Goodbye Party

Our wonderful friends in Reno decided to throw us a going away party. It was fun to have one final get together with everyone before we left. We made some great friends in Reno and were sad to say goodbye. They gave us a Nevada alphabet picture book with each letter having something from Nevada. It will be something to always remind us of the good friends and good times that we had while we lived there.

Doug and Ryan

Can you tell that their wives shop together?

Kathy, Me, Kjersti

Elizabeth, Me, Tanya

Ellie with Mrs. Turner, her preschool teacher.

Ellie just loved her. She was the thing that Ellie kept saying she was going to miss from Reno.

Ellie, Aly, Alexis


Ellie, Jared, Erik, McKay
Dallen, Aly, Alexis


Thanks for a memorable night and wonderful friendship.

We love you!

Farwell Bajio

The Sunday before our move some of the crew took Ryan and I out to dinner to thank us. Well the dinner was mostly to honor Ryan but I got to go as well.

It was fun as Ryan's wife to be able to go and witness the true appreciation and respect they have for Ryan. They all agreed that Ryan is the hardest working white person they have ever met and he proved to them that not all white people are lazy. Go Ryan!

Thanks ladies for a wonderful dinner. It was a joy working with all of you.

Christmas Greetings

McKay, Clara, & Ellie

Merry Christmas!

I had the best of intentions this year to get out a Christmas Card. I actually had this picture made up into the cutest cards but never got it sent out. For you lucky few that visited us at our new house you actually probably got one, but to everyone else, sorry it was a very busy holiday to say the least.

First Snow!

The kids were very excited to see the first big snow in Reno. They couldn't wait to get out there. They also got a kick out of me showing them that you could eat the snow as long as it was clean and not stomped on.
McKay is pretty timid but he does like to walk in the snow and kick it.
Ellie practicing for the many years to come, the dreaded cleaning the snow off your car.

Thanksgiving

We should have taken more pictures from Thanksgiving, but we didn't. This is Kenyon and Elizabeth Giles. For the two Thanksgivings that they were in Reno we did Thanksgiving together with their family. We had a wonderful day of food and entertainment, we went and saw Enchanted. Thanks for a great holiday Giles family, Kenyon, Elizabeth, Lily, and Alexis!

Ryan Turns 30!

We got back to Utah from our California trip on November 9th. Since Ryan's 30th birthday was November 17th, we decided to have his birthday party while we were still in Utah and able to celebrate with family.

Grandpa Jeff, Clara, Ryan, Jackson, Great Grandpa Hill

Ryan with his two sisters, Whitnie and Mckensie

Clara playing cars.

McKay "playing" cars.

Like father, like son.

Ryan with his black frosting "Over the Hill" cake.

"Make a wish!"

Ellie with Aunt Lindsay doing their favorite pose.

That is what black frosting will do to you.

The beloved Wii!
We still need to get more accessories for it but the kids enjoy the sports games.
McKay has already bowled a 219!

Thanks to everyone that came and helped make 30 a memorable birthday for Ryan.

California - Day Five - Knott's Berry Farm

Getting ready to head out for the day.

Snoopy welcoming us to the park.

The kids enjoying their ride on the carousel. Of course Ellie choose the Lion.

McKay was so cute on this trip. He is not one that loves taking pictures but by the end of the trip he had really mastered the look at the camera, keep your eyes open, and smile all at the same time.

Knott's berry farm had a whole kids section that McKay and Ellie loved. Most of the rides were even to little for adults to go on. I thinks the kids felt pretty old going on all these rides by themselves. The park was also dead. The kids could get off a ride run around get on again and not miss a turn. They loved it.

LOVE Ellie's expression!

Ryan insisted on going the the restaurant at Knott's Berry for lunch. It was very good and warmed us up from the cool day.

One last ride for the road.

California - Day Four

I know that this trip was two months ago, but I really want to get the blog updated. My goal is to have it up to date by Ellie's 4th birthday, January 22.

This morning we started off at Goofy's character breakfast. Pluto was there to greet us. There was a wonderful buffet and the kids loved seeing all the characters there: Chip and Dale, Alladin, Captain Hook, Pluto, Goofy, and The Mad Hatter. Like every other time though, the kids liked them until they got to close.

McKay with Goofy.

I don't remember who she was smiling at but she sure looks adorable.

This setup really had nothing to do with Disney. All Ellie cared about was that it was Tigers and Jaguars. She wanted her picture taken.

After our breakfast we decided to start this day at California Adventure. None of us had been there before. Ryan and I enjoyed taking turns on some more adult rides and the kids favorite was the Monsters Inc. ride. I think we only did it 5 times.

Leaving California Adventure we headed back over to Disneyland for one more round of all there favorites.

I have always enjoyed Disneyland but it is far better taking young kids. They loved every second, well minus a few scary rides. I'm so excited to go back and I know they are as well.

Again, Ellie didn't make it back. We couldn't even to get her to sit up.

We're Back!

We made the move and we are now officially settled . . . we have internet. I will start updating again soon.

California - Day Three

We started out day three with a splash . . . on Splash Mountain.

Not a big hit with the kids!

After the tears stopped we headed over to one more their speed, the Winnie the Pooh ride.

They really liked this one. We even got to stay on the ride and go again since there was no one waiting in line.

Ellie's favorite part of Tarzan's Treehouse, the JAGUAR!!

There was a motion sensor that would make it growl at you. It scared her at first but then she loved it.

In Frontierland they have converted Tom Sawyer's Island to The Pirate's Lair. The kids loved exploring the little island, going through tunnels and caves, and walking over the bridges.

"What's going to work? Teamwork!"

McKay working to hoist up the treasure with attached skeleton at the Pirate's Lair.

McKay doing his "Good Fingers" that is what he calls thumbs up.

Ellie releasing the prisoners.

We are rich!

No more Bajio! . . . If only!

Meeting Snow White.

Waiting to meet the princesses was the longest wait we had the whole trip.

We didn't know that the first week of November was the perfect time to go to Disneyland, but we will surely remember that for the future.

I would have thought Ellie would be more happy to meet Jasmine since she loves the movie. Maybe she would have been more happy to meet her pet tiger.

This is who I would have thought McKay would have loved to take his picture with, NO. He didn't even want to get close because of the roaring engines.

Driving the Bugs Life bumper cars.

King Triton's carousel.


Ellie didn't make it back to hotel awake one night. We really wore them out.