Winter Fun

Sammy and I have been filling our days with story time at the library, mom and me group at the church, and playing with cousins. She is learning colors, numbers, days of the week, and months of the year and she loves making crafts. Here's a quick look at some of our winter fun.

Do your kids watch Backyardagains? If they don't, you should really check them out. Sammy is pirate Uniqua.

An afternoon tea party with bear.

We made butterflies the other day. I wanted to take them outside so we wouldn't get glitter all over grandma's house. Sammy wanted to fly with them on the tire swing. The park is in our backyard!





Sammy's first day of Primary. She loves taking her very own Book of Mormon to church.



Last weekend we went bowling on Saturday afternoon. We had a lot of fun. It was Sammy's second time bowling and she is already schooling her dad. James hurt his wrist and now has to bowl left handed. Sammy beat him 72 to 58.

My two angels. Sammy loves making snow angels. There has been a few times when we've been talking outside and all of the sudden she'll flop down on her back and start making snow angels.

It was the first snow fall in Utah and we didn't have enough snow to make a big snowman, so we made a small one on a cookie sheet and he spent a few month in our freezer. Sammy has a carrot in her cheek.

Olivia and Kristy came to visit in November! It was just like old times.

Puppet show with the cousins.

James and Sammy made this fun paper bag Santa. She loved wearing it around the house.

Polka Dot Party

We can't believe our little Samantha is 3 years old!

The years seem to fly by.

Samantha's 1st Birthday

Samantha's 2nd Birthday


Samantha's 3rd Birthday

Pin the tail on the Daddy!

Just like mommy!

What concentration! Sammy loved her Birthday party this year. It was the first time she really understood that it was a party and that everyone was there to celebrate her life and share their love with her. The only thing missing was her pals from Schaumburg.

Friends are flowers in life's garden.

Oh Peyton, you're so cute!

Sammy and Peyton go on a train ride.

Together again.

Jill and Diana get the kids together to keep the spark alive. It was so nice to hang out like old times and let the kids run around and play.

Carson and Samantha, the bee and the fairy, giving thumbs up.

Don't worry Peyton, Carson is just my cousin. (wink, wink)

Hanging out with the cousins!

Madison, Samantha, Kennedy and Carter at Vineyard Gardens pumpkin patch.

Our little Cinderella.

Sammy loved Halloween this year. It was so fun to see her try to run around the neighborhood with some of the older kids on the block, lugging her pumpkin bag full of candy.

Halloween Day with the cousins.

Eliza, Carson, Samantha, and Ethan all decked out and ready for trick-or-treating.

Mommy and Sammy enjoying the beautiful fountain at a new park in Orem.

How I like to go up in a swing,

up in the sky to blue.

Oh I do think it the pleasantest thing

ever a child could do.

Samantha and cousin Madison.

Grandpa Scott and Grandma Ronda grew pumpkins in his backyard this year and we made it home just in time for Sammy to pick out her very own!

Sammy and Daddy Snoozin' after the long trip back to Utah.

Sammy coloring in her sleep.

Sammy was a total trooper on the trip home. We were worried if she would be able to hold out or not and she ended up doing better than mommy:-) No really, she did.

We took the long way home so that we could see Mt. Rushmore! It was well worth it.

George, Thomas, Teddy and Abe haven't aged a bit. We learned a lot and had an delicious ice cream cone.

Hitting the open road!

We love you and will miss you all.

Waving good-bye to our sweet friends at Legend Park. Susan, Leslie, Gerri and Antonio always offered a friendly smile, a warm greeting, and plenty of goodies for Sammy.

We miss you guys!

The last party with our pals in Schaumburg. It was truly bitter sweet.

In our life there is a single color, as on an artists' palette, which provides the meaning of life and art. It is the color of love. - Marc Chagall