Hiking in the Snow, Christmas and a BREAK!

So I can't ever remember how to put my pictures on in chronological order so they start from the most recent! This will be the backwards story!:) First I will start with my "BREAK"!!!! I am taking a break from doing hair for 2 weeks! I LOVE to do hair, but my family, myself and my disgusting house has sufured miserably! I am having a hard time saying NO when I have other, much more important things to do. My 3 1/2 year old does not even understand that he needs to sit at the table while eating dinner because WE DON'T EAT DINNER TOGETHER! I will buy groceries and they rot in my fridge because I am too tired from doing hair all day that we just end up eating cereal! My front room where my clients come in is in ok shape but the rest of my house is not clean. I get so uptight that I don't want to clean up or cook because it is too overwhelming! So this leaves me with a much needed break and a change coming in my hair business! It pains me so much, but I have to put my family and myself first. My 3 year old wants to play with me not with himself which he does VERY well by the way:) Anyway, the dynamics of my life are changing and I have to change with it or it will be pure misery!

OK enough of the venting! We had such a great Christmas. It was really fun this year with Mitchell and Garrett! Mitchell absolutely LOVED Santa! He was so cute with him. He told him that he loved him! Garrett could not care less either way. Santa came to our house and brought all that they asked for. Ben got me a massage at a spa, and an iphone, and Ben got a new receiver as well as Jazz tickets, although I didn't notice when I bought the tickets that one of the games was on Sunday....such a ditz! My parents gave us both an ipod nano and that is Ben's first ipod, he is certifiably OBSESSED! Our friends and families Christmas cards were so fun this year. I think that is one of my favorite things about the Holiday's! Now on to the pictures!


Mitchell got a leapster 2 from my parents and a Thomas hat! It is SUCH a cute hat and the only hat will wear!



Garrett opening presents!




We all match!



The biggest snowman we have ever seen. It was just at a park in Park City!



Mitchell was just plain tired at my Mom's house. But couldn't go to sleep until Thomas was next to him!



Garrett on the other hand had plenty of energy to open gifts from Avo!




Just after Santa came!



Christmas eve jammies!






Christmas Eve at Grandpa and Grandma Gowans



Garrett got his first haircut! His first tooth and said his first words ALL on Christmas Eve! "DaDa" ... I told Ben that I was taking all his gifts back because Garrett saying "DaDa" was the biggest gift!







All of our friends went hiking in the snow up Neffs canyon. It was SOOOO fun! I wish I could do that everyday! When we got to the top, there was a rope swing and Mitchell loved that! Than we sledded down the Mountain which was so fun! I can't believe how cute my 3 boys are... LOOK at those faces!!

One of Ben's best friends died this this past Saturday November 28th. There are no words for how this has effected us! He was such a great friend to Ben. His wife is a great friend of mine, and there children are the cutest, sweetest kids! I just have to keep believing that there was something in heaven that needed only Brian. It has been very hard to understand why this happened, how this happened, and what kind of purpose there is for this to happen! We will miss you Brian! We are NEVER going to forget about you!


Brian Daniel Buttars 06/02/1978~11/28/2009 Brian Daniel Buttars, beloved husband, father, son and brother, passed away due to injuries sustained in a dirt biking accident. Born June 2, 1978, Provo, Utah to Daniel P. and Jan Buttars. Married Colette Fitts, the love of his life, on April 5, 2001 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. Brian had a passion for life and lived it to the fullest. He had a wonderful smile and brought love and happiness to all he knew. He loved his family; Colette, Cole, Hallie and looked forward to the birth of another son. He loved skiing, boating, especially at Lake Powell, and dirt biking. Brian served an LDS mission in the Philippines, Olongapo Mission. He graduated from the University of Utah in Business. Survived by wife, Colette, children, Cole Daniel and Hallie Ann; parents, Daniel and Jan Buttars; sister and brothers, Courtney (Jared) Geisler, Jordan (Kelli) Buttars, Chelsea (Miles) Lowder, grandmother, Fern Hutchens; father and mother-in-law, Randy and Susan Fitts, 10 nephews and six nieces. He will be dearly missed. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 4, 12:00 p.m. at the Sandy Granite Stake Center, 2535 E. Newcastle Drive (9040 So). Visitation will be held Thursday, December 3, from 6-8:00 p.m. at the Bull River 3rd Ward, 1920 North 500 West (Lehi) and the morning of the service at the Sandy Granite Stake Center from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 So., Sandy. Online condolences may be made at www.cannonmortuary.com. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations to the Brian D. Buttars Memorial account at any Zions Bank.