Favorite Fall Colors {favorite friday}

 [October 2010 - Around Utah County]

Climbing Stairs {favorite friday}

[October 2010 - Salt Lake City, Utah]

It's crazy to look through at 'where we've been' and think about 'where we're going' ...there's so much more ahead for us.  I can't wait to start sharing the 'ahead' highlights with you all.  In due time!

Happy Friday!!! Summer's almost over - enjoy it!!!
- Jess

Gone Fishin' {favorite friday}

[Summer 2010 - Tooele Utah]

The kids were elated to hear that they would be able to spend two weeks visiting with family in Utah this summer after all.  And I'm sure Grandma and Grandpa are just as excited for them to come stay.

In Honor of Mother's Day {favorite friday}

[Utah - 2010]

My cheeky monkeys with my mom

Timpanogos Caves {favorite friday}

[July 2009]

I just cannot believe my eyes when I look at photographs taken the summer we moved back to the US.  They seem SO little compared to where they are now - this teenage stage of their lives.  Craziness!

xo - Jess

Mom's Bathroom Sink {favorite friday}

[Utah 2000]

Rewind 13.25 years... Freckle Face's favorite place to hang out while mom got something worth doing accomplished.  Washcloths, running water, knobs, mouth rinse cups, toothbrushes and a mirror are all a nine-month old needs to keep herself entertained.

Brightly Colored Lanterns

More Favorites of Copper in the Snow

An Amazing Race / Chinese New Year

The Brunette family party this year was based on Grandma Brunette's favorite television show: The Amazing Race.  Military Man and I were on a team with the 9-12 year old grandkids.... meaning three of them were ours and the fourth was cousin Jacob.

We were ahead of all the other teams until we got to the combination locks... the darn locks slowed us down so much that we ended up in last place.

By the time we got to the final challenge - launching our Chinese lantern - everyone else was already back home eating dinner.  I would have LOVED to get a photograph of ALL of the lanterns in the sky at the same time.

My best attempt at writing "SNAKE" on the snake balloon.  It was also nice to see family members we hadn't seen in a couple of years, like Devon and his little kiddos, and those loveable family members ya just can't miss like Aunt Mickie!

Daisy In The Snow

I'm not so sure she liked the snow.  She does quite enjoy hot and sunshine... all this cold, wet Utah snow was not her forte.

She was however, keen to the next door neighbor's pony that kept prancing around the yard every time she ventured outside.  I think he may have been showing off for Miss Daisy, she could easily be mistaken as a small horse.  I didn't realize just how big she really is until I saw her next to the pony.

Snow Fort Fun

GG brought cousin Gage over to play with the kids in the snow before we had to leave for Arizona.

Sam and I figured we would teach the kids how to build a snow fort.  But I think we ended up doing all the labor, with GG's help, while the kids threw snowballs for the dogs.

Copper decided he could help out by digging out his own entrance into the fort.

Before And After

BEFORE Christmas we enjoyed playing card games and ping pong.  Joey even took to Grandpa's workshop and started on his Pinewood Derby car.  But AFTER Christmas it was difficult to get anyone to do anything other than play with their fancy new electronics.

Snow Follies

...or should I say: fall-ies!
Copper LOVED playing in the snow.

Christmas Eve at GG's

The family all gathered at my grandmother's home (the kids call her "GG"- short for Great-Grandma) for a Christmas Eve dinner, games, and gift exchange.  It has been a tradition since I was a baby, however it's been several years since our family has been "home" for Christmas to join in on the festivities.  Everyone was excited to see us!

Later that evening Grandpa decided to let Grandma open her gift early so that the batteries could charge over night.  Can you tell she was SO EXCITED to open her gift and see a new camera!