A Note from Audra: 

A month or so ago, Brighton and Adaira were scrolling through old blog posts (they enjoy doing this and reminiscing about memories of our activities) and they paused on this video. Que it to the 1:00 mark and you will see the scene that had them laughing hysterically over and over and over and over (a good dozen times). 

 

While they were enjoying themselves, I watched them and thought about the real reason for this blog. It's fun to get comments from other people and everything, but the real reason for the documentation of our lives here is for our kids. I turn these posts into a family book every year, and I hope that it helps them remember their childhood and the good memories they made. With that thought, I decided that I really should direct the words on this blog to them, rather than write a narrative. I want it to be more personal to them when they read it in the future. So starting in 2013, the verbal format will include more references directly to them so I'm writing to my kids as well as about them. Thanks for reading!

 Happy New Year!

We met up with our friends the Van Allens for a hike to Fat Man's Pass on New Year's Day. Dale I thought for sure you would do better this time since you didn't have diarrhea like last time, but turns out I still had to carry you piggy back a good half of the hike (or walk 2mph...). Adaira, you and Olivia Van Allen turn into sweet little happy friends every time you get to see each other (about 2-3x per year). You girls would run off together holding hands and jabbering away. It was fun to see David & Jenny, and we met up for lunch after at Chick-Fil-A, so it was a good day.


Adaira & Olivia holding hands

Dale you are such a little dare devil. You were all over these rocks and I was so scared you were going to slip and roll down. The picture below is of the super smooth rock at the Pass that the kids actually do slide down, and they love it!

Daisy you were not happy, a little tired, and not impressed with the actual Fat Man's Pass.
I couldn't fit through the pass holding you, so I set you down and tried to get you to walk to Daddy on the other end. Instead you sat down and protested.

 Seriously Daisy?

                                                           Me and my awesome aviators...


What a cute picture
My supermodel pose...Yeah right, my hat was angled too far down over my face and I tried to pull it back at the last minute... Best picture of everyone else though...


We love the Van Allens. We continue to be sad that they live on the other side of the valley now and we only see them a few times a year.

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