2011: Our Year in Review

As 2011 winds down let's take a look back at a few milestones from our year.

• Jared spent most of the year working on his book.  It should be coming out in the Spring, but we'll have to wait and see how everything turns out.
• Tara was busy this year with kids and projects.  She volunteered for the PTA and spent some time helping out at Oakwood, Twin Peaks, and Spring Lane Elementaries.
• Kennedy moved from Kindergarten to 1st Grade.  She claims the best thing about school is hot lunch.  She also started taking piano lessons this year.
• Alex graduated from pre-school and is currently attending pre-K (let's just call it this for our sakes).  He finally broke through and started riding his bike without training wheels in October.
• Dylan started the year as our family hippie.  Back in February he celebrated his birthday by having his first hair cut.  Now, we're hoping for another milestone with potty training.
• Vacations in 2011: Nashville, New Harmony, St. George, Bear Lake, and the Uintahs.
• Our last milestone was getting a dog.  The kids had been asking for years and in June we finally agreed.  Kai joined our family and we're adjusting to life as dog owners.

So that's 2011 in a nutshell.  Kids are growing up, Tara and I are growing old.  Let's see what happens in 2012...

Dede at Dede's

Each time we drive down to visit my parents we take a few trips in to Cedar City.  Along Main Street you'll find a giant sign for the restaurant Dede's.  On this vacation it was time to take our Dede to Dede's. I think the best thing about the restaurant was the photo-op for Kennedy, but I'm sure we'll go back again to have another $5 omelet......

Christmas: The Day in Photos

Note for Santa

As Alex and Kennedy were preparing for bed on Christmas Eve they asked if a final note for Santa was ok.  Since the computer was right there I asked if they wanted to make a little video for the big man to watch later that night.  Here were their final requests...

Temple Square Lights

Everyone's doing it.


That's what Christmas is all about.


Your kids will love it.

We've all heard that taking your kids to see the lights at Temple Square is a marvelous holiday tradition.  Tonight I want to tell you the best thing about visiting Temple Square are the photos.  The parking, the crowds, the temperature, the chaos - everything else is something I can do without.

So, take a look at the best part of Temple Square Lights.