Halloween Festivities

We had an exciting Halloween this year!

Our festivities began on September 18th and kept on going till October 31st.

We went to Nightmare on 13th with Bryan's family. They were in town for Kelli and Lee's sealing. It was hilarious going through a haunted house with Kim and Amy. They were both so scared. Amy started freaking out while we were just waiting in line to get in. We didn't know Kim was scared until we entered the first room and she immediately hid behind Kyle and would not move. Amy continued to entertain the group the whole way through!


Our next adventure was to carve pumpkins with Conrad and Kali. We all made very fancy pumpkins. We were all pretty impressed with ourselves.

(left: Bryan, Middle: Esther, Right: Conrad & Kali)



The next night we went to the Buells with the Carliles and Bagleys and made glitter pumpkins. I saw the idea on a craft blog I read and thought it would be fun for the kiddos. Heather made the coolest pumpkin. It was a spider in a spider web.



Next we went to Drew and Cassie's to have a costume party. Bryan and I dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Smith. But being Mr. and Mrs. Smith was not gory enough for Bryan. So, we were zombie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Our costumes were not the best, but I did end up winning best dressed. Drew had everyone cast a vote and then he put them all in a pot and picked one out. So, that's how I won :)


The night before Halloween we went to the Buells for homemade root beer and spudnuts and chili. It was delicious as always. Heather and the girls had a few more houses to go trick-or-treating to, so Katie and I went along. The girls looked so cute in their costumes and were the best little trick-or-treaters. We ended up staying at the Buells till midnight. I think all of the wives were in a silly mood. We started off playing real games with Aubreys and then starting making up our own games (while annoying the husbands). It was pretty fun!

On the actual Halloween evening we went to the Bagley's to play How to Host a Murder. The game was The Good, The Bad, and The Guilty. So, we all dressed up in western outfits. Katie got to be the woman from the saloon. Katie did a wonderful job as always. Everything we ate was Halloween themed - from jello rats to cheese ball spiders to eyeball desserts. I really do love the How to Host a Murder games. They are so funny and provide easy entertainment.





I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!

4th of July

We decided to really celebrate Independence Day this year. As soon as I heard that Carrie Underwood was coming for Stadium of Fire I called siblings and mom to see if anyone wanted to go. Cindy and John decided to take a month vacation from Texas and drive to Yosemite, then to Mom and Dad's for a few weeks and then to Utah for a few weeks. Mom and Dad decided to come too.

We started the weekend with a BBQ at Elliot and Katie's house on Friday. I decided to make corn-on-the-cob cupcakes for dessert.

On Saturday we had a BBQ at the Buells and played games before we headed to the Stadium of Fire.

Summer and Steve set-up the Badminton set and everyone was having a difficult time keeping the birdie off the roof. I was designated as the one to retrieve the birdie.

After the picnic the kiddos decided they needed to cool off. So, off went their clothes and in they went to the pool.

Brooke decided she wanted to join - but didn't want to bother with removing her clothes :)

I loved the Stadium of Fire. Bryan and I have wanted to go for years but have never liked who was coming. I was thrilled to hear Carrie Underwood. She was amazing. Both Cindy and mom got teary eyed while listening to Carrie. I hope we love the act next year so we can go again!

Happy Valentines

This was one of my favorite Valentine Weekends ever!

The celebrating started Friday Night with my favorite Valentine tradition. On our first Valentine, Bryan brought Little Caesars Pizza, Martenelli's, Chocolates, and two romantic movies to my apartment. So, every year since then we have enjoyed Little Caesars the day of Valentines and have gone out to eat on a different night. With Valentine's being on Sunday this year, we decided to get the pizza Friday night.

Saturday night, Elliot and Katie hosted us (and Steve & Summer and Heather & Jeff) to our version of the Melting Pot. It was seriously so delicious and Katie did such a great job decorating. For more deets see Heather's Blog!

Monday afternoon we headed up to Park City to celebrate Katie's birthday with a little outlet shopping, eating, and hot tubbing.

Seriously.....it was such a great weekend!

Hope everyone enjoyed Valentine's and the extended weekend :)

Christmas 2009

This year we spent Christmas with the Attridges in Oktown.

But, before we headed to Washington we made the traditional gingerbread houses with the Merris'

Bryan and I made Calli's house and Cindy and John helped JJ make his. We titled Calli's "Calli's Cabin" We thought we were pretty creative :)

We flew out the day before Christmas and spent a few days hanging with the family.
Rae spent a lot of time dancing - sometimes with Bryan and sometimes with Kaedn

Christmas Morning
Jill wrote a letter to Santa the night before and the next morning we found a lengthy and comical letter from Santa (front and back on the yellow pad)



I got to go ice skating for my first time.
I'll just be honest - I spent most of the time just as I was in these pictures. Holding onto the wall :) Still fun though!

Our Christmas tree back in Orem!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We had an awesome Thanksgiving - it was full of family and food and fun. And lets be honest - family is what I am most thankful for anyway.



Here are my highlights from the weekend:

My mom and dad came in from Yuba

And of course mom did the bulk of the cooking (which I'll never really complain about)


The girls spent a lot of the day knitting. I don't think I ever finished the headband I started!


We headed up to Duchesne the day after Thanksgiving to have the traditional Wilkerson Thanksgiving Dinner


Big Lare came in from Okanogan on Friday to go to the BYU v Utah game! And luckily we pulled out a win. (Sad that I don't have any pics with Big Lare)


Little Calli was blessed

Happy Halloween

This year we had a pretty low key Halloween. Friday night we spent the night at Cindy and John's because John was away on business and Cindy wanted company. While Cindy slept, Bry and I watched scary movies. The next morning Bryan went to the airport to pick up John while Cindy and I made pumpkin pancakes. They weren't the best tasting pancakes but they were pretty cute. We made jack-o-lantern pancakes. After we ate, Bryan and I went home and watched more scary movies.

Then we got ready and were off making the rounds. We stopped at Cindy and John's first and ate pizza. J.J. was the cutest little bee I've ever seen. When J.J. went to the first house to trick or treat he saw someone that was dressed in a scary outfit and he said "ohh scary" and shook his little shoulders. It was so cute and it's funny because he makes the same motion when it's cold outside but he says "ohh freezing."



Next we were off to Heather and Jeff's to see the girlies and drink homemade root beer and eat homemade spudnuts. Aubrey and Brooke were 50's girls. Heather made both of their outfits and they looked so professional. The girls were seriously darling. After we had been at the Buell's for awhile, Aubrey decided that she wanted to do some more trick or treating. So Bryan and I got to take her to a few more houses. Aubrey was so cute - she was mesmerized by all of the costumes.


I love that I have so much family around. . . especially when I get see their cute kids all dressed up for Halloween!

Halloween Adventures Part 2

Two weekends ago we went with the Buells to Nightmare on 13th. Bryan and I have gone to this haunted house 3 years in a row (It's our favorite). It's always a good time going places with the Buells. Especially when it involves Halloween because Halloween is both Bryan and Jeff's favorite holiday!

Me and the husband


Bryan and I acting scared


The Buells

Outside Nightmare on 13th