Extra-Long Christmas Vacation!!

Wow, where to start?!  Between waiting to hear on some jobs Mark had applied to and some bad-timing for our landlord to decide to move back into the house, we were able to spend a long vacation in Utah with family.  We had a great time playing in the snow, playing with cousins, and well...just playing!

Thanksgiving snow storm.  Mason was determined to shovel the driveway with his little hand shovel :)

 

Decorating cookies and pine cones while visiting Santa up at the cabin

 

 

Grandma had a Christmas pizza party with the grandkids helping to decorate the tree

 

 

Santa come to reading time at the library- he even read the books that day!

 

 

Pre-Christmas- at the cabin.  Opening presents from Grandpa & Grandma since all the grandkids wouldn't be around on Christmas day

 

 

Playing at the cabin.  This place is our little piece of heaven!  The kids are still talking about it!

 

 

Christmas cookies and the gingerbread house

 

 

Playing in the snow.  The coolest igloo ever!

 

 

Christmas Eve extended-family party at Grandma & Grandpa Carter's

 

 

Christmas morning!

 

 

 

 

 

We had such a great time and loved being with family.  Grandma & Grandpa spoiled us all rotten!  The time went too fast but we loved every minute of our HUGE Christmas vacation.

Air Force Air Show

I am so behind on blogging that I just keep putting it off and now I'm even more behind!  So... I'm just going to start with the most recent and see how far I get.

Saturday our friends called us and invited us to go watch an air show with them at Andrew's Air Force Base in MD.  It was amazing!  Mason LOVES airplanes so he was in heaven.  This kid literally talks in his sleep about airplanes and it is the first thing he says to anyone that wants to talk to him. 

 Our group.

 There were a bunch of planes to walk through and check out.  This is Mason about to walk through one of the huge planes designed to transport tanks and other military gear.  It was HUGE!

 The tire of the huge plane.  People kept hanging out under the planes because that was the only spot with shade.  Everyone set up their lawn chairs and just enjoyed the show.

 Mark had to have a pic of this customs and border patrol plane...

 ...and the Customs and Border Patrol boat.  (Notice the 4 different 300hp engines!)

 Mason would barely hold still long enough to get this pic in the apache helicopter.

 Tons and tons of planes to walk around and check out.  It was just like being in the pit at the drag races with everyone walking around checking out the engines, paint, etc.

 This huge plane opened up in front and in back to allow tanks and other things to drive

straight through them.

 Dallan, Mason, and a couple of their friends that came with us just sitting on the grass enjoying some snacks and watching the show.

Our view of the "pit" area from the grass.

 Thunderbirds!

 Dallan was such a trooper!  No nap + some sunscreen in his eye + loud jet engines + 85 degree weather all day= a happy baby?!  How did I get such a good baby?

We had a great day but the best part was watching Mason.  All in all, a perfect day!

A New Discovery Every Day...

So, I know I have said this before, but I LOVE staying home with my kids every day!  They are my world and I don't even know what we did without them.  So here are some recent things they have been up to...

 Mason found Mark's old ski gear and thought it was pretty cool

 Helmet on backwards...check!

 He loves to cuddle his dog then put him to bed by throwing the dog over the rail of his crib.

 Mason is really into acting like he is sleeping so he finds some little corner to curl up in and yells over and over that "Mase go to sweep" untill he gets the attention he wants then he jumps up and yells "Mase awake!"

 Mason painted his first picture

 I wish this kid was half as excited about using the toilet as he is about wearing his Thomas underwear!

 We try to spend as much time outside as we can when it isn't raining (not very often lately)

 Love these boys and they love each other!  Anytime Dallan starts crying, Mason is always right there to help him.  He climbs in Dallan's bed and starts singing to him until I get there...melts my heart!

 Dallan has become really good at getting where he wants to go.  He can army-crawl with the best!  He loves that he can get to all the toys now and is even pretty good about staying away from the stairs...

...except for this one stair so he can attack the broom.  Appearantly brooms will never be safe in my house between these two boys =). 

Utah!!!

We took an amazing trip to Utah during the end of April/first of May.  We were able to pack in Mark's 30th B-Day, Easter, my Dad's 50th B-Day, and the blessing of Mark's niece in one week.  Not to mention all the other fun things we did. 

 Surprise birthday party for Mark the day we landed.

Quite a few of his family came for his birthday.  His mom flew in from Seattle and his brother Jon and his family drove up from CA.  Plus Sus, Brig, and Neal and their families live in the Salt Lake area so they were able to come too.



 Pinata to complete the birthday party

 Followed by an Easter Egg hunt the next morning...

On to the zoo!

 

Next, we headed to Beaver to play in Grandma and Grandpa's yard and with cousins

 Then on to St. George

 swimming at the hotel







 

Too much excitement...Dallan fell asleep on the way to the pool

 followed by a movie party with cousins

 Riding bikes in Snow Canyon National Park

 followed by eating a picnic lunch while we played in the sand dunes

This was in incredible trip!  We were able to see so much family and had such a great time.  I didn't get any pictures of the baby blessing, my Dad's birthday, or pouring the footings of Shawna and Reggie's new house but we did that too.  I was also able to go to lunch with some of my friends.  What a great trip that we will never forget!  Thanks to everyone that helped put together Mark's party, took us around to different places, watch our kids, planned all the fun things to do, and made such an effort to spend this great time with us.  We love and miss you all!