Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

I love, love, love the Christmas season! I'm one of those people who start playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving. The other day we went Christmas tree shopping for a real tree. I am a fan of the pre-lit artificial trees (no loose needles, no watering, no messing with lights) but Brady wanted the real thing!

After about a million mini-lights I think next year Brady will give in to the fake thing! I was happy with how it all turned out, though. (It looks even better in person!)

Such Sad News

I am so sad to report that one of my best friends Catherine Rowley Hill's husband Clint passed away last week. He was only 26 years old and died of cancer. It is so awful to see someone so young and with so much potential pass away. I went to the funeral last weekend in Idaho Falls. Catherine is not sure what she is going to do. Right now she is still staying in Idaho Falls with his family. My heart just breaks for her. She is such a beautiful, kind, creative, talented, funny, sweet person and I hate to see her go through this. If anyone wants to send Catherine a card just let me know and I can give you her address. Please keep Catherine and her family in your prayers.

A night out

We've only had an unrelated babysitter for Sophie a couple times since she's been born, but last night was one of those times! Brady and I went to the movies & Matt and Troy came, too! We saw Dan in Real Life and we all thought it was a really good movie. We highly recommend it! I think we're going to start getting a sitter every weekend. It feels so great to go out & not worry about getting home before 7:00 bedtime.

Wicked Fun Weekend!

Last weekend My mom, Rebecca, and Brian, Tarrah & Hudson flew to L.A. to visit us and to see our favorite musical- Wicked! We didn't know that would be the last performance of Wicked before they all went on strike! We got so lucky! My friend Kavita came too! My mom stayed at our home to babysit Sophie and Hudson so we could stay out late.

Not pictured: Brady and Kavita! ( I think Brady was taking the pictures.)

Kavita & Me

Back to my roots! I can't deny it any longer- I am a brunette! I had someone fix my at-home-hair coloring disaster by putting an all over brown & giving me some highlights! We'll see how long I stay true to my natural color! This is sweet baby Hudson- he's 7 months younger than Sophie but they're almost the same size!

We went to Cheesecake Factory to celebrate Rachael's birthday, a little early, but we love an excuse to eat cheesecake! Rachael loves anything pumpkin so she couldn't resist their seasonal pumpkin cheesecake!

Grandma saying "goodbye" to Sophie & the triplets! We miss you!

Sophie's 1st birthday!

Our baby turned 1 today! I can't believe it's been a whole year since we had her. She has brought us so much joy. We love our Sophie so much. We have some cute video of today's events we'll post some clips soon, but I thought I would post some pictures of her birthday party she had at the park with some of her friends!

It was impossible to get all the kids to look at the camera! They were so happy until we started taking pictures!

Bath time- quadruple the fun!

Bathing alone is sooo not as fun! Sophie loved taking a bath with the triplets today! The more David splashed her, the more she laughed! She even slipped and fell completely under the water a couple times which made her laugh even more!

Trip to the Los Angeles Temple

We went to the Los Angeles Temple with the rest of our stake to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of its dedication. It was a great experience. It was Sophie's first time to see the Temple! (I dyed my hair back to brown later that night!)

After the Commemoration, we went with the Couts to dinner at El Torito in Beverly Hills. Now that we have kids, a nice dinner out isn't quite as relaxing as it used to be!

Halloween at the office!

Brady's work goes all out for Halloween! He won $50 in the costume contest wearing this one of a kind Scarecrow costume that Debbie Couts made from scratch !

The crazy people of Sequoia's Legal Department!

Sophie doing her Ladybug impersonation!

Will the real Flava Flav please stand up!
Congratulations, Erick!

Mad Pumpkin-Carving Skills!

We picked up 2 pumpkins from the Pumpkin Patch near our house, and 2 hours later...

...Uncle Matt proudly displays his pumpkin-carving skills.

Then 5 hours later, Brady displays his skills...

Church Halloween Party!

...with the Couts family from the Wizard of Oz.
Sophie is a ladybug and Brady and I are 80's Prom King & Queen inspired by my brothers & sisters' high school pictures! I really tried to get some nice thick eyebrows & used almost a can of hairspray getting those 80's "wings" in place!

Sophie with Aunt Rachael.

The Triplets came as the 3 Little Pigs!