we just got back from a fun trip to utah! we wished for snow, but only got to see it on the very tip top of the mountains. it was nice to have a chill in the air. we were only there for a few days and every day was filled, but we enjoyed being w/ family and spending the thanksgiving holiday in utah. we are grateful for so much and we know we are truly blessed. i LOVE this time of year. and it's fun starting traditions w/ our own little fam. i took too many pics as always, but it makes story telling more fun!
savanna got in the hot tub for the first time, but i didn't bring swim suits, so it was just the diaper. she loved it!

after the hot tub i put her in carter's undies and she was so cute just walking around w/ her fingers in her mouth, and her little buddy pascal in her hand.

turkey day! i was feelin navy for the fam. there were over 50 people over for feasting and fun!

i seriously don't know what it will take to get both kids to look at the camera. maybe we won't be doing christmas cards again!

this is bren's step sis mitch and her husband niall. they live in london so we got to meet him for the first time this trip. it was so fun to chat and see how they are doing! the kids loved them and they bought carter super hero cards and carter was in love from the start! thanks guys so fun to see you both!

the miller fam came up to the house that night and it was fun to chat and paint our nails (lovin the dark nail polish for the season :). thanks for coming up for a visit!

carter was trying to wrestle uncle gerrit's dog elvis and so he was in all of his protective gear. uncle gerrit is carter's hero. he was following him around everywhere and wanted to be by his side whenever he could. it was really cute. they even walked to church together just the two of them!

my good buddy gordon came to the house for a visit too and brought his cute girl friend lisa. hopefully there will be a wedding one day too!

if you know me i'm NOT a dog lover at all. not even kinda, so being in a house w/ FIVE huge dogs is a bit of a challenge. but this girl is SO obsessed w/ them i don't even know where she comes from! i guess that comes from her dad. even on the day we left i looked outside and she's being trampled on by 2 big dogs and i'm almost in tears and she's sad for a sec and then wants to get down and play! crazy girl! i hope she'll get some fear one of these days!

we went to my fav sandwich pub at trolley square. so yummy!


seriously though how cute is this girl!

on the polar express train in heber, ut. it was really fun and the kids loved it. we all wore pj's and had hot cocoa and a yummy choc chip cookie. the lady read the polar express book and we sang christmas songs. thanks scott and annette for takin us!


even santa stopped in for a surprise visit!

i tried soft curlers in savanna's hair, but it didn't turn out that curly, so i'll have to try again overnight, but i thought she looked so old w/ them in her hair.

bren's step sis charlotte got married on nov 29th, 2008, so it was fun to be there for the festivities. her new husband is a really sweet quiet man, and loves her to pieces! congrats to you both! we are so happy for you guys. funny thing is char doesn't need to change her last name because john's last name is clark too (no relation, or at least we hope)!

awww me and my honey

bren and his bro gerrit


annette and scott

cool ice sculpture

all char's bro's, step bro's, and bro n law (niall is from scottland hence the kilt)

john is in a band and so he was playing one of his fav's "the devil went to georgia".

the kids were having a blast dancing the night away. savanna is giving a love to maggie (bren's cousin's little girl).


k this is a big dork moment, but whenever we go to bren's mom's house i always see my wedding dress in the closet and i've wanted to know if i can still fit in it. i'm sure there have been many times where i couldn't, but i'm proud to say after 6 1/2 years and 2 kids later i can! woop woop!



and we are home. or almost. this was the 10 minutes of good on the plane. the rest savanna and carter were being crazy and i'm sure everyone wanted us kicked off the plane!