Top Ten

2022 Top Ten 

1. Brad started traveling again for work and has been to Canada and Alaska. He’s looking forward to going to Australia/New Zealand after the New Year. Also competed in Lotoja again and got 9th place in his group!

2. Emily- Went to Sedona this fall on a girls trip and has been doing lots of running. Still working as a preschool teacher and is now with the 2 1/2 year olds. Like a lot of moms her second job is being a Uber driver to her kids and all their activities/ social life.

3. Carson (13) Officially became a teenager and all that comes with it; the cracking voice and growth spurt that finally made him taller than mom. Still playing the cello and got his black belt in Taekwondo.

4. Tanner (11) Also got his black belt and is enjoying his last year in elementary. Tanner is always with his friends and enjoys family movie nights.

5. Logan (8) Ever the class clown, we never know what will come out of his mouth. He has a new found love of reading and is just like his dad always wanting to ride his bike everywhere.

6. Went mountain biking in Moab

7. Went to AJR concert 

8.  Spring Break skiing in Colorado where Logan graduated from the bunny hill and is now on the green hills!

9. Took the boys to the Broadway play Hamilton

10. Enjoyed spending the Christmas holiday time in NYC!

What an incredible year 2022 ended up being! Finally after 2 years of Covid upheaval this was the first full “normal” year since then. We took full advantage and did so many fun things together as a family. Loving this stage of life we’re in!

 

Christmas ‘22

Christmas 2022

Christmas Eve cookie decorating

And Christmas Eve jammies

And Christmas Eve Santa deliveries: the quiet before the storm.

nothing beats Christmas morning! The kids always wake up extremely early, but they know they can’t wake us up until 7 am so they pass the time by watching Christmas movies together until exactly 7 am. I love that they do that together.

Christmas stockings!

It was a great morning filled with lots of excited and happy boys.

Marilyn and JP gave us all ski goggles! We’re ready for our spring break skiing!

And our traditional Christmas morning breakfast. Sure love this day and the quality time we spend together.

 

I ❤️NYC: Statue of Liberty

Our last full day in NYC. You can’t have your kids go to NYC for the first time and not see the Statue of Liberty 🗽 I think that would be blasphemous. It was a beautiful sunny day (although a little cold and windy) perfect day to visit Lady Liberty.

There she is!

On liberty island with the view of the city behind us. Got our audio tour and we’re ready to start! I loved and appreciated that they had a kids version of the audio tour. Made it  much more fun and enjoyable for the kids to learn!

Isn’t she a beauty?

Onto the inside portion of the audio tour! Logan says he doesn’t like this stuff, but he secretly does. He had to see and listen to every like thing in the museum. He kept confusing the Statue of Liberty with the Eiffel Tower, and in the museum we learned that the bones of Lady Liberty is actually a mini Eiffel Tower! We told Logan he was actually just really smart that he already knew that.

An up close and personal view (and actual size) of her face.

The original torch!

On our way to Ellis Island

 Ellis Island. Not as fun of a museum for kids, but still has a fascinating history.

On the outside I had the kids try to find my great grandparents name on the memorial wall. Tanner found him first. I’m so thankful for Ellis Island as it was how my great grandparents met and started their new life in America. First in Brooklyn New York before they made their way to Utah and far away from Nazi occupied Germany.

Coming back to the city. Can’t get enough of that city skyline.

Since it was our last day we tried to squeeze in some last minute things we wanted to see and do before we left. I felt like we didn’t get enough time in Central Park since we were just cutting through to get to the art museum for our scheduled ticket time, so we went back to really get a better opportunity to explore and enjoy Central Park.

But first up we had to stop and see the infamous Plaza Hotel for this Home Alone loving boy.

Every spot that he recognized from the movie he’d want a picture and would pull this face 🤣I love him.

The boys loved climbing on these rocks!

IYKYK 🪶 

I can see why so many people love this city.

On our way back in the subway. She said she was giving back for the holiday time (which makes me wonder if she normally gets paid for her voice) It was seriously like an amazing concert. 

But before we head home, I had to go to Rockefeller plaza one last time.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye.

Till next time!

I ❤️NYC: 9/11 and the Brooklyn Bridge

Somber morning at the 9/11 museum.  Hardly any pictures taken, just learning, understanding and paying our respects.  It was difficult talking to Logan about this.  He didn't quite understand, and even though all my children knew about 9/11 it's very different to actually see where it happened and see the videos of that day and to see the faces that goes to all of those names.

I'm amazed that it has been 20 years.  It didn't seem that long ago, and yet going through the museum and seeing some of the artifacts like fax machines, telephones, floppy discs that my children have no clue what they are, then I feel dated.  The museum really has done a wonderful and respectful job to remember the people and moments of that day.  It was such a teachable day and I'm thankful that I was able to have that with my children.  It was also a good way to show and tell them the reverberating impact that this historic day still has to our country.  

The new World One building

For lunch we stopped at Katzs.  It's super popular and famous for being in quite a few movies and tv shows.  One of the most recognizable scenes is Meg Ryan in the scene of When Harry Met Sally.  The line is crazy long, but we were in it to win it.  And it actually didn't take too long to wait, maybe 45 minutes.  

but omg it was worth the wait!  It was by far the best reuben I have had in my life.  My mom would be in heaven.

and since we were in the area we had to stop and see the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, and what a beautiful time of day to go with the sun setting!

Next up Wall Street!

you go girl

crazy busy to get a picture with the bull!  We just snapped a picture and called it good.

and seeing the NYC fire truck decorated with Christmas lights was just the cherry on top! 

Speaking of cherry on top, when I went to NYC with a friend a few years ago we went to Black Top and got these amazing milkshakes.  I knew my kids would love it and it would be a great way to end the night. I think their smiles say it all.