The Nutcracker 2010

One of the things I remember about being little was going to the Nutcracker at Capitol Theater with my ballet class. We went out to lunch before & my mom & Oma came too! I felt so grown up and it was so much fun having my mom & Oma all to myself. My Oma bought me a nutcracker during intermission and I still have it on my mantel. I wanted to recreate that memory with Hannah and I thought this was the year that she was finally big enough to sit through the Nutcracker! We got all dressed up and took some pictures in front of the tree.

We drove downtown and parked at Keith's building and walked 2 blocks to Capitol Theater. She was so excited & looked so big in her darling coat & boots. After thinking very hard she picked out a purple nutcracker (surprise surprise). She loved the show and sat wide-eyed through the whole thing. It was wonderful! She said her favorite part was Mother Buffoon. (The big lady/man with all the kiddos under the skirt!) That was my favorite part when I was little too!

We went to dinner after at the Cheesecake Factory. (her choice). We split a salad, pasta & peppermint cheesecake. It was so fun being with just her and having a girls day out! Love you Hannah! Can't wait for many more mother/daughter dates to come!

(I think we've already started planning the next.....who's in for The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn next summer?)

Happy Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving this year! I cooked my first turkey! We had Grandma Dottie over for a late lunch Thanksgiving Day and served turkey with all the fixings! I think it turned out pretty good for the first time. If I ever do it again I might do it differently but no one went hungry! That morning we all went together to see Tangled. It was darling!
Before the big carve! I know it's little but it only had to feed 6!

Hannah made cute little place cards for everyone!

Rub a dub dub! Thanks for the grub!

The next day we celebrated Thanksgivng with my side of the family at Nana & Papa's church. There are so many of us we really don't fit anywhere else! Our kids had fun playing with cousins in the gym! I worked hard on my contribution to the meal, picking up pies at Marie Calendars! (I had to take it easy after my hard work the day before!)

Hannah and some of her fabulous girl cousins!

Crazy Jack!

Luke & Nick, best buddies!

Me, Nana & Jack

We are so grateful this year to be back with friends and family in Utah. Happy Thanksgiving!

Got Lights?

So our neighbor called a few days ago to inform us he was renting a boom lift to hang his Christmas lights and wanted to know if we would like to use it also! Apparently we have moved onto a version of "Christmas Street" and next door to the Griswolds! We weren't even sure we were hanging Christmas lights but got a little bullied into it! We can be so bah-humbug but we are glad we did it! Our kids love it and it looks great! Hannah was so brave and wanted to go up & help Dad. It was pretty windy that day and the lift was moving & bumping all over the place!

Keith has more life insurance than I do so he got the job of going up high in the lift and hanging the lower lights by getting up on the ladder. He only smashed his hand once and got a small case of frostbite!
Well worth the effort and just in time too, it ended up snowing over 6 inches that night! Now we can say we are the weirdos who put up their Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving! Here's to the start of a very merry season!

Park City!

We headed up the canyon to spend the weekend in beautiful Park City! Thanks Grandma for letting us use your condo....we had a fabulous time!

We spent most of our time chilling, watching movies & playing games in the condo.

We also spent a lot of time swimming at the pool & hanging in the hot tub.

There were a couple of a fun game rooms with video games, pool, air hockey, ping pong & chess.

Hannah lost a tooth while we were gone & luckily the tooth fairy visits you while on vacation! She now has 3 teeth in a row missing in the front with a 4th very loose. I guess we know what she'll be asking for this Christmas!

We went out to dinner on Main Street and got a treat at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory after. It was so gorgeous with the leaves changing to beautiful autumn colors and the weather was perfect with just a hint of fall crisp in the air.

It was the weekend get-a-way we needed! Spending fun family time together!

Happy Halloween!

We had such a great Halloween this year! The kids had parties in school, with friends & neighbors and at the ward. We got tons of candy trick or treating & at the ward trunk or treat! Hannah was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Nick was Dash from the Incredibles and Jack was a monkey!

We had a great time carving & painting pumpkins! All 3 loved playing with the guts!

The day before Halloween we went to Cornbellies at Thanksgiving point! We had a blast riding the cow train, jumping on the giant pillows, watching pig races, riding the rides and finding our way through a giant corn maze!

Hope everyone had a fun, spooky & Happy Halloween!

First Snowfall!

Yikes! (Isn't it a little early for this post?) We woke up this morning to our first snowfall of the season....about 4 inches! My kids were ecstatic!!! ME?...not so much. The kids kept asking if it was Christmas and we haven't even gone trick or treating! I know you Vegas ladies are laughing your heads off right now! I don't have a scraper for my car or a shovel for my walks! Luckily we went to Target last night and bought new boots, gloves, and snow pants for the kiddos. Hmmmm....maybe I brought this all upon myself! Well I guess winter's here...bring on the anti-depressants! :)


BTW Jack loved the snow until he fell face forward into it, white washing himself! Now when I ask him if he wants to see the snow he just shakes his head no, no, no! (just like his mommy!)

Halloween Rap!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

2 Trips to the Zoo!

We love Hogle Zoo! I have very fond memories of going when I was little! Back then you could ride a real elephant! We just had to settle for a ride on the train, a ride on the carousel & seeing the new adorable baby elephant! Both my sisters have memberships so we were able to go for FREE! Bonus! Thanks ladies! Next year I'll treat!

Tuesday my sister Georgia (better known as Aunt Dodo)& I took the preschoolers for a fast & fun trip and Saturday we went took the whole fam damily with my sister Emily and her cute family! Lots of fun was had by all!

Jack & Drew lovin' on each other in the stroller!

All aboard! You gotta love the choo choo!

It's exhausting to be pushed around the zoo all day! Those hills are killer!

Nice to know you are bigger than an adult male! Doesn't everyone have this pic?

My boys....tough as rhinos!

Jack loved the carousel! He was would wave & smile huge every time he saw me!

Hannah's favorite...the panda!

5 cute cousins!

2 big firsts!

Jack is walking!!! I know it's a miracle! He actually took his first steps a few weeks ago and is really cruising now! So cute!



Hannah has learned to ride her bike without training wheels! I think she was peer pressured by all the neighbor kids younger than her who can ride a 2 wheeler! Almost every night all the neighborhood kids ride bikes & scooters out in the street! She said she wanted to try and by the end of the 1st night she was doing it all by herself!



Way to go kiddos! We are proud of you both! Better late than never we say at the Nigbur house!

And so it begins...

Yeah! Another school year has officially started! We have had a crazy, busy summer & I am so excited for school! I love the schedule it puts us on & I am excited that a little normalcy will return to our lives with the beginning of school!

Nick actually started last week. He is going to his 2nd year of preschool. He is gone 3 beautiful mornings a week! He loves school. His favorite parts so far have been being the line leader to the bathroom and singing the goodbye song! He really likes his teachers and has made friends with 2 little boys in his class!

Hannah started 1st grade. She is actually going to the same elementary school Keith went to when he was little! She loves taking her lunch to school and having 3 recesses!

I am loving catching up on my scrapbooking and enjoying the quiet of my house while the older 2 are gone and Jack naps! Here's to the beginning of school, one of my favorite times of year!