"GET SOME"

So, I've been seeing billboards around SLC with this logo "Get Some" and needless to say, Guns & Ammo isn't the first thing that comes to my mind. However, while out and about doing errands, I finally found it! Gotta love Utah!

Finley Girl is TWO

Our little niece/cousin turned the big TWO this past weekend and we were honored to celebrate with her. We made a trip to Toys R Us to get a gift and found this Lego Captain Rex! Gavin was in complete awe. He's gonna love Legoland this Spring.

Finley girl LOVES herself some chick-fil-a chicken. Seriously, the girl is crazy for chicken! So much so, that her mother knew she wouldn't care for cupcakes/cake and would just totally appreciate a nugget platter from Chick-fil-a. And she was right!

She was so cute while we sang happy birthday to the b-day girl. She soaked up every moment of the spotlight...

...and helped herself immediately to her nuggets!

Trying to blow out her unlit candle as we were inside the mall for her party.

The others kept themselves busy with a lego set Bear got just before the party.

The gals at Chick-fil-a saw a party going on and brought out this ice cream and brownie for he birthday girl. Yep, she was one happy girl!

The kids bought Finley a toddler sized (incredibly cute) Belle (or BeautyBeast as Finley calls it) dress up dress and shoes.

Even before she insisted on putting on her dress up she made sure everyone was calling her princess Finley. When we sang happy birthday, it was "dear princess Finley". So cute!

After the party we walked around the Mall for some exercise and she did not disappoint putting out the charm! I'm so lucky to have a niece and be able to spend time with her! Love you PRINCESS Finley girl!

RipTide Rocket Ride

Pa Haslam gave Gavin a rocket kit complete with igniters and extra engines for Christmas. Gavin went out with Christopher and Bear one day and sent the rocket soaring a few times but they were nearly frost bitten and came home.

We had some temperatures in the low 40's (winter heat wave) and the snow melted and we once again too advantage to get outside. Gavin had his friend Tommy over for some rocket action!

We took it down the block to the school field and sent her flying once again.

Gavin and RipTide!

It went over a thousand feet into the air! The boys were in heaven!

The boys ran around trying to be the one to catch the falling rocket with parachute.

For their last ride (we ran out of igniters) they sent it sideways.

It planted itself a little more than an inch into the ground and blew up! The rocket was fine and it was fun to watch. Immediately after this the boys just had to go to Hobby Lobby and get another mini rocket, more igniters and engines. I think Gavin's found a new hobby. Thanks, Pa!

Pinewood Derby 2011

Gavin had his 1st ever Pinewood Derby this past week! He had spent the past 2 weeks getting his car ready for the big day.

First we needed to do the pack meeting awards. Gavin got his awards from the Scout Jamboral that was in September celebrating 100 years of scouting.

He's doing really well in scouts. He enjoys doing his achievements and looks forward to den meetings every Wednesday. All he needs to do is to participate in an outdoor flag ceremony and then he will have earned his WOLF!

The 18 cars participating in the 2011 Pinewood Derby!

Gavin and some friends all lined up waiting for the race to begin!

During C-3PO's (Gavin's car) first run the car didn't even make it across the finish line! Sad day. So we fixed that by sending the car down backwards and then he made it across....in last place. lol

Here was another C-3PO run and this time he didn't come in last place! 3rd!! Booya!

Overall, Gavin's car didn't make it into the finals for speed, but he did win a 3rd place trophy for design and the Best Paint Job award. Most important, he had a really fun time and has already learned what to do for next year to have a better finish!

And the dessert treats were just to die for cute! Gavin's scout leaders are just amazing all around!

C-3PO

Gavin's 1st Pinewood Derby car that he designed and painted with his father. He named his car - C-3PO.

His car ended up winning 3rd place for design and got the "Best Paint Job" award.

Rum n Bean

Civil rights day brought Julia Bean and Hyrum to our place for some Texas BBQ ribs and game night. Not sure we'll invite Hyrum to play board games with us b.c it doesn't matter if we are playing Clue, Apples to Apples or any type of Trivial Pursuit....he'll WIN! Either way, we enjoyed their company and are glad that we have some family to help pass our time here in Utah!

Thaw Day

A couple days after Christmas we got dumped on with the snow and it stayed for several weeks in arctic temps. So, the other day when the sun came out and had temps in the mid 30's, WHOA! we took advantage of the melting snow and got out for holiday! Boy is our life so different here than in Texas!

Bear got to try out his new scooter. He was so adorable riding it!

We took a loaf of bread to the lake to feed the ducks that we had heard were starving. Even the lake was starting to thaw a bit.

The only birds coming to eat our bread were the seagulls! Blasted birds.

The kids did manage to find some ducks on our way back from the lake in a swampy area. They fed the ducks for a few minutes there before the ducks got bored.

Bear had my camera and took various pictures of deer track and other animals. He's got a good eye for nature.

And then he fell in the mud! He wasn't too happy being covered in freezing mud and wet while it being so cold outside. Especially when I took a pile of snow and wiped him down!

Christopher was looking too studly wearing Gavin's jacket vest. Pretty sure he stretched the shoulders out!

On our way back to the house we stopped by the fire pit to get warm. Boy was that a nice warm break!

NYE B-day Party

New Year's Eve also happened to be the day we were celebrating my brother's birthday which is on the 1st. We got crazy. As you can tell from the one and only picture that I have from the night Hudson got all crazy wearing his shirt backwards and Bear was intoxicated off 7 lb. chocolate cake from Costco.

Sadly, I can't even remember what we did after we left the party. I know we actually stayed up for the New Year. We were probably watching our new complete set of Harry Potter on BluRay that we got for Christmas.