New Year's In Salt Lake

After returning home from Moab, we spent a few days at home enjoying some family time with Kiley. Then we headed up to Salt Lake to see my family. Kiley and her cousin Asher had so much fun together. They kept each other busy and loved being together. I wish we lived closer so they could see each other more. When we got back from Salt Lake, Kiley woke up the next morning and ran to find Asher. She looked for him at our house, at nursery, and anywhere she thought he might be hiding. It took her a few days before it sank in that Asher was at his house and she was at hers. It was pretty funny. She calls him "Ashes." 

Chad and Scott spent a day climbing Granduer Peak up Millcreek Canyon. They had a good time. I had thought about going with them, but decided that I didn't want to hike 5 miles in the cold. So I stayed home and was glad I did. Chad said there was a lot of ice on the trail and it made it hard for them to get down. He said they spent a lot of time sliding down the mountain. But I'm glad that he and Scott were able to have fun. And Daisy got to go and she loved it too!

On Saturday (New Year's Eve), Kiley finally got to open her presents from her Grandma and Grandpa. Aunt Heather came over to play with Kiley too. Kiley loved getting to open more presents and Asher was very excited to help. Kiley got a tent from Aunt Heather and we set it up in my parents basement. She was not very sure about it though. But when we set it up at home that next week, she loved it. She has played in it almost every single day since. I find her reading books in there a lot of times. Its pretty cute.

Taking a break from presents to get a ride from uncle Riley.

Opening her big cushion for her tent!

Heather got Kiley this super cute, soft hat. Kiley is still a little scared of it, but Grandpa was trying to show her how cool it really is. Hopefully she'll wear it sometime soon and I'll get a picture. She's still trying to figure out what hats and gloves are for. She's just not super sure quite yet.

Eating all of Heather's mints.

Asher

Chad playing in Kiley's tent! Look how excited he is!! 

Asher loved the windows in Kiley's tent. He was showing her how to go inside and trying to help her not be nervous. He got a tent too and loved running back and forth between the two tents.

Heather and Kiley watching Asher have fun in the tent.

So I am in Nursery right now. Chad was in there with me but was called to the Elder's Quorum. There were also 2 other ladies in there with me but they had both been released by the beginning of December. So I was the only leader left in a nursery with 18 kids under the age of 2 1/2. The bishopric had not been able to find anyone before the new year so, being the only leader and not wanting to find 3 substitutes for a brand new class, we traveled home on New Year's Eve. We got home right about midnight. Luckily, they found me a great couple to serve with in nursery. I miss some of our old kids, but am really enjoying our new class. It has been nice because we don't have quite as many kids. This is great because we have a little itty bitty room and some kids still warming up to the idea of nursery. 

We had a great year in 2011 and are excited for this new year of 2012!!

Christmas in Moab

This year, we spent Christmas in Moab. We didn't take our usual drive (I-15 to I-70 to Hwy 191). This time we went through Escalante, Boulder, Torrey, Hanksville, and stopped at Goblin Valley. Then continued to I-70 and our usual route the rest of the way. I've been to Goblin Valley before on our way home from Lake Powell. Chad has never been there and wanted to see what it was all about. When we got there, we had been driving for about 4 hours and Kiley was ready to get out and play. Well, we found just the spot. There was no one in the park so we let Daisy run around, off leash...shh! It was a nice day but a little bit chilly. Kiley had fun climbing on the rocks and watching Daisy run around like crazy. I have come to think that Kiley is a little scared of heights. When we would climb on top of a rock, she would cling tight to us and would not let us set her down. But when we were on somewhat level ground and the rocks above us, she was more than happy to run and play. We didn't stay very long because it was cold and also because we wanted to finish our last hour and a half of driving. It was a beautiful place and if you have kiddos that love to climb on things, Goblin Valley is the place to be. We will be going back someday when our kiddos are a little older and can have more fun. We think it would be a great place for a Youth Conference. The kids would love to play hide and seek, or some other crazy game with all the "goblins".

This is overlooking part of the valley. It is huge!!

This is what the whole valley looks like. I'm sure its a few miles long, at least the part we could see. 

Kiley cuddled up to Scott one night and they had a nice nap together. 

We spent the day before Christmas Eve in Blanding with Chad's grandparents. Kiley and I hung out with Great Grandma while Great Grandpa took Chad, Scott, Britty, John and Christine out on some crazy adventure. Grandma made us Taco Soup which was absolutely delicious. We also had a great time listening to Grandpa sing to us while Grandma played the piano. After he was done, Kiley decided she needed to help Grandma play the piano and had a lot of fun. It sometimes takes her a little while to warm up to her Great Grandparents, but as soon as she saw the piano, her and Grandma were instant friends.

Going for a drive.

Hanging out with Great Grandma at lunch time.

Grandpa singing "Oh Holy Night" to us.

Grandma and Kiley playing the piano. 

On Christmas Eve, we went out to Canyonlands with everyone. We went to Mesa Arch. It was beautiful! My first Christmas in Moab was spent at Mesa Arch as well, so that was kinda fun!

Walking back from the view point. Kiley loved running in the snow.

So I had tried to prepare Kiley throughout December for Santa because I knew he would be coming to visit. We talked about Santa, read books, watched movies, and danced to Santa songs. She could point to Santa and tell me who he was and that he said "Ho Ho Ho." I thought that she would love Santa. He even came at a time that was a happy time of the day for her. I thought this would go over a lot better.

Kiley's reaction to Santa.

She would not go over to see him or even look at him. She wouldn't even take the Candy Cane that he gave her.  However, as soon as he left, she kept saying "Santa" over and over and so excited that he gave her a candy cane. She still sees pictures of Santa sometimes and gets so excited. I don't know what to think!!

Daisy got this awesome Santa Costume. Doesn't she look so excited!

Kiley on Christmas morning. Her favorite present was her Chap stick. We had to hide it in order for her to open any of her other presents.

 We had a really good Christmas and enjoyed our time in Moab. And even though some people got sick, we were very lucky that none of us got sick. Kiley loved opening her presents and playing with them.

Brittany Graduated SUU!!

So my sister in law, Brittany, finished her nursing degree in December. The nursing program has a special ceremony for those who graduate in December and we got to go. We're really proud of Britt!! We're sad though because it means she's not in Cedar anymore.
Well, here are some pictures!!

Getting pinned!

Kiley loved to clap for everyone!!

Kiley and Scott became best friends!!

 Kiley has been thinking that she is all grown up now. There have been quite a few times when she will pick up her purse, put her keys and phone inside, and then tell me and all of her toys good-bye. She then heads to the door and uses her keys to try to open the door and head outside. Of course, she can't get the door open but it sure is funny to watch.
She also does the same thing when it is time to go to the store. She will grab all of her stuff and head out to the car. She has taken her purse into the store only once. I'm pretty good at "forgetting" it in the car. She is so funny.

Kiley also loves bubbles. Lately, she has tried popping them with her mouth. It is to the point where she will almost bite my leg if a bubble lands on me, or she will go into a stink bug position to bite the bubble on the floor. This has led to some very entertaining moments.

Kiley thought she needed her purse and her bag of toys on this occasion.

Catching up...again.

Just realized it has been 7 weeks since I last posted. Watch out for the next few posts. Kiley is down for the afternoon so I've got 2 hours to catch up. Here goes:

First, this is the view from our front window. We get to see some of the most beautiful sunsets!! Just wanted to let you be jealous for a minute or two. 

Kiley was very helpful through the Christmas season. She helped me wrap lots of presents and this is her decorating her present for Chad. She thought it was great fun!

During December, I decided to get my piano out so Kiley and I could sing Christmas songs. I also realized that Christmas songs are my favorite to play on the piano. So here it is. The only negative...Kiley wouldn't let me play very often. She was too busy playing it herself. She would turn on the piano, climb on the chair and play all afternoon if I would let her. If only I had more room, it could be out all the time. Maybe someday soon!

 STOCKINGS!!!
So I've told some of you about my stockings that I made for Christmas. Some of you have seen them, but for those who haven't, here they are!! I started working on these last year sometime. I have had the drawings drawn up almost all year. Finally in September or October, I pulled out my drawings and headed out to a girl's night. Well, I finally got them all finished the first part of December. They took almost 2 months to finish. Luckily, as I have to make more, it will only have to be one at a time so it shouldn't take as much time. (I hope!!)

Kiley got a gingerbread house in the mail from her great grandma Latteier. She was so excited about it and couldn't get enough of the little candies that were "super glued" on. They weren't really super glued but it took the knife to get them off the thing.