Success!

I haven't taken my kids to JCPenney photo studios in 2 years. The studio's in Maryland were HORRIBLE. I mean the worst picture experience you can imagine. (I know some of my MD friends are nodding in agreement.) Anyway, 2 years ago I came to Utah for Christmas break and decided to try the JCPenney here. I bought the Portrait Club Membership and well, never used it again. Until 2 weeks ago. I realized that my membership expired on the 20th and thought, hey, why not. It could be a great way to get cute pictures cheap. My kids did awesome! I think we were done with the picture taking in 10 minutes. Enjoy my darling children who made Mommy's day by smiling on cue!

Maryland Friends

I can't say enough about these girls. We were best friends for 4 years. We didn't have family to rely on, just each other. Christmas break is great because we get to see our dental friends that live out of state. When we started dental school none of us had kids. Now we have 11 with 3 more on the way. This is only half of our group too. (Amber, me, Stacey, Holly and Erin)

The doctors are all practicing except for Jansen who is in OK in perio school. These guys rode the ghetto metro together 5 days a week for 4 years. You really get to know a person that way. : ) (Nate, Justin, Jansen, Cody and Spencer)

Here are 9 of our 11 kiddos. (Will, Cassidy, Brayden, Tucker, Aubrey, Camden, Mia, Sarah and Katelyn)

After our pictures Tucker and Brayden took our cameras and had their own photo shoot. These are our fish.
Tucker made this for us for Christmas.

Cute Cassidy and her gorgeous eyes.

Cute Camden.

Brayden checking out his photos.

Dansie Christmas Party

December is always full of parties and we were so happy to be living in Utah where not only could be attend them, but we could host them as well. We had some of Cody's moms side of the family up to our house for dinner on the 19th. We played the white elephant game and had fun seeing family we hadn't seen in a long time.

Cole loves Jaron and he willingly let him drool all over his head.

Kristin received the best white elephant. Who wouldn't want a picture of Jaron?!!

This is the look babies give Cody.

In the meantime, I told Tucker that if he expected to receive anymore animals for Christmas he better start playing with the ones he had. This is how he plays with his animals. He lines them all up.

And Cole loves to help me in the dishwasher. Can't say it's very helpful, but it's sure cute. Except when he gets a hold of the knives. That baby is fast!

60th Anniversary

I'm a bit behind on some things that I should have posted about. My Grandparents Grant celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before Thanksgiving. We had a huge celebration at the Reid School and everyone was there minus 4 people. There are 75 of us in their posterity, plus a couple more on the way. My Foster family, minus Heather and Dan, with G & G.

My boys.

It's fun to imagine what my little family will be like when Cody and I are married that long.

Deer Valley w/o kids

Lisa and I spent the day today skiing up at Deer Valley. My office manager hooked us up with some tickets - thanks Lindsay! We owe you.

We love living here and being near so much fantastic recreation. We were also lucky enough that our parents watched the kids for us, allowing just the two of us to go. We couldn't have asked for a better day for skiing. The snow was great quality, the weather was fantastic, it wasn't crowded at all, and we rode up the lifts with some great company (a couple from Ohio that we probably convinced to move here to Park City, several BYU students, the ski patrol, and my good buddy Stein).

Lisa decided to open up our Christmas gift a week early so she could use it today. We got a new handheld camera for times like today. The cannon is a great camera, but not a pocket camera. So, we had a blast on the mountain and can't wait for more ski days ahead this season.

A really cool view back towards the Wasatch, where Alta, Snowbird, Solitude and Brighton are located.

Another sweet view out towards Mt. Timpanogas.

Lisa took a little video of me going down the run. Hopefully this little video will serve as motivation for all of you who haven't made to the slopes yet. Get out there and do it, you won't regret it.

One Stitch for Cole

Cole has been learning to walk around while holding on to things lately. He is very eager to be a big boy and will pull himself up onto anything within reach. Earlier today he happened to fall while in one of his adventurous moods. The poor kid hit the corner of some of the finish work in our house. He punctured his head and left a huge gash on his forehead. Lisa called the doctor's office and they said they were all booked up today and that we would have to go to the emergency room. When she called me I told her that I would just stitch him up once I got home from work to save the $100 + fee of going to the emergency room for something I can do on my own.
Well, when I got home I busted out my surgical first aid kit. I have been wanting to stitch somebody up outside of the office for a long time, so I was pumped to finally use the kit I had put together months ago.
Lisa held him down, and boy was he mad that he was immobile. I used some local anesthetic to numb his forehead up. I then used the iodine to disinfect the area then used some 6-0 silk suture material to place one little stitch.

Here is my handy work. First time I've done a stitch not in the mouth, and I must say that it is much easier to see and work when not wrestling with a tongue and cheek and when I have ample lighting. Cole was so happy to get out of Lisa's death grip, and within 10 seconds was back to his happy self and crawling around the house.

I think this kid is going to be a little too much like me and we might end up putting him in a helmet permanently to protect him from all the falls and bumps that await him.

A birthday for the doctor!

We celebrated Cody's 31st birthday on Monday. He did have to work, but he loves his job so it wasn't a problem to go in. We recently bought a snowblower for Cody's birthday/Christmas present. Now it just needs to snow so he can use it. (Although I'm not complaining that it isn't snowing. Once it starts, it doesn't leave for a long time up here!) Aubrey dressed herself, can you tell! She's our little princess and knows it!
Last night we were able to get together with some of our dental friends from Cody's class. 3 of us live in Utah and the Hales were visiting, so we met up in Ogden for a pizza party. The handsome doctors!

The cutest wives!

All of our kiddos! Aubrey, Tucker, Cole, Will, Cassidy, Luke, Katelyn and Sarah.