buddy's shenanigans...

We love getting a real tree every year, it smells soooooo good! We like to wait until closer to December first to put the tree up, but kids were dying to get one.. {So was i} 

We had a good time picking out that perfect tree, we decorated, ate some 

cookies and hot cocoa, and then set up the train.... always the highlight of the night.

the next morning buddy surprised us hanging upside down on  a candy cane.

here are just a few of  buddy's adventures this christmas season...

we watched "frozen" in the movie theater that day before, so the kids thought

it was pretty funny to see that Olaf was here with buddy.  Cutest movie EVER!!!

 Buddy put himself in a "Jib Jab"video on the computer. Ha!!

the newest member of our family...

"Dakota"... kids call him "koda"  and we are so in love with him.

He's a cavapoochon, and the sweetest, cuddliest pup ever. 

 He is Sadie's brother same exact mom and dad.  

Hayes said in the car when we picked him up from the airport, "we are 

going to be the happiest family ever!"  and "all my dreams are coming true!" 

 It's been pure joy here in our home. 

Ghost Falls...

We have had a beautiful fall and were dying to get out and see the colors in the mountains.

Conference weekend we decided to take the kids to our favorite mountain bike ride and 

hike up to Ghost Falls.  

The water wasn't really flowing very well, but still so fun to hike and take the 

dogs on a nice hike.  lots of people had the same idea! ha! 

My kids did great, no complaining... maybe now they are ready for mtn bike rides up to 

corner canyon! {wink}

Mr & Mrs Taylor Johnson...

it was an absolutely gorgeous day at the Newport Beach temple. The grounds were 

gorgeous and it was such a beautiful temple.  

After the wedding, we took pictures and then off to the wedding luncheon 

at a delicious mexican restaurant in Irvine.  The cousins were hanging out all 

day, and we are quite the bunch!  I love how close these kids are to each other. The older

cousins are such FABULOUS examples.  These kids all worship their older cousins.

 It was so fun to visit with Ben and Jacquie

and their cute little baby bennett who now live there,  My kids are now 

obsessed with Google! ha! {ben's new job}

The Beautiful couple.  

Mckenna and Taylor Johnson...

my cute little family! 

 Grandma and Grandpa Johnson

Ivy with Grandma marlene.  So sweet!!

these kids are such a blast! Just a few of the cousin pics with Taylor.

and some with Ben! haha!

 The Reception was later that evening in LA and it was a beautiful backyard, yummy food and 

again the Johnson cousins took over the dance floor.  Hey we are a fun group of kids! ha!  

everyone one would do the Chant and then that person would tear it up on 

the dance floor. It was hilarious.  Especially the littles! 

 Love these cute crazy spazzy cousins!

 My handsome Hayes with my handsome daddy, his namesake! 

Hayes Terrance Taylor

my hayesie bugs dancing the night away! 

my cute siblings, trying out a new pose! haha!!

California Vacation...

We started off our family vacation to california with a quick pit stop in Las Vegas at our 

favorite kid friendly resort 'Tahiti Village'.  Then off to the Hyatt Regency resort in

 Huntington beach! It's our favorite resort right across from the beach.  They have a fun 

kids club, lots of pools and waterslides and a lagoon of hot tubs.  the kids loved meeting up with 

tons of our cousins there.  It was like we took over the resort with the Johnson family! ha!

Every day we played at the beach or the pool and made smore's at night by the bonfire.

my kids adore their older cousins and it was so fun hanging out with everyone. 

My nephew Taylor was getting married in the Newport beach temple that following 

saturday.  So Grandpa {by tradition} takes the kids to the temple to do baptisms.  It was

such a great experience.  The LA temple is where we met my brother Derek and his

family.  We got our own session, and the room was absolutley gorgeous.

As we were walking out, Elder Uchdorf was walking out.  He was there for his grandson's

wedding, and we loved that we got to see him!!

Crab hunting, always a hit at the beach!

my little mermaid...

the waterslides at the hyatt are amazing, and even ivy went on them all by herself.

LA temple with grandpa...

The boys loved playing beach volleyball or just body surfing the waves! 

there were some HUGE waves too.

this picture cracks me up... this is just a few of us in one of the hot tubs. 

 WE overtook the place!! haha!