Time to open presents!

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Hanging out with the cousins

We all went up to Derick's parents house for Christmas Eve. It was fun for all the cousins to play together and get excited for Christmas! We also had our traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Thank you Mary Ann for the wonderful food! It was such a fun and relaxing time having everyone together!

Halloween pictures....finally!

We had a lot of fun this Halloween. Andrew had a party at preschool and Derick took the kids out trick or treating while I passed out candy with some neighborhood friends! Ashley looked so cute in her tutu and pigtails, and Andrew was a dinosaur (Thanks Carrie Ann for the costume, it was perfect!)

The kids had a lot of fun at the ward party too. The YW were in charge of face painting. Here is Ashley getting hers done. When they were cleaning the party up, Andrew was towing Ashley around on the cart for the tables. I had to take a picture before I made them get off. It was too cute!

Ashley loved getting up close to the pumpkins. I was afraid her tutu was going to catch on fire! She also snuck a lot of candy out of Steff"s bowl...

Here is Andrew after eating WAY TOO MUCH candy! He was rolling around on the kitchen floor that night saying he was too sick to go up to his bed!

Thanksgiving fun with the Newman's

We were so lucky to have my parents come down from Alaska for Thanksgiving. They were here to help my Grandma move, but we got to spend a little time with them. I don't have any pictures of our actual dinner that we all made, but these are the ones I did take....

My mom and dad had flown all night so my dad was a little wiped out. He crashed on the couch, and Andy took a nap on his shoe! After their nap, Andy thought he would try to take down my dad....its never worked before and it didn't work again!

When my grandma moved she gave us all a HUGE barrel of wheat each. I had all 6 in my garage and was ready to have them out! We decided to borrow our Stake's canner and canned it all. It was fun to work together as a family :)

(Paul-oldest brother, Dad, Kara-Paul's wife, Andy-brother, Leisl-Andy's wife)

This is one of my favorite pictures from the time Grandpa Wesley and Gramea were here. She was reading Andrew a book and he was just snuggled up to her totally loving it!

Rock Band at Thanksgiving!!

Derick got his Christmas present early...I gave in. We had all the family here and it was perfect to bust it out and play!

I don't know if my mom or dad would be very happy if I put the video of them up. Let me just tell you, my mom is crying by the end of her turn playing the drums!!

Halloween Activities!

We had so many different Halloween parties this year! Andrew was in and out of that horse costume so many times! Isn't Ashley just the cutest little bee you ever did see! Thank you Wal Mart for carrying a horse costume so I didn't have to make one and thanks Gramea for the bee costume!

Labor Day with Great Grandma

Since my mom was here, we decided to go visit my Grandma. Ashley loved her house from the second we went in! Besides hanging out on her Great Grandma's lap, her second favorite thing was the shag carpet! She loved it! Do you like Ashley's snack for the road trip?! Who doesn't love a See's bag!

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Hill Aerospace Museum

Also on Pioneer Day weekend, we went to the Hill Aerospace Museum. I recommend this to everyone! Best of all, it is free! They have an area just for kids too, but as you can see, Derick and Uncle Ryan had fun in the simulators too!

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Hogle Zoo- Pioneer Day

I know this is late, but I had to share the pictures!

Since Derick had the day off work, we headed to the zoo! Andrew loved it. He loved ALL the animals, didn't get tired, didn't complain about being too hot (since it was in the high 90's) and had so much fun!

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TO: Derick, Grandpa Wesley & Grandpa...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

DERICK-
Even though you got your present a few months ago, I hope you still have a good day! I can't tell you how great of a dad you are! It must mean something when the first thing Andrew says when he wakes up is "Where is dad?" and that Ashley stares at your every move when you are near her! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful husband that loves our children so much! I know you would rather be playing with them then going to work...but we are thankful to you for providing for us! We love you!

GRANDPA WESLEY-
I know this picture was taken after you had flown on a red eye all night, but it was the only one I had on Derick's laptop! We are sorry we couldn't spend Father's Day with you, but we wished we could have! Andrew always loves to do "Piggies like Grandpa Wesley," with me. I HAVE to do it the way you do, wee wee home said quietly, this little Dori and Nemo, then do each arm, leg and his nose! We are so grateful that you got to come and meet Ashley and be here for her blessing. These kids have a great, loving set of grandparents they don't get to see very much, but they know you are there! Thank you for your love and support and concern for our family!


GRANDPA-
Happy Father's Day to Derick's dad, known simply as Grandpa in our house! We hope you have a great day today. We are so thankful for all you do for us! Andrew loves to come to your house and play and work with you. We are so grateful to be close by to be able to spend time together. Thank you for your example to us and our kids.