And a Happy New Year to you!!

JANUARY: To kick off the new year of 2010 we took little D to Disneyland for the very first time!! We spent lots of time with family and friends in CA, AZ and TX.FEBRUARY: We attended LOTS of birthday parties, saw family in CA and got to play with cousins in AZ.MARCH: We spent this month watching Dallen grow up WAY too fast!! We had family visit from CA and made a quick trip to TX for a baby blessing.
APRIL: Our baby turned 1 1/2 years old. Dallen got his first bike for Easter. He also went to his first professional baseball game. Auntie Aubrey came for a visit, we went to the zoo, and then Mimi came for a visit.
MAY: Mommy celebrated her second Mother's Day. We went to a college baseball game, went to the water park and joined Kids Club at the mall. Finally, we bought a house!!
JUNE: Moved into our new home. Swam in the backyard, saw Toy Story 3, and did a LOT of home improvement projects.
JULY: Celebrated Independence Day at the beach house in CA. Attended some happy wedding celebrations. Dallen and I drove up to Flagstaff for a day of fun.
AUGUST: Mark and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary. We shaved Dallen's head. Dallen learned to skateboard and Aubrey came for her last visit.
SEPTEMBER: We spent the most amazing week in Oahu for family vacation!! Dallen discovered his new favorite hobby, Friday night lights (high school football games).
OCOTBER: Our baby boy turned 2 years old!! Threw Dallen an awesome "havin' a ball" birthday party. Got a season pass to the zoo. Went to CA to meet Aubrey's new man. More High school football. Went to pumpkin patches and dressed up as Toy Story for Halloween. Mommy entered her late twenties.
NOVEMBER: Took an overnight trip to Flagstaff. More High school football. Finally had some good park weather. Were grateful for Thanksgiving in El Paso. Threw Mark a surprise 30th birthday party at Chuck E Cheese.
DECEMBER: Took Mimi to the zoo. Saw Christmas lights, bought a tree, and saw Santa a lot!! Daddy and Dallen went away to his first BYU football game :) Celebrated Christmas in CA and are ready for a New Year!!

For the longest time I wondered why people putting lights all over their house meant that it was Christmas time. As I got older and really started understanding the meaning of Christmas, I have come to realize that they represent the light of Christ. Whenever I see beautiful lights, it helps me to think of my Savior. One of my very favorite places to see the sparkle of Christmas lights is at the temple. This year we had the privelege of helping put up the lights and have a much greater appreciation for their beauty.
Plus it didn't hurt to let the boy run around and have some fun with his friends

At our house this year, I have left the lights ON on our tree all day and all night because they are a great reminder to me of what this season is all about. I am so happy that for the first time in our 6 years of holidays together, we could afford a beautiful tree!! So grateful for the blessings of this year :)

And speaking of sparkle...I just wanted to send a shout-out to the future Mrs. Laidlaw who has some brand new and incredibly amazing bling on her left hand!!! I am so happy for my sister and her big diamond; I mean my big sister and her diamond. Congrats Matt and Aubrey!!

Mark and Dallen were counted among the BYU faithful at the New Mexico bowl game on Saturday. Leaving Mommy at home for some well deserved quiet, alone time :) I was happy to see pictures of my boys in their Cougar blue. Dallen got to see lots of family and some friends, like Cosmo the Cougar and even Santa Claus.


When asked what he thought of that other team, Dallen gave us this:And when he was asked to make his best Cougar face we get this:And of course in the end, it was all well worth the trip to the snow to see a Cougar victory!!

For weeks now Dallen has been finding toys he loves, in stores, in catalogs, at friends houses...and with the cutest little voice says: "that's my favorite, I tell Santa?" At the mall with Mommy last week, when Dallen spotted Santa he knew just what to do...He marched right up to him, climbed up on his lap and listed, and listed, and listed ALL the things he wants for Christmas. Last night we took Daddy with us to visit Santa at Bass Pro. Daddy was so proud when Dallen marched right up to Santa and without a word from the jolly old soul, announced "basketball" and Santa replied, "now there's a real toy! that's a man toy, not the electronic stuff the other kids are asking for. good for you!" I am so happy that Dallen loves Santa now and is working really hard to be a good boy so he can get all of his "favorite" things :)

Winter weather in Arizona means we finally get to go outside and play!! We finally get to go play at the park, we can go for walks longer than just to the mailbox and throw the football on the lawn. Our most favorite thing to do in the winter time though is to visit the Phoenix Zoo. Dallen got a pass for his birthday and we've been having a blast going with friends who also have one. Most recently we got to go with Mimi, and it was so much fun!!I got to ride a camel with Dallen and let's just say one of us was really scared (it wasn't brave little Dallen)!!We saw lots of animals, but took time to play a bit too!!
I think this one is almost inappropriate but I just love it ;)We had SOOO much fun with Mimi in town and can't wait to spend more time with her and the famil for Christmas!!

Our cousin Kendal took some fantastic fall family pictures of us, just for fun and I am so happy she could. I love nothing more than to look at sweet moments like these with my favorite people in the world!!

On Monday night we had a little birthday celebration at Chuck E Cheese's for the favorite 30 year old in our lives, and he had no idea what was coming!! At first he was embarassed to be the center of attention, but it was SOOO much fun thanks to all the super fun friends who came to show their love. As for me, no more lying to my husband, that was tricky. Happy birthday Mark, we love you!!