End of the year 2014...

Wow, I feel like my kids really pulled together this year.  I needed help with Mikayla and Mark and they all pitched in.  Juliet is fabu with Mikayla and Jack is magnificent with Mark.  Maxine has babysat a TON for me and that has made me feel human again.  Merril works hard to support me.  Love you all!  Here are a couple of pictures from the end of the year.

Grandma and Grandpa Campbell invited the families on a bike ride.  I only got pictures of Merril and Mikayla.  It was pretty cold so Mikayla, Mark and myself drove the Tahoe along the trail and make sure everyone was doing okay along the way.

They rode from the Snow Canyon overlook to Marv's Diner at Sunset Plaza.  The older 3 and Merril did great.

I was looking for a new yard inflatable after Christmas and found this for $25.  It's a little larger than I was going for but the price was right and the kids love it.

Playing with Christmas toys!

And a night out with the gals!  (Excuse the horrible picture)  Laurie is due to have a baby in March and we were out at Red Lobster.  We all started in the same ward but now we live in different wards.  We still get together about once a quarter for breakfast or dinner, usually around someone's birthday.  (Left to right:  Valerie, Laurie, Sara, and half of me.)

These ladies are inspirations of service, love. generosity, and dedication to the gospel.  I love them.

Oh Christmas!

Homemade gifts are some of my favorite to give.  This year, the kids and I made a set of blocks for Mark and Mikayla.  I cut the blocks and the kids were in charge of sanding.  They sanded diligently for a little while.

And then they decided to play with them.  :/  Hey kids, you're not supposed to play with other peoples' presents before Christmas.

I probably posted this last year but I still like the stable.

This is Christmas Eve right before we went to bed.  I can't believe the pile of presents!  I had such good intentions of taking some pictures on Christmas but alas, I lived it and didn't pic it.

Maybe next year!  ;)

Quick trip to Salt Lake...

My extended family had a Christmas party up in Ogden.  It was the Saturday before Christmas and I totally wanted to bail but decided quit being a wuss and get up there to see some fam.  We decided to go up Friday night and visit Temple Square and its amazing Christmas lights!

Mikayla loved her Burger King crown.  The weather was super pleasant for December in Salt Lake.

We stayed at a hotel and went to sightsee the next day at the conference center and downtown Salt Lake.  The kids loved the escalators at the Gateway.

Then we went up to Ogden for the party.  I didn't get any pictures of the party because I was too busy chatting.  And now, on to Christmas!

Someone remembered our Un-Anniversary...

Juliet was born on our anniversary, June 17th.  Ever since then, Merril and I have put our anniversary on the back burner.  Lately the anniversary of the day we first met, December 18th, has become a day that we celebrate together.  This year, Merril totally surprised me with a hot air balloon ride for our un-anniversary.  To be honest, I'd kind of forgotten the date this year!  

The weather wasn't right on the 18th so on Friday, the 19th, we arrived at a house in Washington Fields for our ride.  We were told to dress warmly and be ready to work.  First the balloon and basket are laid sideways and big fans inflate it.

Two fans were used but we were told it can be done with one.

After it's filled with air from the fans, which didn't take that long, the pilot chirps the burner a few times and the balloon starts to rise.

Once it's upright, the pilot says "jump in" and away we went!

It was pretty amazing!

At first we flew quite high and I was thinking I should have a harness to keep me in the basket.  The sides of the basket were lower than my rear end, to make it easier to jump in and out of.  I found it to be a little low and so stayed in the corners, where the basket came up higher.

Hardly any wind was blowing so Rocky, our pilot, had an idea of skirting close to the river to try and catch some wind.  We were about 1-2 feet from the ground and cruised over the river top.  Unbelievable!

When looking for a place to land, we went where the wind took us, which happened to be in the middle of a subdivision south of Costco.  Rocky was able to set us down right in the middle of the road, gentle as a feather.

After taking pictures with neighborhood kids, Rocky chirped the burner enough to raise the balloon a few feet off the ground and Merril and his team guided the balloon to a vacant lot around the corner.  Then we helped the balloon deflate and packed it away.

Super fun!  I would recommend it to anyone!  Maybe not if you're afraid of heights though.  :)

Jack is getting older...

Wow Jack, you're looking awesome!  Your braces are going to be coming off soon!  I'm sure you can't wait!  I can't believe how big you are getting and how much your little brother, Mark, loves you.  You are definitely his favorite sibling.  It's amazing to watch you take care of our little Spanky guy.  

Jack also decided to join the Coral Canyon Choir.  Participants are eligible in grades 3-5.  Jack's a pretty good singer.  He has tone and sings on key, which can be hard for children.  

Visiting Santa at Tuacahn...

My neighbor Dana, invited us to go to see the lights out at Tuacahn and see Santa.  Maxine and Jack were both a little under the weather and Merril volunteered to stay home with them and Mark.

Dana and her kids always go out to see Santa at Tuacahn.  Seeing Santa is not a huge part of our Christmas tradition.  I don't see the need of making my children sit on a stranger's lap and scream.  Since we don't go see Santa, I figured Mikayla would be pretty skittish of the bearded man.  There wasn't a line and Mikayla surprised us all by running straight up to him, jumping on his knee, and snuggling her face into his chest.  What-A-Crazy-Kid.  Juliet followed behind and posed for a picture with them.  Mikayla whispered that she wanted a stuffed reindeer for Christmas.  ;)

We rode the little train to see the lights and played by this tree.  In the end, I'm glad we didn't have Mark because it was cold and getting late and he would've been sad.  But we had a nice time.