Little things

We are slowly, painfully getting back in the swing of things. Tyler is back at work and working late already, I'm trying to get the house and my calling organized (my January goal) and the kids are having lots of fun with all their new toys.

Millie loves wearing her Merida dress now that she had the bow and arrow to go with it. She finally figured out how to shoot the arrows correctly and is getting better and better!

We took down Christmas and had less things to put away than we put out at the beginning of the season, thanks to the cutie below breaking a few items. I'm not even mad at him.

We inherited a play house from our neighbor cousins when they got a swing set. Millie was pretty sure she was supposed to sleep out there but we have since convinced her to come inside.

Everyone got some new books at the library, which just felt like the right thing to do at the start of a new year.

We have had some really lovely days and have played lots outside. The kids are loving their scooters from Gigi and Poppy and are getting pretty good at riding them!

Also lots of hide and seek happening here lately. Millie hides in the same few spots every time.

I had a fun birthday breakfast with friends. I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of all of us, but a friend gave me  these flowers and they are so beautiful!

Millie sometimes pretends to fall and then just lies there soaking up the sun. 

I took this pic to send to Tyler to maybe entice him to turn around and come home. Not very nice of me. Max was being so snugly!

New Year's fun

We had a fun NYE with the Juergens crew. We started the day at Top Golf (huge thanks to Gigi for keeping the kids at home)! It was cold but they had heaters outside and it was really pleasant. Always a fun time there, even if I am a crazy terrible golfer.

Once we were all back together we went to Buffalo Wild Wings so the crazy people could do a hot wings challenge. The waitress brought each of the kids a tablet to play with while we waited and ate. My kids had no clue of what to do with them but they sure thought it was fun!

We spent the evening playing games - Spike Ball (for the boys), Minute to Win It games, and Nertz. Poppy took Max for a walk because he wouldn't stop asking to see the ducks, and I had to take a picture of them in their matching red coats.

Make-your-own pizzas for dinner!

Even Millie wanted in on the game action. She would roll the dice and move a few spaces and declare it was Gigi's turn. So funny to watch her act so confident when she had no idea how to play!

We rang in the new year and then woke up the kids to go home.

New Year's Day (my birthday!) we were with the Andersens. Once we were all up and going we went bowling!

Since we were nearby and I got to choose the place, we had lunch at Freebirds. It was kind of amazing.

Tyler and I got another IKEA trip sans kids after that, with Steph and Andrew this time. We played games all evening. It was a great start to 2016!!

2015 in review

I do a post like this every year, and it's always one of my favorites to write. I love looking back and seeing how we have grown and changed over the year. I'm positive my lists are not by any means comprehensive, but that's okay.

January: Tyler began his 3rd busy season, I turned 26, Millie turned 3, we enjoyed beautiful weather on our new trampoline!

February: lots of work for Tyler, lots of bike rides for the kids and I, Frozen Bingo anytime we were all together. We became part of a new stake.

March: I was called as YW President, Tyler wrapped up busy season, we went to the rodeo, Max turned 1, and Tim came home from his mission!

April: Tyler got some time off work, YW stuff dominated my life as I figured out my new calling, we went to a school carnival with the Taylors, went to the Arts Festival with Grammy, Max had his first haircut.

May: Tyler turned 28, we went to the zoo, we had a double-date with Heidi and James at the race track, Max got over his fear of the vacuum, and Millie wore her ballerina leotard constantly. 

June: Millie got to do ballet camp with Aunt Heidi, AJ came home from his mission, Dude Ranch!!

July: lots of fun with AJ while he was home, lots of swimming, we tried to have some fun FHEs.

August: Linds and Steph came to visit with their kids, Tyler did some traveling for work, we celebrated our 6th anniversary, the kids and I went on a long road trip with my family and we all met up in Utah for Tim and Lauren's wedding! Millie had her first haircut in preparation for school and we said goodbye to summer.

September: Millie started her first year of preschool, Tyler did some more traveling, Sarah received her mission call to Reno, we found some toy lawn mowers and Max was obsessed, and we watched Garrett and Mitchell play BYU football!!

October: Lots of Halloween fun, I planned our ward Trunk or Treat, Max turned 18 months old and started going to nursery, we went to the zoo with friends, and celebrated Halloween!

November: Millie's drawings got better and funnier, we went to the Children's Festival with Grammy, the kids rode their bikes a ton, we spent Thanksgiving just the 4 of us.

December: Christmas parties and fun, Messiah concert, Tyler had a training in LA, we spent lots of time with family and had a wonderful Christmas!

In some ways 2015 rocked my world, but overall it was very smooth and happy. Can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us!!