Christmas Lights to see the light....

My favorite family tradition that John and I started was seeing the Christmas light downtown before Christmas. I know, very original right, but they really have become some of my most favorite family memories.

Waiting at the trax stop by our house, the boys we hardly able to contain themselves for all the excitement.

We had dinner downtown and then pushed our kiddie around temple square. They loved every second of it and didn't even mind the cold in the air.

 Jackson was enthralled by the nativity this year. He loved the "blue light" that shone down on baby Jesus. It always brings a tear to my eye hearing the story of His birth. Maybe it's the L&D nurse in me but I just love imagining how absolutely excited Mary was to hold her brand new baby boy and know of his mission to come.

 John is so talented with the camera. I love how you can see the beginning place of the Savior and His beautiful temple in the background.

 A quick warm up and than out into the cold for some more.

 My happy baby enjoying the lights.

Bundled up Riggs and Co.

Christmas Music!

Thanksgiving...

We are hard pressed to find a decent family picture with our whole family acting normal and smiling in it. We were hopeful to get a cute Thanksgiving family picture but to no avail the boys were too silly to look at the camera at the same time and smile.  

 Cousin: Lily(5, almost 6) Jackson (3), and Bradley (1)

It was a fun and memorable time eating delicious food with the Riggs side of the family. After a huge dinner we looked through black Friday ads, attempted to get a family picture, played and made these little balloon turkeys. I was surprised at how well they followed directions. I think they turned out pretty cute!

Leaves are falling all around...

Our leaves fell a little at a time this year. So we got out to rake at least 3 times this fall. We have so many trees so we were glad that they all fell off the trees before heavy snowfall.

Our boys loved to "help." It takes me back to when I was little and asked to "help" rake the leaves at our house.

 

 Such kissable cheeks!

A fall day isn't complete without rough housing in the leaves with Daddy. What a fun day!

A fire engine and a policeman...

Jackson wanted to be a fire engine this year. So I decided to make him one to wear while dressed as a fireman, he felt okay with the compromise and was very happy to parade his costume around this year.

Bradley, however, was not excited to wear anything for Halloween this year and would just as soon go as a cute little baby instead. But being the mean mom that I am, I made him into a very cute policeman instead. He was a very good sport and actually worn his outfit better than Jackson.

Taking the costumes for a test drive.

Happy, happy birthday, Jackson, dear!

One of Jackson's favorite songs is the primary song, "You've had a birthday." He has been looking forward to his birthday all year! This year we decided to have a real birthday party with his cousins (minus Boston...we missed you!).

My birthday boys! So cute I could eat them up!

Jackson changed his mind 3 times as to what kind of Birthday cake he wanted his year. He wanted a tractor cake, a fire engine cake and a bike cake. So I decided to put them all together on one big cake! He loved it! 

The finished product!

We played pin-the-dog-on-the-firetruck. They all just loved it and caught on so quick. Bradley even took a turn putting the dog right on the firetruck.

Then they played "firehose." Which was essentially hitting the fire hat with "water rockets." Jackson was over the moon happy and such a joy to be around.

 This is him with his new birthday bike and helmet. He is so loving and cheerful. We just couldn't live without our little ray of sunshine!

Cars 2

John called me from work one day and said that the "Cars" cars were right outside his buidling. Jackson loves the show and I knew he would possible dies of absolute happiness if he could see the "Cars" character in real life. He was beyond excited and in awe that they were actually there. He was even more excited when they let you win free stuff...like a Cars 2 beach towel, gasp! 

Jacks and Mater...best friends! So cute!

Bradley, Jackson and McQueen. Brad wasn't as thrilled as Jackson.

Truth be told Jackson was a little disappointed that Mack wasn't there and was slightly annoyed that this "Mack" didn't have eyes. It's hard being 3!

All was made up when they let you play on this huge blow up spy training center,







...a really cool slide!