Christmas, New Year's, and Valentine's Day

Here's our little fake tree of four years. It's held up well in the 4 different apt's we've lived in since being married.

Christmas was at the Parkers' this year. Here's the grandkids performing the Christmas story as Grandpa reads from the scriptures (a Parker family tradition). Baby Jesus was played by our newest member - Ivy...she was so good and calm through the whole thing.

Eating Chocolate fondue while holding a baby on Christmas night dinner...can life get any better?...."I submit that it cannot!"

We went to Redding for a week after Christmas and spent the New Year with the whole family minus Matt who had to work. Grandpa thought it would be funny to put his new Go-Pro camera on Jude and see the world from his view...it didn't last long, but it was pretty funny!

Look at that cute little smile...just makes me want to smother his little face with kisses!

The Hardings came out to Utah to visit in February. Look how grown up Abby is already...and already learning to drive!

She loves her Uncle Mike!

Girl's only nail polish party in Grandma Parker's bathroom! It's Abby, Aubrey, Kallie, and I. Matching pink Barbie nails...so fun!

Hanging out at the Clarks for a cousin dinner. Mike is the "baby whisperer." Babies seem to be very calm with him and he always makes them laugh. Here he is holding Paisley (Christiana's little girl). So cute!
Paisley and I enjoying some quality time together.
More babies at the Parkers house...can't ever get enough of these cute little chubby angels!

Here's me and Ivy.

and me and Camden:

This is the view from our apt window. There's a playground in the middle of the court and these dear thought they were allowed to just come in and play with all the kids.

For the first time since my accident 7 years ago (I tore my left ACL and had surgery), Mike and I went skiing at Bachelor. I taught him to ski and he did great. And I didn't fall once. I remember why I used to love skiing now. Fear conquered! Mission accomplished!

After eating out one night, we saw this crosswalk signal in the shape of the "I love you" sign. Someone had put tape over the middle to make it light up this way...I love it!

Happy Valentine's Day to all the people that I love so much and especially to my...

husband of 3.5 years! I love you so much and love celebrating every Valentine's Day with "true love's kiss:"

Mike always wins at Valentine's Day presents. This year he took me to the Grand America Hotel, we got spa treatments, and went to a really nice Italian restaurant in the city. What a guy! I love you Babe!

Since we've been in Utah

Mike and I moved out to Utah mid-August for Mike to start MBA school at the University of Utah. We stayed with the Parkers (his parents) for a couple months before moving into student housing at the U. I couldn't have asked for better in-laws. They are the most caring and wonderful people to be around; always doing good for others. Love them! We now live in a very small 2-bedroom apt that's pretty close to being on campus. I got a job at the University of Utah hospital in the Labor and Delivery unit, and though challenging every day, I'm starting to love it! Mike can walk to school and is enjoying all the homework and tests again...ok, well, he's doing well anyway and making some good friends. It's different being in a ward of all young married people after being in a family ward for 3 years, but it's fun. We've made a few friends and we're liking where we are right now. So, since we've been here, here's what we've been up to:

Going to a few weddings: cousins Erica and Summer both got married in Oct and Nov. in the Salt Lake Temple...literally 10 min away from our apt.

Here's Steph and I at Summer's reception in the photo booth area. I got to hang out with Steph and Steven that weekend...so fun!

Christiana and I with our childhood babysitter, Dhara. So cool to see her again!

Here's me dancing at Erica's wedding reception. My cousin David's little boy wants to be a brake dancer, and is well on his way...watch the leg in the air trick...so cute!

Some good wholesome prego dancing....this was really hilarious. Christiana could have completed the prego dance group if she wasn't about to go into labor...she delivered a couple days later.

Steven lived in Provo from August to November taking an ACT course and applying to colleges. He lived in Provo with the Clarks and it was awesome to get to see him more often! He's accepted to BYU Idaho now...all grown up! I'm so proud of him! Isn't he cute in his Harmon's apron (his job for the last couple months living here).

Mike and I bought season tickets to the BYU football games with some of the Parker family and our friends the Irwins. It was really fun to back at school for the games...good times. Go cougars!

All bundled up for one of the last football games on a very cold night! True blue fans!

Utah sunsets are so beautiful! I love the mountains too! This is the view from one of Mike's class rooms. Pretty awesome!
Shopping at Costco...and yes, this is part of "date night" and it was fun.

We had Thanksgiving here with some of the Parker family. The day after was the annual Parker family hosted ginger bread party. Steven came and made this beauty with me.

Notice the incredible ingenuity of the ice cream cone and lettuce palm tree and the gingerbread man in the Jacuzzi...it's my dad. Dad, you would love this event!

In November, my dad turned 50. My sister Mimi put together this video of all of us telling him how much we love him and stuff...it's really cute.

Here is the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8um4jOUQhbQ

So many weddings and new babies to celebrate in our family lately. It's fun being in Utah and close to all these relatives and being a part of their exciting life moments. Christiana delivered this little cutie, Paisly beginning of November. Such a cute new born!

I came to visit Christiana in the hospital. Oh, I want one so bad! Look how cute and little!
My favorite activity...snuggling with a baby. So precious!

Oakley delivered just a few days ago (in Dec) this little bundle, Scarlet. She's adorable!

What's Christmas in Utah without seeing the temple square lights? We went to see them a couple nights ago...so freezing cold and snowing, but we endured it and the lights were beautiful!

Mike had his last day of school yesterday and is off for 3 weeks. I'm the worker bee, though and will not be getting that much free time, but we're so excited for Christmas anyway. Our apt is decked out and I've been listening to Christmas music since Halloween was over. I love this time of year. Merry Christmas everyone!

We love our family!

Just a minute to brag about the cute kiddies in our families:

Niece Abby on the Parker side. We miss her now that we don't live in San Jose by them anymore.

Abby's new sister, Ivy. We can't wait to meet her this Christmas!

Nephews Jude (top) and Josh (bottom) on Madsen side. Too bad they live in Michigan now...so far away! Story time with big brother...so cute!

Jude is such a cute little butter ball with a dimple chin. Doesn't he just look delicious!

Steven and Julia (my lil' bro and sis) doing synchronized back flips at gymnastics. Man! They are talented! They grow up so fast!

Summer of 2011

Since I last blogged, a lot has changed for us. We quit our jobs and moved to Redding for the summer to spend some time with the Madsen family before going off to school. Here's a recap of May and our June thru August vacation.

Before the big move, Mike turned 30 on May 25th. He didn't want a big fuss made, so I of course through him a surprise party and invited all our friends. I had everyone meet me at the park before Mike got home from work and then I called to tell him I had a flat tire and needed him to come get me. He was really mad and then arrived and was totally surprised. Bam! Nailed it! He never suspected. Everyone dressed in black and all the decor was black (like a funeral) for this "so old man's" birthday. It was pretty fun if I do say so myself.

Looks like someone didn't want us to go. She loves taking Mike's shoes and trying to walk in them. A girl after my own heart...loves shoes. Love you Abby!

We got to Redding just in time to spend 2 weeks with the Snows. I love holding my little nephews! Jude was so tiny then! He's sleeping on me in church in this picture..so precious.

What a smart boy! He looks good in Uncle Mike's glasses.
Always smiling...I can't stop taking pictures.
This is a replica of a picture Steven took with Jude's brother Josh when he was this small...Simba!

We spent a lot of time at the lake on my dad's sweet boat. Oh how I love summer and tanning with my girls.

Mike's first time out wake boarding for a couple years. He was awesome! Wish we could do this all year long!
We went to a family friend's wedding on one of the hottest evenings in the summer in Redding.
I saw a lot of old friends at the wedding. This is Hillary. She used to babysit me and my siblings. Oh memories. Love you Hillary-dillary-dock!
Chillin with my sibs on our parents' bed. I love it when we can all be together! That's the thing about everyone growing up. You never know how few and far between these moments are going to be.

We left Redding for a week to go to Utah for a Parker family reunion.

We found these awesome lava rocks to climb all through when we were at a cabin in Duck Creek.

These are two of Mike's sisters: Sarah and Karen.
This is my nephew Wes. He was the lead explorer on this trip. Totally fearless!

We all got our fair share of scratches and scrapes in those rocks, but it was totally worth it!

I hurt myself and had to go back to the car when they all found this awesome little cave and tried to all fit inside for a picture. What a cute bunch of explorers.

Oh yeah. Julia came with us...cause my nieces all love her to death...it was a surprise. Yay!


Another Parker adventure at Bryce Canyon. What a beautiful hike!


Mike's parents, Jim and MarJean. They planned a really fun time together that week!

Lauren and Hannah....Tree huggers!

We've got it..no worries...it's really heavy though!
Nieces Aubrey, Sydney, Olivia, Kali, and Ashlyn. Always ready to pose!

Even little Abby came for the adventure. I was so jealous of her pink parker shirt. Oatmeal is not my color....not anyone's color if we're being honest right! haha!

We also stopped in St. George to see my grandma Tutu and the Ludlow family. While there, we did some more hiking. We went to Zion's...so gorgeous!

I had to take Mike to the Tuacahn theatre in St George one night. He'd never been! I love that place. It's an outdoor theatre right amongst all the beautiful red rock. We saw "Greece" the musical.
Then back to Redding for the rest of the summer. No work, no school, just lounging by the pool, doing little projects for my parents, and having a good time with family. What a nice break!

Did I say how much I love being at the lake! I love being at the lake. I love summer!
I even got to hang out with my best friend from high school, Kat and her cute little girl, Hannah.

Hannah's first time tubing...she loved it!

After the summer was over and we came out to Utah for Mike to start school mid-August. My parents came too for Education week. I loved it! I loved it more with my parents! I love my mom and dad's obvious joy and desire to learn more about the Gospel and become better. It was fun to go back to BYU again also. Here's my mom and I with John Bytheway...one of our favorite youth speakers. He was awesome of course!