Best of 2011

Here is my photo essay, which I will entitle, "We did cool stuff this year."  The pictures should prove it.

Look!  Sometimes we take pictures of someone other than Colton!  This was outside a barn-type building in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.   Photo taken by the one and only Roz.

In February we found ourselves in Utah (thanks to a recruiting trip for Justin's work), and Grandma Louise was kind enough to watch Colton so we could spend a day skiing.  I am still better than Justin.  Just so that you know...

Sometimes we just have fun around the house.  It turns out that putting pajamas on your head and around your neck is fun.

In April we made our way to Hawaii.  This picture was taken outside the Laie, Hawaii temple.  I kind of adore Colton's long, wavy hair.

In April we also participated in the Runamuck 5K.  Justin came in first.  I was just happy to come in at all (considering that I'm not a runner in general, and I was 16 weeks pregnant).

In June we made our way back to Utah so that Justin could run the Utah Valley Marathon.

It was a lot of fun...for those of us cheering from the sidelines.

On the way back to the car, Colton decided he would help Justin push the tree.  I can just imagine Colton saying, "Dad, I don't think this tree is going anywhere."  (This might be my favorite picture of the year.)

In July we went to Nebraska to visit Justin's parents.  Colton (and Justin) showed off their sour face during our visit to the Omaha Zoo.

At the end of July, we made a spontaneous trip to NC to meet up with Justin's siblings.  We forced our children to be photographed in their diapers.  They'll probably hate us for this someday.

Justin told me that there weren't enough pictures of me in our "best of" album, so here I am resting on a couch in NC.  

In September, we spent a weekend in Luray, VA.  I love this picture because it shows was a good hiker Colton is, and really emphasizes my 7-month bowling ball.  

Colton got all wet playing in the waterfall, so after the hike, we took his pants off him and let him eat cookies.  And then we took a blackmail picture of him to use sometime in the future.  Why are diaper pictures so darn cute?

In November, we welcomed Brian into our family.  This was definitely the highlight of the year.

I love my boys!

Who needs a real photographer?  Just take 200 pictures and you're bound to get at least one that turns out okay.  This is that one!

We like to start our kids out early on the road to complete sugar addiction.  Brian seemed pretty excited by my birthday cake.

In December, Justin's family came to our house for Christmas.  Colton had a great time playing with his cousin Sadie on our slide in the back yard. 

We also enjoyed a trip to temple square in DC to see the lights.

Is there anything cuter than a baby with Santa on his bum?  (Okay, Justin's pretty cute too!)

So that was our year.  Thanks, 2011, you were great!