Thanksgiving 2013

Such a beautiful day here in Utah that we spent most of it outside. We even ate Thanksgiving dinner outside in the pavilion. This year we spent with my family since last year was with Nate's. They played football. In the evening we had a pie contest. I made the white chocolate raspberry cheesecake (not technically a pie), but somehow I still got the 'best-tasting' award. It's all about finding a good recipe and following it :). Fun day!

Mason's 2nd Birthday!

I can't believe my little boy is already two years old!! For his birthday we had a small party in our apartment with just a few family members. I let Mason choose his cake. He chose caramel brownie. Good choice! Since then he's been singing happy birthday to himself almost every day, and bringing me cake boxes from the pantry to make for him. It was definitely a memorable day for him! For his birthday we got him a little train set from IKEA. His cousin William gave him a whole set of trucks, helicopters, and fire engines. Mason loves his new toys!

A very blurry picture, but this was the best I could do at capturing his excitement during 'Happy Birthday'

Cornbellys

Just after Halloween on November 1st, Steve and Shirley invited us to go to 'Cornbellys' with them at Thansgiving Point. Mason and William especially loved the big blow ups play places, and the the big wooden jeeps, trains, and trucks. It was such a fun place to be around Halloween.

family pictures 2013

These are some of my favorite pictures that we took October 31st of 2013. My sister-in-law Jen was so kind to take them for us again. We found our favorite spot again - the Riverwoods. Mason has grown so much since last year, it's hard to believe.

life lately

Life Lately: It's been busy, but good. I still teach about 12 violin students during Mason's naptimes. I'm also back with the Orchestra at Temple Square again! YAA!! How I have missed that! Nate took his LSAT on Saturday so we'll be patient about hearing his score, then on to applying to Law Schools. Pray for us!!

 

 I'm not advertising my hair cutting skills here, because clearly they are not great - but I had to share these pictures of my nephew Andrew (the before and after) because he is so dang cute! Thirty minutes into cutting his hair after he had been SO patient...he said "Aunt Joanna, are you done yet, because I feel like my hair is all gone". I love him!!

 

 

Here is my niece Abbey graduating from Paul Mitchell Beauty School. I am SO proud of her! She is a beautiful example of going with your gut and making important decisions on your own with the help of the Lord. She also has great parents. She just got called to Serve in Sydney Australia. I am SO excited for her!!!

 

This is a party up the Canyon that Nate and I crashed. Shirley and Steve were nice enough to let us come along. Seriously love all of those people!!!

 

Mason so excited about the snow fall we had last week. Don't you just love those facial expressions!?

 

Dad picking grapes. He probably picked like 25 bushels, and bottled about 250 quarts and he is almost 70. The man is a Pioneer!!! He can outwork me about 20/1.

 

Playing football with Daddy before the Priesthood session of Conference. Or is this Nate begging Mason to play football with him? Pretty sweet. I love those two!

Raspberry picking at the McBride's Briar Patch

Kim (one of my cousins), Shirley, and I had a FUN time picking raspberries together at the McBride Briar Patch in Mapleton. When we arrived, Mr. McBride was there (an older Grandpa), and just helped us have the best time. He showed us how to pick the raspberries, told us we cold eat as many as we wanted along the way, charged us under what he said he would, and told us to pick flowers on the way out. It was such a beautiful day, and for me a perfect day to get out and spend time with two of  my best friends. Mason and Will mostly hung out in the sandbox together, but Kim and Shirley and I had a great time talking. I highly recommend this place to anybody. Thanks Kim for getting us together!!!

 

 

Mason, clearly wishing he had raspberries like his cousin

caught red handed

that's all I picked in an hour

 

Preschool with Grandma

Mason has been LOVING his preschool with Grandma and cousins. They sing songs, recite poems, march around with flags and sing about our Country, and learn about shapes, colors, numbers, hearts, brains, and tummies. I love that he gets this special time with Grandma. They also explore outside animals (fortunate to live on a farm where our cousins own animals), colors, and shapes, and if they are really good get a snack at the end. It's interesting trying to keep Mason still long enough to learn, or willing to share with others - but I think it's all part of the process. I'm so grateful he gets to spend this special time with his Grandma. I'm mostly keeping track so that he doesn't forget how lucky he is! I'm sure it will help him prepare for more rigorous academic learning in the future :).

 

his little preschool group, along with a couple of extra older kids for moral support

Learning about circles by looking at tires on trucks....brilliant idea Dad!

observing the ducks/swans/geese - wish I were smart enough to know what those are

Mason and the little colt, bonding

swinging with Grandma? What could be better?

Love these beautiful apples my Dad grows