Out and About in Salt Lake City

It's always so hard to keep up with our sweet girl as I think every moment with her is picture perfect! So, I try to get as many pictures as I can on here to share with you and to be able to look back on down the road. Although Utah really does have pretty mild winters, we've been trying to find other great things to do around Salt Lake City. A couple weekends ago, we took Kaylen to the Discovery Gateway, which is essentially the children's museum here. Kaylen hadn't been yet and she is about the right age to really start enjoying it, so we had LOTS of fun with her!

Heading up to put all the balls in the crazy tubes with Daddy

Some of the crazy tubes

Playing some music with Mommy

Kaylen refused to get in this car, she was NOT a fan. Gregg and I had to pay the same fee that we did for her, so someone might as well enjoy this car!

This was a GREAT house for kids where everything was their size! She loved in and it was hard getting her out to explore the rest of the place!

This was a little room called the birdhouse or something? It was just a little room with kid size couches. She excited to see Daddy on the other side of the window.

They had this really great water feature that was really quite extensive. We finally realized this one existed that was more her height. Although she refused to wear the water aprons they had, so she got pretty wet. Kaylen refuse something, you say??

A little grocery store

"Hi, Dadda!"

Gregg has had to go out of town a bit for medical school interviews and happened to leave for one on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day when I had the day off. So, Kaylen and I headed to the Aquarium! She had been there some time ago, but it had been a while and who doesn't love an Aquarium! It was pretty crowded being that it was a holiday, but she really enjoyed looking at everything.

One of my favorite parts, the penguin exhibit! She is getting SO great at talking and knew just what they were by the time we left!

Nemo?

Froggies!

We had a great time at the Aquarium. We're always excited about any place that we get also get a smoothie... and by we, I mean, I get Kaylen a smoothie and should consider myself lucky if I get any!

I also mentioned her talking and will finish up with that. She is getting SO GREAT at talking! She has really started to put words together. She decided the other night, she was done watching (she is great at saying "watch") Beauty and the Beast and wanted to change it to Elmo, so started yelling, "No Beast! No Beast! No Beast!". Tonight she wasn't interested in her dinner, so she said, "no like"... and yes, the being good at "no" phrases is not a coincidence! Tonight we were reading a book that finished with the phrase, that she actually repeated!... "deep deep snow".... !!!! She says "hi" to EVERY person that crosses paths with her and will tell anyone a story whether or not you can understand it. She wants to talk to EACH person that we talk to on the phone. She is truly remarkable. I really should make a list of the words she says, but I have a feeling that list could take me a week. She is so much fun and each and every day, Gregg and I can't help but appreciate all that God has given us. Our daughter is better than our wildest dreams could ever have imagined.

Life at Random- Recent Pics

Happy New Year!

This is going to be a big year for our family. Gregg is in the process of finding the right medical school for him, so we'll have to see where life takes us in 2011. But we have every intention of enjoying the time that we're in Utah, so we headed out to a great little hill just a short walk out our apartment door on the new sled we'd bought Kaylen that day! Kaylen actually enjoyed riding down with each of us a few times, then we headed back in! It was great just to get outside and have a little fun.

Two of my favorite people in all the world

A VERY Merry Christmas 2010!

This year we spent Christmas with the Jones side in Wyoming. As you can see above, everyone was quite spoiled this year... as we are every year. My parents even sent their presents from Minnesota, so Kaylen actually had to take a nap break to get through it all! As always, we were very blessed this Christmas.

Kaylen giving Uncle Ian a smooch

Grandma Cherie got Kaylen some bath toys so that she didn't have to go without bath time fun even away from home.

Kaylen playing with Grandpa Waz

Kaylen got her dance on with Grandma

You may or may not know, but Gregg's Dad, Warren is a full time engineer as well as a pastor at a local church in Star Valley. What you may not know is how very talented he is. Among his many obligations, he also leads the music team at the church organizing the music, playing multiple instruments, singing and writing some incredible songs. His church did a combined Christmas Eve service this year with other local churches, so there was no Christmas Eve service at Morning Star. He later realized what a tradition it is for me to go to Christmas Eve service, so he was extremely thoughtful and brought home these congas and other instruments so that we could have a "jam session" and sing Christmas songs. Kaylen was a big fan of the maracas.

Here is Gregg playing the congas with Kaylen

We always have to get outside and enjoy some of the very chilly Wyoming weather while we're home. Gregg is always dying to ride the snowmobiles. So, Gregg got some riding in and we were able to take Kaylen around on one of the sleds! Gregg actually took Kaylen for a very slow ride on the snowmobile as well!

Kaylen and her Auntie Katie

Our amazing family

Kaylen helping Daddy pull the sled so she can sled down the lane with Katie and Ian

Going for a little ride with Uncle Ian

Our pretty girl

Her Auntie JJ took her around the house... only about 100 times... in the laundry basket! Kaylen even got the dogs to go on a ride or two with her. In the background was my very talented hubby and my very talented father in law getting ready for our jam session!

This was hilarious... Kaylen would brush Katie's hair into her face and Kaylen thought it was HYSTERICAL! It was so fun to watch her laugh and laugh that hard. We love these girls!

Kaylen just chilling with Uncle Ian in his new chair Christmas morning opening presents.

Kaylen playing on her new slide

The choo choo train making its rounds

Our family

Kaylen and Grandpa

Kaylen just hanging out on her new couch she got for Christmas

We really did have such a great Christmas. Kaylen got lots of new big girl toys, her couch, a great folding card table and chairs just her size, a slide she can use since it's not good playground weather, and many, many, many, many other great things. Can you tell she's the first grandchild on both sides of the family? Gregg and I always feel spoiled by our families. Gregg and I will be able to do lots of shopping thanks to a great many dollars given to us on gift cards, which we were both feeling pretty ready to do! My parents got me a keyboard this year because I've been thinking about getting one for quite some time. I took piano lessons briefly when I was younger, but it didn't really stick. But growing up with a Mom who could play like riding a bike ... I've learned now that I would like to be able to play for my daughter and my kids like my Mom was able to play for us. I want it to be a hobby of mine, so slowly but surely, I spend a little time when I can practicing. Hopefully, before too long, I'll get comfortable.

We can't thank both of our families enough for always making Christmas and so many other moments and visits so special. This year was wonderful. We are incredibly grateful for each smile, hug, minute and dollar that we share with all of you.

Pre-Christmas Festivities

Well, the first picture goes to show how well sitting on Santa's lap went this year!! I think it's hard age to be... too young to understand it, too big to not have a clue (last year!). But we tried... this year Mommy got to be in the picture! :-)

We had lots of fun getting ready for Christmas this year. Below is a picture of Kaylen with her friends, Kaitlyn (friend Ryan's daughter) and Henry (friend Judy's son). We took the opportunity to celebrate Judy's birthday and now that we all have kids, we kept it mellow and had a nice evening in together!

Every year, Kaylen's school, i.e. daycare, does a Christmas event with a great slide show with pictures of all the kids and a Christmas program. Each class gets to do a song and dance. Last year she was too small, but THIS year, she did Jingle Bells! And she did GREAT! I was a little worried she was going to try to get off stage, but she sat up there, jingled her bells and got her little groove on! Mommy was so proud! Daddy had to work and had to miss it, but he got to see the pictures!

Even after our rough 1st attempt at Santa, we decided to try one more time. There was going to be a Santa coming right to our Village (apartments)... so I figured, even if it didn't go so swell, a) she didn't HAVE to sit on his lap and b) it could only help to give her a little more exposure to the big guy. We were also fortunate enough to have JJ in town for a visit! She came down to stay with Kaylen so that we could attend Gregg's work Christmas party.
Here is Kaylen and her Auntie JJ off to see Santa

1. Santa looks REALLY creepy in this picture even though he was actually very nice
2. We are CRUEL parents for making her do this twice
3. At least Gregg got to be in this picture, too! :-)
The best part about this 2nd Santa torture... he gave out candy canes!! And Kaylen LOVED it!

Sesame Street Live came to Salt Lake and being that Kaylen is enamored with ELMO, we just had to take her. I remembered loving it when I was a kid when my parents took us, so I knew she couldn't help but enjoy it. It was actually a good show for the kids... and me :-)

Kaylen getting her rock on... in a onesie... in snow boots...

We went to the Zoo with Kaylen this year to check out Zoo Lights and it was wonderful! It was a warm night and the lights were great! Kaylen actually had a really great time! She loved the lights, got to ride the carousel... this time with Mommy, got to see ice sculpture-ists and did NOT want to go home when the time came! Might have had a little something to do with the popcorn we bought, but even though we assured her the popcorn was coming with us, she still didn't want to go!

Kaylen and Daddy getting a little cuddle time in

Daddy can't help himself. But it's adorable because they have SUCH a good time together!

Well, as always, there are more pictures ready to be put on here. We have lots of great pictures from Christmas in Wyoming... I'm getting there!