Fun Visits from our Oregonian fam!

We were so happy to have my 3 cute Woodley cousins here for dinner a couple weeks ago. They fit us into their girls' weekend of shopping for bridesmaid dresses to wear at Erin's wedding this August! Yahoo! We are so excited for the big day!

Then we had a rendezvous with Grandpa&Grandma Nelson in Palm Springs for my last little 'getaway' before the baby. (I guess it was a big no-no at 38 weeks, but let's not forget that my last two have been a week overdue!) Anyway, we had so much fun at the swap meet, in the hot tub & celebrating Grandpa's 75th Birthday--awesome! (Notice that Madison was not so happy about that last picture--we think she gets it from her Great Grandpa!)

Dancing Girls and Haircuts...

Kennidy and Madison and their good friends made their 2008 gymnastics and dancing debue! Then you can see Carter's 1st (and possibly last) haircut from mom. The only thing that saved us was that water bottle!

Pregnant woman on stage--yikes!

I never would have guessed I'd be 8 months pregnant and M.C.-ing the Modesty Fashion Show for our stake! We had 45 girls and 6 boys parade beautiful prom dresses and hot tuxedos down the aisle last month. There were about 250 Mothers and Daughters in attendance watching, so needless to say, I was a little nervous--but at least they let me sit down and hide my pregnant belly! ;0) Below you can see the cute girls from my ward and our very own escort-Drew!

Girls night out-1st Melting Pot Party!

Valerie's 40th Birthday--what a great excuse to try out the Melting Pot cheese and chocolate fondue pots!

On skiis for their 2nd time--Kennidy&Madison!

With her experienced cousins Annika and Hayden to motivate her, Kennidy took right to the snow and had her 'edgey-wedgies' (best secret ever-keeps skiis in perma-snow plow) off in no time!
Madison, as you can see, was a bit of a late bloomer...but with much patience on the part of her Dad (ie. walking down most of the bunny hill while holding her hand as she skiied), Madison was also skiing alone by the end of the day! She just wished that she could do it in her shorts without all that extra snow gear--good thing she is a California girl or that child would have hypothermia most days!

Carter 'the only way he'll ride'

Would only sled BY HIMSELF at 2 1/2 years old....good thing we were on a small slope!

Cold Weather Fun with Family....

We just couldn't get enough fun in the snow with our Roberts and Hawkins cousins--from quads to sleds to skiis--we did it all! Even Grandma and Grandpa Johnson joined in on the fun! (okay, I guess prego mom spent most of the time safely behind the camera!)

Johnsons (and Woodleys) on Ice...

As you can tell from the pictures, we Californians don't get on the ice much...but that doesn't stop us from trying during our annual trip to the cold weather! It was our Woodley family Christmas activity--all 21 of us had the rink to ourselves! Thanks Eric & Megs for such a fun time!

Buzz Lightyear gone wild....

What NOT to get your kids for Christmas next year....

Sunday Christmas outfits....

My favorite holiday pictures...

So they think they can dance....

Best entertainment at our church Christmas party was watching these kids dance. I think my little party animals get it all from their dad, don't you? ;0) Watch Carter as he attacks the dance floor!

Keeping the Tooth-Fairy in business!

Madison lost her FIRST tooth the first of December at 5 years old and then Kennidy lost all 4 of her top front teeth AT THE DENTIST the first of January (along with a heavy dose of nitrous oxide). After witnessing the trauma that her older sister has been through with getting 6 of her 7 missing teeth pulled, Madison proudly announced to everyone that she lost her first tooth 'and her mom didn't even have to use the pliers'! (don't think I'll be up for mother-of-the-year this time around!)

The Incredible Swelling Belly....

What a difference the last few months of pregnancy make.....from Dec.1st at Kennidy's Sing Noel performance to Chris's Birthday on Feb.4th out came my basketball! Yikes!

Thanksgiving at the Utley's in AZ

Okay, so we have A LOT of catching up to do! Let's see, where to start...after California put out all it's flames, we headed to Arizona for some quality family time. Chris taught the girls tennis for their first time, we switched our Turkey Bowl tradition from football to softball, the grandkids did their own Thanksgiving pageant for Grandpa&ma, and we even fit in visits to the Mesa Arizona Temple-both day and then at night to see the famous lights all between shopping trips to our favorite store--Last Chance!!