Fun in the Snow @ the Cabin

We had a great time at our Cabin this past weekend.  The kids totally loved all the snow, sledding, and snowmobiling!  

Faster Daddy....Faster!

Having a little REST!

Our little snow bunny!

Snow covered stairs make a perfect slide!

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Happy Valentines Day to our Sweet Angel!

Family Photos

Family Photos

Part of our reason for doing family pictures now is that as of next week Paul starts and exciting new job as the Executive Officer of the Salt Lake Home Builders Association.  He needed a business picture taken and I needed to get the kids 2 and 4 year old pictures taken, so why not do the family at the same time especially since it was no extra cost!

This was a big step for me.  We have not taken a professional family photo since Ashley passed away.  It has always been hard for me to even think about doing.  Each time I have gotten the just the kids pictures taken I drive away in tears, just thinking...it's not complete!  Well I was barely able to hold the tears off as we started, but did leave with a few tears.  I know it's a good thing for Alice and Cole to have pictures of us as a family.  Part of me can't believe Alice is now 4 and we've never had a family picture taken with her.  They need them and we need them, but it will always feel weird and be hard for me, it will never feel complete, but this is the way it is.  I am grateful for Paul's encouragement to get them done, even if I am 19 weeks pregnant in them! Oh well.

As a way to remember and think of Ashley in our pictures we decided to have this pink gerbera daisy in them.  No matter what we are wearing this flower will be in all our future family pictures to kind of represent Ashley.

January Happenings

Christmas Eve Jammies!

They love them!  Both were sick but excited!

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January Happenings...

Alice's 4th Birthday!

New Barbie scooter with light up wheels!

Sleepover with Cousins!

Alice's dream come true!  Maverick snuggling on her lap!  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Performance

Alice's first dance performance.  She was really excited and a little nervous.  We weren't sure if she would freeze up on stage, but to our amazement she shined!!!  We are so proud of her!  She takes dance with 4 other friends but unfortunately we don't have a picture of all of them.  She has loved dance so much.

What a cute little puppy dog.

Grandma and Grandpa Calton came to watch and were so proud of her.  She was a little hungary and sad after her.

She was so excited to see Santa she could hardly contain her excitement!

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Alice placed every single candy on this gingerbread, she wouldn't let me help.  She just told me where to put the frosting.  She was very particular about what and where she wanted things.  Then she wouldn't let me take her picture with it!

Snow Buddies

Need your driveway shoveled, we are for hire!

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Preschool Performance

Alice did AMAZING!  She was one of the loudest singers and got really into it all!

Happy Birthday Cole!

Happy Birthday Cole!

Big 2 year old!

He recently had a birthday and got a Cars Geo Trax set.

 Trying to blow out candles!

And a Movie night watching Cars 2, eating popcorn, his favorite snack!

We love you little buddy.  You bring so much happiness and joy to our family!

Thanks for being such a sweet heart!

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Gutting the pumpkin!

Alice thought it was so fun yet so yucky!

Alice in Dad's infamous wig!

Alice was THRILLED that I was Snow White too!  She thought is was so cool!

Can't blame her!

About to head out Trick or Treating!

With our friends the Jolley's kids.

Make A Wish does something really fun for every holiday and invites Make A Wish kids and their families for the next 5 years after a Make A Wish experience.  It's been 4 years since we went to Disney World with Ash.  We've been getting invitations for holiday events, but have never gone.  But for some reason this year I decided Alice is old enough to enjoy this and it would be fun to show them Ashley's star!  So we went.  I haven't been back since Ashley's Make A Wish party in Feb. of 08, except one time to quickly grab a cook book.  So I knew it would be hard, but what I didn't expect, and I don't know why this didn't cross my mind, was seeing current wish kids fighting their sweet little hearts out.  And seeing there supportive loving families all around them.  I had tears in my eyes before I even walked through the doors!  It killed me!  I wish no one else ever had to go through anything like what we did.

So needless to say, as fun as my kids had, I don't know if my heart can handle going back any time soon!

 Batman  was there so that was way cool!  Wish Cole was looking!

Ashley''s Star is in this group of clear stars!  This big display is on the ceiling of the Make A Wish building.  Each star represents each Wish kid.  Ashley and Paul etched some little pictures in hers.