Should I stop?

Okay blogging is starting to feel like a burden.... I do it every few months and then I have to play major catch up.... Or maybe I should set a goal this year to at least blog every month so that I don't get so far behind. Well September was a fun month for Lucy, she turned 1! We had a little party for her, complete with her own cake . . .

 She had lots of help opening presents from Emma and her cousins. But she didn't mind.

 And then I took some one year old pictures of her with the balloon banner I made, and I think they turned out adorably, so I thought I'd share some...

 Gotta love those big blue eyes. We love this little girl and all the love and excitement she brings into our home!

Catch up part 2 (Alaska trip)

 We went on a cruise to Alaska, with my mom's extended family- everyone was there except one of my uncles and his wife. That is really hard to do.... get everyone together.

 We got to dress up for formal night....

 Lucy had so much fun with all of my cousins.

 We saw lots of whales.... It was really incredible. They were pretty close too!

 And they traveled in groups, it was really an incredible sight to see.

 Yeah, this is a head, that is pretty rare to catch a head, but we were really lucky!

 It looks like these sea lions are kissing, but in reality, he was trying to get on the buoy, but none of the other guys would let him on, so I think he was pushing him back off. Also notice the guy in the top of the buoy- not sure how he got up there or how he'll get down, but he was definitely alive up there.

 Emma enjoyed spending time with her aunts and uncles and Mami and Bumpa!

 This is Mendenhall glacier behind us

 The entire Christensen family that came, I think they said we totaled 67 people in our group. We were definitely the biggest group on the ship.

 This was on the way to the Yukon. It was just so beautiful!

 We stopped and got to feed some goats

 And some little ponies

 even Lucy joined in on the fun!

 We drove into Dawes glacier, it was ridiculously amazing, we drove right by ice blocks with sealions just hanging out.

 We got to witness the glacier breaking off into the ocean and shooters which break off from the bottom of the glacier and shoot up above the ocean. It was fabulous, and I'm pretty sure this was the highlight of the trip- that and seeing all of the whales.

 Mealtime was a big part of the cruise of course, Emma had the same thing every night- Spaghetti, fruit and bread- and they were happy to oblige.

 But keeping them entertained for the whole time while we waited for the food to come was quite a task- we were lucky to have a lot of help!

The trip was a big success! Emma keeps asking to go back on the big ship! She loved it, and had so much fun with all of my cousins- it was basically a big Christensen party :) Which is the best kind of party!

Catch up part 1

Well I guess I should start from the beginning of July . . . Which means our country's beloved Independence Day!

 We drove down to James' sister's house in Provo and we celebrated by playing on a slip and slide and waving flags .... they also live close to the football stadium so we got to have a free concert and fireworks show :)

All the Sweeney cousins reunited!

Well this will be picture overload for some of you! But, I was taking picture after picture after picture . . . and well there weren't a lot that I didn't like ",

 Lucy; enjoying looking at herself in the reflection of the dishwasher, to then discover mom standing behind her trying to catch the picture.

 Emma has discovered the joys of using Lucy for a ride, Lucy loves it even more with Emma nearby, but they definitely go a lot slower....

 Oh yeah in case I haven't mentioned before, paper is probably Lucy's biggest food group!

 Lucy being the chauffeur again!

Eva

 Brooke and Rhead (twins)

 Brooke and Emma

 Okay you have to zoom up on this picture and look at the face of the little girl behind Emma, I thought it was hilarious!

 Carden and Rhead

 Lucy tentatively playing with the fountains with dad

 I was constantly shooting pictures of all the cousins (except Lucy and Noah) and these were the best 3

 take number 2

 take number 3

 McKay playing with Lucy

Another one of Eva, she was the perfect model!

 Enjoying some downtime watching a movie ",

They had so much fun together!