This is where we live.

We officially have our condo up for sale. This is a leap of faith for the Hughes family because we don't actually have anywhere to move to. Despite that minor detail, something has to be done so we're taking matters into our hands. Since our house is decluttered and clean for the first time in three years, I thought I'd post the pictures of our beautifully remodeled, move-in ready, 2bdrm 1bathrm 1060sq ft with lots of storage and a beautiful view condo.

You know, just in case you might know someone.

Shane's brother has a real estate license and because he is a good big brother and also astutely interested in the well fare of his niece and nephew, has offered is expertise in selling places to sell our place.

View from our private balcony. Yes, those are tennis courts and basketball courts you're looking at, not a prison yard. Repeat, tennis and bball courts, not prison yard.

We put a lot of work into this kitchen. And by we, I think we all know I mean Shane. The slate floors look really beautiful although you can't really appreciate them in this picture.


These are my famous turquoise walls. Either you luv em' or you hate em'. I luv em'.

Dining room. Yes I'll throw in the vase of Tulips if buy this place!! So you better hurry before they die.

Shane' s favorite piece of furniture in the whole house! wink, wink. He hates this couch, but in my defense it makes the room look enormous.

See the armoire, I'm sitting there right this moment typing this very word. The art work above the fireplace is my favorite accessory in the house. It says, "It'll cost nothing to dream, and everything not to." with a tall glass of iced lemonade. The artwork above the sofa in the previous photo says, "Share a random moment." with a picture of two cups of coffee. (Sorry if the coffee offends anyone. Well, not really.)

Here is the spare bedroom, which in our case is the master bedroom. It's just too small for our two kids to sleep and play, so they got the "actual" master bedroom. (Feel free to nominate us for parents of the year.)

Here's the kid's/"actual" master bedroom. You would think that giant sized bunny on Avery's be would scare my kids, but it doesn't.

Last, but most important, El Bano.

I know that this doesn't look like the place of someone who has an associates degree in Interior Design, but one day, when I get over my obsessive compulsive behavior to save money rather than spend it (which some people confuse with being "cheap") I will have the home of my dreams. At which point you may still think it does not look like the home of someone with an associates degree in interior design.

Thank you and have a lovely day.

Snow Canyon and Zions pictures

I love Snow Canyon. You're surrounded by 360 degrees of red rock. Here's our camp ground.

This is more of Angel's landing:

It's hard to take a bad shot in Southern Utah.

Oops...How did this get in here. That's awkward.

I just can't handle the cuteness

Are there any Mothers out there who can relate?

These switchbacks are called Walter's Wiggles. I just love that name.

This little contraption allows us to go on better bike rides. We got a lot of rubber neckers while we were out riding.

Even his grumpy face is adorable.

More cuteness that I just can't handle. These next pictures were taken at the sand dunes in Snow Canyon. The sand was so soft and wonderful, I wanted to bury my hands and feet in it all day. It felt like a manicure and foot massage.

What's a day at the sand dunes if you can't dig a large hole. Go ahead and try NOT to do it. I dare you.

Please consider this next photo your Christmas card. We are all doing very well. Merry Christmas.

Avery and Shane's Bedtime Conversation Last Night.

Before bedtime last night Shane was explaining the reason he hadn't been able to play with Avery that night.

Shane: I'm sorry I couldn't play with you tonight. I was working on some things on the computer so we can have enough money in the future. (he was setting up a retirement account.)

Avery: So you can send me to college?

Shane: Ummm...yeah.

Avery: So I can become the next president of the United States?

Watch out Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and Mit Romney! She is definitely sassy enough.

Avery took these pictures.

The world according to a four year old:
Author's note: I'm not usually this cheesy in photographs, but Avery was really cranky after hiking 2 miles uphill and I was trying my hardest to cheer her up. Thank you.




On her next photography lesson, I'll teach her about not cutting the tops of heads off.

Oh wait, she's doing better already.

Okay maybe not. Here's me trying to be cool...but not really succeeding.

We had a lot of fun and I'll post more photos of Snow Canyon and our hike up Angels Landing at a later date. (For those of you who have hiked Angel's Landing and are freaking out about taking 4 and 2 year old children on such a dangerous hike, don't worry, we stopped before the death defying steep stuff.)

Adorable birthday cards

My good friend Natalie has an upcoming card workshop and I think they are really cute. I know she would welcome anyone to come and it would be worth the trip to Logan. I wish I could make it, but we have to use those free ski passes that Shane won very soon, so we'll be hitting the slopes that day.

anyway, check it out. http://craftynat.blogspot.com

My man is 30!

Yes that's right, Shane turned the big 3-0 yesterday and we had a lot of fun celebrating. I met him at work with the kids, balloons and presents and we went to lunch at the Nauvoo Cafe since he works across the street. Later that night we had Craig and Kimber over for Dinner of BBQ ribs and pineapple upside down cake. (I know what some of you are thinking and the answer is no, I did not make Shane make his own birthday dinner, although he probably would have liked to.) His other birthday present is a Jazz game that we'll be going to on the 24th. Soooo, if anyone would like to get Shane a birthday present, we will be needing babysitting on the 24th:).

Something unusual about Shane many people don't know is that Shane is the LUCKIEST person I know. I'm not a superstitious person, but Shane was born in March and March is known for being a lucky month. Here are a few examples:

Once he bought a pair of pants from Costco and when he got home there was two dollars in the pocket.

Another time we were staying at a hotel in Mesquite and we decided to spend 5$ playing the slot machines. (We try to live life on the edge whenever possible) I lost all my money and he doubled his.

Still again, he was biking up City Creek Canyon and he found an IPOD. He asked everyone he saw if they'd lost an IPOD, but nobody claimed it and when we took it home it wasn't registered to anybody, so to make a long story short...the IPOD is now mine! (I guess I was the lucky one on that.)

Here is a list of things Shane has won from various drawings:

A trip to the Zermott

Ski passes

A Smith backpack (Smith is his favorite skiing label)

I'm glad I married him so I can bask in his lucky ways. Truthfully I'm the lucky one for finding the most perfect person for me. (sorry for the mushiness.)

Sage is 2!

Sage turned two on Sunday. I kept trying to tell him all day what a big deal the day was for him, but he couldn't have cared less, until he got his presents of course. We had a small party with Grandma and Grandpa Stott and uncle Craig.

One of his presents was a bucket of 200 blocks. I knew when I bought them that I would be spending the rest of my days picking up blocks from every room of the house, but maybe someday he'll grow up to be an amazing architect, but then again maybe not. Either way it'll be worth it. I like this picture because I took it right after his tower fell and the expression on his face is priceless.

This is my attempt at cake decorating. People kept trying to straighten the 2 candle and I had to keep explaining, "but it's being towed by the truck." It's never a good sign when you have to explain your crafts. Maybe one day I'll grow up to be a really amazing cake decorator and I won't have to explain my cake concepts. But then again, maybe not. Either way it'll be worth it.

This is far and away (isn't that a great movie?) Sage's favorite gift. I had it hiding unwrapped in my room and while we were sitting around the dinner table eating and talking, Sage went unoticed into my bedroom and found it all by himself. He came out riding it and could not have been more pleased with himself.