The Simple Life

Halloween iphone photos...

this year, the boys couldn't wait for everyone to go trick or treating, so they escaped without us!

gulianna wanted to be a cat, isabella was a detective, she loves her "adventure dress" and new it would make the perfect detective outfit too.(i really wanted her to be snow white, since she had the perfect haircut, and i don't think her snow white dress will fit next year!) anthony was a race car driver, and jeremy a fire fighter. i love halloween!

and trick or treating around this town is so magical, and picture perfect at every house!

anthony tried to pull one over on joe the potter, he insisted on a piece of pottery for his "treat!"

we made our way down to the soda fountain for some games, and then back to our house for our traditional taco soup dinner. usually i do it before we go trick or treating but i didn't have it ready earlier.

jeremy was so excited to go trick or treating, it was christmas morning to him every time some one answered their door! i wish they could stay this little forever ♥

Vintage Halloween Wreath...

it's true. i made this at the last minute. like i was hanging it up, as our first trick or treaters were showing up!

between orders and soccer and our st george trip, i didn't even decorate!! so i quickly made the polka dot bow, i had the burlap ribbon in my stash for a few years, just waiting for me to make it. made a junque bow for jack the skeleton, and taped one of my halloween banner's to our front door! i pinned the chalkboard halloween printable (designed by rhonna farrer)to the bow with a clothespin. it makes the wreath! i will remember to hang it up next year, EARLY, and get the full thirty one days out of it ♥  

digital frame is from rhonna's app! available here in the app store ;)

christmas day...

it was nice for us to stay in "the apartment" so we didn't have any early risers for christmas morning! i made them all shower and get dressed, and kept the suspense up until we walked over to my mom's! the boys got lots of hot wheels cars, jeremy was so excited and content on the first one he opened, he yelled out "team HOT WHEELS!" the boys got legos, and the girls got what they asked for: art journals, crayons (the big box with lots of crayons and a sharpener!) and gulianna really wanted a pack of magnets for her crafts ♥ santa brought gulianna an "owl beanie boo" isabella an "ariel doll" anthony planes movie "airplane, bronco" and jeremy a firetruck! star wars everything from grandma, puzzles, and new clothes too. and i can't forget to add all of their snow clothes and new snow boots, that was a small fortune in itself! they were in an out all day sledding, not minding the cold, but jeremy came in screaming and crying a few times for losing his gloves, and his hands were frozen! and the best present, we went tubing at targhee! i'll have to post those separately.

christmas eve...

we had lunch with cherry in driggs, (i forgot to take pictures!)and then hung out until my mom got off work... the kids took over for a bit! i did some errands, picked up last minute gifts at corner drug, which ended up being what i wanted, thanks sally for carrying unique gifts! then we quickly changed into church clothes at rhonda's house, and visited with cherry until we went to christmas eve mass. the highlight: jeremy yelling " but my poop is coming out now!" if only the cry room wasn't full, ha ha! then both anthony and jeremy fell asleep for the rest of the time. 

isabella forgot to grab her church coat...but still a cute picture.

then we came home and had tamales and attempted to build a gingerbread house! #traditions 

gingerbread houses in the making.

but then they didn't go so well, so anthony just started eating it! 

but he was determined to make his own, since he already made one at school!

it turned out perfect!

an idaho christmas...

where to begin! we left wednesday the 28th, and tried to hit the road before it started snowing. we had good dry roads the whole way, except between our stretch, and then again on malad pass. we made it to idaho falls by 4:30. of course we had a few stops in lehi, had to pick up some of heidi's words! the kids got to open up their gifts from grandma cherrie, between those and coloring books kept them occupied. they really are good travelers, no tv or electronics. just some good music and looking out the window! 

we came home super late, levi had just picked up his paycheck on our way out, so we did our shopping in idaho falls! we met my parents too, my mom had planned on us driving through to see the christmas lights, however the line was so ridiculously long, we skipped it all together. my kids will be waking up to uncle anthony's marine dressed mannequin, sweet dreams! 

last minute getaway...

after being home for thanksgiving...we felt like we needed to get out! thought about st george but then realized it was unrealistic, so we went to salt lake instead! i got orders out, came home from the post office and packed within 40 minutes and we were out! checked into our hotel, went to costco and filled up with gas under $2 a gallon, YES! jeremy and amy met us at the front runner station and we were off to salt lake. it only took a year for us to finally ride. everytime we go up, i forget that they don't run on sunday's. we checked out the new church history museum, went to city creek, with hopes of leaving our kids to shop for a minute ;) ya right! and best of all the lights. it was freezing! but yay for TRADITIONS! i love when cousins can get together, we need them back here! we made it back on the train with all 12 kids and big strollers, be proud, no one was left behind. we tried, ha ha! a few lost gloves and scarves along the way, but got lucky and found them all. a quick stop at hobby lobby, for levi, i stayed in the parking lot, i had 10 min in ross and got lucky and found a coat. we had a late dinner at red robin and went back home. short, but definetly packed in a lot of fun and chaos. they don't call it hustle and bustle for nothing!

 

 

Get Away Today Disneyland Black Friday and Cyber Monday coupon codes

can you believe thanksgiving is here! i'm ready to stay home!

but first i have to share some great deals for Disneyland with Get Away Today, they are celebrating Black Friday sales early, starting on Monday November 23rd, 2015!

BLACK FRIDAY deal:

$75 off any 4-night or longer Southern California package (2 ticket minimum) for travel January – March 1, 2016. The package must be booked by Sunday, November 29.

The promo code is: BlackFriday15

CYBER MONDAY deal:

Monday, November 30, and will be good for $50 off the same package requirements: 4-night Southern California vacations w/a minimum of 2 tickets for travel January 1 – March 1, 2016. This will need to be booked by Saturday, December 5, 2015.

The promo code is: CyberMonday15

be sure to mention my blog "The Simple Life" when booking ♥

and, both of these specials can be used with any of these specials:

• Free Night Specials
• Extra Day Free Disneyland Tickets
• Save up to 20% at the Disneyland Resort Hotels
• Layaway Plans starting at $125 down

have any of you visited Disneyland during the holidays? it's over the top amazing and EXTRA magical! 

i mean look at main street USA with all the Christmas lights!

GET AWAY TODAY also has a $100 off promo code: GATT1115 good for any 3-night or longer vacation package to Hawaii, Mexico or Orlando. This promo code can be combined with any of our current specials, must be booked by 11/29/15 and requires a $1,000 minimum with blackout dates: 11/19-25, 12/15-31/15 and 3/5-26/16. It can be used on their site or over the phone 855-GET-AWAY.

be safe AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING ♥

boutique prep+ set up...

pricing and inventory is not my favorite thing to do! i also ran out of labels on my price gun. but when set up is done, the final product is worth it all! 

these two are pretty good helpers. after i took a photo of both of them, isabella says "ok now just a picture of me!" 

another show down. now i can just focus on online sales and the holiday season, thanksgiving is coming up!

veteran's day 2015...

honoring all who have served our great country today ♥

love our small town rec center, it's an awesome memorial building!

heritage day weekend...

the first busiest day of the whole year in our small town, heritage day. got the first sneak peek of the art squared paintings last night...loved this painting of this old country path, now i wish i would have bid on it!

 

because you know i love a good ol raggedy ann doll and vintage cowboy boots ♥

 

love kathy peterson's paintings, and especially her frames. 

got up early this morning...only a few hours of sleep, finished pricing more items for my sale over at the old school, and then lunch prep at our church. my mom and dad, and chelsey came down late last night for this weekend, glad they are here!

 

the kids and my mom and chelsey got to ride in this cool classic car! never get in a stranger's car when they offer you a ride, unless it's a bel air, ha ha! (and you're with your aunt and grandma)

 

 

 

my favorite artist...randall lake! love that his place just down the street. they added these awesome shutters inside ♥

 

hhello lovely vintage quilts ♥

i love our small town...so many charming stone homes and buildings. we got a sneak peek of the third floor of the old school...they have done so much work, it looks so good!

 

and my favorite barn...some day, we will have one too! going to give up some garden space for it, levi put it in the plans last year, can't wait!

 

and the biggest miracle of all! we didn't get rain at all, even though it was forecasted, all the surrounding areas got poured on...while our little town was protected with good weather and sunshine until the evening. 

mother's day 2015...

pictures after church...plus the out takes, you're welcome!

 

 

easter junque banner...

my latest junque banner...in my etsy shop! 

thepolkadotbarn.etsy.com

isabella's birthday weekend...

we started a new tradition last year, (beginning with gulianna's birthday) that we would spend the night at the hotel in lehi and celebrate all weekend! we missed out on anthony's birthday since we had too much going on. but he didn't seem to mind. our first stop: fleattitude in payson. found this frame, had to text a picture to my mom, because she has the same one. "life is fragile, handle with prayer."

we had lunch at waffle love, sooo so good! and isa opened up her presents from grandma and grandpa, and chelsey! after lunch we ran errands, and then checked into the hotel. we went to the train expo at thanksgiving point, the kids were in heaven! we walked to smash burger for dinner, and came back to swim.

the next morning we were planning on taking the front runner to salt lake, but we didn't "plan" too much because i forgot that they don't run on sunday's...oops! we ate lunch at panda express and then took the kids to the discovery museum at the gateway and they played for a good 4 hours, until we couldn't take the noise any more. we read books for an hour at good old barnes and noble, haven't been there in ages! then we headed back to the hotel.

the next morning we ran more errands, (have to make these trips worth it) had a late lunch at masa, picked up a trailer from jeremy. i stopped at michael's to run in for some glitter, while levi fixed the trailer lights and we ended up being there for 2 and half hours...not the best evening. we made it home, i made levi drop me off to spin class, i was 15 min. late and some one took my bike! luckily (or not so lucky) a friend wasn't feeling so great so she was getting off her bike any way. so it worked out great. what a weekend!

 

 

isabella's birthday...

we surprised isa in the morning with her brand new bike. of course, she wasn't thrilled at 7:30 in the morning...

after i dropped her off to school, i picked up donuts for her class, she was excited to hand them out to her classmates.

 

she couldn't wait to get home and ride her new bike!

her first birthday party with "friends" over. we had an ice cream party! 

valentine garland LOVE...

i love pink and red! just finished taking photos of these yesterday. i made the small trek in the mud and deer poop to the old cabin in our backyard, we have no snow! all these lovely valentine garlands and banners are available in my etsy shop. thepolkadotbarn.etsy.com

happy new year's EVE...

 

 

we went to walmart with chelsey to pick out ice cream for our ice cream party! her idea...and we ALL love ICE CREAM. "americone dream" with stephen colbert, can you tell who that one's for? RJ! she also bought jenga...or the generic version "jumbling tower" walmart had slim pickings for games, we had a good laugh! then we watched annie and jeremy snuck into chelsey's make up...that kid. 

Christmas pajamas...

merry christmas eve! we watched the good ol' classic christmas cartoons that i used to watch, (levi too) and then i paused the show for a surprise! the opening of the christmas jammies...jeremy was already asleep but we woke him up, he wasn't too happy at first, but then grandma also had a little toy train wrapped inside so he woke right up! anthony said "this is why i LOVE grandma, she buys me a new train!" it was so funny to hear him say that :)

merry christmas eve!

the boys are finally asleep, now if the girls would stop talking, they are sleeping under the tree tonight.

christmas eve...

preparing for the big day tomorrow! woke up and made one more batch of oatmeal cookie bars for a few more friends that levi said i "had to deliver too!" he working when i made the list. and plus i forgot to set some aside for santa!!

anthony spent most of the day laying under the tree, dreaming of what he might get for presents. here he was looking at a store catalog. 

getting ready to open up some christmas jammies!

i had just put the presents that i bought for the kids under the tree, and jeremy ran for them...this is why i usually wait til early in the morning! AND one minute he's fully dressed and the next minute just his diaper!

special wrapping for my little family, love the colors and this paper! have i mentioned i'm addicted to paper? that of course includes wrapping paper! i added this one to my "collection" this year ♥

3 more merry days...

schools out early, 3 batches of oatmeal cookie bars later (and some banana bread) we are ready to deliver to our wonderful neighbors! wouldn't be complete without a few fights here and there amongst the kids on who's running out, tis the season right!?

temple square trip #ShareTheGift

we took our young women to temple square today! we tried to plan this trip last year, but we couldn't fit it in, so this year was it! we drove up to provo and took the front runner to salt lake, loved it, and reminded me of my past travels in chicago, and london and paris, oh how i want to go back to london sooo bad! ours was super clean and new, and hello wi-fi ♥

i enjoyed walking around the temple grounds and exploring the visitors center with my class and presidency, grateful for their examples to follow Christ. and if you've never been to temple square to see the Christmas lights you MUST go!! 

please remember in this busy holiday season WHY we even CELEBRATE...Jesus Christ IS the GIFT! 

 

#sharethegift #HeIStheGift

visiting santa 2014...

gulianna came prepared with a list ♥ she politely asked for a pink teddy bear, a pink yoga mat and didn't make eye contact with him not once!

isabella... right when i was trying to get everyones hats and gloves and coats on isabella walks up to me all serious and says "mom, i've been bad ALL year, right?" uh huh, sure isa! i told he r there is still time to change and be better. when we got there, she still didn't want to go see santa, she was one of the last ones. i asked her why and she just said, "because i don't want to!" i made her get in line, and right before her turn she says "but mom, that is not even the real santa, that's just a fake santa because i can see the lines from his fake beard!" miss know it all! i wouldn't expect anything different from her :)

anthony was just excited to have a candy cane...

and asked him for a sail boat.

jeremy was smart enough to just go in front of everyone and get a candy cane, i think he ate 10 of them!

we ended the night singing christmas carols with a tractor "sleigh ride" around the town. it had been super windy all day long, and we were blessed that the wind had died down during our ride.

oh Christmas tree...

we finally got our tree up and decorated, yay!

it's been a busy year and we are so grateful for everything.

i love this time of year to reflect on what we've done throughout the seasons of life, and who doesn't love another chance to decorate?! i know that this will be a tough christmas season for jeremy and his little grabby hands, but it sure is tempting :)

ward christmas party 2014

we had our ward christmas party this evening, and the kids were in the nativity play. gulianna was a shepherd, isabella was one of the wise men and anthony was a camel!

jeremy was a handful while they were on stage, and then at the end of the play, anthony thought it would be funny to steal isabella's crown and then when she got it back she couldn't get it to stay on her head, and when she noticed she got a few laughs from the crowd she started to purposely drop her crown and act like it was flying off of her to get more attention! 

thanksgiving in idaho...

yay...it's been a while since we've been in idaho during the colder months, we went home for thanksgiving! it was definitely weird to see hardly any snow, it was windy as usual, and by the time we were leaving what little snow was there, had melted all gone! dirt and grass, and potato fields for miles. we had a good thanksgiving, always good to be home with my parents.

primary program sunday...

 

enjoying these last few warm fall days...the snow is coming!

for now we still enjoy green grass and autumn leaves :)

today was our ward's primary program, they always do such a good job. they even did sign language on one of the songs. levi and i got to sing "The Family is of God" along with 2 other couples and the rest of the primary. at the last minute i didn't know whether to take jeremy up and have him sit behind us or let him make his way up to the pulpit on his own! he was a handful the entire program. lil stinker. luckily he went to a friend right before, and didn't even notice we were singing, he was content looking at a book!

halloween 2014

for this years halloween costumes: gulianna was merida from brave, isabella was anna from frozen, anthony was an astronaut, and jeremy was olaf! 

trunk or treat on main street in front of our church and we stopped at a few houses on the way home.

 

halloween decor...

i'm expecting preschool trick or treaters any minute...AND my house is clean, so i took some photos of my halloween decor...same as every year, but i sure love it!

polka dots and pyrex ♥

my halloween tree, that gets redecorated 50 times a day!

 

halloween treats...

halloween treats from grandma! and some cute masks.

noisy guns...not so much, can't wait til the batteries die, ha ha!

outdoors up the canyon...

we live in such a beautiful valley with amazing canyons just minutes from home! every fall we have dinner around the campfire up maple canyon. this year i tried to plan to go up the beginning of september but that didn't work out, and then we were busy every day it seemed like. so we made it happen and went. 

we love the outdoors! and our kids love to explore! and rock climb... we had a great evening and the best tin foil dinner ever, thanks to levi :)

 

ice cream sundaes...

we LOVE ice cream! but we've been pretty good and haven't had any for a good while. so we decided to have a little ice cream party after conference on saturday. and sunday too!

it's all about the toppings!

my favorite is always oreo. i don't like to eat them plain. i can handle about 2 before i start to get sick to my stomach! but crushed up on some french vanilla ice cream is perfect ♥

 

be inspired: general conference

it's that time of year already...general conference! a moment to listen to some awesome speakers and to be uplifted and inspired by their messages!

have you listened to general conference before? what do you like to do over conference weekend? we usually have a big breakfast right before it starts and then i seem to find projects to do in the house while i listen to it. sometimes it's spring cleaning. painting...or working on projects. we used to get together and scrapbook while listening...those were the good ol' days! this year i have a kitchen cabinet to paint, as well as catch up on some banners and kits. 

i made these little treat bags for the young women (in our church youth program) to go along with the conference packets. i have 2 for my girls too, they love this kind of stuff! 

simple and cute! it's time for some bright spring colors! and complete with the hashtag #ldsconf

join with me to watch/and or listen to inspiring messages that we can all learn from on peace, hope and truth! and if you ever get a chance to attend the live sessions in salt lake, it's worth it. levi and i did back in 2006, we surely enjoyed every minute!

for the love...

another round of valentine's this year!

what the february!

gulianna was excited to go thru all her valentine's. she weeded out all the sugar crap and just kept the chocolate. levi got home this evening from his trip.

 

 

 

 

 

these girls love to pick up jeremy like this into some cheerleader pose, it's so funny!

 

later we made oatmeal cookie bars for our family and a few neighbors. the girls came with me and brenda to go visiting teaching. well actually we secretly dropped off a plate her awesome sugar cookies. the second house was isabella's turn to ring the doorbell. but then she pouted and started crying because she wanted to say hi! we quickly tried to shut her up, so they wouldn't know we were hiding!

then after we went again to do the same thing but with our little family. when we went to jeremy's house, isa was laughing so hard when we were running back to the durango and then i realized it was because her boot was stuck somewhere in the mud! so i had to go back and look for it.

this was at rebecca's house. we left her a dictionary garland too. she wasn't home, and then i remembered that there was a valentine's dance as we passed the church. oops! 

 they had fun! we had planned to do it as a family, but anthony fell asleep waiting for me to go visiting teaching. and levi was tired. so it was just us girls. gulianna said "let's do this for every holiday!" so we just might.

writing valentine's...

isabella writing her name on the back of her valentine's. she did hers right before school, because i kind of forgot the day before. 

gulianna came home and worked on her valentine's after school. when she left in the morning, she said "mom you better have everything ready!" i wanted to have them work on them on monday but i forgot to get them printed. then anthony felt left out because i didn't really print anything for him. dang it. next time bro.

♥ ♥ ♥

christmas eve...

gulianna and isabella really wanted to sleep by the tree on christmas eve!

 

and santa came shortly after they had fallen asleep...

merry christmas to all

... and to all a good night!

santa's milk and a few oatmeal cookie bars are set out and ready to go. gulianna's idea of course.

and it would be more magical if my kids would go to bed!

i hope you all have a very merry christmas and to remember the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

 

 

veryMERRY chipboard banner

hello friends! just listed my veryMERRY chipboard banner in my etsy shop and i used heidi swapp's darling christmas paper from her believe collection! 

idaho trip...{day eight}

june29th

and finally the evening that the kids were waiting for! fireworks!

our new tradition...fireworks at huntsman springs, this was our second year, we missed the very first one with glenn beck. anyway this is the best fourth of july show ever! very impressive, and of course patriotic. next year we will be more prepared with food. we always think we are just going to eat there...but the lines are crazy long, and our kids are just hungry! and with a million people in town, eating out isn't much of an option. so next year for sure. i did luck out with the jamba juice line. so we loaded up. then anthony threw a tantrum at the top of the hill. that and carrying everyone's jamba juice, and no cell reception...was almost too much! but it's always worth it. we enjoyed the beach boys! days after it was over, gulianna would say "and the rockets red glare! ahem...I SAID and the rockets red glare!" she remembered from the announcer. coolest show ever, we are so lucky to have it in driggs!

st patricks day banners...

just posted a couple of these darling banners up in my shop!

i took these photos on my headboard...now i have the banner up on my shelf in the living room!

happy fourth...

haven't been posting much. it's too hot!

and been working on projects and organizing.

we are heading up to idaho for the fourth...

been a couple years since we've celebrated at home!

can't wait!

hope everyone has a safe fourth of july!

easter decor...

i feel like easter came and went too fast! i was going to put out my easter decorations last weekend during conference, but i was too busy cleaning and organizing all the cupboards again...and didn't get too it. too many projects it seems like.

i think i'll keep them out til this weekend then pack them away.

i woke up saturday morning and noticed that my little chicky was broken...probably anthony, i heard him slamming something guess that's what it was.

i love my easter bunnies...i had to glue the chocolate bunnies head back on last year...isabella got that one. i've come to realize that most of my decor is glued together, thank goodness for E6000! i'd fix my lil chick up but i can't find the piece anywhere.

easter...

some shots from instagram...i still need to go through my pictures i took with my camera. i filled the plastic eggs on saturday. we were just about out of money right before easter. i had spent our last $25 dollars on diapers, a few groceries and chocolate for the easter eggs the week before. sometimes i wonder how we even make it, but we always do, we are blessed with all that we have. i told the girls we probably won't have money for new easter dresses, like it matters any way they have a lot of dresses and skirts! we didn't buy anything for them last year either.

so the day that we went to walmart i looked in the little girls section to see if they even had any dresses left, there was 2 that the girls liked. one 5T and one 3T, they were the last ones, but like i said, we had $25 to our name! we got lucky and four days before easter we had our tax returns direct deposited into our account. we weren't expecting them until the week after easter. we went back to walmart to buy more groceries, i checked on the dresses and they were still there. lucky lucky!

we drove to payson that evening to pull out most of it from the bank and then to provo for the mall to see if we could find a new dress shirt for anthony, but i couldn't find anything...and i only had 40 min. to look! much harder to find what you need when you live an hour away from the convenience of shopping! i went home and pulled out his pink striped shirt from last year to see if it would still fit him...it did, minus the sleeves went up to his elbows! so we just rolled them and let him be cool like that :)

here are the girls excited to go to the mall! {we just stopped at the gas station to go to the bathroom...they were in their carseats before.}

no luck at the gap for anthony. i did love this jacket...but i couldn't spend $30 for it. still needed to be clearanced more! i'm very picky on what i spend for clothes!

we always seem to eat at red robin when we make a bank run! gulianna said "take my picture!"

dancing...

you can't tell, but this basket is big! it's the girls' basket for "picking up sticks" in the yard to burn.

 

easter gifts...

my mom is always good about sending packages in the mail...they were excited to see what they got from grandma and grandpa!

i was laughing when i read the presents...mom, you forgot the y on happy! ha ha!

easter coloring books, stickers and socks! they love stickers!

thank you grandma & grandpa!

green...

*saturday night just as i was starting this post, levi came walking in the house with crutches...in pain, we thought he broke his leg, he fell through the top stair at his mom's place, luckily his workbelt caught and he didn't fall all the way down. he's fine now, so glad no broken bones, just very bruised!

our "chocolate treats" didn't last but a couple days...in this house!

we got up at 7 this morning to go and get our bountiful basket! finally! i've been wanting to order these since we lived in rigby. gulianna was so excited, she wanted to go, but when the morning came, she was sound asleep. i woke her up and told her she could stay, but she insisted on going!

we've had such warm weather the past couple weeks! in the upper 50's, saturday it was 61 degrees! our grass is starting to turn green, and it's really green over by the wood pile. can't wait for summer!

valentine's...

gulianna's valentine cookies for her class...we got them at the bakery, she was so excited about her valentine party!

on her way to preschool...with a cough drop in her mouth!

after she got home i gave them their valentine presents from chelsey, thanks! isa...whining...too impatient to give me 5 seconds worth of photos, geeez!

 
poor anthony...still sick, but slowly getting better!

they loved the little valentine cards and the tiny markers...anthony was wondering where his were! and since the girls have been taking over his sickness, and not playing with their stuff, anthony's been playing with their markers coloring on himself and his clothes.

at least we still managed to have fun with valentine's despite being super sick!

2012...

happy new year!

here's to a new year filled with new memories, new projects, new whatever YOU want to make of it!

Santa...

every year i always take my kids to see santa at the mall, last year i didn't get a picture, but we still went to see him! this year we didn't see him at the mall, instead we visited with him at thanksgiving point. he was the FotoFly Santa! last year we got our family pictures taken at Fotofly in Draper, i don't even think i ever posted them here. anyway...the girls have been so excited to see santa, we almost missed our appointment, i knew i should have booked the very last appt. possible, because of timing. we went to see the lights at temple square and then rushed back to make it late to see santa. so thankful they still took us, yes i did call to tell them we were late! anthony did NOT want to see santa, he threw a tantrum, i thought for sure he wouldn't be in the photos or if he was he'd be crying! but the photographer was trained well...and was sooo good with kids, these are the best ever! they give you the option of having your husband or whoever dress up in the santa outfit or you can use the "real santa" too. levi thought he was too cool, so we used the real santa. it's a great idea though! so it's almost a suprise to your kids if they figure it out, and i like how they don't include his face, because later when your kids compare their santa photos, wondering why santa looks different or has a different beard every year :) {you can have his face in the photos if you want...} i love fotofly...we always the best experience there!

Merry Christmas...

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I love when Christmas falls on a Sunday!

lights at Temple Square...

after walking through the Up house, we went to see the lights at Temple Square...we then realized we haven't been there since levi proposed to me eleven years ago...that was my first time! i love all the lights!

poor Anthony! all wrapped up tight in a blanket! he could barely see out, but it was cold! i ordered him a coat online, but a couple days too late for when we actually needed it...it's supposed to be here tomorrow.

as we were leaving, isabella spotted "her santa." she said "mom! their's my santa, i have TWO santas!"

 

the UP house...

we met my parents in salt lake, they were on their way down to california. we had lunch at rubio's, and then went to see the up house in herriman! it was so cute, reminded me of something at disneyland. gulianna was so excited but she kept saying over and over "where are the balloons, they forgot the balloons!" so other than the balloons it was just about the same as the real thing!

i loved the kitchen appliances...i knew someone had to make retro appliances new. i really really really want them!

 

and i loved the green cabinets in the small laundry room. perfect size to me.

these turned out blurry but i still love them...anthony and my dad.

the girls loved the princess room!

i loved this idea too, "her royal highness."

freezing outside for one more picture!

 

caroling llamas...

our neighbors have 2 llamas, they gathered friends and went caroling! i think our house was first on the list...i forgot what day they were coming, so i was suprised when i opened up my door to llamas and christmas carols! my girls in their pajamas step outside...after they were done caroling, they asked if they wanted to go inside and get their jackets on and get a picture with the llamas. so they rush back in get some pants on with their hats and coat, gulianna insisted on just a sweater.

gulianna excited, but super shy, she always has a blank face in these type of situations!

she's scared, doesn't know what to think, yet she wants to sit on the llama!

and isa as excited as she can be!

gulianna still showing no excitement!