Do you see what I see

It truly is the most wonderful time of the year and I am having a little bit of those post Christmas blues, I can't believe how fast it came and went. I am finding more joy each year, I think because we also celebrate Haven and Adam's birthdays around the holiday season. We really had the best Christmas and I was so excited for Haven that I couldn't sleep Christmas Eve (I felt like a kid again). Adam's brother and his family were in town and we did lots of fun things.

(This is the Place Monument Park, sledding, Christmas bell caroling, eating, playing the Wii)

I feel so much gratitude for all my blessings and for family and friends.
I hope you all had a Merry Christmas!!

Turning 2

We had a really fun birthday party with our family this year for Haven's big number 2. It was a "barnyard theme" with good old fashioned pin the tail on the donkey, duck shooting game and mud pie eating contest (ie chocolate pudding/oreo's with gummy worms) Haven loves to sing "Happy Birthday" and has been practicing for a couple months now. She loved the balloons and all her gifts.

Thanks everyone for helping her have a great day:)

Sneak Peak

Ostler Family Photos 2009

Untouched

We took a few family photos one beautiful fall day and this is what we came up with.......its really hard to get the perfect picture with a child. It was a little cold but we had fun!

Just you and me

Adam and I took a little weekend getaway to St George. We went down to see Thriller at the Tuacahn with his family. It was so much fun and well needed. It was the first time in 2yrs I had spent a night away from haven. We missed her lots but she was happy with her aunts/cousins and grandparents. I had never been to the Tuacahn before and it was so cool and really set the mood for Halloween.






I also wanted to share some Halloween pictures. This year's theme was "Alice in Wonderland" I was the Queen of Hearts, Adam was the Mad Hatter and of course Haven was Alice. She dressed as a bunny for the trunk-or-treat to stay warm.

Quiet!! time to read

Maybe....its because I am a mom now, but I love watching Haven "be mommy" to her baby. She loves her little doll and takes her with her everywhere and does what mommy does. She loves to lay a blanket out on the floor and wrap her baby in it. She loves to give her "baba's" and read books to her. The best part is she is starting to pretend play with her and I often catch her talking to her and then responding back "as the baby" Its precious!! I love having a little girl!!

One+one

We had a big celebration for Grandpa "papa's" birthday!! Since we were all there, we decided to take a few pictures in the backyard.......thought I'd share:)

Island girl

Our little family recently took a trip to Coronado Island; off the coast of San Diego California. We were so excited to take Haven to see the beach and the ocean. We had a great time and she loved it! The weather was so perfect and there were so many fun things to do. Here's a preview of the fun week we had there.

Haven Talky

What do you do?

What do you do in the summertime? We eat homemade popsicles, play in the water, ride bikes and play at the park. We really have had a fun, busy summer doing all those things. We ventured to Island Park for the annual 4th of July trip, which was lots of fun! We've visited Lagoon, Hoogle Zoo,Dinosaur Park, Discovery Gateway all of which we don't have pictures of. However, the simple things seem to make her the most happy! We are sad to see hot summer days come to an end but we love fall and are looking forward to the beginning of a new season.

Ponies go up and down

We had a really fun filled animal day with Grandma Nanon, Aunt Michelle and cousins Lauren & Reese. They invited us to go with them to Wheeler Farm and Gardner Village. Haven loves animals and although, before then, she had really only encountered ducks...we've had a family of geese show up in our backyard field a few times and fed them some bread (so every day we watch for the ducks). I wasn't sure how she'd respond but she was in--heaven-- She loved riding the ponies and petting the sheep and goats. She loved running all over and being with the girls. Thanks Grandma for spoiling us!!
and Thanks Aunt Michelle for all the cute pictures so we can remember the day:)

Model Child

"Simplistick", the Company Adam does wall art for, is putting together a catalog and needed models for the shots. They asked if Haven could come be one of those little models. She did a great job at posing and showing off for the camera. What can I say she made me proud. Who knows where this might take her someday:)

A taste of EASTER

YES!! It's true once they've tasted the sweetness of candy...life is never the same. After the hunting was over...she wanted more. ((Sorry to disappoint Marcy, but no "peeps" were given out this year!))

Shhmmushy

Its funny how kids come up with these ideas on their own. What a silly girl!

Ready Set GO!!

Haven had her very first "out of state" road trip experience. We headed to Bend Oregon for Hypnobabies Instructor training. The highlights included: popsicles, elevator buttons, bubbles and ducks. All in all, she was pretty good even if we did get homesick.

After arriving home to snowy cold weather we took the first chance we could to head South to St George. This time we didn't want to come home....the weather was beautiful! To top it off we visited the Pizza Factory firetruck, played on the swings at the park and listened to Conference. She picked up quickly on how to say her prayers.