Museum of Ancient Life

On our way home from AZ we planned to spend the night in Orem and good thing because the snow was coming down by that point. There was even a semi that had tipped over and was blocking all but the left lane. We were thankful to get to stop!

The next morning we took Spencer to Thanksgiving Point's Museum of Ancient Life (the reason we had planned to stay in Orem in the first place). It was awesome and even more awesome, we got in for free thanks to our membership to the Discovery Center!

Spencer was in heaven seeing all the fossils and doing all of the activities, I wish we had had a little more time to spend at the museum because there was just so much to see and do and read! But we will certainly be going back next time we are down there!

December

December started with me getting to witness the birth of my sister's 4th boy (only 13 days late)! It was empowering and encouraging and here's hoping I have the strength to go all natural with this baby!!

the whole fam after baby Olly's blessing.

Spencer also had his 3 year check up. The doctor told us he has eczema on the backs of his knees and to stop bathing so much (not really, but he did say bathing every day could be making it worse, too bad this kid loves showers and baths and any time he hears them on he starts undressing). He also told us Spencer was a "very advanced talker" which was sort of funny. The conversation was something like this:
Doctor: Now normally I ask about their vocabulary and words and pronunciation but just sitting here listening to him, I'm not concerned at all. He's a very advanced talker.
Me: Great, now can you tell me how I'm supposed to get him to sleep in his own bed all night?!

looking grown up at the doctor!

meeting Santa at the ward Christmas dinner

My brother and his wife who have been living in South Carolina came for the week before Christmas so we spent a lot of time playing pickle ball, Ticket to Ride, sledding, and just hanging out with them. We also were enjoying all the snow we were getting as it was way more than usual!

on the hill behind Hillside.

brave enough to try it solo!

with uncle Brayd.

Nate and Spencer shoveling/playing in the snow...again

Christmas morning we had a mini celebration at home where Spencer was spoiled with dinosaurs, dinosaur puzzles, dinosaur shirts and everything else he had wanted. We then went to church at my sisters ward where they blessed their new baby. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening at my parents eating and opening more presents!

checking out the ultimate light display up Quail Ridge

Spencer dressed as a T-rex chasing everybody

Heaton and Nate pickle ballin.

can't forget Nate's Christmas mustache ((shudder))

Matching Christmas eve Santa jammies!

Christmas morning with some serious bed head!

The day after Christmas we got up nice and early to start our looong drive to Tucson! We took Brayden and Madison with us to Salt Lake so they could catch a flight back to S.C. that night. Madison was even great when Spencer puked, she'll be a great mom ;) Brayden on the other hand needs some more practice...

not too happy, the morning we left for AZ

The most eventful part was in the middle of nowhere in southern Utah when Spencer announced he had to poop and it was coming now, there was no waiting for an exit and by the time we pulled over, it was too late. Thankfully, Nate and I just laughed as we cleaned up a ginormous mess. I will also never travel without wet wipes every again, even if we don't have kids in diapers!!

We finally made it to Tucson about 3am Tuesday, the 27 and we were never more glad to have a couch to sleep on! I took only like 5 pictures, I was too busy enjoying the sunshine. But here they are:

cousins watching cartoons in the morning.

learning to ride his scooter at night in warm Tucson.

the Moeller fam as of December 2016.

We had so much fun with family and sunshine! We visited the ostrich farm, while the men went hunting the girls took the kids to one of my favorite traditions - a Rubios lunch at the park while the kids play, played yard games and had a fire with smores, went to the Mesa temple to witness the Alldredge sealing, hiking in the rain at Catalina State Park, at more that I've already forgotten! We love getting together with this big crew and only wish it happened more often!!