Starting the year off...

With Jazz Hands! (Everybody loves a good Jazz square!)

Well, folks, we did it! 1/2 Marathon off the bucket list, check!

At the starting gate!


Ryan and Seth and Tom and Shelby picked the perfect location that we ran past a million (ok, 6) times, so they got to stay put and listen to the band and cheer us on every few miles.


Is there a cuter cheerleader? He's even got a pompom.


Proof that I ran. 1:57.44


And we were still smiling!

Ryan just liked his balloon:


Pointing at his shadow:


What a fun group!


I'm a little sad that I always forget to take pictures with Meieli! (Send me your pics of the race, friend!). Thanks to Meieli, we knew about this race to run!! Meieli (see Family re-RUN-ion post) is my inspiration for running, so when she told me that she was coming down to socal to run the race, I HAD to join in the fun! We had a fun post-race lunch at Subway chatting with her and James and their friends Heidi and Allen. What FUN couples--we wish we lived next door so we could hang out all the time!

Honestly, I didn't think I could do this race. 13+ miles? No thank you! And while I was running it, I also didn't think I could do it. OH man, Miles 10-12 were BRU-TAL. It was such an amazing emotional experience, though. I really felt like I went through a somewhat cathartic journey during the whole race--from thinking about all things Ryan, to my journey to find, meet, date, and marry Seth, our experience on both the west and east coast, my many "running" buddies, etc....etc... it was just great!

Whilst cleaning another room....

Look at that sly little grin...

Ryan wanted to help in the closet! Thanks for sorting my clothes, baby!

Picture a Christmas

What a joyous holiday season! I'm reminded over and over how blessed I am...and this December was no exception. We had such a fun, relaxing, enjoyable Christmas holiday with my parents at their home in Bountiful! It was a white christmas, which I loved, and it was an all around perfect time. Little Ryan got the Croup while we were there, so we weren't able to get out and visit friends the way we'd hoped to, but truthfully it helped me enjoy the "stillness" that time at home brings--and it was lovely.

Rewind to the start of our Christmas holiday:

Gina sent Ryan's Christmas package in this LARGE box, and the first thing I did was tape the flaps together and turn it upside down in anticipation of Ryan's very first Cardboard "Fort". Seth was TOTALLY game with me, so we cut out windows and a door. It's now Ryan's "Office" that he goes into when Dad goes to work and he's sad that Dad left. So, the cliche is true for this family--the kids always love the box!


Ryan met Santa:


And makes a pretty cute one himself:


Season's Greetings:


Ryan loves his Basketball from Dad and his Chair from G&G Johnson:


He also does a great Santa Dance:


And...Christmas Morning...Ta-Da!


Let me tell you a secret. Mama and Papa Price make the BEST Christmas mornings. They always have a surprise or two up their sleeves. And it's just SO much fun. This year, they got "the grandkids" this AWESOME little car:


See the look on that kid's face? Priceless.


oops. Bye Rudolph.


Whaaaa? A Toothbrush?? For baby??? That SPINS???


SCORE!


Oh, this kid had so much fun!

Dad very thoughtfully read all the packaging and labels from the bazillion TJs chocolate items I gave him. I think he and Trader Joe were buddies by the end of the day ;)


We got mom a Snuggie for christmas! (Jealous much?) I'm not sure why I'm modeling it...Mom? Mom where are you???


I want to cry when I think of how generous my parents were for Christmas. They made it so special and perfect, down to the very detail.


This was my favorite present we gave Ryan. A wooden Sushi Set!




We gave him a lot of wood for Christmas.


The Smiths came up (down? I don't know directions in SLC) to see us on Christmas mid-morning! It was so fun to see what all the kids got, and to have Ryan see his cousins...he loves them!


Tru and Ryan are 2 weeks apart. They were so cute.

And Ryan Learned how to share (phew!):


THIS. is my FAVORITE video of the trip:


Ryan loved the Mickey Mouse beanbag:


And playing with Hannah:


We were lucky the day after Christmas to get together with the Utah-for-Christmas Johnsons, including the Webers and Udys! And no get-together is complete until we've played games (this time, Mafia) and made the in-laws cry (just kidding, no one cried this time...).


Mom & Dad & Heather&Fam, we're not sure how we didn't get one single picture all together! If not in picture, you're in our memory forever, thank you so much for a lovely memorable and wonderful Christmas Holiday!

Oh, and BONUS, for New Year's, the Johnsons came out for the Rose Bowl Parade and we had the chance to see them!

A Snapshot of Thanksgiving

Anyone who knows the Johnsons knows that they document life very well. Case in point--over 600 pictures of Thanksgiving fun to remember! It's so hard to catch them all and give credit for all of the fun moments had, so here's a snapshot of our holiday...


This is just an awesome picture to start the story...


The kids love the tramp!


Nothing says fun like putting panty hose on your head.


Or posing with CJs dog...


I think Finley got the better end of the deal.


Grandpa Johnson did cement impressions of Ryan and Finley (&puppy Jasmine)'s hands and feet (or paws, as it is).


Ryan got more and more comfortable at a "new" house!


And had fun playing "ball" with Uncle David.


We got some group shots.


And some other shots.


And some really really cute ones.


And some that I'm still not sure what to think about... :)


And some that melt my heart.


And some that are just plain silly!!!

I'm still not sure why this is the only picture I can find of our race, but we ran the Turkey Trot!


and if you look closely you can see the cool scar I have from when I̶ ̶w̶a̶s̶ ̶b̶i̶t̶t̶e̶n̶ ̶b̶y̶ ̶a̶ ̶s̶h̶a̶r̶k̶ ̶ I had my birthmark removed.

Oh wait, I found the normal pictures of the race...


Before the race--COOOOLLLLD!


Our turkey trotter.


Running buddy.




The gang. Can I just point out that Curt is awesome?? He whooped us all in the race, coming in at 54 minutes! I pretty much think he's amazing!

Combine all that with some awesome food and family fun, and we had quite the celebration! Thanks for hosting us, Curt and Gina!