Christmas Recap

On Christmas Eve Lucy was ready to get things rolling -

we had a busy week leading up to Christmas

and we got in most everything we had planned to.

We did numerous drives on Christmas Street

and Bible Street, watched some Christmas movies,

frosted sugar cookies (pre-made, frosting kit, best idea ever!),

went to Zoolights! and a few nights before the big day Lucy

got a phone call from Santa.

So by the time the Eve arrived she was ready!

We spent Christmas Eve with Blake's family

with a yummy dinner, gift exchange and some

Beatles rock band.

Then we headed home to open jammies and

a Christmas book and Lucy left out cupcakes, milk and a note

for Santa.

Christmas morning we asked Lucy if she thought

Santa had been here -

she climbed up the steps saying

"he came, he came"

when she got into the living room though I think she

thought Santa would be sitting on the chair eating cupcakes.

She looked around a bit and then we tried

to explain he didn't stay and hang out - he had to move on to

other houses.

She got over it as soon as she saw the doll house Santa

left her - and she hasn't stopped playing with it since!

We had a wonderful Christmas.

We all got spoiled by my parents and spent

the morning there with family and sweet rolls.

We visited other family throughout the day

and ended up back at my mom's for dinner.

It's always a busy day but I love

that we get to visit and see everyone

and Lucy is so fun to watch enjoy the holiday.

I guess I was too busy enjoying

the day because I only took a handful

of pictures...but I'm pretty sure

Blake has about six hours of video footage!

A month ago Blake starting talking about his gift to me.

He said I've always wanted it and that there would

be no way for me to top what he was giving.

I really wasn't into that challenge but

I was intrigued with the gift...

I thought jewelry, a hot tub (only thing I could think of saying

I've ALWAYS wanted) maybe a spa day??

Well I opened my gift and it was a candle we had

bought on one of our best trips ever to Palm Springs.

So he booked, planned, and made all of the arrangements

for just the TWO of us to head back to

La Quinta Resort -

one of our favorite places ever and yes at least a few times

a month I always dream and talk of going back.

So we fly out next week for four glorious days of

mid-seventy degree weather, no inversion,

spa treatments (me), golf (blake),

dinners out, a convertible rental car,

and did I already say WARM SUN!!!

The last visit to La Quinta was over 3 years ago (Lucy came too but

we didn't know it at the time!) -

there are over 50 pools at the resort so I think

I counted about 8 steps to walk from our Casita door to a full size pool.

It's glorious and I couldn't be more excited!

I'm just trying to get over my guilt of Lucy staying home.

I'll miss her so much but I know she'll be

having a fab time with my parents.

So...I'll have to just try to enjoy myself

lying poolside with a slushy drink!!

Thanks Blake - we're going to have the most FuN!

HaPPy NeW yEAr!!

my sugar plum

Well, she put on quite the show!!

My sweet baby girl did such an AMAZING job

in her Christmas recital and made us all SO proud ~

Not an ounce of fear and she would have been

pretty thrilled to have a few more numbers

in the show.

Out of 40+ girls I think she was the star of the show ~

well she was our STAR for sure!

we're so proud!

Lucy is such a lucky little girl...

she has the most wonderful family

who loves and supports her

(and us!)

thank you all (17 cheering fans!) for coming -

it meant so much to us.

We love you so much baby girl...

you have us beaming with pride.

let's be festive

Lucky for us Blake took Friday off so we had a few jam-packed

days of holiday festivities.

It's the time of year to bundle up and freeze

and do activities just to see the look on

your baby girl's face.

Since Lucy is all about the holidays

this year it's hard to let anything pass us by...

even when it's 11 degrees.

Wednesday night we went to the live nativity

"Nativity in the Glen" near our house.

It was super packed with people and so cold it kind of hurt

but really worth it.

There were live animals Lucy got to see and the glen

was aglow with paper lanterns.

Thursday we ventured south for Thanksgiving Point.

I had the dumb idea that maybe In N Out

crowds may have died down by now but I was wrong.

The Draper location had a 50+ car line in the drive-thru

and people were lined up 20 feet deep out the door...

and the outside temp gauge on our car read 10 degrees.

Really people?!

Anyway, the lights at Thanksgiving Point are so worth the drive.

Lucy could barely blink she didn't want to miss a thing

and I loved being warm and cozy inside our car.

My favorite part was the reindeer at the water tower.

We had to get out of the car for this and we

only lasted a few minutes before running inside

for warmth and hot chocolate.

Warm & cozy in the car

Friday we spent the day Christmas shopping -

not for us but for the three individuals we picked

to buy for our family charity project.

Lucy picked an angel off an angel tree -

a little 2 year old girl who was asking for shoes, socks,

pajamas and a baby doll.

It was kind of hard explaining to Lucy

that the gift was not for her but eventually

she seemed okay about it and was so proud

to help deliver the gifts back to the drop-off site.

Blake and I picked two individuals who get services

through the Utah Association for Intellectual Disabilities.

This organization provides services for adults who are intellectually

disabled but are not qualified to receive

most government aid.

Shopping together as a family for

this cause was so special and rewarding for all three

of us and each year we will continue to find

organizations we can do our part to help.

Saturday morning was THE day...Lucy's dance recital-

but that of course deserves its own post...so stay tuned!

After the morning's events we decided we were

cutting it close for Lucy to still visit with Santa.

We headed to Trolley Square and with my parents

watched our baby girl turn into such a BIG

girl right before our eyes.

Not a flinch of fear or apprehension - she just marched

up into Santa's sleigh and let him

know she'd like...

a pretty dress

a bracelet

a pretty necklace

and pretty shoes!

We wrapped up our busy day with dinner at

spaghetti factory...

I can do without the snow but I do

love this wonderful time of year...

especially with these two.

32 months!

baby girl!

You are 32 months today...

we'll be planning your THIRD birthday party before we know it.

We've decided everyday with you is a new adventure...

a simple day of doing things around the house

or running errands turns into songs,

questions about everything,

and more and more reasons to love every little

thing about you!

You're quite independent and are sure

to let me know how you feel about things.

When I told you to do something the other day

you said, "no mommy. but thanks though."

You know what you like...and what you don't!

Tonight at dinner you couldn't get enough of

garlic bread -

but you just ate the top gooey, garlic part

leaving the crusts.

When daddy asked you to finish them you said

"Nooo, I can't eat crusts daddy, they're scary."

I don't eat my crusts either baby.

You are so excited about Christmas and today

helped daddy work in the yard and get the decorations out.

Poppa has told you about Santa's little birds out

watching and you can spot them a mile away

"mommy, there's santa's birds!"

Just a couple more weeks until your very first

dance recital and we BOTH can't wait!

You love dancing with all of your heart and have

a perfect point.

Mommy is so proud of you and everything you do.

Daddy and I love you oh so much.

You make us laugh everyday...

eventually!

You are the smartest little girl I've

ever met and I'm astounded at your

vocabulary - very Fancy Nancy!

This close to three is so exciting but

also makes mommy's heart ache a bit.

I know you'll always be my princess baby

but time just flies a bit too quick lately.

Thank you for being our daughter -

our little miracle,

mommy's little curly haired pixie

and daddy's forever treasure...

love you Luce!

p.s.

Thanksgiving was the perfect mix of

deliciousness, laughter and

relaxation!

Thanks mom & dad

fight

mystery date

Last weekend my mom, sister and I went to see MJ's

"This is It" - SO good!

Blake was with Lucy for the afternoon and

he said they just went and hung out at Red Butte

for awhile.

He let her run and play and I was glad

they had fun but didn't think too much about it.

A few days later though, when I was uploading pictures

I noticed all of these mysterious pictures I knew I

hadn't taken.

They were all taken by Blake

on their outing!

I thought it was so cute that he got her

all ready, put a bow in her hair which he NEVER does

(it was a USC bow he picked out in California)

and thought to bring the camera and take a bunch of cute shots.

Blake is such a good daddy, and I'm so grateful

for all he does for us.

notice the bow - Lucy still represents even though

Blake's ashamed of how they're doing this season

princesses on ice

Wednesday night was Disney Princesses on Ice!

This is our year two of the ice show

and the princess one is so far the favorite.

When we went to Disneyland my parents bought Lucy

a set of princess play dolls and she is obsessed with

them and calls them "her girls".

I want to play with my girls - let's go see my girls!

We told Lucy she could choose the restaurant

for her night out but every time we asked where she wanted

to go she said, "to see my girls."

So we opted for Red Iguana - she loves the salsa

and then headed over to the show...

beauty & the beast - our fave

my princess

tricks or treats

Well lucky for all of us...

Lucy loved Halloween!

Trick or treating was her favorite thing

this year and if we let her she would have

trick or treated all across town.

Luckily, she got three opportunities to fill her treat bag ~

Friday morning (when Lucy and I made plans to stay home)

Blake called and said they were having a "little"

halloween thing at his work and I should bring Lucy down.

I was expecting a few kids and not too much

but as we drove down to Gateway - Lucy in full costume -

we noticed TONS of kids filing into the Fidelity building

and I'm so glad we went.

They went all out with candy, games, balloons

and Blake loved getting to walk Lucy around his work

(she just loved the treats!)

On Saturday my cousin Alisa and Crosby invited

us for trick or treating at Foothill Village.

I was dealing with an "almost" cold and

didn't know if I felt up to it ~ but yet again the costume came out

and Foothill did not disappoint.

Tons of candy for Lucy ~ tons of people watching for me!

After a nap and our second wind Blake took Lucy

through our neighborhood and then we walked

down to my parents house (have I said yet how happy I am we moved?!)

for the annual Halloween party!

Family, fun, food ~

and the only regret is not having our video camera catching

Lucy's sugar-fueled-non-stop-dance-laugh-run-screech-entertainment.

So much fun to experience the holidays with our bug!

at daddy's office

on a candy mission at foothill

our pixie

Caitlin & Brinton always have the best costumes

but my parents did pretty well this year

as Bonnie & Clyde - thanks again mom for such a

perfect party

til next halloween!

Tis the Season

...for all things spooky!

Lucy is having a love/hate relationship with Halloween

this year.

She talks about it non stop and is interested

in every halloween thing she sees out and about

but just when we think she's comfortable

and excited for skulls, spiders and spooks...

she freaks.

So we are trying small doses of halloween.

She asks all day during the day to hear "Monster Mash"

but at night when I played it during dinner she said

"turn it off mommy, it's scary."

She'll carry around a small skull at home

but got spooked watching "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown"

with my parents.

It will be interesting to see how the actual night is...

We've done a lot of fun Halloween-y things this season and it couldn't

make me happier.

As I've mentioned Halloween is my FAVORITE and last

year I was dealing with back issues and eventually

surgery on the eve of Halloween -

so needless to say, we're making up for things this year!

Last week we went to Red Butte Garden's

Garden After Dark ~

it was so darling and I highly recommend it for anyone.

Thank goodness for us we went opening night when it was

chilly (but not snowing like today)

there are still two more dates so if you feel like braving the cold ~ go!

We went with my parents and my brother Coleman

who had just returned home from Africa the previous night.

Coleman's girlfriend Calah works at Red Butte and Lucy knows it so

she kept asking for Calah...so she was our first stop.

Calah, Coleman & Lucy

painting her pumpkin with poppa

making a potion necklace with gammy at the apothecary

digging in haystack with daddy

broom making...in preparation for broom racing!

She did it all!!

They really did a wonderful job on this event.

The garden was decorated to the max and two huge illuminated Halloween

treats were on the hills surrounding the garden - a bat and pumpkin.

This is definitely on the must-do list for Hallowe'en!

On Sunday we realized time was running out for

pumpkin hunting...so we went!

Happy Halloween!!