{Annual 2016}

With the holidays upon us I have found it hard to consistently keep up on the events around here!  But since this blog is my journal I think it's important to keep up on the main happenings! 

In November we had an awesome opportunity to head up to Utah for an Annual put on by Mike's squadron.  Since the squadrons headquarters are Hill Air Force Base, it also doubled as a nice trip to visit with my side of the family :) 

The "Annual" is a training for all the recruiters in the squadron - there are a lot of activities for spouses and families also but I was only able to attend the Awards Banquet.

It was SO fun at the banquet because Mike's flight (the Las Vegas recruiters) won lots of awards and were recognized throughout the evening.  I loved to see Mike get recognized for all the hard work that he puts in recruiting for the Air Force!  This year he won Silver Badge (second year) for enlisted 43 people over the last year.  The F flight also won the highest producing flight AND Roberto Salinas from the flight won the one and only Gold Badge Award for recruiting most in the Squadron.  

Here is a cool picture of F flight somebody shared on Facebook!  I especially love that handsome tall bald guy in the back :)

Caitlyn & Angie!  I sure love both of these ladies dearly! 

Another shot of the F flight.  Love all the awards in front of them - they cleaned up!

Here is Michael receiving the Silver Badge award

Mike & his first office partner, Aubrey Buhr.  He is one of the coolest dudes I've met!

Mike giving the flight chief a high five as the flight is walking up to get their award.  Pete was such an awesome guy and we are so sad that he is moving this month :(

Here is Roberto receiving the Gold Badge award.  He gave an awesome speech (despite having strep throat at the time) and invited his husband to come pin the badge on him.  They are such a great couple. 

Mike's current office partner Richard Thill and another dude that went through training with Richard (Hurst?) who is a recruiter in West Jordan now.  These three are apparently xbox buddies too - recruiting friends, for life haha!

I am so grateful for Michael and the hard work he puts in to provide for our family.  Not only does he work hard but he manages to prioritize us before his work - a true balancing act!  He is all that and a bag of chips :)

{Halloween 2016}

Halloween was extra special for us this year.  Daddy had been away for the entire month of October doing a training for work ...  but for Halloween we were able to meet him in Utah for a fun weekend of celebrations!  

I dropped the ball BIG TIME on costumes this year... honestly, it wasn't even on my radar.  At one point I had envisioned a "Calvin & Hobbes" theme but I may save that for when the boys are a couple of years older and Cal can actually pull Wes in a little red wagon :) Luckily, we have cousins who showed up for us with their old costumes and we were able to dress the boys up in some pretty sweet little outfits! 

Our first celebration was on Saturday before Halloween - the trunk-or-treat at Julie and Erik's ward in Layton! 

Calvin's dinosaur costume

Wesley was a cute puppy 

Reunited for the weekend!  Mike & I wore matching "Gryffindor Quidditch" t-shirts, a nod to my very favorite Harry Potter books

Dad and his boys

Beautiful Aunt Jana with cousins Quincy & Collin who dressed as sloths this year... they started quite the trend amongst their friends with those sloth costumes!

Gracie and Julie dressed as matching "Wonder Woman"

Molly was a football player from her favorite team - the Seattle Seahawks.  Erik was her cheerleader :) 

One of my favorite moments - Grandpa Mike and Wes

Cousins - about three weeks apart - Lola was a skunk.  Soooo cute!

Beautiful fall colors of Utah in the background!

The trunk-or-treat was fun even though Calvin didn't quite get the point just yet.  He like walking around and seeing the costumes, but some of the scarier ones had him a little concerned! 

After the festivities we carved pumpkins at Julie and Erik's house.  

We had fun carving together (ours is the one that looks like a haunted house). 

Monday night we broke out two MORE costumes for the boys!  The skeleton one that Wes wore is one that Calvin wore for his first Halloween - 

It was fun to see it get used again - how different my boys look!  I love it.  

Calvin was a little monster (metaphorically and literally) for Monday nights festivities 

Monday evening was fun ... we got together with all of the cousins for trick or treating.  Quincy & Collin watched out for Cal and insisted on pushing his stroller and helping him get in and out for the trick or treats.  Those boys are so good to him - Calvin is one lucky little dude to have them! 

Preparing for some trick or treating with the Colvin girls

Cute baby Lola!

Carter was a skeleton this year!

Being treated royally by Quincy the sloth

Cousin Isaac as a SWAT team man

Calvin had had enough by the end of the night!  

Wesley got to stay inside while we went trick or treating and get snuggled by Aunt Jana 

I loved being able to spend the Halloween holiday with family ... there is nothing quite as special as seeing the kiddos bond with their cousins!  

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Recital!

Halloween 2016 is officially behind us!  It was one for the books this year.  

The festivities kicked off with my piano students doing a recital for the residents at Beehive Homes.  Most of them dressed up and they all loved coming to the front to tell everyone what their costumes were and then performing a song for the grandparents!  The theme was "Tricks and Treats" because we all ate treats while the students performed their tricks :) Here are a couple of my favorite pictures I got - 

Gauri was the "Wicked Witch of Henderson" and she is normally quite shy but was SO enthusiastic about her costume and ran to the piano on her broom!  It was awesome!

Chase was 'Arrow' I believe (I hope I got it right...)

Anora - aka Supergirl

Elijah the Cowboy

Rexi was Cleopatra (in her first perfomance!  She has only been taking a month or so)

Lydia came as Hermione Granger from Harry Potter

Kenzie was Rey from Star Wars

Serenity came as Wonder Woman

Sofia was a princess - Cinderella

Sofia was dressed as a Ninja

I can't remember what Elizabeth's costume was called, but she wrote her own Halloween piece and it was impressive!

Austin was an astronaut

Elijah in his first recital - Donkey Kong

It was also Naomi's first recital - she was a mermaid. 

It was really fun - the old folks home recitals are really enjoyable because there is something quite special about sharing the gift of music!  

{our family 2016}

We finally got around to getting our family photos taken!  I had wanted to wait until September so Cal would be 2 and Wes would be 6 months and showing some of his sweet personality.  

We went to Calico Basin and had the most beautiful desert backdrop!  The lighting and weather were perfect.  The only thing missing was a 2 year old who would behave or hold still for one minute!  However, Linda is a super talented photographer and managed to get several shots that I absolutely love! 

I sure love these boys of mine <3