There's a first time for everything...

Layla's very first experience with rice cereal. (4.5 months)
Love these little girls!!!

That's OLD!!

My dad turned 60...so old!! We planned a small surprise party for him and he had NO idea. It was a little hard to get him there -this man will not miss a Utah game. Blake had to lie about Sophia getting injured...but it worked.

The birthday boy being surprised...

The spread

My dad with two of his siblings
Walt-Steve-Jan

Cute grandpa Steve...he is such a serious old man, but so funny a cute! Love him!!

My dad has done a lot in his 60 years of life. In the last few months/years I have learned so much more about him and it's been awesome. I'm grateful for the man that he is and the lessons he has taught me from lis life experiences. I'm so glad my girls have had the chance to get to know their Grandpa Steve...We love you Steve-o!!

Notredame :( :(

We were among the many that made the trip to the mid-west to watch the Utes take on the Fighting Irish. It didn't end with the most desired outcome...but we had a fun trip anyway.

Layla's first plane ride. Can hardly believe it took four months to get this little girl on a plane. I think Maycee had been on five or six flights by this time...

Maycee was done sitting and being so still...she jumped on the bed the second we got in the room and didn't stop for at least 20 min.

We spent Friday touring the great city of Chicago. Along with a bunch of other Utah fans...

That night we headed to Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co.
If you're ever in Chicago...go!! The grinders are huge and the pizza pot pie is unbelievable! I saw this place on the Travel Channel and it took a bit to get there and the wait was long, (both which I got major grief for)but SO worth it! Totally owned by the mob...which makes it that much better.

The pizza pot pie...AMAZING!!!

LOVE all of these pictures! On the subway headed back to the hotel...I think they were both in a great mood cuz they had full bellies.

Took this as I rushed into the stadium...we got there a little late and I had to run in to catch kick-off. Luckily we had been to campus before so I wasn't that sad.

My brother-Austin and I.

My dad and his friend Drew.

A shot of the action...as embarrassing as it was.

Thanks for watching the girls KC so I could sit in the rain and watch the Utes destroy themselves.

Tinkerbell and her little flower

We started our Halloween celebrations a week early this year with an adult party. I think this may be the first time KC and I have ever dressed up for Halloween. We tried to keep it simple and a little funny too...well at least we thought it was funny.

A plug and outlet...

We made some really yummy eyeballs to share with everyone at the party.

No pictures from the party...but we did win the pumpkin carving contest. KC made a very abstract nativity scene. Came up with it all on his own...I have to give him props for that! Thanks for inviting us Wilcoxs...it was good to remember how much fun it is to be with just adults!

Maycee chose to be Tinkerbell for Halloween this year.
And Layla (well mom) chose the warmest costume she could find that sort of went with Tinkerbell...a flower.

I like them...just a little

We went to a little carnival in our neighborhood with some fun little games for the kids and some really great soup and bread for lunch. Beka...you are awesome for planning this, it was so fun!

Maycee really enjoyed her cupcake (maybe two) from the cake walk.

And Layla really enjoyed her fist...

The spider cupcakes I made for the cakewalk...

This is my brag fest from Halloween...I was (and still am) really proud of this hairdo! I would have to say I have mad hairstyling skills...don't you think??

Pick a good one?

We were happy to have the Reese's and Marin join us this year for our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. We didn't have much light...but we snapped a few photos and picked our pumpkin just in time. Next year we will remember we need to go earlier...there wasn't much left. It was a nice night with great company!!

This girl loves the tractors...maybe we should live on a farm.

Love her.

Reese family

Layla must have spotted a really cool bird or airplane...

Let's pick a good one....

I found it!

Sharon-Marin-Caryn
Love these girls...we have been friends since the 7th grade. A few years here and there that we were apart...but we always fell right back in with one another. I really hope my girls are lucky enough to find friendships like the one I have with these two!

Maycee was so happy to find her "little pumpkin" right before we left.

This finger

Laya has already found her favorite finger (at only 3 months!)...hopefully it doesn't last. Although its pretty stinkin' cute! (and so is she)

A final hoorah!

September was so warm and the pool was closed. So, we were so happy to have our water table to keep us cool and busy. We filled it up for one last time before next summer and Maycee had a ball!

She thought throwing the water was the funniest...most of the time it landed right on her head.

Soaking wet. And had the best time getting there...and Mom loved watching it all.

Tonight

Tonight I realized how lucky I am.
Tonight I wanted so badly to take a picture of my little two year-old sleeping...but didn't dare disturb her.
Tonight I love my girls so much more than I ever imagined.
Tonight I truely know what it is to be a MOM.
Tonight I'm so grateful for the man in my life and all he does to take care of our family.
Tonight I really want to go on a vacation.
Tonight I had my heart melt while watching my 3 month old slip off to sleep.
Tonight I am anxious to see what the next year brings.
Tonight I realized how much I want to let my kids be kids.
Tonight I had so much fun with maycee and sophia on the carosel.
Tonight I long for my mom.
Tonight I know I want to live life as full as I can.

Another notch...

KC and I are lucky enough to celebrate our birthdays just about a week apart from one another. This usually means I get a little celebration at home (dinner...cake...whatever) and KC opts to go somewhere. Too bad for us this year...we celebrated both our special days here at home. But it was so fun to do it with our family and friends.
My family had a birthday dinner for my sister-in-law Emily and I. We enjoyed some super yummy carrot cake along with some gorgeous flowers and silly birthday cards picked by my dad.
KC's cute sisters were so great to treat me to a lunch at Olive Garden on my actual birthday and KC surprised me with my own little lemon bunt cake later that night. Pretty fantastic eating day for me!

Trust me...if you try one, you will be hooked too!!

All KC wanted for his birthday was Tracy's peanut butter cup sundae from Leatherbys. Easy enough...We met the whole Anderson Clan for some ice cream to celebrate KC and his mom's birthday.

Happy Birthday Grandma!!

Could it get any better for a two-year-old girl?? Ice cream...and it's pink!!

What a good lookin guy!

So...maybe we will get away next year for the big 3-0!!