desert hike

while in arizona, I told my Mom I wanted to go on a hike because the weather is perfect and I really miss those mountains (or any mountains, honestly) while I'm in flat-as-a-pancake south florida. my family thought it was a good idea too, because we all went together on saturday! I didn't make it all the way to the top with a baby strapped to my chest, but we got pretty close...glad we went; the desert was beautiful.

...my Mom learned what "photobombing" was

*thanks to Ashley & Blaze for taking most of the pictures!

harring christmas party

my Mom planned a party so we could spend time with the cousins we grew up with and their families. we don't all get to see each other as often as we used to because everyone (except Dallin) is married and doing their own stuff for the holidays. it was so much fun and I appreciate my Mom's hard work to make it happen. we had tacos, dessert, a rendition of the nativity story (acted out by the kids) and a white elephant gift exchange. thanks again Mom! we all had a blast!

park time

while in arizona, we took Dean and his cousins, Krew and Sadie to the park. it was Dean's first time swinging and he loved it! I'm so excited for all the fun in the years to come with this boy of mine...

Sadie wasn't sure if she could handle the slide, so she went down backwards...

p.s. I didn't leave Krew out; he wouldn't let me take any pictures of him, though he did let me push him on the swing

temple lights tradition

growing up near the mesa temple meant we always went to see the lights at christmastime. this year, before we went, we ate at nielson's, like all the cool mormons.

visiting the temple lights is one of my favorite holiday traditions because walking the temple grounds, seeing the temple lit up in all its glory and feeling that calm, reassuring spirit whispering about the importance of His birth brings the true meaning of christmas into my heart.

dean and the christmas tree

Dean and I had a lovely time in arizona, visiting family. it took him a little while to get re-acclimated to everyone, but once he did, he had a blast. Dean played with cousins, we went christmas shopping, and on a hike (thanks to the amazing winter weather). more later, but for now, Dean admiring grandma's christmas tree before the presents blocked him from its sparkling boughs.

christmas card

...hope everyone had a very merry Christmas! I know we sure did...

come fly with me

...let's fly, let's fly away.

Dean and I are headed to Arizona tomorrow morning! I'm so excited to go visit my family, but I am extremely nervous to fly with a baby again. hopefully it goes as well as it did last time. this flight, we stop in Dallas for a layover. I'm mostly  nervous because Dean can crawl now, so I can't just plop him down somewhere while I'm rearranging things in my bag and expect him to stay there. 

wish us luck!

p.s. unfortunately, Tom has to work and won't be able to join us. we're going to miss you, my love!

growing up

I can't get over how quickly Dean is growing and changing. it's like all at once, he's a baby, not a little baby anymore. From his full head of hair, to his slimming thighs, he's growing up right before our eyes...and looking the part, too!

he started crawling a few days ago and I am so excited that he is able to move freely and not be so frustrated, but he suddenly feels so much older to me. at the end of this year, he will have celebrated all his 'first' holidays (except his birthday) and it has me rather melancholy.

I love my baby boy, my pup pup, my mr. chunkers and I'm so excited for all the future holds living with this precious angel God gave us. but, I can't help knowing that as good as it is that he's growing up, that means we have to say goodbye to the sweet little dependent baby as he fades slowly into this bigger, expressive, curious little guy. can't wait for all that lies ahead for our Dean and our little family.

tree time

we bought a real Christmas tree on saturday

and it smells wonderful all through the house

it's Dean's first Christmas...and we're doing it right