Christmas 2010

This year we celebrated Christmas with Brad's grandparents in Logan. Having Carson older made Christmas morning that much more enjoyable.
We started the celebration with the annual Mickelson Family Christmas Party.

and we went to Ogden to look at the Christmas lights and the cute little window displays that they have.

Carson got a Buzz lightyear and as you can tell he and his cousin were fascinated, but that wasn't the gift that caused all the tantrums...because the big hit of the morning was ...
A tricycle! The kids loved the bike and did not like taking turns. In fact it caused quite a few tears,
but we were able to get some rides in before the bike mysteriously "disappeared".

Then on Christmas evening we rushed to Layton so we could talk to my brother Daniel on his mission. It was so wonderful to talk to him! He wasn't able to call last Christmas because he was in the MTC, so it was fun to hear all about the Taiwanese people.

We then rang in the New Year by playing Bunco, hitting the pinata, and watching the NY countdown with the Murphys.

We had a wonderful Christmas and feel so blessed that we were able to be with our families.

Winter Celebration

Have I said how much I love my community? Well I do, because they do amazing things like having a winter celebration.

Carson's new favorite movie is the Polar Express. He calls it his "choo-choo" movie and would watch it 24/7 if I let him. So this morning I told him we were going to see Santa and ride the choo-choo. I should have waited until we where going to leave, because he rushed straight to the door and cried when we told him it wasn't time yet. Needless to say he was very excited.He LOVED the pony ride and did not want to get off.Waiting in line to see Santa. The cute candy cane next to us said the North Pole. The old lady who took our picture obviously didn't understand that thats what I wanted to get a picture of us next too. Its still a cute picture though.
I've been wanting to get a picture with Carson and Santa for the past two years, but santa has not come to any Christmas parties that we've been too, and Brad would not wait in line at the mall. So I was very excited that Santa was here so I could finally get Carson's first picture.

Carson loved looking at Santa, because he recognized him from his choo-choo movie, but he just would not stay still! He just wanted to run around and play. Oh well, I'm just glad to finally get the picture.and in case you are wondering, Arizona can have outdoor ice skating rinks. Its not real ice just synthetic. When they announced that there was going to be an ice skating rink I wondered how they could pull it off.
Yes I love my community and all the wonderful things they do throughout the year. We had fun!

Little Drummer Boy

This little guy was having a blast. Our friends have any instrument a little boy could ask for. He loved the drums, then the guitar, then the piano, but ultimately he would go back to the drums. Who could resist banging on something?

Remembering 2010

At the end of every year, its nice to look back and see all the blessings that have happened to us this year. Although this year wasn't nearly as much of a roller coaster as last year (getting laid off, had a baby, getting transferred, moving, buying a new house, and all in the space of two months), it was nice to have a year that was non-stressful, fun, and very eventful:

• Carson turned one
• Carson learned how to walk
• Brad's parents sold their house
• Spent 3 weeks in Utah this summer
• My sister Marilyn got married
• Brad turned 30
• Went boating at Lake Mead
• Brad and I got to spend some quality alone time in Hawaii
• Brad got promoted to be a Sr. Industrial Hygienist!

Who knows what next year will hold for us? Its always fun to speculate though...

• Hopefully a wedding (on Brad's side this time)
• More vacations
• Carson turns 2!
• My brother returning home from his mission
• Hopefully Brad's LAST oral surgery
• Brad graduating with his Masters in Industrial Hygiene from Tulane University!

So much can happen in the space of a year, and yet it seems like the years go by faster and faster. Hopefully time will slow down, I'm loving our life right now and am so thankful for all the blessings we have.

Thanksgiving 2010

Hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving! This is what we did:



We even had dinner outsidealthough it did get a little chilly

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Make-up Post

He must have known I put an ugly picture up on my blog, because this week my brother actually sent me some pictures! These two are a lot better then the last picture I got!
Brad said "Daniel actually looks tall!" Its probably a good thing he is in Asia, he fits right in!

Update

My parents have been after me to update my blog. Its only been a week since my last post, but I guess my mom is tired of looking at our wedding picture so I'll give her something else to look at.

This week Brad has been home 3 out of 5 days. Its nice to have him home although he probably wishes it was under different circumstances. He was sick Tuesday and then yesterday he had his 4th oral surgery. He is doing really well today, but they said its the 3rd day thats going to be the hardest (Sunday), because thats when the medication wears off.

Last Saturday we were able to go to the UofA football game vs. USC. Brad was able to get tickets at work and it was really fun. Plus we had amazing seats at the 50 yard line and even had a parking pass that was right next to the stadium. Carson loved the game and made it through to the middle of the 4th quarter. By the time we left it was 9:45 pm so he did great. He really seemed to enjoy the fireworks and the band.

Also this week we had a friend take our pictures at the park for our family Christmas cards. So here are a couple pictures that were taken:

Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

6 years of Wedded Bliss

6 seems like such a big number. I remember when I was first newlywed and people told me they had been married for 5 years and I thought that was forever away (no joke I really did). I really don't feel like its been that long. Yet at the same time its hard to remember what life was like before Brad.

I was only 19. A child bride. Who, know matter what people said about my age, was in love with a boy. A boy who she knew was the one for her and look how it turned out:

Thanks for everything Brad, I love you so very much.

Hump Day

Tomorrow marks my brother Daniel's one year mark in Taiwan. He loves serving the people of Taiwan and is always very upbeat in his letters home. He never complains! Even when he ate coagulated blood. Yuck! He gets along with everyone, which is probably why he has had such great success. Just last week their ward baptized 5 new members. 4 of those where from my brother and his companion. We love getting his letters each week to hear how he is doing. I can't believe its been already 1 year! It went by so fast (at least for me).

This is the only picture he has ever sent me. So although its not flattering its all I got.

Carving Pumpkins

Carson enjoyed banging on the pumpkin like a drum rather then actually helping carve the pumpkin.Brad was more interested in throwing pumpkin seeds at Carson to see if they would stick, then carving.
I don't know why I even bother, I just thought we needed a little Halloween tradition. Even if it is me doing all the work.

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

Carson's first Hockey Game

We went to Phoenix this past weekend to see some old friends and went to a Hockey Game. Unfortunately the Coyotes lost, but we did see Sen. John McCain, and there were TWO major hockey fights which were fun to watch.

Carson did really well. He seemed to really like hockey. Here he is enjoying his fruit loops while watching the game.

Mr. Monkey Pants

Carson and his Lady Bug friend had another Halloween photo shoot. This was them last year:

And here they are this year:

Mr. Monkey Pants and Little Ms. Piggy

Can you believe how much difference a year makes? Aren't they cute?

Lets just say taking pictures was a lot harder this year now that they are both so mobile.

Cute little bum shot_______________________________________________________________

At our wards Trunk or Treat. He was not a big fan. He kept trying to run out the door every chance he got and did not want to play any games. When we were going around to all the cars he was finally getting used to holding his bucket for treats, but I had to hold him.

Carson and his buddy Cole. Look at Carsons face! He looks so unsure of what was going on at least Cole was looking at the camera.Going around to all the cars:The after party tantrum:

Raiding the loot and realizing that Trick or Treating is not that bad.