Cuteness Counts~

I wanted a picture taken by this outdoor structure, everything about it was cute and the palm trees near it! I just loved it. Thanks to mom for taking the picture!





The girls liked the lounge chairs a lot. Celia started lying down on one and Valborg started taking pictures, then grandma took photos of her, then I started too as well! It made for a mini photo session.:) As I get copies of their photos, I may add them on here.

These resort was so pretty and cuteness counts!


These were the waterfalls that sounded so nice outside my window.

We got busted for taking the cousins to breakfast without permission, but the kids had a great time and loved walking around the hotel afterwards taking pictures and playing animal crossing all a long the way.

Hiking Red Rocks

What goes up must come down, the kids loved climbing, we had to tell them when it was time to turn back because the trail kept going higher and higher and we worried about the kids sliding down and hurting themselves.
The areas in the shade had ice!

I love to look at the plant life on hikes. This little board told of us of an interesting plant. I saw manzanita trees around too which I learned about in my hike in Coloma. I'm a regular nature lover!





Addman looking cool.



I hadn't realized the beauty hidden in Las Vegas. We went to a trail in the Red Rock Mountain area with the kids and Tanya and Christian. It was a beautiful morning. Not too cold out and we had a great time walking in then climbing red rocks to see more of the trail. We stopped at Target and got some snacks and water. The cousins loved being together and Celia stayed with Grandma and Grandpa at the hotel, they are so nice and willing to serve, I love them!

Taking it all in~

The kids were happy to get the the hotel, it really was resort like. I could hear the waterfalls out the window and the beds were all fluffy and white. I even liked the decorative ceiling fan and the big Jacuzzi tub. Yep, pretty different from the motels were stay in on our way to Utah, but don't get used to it I told them.:)



We stayed at the Hotel for dinner and went to the promenade there. We were excited to see they had three course meals for $9.99. We all love a good deal and the kids love having appetizers and desserts to themselves. Joseph got lamb shank and apple cobbler with mozzarella sticks. He was in heaven. Emmy did well with her share of the food, but admitted we were almost full of soda and salad before the main dish came! because it took a while Celia and Joseph had fun playing with ice, and Emmy made a mustache out of her hair to cover her nose from the smoke filled casino we passed through to go eat.



We got to see the Eiffel tower and Statue of Liberty all on one street! Hehe. Emmy kept saying this is very different from the cities we usually visit. Its true! The strip was lit up and bright and they've really expanded the area with more hotels and shopping and big screen Tvs then I remember. We were impressed at the terrifing look of the Stratosphere's roller coaster. It was high above and hanging over the hotel that looked like Seattle's space needle. Even our dare devil family member's admitted that looked too scary! We thought it would be good to drive the strip instead of walk it since dad's knee was bothering him and Celia is a little bit monkey and might try and run into the street! We did seethe lights and fire of the volcano erupting at the Mirage. We were stuck in traffic in front of it, so we had perfect seats.:) We tried to avoid all the lame advertisements and took pictures from the car like tourists, it was still a very fun time.

Las Vegas Temple

My mom and I were telling Emmy to smile for this picture, she says she is too tired because she had to wake up early to drive to Vegas hehe. She also told me that traveling in the car is no big deal to her anymore. I guess she is used to that because of our Colorado trips!
Happy Celia
My dad enjoying the view and relaxing while we were taking all kinds of pictures.




Well, since we aren't gamblers really and we were looking for a relaxing time in Vegas we enjoyed our ride to Las Vegas and did some sight seeing Davis style. We went up the the Vegas temple on the way to our destination at the J.W. Marriott Hotel. It was an unusual looking temple, but we enjoyed the beauty and peace and calmness there. We sang I am a child of God and had a little scriptural thought. It was our little church like meeting. Then the phone rang and we were told the Hellums made it to the Hotel so we went over there next.

Kieran's Big Day

Grandma getting ready to go to the baptism








Emmy, Joseph, Celia and I traveled to My folks house to particiate in Kieran( My Nephew) eight year old celebrations. I was feeling better when we took off Friday morning for Los Angeles. The kids and I made great time until we hit LA's heavy traffic on a Friday. However, we made it there and still had plenty of time to shop for Kieran's present and watch a movie.:) We really wanted to get Kieran a game for his DSI that my kids had so they could all be in game in Animal Crossing Wild World together. Even with the Internet, they can play together at home with living so far away. We found it at the Brea mall and were really happy since it seems to be hard to find and was released in 2005.

We were ready for the Big day on Saturday, we traveled to Burbank in the morning and were there for Kieran's Baptism. I gave the talk on Baptism, my mom gave the talk on the spirit and my dad baptized and confirmed Kieran. It was a great family experience and a beautiful day. Afterwards, we went and set up for Kieran's Drum Party. My dad made the most delicious tacos; spicy chipotle ground beef, chili verde pork, and chipotle chicken on corn torillas or tostada shells. My sister's red velvet cupcake was a real hit with me as well.:) Celia loved the drum party. She went up and stood on the drum and led everyone in rumbling loud or soft on their drums, she set the beat for everyone, and she even sung the ABC song in the microphone all by herself! She wasn't shy at all and we all enjoyed it very much. I was happy for the earplugs they gave us, Joseph was too, but we we're grooving and lovin' it!

I had mentioned the the kids that we would be out all day, so they were saying it wasn't time to head home to grandma and grandpa's just yet. We stopped by the Citadel outlets,I had to check out the Cabi outlet which was having great sales and I got just what I wanted.~ We stopped by Henry's shoe experience, we love that place too! Joseph and Celia picked shoes they loved. Celia's were pick sandals that said Audrey inside so of course she had to get those. I got a wonderful purse, I could go on and on about it, describing it, but let's just say its fabulous! We were spoiled getting to do what we wanted and having just a wonderful day with the family.

Happy New Heater~

That's me on the red carpet as Celia calls it( the material the heaters guys use to cover up the flooring for their work) Notice the space heater in the background. Those have been life savers. Brian was really on that, he had us warmed up by those the first day without heat which was a while a go, December 22nd! We had three running all the time.

I've never been so happy to have a hole cut in my ceiling.:) Hopefully it won't bother the boys too much before we get it patched up.~ I believe the builders of our house installed a heater, that I would find out was recalled a year or more ago, and built the house around it. This route through the boys room is better than removing a weight bearing truss, so it'll all work out. I'm excited to have central heat in the house again. They started, but are delayed 'till next week to finish. We haven't suffered, but Its great to have things in working order.

A Little Bit Of Change~

Maybe it is all the Holiday season rush I tried my hardest to avoid, or that little cough that bothered me for three weeks, but it caught up with me and I have Bronchitis and some ears that aren't very happy. I needed rest and that's all there is to it. On Thursday night, I went to the instacare and they gave me antibiotics and an inhaler and some pretty heavy duty cough syrup with instructions to rest. I tried to tell her I was the mother of four children and that sounded very difficult to do. My body said sounds good so I rested all day Friday. Brian has been wonderful help and support. I am so grateful for him.

I didn't want to cancel our babysitter for the New Years Eve party I had already responded yes to, so I rested most of the day and we went. They had dancing, but I was good and just hung out and talked to the many friends that were there. Being with Brian was great since we usually are apart on New Years Eve visiting family. My favorite part of the party was a flip it book booth. We danced around for a few seconds in front of a green screen and they turned it into a flip book. Brian really danced it up and it was very fun and funny to see our little book in fast or slow motion.

The kids survived at home and we are starting out the New Year well. I plan to rest a lot more and prevent the craziness that keeps me so busy in the first place. I've got a prevention plan for the usual problems we encounter with food out of the kitchen , messy rooms, and too much laundry to handle. So far so good. I am excited for a great but different, calm yet prodcutive, happy year!