Nine

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

(And since anniversaries are a good time to be really really sappy...)

Alot of things have changed, but the one thing that hasn't is my love for this guy. Happy 9th Anni Jared and can't wait to see what the next 9 years bring! <3

Our kid's a stud.

Recently Carter has brought home a few things that some of his female classmates made for him.

Yep, even scored some digits. Carter is completely oblivious to anything beyond platonic, but I'm wondering: Does it really start this young????

First Ski!

After Carter's success with skiing last year, we decided to get Hayley on skis this year as well. It's something our family really enjoys doing together so it'll be nice to not have to take turns sitting with Hayley in the ski lodge this year!

Yesterday we decided we couldn't wait any longer and took the kids and all our gear to our local ski hill. The only problem is the skill hill isn't open yet. Which means no ski lift. Minor detail. Jared and I carried skis, snowboards and the kids on our backs and hiked up the hill. In knee-deep snow. Skiied down. Then hiked back up...... a few times over. It was quite strenuous, as I'm sure you can imagine. Every muscle in my body is sore today...but we definitely had enough fun to make it worth it!

I love this picture of Carter stopped on his way down the hill. It shows his personality: always so calculated, even when he's supposed to be having FUN.....

Hayley did so good for her first time. She has so much enthusiasm when trying new things, it's infectious. I think she'll pick up on skiing quite quickly.


It was a fun day together, and made me thankful for where we live and the opportunities this little town in the mountains gives us. And excited for many more family ski days this winter!

I Love You a Bushel and a Peck

Today my grandma passed away and a big chunk of our hearts went with her. I am so happy we were able to see her 5 days ago and say our goodbyes. She was sick and weak and it was such a change for me to see my normally lively grandma in that condition.

To even describe her as lively is an understatement. I have always known that my grandma was the quirkiest woman to walk the face of the earth. She is the most creative person I know, and was born to preform and entertain. Life as her grandchild was never dull, or quiet. And we love her for it.

You will be missed Grandma "Funny"! Or as she like to be called: Swanee Cahoon from Saskatoon! (Not her real name, nor is she from Saskatoon. See?? Quirky.)

♥ Family ♥

I am in love with these two pictures my kids brought home from school this week:

Carter's. If you look close, this is an exact replica of our house/street/vehicle.

Hayley's. I love the mountains in the background.

Maybe it's the Christmas season. Maybe it's recent experiences that reinforce what's really important. Maybe it's because time feels like it is flying by waaay too fast. But all I wanna do these days is be at home snuggling with my little family.

Kids Christmas Party

Every year we look forward to Jared's company's HUGE work Kids Christmas Party. The only problem? So do all the other 1000+ employees!

The word "Crazy" would be an understatement. First we get corralled into a ridiculously long line-up for terrible food. Then we try to find a table, which is hard because there are only enough tables and chairs for 1/3 of the people in attendance. The kids all run around in their noisy "church shoes" on wooden gymnasium floors. The Magician has preformed the exact same magic act 4 years in a row now. Then we sit and wait while the children get called up to see Santa. In. Alphebetical. Order. (!!!) Our last name is Whidden.

It's excruciating. So why do we do it? The kids love it! They don't remember which magic tricks were repeated. They love the greasy pizza. Santa gives each kid a very nice, gender and age-appropriate toy. The kids love seeing Santa and love their new gifts.

patiently awaiting the start of the Magic show

Santa!

Carter told Santa he wanted a "Queen Anne's Revenge" ship from Pirates Of the Carribean. Hayley asked for a puppy, lol.

We came home and set up our Christmas tree. We are really getting into the Christmas spirit lately and can't wait to celebrate the season :)

Tis the Season

Bahaha I bet you all thought I was talking about the Christmas season! Nope, Twilight season....silly, silly blog readers!

Love

I am loving this song lately:

It's reminds me that (despite all the craziness) life is pretty dang good.

Mr. Handsomepants. Me. These cutie kids... We have a good life together :)

This Week...

• Looking forward to some Mendenhalls and Whiddens visiting us in the next little while!
• Went on a super dee duper fun family trip to Calgary, that included lots of shopping and going to Chuck E Cheese.

• I finally fulfilled my life-long dream of becoming an elementary school Lunch Lady. Boo Ya.
• snuggled with our not-so-little puppy dog

• enjoyed the first snow of the season. I'm already sick of shoveling.

• remembered Garbage Day again!!!!
• had a Family Movie Night where we shared our love of The Princess Bride with these kids. It was a hit... inconceivable!
• also introduced the kids to the game of Scrabble. Great Grandma Swanee will be so proud.
• Carter and Hayley invented "Brother's Day" and "Sister's Day" where they took turns making pictures, cards,giving presents, and generally spoiling each other for an entire day. Just for being siblings. Our children are delightful.
• videotaped this little beauty of our dog dutch. *(Interesting side note, one time we held a doggie treat up on the living room ceiling and he jumped up and got it. Two words: Crazy. Agile.)*

Hope all your weeks have been as great as ours!

Happy Halloween!

We have cute kids.

I am in looooove with these awesome pictures of our kids, taken by Tara Merrill.

Check out Fig and Willow Photography on Facebook!!

Cruise!!

We just got back from an amazing family vacation. We went on a cruise from LA down to Cabos San Lucas, Mexico. It was only a 5 day cruise, but a nice one to ease the kids into the world of cruising :)

The kids had so much fun. I think their favorite parts were swimming and the Kids Camp. We swam at the pool every single day.

The boat was awesome. It was so huge and there was tons to do. We loved getting dressed up for our fancy dinners, and going to the shows.

Our first and only stop was in Cabos San Lucas. We were stopped there for 2 whole days and did so many fun things. The kids liked looking in the shops and seeing all the people. I think at first they were quite overwhelmed, especially when you step off the boat and there's swarms of Mexicans trying to sell stuff, yelling stuff like "You need taxi? You want to go to the beach?" lol. Jared and I would just walk by ignoring them and poor Carter kept tapping me and saying, "Mom that man's trying to ask you something" hahaha.

It was sooo HOT in Cabos, 117* F which is around 46* C!!!! In the afternoon, we took the kids back onto the boat and they stayed at Carnival's Kids Camp while Jared and I went back into Cabos and rented jet skis.



The second day in Mexico we got to watch dolphins swimming at the aquarium, and even touch one and take our picture with it. No pictures on my own camera though, only ones we bought so I can't post it. The kids were in heaven though, they both love dolphins.

They also loved the folded towel animals in our room on the cruise.

At the end of the cruise we arrived back in LA and had 3 days before our flight back to Canada. We did a bunch of touristy things there, like the Hollywood sign:

And Hollywood Boulevard:

The kids are obsessed with Pirates of the Caribbean and seeing Captain Jack Sparrow was a highlight for them!

We bought a Triple Attraction Pass for Ripley's Believe It Or Not, Guinness Book Of World Records, and the Hollywood Wax Museum.




The next day we went to Santa Monica Peir and played on the beach. What a cool place. If it weren't for REDONKULOUS traffic and high cost of living...I could be Californian.




We also went to the LA Zoo. Carter and Hayley are both just such animal lovers, especially Hayley. At the beginning, they'd stare at a meerkat going "aaaawwwww" so you can imagine their reactions to the cooler animals like tigers and giraffes.

And that's it!! I know I've said it before but I just love my little family. I'm thankful for my sweet children who love to travel. And my husband who works so hard and finds good deals for us to go on trips :)