"O Christmas Tree"

One of the traditions that Brian and I decided to start, when we were first married, is cutting our own Christmas tree. Every year no matter what state we are in or who is with us, we go find our tree. This year we lucked out and found it right off the road and not too far away. This year was especially fun because the munchkin was big enough to play in the snow with us. It is a beautiful tree (I am partial to the Charlie Brown variety). Averie played in the snow for the first time, believing that it was actually a ton of bubbles. Happy Christmas!

Gobble, Gobble!

This year for Thanksgiving, we went to my aunt and uncle's house in Magna. We had a wonderful turkey dinner (I swear, my grandma is the only one who doesn't make turkey dry!) with all the traditional holiday food and dessert. Is it just me, or does it just taste better on Thanksgiving? After dinner, we proceeded to learn the art of the Wii. Let me tell you what, there isn't any workout better than boxing your sister after eating (with exception to Bethany's great turbo-kick workout last year :) ). There is a special competitive edge when boxing with a sibling. Due to a malfunction in her controller (I was fixing it when she decided to use the other controller and knock me out) I was not the champion. You are such a cheat Diana!!!!!! It was great fun, and what a wonderful family we have!

Wii War

Trying to feed Lina

Jungle Gym with Bedstefar

Grandpa and Grandma Andreason

Trick or Treat!

This year for Halloween, Averie was a tulip fairy! She was so dang cute, I took quite a few pics. We had a trunk-or-treat at the ward party, but it was inside this year (thanks to mother nature). All the ward members set up in classrooms. I taught her how to say trick-or-treat, and she did pretty well, until she figured out that everyone had candy. She then proceeded to not only take candy out of bowls that were offered, she also took from treat bags that were not. Sorry to all the kids that she stole from- I can say that the candy was enjoyed. While we were eating dinner (kids running all over) Averie decided to help herself to all the treat buckets left on the ground. Since there were so many, I didn't know which kid was the owner. Thanks for the suckers and the m&m's! We had a great time. Halloween night (since the ward and school trunk-or-treats take all the fun out of Halloween) we went to dinner at Wingers with Holly and Grant. Then home to the pumpkin thieves (they stole all pumpkins at houses around us, but not ours-it must be the ferocious beasts that we own). All in all, a great start to the holiday season!

My little tulip fairy

Happy Fall!

It's fall and I LOVE it! It is my favorite season, and it has been beautiful. We went up the canyon to get leaves to decorate, it is just warm enough right now to only need a sweater, and the leaves make the landscape here not so deserty (is that a word?). Averie and I went over to Holly's to play in the leaves (the previous landowner in our house hated trees and cut all but 1 big one and 3 little ones down). The little munchkin got the biggest kick out of falling into the pile!

You say "POTATO".....

So, this year, our garden went a bit overboard. I canned 20 jars of tomatoes, 29 jars of salsa, 21 jars of spaghetti sauce. My mother-in-law did tons of tomatoes, and my sister-in-law the same. We gave away probably 20-30 bushels to neighbors and family, and still had tomatoes!!!!! Well, if I thought that was bad, I didn't even begin to imagine the potatoes. We ended up with 150 plants. Not intended, believe me. Two nights ago, we dug them up. It took around 4 hours and we ended with around 600-700 pounds of potatoes. Needless to say, I don't think we are going to run out for awhile. Brian (who most of you know actually LOVES to garden-not an exaggeration) told his mom and Holly that next year everyone has to have their own garden. I laughed and told him he brought it on himself. After he gave me a dirty look, informed me that he wasn't kidding. It was actually kind of fun, spending time with family, digging up spuds!

Averie doing her best to help

Yipee! My First Bow Hunt!

This year, Brian talked me into bow-hunting. I have always been a little skeptical that I could actually do it. I mean, I go shooting with Brian just for fun, but, I didn't think that I could hunt. Well, I did, and it was great!!!! It was so much more fun hunting with a bow, afterward, I could barely breathe and my hands were shaking soooooo bad! Anyway, here is my deer (and me!) FYI: I am not really biting the liver, but James said that if I took a picture like I did, then he would exempt me from the time-honored tradition of the Gilson family- YUCK!!!!!!! It was a blast and I am so glad Brian talked me into it!!!!!

Here it is! The deer of the hour!

Me and my guy!

Me and Kedrick (the guy who's land we used, he is such an awesome guy!!!)

Like this would EVER happen!!!!!!!!

JellyStone!

We went to Idaho (Mack's Inn-Island Park area) last week for like 10 days (too long even for me!). We floated the river, saw animals, fished, went to a play (hilarious- go to the Desert Star in Salt Lake to get a taste), played lots of games, had lots of smores, and spent a day in Yellowstone. It was absolutely gorgeouse just like always, I didn't get many pics, but here are a few!

I think Brian is happy to be here... don't you?

Dragging great-grandpa around- she would grab his finger while he was sitting down and make him walk with her! It was so cute!

My little rag-a-muffin!

This little deer had a floppy ear! I have never seen that before!

Random Pics

So, I haven't blogged since June, and I have a few random pics to share!


My favorite picture ever!!!!!! You have to click on the picture to get the real face!

Yes, this is a nightcrawler. Brian gave it to her and she thought that its stretchiness was pretty cool.

Yep, still stretchy!

My little 80's rock star!

My New Niece!

Evelina Rae (Lina, pronounced linna, not leena) was born on August 12 at 12:22 pm. She was born while we were all on vaca in Idaho! She weighed in at exactly 6 lbs and was 19 inches long. Yeah! She is so little! I forgot how tiny they are when they are only a week old! She doesn't look anything like Abbey did, and she is one of the first (of the 17 grandkids and 6 great-grandkids) to not have the Smith nose! She's adorable!

Day At The Museum

Just for fun, yesterday, we (I had to drag Brian- this is one of those roll his eyes b/c he loves me moments.) went to the museum in Price. I had never been there before, and it was pretty cool! I was very impressed with the amount of dinosaurs that have come from this area. Averie pretty much just wanted to wander around on her own, but she loved the giant aquarium that had an alligator, a soft-shelled turtle and lots of goldfish.

Happy Anniversary, & Happy Birthday Averie!

There has been so much to do, that I haven't been able to update for almost 2 months! Well, Brian and I had our 6th, yes 6th, anniversary in May. I am going to get sappy for a sentence or two, so avert your eyes! Brian is the most wonderful thing in my life (he also gave the other most wonderful thing in my life!). I am so grateful to have been blessed with a man that makes unbelievably happy. He puts up with my crazy ideas (he does roll his eyes), and still loves me. I love you Brian!


Averie turned 1! I can't believe my baby is walking and talking and it's been a year since she came into my life. I love this stage of life! Her little personality has me laughing and smiling constantly! Happy Birthday Beautiful!

The Remodel is Finished!!!! Woo Hoo!

After 2 months of using a bathroom that resembles a closet and without a tub, We finally are done! I know that I already posted the before pictures, but I am going to again. Just so that you can appreciate all the hard work Brian did! He is the best! I only painted and decorated and chose the fixtures & tile. He did all the slave labor! I love you Bri!

This is the wall Brian had to tear down completely, so he could get to the plumbing he had to replace!

This is the tiling process on the shower wall

Yeah! The shower is done!

We had to tile the floor because Brian had to rip up all the wood floor to get to the plumbing underneath the house! :( That's okay, it looks great!

The finished shower (with awesome curtain I found!) Almost done! Just adding the finishing touches.

Voila! The finished product. Isn't it great?