The Polar Express

We went to Williams, Arizona to ride on the Polar Express. It was so much fun!

Here is the Polar Express arriving at the train station.

One of the chefs on our car.

Charlotte is ready for the fun!

Evan really, really enjoyed the cookie and hot chocolate!

It was Charlotte's bedtime and she was getting pretty fussy, so we had to keep her entertained!

Having fun on the train.

Listening to the Polar Express story.

We finally arrived at the North Pole! Evan is waving to Santa in his sleigh in this picture.

Enjoying more of the North Pole

Evan and a bunch of the kids singing Christmas carols.

Wynn singing Christmas carols with some of the other parents.

Finally, the moment we've all been waiting for....SANTA!!! All the kids got a bell as a gift from Santa.

Charlotte couldn't take the excitement anymore. She passed out.

We had so much fun! Can't wait to do it again next year!

We ate breakfast at this cute little diner in Williams this morning. Yummiest pancakes and bacon ever!

This is just as you enter Williams.

There was so much snow up there!!

Christmas 2009

For the past few years on Christmas Eve we have been having a spaghetti dinner. Here are some pictures from Christmas Eve and a few from Christmas Day.

Danielle and Evan playing with the Play Doh she gave him.

Wynn chowing down on spaghetti.

Craig and Jodi playing with Kadan.

And...this is the result of Uncle Craig playing with Kadan! Don't worry...they were washable markers! It came right off with some baby wipes.

This is Evan showing off his new Buzz Lightyear on Christmas morning.

Playing with his new horsey and showing off his new cowboy boots.

My Christmas dinner spread. Yum yum...it was some good stuff!!

Cousins

Ross's girlfriend, Danielle, and I took the kids to a park to take pictures that we put together and framed for my mom for a Christmas gift. Here are some of the cute shots we got. Of course, they are three of the cutest kids ever!


My nephew, Kadan, admiring his cousin Charlotte.

Evan, Charlotte & Kadan

Two little cutie pies

Evan playing with a stick. Whatever keeps them entertained!

Kadan & Evan. It will be interesting to see what kind of trouble these two get in as they get older. I'm sure Evan will have all kinds of naughty stuff to teach this sweet little boy!

Back After 10 Months!

I am finally updating our blog after 10 sad, difficult, joyous and stressful months. We have had so much happen this year, I'm surprised we have actually survived everything!
My dad came back to town (after being gone for 4 years. Long story...). Shortly after he came back, he was in the hospital for about 5 days. He had a very bad bladder infection that basically infected his whole body. It was really bad and it could have been much worse than it turned out. Luckily he was released from the hospital on Thanksgiving and is feeling much better.

One of the more notable things that happened this year was the death of my boss, Danny Gans. I worked for him as his assistant for 8 years. It was the best job I ever had and probably ever will have. His passing has basically turned our world upside down. I went from being the bread winner for the family to being a stay-at-home mom for the time being. We are definatley learning how to live on a very strict budget.

The best thing that happened this year was the birth of our second child, Charlotte Grace Slothower. She has brought us so much joy. She is just a sweet little angel and we are enjoying her so much!

We are managing to hang in there and keep moving along day by day. For now, somehow, things seem to be working pretty ok for the most part. Starting the beginning of the year I am hoping to work part-time so that I can contribute some income, but still be home with the kids as much as possible. They definately keep me busy! I honestly don't know how I would manage everything if I was still working full-time!

Anyway, I'm hoping I can keep up with the blog a little bit better now that things have calmed down a little...for now atleast!!

Happy 4th Birthday Evan!

Evan turned 4 on December 12th. I still can't believe how big my baby boy has gotten! My camera died and I didn't get any shots of his birthday party, so I figured I would post some random photos of him from this year in honor of him.
Happy Birthday Evan! You have sure added many elements to our lives! Those would include laughter, exhaustion, frustration, appreciation, love and I think I'll say laughter again. You sure are a cutie, a great boy, an awesome big brother and we just love you so much. I can't imagine what my life would be like without you. Definately much less exciting for sure!

Evan had to go to the ER for croup a few months ago. They treated him like a king and he thought it was pretty cool that he got a popsicle!

There's that cute smile. All teeth baby!

"I'm too sexy..."

This is classic Evan. Here he is pretending to be a lion. Silly boy!

My handsome little boy. Love you sooooo much!!

Charlotte

This blog is dedicated to Charlotte...just because she is so cute, sweet and adorable! We just love her so much!

My friend Stacey took these two photos. They are my favorites!

Sleeping all nestled in Nana's arm.

Bundled up for the cold in Utah! Little cutie!

Her cute little "monk" haircut.

Park City

When we went to Utah, we stayed in a time share in Park City.



Ok...so maybe I'm just not as computer savvy as I'd like to think, but I can't figure out how to rotate photos. Can someone tell me how?? Anyway, this is the time share we stayed in, if you can see it sideways!!

The view we had from our little balcony.

On main street by this cute bear on a bench.

Me, Evan and Charlotte (she is strapped to me in the front), going for a stroll down Main Street.

Utah Trip

After Thanksgiving my mom, the kids and I went up to Utah for a week. My wonderful sister-in-law, Kim, offered us a time share in Park City for free! It was so much fun and always great to visit family up there whenever possible.



We went with Kalani, Tawny, their kids, and Tawny's niece, Bonnie, to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. It was freakin' cold, but very beautiful. I didn't really take pictures of the lights because they were't really coming out that great on the camera.





The Salt Lake Temple in all it's glory!

The whole gang. Well except for my mom. She wasn't feel well and opted out of going with us.

Evan with his cousins Riley and Kolby. He just adores them so much!!

Note his pink mittens. We couldn't find his gloves and his other cousin Lily (Riley & Kolby's sister) did not want to wear hers. So, Evan did! Thank goodness he's still at the age where he doesn't care about that kind of stuff!!

After Temple Square Tawny and all the kids came to Park City to spend the night with us. The boys had so much fun. Here they are playing on the bunk bed.

We also went to visit my good friend Shantell and her 2 cute little ones. Here is Evan with Braelie. They decided to dress up like princesses. I'm not sure where Braelie's princess dress is in this picture, but hey, atleast Evan has a sword!! Again...at the age where he doesn't care if a princess dress is for a girl!! :)

We had so much fun on this trip and are so thankful that we were given the opportunity to go. There are so many friends and family in Utah that we love dearly and we are always excited when we have the chance to go visit!