MIA

To my family and friends,

Calm down. I am currently in Orlando, FL for work, which is one reason I am not posting on my blog. Stay tuned...I shall be back.

Jazz vs. Sixers

My dad hooked us up with front row seats to the Utah vs. Philadelphia game last Wednesday, and we had so much fun! We invited Chris and Tysen and headed up to Salt Lake to first eat dinner at the 100 Club on the top floor of the Energy Solutions Arena (what a stupid name, I'm going back to calling it The Delta Center).

The face I usually sport when watching sports. Deer in the headlights.

Yew Near's Eve

What does one do on New Year's Eve when you are A. Married and B. LDS? PLAY GAMES of course!

Adrie dug my bling

Playing Pop 5. Such a fun game, for anyone that hasn't played it, you should check it out. It's one of those Cranium games, but rather than being forced to act out answers, you can choose!

Tadd sported the bling for a bit as well, but in his own unique way.

Using the option, Letter Line Up, which reminds me of Scattergories, my favorite game!

Who do you think guessed "Lee Press-On Nails" on the boys team? You guessed, my husband, The Girl.

Ava has an obsession with Papa's glasses, and walks around so gingerly when she's wearing them, it's really funny!

When the clock struck midnight, it was quite uneventful. But then again, being married and LDS, don't you think it would've been odd to kiss everyone in the room, while drinking champagne and holding sparklers? (Referencing The Cutting Edge)

New Year's Eve at The Hutchings

Tadd's Grandma and Grandpa throw a party with games on New Year's Eve, which they've been doing for years! We don't take advantage of how close his grandparents are as often as we'd should, so we headed up there New Year's Eve for games, food and fun!

Look at the authority in which Bree is using to hold up her sock!


Adrie playing a game where she has to drop a clothespin into a little jar.


Bree's new cheesy smile. It's SO adorable, I just love this little girl.

Playing card snatch, which seemed to be a favorite of Grandpa Big Ard.

Still holding that sock...

Playing the Left, Right game with wrapped gifts. The anticipation was killing me!

Look what I unwrapped! A "Bling Necklace". A wore the darn thing all night, off the sheezee!

Ah, the pinata! This is one of the longest standing traditions I've heard Tadd talk about. The kids really look forward to this!

This year, Shaunae, Tadd's aunt, was sure to get a pinata filled with candy and toys!

Sadly, the pinata was set over the heating vent, and we soon discovered the chocolate had melted, and covered everything! It was HILARIOUS.

Oldest of Six Girls...

M iniature
E asily entertained
G astrointestinally challenged
A always at the height of fashion
N ever a dull moment

L oves baby Sophie
Y ells when excited
N ever a dull moment
N atural beauty

R elishes in cooking fancy foods
O ften found online shopping
M ost educated of all the girls
O dd

You may wonder why I duplicated "Never a dull moment"...wonder no more...

Christmas...Extended!

All of Tadd's family gathered December 26th to do the cousin drawing gifts, and some of the adult drawing gifts. With such a big family, we didn't manage to get together on Christmas day to open every gift! I snapped a few pictures of the kids opening their gifts, it was fun to watch them!

Papa helping Bree open her gift of baby headbands, and a bottle! Bree is the only one of Kris and Kecia's kids that has ever had to eat from a bottle! Kecia never had a problem nursing Kyra and Adrie, but had to stop with Bree when she miscarried just a month or so ago. :(

Ava got a doctor's kit!

Adrie received little princess figurines!

Andrew got a cool Tonka trunk that really dumps!

Ellie got some dolls to dress her American Girl Dolls, which she cleverly named Ashley and Chad (yes, both girls).

*Kecia was in the way when Kyra was opening her present, geez!*

Mazie received fairy princess Barbie's!

Madi got some pajama shorts and some adorable slippers!

All of Steve and Camme's kids went in on a gift for them, which is a very unique beautiful picture of the Provo temple. It was really exciting to see them open it, it's such an amazing picture, and now hangs nicely on their wall to constantly remind us of the covenants we've made to our spouses for those of us that are married, and a reminder to those that aren't, of where they want to be married. I'm so grateful I can spend eternity with my husband!

Peterson Christmas Morning

After Tadd and I opened gifts with his family, we headed to Elk Ridge to get our party on down there. There was much Christmas cheer at the Peterson home, and we had a great time opening gifts.

The girls received stunning shower caps in their stocking

Mally was oh-so-excited to receive a camera!

My mom and dad presented Tadd and me with Apple TV! If you're unaware of what that is, google it! It's so rad!

My dad has NEVER asked for anything, other than socks, and I'm sure that's only because he can't think of anything else. This year, however, he watched a commercial for a Norelco razor and said he wanted it! Mally, Haley and I were thrilled, and immediately went out looking for it! We were so excited to see him open it, and received a big grin...just what we wanted!

My favorite gift from my mom and dad was a photo book with pictures from our old house. As soon as I opened up the gift and saw a picture of our old mailbox with our address printed below, tears came to my eyes. I will really treasure this book for years and years. Thank you Mom.

What would Christmas day be like without a nap???

Cox Christmas Morning

It's been a tradition for years in Tadd's family for the married kids to sleep over at the Cox home, which everyond did up until a few years ago. Some of the adults have kids of their own now, and like to do their own Christmas at their houses. That's very fun for them, but sad for us! Luckily Chris and Tysen decided to stay at Grandma and Grandpa's this year, so we did have lots of fun with the twins and Ava in the morning!

Tadd and Ava before she went off to bed so Santa could come (a man she is quite terrified of).

Just arose from our Christmas slumber to open presents!

Ava was so wiped out that she slept on Tysen for a little bit before waking up and discovering it was Christmas!

Our stockings. We never got around to fishing our stockings out of all the boxes packed away in the storage room, so Camme (Tadd's mom) was gracious enough to let us use her two extras.

Crew saying hello

Ava's jammies were a little too big, so she was constantly stumbling over them. It was really funny. She'd also get her feet poked out of the snaps on the inside!

Lindey and Corbin came over after having Christmas with his family. It was really fun!

Ava on her little ladybug bike. Is it weird that I blog pictures of other people's kids? Yes, kinda...

We had so much fun at Tadd's parents. They are always so incredibly generous to us, and we really appreciate it!

Christmas Jammies!

Tadd's family does the matching Christmas pajamas on Christmas eve, and I was more than happy to join in on the tradition when I was welcomed into the family.

Christmas '05

Christmas '06

Christmas '07

And...I thought I would include this little gem as well. See below...

Christmas Eve Festivities!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, and took some great pictures! Enjoy!

Look how cute they are with their striped shirts! And sisters, you are right...Tadd does look happiest holding babies. But if you ask him, he is NOT ready yet.

Tadd and I have been accused of loving the twins more than our other neices and nephew. Let me assure you all, this is not the case! We love them all equally! However, who wouldn't want to take picture after picture of these boys at this currect stage in life? Also, just the other day I wanted to take a picture with Ellie (4), and she refused! The boys really have no say in the matter, so away we click!
*

After spending some time at Tadd's parents we headed down to my parents in Elk Ridge. On the way there we pulled over to help push a car out of the snow, Tadd was blasted with snow from the rear tires, as this car was rear wheel drive only. We also assisted in towing a girl out of a snow bank on our way home from my parents. What good samaritans we are!

My side of the family draws names for our gift exchange, and then we open up those "sister gifts" Christmas Eve. Those gifts are now "sibling gifts" with the addition of the brothers-in-law.

Mallory received a gift card to Forever 21 and bracelets from Haley. She loved them!

Luckily Tadd's finger doesn't inhibit him from opening his gifts! Lauren drew his name this year.
Yipee! Just what he wanted!

A target for shooting practice!

Lauren opening each little item of her gift. I was sure to supply her with all sorts of little girly items.


Haley received a gift card to P.F Changs for her and Jon to enjoy, as well as a pampering gift set!

I got the CUTEST rain boots from Whitney! The perfect gift! I didn't even remotely suspect it, and I've never had rain boots! I just love them!


I feel like Tadd and I raked it in with our sibling gifts, but there is nothing like seeing the person you gave to open their gift.
I love that!