SUGAR BOWL Go Utes!

13-0! So awesome! It was amazing! Go Utes!
Justin and I where able to go to the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans and support the Utes! It was an experience that I will never forget!
We arrived early in the morning on Friday January 2nd. We meet Steve at the airport and then took a shuttle to our hotel, downtown. We unloaded our stuff and then hit the streets. We walked up and down different streets, stopping in some of the crazy stores. We then went to the Marriott, where the football team was staying, and purchased some Sugar Bowl merchandise and chatted with some Utah fans. Off to the streets again, we walked along the side of the Mississippi River and watched large ships pass by. Then we had lunch by the river, at a outdoor restaurant, it was way good, and fun to be by the river and enjoy jazz music being played by local musicians! We then went back to the hotel, chilled and prepared ourselves for the big game(oh, and chatted with some Alabama fans, and found out why they are called the Crimson Tide!). Then off to the Superdome! They shut down all of the streets, so everyone just walks in the streets, so cool, and sooo many people. There was a big party outside with different things going on. We headed inside after a little while, and WOW! The stadium was so awesome! It was about 85% Bama fans, but they were all very nice. The game was great, as you all know, so I wont go into that. But after the game there was only red fans left in the building! The celebration was great. In the streets on the way back to the hotel, the fans were going crazy! What a great day! Then we woke up, after sleeping in, and hit the streets again! WE walked to the historic square, and checked out some cool stuff there. We had lunch , and then went to a Aquarium by the river. It was great! We then chilled at the hotel and, woke the next day to travel home. Overall, the trip was a blast! Justin and I couldn't of had a better time! Thanks Steve for a great time! And thanks Diana and James for watching JT for us!

The remaining Utah Fans!

Us after the big win!

The Celebration on the field!

Justin and I by the Mississippi River!

Justin at the main square!

CHRISTMAS!

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! We spent Christmas in Utah. It was so great to be home with family. We stayed at Granny's with almost all of my family. It was a blast to all be together. So, where to start? We played in the snow at the Cluff's. It was JT's first time in the snow. He didn't know exactly what to think, but I think he did enjoy it. We were able to be there for the Big Salmon Family Party. We went bowling, and then had dinner at a church, where Santa came to visit. As you can tell from the picture above, JT wasn't so sure about him. We got to see some friends that we have been missing! We celebrated Jac's Sweet 16th Birthday! By her choice we went to Chuck-e-Cheese! It was a blast! We all got in on the action, in playing games, and other stuff! Awesome party Jac! Christmas was great, we got some fun stuff! It was fun to see JT get excited and open his presents. We spent the day with my family, playing with all of our new toys, and then we went to Grandma Holbrooks for dinner. It was fun to see all of Justin's family again. Then after Christmas we went to Our Ranch house in Fairview, which we love! We all went down. It was so much fun. We played in the snow, rode the 4-wheelers, played games, hung out, ate food, and ate, and ate! We had such a great time, it was so hard to say goodbye. We then started our 24 drive home! We made it. Thanks everyone for such a great time! Thanks Granny for letting us all invade your house. Thanks mom, and dad for having us! We can't wait until the next get together. And I know JT can't wait!

We made a Gingerbread house and left it sitting in the middle of our table. Well, I was in the middle of packing, and heard, some yum! yum!, umm! and turned to see JT! He climbed up on the chair and was looking at the house, and pulling off the candies one by one! As you can see he started with he side walk gumdrops. He is so funny! and defiantly has a sweet tooth!

Thanksgiving! There's no place like Kansas!

We went to Manhattan, Kansas for Thanksgiving. Jill and Mike are living there while Mike is going to Vet school at K-State. We had a great time! We had many laughs.

We arrived late on Tuesday night after a 11 hr drive. JT did great! Thank goodness! We then woke up and to our surprise Grammie, Pa, Jac and Max arrived just shortly after we had lunch.(The weren't supposed to arrive until later that night.) We did a lot of eating and being lazy! My kind of vacation! HA! We toured the campus, where Mike is studying. We explored the town. Justin, Mike, and Max played in a Turkey Bowl game! We went and watched only for a little while, because it was freezing! We had a great Thanksgiving dinner! And we played the Wii! Grammie and Pa both played too! It was great fun! Jill, Grammie and I braved the crowds and went shopping on Black Friday! Craziness! I tell you what I have never seen so many people in one store at the same time. It was great! We managed to get what we went for and stay alive! We went to the Wizard of OZ museum! Cool! And even ate at Toto's Tacos! Yum! And we also got to play volleyball as a family for the first time in a long time! A lot of FUN! So that was it! We had a great time! Thanks Jill and Mike for having us all over and invading you guys for a few days!

This is our Thankful Poster that hangs in our living room during the month of November! Justin and I have started this tradition! We write something we are thankful for everyday up until Thanksgiving! It has been really fun to see all of our many blessings! And a great reminder!

Above: Pa playing the Wii! He is doing the Homerun derby. Below: Grammie playing the Wii! She is also playing the Homerun derby! This was her first time. She did really well! Mom don't kill me for putting this on here! So much fun! We all had great laughs!

Frosting FUN!

JT is a riot! I was making a pumpkin sheet cake to take to Grandma Diana's and JT decided to try the frosting! Well, he didn't want to try it at first. I tried to give him a taste off my finger, and he just shook his head no! So, I put the bowl in the sink, and turned around to frost the cake. Then shortly after I heard some Yumm! Umm! and more Yumm! I turned and JT was sticking his finger in the bowel and licking it clean. He was so funny, he couldn't get enough! So, I then gave him the spatula and this is what we got! A frosting covered little boy!

Just for FUN!

JT is such a blast! He is so funny. I just wanted to put on a few photos of him just being him. He is always making funny faces. And when dad gets ready to go to school, JT thinks he is ready and grabs the back pack. Which, as you can see is the same size as him. The other pictures are of JT getting his first taste of Ketchup! He has had it before, just a little when we would give it to him, but we put some on his plate for the first time last night and this is what we got. JT trying to lick the plate clean! Enjoy! Cause we sure had laughs with it!

Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween! We had a great week. We went to Sea World, and saw all the Halloween shows, and rode some rides. It was awesome! We had our ward Trunk or Treat on Wednesday. It was so much fun. I did our trunk with disco lights and strobe lights, and then I passed out glow sticks. It turned out great! JT went as a Dragon, a cute one, you have to see him walk in the costume to understand how cute! I was a witch! And Justin went as Flavor Flav?! Justin and I just found this big clock medalion with a dollar sign on it at WalMart, and I guess that is what Flavor Flav wears? All the teenagers seemed to know who that was so Justin was a hit! Then on Halloween JT and I went to Storytime at the Library, we had a good time listening to the Halloween stories and then singing songs. Then we went to Grandma Diana's in Austin, and to some of the neighbors for some trick or treating! One of the neighbors was a professional Photographer, and he took photo's for free! It was great! Then we went to the end of the football game to see dad at work! And of course show off JT to all of Justin's co-workers. JT was a hit with all the girls, like always! He is such a ladies man! We had a great week and a great Halloween!

Children's Museum!

Okay so I am really behind on my blog. I have meant to do this all last week but didn't. So here I go. JT and I went to the Children's Museum in New Branfels, TX. We went with Laura, Jacob and Sam. We also meet up with some friends from the ward. It was so much fun! I even enjoyed it! JT had a blast. He kept going the whole time we where there. There was so much for him to do. It is set up like a little town, with stores, hospital, bank etc. JT enjoyed having his freedom to just walk around, and do his own thing, and hang out with other kids! Thanks Laura for inviting us, we had a great time!