The Christmas Carol

Like all good blog posts this one was suppose to be in November and then we would have one more in December. Time, energy, effort - all got away on me this last two months. Its all good but seriously you blink and poof its gone. I know people always talk negatively about time but I think time is a beautiful, mysterious element. It can heal, teaches you about yourself, it teaches to value what each day has to offer but also to stay positive to the future as well. I think this is a reason the book and movie the Christmas Carol is still one of my very favorite stories. So what has time given us in these last two months? Here we go....

Starting in November we had Thanksgiving at our house and had Brian, Carmen and Quinn over. We had so much fun and just had such a fun time watching the kids play with their Great Aunt and Uncle, having delicious food and just having time together. We did the usual 5k in the morning and spent Black Friday getting the house all decorated, It was so much fun to see the kids so excited about the tree and decorations. It felt like living in a new house since we have had so many changes in our house and different places to put decorations. I will do a blog before and after post in early 2017 but we have been doing so many cosmetic changes to really get the house the way we want it. We love it!

My Christmas gift from Bren this year was a Christmas time trip to NYC. I have a friend who has been a Rockette for six years and I have wanted nothing more then to see her perform. Bren made it happen this year and we had the best time! Spoiled us and babies Yaya Kathy flew to SLC to watch them and we flew in on a Friday. Crazy enough our friend Rick was in times square NYC to celebrate his birthday. We checked into our hotel and then met him for dinner, drinks and tours. It was great because he knew the city so well it was like having a personal guide tour. We went to Time Square, Rockfeller and saw the Tree, Saks fifth Ave. I think both Bren and my favorite moment was there was a huge light display outside of Saks and they were playing the Home Alone music, Rick starts screaming at the top of his lungs, "KEVIN, has anyone seen Kevin?". Hilarious, if you don't get the joke please watch Home Alone. After he left us we saw the late show of the Rockettes Christmas. It was beyond anything I have ever seen, their precision, the details, formations were all absolutely incredible. The best part was after the show my friend Heather even gave us a backstage tour and we got to go on Radio City Hall's amazing stage. It was surreal and such an incredible experience.

Since the weekend was just a weekend and we packed everything in, we hit the ground running early Saturday morning. We did a hop on/hop off bus and truly saw the sights. We got off at World Trade Center, Statue of liberty and central park. We had a yummy lunch right near the Dakota hotel and then jumped a cab back to Broadway. I took a dance class at Broadway Dance Centre and Bren went beer dabbling next door at a beer/whiskey bar, it was such a win for us both. We had dinner at a nice Italian joint and then went to the MET. I had been to the Met many years ago but forgot just has overwhelmingly incredible it is. Bren said it was his favorite part of the whole weekend. We stayed until close and just took in as much as we possibly could. One of my favorite dance students lives in NYC so we were able to meet her after the Met and she got off of work for a drink and to catch up. She took us to this great bar that was like a little Victorian secret called Lillies. They had amazing drinks and we had a great time. We made it back to Utah and decided Christmas each year might become a new trip away rather then gifts for each other. We have that travel bug.

Lots of work for both of us as 2016 comes to close but not before we have fit in some fun. We got Kinsale up on skis for the first time two weekends ago. We got a lot of snow and both kids were so excited to get up on the mountain. Bren was a trooper and amazing as ever in slugging both kids down the hill. Quinn loves to ski and hasn't stopped talking about it since last year. We tried to have Kinsey borrow his skis and boots but he was not happy so I think we will need to sign her up for the ski program and get her all set too. Its great having a family of four and knowing this is the right size for me since we can all fit on a chair lift together!

Many more firsts since that one as well, first haircut, first time on hockey skates, first time at a professional sports game, just so many. I am going to save those gems for an early 2017 post to start the year off with some good karma.

One final thought of 2016 is gratitude for the people we are so fortunate to have in our lives. I love the Christmas season and all the thought that people put into events, parties, gifts and my very favorite Christmas cards. Every year I hand write all of the names and addresses on the outside of my envelopes because I love the moment I pause and reflect on each person or family and think of them. I know that sounds terribly cheesy but its special because I will often think when was the last time I saw them, maybe send up a silent prayer if I know they need it, add an extra note, or just feel a moment of fullness to be surrounded by so many good people.

Merry Christmas

Love,
The Whites

Halloween

Halloween with kids is the best. No doubt about it, they love the costumes, the decorations and of course the candy! Its been a good month for us after starting out the months with lots of traveling, I was in Portland the first weekend and Bren was in San Francisco the second week we have finally had some down time. Although the travel schedule and holiday season picks right back up in 2 weeks again and this time goes through 2017. We ended September by welcoming our new nephew baby boy Griffin into the world. He is such a sweet, snugly baby. It was also fun this month because both Tom and Kathy came to town to meet the little man but also we had our nephew Owen and my Brother Ross in town for a weekend too. Always fun spending time with family. We even got a short visit from the Puffs as they were passing through to Nevada.
This weekend has been filled with lots of Halloween parties, one yesterday, another today and trick or treating tomorrow. Toddlers are doing well, Q is slowly adjusting to the big boy bed and Kinsey is getting a whole mouthful of teeth these days. The two have really started to play together which is adorable, often reminds me of two rolly, polly wiggly, wrestling puppies. November is going to go quick and I can't wait for some snow and getting the babies out on the hill!

Life is good!
Love,
the Whites

Our Seahorse and Dinosaur

Fall Baking with Mama

The G baby!

Too adorable

A sunrise the other morning

With Poppa T

My nephew Owen

Bren and Ross

At the aquarium

Carving pumpkins

The results

Still Feeling that Summer Glow

 We really had a great summer 2016! We traveled a whole ton and actually had pretty much people in town every weekend or where out of town ourselves. We had two trips to MN one for my sister Brandy’s baby shower and the second for Anton and Natalie’s wedding. Both trips were really lots of fun and seeing everyone. We had a “high tea for Mommy to Bee” theme for her shower. The shower was really fun and it was great spending so much time with family.

 Anton’s wedding was also like a mini vacation because we were really busy since Bren was the best man. My Aunt Laurie was kind enough to take the kids overnight so we could all enjoy the party for their wedding. We finally just got a lot of kid free time to reconnect with many of our MN friends. Thanks to both of our parents for helping watch those two active toddlers roaming around.

Fall is starting off great still lots of travel for both Bren and me for work. Luckily we are making it all coordinated with our schedules. We have been in big transition with moving Q to a big boy bed. Its been rough and I don’t think any of us are adjusting too well. Hoping this week as week three starts to get easier. K has been ok as well she was very sick last week and is finally back to her spunky little self.

Enjoy some pics!

Love

B, A, Q, K and the little lamb Gilles

The bunny sweater I knitted for Kinsey

London and Scotland

The last weekend of July and the first week of August we had an incredible trip to London and Scotland. We went with our friends Lisa and Tracy and seriously it was beyond anything I expected. We flew direct from SLC to London Heathrow. I was actually surprised at how flat London was and how expansive the city is. After an hour and half customs wait we got passed through and jumped a cab to our hotel.

We stayed at the Academy hotel and it was close to a lot of the areas, the first night we bar hopped a bit and then had wonderful fish and chips. We fought hard to stay awake as late as we could to help combat the jet lag. Of course I struggled and by 3am sat up and read until 5. At 5:30 I decided to venture out and get coffee. When we travel internationally one of my favorite personal traditions is going very early in the morning and getting coffee and treats to bring up to our hotel room. There is something about a busy city in the morning that just feels peaceful. Empty streets, watching shops light up and being one of the first in a coffee shop to get fresh, warm croissants is delightful. Our first day there we went to high tea at the Ritz Carlton in London, it was amazing. So gorgeous, impeccable service and wonderful tea and treats. After finishing that up we met up with our group and did a hop on, hop off bus. We ended up doing the Tower of London tour which was really cool and super historical. Monday night we met up with Lisa's awesome friends Tim and Nev and had a great night. Probably a little too much fun, as I captained the struggle bus on Tuesday morning.

Tuesday we really enjoyed the bus and went to see Buckingham Palace and literally walked in the worst rain storm. You know its bad when you still have an umbrella but you end up soaking wet. After a great lunch, we got our tickets for the London Eye. We did the champagne private tour, which I highly recommend. It was only about 10-12 people and you could walk around and enjoy glasses of champagne while seeing all of London, after that we strolled through Hyde park in a mission to get me back to Harrods. The first time I was at Harrods was literally ten minutes and I really, really wanted to see more. We made it back and I felt as is mission was accomplished. For dinner that night we enjoyed the Italian by our hotel.
Wednesday  morning we had to catch a train to Edinburgh, Scotland. Kings cross station was pretty cool but I was really happy we chose to take the train first class to Edinburgh. We got free drinks and food for the five hour train ride and got to see lots of the country side which was gorgeous, free wifi was also a bonus. My poor Mom watching the kids back in Utah had her hands full between the car not starting one day and also our AC not working.

Edinburgh, Scotland is magical. I literally think it is my favorite city in the world. It was a combination of a large historical city like Munich, meets the gardens and greens of Ireland but is clean, friendly and magical. JK Rowling lived there when she wrote all of the Harry Potter novels and you see why they are what they are. The streets are cobblestone and windy at times with colorful store fronts, a huge historical castle on a hill overlooking everything, winding stair cases, outdoor dining and little tunnels leading to new bars and places. We had a great Air B and B we stayed at, it had a roof top terrace and an incredible view of the castle from the kitchen. It was in the middle of everything and we never had to take and uber to get anywhere. We also were there during the first few days of the Fringe festival so they had really, cool fireworks over the castle the first two nights we were there. We ate at a really good fish restaurant about ten yards away from where we were staying. Scotland is surrounded by water and the mussels I had were some of the best ever.
Thursday we got up and all walked up to the Royal Mile, which is right off of the Edinburgh castle. Bren and I did the castle tour and were blown away about how old it was and how the fact it is still a castle in operation is crazy. Then we met Lisa and Tracy for the best food ever. We went to a pub on the royal mile called Deacon Abbeys and had ciders and meat pies for lunch. I became so obsessed with how delicious these meat pies were that we ate there again on Saturday for lunch. The pub is from the 1700s and has a really cool ceiling. We did some shopping then caught a fringe show from Lisa's friends (Lisa is the shit and literally has friends ALL over the world- no joke). The show was really cool and a mix between 1920s radio and a 1950s comic book come to life.

(the ceiling at Deacon Abbeys)

The next day Bren and I did a Hairy Coo bus tour that went to Loch Ness. The highlands of Scotland, deserve their own trip someday. It was stunning, we saw the place where parts of the most recent James Bond were filmed. Huge mountains covered in green and huge expanses of water. When we got to the city right outside of Loch ness we had enough time to get a pint on the water before we caught our water cruise. The Loch Ness is super black like coffee because of the peet under it. It was pretty cool and we had gorgeous weather. We ended the trip back learning a lot about Scotland's history and stopping at a waterfall. We had also started the trip with a stop at a whiskey distillery which was neat and seeing some hairy coo (cows). When we got back we met Lisa and Tracy for a little more bar hopping and fireworks over the castle.

You know its a great trip when you love your babies fiercely but are also sad to be waking up on your last day. Bren and I spent our last day exploring the gardens and the city and were not disappointed. We also caught the vintage flea market that happens every Saturday morning off of New Grass street. Bren picked up a really cool vintage, glass flask, I got a gorgeous red hat. That evening after going to a hidden whiskey bar we went on a ghost tour to the underground portion of Edinburgh which was pretty cool.
All in all, it really was a trip of a lifetime that makes me desperately want to visit again.

Love,
B and A

Baby Girl

Whiskey in a Teacup!

How in the world is my baby girl one years old already? I really cannot wrap my head around having two toddlers in my house. Kinsale turned one in the middle of my work convention but we threw her a great, adorable birthday party the following weekend. We did her one year old photos that morning and then had friends and family over for the party in the afternoon. It was so much fun to watch her play with her friends and big brother help her open all her gifts. She continues to entertain us as we get to know her personality. She seems to be a little bit of the Brecke girl "Whiskey in a tea cup" type spitfire. We love it and laugh at her antics. She adores Quinn and pretty much copies everything he does or tries to do. I always feel blessed and never seem to have a dull day! Enjoy some pics from her party!

Love,
Lyssaloo

Summer 2016 so far....

Has been awesome! Its going to quick, I can hardly wrap my heard around the fact that it is almost mid July. End of June was great, we actually went camping with friends and the kids for the first time. After three years of not camping it was really fun to get back out there and do it again. It is different with the babies but they did really good. After reading a bunch of blogs on how to camp with toddler I think we had it under control. The best advice was actually setting up a second tent for toys, for the kid to play in or just keeping everything contained. We did this with a smaller tent we had and it seemed actually pretty helpful. Also just keeping kids busy, lots of hikes and exploring. I think the only lesson I would do different next year would be to bring lots of clothes that can get super dusty and dirty. With Kinsey still semi crawling, walking she was a little dust bunny.
That is also what is new she is officially walking, running and dancing. I was in Boston for work a few weeks back and I came home and my baby no longer is a baby crawling. I now have a walking toddler. Wow. Where did this last year go? Boston was awesome, wish I would have had more time to explore but it was amazing. I actually ran a 5k when I was there and got my personal best time ever, which is a great feeling. Lots more going on this summer, more trips planned including an international jaunt over to London and Scotland at the end of this month. I can't wait, my Mom is coming in to watch babies and we are so excited to go explore.
Loving summer time and watching my babies grow!

Love,
The Whites