Tis' The Season

On Saturday we went sledding for my niece Layla's first birthday!
It was a blast! Lincoln might beg to differ... but he did get a powder shot right in the face on one of his "slides" (as he would call it). For more pics see Paul + Ashley's blog via my pals list.

My handsome man with full grizzly beard.. Love it!

Lincoln got to be a sheep again at the annual Ernest Party Nativity. A special thanks to Uncle C.J. for filling in as Santa :)

This is Lincoln's "cheesy" face for photos. He just squints and thinks that is a smile. Ha ha.

And finally... drum roll please...
We are having a
GIRL!

I think it looks like she is laughing. Maybe we should name her Skeletor.
We will be expecting this little one in mid June!!

What happens in Vegas....

In November we went to Vegas with some friends. We had so much fun! I didn't change a diaper for 3 days!! We ate enough food to feed a small country forever. It was marvelous!

Above: The Ladies
Below: The Lady Killers

This is random.. but I only took one picture before my camera died so it is a piggy back post.. we took Linc bowling for the first time. It was really funny and I would highly recommend it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

I am going to be a mummy again! (I'm pregnant)
Here is my sweet Lincoln cheating his pants off at string donuts..

Cousins playing string donuts. I love this game because everyone is a winner.

Officer Awesome (it says it right on the name badge)
This is his serious candy enforcement face.

This was Cyndi's treat for our family party. It is pretzels covered with peanut butter, almond slices for the finger nails and jelly for the blood. Hilarious!

I hope that everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

BOWLING LEAGUE

Our team is called the "Pin Heads"
Above: Me and Kristine
Below: Kim and Jaime

As you can see, we kill lots of soda, candy and competitors.

These are my bowling shoes. They glow in the dark.

This is Jaime's bowling ball. She is a Breast Cancer Survivor. The ball is pink with the Breast Cancer ribbon, and this is what she had engraved on it. I love it!! I am so fortunate to know these amazing women that I get to bowl with!

BEAR LAKE BRAWL TRIATHLON

On Sept. 6th, I embarked on another Triathlon. Crazy, right? I was not the only insane person doing this. I was joined by my four elder siblings: Dave, Danny, Kathryn, Tobi, and her best friend Emily. Here we are in our shining wet suited glory!
L to R: Emily, Tobi, Kathryn, Dave and Me. Danny's group had already entered the hypothermic waters, which were followed by the lengthy beach run to the transition area. That is where I was headed in the first pic. I know, I know, swim caps are very becoming.
Here is Kathryn is the transition area. She is soooo speedy (check out her bike! I covet.)
This is right after I jumped off my bike and entered the run. I was laughing because my legs felt like noodles, and because I had ridden over a live snake during the bike. It's what memories are made of.
I beat my Iron Girl time by 2 minutes! Hip hip hooray!

A Most Excellent Summer

When Lyndsay was in town with her kids, we went to Snowbird, where Armstrong operates the tram. What a sweet job! We rode the tram and the alpine slide. It was so much fun. Thanks Linds! It was slightly reminiscent of our Spring hike. Armstrong, Lincoln and I hiked the peak and rode the tram down. It was absolutely insane. Dawning our Yak Trax and hiking poles, we traded off carrying Link in a pack and climbing about 3k vertical ft in about 3 miles of SLUSH. Don't ever do this. :)

Here is Armstrong (Lindsey) at Dairy Keen in Heber. The last week that our Mesa visitors were here, we went to Jordanelle Res and then to "Train Burger." It was delicious as always.

Lincoln, Charlie and Ella
So, this is way random and I am trying to catch up on the craziness that is this Summer. On Wednesday we went with my sisters to Tracy Aviary. It was pretty cool. We watched the bird show and Lincoln LOVED it!
Peacock over head.

My niece Kate got to be a "tree" in the bird show!

Lincoln riding the planes at Liberty Park. This is pretty much my favorite picture ever.

More randomness... When we go to play at Kim Boyer's, we always stay until bed time. It is inevitable and I love it. Well, this time I didn't bring p.j.'s, so Kim found the twins old jams for Link and E'en to wear. They looked so cute running around together in their Superman Jams.
Needless to say, it has been a most excellent Summer!

American Idol Auditions in SLC

I have always thought that it would be fun to check out American Idol and be a part of the utter chaos. Feel free to make fun of me all you want. By no means do I have a TV worthy voice, but I thought it would be a memorable experience. That is exactly what it was!

The mayhem began with group songs and loads of yelling. I was laughing my head off. I was amazed at how many people were there. After the group filming, I went out in the hall to find some water and I found my cousin Jeff!! It was so great so see him!

Shortly there after, Ryan Seacrest showed up, in the flesh. People went nuts! I had no idea he was such a big deal. Way to go man.

I met some really cool people. These are my early morning friends (and our wrist bands).

I got to sit by some awesome people during the long haul.
This is Amanda, who came from CA. She really should have made it through, but it's kind of like winning the lottery. They take maybe 200 out of thousands of people during the first cut. Lame.

This is Zach and his "Sister" (Mom) Brenda. Small world, he went to high school with my brother-in-law. It has been almost 2 weeks and I better be remembering names correctly. Sorry if not :)

When I was cut I wanted to yell, "pick me! I own and can ride a unicycle". It seems these days that singing just isn't enough. Har har.

FIESTA Family Night!!

The Cotters are in town for a couple of weeks from Mesa. Here is a small snapshot of what we have been up to in just the first week. Ella (2.5 years old) announced today that she wanted to go to Mexico. That was not quite feasible, so we brought Mexico here. Grandpa S brought fake airline tickets to Mexico for the grand kids and we had tacos and broke open a pinata. It was pretty much the most awesome family night ever!
Lincoln and Dad
Charlie, Lyndsay, Ella and Kylee

Excellent pinata prizes!Family Christmas card this year!?!

On Saturday we rode the Front Runner from SLC to O town. We were quite the crew with Grandpa S, Aunt Dell, Erin, Lucas, Rebecca, Tyler, Lyndsay, Cameron, Ella, Charlie, Lincoln and myself. The kids were SO excited to ride the train! The only thing it is missing is a McDonald's.
Ella and Lincoln

We visited the train museum in Ogden, went to lunch, and then headed back to Salt Lake.
We also visited the Zoo last week. Are you surprised that we can still walk after all of this!?! This is Grandma S and Ella on the elephant.
Lincoln, Me, and Jessie on the Zoo Carousel. I was laughing so hard because Lincoln kept saying "weeee" every time his polar bear would go up and down.

I am sure there will be more pics to come of "Adventures when the Cotters come to town". Love you guys!

Demolition Derby!

Spongebob Square Pants. Hilarious. He maybe lasted 15 seconds.

Aunt KyKy, Grandma S and Lincoln

Kylee's shirt says, "I only date Republicans." Ha ha!

Aunt KyKy, Aunt Dell, Uncle T, Link, Uncle J, Grandma S and Grandpa S

Lincoln was so excited when the cars came out! When they started slamming into each other he started to cry, until we told him that it was cool. Then he would clap and shout. It was way funny. That night when we got home, he started ramming his Tow Mater sit-and-ride car and his Lego's wagon together and laughing hysterically. I am pretty sure he grasps the demo derby concept.