A weekend of skiing!

One of the families who Cam used to teach was up in Park City for the weekend. They wanted us to come ski with them for the weekend! The kids are all a little older and really don't need much instructing, so it was fun to just ski with them.  They were staying up at Deer Valley. I had never skii'd there before. And now I don't know if I want to ski anywhere else! It was so nice. All skiers, and not crowded at all! Loved it. 

I can't wait for Reese to be able to ski. I absolutely love skiing with Sage.  She has improved so much. So fun to turn around and watch her coming down the mountain. And watching Cam watch her is priceless! He loves that she lives to ski too. 

So I only skii'd with them Friday (I needed to stay home and take care of Reese). Cam and Sage skii'd Friday, Saturday and Sunday! I for sure thought Sage would be sick of it, but she never once complained!

A beautiful day.

Gigi and I. 

A small break.

Cam and Sage.

Poor Reese... Always missing the fun. She has been fighting a cold and a fever. We try to stay on top of it... to avoid the ER. We've had good luck so far. Let's hope it stays that way. Thank goodness for her nebulizer and inhaler. Lifesavers for her and her crappy lungs!

Sara's Baby Shower

1.11.2014

Rach, Cass and myself hosted Sara's baby shower! We are so excited for little girl baby Brown! They are the last of our little group to have a baby! We've been patiently waiting. They're camping and boating trips are about to change! :)

For the better, of course!

Her shower was fun! We had pasta chicken salad croissants, salad, fruit, desserts, and drinks!

We met lots of new people and ooh'd and ahhh'd over little girl clothes!!

Bella and Sage! 

Rach, Sara and me. (Cass had to leave early and we didn't get a picture). Sara looks amazing. You can't even tell she's prego!

Happy 4th Birthday Reese!

1.8.2014

This kid! 

She's a 26 pound, 2 1/2 ft. 4 year old! 

And we wouldn't want it any other day! She has so much hair and so much spunk! I couldn't imagine a day without her.

She changes her name on a regular basis.  The latest have been Wanda, Moona, Minnie... It depends on whatever show she's into at the time!  She loves her preschool class and thinking she can count to 100! She loves playing dolls, ponies and doing puzzles. And especially loves bugging Belle! She loves singing in the car, especially, "Do you want to build a snowman?"

I hope this kid had the best birthday yet! She's one of a kind! I love her!

Birthday girl!

Birthday flowers from Grandma and Granpda!

Opening presents. A new blanket, a baby doll, and baby accessories!

Birthday cupcakes. Bright pink as requested by the birthday girl!

She really really wanted to go to the Spaghetti Factory for her birthday dinner only to see the balloon man. Well, the balloon man was only there on weekends. So, she chose McDonald's instead. Go figure! We invited some of her favorite friends to come celebrate with us. 

We went to the spaghetti factory later that week and she got her balloon animals (a momma and baby unicorn)!

A dramatic haircut!

Sage was in desperate need of a haircut!

We had talked about chopping it off and donating it to Locks of Love. She was hesitant for a while, so we just left it. 

The other day, Nat was taking Kade to get her haircut by a girl in our ward. I joked to Sage, let's take you and chop it off! She was excited and agreed. So we did! I was sad to see her long hair go. It was so pretty, but she looks adorable and she loves it. I keep finding her in the mirror posing and admiring her hair! :)

Before pictures.

She was pretending to be sad that we were chopping her hair!

During. Thanks Rachael for cutting it!

After. She's still just amazingly cute. 

Pictures..

1.30.2014

After school snack. Sage loves cheese sticks and tater tots from Sonic. And it's a good excuse for me to eat them too :). 

Reese likes the icecream cones. It was hard to go back to school for 2 days after Christmas. I still can't figure out why they didn't let the kids off until Monday! So... We were so glad it was Friday! 

1.5.2014

Ever since Grandma Su's house, the girls always want to drink hot chocolate, but will only drink it with whip cream and sprinkles! Fine with me.. I like it too!

1.6.2014

Reese said, "take my picture with all my friends (stuffed animals)! I like this kid!!

President and Sister Mendenhall

President Mendenhall and Sister Mendenhall.

Serving in the Denver Colorado North mission. 

Reporting to the mission home on July 1. 2014. 

I can't think of anyone better to serve than these two! I'm so blessed to have them as parents.  They have taught me so much throughout my life.

These two have dedicated their life to serving and living the gospel. They have so much love for the youth.  

I'm thankful for the example they are to me and my family!

It's definitely going to be hard to not have them at "home" for three years, but I know we will be able to visit on occasion. I'm also excited to write letters and send packages to grandma and grandpa on their mission. 

My mom sent me and my sisters this message the other day..

"This is just to you 4 daughters. Just had to say today was a hard day going through Christmas boxes realizing I won't see this stuff for 3 years. I realized tonight what really is important!!! It isn't the clean house and trying to make things so perfect to the point where I have everyone so worried to just not  be themselves and relax and have fun. To not double dip😃.  

It was the christmas's we did secret Santa's to other families, the nativity song, the caroling with young women and young men. Going to orchestra and choir concerts at Christmas. Thinking of grandma and grandpa's. The family traditions that run so deep they can never, never go away!  I love you all with all my heart❤. Happy New Year!  It will be wonderful and so so thankful we can share this experience with you. I know sometimes you wonder why we have to share our time and talents with other kids when we have our own. It is because you guys are so strong and will be blessed also because of it. Thank you for sharing us with others that might not have the love and support you guys grew up with. I know this is just random and you will probably get many more like this. Ha ha. Just know I love you so much and I am so sorry for all the stupid things I say and do. Just go with me through all this craziness. Ha ha. Love you."

That's why she is amazing and will be a wonderful companion to President Mendenhall. 

She gets life and knows how to make the best out of it!

I've already learned so much from her and still have so much to learn. 

Oh and my Dad- he'll knock the socks off those missionaries in Colorado. He's amazing! Truly my hero!!

Cam's the Man!

While we were in Idaho, Cam stayed home to surprise me with a little kitchen upgrade. He shifted everything over to add more cupboard space and back splashed behind the stove and the sink!

There is nothing Cam can't do. I'm sure of it. He still amazes me after almost 10 years. I love the little and big surprises he does. He's such a hard worker and obviously very handy! 

The kitchen looks awesome!

Happy New Year!

11.31.13

We went up to Salt Lake for New Year's Eve. We hung out at the Cisneros house. 

There were lots of people, good food, and lots of noise makers! 

I think everyone of us stayed up until 12:00. It was a good time!!

We went home after that... late, late night.

The next morning. Reese slept until 9:30 and Sage until 11:30! 

I used to hate New Years. It meant that the holidays were over, Christmas decorations were put away, we could be lazy anymore, back to work and school, etc. 

But anymore, I love it! I love a fresh start. I love cleaning up the house and getting back on a routine. We do better that way. A fresh start... Trying to do thing a a little better. I'm not one for making resolutions. I don't keep them, which means I fail, and I don't like failure.

So I like to think of it as just trying to be a little better.. at everything. A little more righteous, a little more healthier, a better mom, a better wife, a better friend, you know, just a little better!

2013 was good to us, but here's to 2014 being a little better!

Happy New Year!

Idaho

12.27-30.13

We were going a little stir crazy after Christmas, so we decided to head up to Idaho to see more cousins and Grandma and Grandpa! I'm sure glad we never did! Being home never fails for a good time.

There is always plenty of laughs, games, food, entertainment, a little R&R, and even a little drama!

Dan, Les, June and baby Owen were there too! We were excited to meet Owen and the girls love playing with little June. 

We had a tea party the minute we got there with hot cocoa, whip cream and sprinkles.

The next day we decided to go sledding to Smith Park. 

Meg and Sam came down from the cabin. It was so fun playing with sisters and all the little cousins!

The hill seemed so much bigger when I was young! 

I used to sled that same hill when I was these girls age. 

Makes me nostalgic to be a kid a again...

Reese didn't love sledding. Meg said she looks like a "mean Russian" here! Ha!

The tubes started sliding off the too of the car.  Meg and her mad skills saved them! She reminded of a character from "Yo Gabba Gabba" or something. We were laughing so hard!

Meg and Sam.

Just a little hill.... But we sure got some speed. It was perfect for the little girls. 

And us older girls had fun too.

Mom and Dad even went down a few times. 

A little lazy, relaxing time.

Sage is so good with the babies.  This is little Owen. I didn't hear a peep out of him the whole time we were there. Such a sweet baby. 

Sage and June bug. 

We went to church Sunday and then everyone came over for dinner. Meg and Joe came down from the cabin again. Mike and Shay's family came over too. It was delicious. Sure wish I could cook like my mom!

We went home Monday after some lunch. It was nice to be home, but nice to come back to "our home". We cleaned up Christmas and got ready for the New Year!