Homecoming and Farewell to Remember!

It's been such a great experience going through this sending off a missionary, Ryan's best friend (and our other adopted brother) Brock Warnick returned from the McAllen Texas Mission, so they rallied up the troops to give him a warm welcome:

Ryan and Danielle Parker with the hilarious "Welcome Home From Fat Camp" sign

All Isla cared about was the balloon.

Still brings a little tear to my eye, the best friends get to hug...sniff sniff

Mama Warnick with her two boys

On January 1, 2012 we had the "Homecoming and Farewell" talk in Nibley, UT

Such great talks, and the church was packed with both of the families and friends.

Afterwards we went over to Cafe Sabor, which was amazing!

Micah's parents made the long journey up to support Ryan, and Gaye brought some amazing cookies that everyone loved! I had to fight and con my way to bring some home, someone else was going to snag them all!

Grandma Afton

Nephew Tyler, Ryan, and our oldest brother Shane

Aunt Karla:

Ryan, Kairie, and Ashley 

The Sharp family

Our momma Maisie, and her baby boy

We haven't seen our other aunts and uncles in years! These are my moms "foster" sisters and brother-in-law. She was born in Tuba City Arizona, but was raised in the suburbs of Ogden Utah with her foster family :)

The Jensen family

Us and our missionary!

Dawnielle from Texas, Ryan, and Danielle Parker! Cutest girls ever!

The other sister Bri Roberts!

 When Ryan came down to live with us he attended the Taylorsville Singles Ward and started working with Austin (The middle guy), the guy in Blue is named Chase Love and actually served with Brock Warnick in the Texas McAllen Mission, but he and Austin are best friends. 

Small world, so now everyone are the best of friends!

Ryan, Travis & Tiffany

Ryan, McCall and Brock

Ryan and mama Warnick

Our dad and Ryan

Isla and Kairie playing all over the place. They made up this game of get on the high-chairs and run over to the metal wall over and over and over again. 

 Uncle Ryan and his two girls: Best picture ever. I love that my brothers are always having fun with the girls. Makes them so much more spoiled and loved than the other nieces there :)

Merry Christmas 2011

Our baby is just growing up, she knows who Santa is "Ho Ho Ho" is what she says when she sees or when someone asks her about Santa. 

She is up to ponytail status with her hair:

Christmas Eve we celebrated with the Platts with a yummmy dinner. Here's Camie, Micah, and Brittany

Hobie, Aliya, Aspen and Isla:

Christmas morning we had the camcorder and camera ready for Isla coming down the stairs: She's not really sure what was going on...

She did her classic "O" face when she saw our "massive" Christmas tree with her presents Santa had left!

Yes...it may be our 4th year with our big tree, but we have yet to upgrade - maybe next year??

Santa hit the nail on the head with her scooter and baby doll!

Is that candy and treats in this stocking??? YES!

Christmas brunch at the Hodlmairs. Grandma Gaysie was amazing as always and sewed all of the girls matching pajamas, along with coordinating pjs to their dolls and bear!

Onward to North Utah to see the Jensen side: Here's our Uncle Poo-Bear and Isla: Is it already getting down to less than 2 weeks until he leaves to the MTC??

We got a new cousin! Sheeba (St. Bernard)  has joined the newlyweds Travis and Tiffany. At 5 weeks old she weighs as much as Isla. That didn't stop Isla from loving her everywhere!

Isla and Aunt Karla!

Uncle Poo-Bear, Uncle Travis & Aunt Tiffany

How I love squeezing these cheeks still!

Some great gifts from the uncles and aunts!

Grandpa Kenny gave us a traveling DVD player for the long rides up to his house :)

We love you Uncle Ryan!

Starting off the Holiday Season

I am so excited that Isla is getting older and understanding more of what this holiday season is all about. Everytime she sees a Christmas tree or a Santa figure she says "oooohhhh" and blows it/them kisses. 

Our besties the Zurns invited us to go and see the Festival of Trees @ the Southtown Expo Center. That was one crazy festival!! Our favorite tree was the "UP" tree - it was pretty cool. Isla wasn't understanding that the chain/rope that was protecting the trees from little gremlin hands like hers - so it was meltdown time when we kept her from grabbing all the fun trees. 

Here's the Zurns: 

And us: 

This is how Isla really looks most of the time:

One sock, hair escaping, and a cheeser smile

Saturday December 3 was the Grand America Hotel for the yummy Breakfast with Santa that Micah's family does every year!

Micah's sister was ready with a pose at every turn:

 Here's Aspen helping with Isla who was "BIG GIRL" with eating all her breakfast.

Here's me trying to discuss with Isla why we don't run all over a restaurant...yeah all you mom's know that face, it's not really a discussion when the one-year-old is dead set on running wherever she wants. 

Aliya is such a hoot. I asked her for a beautiful cheese smile:

Uh....Santa wasn't the biggest hit with Isla, ha ha. She was fine just looking at him while in Mommy's arms, across the room. She totally blew him kisses when she was that far away.

Here's the whole crew: From the left we have Britt, Matt + 2 girls, Camie & Jeff + 4 kids, Papa Dave and Grandma Gaysie, and our family; Micah, Isla, Poo-Bear, and me.

Isla's new picture taking face: Tongue out!

So after discussing with Isla about running wherever she wants to, she decided she'd be cornered in the room and eat some ice with a spoon.

So we went outside and took some pics in the freezing cold:

here's isla's face when she saw the big Christmas tree: AAAAHHHH!!

 Santa and Mrs. Clause gave out some legit candy canes, so on the ride home we let her go at it: