On Saturday we headed up Waterton Canyon with a lunch, the kids, and our double stroller {which we now call our handcart because we're sure we could pack it with all our belongings and cross the plains with it:)} We had hopes of making it the four miles to the damn at the top, but based on our history with this particular hike that was a little optimistic! We did make it almost two miles up (four miles round trip), see a little wildlife, and have a great lunch right on the bank of the river. We'll have to try it again when the weather warms up and actually make it the whole way!

Saturday was a big day! Mclayne had two birthday parties. The first was an amazing party for her friend Kyle at the Colorado Train Museum. After a morning full of activity stations, hobo lunches, trains, and a WHOLE lot more...mclayne fell asleep in the car and had to be woken up for her own party. We got a little bit of a late start, but eventually we celebrated with ten adults and twelve kids and two babies {and two missionaries at the end...not quite sure how that happened?!}. Anyway, it was pretty crazy to say the least. The kids decorated cupcakes, had a pinata, and helped mclayne open presents {eventhough presents had been banned from the party!}. It was a great group...i'm sure we'll be getting together again very soon!

Between the craziness of the party, the fact that neither me nor mclayne had time to get ready, and that Ryan was in charge for most of the picture taking, these are the picture we ended up with. Hopefully I will make picture taking a bigger priority from now on!

Resolutions

I usually don't write down any yearly goals, but I came across a list of new years resoloutions that could have been written for me. it was a little spooky. i figured it might be a good idea to write {or ctrl C} them down, so i will actually remember to work on them. after a few changes this is what i came up with. i'm sharing them with you, because any help in accomplishing them would be great...ie not doing things i don't like and will be forced to judge, giving me a great deal on your piano, or laying out with me.;) seriously though, gentle and not.so.gentle reminders would be appreciated.
In 2009
I will...
*Drink more water. this one's harder than it looks!
*Put down serious roots in Colorado. Utah is just for VISITING
*Workout nightly with Ryan. Less than four months left to get into wedding shape
*Get a tan...and then botox to get rid of the wrinkles
*Buy a piano. either a used upright or a new baby grand...we'll let the economy decide
*Re-learn piano. it's been years
*Make a weekly meal plan. that includes me cooking at least THREE nights


I won't.....
*Watch crappy tv. this will be a lot easier now that the hills is off the air
*Talk without thinking. does anyone have this problem?
*Judge. hard. (okay, even though this sounds like it's straight of seriously so blessed, it's true)
*Buy things I don't need. even if they are on sale
*Get pregnant. That can wait...and wait....

happy birthday colebear

cole had a great first birthday! we were lucky enough to have grandma lori, grandpa steve, and great-grandma laura join in the celebration. they spent a few days on their way home from the sugar bowl {GO UTES!} and couldn't have picked a better time. being here for mclayne's first day of school, witnessing cole's first steps, making an adorable teddy bear cake for cole, celebrating his first birthday, and taking some great walks were just a few of the things we were able to share with them. thanks again and happy first cole!

i'm smiling today because

1. UTAH killed alabama in the SUGAR BOWL
2. Mclayne starts pre-school on Tuesday
3. I started our taxes today!

Why are you smiling today?