Temple Square!

Chances are, if you've ever lived in Utah, you've visited Temple Square during the holidays.

It's so beautiful this time of year, which is one reason we chose to get married there four years ago (Thursday.) The temple itself is a piece of art- the craftsmanship is impeccable. I'm so glad we chose to go Monday, the temperature was around 50 degrees and nearly no wind. Usually it's bitter cold this time of year.

It was Bridgette's 1st visit to Temple Square. She seemed pretty amazed by all the lights and people. We let her walk around the tabernacle (where the "tabernacle" in "Mormon Tabernacle Choir" comes from) , and it was so funny trying to watch her walk down the aisles because they're on a decline, like a ramp.

Here are a few pics of the night:

The inside of the tabernacle.
Cute little alcove behind the temple
Classic Williamson face

My little Snuggle Puppy

Christmas Tree inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg.

Here comes Santa Claus!!!

My Uncle Jim & Aunt Sue ( my mom's brother) have thrown a Christmas Party every year since I've been in Utah (I think there's always been a Christmas Party, but I didn't live here...)

This was Dan & Bridgette's first time partying with the Johnsons... Here are some photos of the crazy night:


My Grandma Johnson & Bridgette (who was overwhelmed by all the new friends!)

My Grandma teaching the little ones about the true meaning of all the Christmas symbols.


Santa (Uncle Dwayne) Claus took Christmas Orders. Here is Daphne saying she wants a kitty. Good luck Daph !
Here's Phil Phil with Santa (Phil spilled hot chocolate on his shirt & tried to disguise his accident by rolling his shirt up to his chin... he ALMOST got away with it!)

Bonnie's little Chloe & Adam. Chloe doesn't trust the man in red, so London had to supervise, just in case Santa tried to look at her wrong.
Bridgette thinking, "Hmmm, this guy is alright. Anyone who just hands over candy is ok in my book."

Now she's not so sure, "one move towards my candy cane & you're gonna get it!"

I'm so glad I got to attend the party this year. It's always so great to see my grandparents! They always sent the sweetest Christmas presents to my family when we were little. I always looked forward to see what grandma would send & how it was wrapped (she had the ZCMI people wrap them I think.) I love my grandparents!

It was also fun to see my cousins and all their cute little babies. I can't believe how fast time flies & how quickly all these little ones grow!

I am so thankful for this time of year where we can take a step back & realize that this is what it's all about. I may not get a visit from Santa, but I am sure going to throw/ attend as many family & friend get-togethers as possible! I love being around my family & don't realize how much I miss seeing them until a week/month/year goes by & I see them and get sad that I don't see them more often!

Once There Was a Snowman

We've lived in this house for four years and this is the first time we've played in the snow out here.

Bridgy & Dan decided our front yard needed a little pep, so they added a little Frosty.

No coal, but black grapes work just as well. Bridgy lent Frosty her "Ta-Da" hat, but she had a hard time handing that carrot over. I thought she & Frosty were gonna brawl over the carrot, but she relented.

Peace Out.

Thanksgiving Trip!

Yay for getaways!

For Thanksgiving we ducked all the major snowstorms & went to Nevada. The weather was very cooperative; we jogged nearly everyday, played tennis & soccer. It was so fun to have my younger brother & sister and their families stay at my parents' home as well. We stayed up late playing games & laughing so hard I cried! I love that!

For Thanksgiving Dinner we were joined by my older brothers Scott, Nathan and Danny and their families. It's always so fun to hang out and chat with my brothers who I rarely see. Nathan was all dressed up in a turtleneck & some fancy pants, I thought to myself, "Wow, this is a new style for Nater." Then I realized, "DUH, he's in his police uniform!" He's a local police officer & was able to eat with us, it's so nice that he can do that!

Here are a bunch of photos of the week:

Bridgy & my mom picking veggies for dinner

Bobby "playing" soccer (wondering WTH am I supposed to do with this?!!)

Shane, who to my surprise, was pretty good @ soccer

Nathan (in his nice turtleneck) carving the turkey

Layne & my cute niece (who was born on my bday!) Lucie

My niece Devri eating an appetizer

The kids waiting for dinner to begin

THERE'S A PARTY IN MY TUMMY!

Bridgy's first time with spaghetti.
Enjoy... she sure did

So sweet. Sharing with Daddy, how would he eat without her!

Boogety Boogety BOO!

Happy Halloween!!!

This is our first official year of Trick or Treating! It was a long night- we visited 3 homes. Bridgette stood in each doorway like a deer caught in headlights, and didn't really care that they were giving her candy.

She did enjoy passing out the candy though- she courtesy laughed at all the kids and said "bye-bye" (her newest word) to each visitor.

After trick-or-treating we had some cousins over to eat real food & see everyone's costume. I think the prize goes to Aunt Janis, who was Katniss Everdeen, a character in the "Hunger Games" series(very good books, by the way.)

All in all, it was lots of fun! We hope you all had an excellent Halloween as well!

Year in Review.

It's been over a year since I brought my bundle of joy home, and life has been more different that I could have ever imagined. In a good way of course.

Here is a summary of the past year:

• Emergency trips to after hours pediatric instacare- 1
• Times I've walked into a public area with my shirt tucked in to my nursing bra - 2
• Nightly checks on Bridgy before I go to bed- approx 5
• Brands of baby lotion I've tried in an attempt to get the perfect smelling, yet most "green" product- 6 or 7 (if you need lotion, I have some.)
• Times I've left Bridgy with a "sitter" (Joan)- 6 or maybe 7. Joan probably knows. She slept over night and other occasions for a couple hours at a time. And yes, I still looked in her room even when she spent the night at Joan's
• Times I took off in the car and mid-ride realized I hadn't properly buckled Bridgy into her carseat- 2
• Pairs of shoes I've given away because I realize I can't walk and hold a baby while wearing 4 inch heels- Quite a few, I'm still lamenting my loss.

Anyway, you get the point. Priorities have shifted, life's changed and I'm no longer the care-free, twenty-something lass I once was (Yes, I had a big birthday recently.)

Life is still great though. It's fun seeing Bridgette develop her own little personality. She's a doll- very silly and a social butterfly. She absolutely loves going to family functions and outings. She says "hello" (in her own way) to every other baby in the grocery store. Her most favorite "toys" are her books, which she loves to "read" out loud to us. I love watching her & Dan play together. They crack each other up, and it's even cuter because they look so much a like! In short, she's the perfect addition to our family & I can't believe it's been a year!

Another reason for the post--I recently figured out how to transfer photos from my camera to iphoto (I don't have a fancy iphone like 95% of you out there) and so many memories flooded my mind! I'm just going to post some of my frrrravorite photos taken since we became a family of 3.

With her twinner- Daddy. And of course, her favorite snack, the yogurt bite

Oooh la-la. Posing for the soldiers.

Wow.

Played herself to sleep.

She was so fat that I couldn't button the top button of her dress, so her neck could have breathing room!

I really, really miss this. I cried a little when I saw this. So, so sweet.

With her buddy Kristen, taking a snoozer after lunch. She kept on passing gas on Kristen's lap.

1st food. Peas, obviously.

My tiny Little Skittle. We've come a long way, Baby!