What a month!

This past month has been one fun filled adventure after another. Each week started with a new visitor and new week full of fun things to do. At the beginning of the month some of our Best friends Tyler and Rose Ellen came to see us. Along with there darling little daughter Natalie. We had so much swimming, going to the shark reef and just hanging out while the kids took naps. Every where we went people would ask us if Natalie and Tagg were twins. Which i guess isn't to crazy considering they are only a week apart in age.Poor Dan wasn't able to play much due to his busy school schedule. But he was able to squeeze in time for a few fun things.

My sister Becca flew into town that same week, so she could enjoy her spring brake in sin city with us. I love it when sisters come to visit. She was such a good sport about just going with the flow and at making things even more fun.

Tyler,Rose Ellen, Natalie, Dan, Tagg and I hiking around at Red Rock Canyon.

All of us trying to touch the horse shoe crabs and sting rays at the Shark Reef

Next came my sister Becca who came to play with us for her spring brake. She has been dying to go to the wax museum ever since we moved here. So we found some two for one coupons and she and Dan went and got to hang out with all there favorite people. They loved all the fun things you can do to the figures.

Becca chillen' with Abe her favorite President

Lets face it Dan just wants to be like Mike!

Tagg and I then jumped on a plane with Becca that Saturday to go Utah. My Grandpa is getting re-married so I went up to help my Mom get everything ready for my Step Grandma to move in. I am so excited to my Grandpa and Miss Margret. I know how much I miss Dan when I am gone for a week. I can't even image how lonely and sad I would be if he had been gone for three years. Yeah Grandpa!

Our friends Jenna and Steven came up with Dan to pick us up. On Friday we had a fun but very frustrating day trying to help them find housing by BYU. They will be moving up there in April to go to school and we are sure going to miss them.

On Saterday were were able to take Tagg to the Zoo. He is such an animal lover. He tries to hug and kiss animal if they come on t.v. And he loves snuggling any kind of stuffed animal. Anywho, he loved the zoo and really seemed to love the monkeys. He would just sit there and point, and rock back and forth as he talked really fast gibberish to them. It was supper cute!

I ran home from the zoo to attend my little brother Jame's junior prom. He looked so handsome all decked out in his tux with is his black high top converse. He looked liked such stud doing the promenade. It was so fun to see him show off his dance moves. He even tried to show me a few as we danced. But gave up quickly due to my lack of dance skills. I had a hard time holding back the tears as we danced, and I don't know why. I guess it's just cuz I love him.

Our little fam at Hogle Zoo

James and Mom at Prom

It was hard to leave the fam to come home. But having my sister Sarah and her family come to visit the day after we got back. Made the adjustment much more bareable! It was so much fun having sleep overs, hiking red rock,going swimming.Sarah and I even got away for a while to go shopping just us no kids. But I have to say my favorite thing we did while they were here was to go and see the Dolphin and Wild Cats exhibit. I loved watching the dolphins swim around and jump out of the water. They also had the cutest little baby leopard, that all the kids just loved.

Tagg, me, Emma,Sarah, Jackson,Ella and Ben at the dolphin and wild cats exhibit.

Now life as started to get back into the daily routine again with naps and story times. Which I must admit is kind of nice after having a month of non stop action. But we sure did love having everyone come and visit.

These feet were made for walken'!

With in the past two weeks Tagg has just started cruisen' all over the place! He has the cutest little waddle. And he has definitely been enjoying his new found mobility, he just wants to go,go,go all the time!It sure has been fun to see him step out on his own. But it sure has created a new set of challenges for Dan and I. Sitting through church now is impossible, we usually end up roaming the halls for most of the meetings. Sorry that this video isn't vertical, it won't let me move it. Hopefully watching it sideways still gives you a view of our little walker.

Austin's Arrr..some first birthday!

Last Thursday we celebrated Austin's first birthday! For all of you who may not know turning one is a big deal. Mostly for the Mom of the one year old. It's a celebration that you both survived the past year! In spite of the two hour feedings, teething and never ending diaper changing. Now it's hard to imagine life without him and all of these day to day things. This last year has been more fun and full of laughs then we could have thought.

On Thursday we had a big party with some of our really good friends. We had a yummy dinner and of course, presents, cake and ice cream. We decided to do pirates cakes because we love them! And because I agree with Mark Twain who said:

"Some day if we live right and are good, maybe God will let us be pirates."

I make a treasure chest cake for Austin, and filled it with his favorite things. From cheese, anything shinny, tub toys to his favorite toy Elmo. Then made a pirate cake for the rest of us to enjoy. The pirate unfortunately had his left ear fall off right before the party.

Before and After

Austin loved diving right into his cake. To our surprise he ate about half of his cake. After cake a little tub time was a must! Austin seemed to enjoy his big day and all the attention and presents he received. But I think one of his favorite things he got on his birthday was his new friend Boyce. Our friends from BYU Sara and Mark just moved to Vegas. And this was our first time seeing them, since Sara and I were eating saltines and making visits to the toilet together. It was so fun to see them and to watch Boyce and Tagg be so happy playing and eating together.

Tagg and Boyce

A Disneyland Birthday!

Tagg, Dan, Dan's Mom and Dad and nephew Issac

For those of you who don't know. If you go to Disneyland on your birthday you get in FREE! Yep, its true. In celebration of Dan's 26th Birthday we headed to Disneyland for the weekend, and had tons of fun! There is nothing quite like spending your Birthday in the "Happiest Place on Earth."

It was especially fun to have Austin with us and see how he reacted to the rides and all the commotion. He LOVED it ! Peter Pan, the carousel and Buzz Lightyear were his fav's. We had worried about how Tagg was going hold up without his naps but he did amazing! There wasn't one meltdown the entire weekend.

We also got to spend some time and the beach. Which was something I had been craving for months. That is to walk the beach, soak up some rays and search for shells as the waves wash over your feet. What can I say the beach is one of my happy places. Austin loved the beach.... eating it that is. Every shell and piece of sand when right in his mouth. This is a picture of me trying to keep the sand out of his mouth.

Christmas Time

Great Grandpa Fillerup with Austin

Christmas this year was full of tender moments, laughter and thoughtful home-made gifts. We were able to spend Christmas Eve with my Grandparents in Wyoming. Their tiny living room was filled to the brim with family. We looked at slides of Christmas's gone by, read Luke 2 and were able to enjoy my super cute nieces and sister Bo sing the cutest Christmas songs.

Brooklyn, Alex and Aubrey Singing on Christmas Eve

Christmas Morning

My Sister Bo and her husband were so generous and brave letting our entire family come and stay with them. With all that family it sure made Christmas morning SO much fun! The twins were eating candies with the wrappers still on them, the other kids were tearing through presents left and right. My Dad was also taking kids on horse rides on his back. Jackson and Dad

We have now settled back into normal life in Las Vegas. And have swapped our sweater for flip flops. We loved all the vacationing but, I have to admit that home has never felt so good. After being gone for two and half weeks.

Snow... in Las Vegas???

We have SNOW! I never thought I would say those words while I lived in Las Vegas, but it has been snowing all day. Braking records from 1979! We all got bundled up and went out and played in the snow. We even made a tiny little snowman.

Tagg loved eating the snow and crawling all around it. He didn't even cry when he got cold. Not bad for a first timer in the snow.

Christmas Cactus

Mr. Red M&M with Tagg and I

Have you ever heard of Ethel M's Chocolates? It was the first chocolate factory created by Forrest Mars, who named after his Mother Ethel. It is still on opporation today, and you can watch as they make yummy chocolates for free. Then take a strool in their cactus garden, which is really neat.



Tagg, Dan, me, Jenna, Steven, Megan and Luke.

Megan, Jenna and I.

During Christmas time they decorate the cactie with beautiful Christmas lights. I feel so bad for who ever has to put them on and take them off. Ouch!!! Anyway we went with some of our really good friends last weekend and had a blast! The lights looked amazing, Tagg just stared at the lights and kept reaching out to touch them. It sure was fun to do some Christmas celebrating Vegas style!

Thanks for the Photography tips Megan!