Tis the Season...

Oh this blessed time of year...so full, so crazy, so much to be thankful for at the end of another year!  Four amazing blessings in my life that are my children...they bring emotion of every kind and I love experiencing life with them.  This time of year is particularly fun with little ones...Ella in particular this Christmas has absolutely been taken by the joy of it all...watching her take it all in and all the festivities that go with this holiday, has made it one of my best!  Christmas concerts, ginger bread house outings, Christmas parties, talking about baby Jesus,  ice-skating, temple square, Christmas tree shopping and of course Christmas morning.  All of these are little pieces of what make a wonderful holiday season. 

Few more Fall Highlights...

Some pictures of Halloween...Ava was a Rag Doll, Ella was a Lady Bug, Alec was a Jedi...Liv had random costumes, but evidently I didn't capture any of them...I know she was cute, you can imagine. A few more outings with the cousins before snow hit the ground, and a picture of my little soccer player Ava...this girl knows how to get it done on the field.

Seattle Getaway...

We had an awesome opportunity to go and spend a weekend in Seattle with some friends who were renting a summer home there.  They were very gracious to let us come hang out for the weekend and partake of this amazing city.  I have to say I fell in love...what a fun weekend we had eating fresh fish, running by the ocean...swimming in the ocean if you're crazy like my husband, and just chilling out with old friends.  Thank you Bridgette and Travis for the fun weekend!  P.S...I would be at the market everyday if I lived there...fresh fish and flowers...does it get better!

School and some Fall happenings!

Back to school time...oh I love those faces. 

Alec starting 3rd grade, and my little Ava girl beginning all day school in 1st grade. It really is a love/hate relationship with school.  Many times in the summer I thought summer school didn't sound like such a bad idea...overall I really do love having all my family home...chaos and all.

Ava and Anna...friends since age 1.

Alec and Bryn...been starting school together since the age of 3!

Random pictures of some other fall outings...Liv at my Dad's birthday up the canyon...this is what I call her yummy bunny look...ewe I love that face!

Alec and Ava on a hike with Dad.

Ava, Alec and cousin Bowen in a dance off at a school carnival...some interesting moves going on, but they took first place!

Some good friends of ours invited our family and the Short family to spend UEA weekend at their cabin in Kamas...always so fun to get away for a bit.  The kids had a blast just running crazy, and also driving us crazy over the 4 wheelers...let's just say they got slightly obsessed with them.  Good Times...thanks!

Summer Fun...

Just a few summer highlights...lot's of which unfortunately I was left out of.  Having a newborn didn't always coincide with travel plans, so Zach got to have some fun outings with the older such as Lake Powell, Timpanogus Cave (that one I didn't feel to bad about) hiking, and whatever else they could ditch me Ella and Liv for!  We had our fun too...didn't we girls!  The girls did some fun camps, Ava got to become a real "fairy" at a fairy party, we did St.George with the cousins...all around it was a great summer!  Now back to school...blahh!  Let the carpools begin...

Little Sis takes the plunge...

My beautiful baby sister...10 years my junior got married on August 14th, 2010, to Nathan Bendall, what a truly amazing couple they are!  I always knew it was going to be hard to let go of my baby sister, but letting her go to such a great guy sure made it a lot easier.  Melinda and I had a lot of fun this summer planning her wedding...I think I enjoyed it more than she did...I found myself obsessing over it way more than I should have!  I think it's more fun to plan for someone else because the fun is there...the stress is not!  They day turned out absolutely incredible, most in part to Nate's amazing Aunt who allowed them to use her yard and then managed to create a stunning reception.  The weather was beautiful, the ceremony was beautiful, the bride and groom were beautiful...so happy to see all her wishes come true...love ya little sis!

Getting our 4th of July run on...

Oh, the annual Murray 5k run...last year (2009) I was training for Ragnar, this year, I was just coming off having a baby...wow what a difference a year makes, and a few extra lbs...yikes!  Well, I finished, just with a lot more color in my face and the feeling I might puke, but I finished.  The highlight this year was watching my kids join in for the kids fun run...and might I toot their horn just a hair and say they killed it!  Alec and Ava both rocked their divisions.  I knew Alec had it in him, but Ava came out of no where...at the end of her race she totally did the look over the shoulder to see this girl gaining on her...she wasn't having that, she kicked it in high gear and took the finish line!  You go girl...loved it!

 Alec and his cousin Bowen before the big race...

The Gang...smaller in numbers this year, one of my brothers, I won't name names, said after I beat him last year, he would never do it again...bring it!

 Ava and cousin Bryn...darling as always!

My little Alski putting his best foot forward.

 Ava...after the finish line...look at those red cheeks!

 Ella and Gracie...don't know that we will ever see these two princesses in a race...unless it's to the barbie house!

 Grandma Johnsen provides us all with an amazing brunch after the race...wish I had pictures of it, but I was to busy devouring it.

 We ended the evening up North in our neck of the woods...might I say we having a stunning sunset from our yard.

 The girls...

Fireworks put on my Eagleridge golf course...God Bless America...land that I love!