Christmas 2011 looked a lot like this:

Family photo in front of our makeshift Christmas...ledge.  Can't be called a tree, because we used the entertainment center as well as a wall piece to hang ornaments on.  One day we'll have square footage for a fern, but still fun.

In the spirit of tradition, we have started collecting an ornament every year that represents the year we've had.  Right now we have a University of Utah (thanks Swains!), two from Moab (2010 is the wooden bulb; 2011 is the sun); a cat (thanks Momma Janene!), and Ellie's first collar.  This is a growing tradition and we love thinking and scheming about where next years ornament will come from. 

Bundled up to see the Christmas House in Holladay,UT.

Family Photo Shoot

For Christmas 2011 my siblings and I pooled our gift giving resources and had family pictures taken.  The last professional family photos we had done were taken when Taylor (14) was 4 years old.  So...yeah.  It was time.  Thanks to the fabulous Justin Reeves, of Justin Reeves Photography, we set photos for December 23rd. It fell right in the middle of Christmas crunch time, but was also the singular date that all of us could be present.  Austin returned from basic training in Mississippi, Nate took a long lunch break, and the rest of us trekked to Sugarhouse Park.  See for yourself....

It's A Boy!

We can finally publicly say that Nate and Hollie are having a baby.  They are due June 2012 and it will be little boy.  Can't wait to be an aunt! We are so happy for Nate and Hollie and can't wait to meet our first nephew.

 

The Christmas Onesies.  This kid is going to be spoiled rotten!

Kath's 28th Birthday

My 28th birthday fell on a Monday this year, which means that I got to celebrate all weekend long.  Love when that happens. 

One of the big moves on the 28th was to retire the vest.  More on that in another blog.

Sunday morning brunch at Bakers de Normandie....delicious. 

An afternoon walking around the Gateway Mall in Salt Lake City.  Barnes and Noble, Sur La Table, and Old Navy were all stopping points.  My lady bought me two down vests and a pastry cutter for my birthday.  She knows me so well!

Just when you thought birthday celebrations were over, Monday rolled around.  As I strolled out to my car after work, I found this note on my windshield from Becca.  She sure is a keeper. 

Changing of the Garb

The Vest. 

Oh the vest.  I have every understanding that this post is going to seem ridiculous to many, but the vest indeed will receive its own post.  The vest has been with me since high school.  For those of us keeping score, that would be over 10 years.  This red vest was found in my bedroom closet.  It may have been my brother's...or father's...who knows.  When it was first found it was puffy like a cloud.  Now upon retirement, its thin like tissue.  This vest went to Utah State and back.  It has seen Las Vegas, New York City, Boston, Sweden, and countless camping trips.  During my sophomore year of college I gave an impromptu speech in my public speaking class about the vest.  As a graduate student, I wore the vest to the early morning public speaking classes I taught at the University of Utah.  It is a blanket, a purse, an identity statement.  I know its silly but, retiring this vest was a difficult thing.  It was like giving up a security blanket, or selling a first car.  It was time to move on, but it sure does deserve its own tribute.  Goodbye vest! 

Out with the old, in with the new. 

For my birthday, Becca bought me a pastry cutter from my fave store, Sur La Table as well as a new vestibule.  LOVE. 

Birthday evening with the family!

Boots

While my friend and colleague ran the New York Marathon, I watched his feline.  Adorable.  Meet Boots:

Reba the Gecko

We've made a new addition to our family!  Reba the Leopard Gecko has been my little sister Taylor's pet for a few years now.  The love is gone between them, and Becca swooped in to claim Reba as the newest tenant of the Avenues. 

The meeting

Checking out the crickets.  They lasted five minutes, until we wised up and got mill worms.

The new home.

"This house is ours"-- The Others

Reba

Random Fall 2011 Happenings

This pizza crust recipe is a staple at our house.  It is so easy to whip up, makes two whole pizzas, and is delicious.  Varieties we love include: eggplant and roasted tomato; pepperoni and jalepeno (for Becca, not me!); pineapple; chicken artichoke hearts; and my absolute favorite, BBQ chicken.  Long live this recipe. 

Chicken parm...delicious

Once upon a time, I dropped Becca off at her car in the Marriott Libary parking lot on campus.  I usually wait for her to get into her car before I drive away, but this time around I felt sheepish for waiting, so headed out of the lot.  As Becca put her keys into her car...SNAP!...the key broke in half.  She watched my tail lights helplessly as I drove away.  To top it off, her phone was completely out of juice.  Thankfully, when she powered it back on it had enough for one phone call and then died.  When I drove back to give her the spare key, this was the very sad face I saw:

Taylor

This was the hilarious scene outside of The Rusted Sun one afternoon.  Man on bike, with his partner in cry, the stuffed teddy bear.  Just another fabulous observation of happenstance in the SLC.

Using the force. This one I took for Becca. :)

The view when I leave my office.  I love working on campus!

You don't have to watch CSI to know what was going on here...Ellie + bathtub meets bedsheets.  So cute to see this in the morning while getting ready.  She makes us laugh and there are remnants of her all over.

Helping mom write her thesis by laying on the laptop.  All 13 lbs. of her.