CRUISE!

Mr. B and I went on our first cruise--so spoiled, so lucky. Best part: we met up with our best friends the Croxalls. We had a lovely, relaxing, hilarious and fun time. We went to Honduras, Belize and Mexico, and I can't wait to cruise again!

just got on the boat

our captivating cruise companions

fun drinks!
We spent a lot of our boat time playing board games--Brian brought some amazing ones.

formal night, gorgeous couple

what Brian and Amber got to look at every dinner

First port: Roatan, Honduras. We went to a small zoo.

our adorable tour guide at the zoo

The three above pictures are in Costa Maya, Mexico, at the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins.

Cruises are good for you.

Last port: Cozumel, Mexico, where we snorkeled, swam and danced on a boat!

Best vacation ever.

December happenings

Our little girl has turned 8! Audrey is becoming a lovely young lady and we are very proud of her. She had a highly successful tea party birthday with friends at the beginning of the month. She will be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints this summer in Washington with her extended family. It's great to be eight!

  I got a job! I am teaching an online writing class for BYU-Idaho's Pathway program. I start in January. It's just 10 hours a week, but good experience for my resume and brain.

Here's my official instructor picture:

 Merry Christmas! After going on a cruise, having grandparents here, we celebrated a nice Christmas with our family of five. Christmas night my sister and her family came to visit for a week, which was wonderful. Apparently I didn't take a single picture???

Declan was sooooo excited to get Hungry Hippo. I love these cuties!

November happenings

In November we went to Albuquerque again! Mr. B had a work conference, so we tagged along to visit the Dickersons. We had a super fun time: went back to the science center, ate at Flying Star Cafe, played at an indoor play center, enjoyed the Dickerson's awesome ward, and spent lots of time chatting and playing games.

 We also met with our bishop for tithing settlement, and I took this cute picture of my kids at the church while we waited our turn. I love these three adorable faces!

November is Thanksgiving time, and we enjoyed my brother Paul's company once again. Of course I don't have any pictures, but I did want to preserve Ian's Kindergarten assignment--ha ha!

 Audrey got some Christmas decorations out (her own personal Christmas tree) and did a photo shoot (photographer Ian at work).

  Declan and Ian got new haircuts and Declan's is the shortest it's been, including a faux-hawk! He is adorable in his new style.

 I should also mention that I have been participating in a preschool co-op with some other moms. Here is a picture of the kids playing in our backyard.

Halloween

Audrey was a fairy for Halloween (wanted to be Tinkerbell, but I had a hard time finding an affordable costume. I went to the consignment shop two days before the church party and found this for $4. She loved it--parenting win!)

 Ian really wanted to be Webber for Halloween, a character from an obscure video game (Don't Starve). Luckily for him, I started learning to sew this year, so I was able to put this together with some scrap fabric and a black hoodie from Ross. I spent about $20 (the hoodie was $14) but it was worth it to see how pleased he was. I must say, the spider face is spot on--yay me! I win again!

 So two out of three still makes me the winner, right? Declan was a ghost, kind of. He refused to wear his costume for the church party except for the trunk or treat part (where we threatened no candy if you don't wear it). And for Halloween night, he refused to wear it again (even though he picked it!) and wore his Superman pajamas (as usual). He also screamed refusal for pictures. So this is what I've got, post church party:

Happy Halloween!

October happenings

Ian brought the Kindergarten class pet home (Thankfully it's a stuffed animal and not real!) This is Nutmeg and Ian loved having her visit.

I came downstairs to find Audrey reading to her brothers. Happiness.

One day when Mr. B was out of town, I took the kids to Kneaders, which had just opened. They got the coolest kids' meals and we spent over an hour there just having fun!

Finally we can play outside again after the looong, hot summer.
Audrey and Ian at the park. 

Declan at the park.

A new temple was built near us: The Phoenix temple. Mr. B and the big kids went to the open house while Declan and I stayed home sick. I have been back by myself to do temple work and it is beautiful and wonderful to have a temple 30 minutes away instead of an hour.

Too bright!

First camping trip

We took our first camping trip as a family, joining our ward at the annual campout. We had a really fun time. I loved sitting in front of the fire. Letting the kids run wild in the beautiful weather and actual woods was amazing. And we made it through the night sleeping on the ground!

 After packing up the next morning, we drove out to the Montezuma Castle National Park and saw the ruins there. It was very interesting. 

Note Declan's superman pajamas: For a few months, he wore these probably four days a week. 

First day of school

Audrey started 2nd grade and Ian got to ride the bus for the first time because he started Kindergarten!

 Declan has outgrown his nap, but every now and then it catches up with him. This night he was eating an ice cream sandwich. He finished the last bite and promptly fell asleep.

Laura's house is better than Disneyland