I told Tyson it will be a good memory for years to come.