Livvy's First Christmas!

We had a little mini Christmas in Utah with Grandma and Grandpa Monson before we left for Arizona.



She was pretty excited about her little air ball popper thing, especially the music! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Monson!



We got to spend Livvy's first Christmas in Arizona with our Martinsen family. Grandpa Martinsen helped her open her first Christmas jammies. We get to open them Christmas Eve and wear them. Sadly, I think she liked the paper and box the most:) Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Just chillin' in the Christmas jammers. Rob, Sarah, and Grandma Martinsen.

Getting loves from Great Grandma Cooper. Livvy got spoiled this Christmas from all her Grandmas!

What the heck is this stuff you're making me wear?

Christmas day! Rob got everything he ever wanted, including this random badminton racket that Santa left in his stocking. Pretty sure we could have given Livvy a couple of boxes and some Christmas paper and she would have been just giddy.


Olivia absolutely loves books. She is already pretending to read and is turning the pages. There's a basket of books in the guest room and she loved to take each one out and look at the pages.

Winter Wonderland

We had our first real overnight getaway without Livvy for our anniversary and went to Park City. This is at the Olympic Park - behind us there's a ski jump competition going on. It was amazing to see up close. Who is crazy enough to do that?


Does it seem like most winter sports are just fast and insane? Okay, curling is a bit less stressful. Do you think we'd make a good bobsled team?:)

Grandpa and Grandma Martinsen, Aunt April, Uncle Ryan and family, Aunt Sarah and Uncle Brad came to visit for Thanksgiving and to go to conference. Eli has always been so sweet and loving to Olivia, it's so cute. Livvy loves her AZ family.

Livvy loves music. She loves to play on our little keyboard and bang the bongo drums, and pull the guitar strings:)

Happy Halloween!

The Monson cousins all went to Lagoon and had a great time. Carli didn't though, she was pretty bummed out as you can see from the expression on her face.


Getting pics with random dressed up people. Megan and Mikell's faces say it all. "Why are we doing this?"

A favorite ride.

Halloween morning we went hiking up Rock Canyon. It is so gorgeous up the canyon in the fall, and also freezing!


Does it look like Livvy is rollin' in good times or what? Actually she was quite miserable for most of the trip. Way to hang in there Rob, still smiling:)



Aunt Brittany let us borrow Ashlyn's flower costume. She made it! So cute - wish I had that talent (or maybe more the desire to have that talent)!!



We were so exciting this Halloween that we got dressed up and then pretty much just went next door and visited our neighbor and friend Christine. She loves Livvy and is so sweet with her. It was really fun to hang out there for a bit.

A Visit to Grandma Cahoon

Jodi and I took Carli, Caleb, and Olivia up to Cardston to see Grandma Cahoon, who was really sick and in the hospital. Carli sat in the back between the two babies and entertained them the whole way. It was great. This is in the hotel on the way up.



Isn't it amazing how similar babies the same age are? They do the same things, make the same sounds, chew everything! They are just so darn cute!



We are all gathered around Grandma Cahoon. This was such a special time and I'm so glad we made the short trip. It was so worth it. Grandma loves music, so we sang some hymns together, around her bedside, including "How Great Thou Art." There was a wonderful spirit in the room. I'm convinced that is one reason the Cahoons are so firm in the gospel because there has always been wholesome music in their home.



With a trip home to Alberta, we have to stop in Waterton. It's so pretty. No doubt I took for granted living right by this beautiful place.


Just look at these two little butterballs. It doesn't get cuter than that!

Just learning how to clap.

Rice cereal anyone? Livvy is so loving she wants to share her food with everyone. She went through the stage of when I'm finished eating, I'm just going to spit it out. Actually, she's a year older and she's still going through that stage.

We love living close to BYU because there are always cousins, and therefore, lots of family here and visiting. We have a tradition of having a breakfast at the beginning of each year. It's great to get caught up with everyone. Uncle Mark is holding Livvy.

Beach House Bliss

Wicked good looking bunch eh? April is a very talented photographer and took our pictures by the beach. What a perfect setting. This is with the Martinsen clan in beautiful San Diego at our family reunion. We pretty much had a luxurious time with gourmet food (cooked of course by Mom and Dad) and a seaside villa. Brad even got to swim with some dolphins. Too wicked cool!


This is one of our all time favorite pictures. That is so Livvy. She is such a happy baby. Who's that hotty with her?


Check out the gourmetness. There's no going half way when Mom, Dad, and food are involved! I mean seriously, look at that sandwich! Mmmmm.

Chillin' with Uncle Buddy. What a coolio.

Livvy had such a fun time playing in the sand. It was tricky trying to keep it out of her mouth! She was just learning to sit up (about 6 months).

Livvy started laughing pretty early. Rob can really get her going.

I absolutely love the San Diego temple, though I've never been inside. It looks just like a castle. We had to stop here for a picture on the way back. So pretty!


At La Jolla beach. Livvy loved this little pool we found in a cave right by the beach. What a beautiful spot. While Grandma and Grandpa got some R&R, (okay, while they went shopping and cooked yet another great meal), the kids went to La Jolla for some fun.


Aunt April watched Olivia while Rob and I went snorkeling. We didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but it was still really fun. I have a love hate relationship with the ocean. Love it because it's fascinating - it seems so mysterious. Hate it for the same reason, it's kind of scary - you just don't know what's lurking behind the seaweed.


On our way back to the beach house, we stopped at the La Jolla Aquarium. Good times.


A little quality Grandma time. Thanks to Grandma, Livvy was all dolled up in the cutest summer outfits.

More pictures that April took.

This is just before we left for home. Livvy loves her Auntie Sarah - so cute, and they didn't even plan the twinner outfits. Aunt Sarah is now an amazing sister missionary in New Zealand having lots of great adventures!!

Another cute video of Livvy at 5 months.

Llama Laughs

We're in front of the Hindu temple out in Springville. They have a llama festival every year. Who knew?


We love llamas. We love Hindu people. We love Hindu llamas. We love Hindu llama people.


Please don't spit on me, please don't spit on me.


So every year, they have a llama race. Rob just missed it - he can't wait til next year, he'll be there for sure! I mean, look at this guy - it just doesn't get funner than this.


What is that expression Rob? I think it was right after he realized he missed the race. So sad.

Rob was called to be in the Stake Sunday School presidency. We are at President Christiansen's cabin up Provo Canyon at a stake leadership barbeque. Such a pretty spot!!

Just a fun video (couldn't figure out how to turn it around), of Livvy at 4 months, just figuring out her rattle.

This was at a retreat for Rob's work at Daniel's Summit by Heber City. It was so pretty and our first get away since Livvy was born, (can you call it a getaway if she's still with us)? We had a great time.

Livvy rolled over the day Grandma and Grandpa Monson left to go home to Canada. What a great going away present for them.

A Special Spirit

Olivia was blessed by her daddy on May 7, 2009. In the blessing, he said that she has a special spirit and was sent to our family for a reason. He counseled her to stay close to her family and she would have many friends and to be content in her heart.

We feel so blessed to have such an incredible family on both sides who love and support us so much. What a special day it was for our family and especially for Olivia.

Grandma Martinsen and Olivia. Grandma made by hand this gorgeous blessing dress. Thanks Mom, Livvy will cherish it forever!

Amber, Uncle Ted, Bailey, Sadie, Shauna, and TJ Heap came to the blessing. This is Rob's side's Utah family:) who live in Draper. We're so glad to live close to them.

What a lucky girl. She has so many people that love her so much. This is her with Grandma and Grandpa Monson.

With Auntie Sarah. So cute!

Okay it's very hard to get a good picture of 3 babies together! This is Livvy with her cousins Sophie and Caleb.

Had to include it. Sam Monson, a cousin, in between the babies. What a crazy kid!

More cousins. Mikell, Ashlyn, Hannah, Ethan, and Megan. Thanks for coming everyone!