Let it snow Let it snow Let it snow..

Today was the first big snow of the year.. When I was little one of my FAVORITE traditions was on the first big snow EVERYONE, even mom (that was my favorite part), would get all bundled up and go out to make a BIG snowman. I am SO excited Addison is getting old enough to start some of these traditions with. SADLY, Josh is in Sunny Florida for this first big snow. So we will have to do that tradition on the next big snow.

Anyway, I couldn't let Addison miss out just because her dad wasn't here. So, we got bundled up and went out to play. This is the first year she will actually PLAY with the snow.. last year she didn't really get it. Here are some fun pics..

She pretty much thought it was FANTASTIC!!!

When we were little, and done playing in the snow.. mom would strip us to our UNDIES in the garage, we'd get a BIG WARM BLANKET wrapped around us and have hot chocolate with MARSHMALLOWS.

It wasn't really cold, or wet enough since we weren't out for long to do this whole process, so we just had the HOT CHOCOLATE (warm chocolate for Addie) and some Halloween Cookie Pops we had decorated the other day. (Pretty gross actually)

Someday, Addison might look forward to this tradition. More likely, I'll be getting LOTS more of the EYE ROLLS she's getting so good at.

Cory and Rachel's engagements

Last night Tawnya and I took engagement pictures for this cute couple and we're LOVING the results! It was so much fun moving them around like mannequins.. finding rotten eggs and snuggling with 'Pearl' (the chicken of course) I can't wait to take the bridals and wedding pictures!! Here are a few of my favs..

Gotta Love em'

I LOVE LOVE LOVE little kids.. complete with silly faces, dirty fingernails, grass stains

and laughing fits. As I am sure you can imagine, the more kids you try to take a picture of at

the same time.. the more KAOS ensues. I can't always guarantee all of them looking forward at once giving a perfect smile.. but I can definitely guarantee loads of stress and some fun pics

to make it all worth it.

Say.. CHEESE!!

Last week I took some pictures of Brit and Ty. Such CUTIES! Brit was such a natural.. LOVED posing for me. Ty was so funny.. you'd tell him to say "CHEESE" (he'd been practicing) and he'd say it everytime.. you just couldn't tell. His mouth BARELY moved! haha. I personally think it's because of his GINORMOUS lips. (seriously I have never seen cuter lips in my life) But I think the bottom one is probably sorta heavy.. That's a lot of work for such a little guy!

HAPPY FOURTH!!

<-- Does it get any better than this?

We had such a fun fourth of July weekend! Saturday night we hung out in the Shopko

parking lot and played with fireworks, sparklers, snaps and glowsticks while we waited for the real show.. The fireworks at the Stadium of Fire! We were there with Grandma Chrissy,

aunt Jennie and some family friends.

Then Sunday we went to my sister Jalynn's house and had tin foil dinners, roasted marshmallows and ran through the sprinklers mostly naked. (Well only Addie and Kapri

were mostly naked, thank goodness)

It was a great weekend filled with family, good food and many reminders of just

why it was such an important weekend to Celebrate.

We had so much fun taking crazy pictures

of the kids with the GLOWSTICKS

Where did Addison go..? What she found someones snacks? haha.. so not surprising this is how we found her.

Just one of those days..

It all started at 11, I thought.. I'll just pick up the toys off the floor, then go up to bed. Then I noticed the ceiling fan was disgusting, so I got out the step ladder and started cleaning it, then I noticed how badly everything else needed dusted, so I went in search of my murphy's oil. While in search for that, I found these wipes that clean the tv.. so I headed off to clean the tv. Well it only made sense if I was already going to the trouble that I get out Josh's work laptop and clean off that screen for him. Then I noticed this new frame I got for addison's room 'oh' I thought 'this might actually be cute down here instead'. So I found this great spot for it.. only it messed up the whole system and I had to move a few other frames, pictures, books etc. to make it work. Suddenly I realized I never finished picking up all the mess, so I start at that again found a couple of dishes addison had dragged out from the kitchen. I bring those in the kitchen and next thing I know I'm looking for dish soap to start the washer for the dishes I just did and OUT comes a BEETLE. Well I run for Josh's shoe.. SMASH the beetle and throw it away. I realize the trash is full so I switch the bag only to realize it's dark outside so I don't want to take it out. So I set it by the back door for later. I go to put Josh's Shoe in the closet and realize everything's about to crash on me. So I go about reorganizing the closet. While doing this.. I hear the dryer has stopped from earlier.. so I go into the laundry room fold the towels, start another load of laundry.. and suddenly I think to myself.. what time is it? It's TWO o'clock in the morning.. I am wide awake and NOTHING I started to do is FINISHED. UGH. So if anyone comes over and me Addison and the house are a down right MESS just know that I have been working all day long.. you just can't tell.

Although I have to say.. it was nice not having Addison follow me around undoing the few things that I actually did manage to do for once.

California Sunshine

In July Tawnya and I took the girls on a little adventure to California. They were both SO good for the drive. Eating snacks, watching movies and fighting over toys. They actually slept the majority of the way and we were ever so grateful.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this picture.

Swimming with grandpa and nonni.

My Dad's favorite Mexican restaurant.

I love this picture, I think Addison looks just like her dad in it.

Hanging out with nonni on the swing.

RUBIES!!!

Nonni has the BEST sink. It's HUGE.. so the girls took a bath together.

Fun at the BEACH

We're always sad to leave. Can't wait for our next trip!