2011...

How has a YEAR gone by and I didn't blog once??  What the heck!?  I think there came a point when I just decided to make it a full year and start fresh in 2012!  But, what about 2011...?

I decided I would just post some of the big things that happened last year.  I thought writing something about each month...and then I couldn't even think of anything for January!  haha  So here we go...

In February my sweet Kiki turned 7.  We had an Olivia party and I made a fun cake and piggy ears for all of the guests!  It was great!

 A week later Jeni turned 9.  She's getting to the age where she wants things done her way.  She said no cupcakes and for those of you who know me, that was a little sad.  She didn't want fondant on her cake, just frosting and it had to be carrot.  She had a dance central party and we had a house full of girls dancing and having fun!

 I cannot express how much I love these boys (and my girls)!  But seriously, look how cute these guys are!!  I can't get over it!  We did a little photo shoot to get some good pics to send to our upcoming Japanese student.  This was one of my faves!

 Things go more official w/ my cupcakes and I have a little business now!  I even had a cute little cupcake lady drawn up to look like ME for my logo!!  Love it!

 The last 2 weeks in July we had so much fun with Mariko, our guest from Japan.  We went swimming, to see fireworks, out to eat, cowabunga bay, bowling, and shopping!  We had a great time!!

 This is the first time I let the boys finger paint...and since then it has been the only time...wonder why?  I stopped when they started eating the paint!

In early August my friend Tamara invited us to go up bridal veil falls with her family.  We had never been, and we had a great time!

 Mid August we headed up to the Oregon Coast for a super fun vacation!!  We made the drive up in 2 days, the first day we drove to Pendleton, Oregon and stayed at the Red Lion.  The next day was long and super busy.  We stopped in the Dalles and Josh showed the kids all the houses he lived in while he lived there.  Then we stopped at Multnomah Falls.  We hiked up quite a ways, but it got pretty steep, so I went back down with Kiki and the bubbas...while Josh and Jeni went all the way to the top!!

 We made our way further west and got to the Tillamook cheese factory with a few minutes to look around before they closed.

 We stayed in a beach house in Lincoln City, Oregon for the week!  In the picture below you can see it to the right of my head...2nd house over...the little A frame!  It was the same house we stayed in when we were there in August 2001!  My parents and my brothers family were also there with us!

 We had lots of fires on the beach...flew kites...played in the sand...

 enjoyed many beautiful sunsets...

 and had a great time together!!  Wow, Kiki looks a little crazy in the pic below.  We had just finished climbing many many stairs to get back to our house!

 Jonathan was not in a good mood this day!

 While we were there we also went down to Yaquina Head, climbed a lighthouse, went to a pretty cool aquarium, and did some shopping in the cute little shops around town.

We headed back home and took 2 days to do the drive, this time staying the night in Boise.  2 days after we got back the girls started school!

Can't believe my baby is a 4th grader!

 And how is miss Kiki a 2nd grader?!

 As soon as we got back from the coast, Josh finished up what he needed to get done for his pilots license.  This is something he has wanted for a long time, he started flying back in 2003...when he turned 25!  We quickly ran out of funds and things slowed down.  We purchased a share into a Cessna 170 this summer and he got his license.  Yay!  He kept asking me when he could take me up, but I was soooo nervous.

He made a plan one day for my friend to watch the boys so he could surprise me.  It all worked out great and it was a great surprise, after I stopped freaking out and enjoyed myself!  He flew me up to Ogden and we had breakfast at the little airport up there.  It was the best date ever!  Here I am w/ our plane before we headed back.

 We did lots of flying after that!!

 The girls absolutely love it!  Josh has flown them up to Bountiful and my mom picks them up and keeps them for a sleepover.  A little spoiled I might add!

Julian went up once...he said he liked it, but he fell asleep shortly after they took off!  :)

Here is a view from the air!

 In September I repainted the kitchen/family.  It used to be dark red.  I am loooooving my light blue!  So refreshing!

 Josh built the bubbas these cute little beds (thanks to the free patterns on ana-white.com.  They love having (little) big boy beds!

 In September we took our annual trip to the Utah State Fair.  The boys weren't too sure about seeing all of the animals!  Julian did ok, but Jonathan freaked out a lot!

The fair isn't complete w/out buying cotton candy!

 September 27 my little bubbas turned THREE!!  They are growing up waaaay too fast!!  We had a cute little super hero party w/ some of the little boys their age in our ward.  I made them all these capes!  They were a big hit!

 We had lunch, mac and cheese and cheese balls...the boys favorites!

 The following saturday we had the family all over for lunch and cake!

 October 13 was our ELEVENTH anniversary!  Man I feel old!  Josh took me (and the bubbas) to breakfast at Park Cafe.  I had been wanting to go there for quite a while!  It was so good!  Afterwards we went over to Liberty Park and let the boys feed the ducks!  Me and my love....

 Me and my cute bubbas...

 In October Josh dyed his hair black to be Sheldon from Big Bang Theory for Halloween.  It was quite a change!  :)

 Halloween was so much fun this year!  Kiki was Smurfette.  I think her costume turned out great...I think her only complaint was that I wouldn't let her paint herself blue!

 Jeni wanted to be what she wanted to be...a vampire.  She didn't even look like herself.  But that's what she was going for!

 And my bubbas...Mario and Luigi!  I looooove the hats that I made...and their mustaches were the perfect touch!  I made them out of felt and sewed them on to clear elastic!

 And December...one crazy busy fun month!  We started the month off with this super fun Santa picture!  It was taken by fotofly...in a tent at Thanksgiving point.  I am the one dressed as Santa.  If I had sent out Christmas cards, this is what would've been on them...but I never got to it!

 We got tickets to the Christmas devotional.  So Jeni and I had a little date and rode Trax downtown w/ my sister in laws, mother in law, and niece.  It was wonderful!

 For Christmas for Josh this year I did a 12 days of Christmas.  One of the night was supposed to be a date out with me.  But w/ his recent job loss I thought it better if we didn't spend the money.  So the girls were gone for the night, the boys went to bed early and we enjoyed a candle light dinner and a movie at home!  For the other days I gave him new things I knew he would love!  I think he felt very loved!  :)

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house.  Busy day.  Lots of fun.  Santa even stopped by for a visit.

After we got home we opened our new Christmas jammies...tradition.  I didn't get a very good pic of all the kids together, but here are my girls, pretending to like eachother!  

 And my bubbas!  :) Love the pose...they did this all on their own!

So there is my quick run down of the highlights of 2011...now I can move on and try and keep this sad blog up to date!  Wish me luck!  :)