No one can leave New Orleans without a love for Mardi Gras! We will carry out the tradition even though we are miles and miles away. I shipped in Crawfish from the Louisiana swamps and we had ourselves a proper boil! I also made an amazing King cake, and some beignets. And some spicy gumbo and Jambalaya! I love my mother in laws face in the above photo!

The whole gang! Everyone was great sports and tried everything! I always said that New Orleans was like living in a different country and I am glad we got to share the culture with some of our favorite people.

Just in case anyone still checks my blog, here is something fun we did over valentines day.

Each couple was in charge of performing something as the entertainment. We had poem readings, musical numbers, and Mark and I wrote and performed an original RAP. It was freaking awesome and since I know you all want to see it, I will hunt down the video and post it in a few months when I get around to blogging again!



All the Durham Bros and the wives looking as fancaaaay as can be.

We ran a 5k on thanksgiving so we could feel less guilt when we pounded down the turkey. It was soooo cold! I think it was 11 degrees that morning! It was a lot of fun and it was really fun when we were done and took a hot shower.
All the men ran in shirts and ties and suit pants. This is true Durham fashion, no reason for odd behavior, they are just cool like that.

Our Lyssa Lou turned 4! She has been counting down since Chase had his birthday in June! She loved every second of her special day! She wore he fanciest clothes so everyone would know it was her birthday, but just in case they didn't notice she was sure to tell them!

We always have a birthday breakfast and the kids always request doughnuts! We like to do the present opening first thing in the morning! It's like christmas!
We had a Pinkalicious birthday party with all her cute friends in the ward. We did lots of pink things. Here we are making pink necklaces and painting nails pink!
It was such a fun girlie day!
We love our smart, crazy, expressive, dramatic, loud, beautiful, funny, bouncy girl! Happy Birthday Lyssa Lou!

We crammed a weeks worth of fun into one weekend! We threw a Halloween party this year and since I know such cool people it was a lot of fun with some great food!

Above are my cool in-laws and below are my sweet hillbilly parents. My parents came to town to join in the fun because they are total party animals.
Markie couldn't decide on a costume this year and ended up being three different things, one for each different event. At school he was a secret agent complete with mustachio.

Is it a blurry photo or is my spiderman just really fast?
Super Girl, she was excited to finally have a superhero costume of her own to wear when she plays with her brothers. I think she was the only girl in her preschool class who wasn't a princess.
My and Mom and Dad came to witness the glorious school costume parade.
If you live in the Utah, you should make a trip out to Cornbellys next year, It was so much fun! We also had lots of Marks family there with us too, but I didn't bring my camera. Although, I do have a picture of my sis in law Michelle riding the mechanical bull. That was a highlight!
Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for making the drive to spend Halloween with us!

We have these amazing grape vines growing in our back yard. They produce a ton of concord grapes, so whats a girls to do, you gotta make juice. So thanks to the people who grew the grapes we now have tons of the best tasting organic grape juice fresh off the vine, ahhhhhh.

My hands were dyed purple for several days, including the day we took family photos. I don't know why I am holding my hand like I am about to make a shadow puppet. Is that a wolf?

This is Mason half way through his first year. Already he has lived in 2 different states and been to eight. He is the most pleasant, patient, happy baby. Everywhere we go people stop and stare and tell me he is the cutest baby they have ever seen, and I absolutely agree. In his sixth month he has learned how to sit up and finally stand up (with support). Just looking at these pictures makes me want to go wake him up and kiss his soft chubby cheeks!