If you have time to read a novel...

JP and I were crazy birds and decided to take a midnight ski tour during the full moon. It turned out to be more of an adventure than we had planned on. We had a creepy guy on snow shoes follow us for awhile. Every time we turned around he was right behind us, but wouldn't say anything and walked with his head down all stalker-like. We were a little creeped out. On our way down JP stopped me abruptly because there was a moose in the middle of the trail looking like he was ready to charge us! We took a detour through some thick trees, but even Bode was scared. We did have a great time skiing and made it home safe and sound. Maybe next time I'll bring mace or a taser just to be safe :). I don't think an avalanche beacon would've helped too much in those situations.

This is my cute friend Des pulling Isaiah. She is 8 months pregnant and still going strong at everything she does. I love her and want to be like her when I grow up :)

Brecken and Isaiah. Brecken says 'zaiah' over and over again when she sees a picture of people skiing or a chariot. She loves her little ski buddy. I promise they were happier than they looked in this picture. They just like to GO. We aren't allowed to stop or they get mad.

We also attempted to take the munchkins snow-shoeing, but we had a snow-shoe malfunction and decided to go on a hike instead. We ended up sinking 3 feet into the snow with every step we took. Oh well, we were laughing pretty hard.


Last full moon, Josh and Brecken were the only ones crazy enough to go cross-country skiing with me (JP had to work). Brecken was so bundled she could hardly move, but it paid off when she was nice and toasty in the chariot.

Josh was a serious power house and pulled Brecken most of the way going super fast. Brecken loves her uncle Josh, although she made him work for her love. I think 'Josh' was one of her first words.


While we are on the subject of Josh... I guess I should mention that he got ENGAGED last night. WOO-HOO! He is one lucky guy and is going to marry this beautiful girl on ??/??/2011. I couldn't be more excited for them. They are the cutest couple ever. Congratulations!!! You really deserve your own post, but I thought about that a little too late.

I think I was starting to get SAD (seasonal affective disorder) or maybe just wintertime blues, because I was dying for a getaway. JP's parents made this wish come true for us and we took a very last minute trip to Newport Beach, California. Jerry and Shelle rented a beach house for the whole month of February and we couldn't resist a trip to visit them. They also let us borrow their natural gas truck (so much cheaper) and I found some cheap tickets to SeaWorld and Disneyland. It was a perfect trip. We spent one whole day just riding our bikes on the boardwalk and hanging out at Balboa Island. Brecken's favorite part was chasing the birds and eating a fro-cho-bana. And, it was 74 degrees compared to the -18 we had with wind chill in Utah.

Breck with her grandparents. They were incredible and watched Brecken so JP and I could enjoy the big stuff at Disneyland after we'd taken Brecken on all the little kid rides.

Two cuties.



I'm tired, mom!

Another highlight of the trip... Katie and Nate! We got to spend the morning with them and it was good to see them again. Brecken made Katie hold her the entire day. Poor Katie was pooped by the time they left. This is on the Snow White ride. It was seriously scarier than I thought it would be.

Katie and Nate on Pirates of the Caribbean.

The crew. We love you guys!

Stopping for a little lunch break and to feed the ducks.

It's a small world after all.



Lovers (most of the time).


SeaWorld was perfect. We only wish it would stay open longer. Brecken loved every second of it.

Brecken is starting to talk more and more. Around Christmas time, I showed her baby Jesus and pictures of Jesus and this quickly became her favorite word. While we were grocery shopping she pointed to every item in the store and said 'Jesus'. It made for some funny looks from other shoppers. What can I say? She's just a religious child. She approximates most words she attempts pretty closely, but for some reason when she says please it's either 'boof' or 'woof'. We used to use sign a lot more, but she's become pretty lazy and it's funny to see what her signs have become. One day she wanted something pretty badly and did every sign or action she could come up with until she got it.

I took these for Valentine's Day. She was such a stinker for most of them and wouldn't stop clinging to me, but I think I got a couple cute ones.




This sweet little girl has more than a handful of mean faces when she doesn't get her way. This is just one of many. I don't know where she learned them. I'm not claiming them! She might give you this look if you don't sit next to her when she summons you by patting the seat next to her and saying 'eh-eh-eh' in a very high-pitched tone. One of her favorite things is to find any little step and try to squish everyone she loves onto it. She can spot steps from a mile away.

Uh-oh. Don't worry mom, it's just chalk. It will come off.

The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout...

Down came the rain and washed the spider out...

Up came the sun and dried up all the rain...(That's as far as we got before she was into something else).

Brecken LOVES hats IF and only if it is the hat of her choosing at that moment. I thought the antique-ish look was pretty cute in this picture. She also loves boots, gloves, and coats and is always requesting to put them on even when it's really warm. She's our little snow bunny. She has already developed quite an opinion for just about everything and is a bossy little thing. She dresses up in our shoes and my jewelry, and thinks it's hilarious. She also thinks it's pretty fun to put my make-up on her eyes and cheeks or just completely mutilate any chap-stick in sight.


Brecken was PURPOSELY closing her eyes for the picture. We tried taking about ten and she did it every time. It's so fun to see her little personality coming through.

We took my parents cross-country skiing on Valentine's Day and I think they had a good time. My mom's already a pro.

We skied a tiny bit ahead of my parents and set up a little Valentine's snack. I wanted to have a picnic, but didn't have enough time to get it ready after work. The men were women and refused to eat the cookies or brownies. More for me, I guess :)




YOU MADE IT. If you don't feel like reading the whole thing it goes like this... Brecken, skiing, Brecken, California, Brecken, Josh and Kristi engaged, Brecken, Brecken, Brecken to sum it all up.

Is it easier to read/view if I break them up into 'themed' posts? Or do you like the Beeta-bulk style?