Road Trip.

A much needed trip out of our snowy, cold state!  We didn't quite make it as far as we had originally intended (California) but instead made a stop in Southern Utah to visit my sister Becka and her family for a day, and then on to Las Vegas for a short stay.

The girls didn't quite know what to make of Vegas.  Presley met Elvis and Captain Jack, but the highlight of the trip for the girls was a trip to M&M World to see the 3-D movie and get their very own bag of over-priced, but color specific M&M's.  Presley picked plain, Stella likes peanut butter, and my current favorites are the pretzel.


Posing with one of the life-size M&M's.

Watching the water show at the Bellagio.

Stella trying out water-wings for the first time.

Presley enjoying the waterfalls at the pool--the water is her favorite place to be.

Chinese New Year gardens at Bellagio.  Year of the Rabbit.

We stayed at the MGM and took several walks up and down the strip.  It was a bit colder than I had hoped but at least the sun was out!  I think we did all the "kid" things you can do in Las Vegas--swimming, Serendipity 3, water shows and gardens at Bellagio, the aquarium at Mandalay Bay.

Unfortunately out trip home ended on a bad note.  Presley ate a whole bad of Twizzlers in about 20 minutes--and about 20 minutes later threw them all up.  YUCK!

Valentines Party.

Stella attended her first party on Valentines--a Princess Tea Party hosted by my friend Tami and her girls Gabrielle and Tabitha.  The girls all dressed up for the occasion and listened to a story, played a game, and had a delicious tea party with lots of tasty treats.

Playing "Pin the Jewel on the Crown".

Stella in our "bride" dress-up and my wedding veil.

It was so fun I thought about hosting a St. Patrick's Day party--with green everything--but I am not sure I will get around to planning it . . .

Work Space.

Thanks to Ikea I am no longer working at the kitchen counter or moving projects between my computer and Chris's office computer upstairs.  I've turned our guest suite into my treadmill/photo/desk/storage space--if you want to come for a visit, I will make it up just for you!

Maybe some thing on the walls next . . . .

Ice.

Ice Castles and ice holes (the fishing kind), we visited them both this week--trying to keep busy this winter.  The ice castles moved to the city center this year--we missed having them next door, but this location is bigger.  We went at night and had fun trying to keep warm while we explored the tunnels, caves, and icicles.  With the illumination these castles look pretty neat at night--perfect for my princesses.

Ice fishing on the lake looks pretty cold and boring to me, but we decided to check it out on a sunny day.  The girls loved throwing snow and chunks of ice into the holes.  The ice was about a foot thick but it still made me nervous.  Stella could have easily fit into a hole--but in the end it was Presley who made the mistake of turning around and stepping right into one!  Chris and I were inches from her and puller her right up--soaked from her toes to her bottom on the right side--brrrrr.  A good lesson for all in paying attention.

Dancer.

There is NO question that Presley is a dancer. She dances everywhere--even on the soccer field. So, this semester she is signed up for Preparatory Ballet. I am sure she will fit right in!  Loving the pink tights, pink leather ballet slippers, and pink leotard--we have lots of pink.

Do you think she is excited??

Cabin Fever.

Ugg, January.  This means four to five more months of cold, snowy, winter ahead . . . we might make it.  Especially if we have our fun friends take us to their cabin in the woods (even though we live in those woods, we don't have all the fun things or cool people to play with).


Presley on the mini-snowmobile.  Thanks for all the rides Caitlyn!

Stella sledding--not sure if she likes going too fast yet.

So much fun--kids sleeping on the floor all piled together, warm fires, good food, sleds, snowmobiles, and lots of snow!  Thanks!

Brrrrr, photoshoot.

I had to get a photoshoot in with my sister while she was in town--too bad it had to be 12 degrees outside with 4 feet of fresh snow. I should have splurged on fancy winter coats for the girls.

I love them--what a talented, wonderful sister--and cute kids to0!

Holidays.

Lots of family, lots of Santa, too much food (sweets mostly) . . . . and I didn't take enough pictures! Perhaps my sister will send me a few, please?





What a fun season with all my mom and dad, sisters and brothers, their kids, my all in-laws too--thank you for everything!

Gingerbread.

Presley's preschool class made a gingerbread house for the local Children's Justice Center fundraiser. People submit all kinds (and skill levels) of gingerbread houses and on-lookers get to bid on purchasing them. There are awards for different categories--and Presley's class won second place in the children's category!



Presley was so excited to make the gingerbread house and show me all parts she helped decorate. This weekend we are going to attempt a gingerbread house of our own . . .

Madrid, Spain.

Back in Madrid and we still had so much to do and see. The palace, museums, plazas, shopping . . . we definitely kept busy.


My photos did not do justice to the hotel we stayed at in Madrid. Hotel Silken Puerta America. This hotel has 13 floors, each designed by a different designer from around the world. Our room was pretty nice and sleek compared to some of the more crazy designs (think mirrored surfaces, lit floors, crazy colors, and wild angles).


Chris outside the Reina Sofia (Spain's modern art museum). It was a Sunday morning and they were offering free tickets to get in--and we were lucky to be there early (the line was sooooo long by the time we came out). Works by modern Spanish artists Dali, Picasso, and Miro are the main attractions--most visited is probably Picasso's Guernica, definitely impressive!


As we left the museum and after we got a quick bite to eat we happened to run into a parade of farm animals and dancers coming down the main street from the Plaza del Sol.


Last but not least--my most favorite thing to eat in Spain. NAPOLITANAS de CHOCOLATE. The best were from La Mallorquina at Plaza del Sol, however I had plenty of yummy napolitanas from small shops at the train station or around town. Mmmmmmm, thank goodness for all the walking around the city, I seriously had at least two a day.