The Brimhalls

Going Private!

2010-04-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

So Lindsay's new website is getting a lot of hits and therefore can be linked to our family blog. We have decided to go private so if you want to keep up with the Brimhalls please email me and let me know thanks! annie.brimhall@gmail

More Easter fun!

2010-04-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

I love that my 11 year old Brother is holding Tate back...and yes it paid off since he did find more eggs than she did. Of course she was distracted after she discovered there was a sucker inside her third egg and was fine ending the hunt with that!

Easter!

2010-04-13T10:20:00.000-07:00

We were very lucky to be able to spend Easter in Utah this year...
and boy the Easter Bunny did not disappoint!
There are few Holidays that mother Jill does not go all out however Easter is not one of them.
We had to stay downstairs until the deliveries were made; by we I mean EVERYONE including the adults!
If it weren't for the pastel color scheme you could have sworn it was Christmas by the amount of goodies on display throughout the room. It was also such a treat to be able to meet sweet little Mason (Lindsay and Geoff's new arrival) and Tate and Milo couldn't have been cuter together! I have posted lots of pictures of Beck since I have neglected to keep everyone up to speed on his growth...which is off the charts! Let's just say my bundle of joy has caused back pains and arm strains due to his mass and weight. We too are struggling to come to grips with where he got these genes, although he is a spit'in image of my pics as a baby...just a whole lot chunkier! Hope your Easter was wonderful as well!

a hop, skip and a jump to the present

2010-01-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

Goals for this year...live in the present! I will try to post a little here a little there of 2009, but as for now lets bring in the New Year! As some of you may know this last year we went from three to four in August with the arrival of Beckett. without going into to much detail lets just say he arrived 20 minutes after I checked into the hospital and was delivered without ANY meds. I do not post to boast...all though that was my plan, once things started moving I was left with no choice. Ten minutes in I was begging for the needle, but lets just say the Doctor ran in yelling, "do I have time for gloves!" My 7 pound 11 ounce, 21 inch long boy came bounding into this world and has not stopped moving since. He is completely opposite of his mild mannered sister (in baby form, she has long outgrown that) and is only four pounds behind her as a four month old (Tatum is 2). I have a heavy weight son and a feather weight daughter and along with my wonderful husband they are all the loves of my life! Being a mother of two has not been the smooth transition I had imagined, but everyday is an adventure and I am so grateful for the opportunity to raise these sweet children.
Other big events of the year...Jeff recently got a new job in the oil and gas industry via public accounting. Not so thrilled about the long work days, but am so proud of him in reaching some of his working goals this last year. Posted below are some recent photos taken by my fabulous sister/photographer Emily on our last trip to the Great Salt Lake. The two pics of Tatum truly capture her personality as a two year old (and I am open to any suggestions you may have on how to convince your little girl to let you do her hair...all my attempts have failed!) Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and wish you all a healthy new year!

Christmas 2008...slowly catching up!

2009-09-15T21:30:00.000-07:00

I know this is almost a year late... but I have decided to post a few short entries to help you all get caught up with life at the Brimhall home! (and yes, get excited for a posting of our expanding family and my now shrinking waistline!!!)
We didn't experience a lot of snow this last winter in Denver so we packed up and headed to Utah where there was plenty. We spent Christmas with my family in my parents beautiful new home. This year was so much fun since Tatum was able to really get into Christmas and loved opening up her presents. We enjoyed being around family and even got a chance to visit Santa at this is the place monument park! It was an all round wonderful Holiday and the best gift of all was breaking the news to both our families that we were expecting another addition to our family!!!

Halloween....2008

2009-01-27T10:17:00.000-08:00

I know people, it is better late than never, right?! I hosted the first kids Halloween bash this year. We had mini pumpkin decorating. Then each kid made a pale and went trick or treating to each bedroom in the house. It was a great success and we hope to make it a tradition each year.

Our Friends down the street throw a wicked adult Halloween party each year and I had been looking forward to it for some time. Well the morning of I woke up sick as a dog and it continued like that long into the evening ruining any plans of attending. Because I was barely functioning, and Jeff needed a date, we sent Tatum to keep him company. They went as pirates and had a great time.

One of our callings in the Ward is to help out with the multi stake youth dances here in Denver. Of course we are never hesitant on taking the show stopper Tatum, who came as our biggest catch of the night...hard to tell but she is a giant fish. regardless of how cut the above costumes were the night of Halloween she filled up her pail as a tiger, her first costume we purchased; the others were to cute to pass up. unfortunately I have no clue as to where those pictures went, so for now get caught up with these as I slowly bring you up to the present lives of the Brimhalls!

Before and After

2008-11-11T20:46:00.001-08:00

Just thought I would add a few before and after pics of our house. Alot of sweat, tears, and sleepless night contributed to this.

Luau

2008-10-31T07:44:00.000-07:00

My Parents treated all of us to a traditional Hawaiin Luau with the roasted pig, hula dancing and of course the sunset over the ocean. It was so much fun. Before we left they also surprised us with Parasailing over the ocean coast. It was such a cool experience and like nothing I had ever done before. How did we do all of this with our little Tatum? Let's just say thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Brimhall jeff and I were able to fully enjoy the time we had together. It was a very memorable trip and a great big thank you to Mom and Pop Smoot for making it possible!!!

Hawaii! part two

2008-10-31T07:32:00.000-07:00

Since this was Jeff's first time in Hawaii we made sure everyday was a fun filled adventure and took advantage of the activities the island has to offer. We snorkeled almost everyday in different areas, hiked to the twin falls with Jenny and Steve (shortly after I dropped my camera in the water and it stopped working but since has made a full come back) and lastly my Dad rented a boat for a day and we went scuba-diving!

Hawaii! part one

2008-10-31T07:24:00.001-07:00

My parents are part owners of a condo in Maui and we were lucky enough to spend a week enjoying their new buy. The Condo is right on the beach, which Jeff is taking in the views from the front window. We also played a little tennis, went swimming in the waves and we even found a little piece of AZ in a local fish shop.

And we are back!

2008-09-30T09:18:00.000-07:00

As some of you know we have been up to our eye balls in work trying to fix up the house we just purchased...yes we bought a HOUSE!!! we are thrilled but it has taken up any and all spare time we have had outside of Jeff's paying job and life my life as a Mom. However, we are not revealing any pics until most of the project is done, so you will just have to keep checking in for updates. I would like to fill everyone in on the last few months, which I have been hounded to do for some time now. Let's take it back to the month of August.....The photos above are our trip to Pine dale, AZ, for the annual B-13 Family reunion. I don't know about you, but I love any excuse to get together with family, even extended! We had a great time and Tate cannot get enough of her cousins. Towards the end of the trip we did hit a few snags. If you look close Tate looks like she was punched in the eye, but it was a BAD case of pink eye, not to mention a double ear infection and she had four teeth coming in! It was awesome!

The 4th, take two!

2008-07-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

So on independence day we rolled into Aspen just in time for the town's parade. Tate loved it! She was able to see some of the nicest cars in her life, horses, fire trucks and kids riding bikes....oh and lots of Democrats! After the parade we headed over to the art museum for a free BBQ and a live Jazz Band (we were loving all the free activities). I have decided that this was the start of a new family tradition to celebrate the 4th in Aspen every year! To finish off our vacation we watched fireworks from our hotel parking lot, it was a great fun filled weekend!

Our fabulous fourth of July!

2008-07-26T21:11:00.000-07:00

Our little family headed for the mountains to celebrate our freedom...and to get some real rocky mountain fresh air over the weekend of the fourth! Our first stop was Breckenridge...the home of our future cabin. It is one of the only towns not effected by the pine beetles who have destroyed thousands of pine trees in the Rockies. We started the weekend at the base of a fourteen-er and hiked our way up. It was breath taking! Tatum was such a good sport that we even considered going all the way to the top, until she started passing out in her backpack. It looked so uncomfortable I ended up carrying her down the path in my arms....it was a precious moment though!

Hurray for Jeff!!!

2008-07-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

I am very proud of my sweetheart for taking advantage of our beautiful surroundings and getting out when he can. A few weeks back he and a buddy, Justin, from our ward completed their first race in boulder. It was a beautiful day and they said their 60 mile journey was quite a site to see. The wives and kids were there to cheer them on as they crossed the finish line!

Yes, yet another trip to Utah!

2008-07-22T12:53:00.000-07:00

Since Tate will not be going on the extended Family trip this year I decided I had better fly her out to see the Family before she is walking and talking. We had a great time attending the REAL soccer game, going to the zoo with cousins and swimming at Grandpa's condo. While I was there I decided to get some good bonding time in with Jenny so I decided to get involved in one of her favorite past times these days...running. Now those of you who know me, or did back in my high school days, recall I use to do this quite often and for good reason back then. I ran to clear my head of stress with dating, work and the pressures of school. Now that I am free from those running has become more of a chore. So while in Utah, Jenny's enthusiasm encouraged me to sign up for a local race (10K)to benifit something to do with eyes(?). So what did I do to prepare...I woke up that morning, after not running in a few weeks, and prayed that I would cross the finish line. Well I did it! I fininshed the 5k loop before heading back to the finish line. I secretly peeled off my sticker, that indicated I was running the 10k, and headed back with the majority of the crowd. I know this is bold to be posting a confession like this on the web, but hey, I am amazed that I ran at all on that very hot day! Overall Utah was a blast and I can't wait to go again soon!

Father's Day...a month ago!

2008-07-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's day to all you Dads out there! I know that we only take one day out of the year to give you an official thanks, but you deserve it everyday. That is why I have extended this post until now! (it has nothing to do with busy schedules or an undesire to blog at times) I just have to shout it from the roof tops of cyberspace that my hubby takes the cake when it comes to being a Dad (and believe me he has a lot of good competition out there). He is such a hands on Dad involved in Tate's ever growing development and makes it all the more fun! Tate can't get enough of Jeff and yes, she is even starting to take on some of his looks the older she gets (although I still hold the dominate gene) We Love you Jeff and all you do for us! I also want to take a moment to recognize the Fathers in my life. Jeff reminds me a lot of my own Dad in how much they get involved with their kids...Dad, a lot of who I am is shaped after your good example and honesty in all you do. You are and will always be a great example in my life and I love you for that and more! And to the other, my Father in Law, you have helped us in so many ways to grow and move forward with our lives (even if you would prefer us closer) you have made so much possible for us with your never ending generosity! We send our love your way! So there you have it Dads, always know your appreciated for the role you play to your kids! Lots of love!

Arizona heat!

2008-07-08T10:59:00.001-07:00

The newest member of the Brimhall clan (actually he is a Shoemaker) arrived a few weeks back and we were able to fly down on a weekend to be there at his Blessing. Logan is not far behind our little Tate in Size weight etc...but it couldn't have been more fun for Tate to see all of her girl cousins! Grandpa never wanted to put her down and Grandma spoiled her (and me with toys for Tate and clothes for me, hurray!) OUr little girl has turned into a little fish and LOVES Grandma and Grandpa Brimhall's pool, I do too since I melt even walking outside in the shade! It was such a wonderful weekend and it is always fun to spend time with family! We love you guys and can't wait to see you again in a few weeks!!!

Has it been that long?!!!

2008-07-08T10:50:00.001-07:00

No the brimhalls didn't skip the month of June, in fact it was rather on the busy side, hence no post for over a month. So what have we been up to, well....Tate has turned into quite the sports fan (just like her Daddy) she survived more shots, but got really sick for the first time shortly after and managed to get two teeth all in the same week! It was awsome!!! Jeff is back in the saddle again, although he has held off from mountain biking it has not stopped him from utilizing the road bike he bought (that sits in our bedroom because we are outgrowing our apartment). As for me being a wife a mother and a primary leader keeps me PLENTY busy.

It's a wonderful day in our neighborhood!

2008-05-25T20:58:00.000-07:00

The weather here has been very interesting. We have had warm temperatures one day and then back into the cold winter weather another day. Just a few days ago we had winter storm warnings in one part of the state, flood advisory in another, and 6 tornadors wipe out some smaller towns in another part. In our neighborhood it has been nothing but blue skies and this is one of many captured on camera. Tate and I love going for stolls in the park and just thought we would share it!

The Race is on.....

2008-05-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I decided I would participate in my first race. Before you go cheering me on it was only a 5k, which for those of you who need translating is 3.2 miles. It was a race benefiting cures for lung cancer. I was able to run it with a good friend of mine, Megan Marchant, who was pushing her 11 month old son in a jogger. We were no speed demons but with the finish line in site we decided to finish strong. She gave me the look and I knew it was time to kick it up a gear. Just as we were approaching the finish line, being cheered on by a big crowd, her stoller decided to take its own coarse right in my direction. Let's just say I was the only runner to roll across the finish line and I have the scars to prove it now. My ego was bruised the most, but I have made a full recovery and now have a great story to go with it! Hey, at least I can honestly say after falling I got up and finished the race!

There is no other job like it....

2008-05-18T09:41:00.000-07:00

I have worked many jobs in my 25 years of existence from retail to relaxation for others, but no job is more fulfilling as being a MOM! Before my little girl was ever born, my sweet Mother took me under her wing. She has been the greatest example of what it means to not only be a Mom, but how to be a great one. Girls are no easy task, recalling my adolescent years, but it all comes back full cirle the first time your own baby is placed into your arms. It is an undeniable connection of love, protection and fear of being a good parent. You instantly become selfless in all regards for you are the main provider when it comes to the needs of a child. You are flooded with all the recollections of what your own Mother has done for you and words do not describe the grattitude you feel. Jeff has help me every step of the way in supporting me in this role and I must recognize all he does as well. I wouldn't want to be at any other place in my life then where I am now and I can only imagine that the more our family grows the more that statement will evolve with time! What a blessing to have been raised by such a wonderful woman, to have received another fantastic Mother when I married Jeff, and to now be a Mother to my Sweet little girl; I love you Mom for all you do and continue to do for your girl, Mommy loves you Tatum and always will!

Zoo, take two>>>>

2008-05-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

For the last of our trip to Utah we took a stop at good old Hogle Zoo. Upon arrival Tate's excitement caused her to fall into a deep Sleep, but once she heard the train she was all ears and eyes after that. It was fun to be able to spend some quality time with Emily who was a great help with Ashley. Over all we enjoyed our stay and can't wait to go back again soon.

On to Easter!!!

2008-05-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Tate and I were able to spend Easter in Utah this year. Before my Parents and the Preeces flew to Austrailia we had an easter egg hunt in the family room and the kids had baskets waiting for them. Thanks again Mom for all of the cute Easter goodies! I am sad to say I did not get an actal picture of Tate in her dress on easter, but will post one later of her in it.

Tatum Loves her uncle Joey and Stephen. Joey kept her very entertained and even learned how to feed and change a dirty diaper or two (take note Jeff even Joey can do it!).

Introducing.....The cousins!

2008-05-07T07:50:00.001-07:00

Tate loved to Cuddle with her Great Grandma Sue who turned 80 while I was in Town. It was great to be able to Celebrate the special occasion for such an amazing woman. And while I was off playing Jeff held down the fort....

I was able to take a trip to Utah, yes it was a few weeks ago, better late then never.Tate was able to hang with Ashley and meet her new cousin Milo! As you can see Milo, who is 2 1/2 months younger then Tate, is the same size. I swear she was a big baby when she was born she is just taking her time growing is all.

Tate was aslo able to spend some quality time with her "Nanna" and "Poppy" who of course showered her with lots of love and gifts for Easter and items from their big trip down under to Aussie Town.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!

2008-03-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Denver is known for it's crazy weather. Last week we set a record high of 75 degrees and later that same night it snowed several inches. That is one of the many reasons why we love it here. On warm days we head for the outdoors and on this particular day it was off to see some animals at the Denver Zoo with some friends. I timed it just right so that Tate would actually be awake for this adventure. Here are just a few pics of what we were able to see, enjoy!

What Denver has to offer.....

2008-03-14T08:44:00.000-07:00

We finally took Tatum to downtown Denver to see the sites. It was colder then we thought it would be, but it was a good thing that Tate was there to keep her Mommy warm. Of course Jeff couldn't resist the Steve Nash pic in the window. Yes, we may be in Denver, but do not think that Jeff has forgotten about his PHX SUNS!

out and about....

2008-03-07T14:12:00.001-08:00

I have a great group of friends here in Denver, all of who happen to be young Moms as well. We decided we, I mean our kids, needed a playdate so it was off to the Denver aquarium.

I was joined by Meggin, Kim, and Casey. Tate had her friends Ty, Kenzie, and Morgan. As usual the excitement was so overwhelming for Tate that as soon as we walked through the doors to go exploring she was out like a light. Although I have been several times this time we were able to watch the sharks eating their lunch. All in all we had a great time and we look forward to the next playgroup.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-14T14:43:00.001-08:00

Shortly after the first picture was taken the after effects of Mommy's chocolate consumption destoyed this outfit so we went for very festive pink outfit #2!

I just can't get enough!

2008-02-01T15:01:00.001-08:00

Tate is slowly but surely putting on a pound or two which means her outfit selections are increasing. She was so excited to be able to wear something new to church that she couldn't stop smiling!
This was the end result! (yes the flower is almost as big as her head)

Last, but not least, Tatum has come up with a new party trick...she can amost fit her entire fist in her mouth! it is quite a sight to see!

Tatum loves to be held!!

2008-02-01T14:44:00.000-08:00

While in AZ Tatum was able to play alot with her cousins! They could not get enough of her and often times would be big helpers when it came to changing diapers and sometimes even feedings!

Oh, and Grandpa spoiled her the most. If he didn't have to go to work I think he would never have put her down! They just could't get enough of eachother!!!

Tatum's Baby Blessing...

2008-02-01T14:24:00.000-08:00

It was also great to be in AZ because sweet Lyndsay and Ella were able to share this wonderful occasion with us!
Aunt Kami has the magic touch, most of the time Tatum would fall asleep in her arms!

Proud parents!!!!!
My Parents were nice enough to fly into AZ that morning and flew out again that evening! The things parents will do for their grandkids!!!

Jeff's brother was married in Arizona the second week in January, so we decided to bless Tatum in Mesa while the Family was still in town. Jeff did a wonderful job and I cannot think of a single thing he left out so Tatum better be one good girl!

Christmas with a cactus...

2008-01-17T16:19:00.000-08:00

We Took Tatum on her first plane ride to the sunny state of Arizona this Christmas to get to know her warm blooded side of the family....if you were wondering, yes it was warm enough to wear shorts on Christmas day. I surprised Jeff with his dream sleeping bag this year....I am just setting myself up for a long year of camping trips i guess!
Tatum's cousins gave her a cute little Christmas outfit to wear on her first Christmas eve!
As for me....yes a gun! I guess Santa (AKA Brimhall parents) wanted to make sure we are safe if anyone tries to mess with us. So stand back everyone, I have a gun and I don't know how to use it!

All I want for Christmas.....

2008-01-17T16:07:00.001-08:00

Jeff had us all fooled when he said he was going to buy me a pony, when in fact it was really for Tatum. That is all she could talk about from day one was how much she wanted a pony and as you can see when she finally got it she was so excited she couldn't even keep her eyes open!
Santa (AKA Smoot parents) was so kind to jeff and I this year. Not only did he want us to have our two front teeth, but made sure that with this device we could keep them all! We opened up Christmas early in Colorado since the actual day was going to be spent in Arizona With Jeff's family! (and yes we were watching a christmas story)
As for me I got what I asked for, A happy, healthy Baby! We must have been extra good this year!

Tatum J.

2008-01-17T15:50:00.000-08:00

Pictures of the newest love of our life courtesy of Emily Smoot and company!

Merry Christmas from the Brimhall's

2007-12-16T14:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, so we got a little carried away at posting pics but these were some of the best pics we have had of our family since Tatum. The snow has been beautiful here in Denver and we just got some snow tires so that should help us from sliding around. One more week and we get to go to AZ to see my (Jeff's) family for Christmas which I am excited about. I get to stay away from work for a while and watch a few Suns games with my bro. I keep telling Annie that I am going to get her a pony for Christmas and I think she believes me so don't tell her that I'm just playin.

2007-12-16T14:29:00.000-08:00

Happy 2nd Anniverisary to us!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my hubby!

2007-12-16T08:48:00.001-08:00

So I dropped the ball and am now posting a belated Happy Birthday message to my better half. Jeff reached the big 27 this last thursday, AKA Dec. 13th, and to celebrate he had a church outing with the youth while I stayed home sick. However my husband is never one to complain and just being able to call him mine has meant the world to me. He has surpassed any and all expectations in my ideal dream man. All of you who know him will agree that he is a joy to be around always making the most of any given situation and will go to great lengths to make those around him have a good time. He is a hard worker and wonderful provider and I can now official put him in greatest Dad catagory as well, or I should say Tatum can! We love you Jeff and wish you many more wonderful years to come!!!!

We just can't get enough of our little Tate!

2007-11-30T09:48:00.000-08:00

Tatum was having a very hard time in the beginning getting her days and nights straight, which was hard on my internal clock. Jeff has been such a big help. After each feeding he would take over so I could catch up on some sleep. The next morning I found the two of them bonding on the couch....heart-melting moment!

Before she had a belly button Tate was not fond of bath time, rather sponge bath time, but now that she can actually get in the water she doesn't want to get out. However we cannot say the same for her new swing that Grandma and Grandpa Smoot bought her for an early Christmas present (we thought it would help save our tired arms since she loves to be rocked) to our dismay she only last about ten minutes at a time before she begins to exercise her lungs! We tried!

Happy Turkey Day!

2007-11-29T16:15:00.001-08:00

My entire family, thanks to my Dad, flew in from around the country to spend Thanksgiving here in Denver. It was very exciting to have my family dote over our little girl.

Grandma Pam

2007-11-29T16:11:00.001-08:00

Grandma Pam came into town right before Thanksgiving to lend a helping hand. I don't know who had a harder seeing the grandmas go...Tatum or me!

Tatum Jill Brimhall has arrived....!

2007-11-19T11:26:00.000-08:00

Our little girl came right on time! I went into labor on November 10th, which just so happened to be my scheduled due date. She came bright eyed at 5:05 Am on 11/11/2007, weighing in at a whopping 8 pounds 1 oz reaching 20 inches long! All went well and she arrived a happy healthy baby. It has been a bit of an adjustment this last week (hence the delay in blogging), but thanks to the help of Tatum's Grandmas and her wonderful Daddy I was able to tackle the little to no sleep and non stop feedings. She has been well worth the wait and we are so happy to be a family of three. I'll do my best to keep every one updated, but as all you Moms know, baby's needs come first!

I was so greatful my Mom was able to catch the last flight of the day to make it in time to help me through the delivery. Little Tate is named after her sweet Grandma Jill who I adore and love. Thanks again Mom for being my example! Jeff has also been the best spouse anyone could ask for. He has taken on the role of being a Dad with ease and his natural abilities never fail to amaze me. Couldn't have done it without you my dear...really!

We love presents!

2007-10-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

We received gifts of all shapes and sizes. One of our favorites were these little backpacks that could also be used as a harness to hold on to your active toddlers. The best part is they never know their little unicorn or monkey are really a leash of sorts! When we lived in Hong Kong my Mom loved these since she had three kids in diapers. Thanks Mom!
I know what you are thinking...yes it snowed during the shower so by the time we decided to take more pictures the ground was covered with fresh powder! Cute Heather and her friend from California drove all the way from Colorado to join in the fun.
Since we live out of state I rarely get to see my ranch as much as I would like, so I had to take advantage of these beautiful moments!

Here come babies...

2007-10-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I decided one more road trip wouldn't hurt, so off to Utah we went.
My sweet Mother and Aunts threw Lindsay and I a joint baby shower. Yes, for those of
you who couldn't tell Lindsay is expecting a little boy a few months after our little girl is
due to arrive. I decided to pack on the baby pounds for the both of us. The shower was held
up at our ranch so we couldn't help but stop along the way to pose for some pictures...
When we drove up the tops of the mountains were dusted with a light snow and
the leaves were beatiful, as i have mentioned before I LOVE the fall!
We had 30+ relatives come to help us celebrate on both my Mom and Dad's side of the family. We played games and enjoyed wonderful food complimentary of all the women.

Sevilla, Southern Spain

2007-09-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

We took a 3 hour train ride south to visit Sevilla. This was what I had pictured Spain to look like.
They had the ivy covered alley-ways, cute little shops, and the buildings were beautiful. This is the main plaza in downtwon sevilla. The tile work was amazing! We were able to take a horse and buggy ride around the city and see what southern Spain had to offer.
Jeff served his mission in Bilboa, Spain so we had to make sure to find it on the map so he knew we were thinking of him while he was back home in the states.
Our last stop before flying home was the Madrid Temple. This was a very sentimental moment for my Mom, because they didn't even have an official church building to meet in when they arrived back in the day. It is such a blessing to be able to see the church growth world wide and it was also very wonderful to know that Jeff had also been here some years ago. It was such a wonderful experience and one I will never forget! Thanks Mom and Dad for making it possible!
(I couldn't help but post this picture. . .I know she makes an appearance on all of my family members blogs, but she is to cute not to post! She was such a good traveler and so fun to have on the trip. She only had a few moments where she was bored, but this picture shows she quickly found ways to keep herself entertained !)

Flamanco Dancing!!!

2007-09-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

My Mom treated us to a dinner and a show... a flamaco show that is!
The food was delicious and the entertainment even better. This place
was famous for having the best dancers in all of Madrid. The wall, in fact, was covered with photos of celebrities who had come to see previous shows. We were all a little worried Ashley would get bored after a while, however she was entertained and at one point, while dancing in her own chair, became the entertainer. The rest of the trip she would break out in "manco" as she called it.

The women danced as though warning men not to mess with them... here is a sneak peak at what we were able to enjoy.
The country of Spain, at least in the big cities, had quite a night life. The streets were full of people until about 4 in the morning or later, which meant that shops didn't even open until noon the next day. I loved the streets full of little shops and places to eat on every corner. People would be out playing different instuments to crowds and it was just beautiful.
This is the Largest cathedral in all of spain... from a distance I could not fit even half of the structure in the picture.

Toledo, Spain

2007-09-27T13:42:00.000-07:00

An hour outside of Madrid is the oldest city in spain. It was a city
built by the Romans back in 112 B.C. However most of the surviving architecture
was built by the conquering Arabs. This is a view of the city, which is built on the highest
hill in the surrounding landscape. It is famous for its gold jewelry and artwork.
Yes, I am still VERY pregnant. In fact my feet at the end of the trip were about
twice their regular size, but it was well worth all the walking!

The cathedrals in spain are breath-taking! This one took over 200
years to complete and is still functioning to this day.
This is one of the oldest surviving bridges in all of spain, which dates back hundreds of years. It is a bit scary to think they still let buses and other large vehicles drive over it!

Spain...

2007-09-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

My Mom and her family lived in spain for three years while my
Grandpa served as the second mission president in all of spain.
We flew into Madrid the first few days to look at my Mom's old
stomping grounds.
When in Spain due as the spanish due...eat lots of shelfish?
We ordered an authentic plate called Paella which is a rice dish
full of everything you can imagine...including these little guys! I admit that
I didn't dig in, but was brave enough to at least try most of the food on the trip!
This is one of my favorite pictures of my Mom
who use to hang out in the Plaza Mayor as a teen...
she still looks great all these years later!
We went to Retiro park, which is a giant park in the center of madrid...
it is a place of great romance. This was also where my hubby Jeff use to
practice his espanol while in the madrid MTC. To this day they still send out
missionaries to hand out Book of Mormons to those passing by!

Off to new places....

2007-09-27T13:01:00.000-07:00

Our trip began in Baltimore where Jenny, Steve and Ashley
are currently living. Being so close to our nations capital we made a few
stops to museums, monuments ets.

We happen to witness one of the largest
anti-war protest as well, which we didn't stick around for very long since the
atmosphere was a little intense.

Our final stop before leaving the country was over looking the bay where
the star spangled banner was written, it was a very patriotic moment! (if you notice
Ashley's hands in her pocket...she would not take them out the entire time)

a little family fun. . .

2007-09-13T09:42:00.000-07:00

Jeff's Dad flew into town for the weekend so we packed in the beautiful sites of colorado! He treated us to one wonderful dinner after another so in return we treated him to the Denver botanical gardens. They are in full bloom this time of year, but it won't last long because it is cooling off fast. I however am more then ready for fall!!!

Family Reunion

2007-08-17T14:06:00.000-07:00

I wouldn't be caught dead posting a picture of me in my swimming attire at this stage in my pregnancy, or anystage for that matter! So here is one of my Hubby! what a man!

Of course to top it all off we, ok jeff, since I couldn't do anything but swim, enjoyed all kinds of water sports.

My Dad is known for his "Gospel trivia" game where he puts together a quiz of sorts on church history and questions on doctrine. On the trip we were divided up into teams and each one got a prize. . .$$$$ based on how well our team did! We have never been more motivated to scripture chase in our lives! let's just say I was on the losing team, but Jeff made up for it by his winning team!

Yes that is my cute grandpa getting into character to set the mood for the days to come, treasure hunts, dance contests, game nights, etc. Of couse you can't come to powell without doing a little fishing. . .on the dock!

Ahoy from the waters of Lake Powell! We just set foot back on dry land and what an adventure we had. Each year we have a family reunion with the Smoot side of the family and this years theme was "pirates of the caspian!" (That is the name of my parents house boat) We started off the first night eating mexican food and catching up with the family, then the crowd of 30+ headed over to the antilope marina to hop on deck one of the two house boats.

my own demo derby...

2007-08-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

So last monday on my daily outing someone decided that i needed to add a little excitement to my everyday routine, so they hit me from behind! Yes, I was in an accident and not responsible for it this time. I was squashed between two F150s (also known as man trucks). Truthfully I knew I was ok, but being in the pregnant stage that I am I couldn't stop laughing because I couldn't stop crying. Once I discovered I was ok it was on to the baby. The police officer insisted that before I see my own doctor they call in the paramedics to look me over. So 10 min later a fire truck pulls up and out step 5 guys. . . I was already uncomfortable with the idea of being examined in the middle of a parking lot, but by a bunch of guys in fire gear! Luckly the last to arrive was a lady, to my relief, and she gave me the ok. However the nurse at my Doc's office was less then pleased and insisted I come straight way to the hospital. Jeff and I ended up spending 6+ hours while they ran tests. I think I left the hospital more sore from sitting on a hard bed then the actual impact from the accident. However, they said all was well and sent me on my way. It was just a taste of what is to come on my next hospital visit, which hopefully won't be until November!

Happy Birthday DADDY!

2007-08-04T11:11:00.000-07:00

Happy 53rd Birthday DAD! While in town my Dad turned a whopping 53 and is still going strong. We celebrated with some irish food at McCool's in foothill, the girls later went out and had pedicures and manicures, and later we watched my Dad, Geoff, Emily and the other member of the family, Dan, played in an indoor soccer game. I have decided my Dad will play forever and I love it! The pregnant girls and my Mom cheered them on from the sidelines.

2007-08-04T09:54:00.000-07:00

Jeff was nice enough to let me go see my family while he stayed to work. . . and play golf!

It's Kamas Derby time!!! I was able to take a last minute trip to see the fam over the 24th of July. Although most of the family, extended and all, were there I was able to sit with Joey and my Mom to catch all the action.

Jenny was also in town with one of the cutest girls around, baby Ashley. While I was there I made sure she learned how to say my name and rewarded her so that she would remember me as her favorite aunt who is working on getting her a little girl cousin.

2007-07-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY FROM BELLVIEW PARK, CO!!!

After seeing the doctor twice before, thinking we would find out what we are having, the wait is finally over. . .to our surprise we are expecting a little girl! She shall remain nameless for the time being. We are not keeping it a secret, we are just at a loss for girl names but are very open to suggestions.

First week in Denver!!!

2007-06-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

So that is a pic of our living room that we finally got assembled after a few days of unloading boxes and rearranging furniture. The second pic is from on top of Green Mountain (at least that is what I thought it was called). I went there to ride my moutain bike for my first ride in Denver. Of course right after I left my bike behind my car and forgot it was there and continued to run it over!!! So I am currently in the process of ordering parts in an attempt to fix it myself. I'll let you know how it goes. I have to try because Annie thinks it is super attractive when I play handyman. Third pic is of me and my beautiful mom who helped me drive up our stuff with my study brother Devin. This pic is right outside of the REI in downtown Denver where the Kayakers make runs down the river. It is pretty awesome to watch and totally makes you want to walk right back into REI and buy a Kayak. I going to focus on getting my bike fixed before I try the kayaking however. The fourth pic is of me and my lovely wife in front of Pikes Peak before we went with my mom and brother to check out the Garden of the Gods National Park. I start my job on Monday and it is going to be weird actually working after just moving stuff for 2 weeks. Annie just set up her appointment with the OBGYN for next week when we should finally find out what gender the baby is. For the record Annie bought me a baby baseball glove for Father's Day so I think she is secretly rooting for a boy. Go Rockies!!!!

2007-06-11T22:40:00.000-07:00

So we went to Black River which is up in the AZ mountains with Jeff's family for one last trip before we move to Colorado. It rained pretty hard on us in the morning and yes I caught fish all by myself. Later on in the day 4 of us were chilling in the car with the windows rolled down and a brown bear jumped up and put its paws up on the door. Jeff's brother quickly response with "Hey Buddy" and when I look back I see this bear on the car and yell at Jeff who is watching "The Office" on his ipod. I scared it away from the car and it headed over to my father-in-law's truck and jumps in the back and opens up the cooler and takes a bag of strawberries we had packed. It was pretty wild but amazing to see a brown bear so close up. Afterwards it walked around the camp so we took this shot.

Our trip to the Rockies

2007-06-09T21:31:00.001-07:00

Jeff and I recently headed for the mountains for a little fresh air. . . I was wasting away under the heat of the ever blazing AZ sun. Our adventure took us to the tops of many peaks, past cascading waterfalls (the one posted was our favorite called Hanging Lake, a Colorado must see) and finally to the city of Denver. We roughed it in the wilderness with all of our camping gear, special thanks to steep and cheap for making the experience a comfortable one, minus the fact I was promised flushing toilets due to my current condition. After a few days of play it was time to get serious. About what you say? The motive behind the actual trip. . . to find a place we can call home. The rumor is true, my family is always all over the place, myself included. What better time to branch out and be on our own than right before our baby is due! Truthfully an opportunity opened up for Jeff in Denver he just couldn't refuse so I am just riding his coat-tails and moving to another state AGAIN to be with the man I love. I know, so romantic. So the point is this, we are headed to Denver and in turn it will lead to a new blog in our new territory soon!

Here comes baby

2007-06-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

Special thanks to Lyndsay Cotter who not only caught this magical moment on camera but has taken the time to help me set up my blog! Seventeen weeks into pregnancy and going strong. We are still on edge to find out what we are having, however Jeff is convinced it is a boy. I just want a healthy, happy baby. We'll keep you posted and are looking forward to this great way to brag and keep in touch!