DENVER

Denver, CO

We had the chance to go to Denver last weekend for a friends wedding. We had the added bonus of seeing a lot of our friends from Boston and it was so much fun! We were at the temple when the married couple came out, we went to Cafe Rio with everyone and then gathered again at the reception that night.

Mike and Kristy Reintjes, Happily married!

Katie holding Sam oustide the temple



The Boston crew chillin at the reception

Jared

Esther

Mike and Kristy

Jacosa and Melba

We got to meet up with them a second time and go to lunch at Cracker Barrel. We haven't seen them forever so it was great to catch up and hang out with them again.

Laura (and expected baby). Jason was off doing something awesome so we had to take the picture without him.

The whole bunch of us at the reception (except Jared, who had already left)

Mike, Sam, Trisha, Jacosa, Melba, Diana, Blaire, Kristy, ___, Leah, Lisa, Esther, Katie, Janae, Jenny, Laura and Jason

Katie and Esther dancing. Reminds one of all the dance parties that were had on Nottinghill

This is a video clip of the dancing- Plain awesome!

Colorado Springs, CO

The next day we went to Colorado Springs to meet up with our friends, Brandon and Arianne. They were kind enough to escort us to a beautiful park called the Garden of the Gods. We got there just at dusk and it made for some very pretty scenery. We walked around in the 50 degree weather and enjoyed the view. Then we went to their house for dinner, talking and some wicked fun games (Moods and Five Crowns). Thank you Brandon and Arianne, we had so much fun!!

Sam bundled up in his winter suit

Meditation

Brandon and Arianne

Boulder, CO

We wanted to go to the Celestial Seasonings (they manufacture teas) Factory but they told us that children cannot go inside because it will damage their ear drums. Makes you wonder what they do in there... Anyway, instead we just made the drive to Boulder and went to a little sandwhich joint, The Dish,  on Pearl St.

Pearl St.

Denver, CO

Our final activities in Denver included the Downtown Aquarium and a walk up the 16th St. Mall. The aquarium was amazing and I took so many pictures, but I'll spare you all the misery. We saw so many different kinds of sea creatures. Mean sharks, fatbellied seahorses, eels, stingrays, etc...

Sam by the trout case. Maybe when he grows up he will enjoy catching these

The scary-lookin underside of a stingray

Me petting some stingrays

Trisha and Sam outside of the Aquarium

One of our favorite things at the aquarium was this Flash Flood display, it was so cool.

On our way from the Aquarium to the 16th St. mall, this fish jumped right out of the cobblestone and tried to eat me whole

16th St. Mall

Artsy modeling

Me and Trisha "One Mile Above Sea Level" at the Colorado State Capitol Building

A look at the city from the Aquarium

We loved Denver and all of its surrounding areas and maybe we'll go back

Christmas after New Years

Since we spent the Christmas holiday in North Carolina, we decided to leave all of our presents back at home in Vernal and just open them when we got back. We spent new years day at my parents and went to a birthday party that evening. We left the party early to get home early, but as we drove away we had some car difficulties. Looking back on it, there were definite signs of a flat tire, but neither of us realized it at the time. The car was tilting to one side, the drivers side. We both thought that it was because I was on that side of the car and we had to fit 4 suitcases from our NC trip also on that side of the car. The alignment also seemed to be off. Again, we just thought it was because of the extra baggage in Trishas small car. Well, once we got onto the freeway and the car started making a weird repetitive thumping, we both realized something else was going on. I was trying to drive to the next exit so I could pull off the freeway and check things out, when there was a blowout and I knew the tire was gone. I immediately pulled over and called my dad and brother who came to our aid and helped us get the spare tire on. We were so glad that it happened when it did and that we had family close by to help us out! What a great blessing that was! My mom was also nice enough to lend us her car so that we could get home for commitments at church and work the next day. Everything worked out in the end and I was able to drive back to SLC on Monday and get all new tires on Trishas car so hopefully we'll be good for a while. Needless to say it was 1:00am when we got home and Trisha couldn't wait to open our presents.

We got lots of fun things from Santa.

Highlights of our gifts:

1. Huge Nerf gun with 3 magazines that hold massive amounts of amunition. One day Trisha went to run errands and I set it up in the living room behind something so she couldn't see me. When she got home I bombarded her with every single bullet I had. It was hilarious!!! I know I'm gonna have lots of fun with it.

2. New bedroom

3. Barbeque grill (which I won at my work party)

4. Jazz tickets (which I bought as part of a blind charity auction at another work party. I also bought a super sweet sunkist skateboard.)

5. Exersaucer for Sam. He loves it and learns how to use more of it each day. He first would just suck on things. Now, he turns around and pushes buttons and plays with everything. He loves standing up in it too.

So Christmas in January is just as fun as Christmas in December! Merry late Christmas to our family and yours

PS- Didn't Trisha do a great job decorating our Christmas tree?!?!  

Happy New Years 2011

We ended 2010 and started 2011 with family and tons of fun! I love the Sorenson family new years bash! This year I got so full on appetizers that I had no desire to eat any of the delicious prime rib. That didn't stop me, however, I think I had a few pieces in the end. I had a great time playing games and eating food and I didn't even go to bed with metallic confetti down my pants, so it was a really good party.

The clan getting ready for the countdown

Trisha and I at the new year 2011!!

The Big kids and the Little kids outside making noise just in case anyone was trying to sleep through the new years celebration. We can't let that happen

Landon sporting all of the confetti from the ground

Live video of the countdown and the chaos that ensues

This is the outdoor part of our celebration

For 2011, I have but 1 New Years Resolution

Ready....

NO CAFFEINE FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year 2011!

Christmas with the Cheneys and family pictures

Since we have families that live on opposite sides of the US, we decided when we got married that we would trade off every year for Christmas. This year it was Christmas in North Carolina with the Cheney family! It was so much fun. We had such a blast! Christmas Eve brought the traditional reading of the Nativity story.

Trisha doubles as the accompanist and some sort of animal. She absolutely loves this tradition!! The kids all love it too and it was fun to watch them all act it out.

We had a delicious home-made Cafe Rio meal and enjoyed spending time with one another.

Christmas morning was spent with Great Grandpa Worseley, Nana and Papa Cheney and Trisha, Sam and I. Sam's first Christmas morning and he couldn't have cared less. He had no idea what was going on and he was not interested in opening his present either. This is good because we just woke up when we woke up but it lacked some of the excitement that one expects to have at Christmas time with kids.

Sam opening his first christmas present

Trisha and Sam opening presents

Me opening my presents

Sam in his Christmas pajamas. Only he isn't really acting like Captain Awesome!

Christmas day we had another family get together and had lots more fun. It was so great to get to spend time with everyone and get to know some of the family that I rarely get to see.

This is the 3 inches of snow that the Charlotte area got while we were there and it shut down the entire city. Crazy.

Once everyone got into town, we all headed out to get some family pictures. Here are the pictures that we took with our camera.

Nana and Papa with all of their grandchildren

TJ and Michelle family

Tiffany and Brandon family

Nellie and Jonathan family

Our family

Todd and Christina family

Nana and Papa with Sam

After the pictures we had another gathering and all the kids were playing "Ring around the Rosies" They played it for a long time and it was funny to watch how they chose to fall on the ground!

It was a successful Christmas and it was great to spend it with all of the Cheney clan! We sure love our Cheney family and are greatful for all of the accomadations while we were in town. It was great to spend time with each of you! We love you all!

Atlanta, Georgia

My first visit to Georgia was a spectacular one! Trisha and I rented a car and made the nearly 4 hour drive from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, GA. My great friends, Paul and Eliza and their 2 boys, have lived down there for a few years while Paul is in Pharmacy School. I first met Paul on my mission when we were both serving in the Liege, Belgium area and he was my Zone Leader. We went on a lot of exchanges and formed a friendship that continued after we returned home and took many of the same classes at the University of Utah. I've watched their family grow and I love every chance I get to see them and hang out with them. They are quality people; couldn't find any better. We met them at their house and they fed us lunch while we visited and I read lots of books, over and over again, to Peter and Aaron. Then we decided to go to the Coca-Cola Factory/Museum downtown. IT WAS AWESOME!!! It was one of my life-long goals and I am so glad that we went!

Trisha, Mike, Sam, Peter, Aaron, Eliza (and baby girl) and Paul

All of us getting ready to go in to the 4-D movie. This movie, by itself, is worth the entire entrance fee to the museum. It is a 3-D movie with the added fun of moving chairs. It was like riding a roller coaster while watching a movie. We also got squirted with water and air blown at our faces. I was sitting next to Peter, who did not enjoy the added fun, so maybe it isn't for little kids. However, I LOVED it!

Me testing out over 60 different Coke products from around the world. I'm pretty sure I didn't try all of them, but I did try a lot of them. Some of them were okay, a few were good and many were absolutely atrocious! Mostly I just liked drinking from the Coke fountains cause I love me some Coke.

After enjoying a few hours at the museum we headed to the coolest little diner outside of Atlanta. I have never seem customer service like they had at this place. The owner and waitresses were so friendly and they kept coming to our table and doing magic tricks for the kids. It was typical southern hospitality.

Thank you Paul, Eliza, Peter and Aaron for having us down in your neck of the woods and showing us a good time! Can't wait to hang out with you again!