Wrapping it Up

2012 was quite a year!  What year isn't, really, when you think about it?  Something interesting is bound to happen in 12 months.  Here are some of the highlights of our year.

Celebrated Spencer's 12th Birthday

Celebrated Grace's 10th Birthday

Went Skiing

Hunted for Easter Eggs (I love the expression on Justin's face here--like he's stealing something.)

Ate some mush

Drove to Oregon for our Guide Dog, Cal's, graduation ceremony

Visited the judge to finalize Bryce's adoption

Found out that Grandma and Grandpa Ivie would (eventually) be leaving for a mission in Denmark

Felt blessed to have Bryce sealed to us in the Bountiful Temple

Played soccer

Read a whole lot of books

Visited Disneyland and Legoland

Built lots and LOTS of things with Legos

Cut down two BIG trees in the front yard

Started crawling

Celebrated 45 years of Darrel

Went to Amanda's 20 yr. high school reunion (Note: Unless you were popular, if you are considering going to your own reunion--don't bother.  So awkward!  But great to have it as an excuse to see three good friends.)

Swam all summer in G & G Ivie's pool

Learned how to swim

Went to Park City with all the Ivies

Got in lots of time on the boat

Went on "Night Missions" all summer

Celebrated Justin's 6th Birthday

Started Jr. High (yikes!)

Said goodbye to our last guinea pig.  R.I.P. Oreo and Rusty.

Started walking at 10 months.  NOT Mom's idea!  Also got into lots of toilets.

Started emaling friends constantly...and hanging out with them whenever possible (our 10 year old teenager).

Had a happy Halloween

Played the piano

Started making use of gates on the stairs (not all of us had the same purpose in mind).

Celebrated Bryce's first Birthday

Got a first haircut

Managed to put on a great Thanksgiving dinner without Grandma and Grandpa Ivie (who finally got off to Denmark in November).

Sold Darrel's Explorer after one day on KSL

Used toys in ways for which we're pretty sure they're not approved.

Got a new family photo taken in the snow

Bought the World's Largest Gummi Bear (not sure if it's all been eaten yet or not).

Made a gingerbread house

Made a new old friend

Said goodbye to Butterscotch Pony...

...and said hello to these!

Took a fun trip to Seattle right after Christmas to visit Spencer's birth family

And that's a wrap!  Happy New Year!

Five Steps Closer

Braces Off...For Now

Grace got her braces off the first Monday after school let out.  It was about 3 months earlier than we were expecting!  She'll be free of them for a year or two until she gets all of her permanent teeth in.  Then it's on to Phase 2 of braces. Pretty cute smile!

Before

 After

Disneyland and Legoland

Hi this is Grace today I'M going to do a post! Here is our family photo at Disneyland 

Silly Mom in my Minnie mouse ears. Me and Dad in line for the Midway Mania ride at California Adventure.

                          Us Kids

                          The big boys

Us again about to go on Thunder Mountain

              Star Tours [C-3PO and Clone Trooper.]  

             Spencer                                     Me, Grace

             On the train, touring us through Disneyland

              Big ice-cream cones and lolly-pops

               Nice! Justin gets a ride!

    Bryce screaming happily    Me waiting for Mom, Spencer, and Justin

     Mom, Justin and Spence on Bear River Rapids.  Spencer after the ride :)

     Us at Legoland

          Me and my favorite movie characters Harry Potter and Hagrid

  Justin and Bob the Builder        Me and Justin by a pizza man

The boys and Luke Skywalker          The boys, Chewbacca, and R2D2

 Justin, Spencer, me and dad on a ride. You had to pull on the rope to go up.

              Little Lego cars we got to drive around

     The  Lego Aquarium

         Justin with his Legos. [Of course!]

Me with princess Leia.  Me and Bryce.   

A pirate ride were you got to spray people....but they got to spray you!

Us making a Lego Person. 

Lego People 

 The Family and Grandma and Grandpa at the beach [Mom and Grandma stayed in the car because Bryce was asleep.] 

           "Aunt Lulu" and "Uncle Bob's" hot tub.

            And guest house where we stayed. I love rich people! :)

              Going home, after about the best vacation ever!!!!!