SO FUNNY

Nick is cracking me up lately. His new song lately is "Happy Birthday". Today Nick started throwing things around, so of course he went to his room for time out. And he starts singing at the top of his lungs...

"Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday dear Shawna!

Happy Birthday dear Elmo!

Happy Birthday to you!"

SO.

You know those people who have one specific hobby/love? I have been thinking a lot lately about all the things I have liked, but then dropped. Such as: Tennis, rollerblading, singing, painting, working out, jewelry making, basketball, flute, softball, drawing, piano, writing, yoga... And I could go on. Nothing has ever stuck with me really. Anyway, so I have been quite bored with the same old daily routine, so I decided to dig up some of my old hobbies and (re)love them.


As I have mentioned before, I do like art. Oil paint is a lot of fun, and so is drawing. Now, I am super armature so don't be expecting anything great. I took a few classes when I was at UVSC and had a lot of fun with them. One of the projects in my oil class was to find a picture and only paint a small portion of it. So, I love this poster done by Kim Anderson. And I decided this would be a fun one to chose.

So, I picked a corner of the face. I seriously laugh when I see this painting though, cuz the dude looks Asian. I can not for the life of me draw/paint people. But it's fun to try. Many of you have probably seen this painting before. I posted it a few months back...

ANYWAY, so I decided to pull out my pencils, erasers and shading pencil and do a similar thing. Luckily I kept the small picture of the boy with the flowers and was able to follow that. To be honest, my things would look a lot better, but I am the kind of person who hates doing things over time. If I start something, I want it done. So, I only started this drawing yesterday evening and finished today. Really, nothing amazing. But I think this would be a fun thing to keep up. Hopefully :)

NICK IS LOVING THE SNOW

Well, with all the loads of snow we got yesterday, we decided to make good use of it...

WE WERE VERY LUCKY TONIGHT

Those of you who know Eagle Mountain, you know the weather can be kind of intense sometimes. We were enjoying some time out in the "city" (as we call it) and started heading home. Just past the Walmart the snow starting coming down fast and thick, everyone on the road was going 30 mph on a 65 mph road, and it was still scary. We were able to get onto the Ranches road without any problems, but one one of the turns our car slid. Clark tired to correct it smoothly but it didn't turn out that great. Our car spun around in a 360 and we were all just trying to breathe. As we were turning, facing looking at the 3 oncoming cars we thought this was going to be a big mess. Somehow, we ended in stopped facing the right direction in the turning lane. Safe and sound. We just sat there for a while just thinking how blessed we were. Lol. And little Nick in the back seat saying "Scary." "Car Spin." Anyway, glad to be home safe and sound.

THE LAST 10 YEARS.....

In the past 10 years I... Played on a tennis team. Learned I love to oil paint and draw. Spent a summer rollerblading almost everyday from Will's Pit Stop to Vivian Park and back. Dated a lot. Had many break-ups. Sang in a Choir. Laughed a lot. Met lots of new people. Learned how to sign. Got my own car. Sprained my ankle twice. Graduated HS. Worked at a grocery store where I met some amazing friends. Held close to my Mom and the Family when my Mom had an aneurysm scare. Saw Bon Jovi in concert. Got my only 2 tickets I have ever had within 1 week of each other. Watched the sad moments of 911. Came home late many times. Studied Art and Psychology at UVSC for a few semesters. Lived out with my Sister-in-Law for a few months before her and my Brother married. Enjoyed being single and dating for fun. Wrote a lot. Fell in love many times. Worked hard, had 3 jobs. Vacationed many times (New York, DC, Hawaii, California, Oregon, Palmyra, Nauvoo, Seattle, and Canada for almost an hour ;) Made a few bad hair color choices. Been spoiled more than I deserve. Voted twice. Snowboarding once or twice. Taught a class. Made friends with many, close friends to few. Lost a friend to an avalanche. My 5 year reunion came and went... Babysat for kids who aren't kids anymore. Got a new Prophet. Wrote my friend for 2 years while he was gone. Married him when he came home. Been scared at a haunted house. Worked too much. Moved 4 times. Had a Son who I love with my whole heart. Spent too much time in the NICU, and too many trips to PCH. Got my boy glasses. Had our first family trip to Disneyland. Got a new President. Welcomed 2 little nieces to the family. Embarrassed myself in public enough to keep myself laughing. Had some hard times. Had a lot of good times too. And have been very blessed in so many ways......

And I hope the next 10 years will be as amazing, hard, happy and crazy as the last 10.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

GOODBYE CHRISTMAS, FOR NOW

MUSEUM OF ANCIENT LIFE

We decided it was time for another family outing.

LOVE Nicks face.

Mama and Nick Nick.

Very curious boy we have.

Daddy and Nick.

BIG dinosaurs.

Can't forget the sharks :D

FUN IN THE SNOW

Ava and Nick had so much fun in the snow. And the rest of us had fun watching them have fun. Haha, just kidding, it was a blast.

So cute, don't you think?

Nick and I. (Remind me to wear makeup everyday... I'm past the natural beauty stage. ;)

This picture cracks me up. Cheers for Britt, way to take one for the team.

Nick is so brave. We actually went out today and he discovered he loves going down on his tummy.

Grandma and Ava.

Britt and I.

Look at the determination in her eyes...

Nick loves his Grandpa.

Ava loved the snow.

Look at that smile and those pretty eyes. She's gonna be a heart breaker.

Aunt Brittany is great.

Naters and his little Ava.

*A LITTLE BIT OF CHRISTMAS*

Christmas was so fun this year! We were lucky to have my whole family here in Utah. It was a great holiday filled with games, food and non-stop partying. It was fun to see my Sisters' belly growing. We are excited to have a little boy cousin for Nick in the next little while. I have no doubt Jessi and Chris will be amazing parents. Nate, Chels and Ava were able to stay in Utah for 2 weeks! It was so fun to spend time with them. And they are saying goodbye to Hawaii, to enjoy the snow of Colorado. Quite a change :) And it is always fun to have Ashley, Will and Marenn close. As well as Britt and my parents. And we are missing everyone already and sad life is back to normal. Lol.

Nick was a blast this year. He loved sleeping over at Grandma's on Christmas Eve. And sneaking to the presents in the morning. And can not get enough of eggnog.

And what is Christmas without Britt playing us some tunes.

Chelsea and Ava. Ava is 1, growing up too fast already.

Matching dresses were adorable. Cousins Marenn and Ava.

Little Ava with Dad.

Cute Marenn enjoying Christmas.

My beautiful Sister Brittany.

Great Grandpa Hill, to the 3 cousins.

Grandma and Grandpa LOVING all these grand kids.

This is how Nick eats almost any food. Haha.

Our family loves games. (And Scotland Yard comes highly recommended). But scum is another favorite.

The KING, Uncle "Christmas" as Nick calls Chris. Haha, pretty cute.

Christmas Eve is always a huge deal. We had our Grandparents Call over. And our Uncle Kim who we don't see nearly as often as we wish we could. It was so fun to have him here.

Nick made friends with Kim fast.

Nate and Chelsea.

Will and Marenn.

Cute little baby Marenn.

Ava and Chels.

Nate, Ava and Chels.

I love when Nick gets excited. He is totally a different person. This was the winner this year. He kept saying "Ooooh trucks and cars, trucks and cars!!"

Chris with Ava.

Chris and Jessi.