Liv is just the cutest thing ever... I can't wait to see what this year brings!

I don't make resolutions but here are some continuous goals that are "works in progress": 

1. be a better person (including mother, wife, friend, daughter)
2. take a lot of pictures (and share them!)
3. eat well - we eat mostly whole foods and are really good at not eating fast food (except Taco Time, of course) and not having processed foods in our house, but I want to grow more of our own food, or join a grower's co-op
4. exercise - I make excercise a priority, but I'd like to become a better, faster, longer runner and incorporate more yoga or cross-fit workouts
5. read more - so far I have been reading a lot more; my favorite books this last year were Born to Run, Unbroken, and In Defense of Food
6. keep on saving - 2011 was a good year and we have a lot to thankful for. We'd like to keep up the saving, put away more for college, and continue with little to no cc debt (which makes goals 7 and 8 more difficult)
7. update my space (I don't mean Myspace) - we re-did our extra bedroom (pictured above). Liv will be in a big girl bed soon so we will have a chance to re-do her room and her toy room; i'd like to work towards a greener, cleaner home
8. travel - Liv is our excuse for not traveling but we are eager to get out and see things; Liv still talks about Moab all the time... can't wait to show her the world

Happy 2012 to everyone - Hope it's great one!

The Holidays - 2011

We have been busy, busy around here so here's my very belated Christmas post. We had a wonderful holiday shared with lots of loved ones! We enjoyed a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner with Brett's mom and step-dad, Grandma Judie and Grandpa Joel. They proved that the biggest dinner of the year can gluten-free and wonderfully tasty. We didn't miss the gluten one bit and came away with some great recipes!

After dinner, I made my first trip to the craziness that is Wal Mart Black Friday to save $200 on a birthday (yes, birthday) present for Liv. I have to say it was quite the experience... I felt excited and dirty all at the same time. Gross consumerism at it's worst. I can see why people do the Black Friday sales but I don't know that I will do it again. 

We also decorated the house for Christmas over the Thanksgiving holiday. Liv is quite the little helper. She loves the step stool. Although she has had a few spills from the top step, she spends at least an hour on the step stool daily, eating, drawing, watching shows, "helping" mom in the kitchen, etc.

 

Lori and her friend spent the week before Christmas with us. We had a great time spending time together.

Making a ginger bread house (Liv was a lot of help but ate most of the candy or spilled it on the floor)

Christmas Eve party

We were lucky enough to have a lot of family spend the night so Liv had a blast on Christmas morning with all of her favorite people

We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

Homework

Family Pics 2011

I think I have finally learned my lesson and will schedule family pictures in September or inside someplace warm. The last two years we have had our pictures taken outside and it has been so cold. Our photographer, Jen, was a great sport even though it was nearly freezing. The 90 minute session was torture for Liv and she cried almost the entire time. This kid won't fall for anything (well, except sugar...we bribed her with smarties so there are a few pics where she is holding smarties). We all kept trying to trick her into smiling but she would look at us like she was saying, "You people are nuts! I know there is not a frog on the camera...". Brett and I discussed how Jen would have to be magic in order for any pictures turn out. These were taken at Daybreak, a large community about 5 miles from our house.

Snow! ... and a little dirt

Liv wasn't old enough last year to really play in the snow so the falling white stuff is new to her. She is a tough little kid and loves to play outside in the freezing cold. This video was shot at 7 am on a Sunday morning... 'cause we had nothing better to do. Liv talks more towards the end of the video.

Halloween 2011

Halloween was a lot of fun this year. The weather was beautiful and Mallory and Grandma TT were able to join us for trick-or-treating. Liv had a great time figuring out the whole idea of going house to house and collecting candy. She is a big fan of suckers and would dig through the candy bowls to get the suckers. She is learning her colors and numbers and speaking in sentences. While trick-or-treating, she would get really excited, unwrap her suckers and run down the sidewalk saying, "two suckers!!" She also prefers blue suckers and will get upset when you give her another color, she will get upset and yell "blue sucker!!" Oh no!

We can't seem to catch a picture of this girl where she is not moving.

Mouth full of something sweet...

Ever since her birthday, Liv is obsessed with lit candles. Nearly every day we have to light the candles in the house so she can try and blow them out. Needless to say, she loved all of the pumpkins and lanterns.

Our little ladybug!!

Moab, Arches and Canyonlands - October 2011

We took a quick trip to Moab last weekend to get away and do some hiking. It was beautiful eighty-degree weather and really busy. We enjoyed every second... it was like an extension of Summer. Liv loves to be in the backpack and to say "HI!" to every person we pass on the trails. She takes most people by suprise when she peeks around and says "HI!" as loud as she can, and it's a kick to see people's reaction...it's almost like she is saying "BOO". Most people say hello back and get a good laugh. She is a riot!

This is Brett and Liv at Delicate Arch... one of the most beautiful sites on earth. We have hiked to Delicate Arch a bunch of times and it is amazing every time.

Landscape Arch

Liv must have spent 8 or more hours in the backpack during our trip and she loved every minute... not one tear the entire time. She snuck in quite a few naps...

Sand Dune Arch, or as Brett and I refer to it... Darva Conger Arch :)

This is a side shot of Delicate Arch and that is Liv and me at the base of the arch.

Canyonlands

This picture reminds us of Aunt Lori... they look so much alike!

Liv is a rock hound like her Dad... collecting rocks wherever she goes.

Below is us attempting a self-timer shot...after 3 attempts, we gave up. Liv wanted to run around and collect rocks!

Mesa Arch in Canyonlands... what you can't see is the 300 foot cliff a few feet from where Brett was standing. Incredible!

This was a trail marker until Liv got her hands on it...

Mom helped her build it back up...

I had to force the backpack away from Brett.

I just noticed Liv is about half my height in this picture.... She is growing up fast!