This is Banks wishing you a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

In love with is new teddy bear from Grandma for Valentines.   Thank you grandma!

Ha ha ha ha.  Ahhhh I love this pic.

Banks is so proud that he built a tower as tall as he!

Meet: the magical, delicious, CRO-NUT.  (A Croissant/donut hybrid)  IT IS SOO YUMMY!  Come to Utah and I promise I'll buy you one and change your world! 

(Not the best pic, sorry) but a datenight out with Banks playing some croquet!

Banks get soo excited to open letters in the mail.  And whats better than opening a letter to him in the mail?  A letter WITH STICKERS!  Thanks for making his day, Pa pa!

MMM, loaded beef drip sandwich.  See recipe here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/02/drip-beef-two-ways/  (She describes two different ways to make her sandwich, I do the FIRST way and add sauteed veggies to a toasted bun)

I had to show this because we have been so lucky with the mildest February weather.  This seriously has been the average temp for the last couple weeks!!  (My tulips and daffodils have been coming up for awhile now too!)

My right hand man!  Loves helping mommy in the kitchen!

Banks had SOO Much fun celebrating his best friend Jada Lynch's 3rd birthday last week.  They got to play at the Provo Beach Resort, Ride the carousal, and eat lunch together!

Lots of park days for us.  Trying to take advantages of this beautiful (uncharacteristic) February!

Jeff's job is to arrange my food and photograph it for me.. he usually does a killer job.  But today I think he was extra hungry, and it was more of an after thought haha.  His Valentines Breakfast: French toast and loaded sweet potato-bacon hash.

Part 2: Loaded sweet potato hash.

These two boys being silly on xmas morning!  Love their matching vests.  :)

Banks cooking in his NEW apron Grandma Gail made him.  Isn't it so cute!?

Banks was so excited to get snow for Christmas!  He could not stop smiling the entire time he was out in it!

Banks got this neat puzzle for Christmas from the beloved neighbors , Elton and Lorna.

Christmas Morning excitement!

Sorry this pic is a little blurry.. its the only picture I have though of the two of us on Christmas morning.

More snow fun!!

I got SUPER SPOILED this year by my mom... I got a bosch mixer!!  Wow, wow, wow is all I can say.  Someone still needs to pinch me because I'm not sure if its a dream or not!

The SWEETNESS of this lil boy is unbelievable!  

What a great daddy!  Taking snow up the back and down the pants just so he could do snow angels with his boy!

I must say, I am pretty proud of this beauty.  Yes I made it ALL !  From the crust, to the filling, to the chocolate curls...

I also made an apple pie...
This was on Christmas Eve.  I hosted the family dinner.  My menu was Prime Rib, Grilled chicken in a homemade mushroom sauce, Green bean casserole (with a homemade mushroom sauce), Raspberry pretzel jello salad, Homemade rolls, Green salad, Mashed potatos and Gravy.  Sorry I didnt get a picture of all the food.  Guess we were too busy stuffing our faces!  :)

Banks with his "Pa Pa" Maruji.  Look at the magic sparkle in Banks eyes!  He's very intently watching as "Papa" performs his famous 'disappearing penny trick!'  (My favorite!!)

A better picture of Banks in his new apron helping mom make rolls for the debut in the bosch!

This is what I made to take to Japanese New Year Years.  (More details about Japanese New Years below)

Sorry this pic is a little blurry.  Lets talk about the BEST/FAVORITE Maruji tradition ever!  So my Aunt Diane and Uncle Don for years have been hosting "Japanese New Years" on new years day and inviting all the family.  Every year it might very slightly, but one thing is CERTAIN: Lots of delicious Asain food!  This year was so fun because there was sooooooo much delicious, Maruji-handmade sushi!  So not only is there endless delicious food, but its so fun to see all the family and get caught up!

Isn't this SO beautiful!?

I had to save the best for last!..PERFECTION!

(Sorry this pic is a little blurry) After everyone stuffed themselves at Japanese New Years,  Grandma Minnie (who is 90 years old) took all the kids in the gym to play the infamous "I have a lil Doggy" i.e. similar to duck, duck goose.  And the best part is, is Grandma Minnie still runs and chases the kids around!  No joke!  She is so amazing.  I hope one day I am as agile as she is!  90 never looked so good.

Banks finger painting with one of his best friends: Kate!

At our ward Christmas party Banks dressed up as a lil shepherd in keeping with the theme "A Night in Bethlehem".

  We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and wish you the very best for 2015!!

Behold: the ugly Christmas sweaters!  Getting ready to party!!

It wouldn't be Christmas without sporting the ugly Christmas sweater!

This year for Thanksgiving we flew to Ohio for a Hamilton Family Reunion.  What a wonderful fun time we had.  Here is Banks with his cousins Max and Graham.  (Really wished they lived way closer...Banks ADORES them!!)

Uncle Jeff decided a 'Human Pyramid' would be fun.  Unfortunately my camera wasn't quite fast enough to capture the pyramid before it came tumbling down...

Fun with the cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Hamilton's house!!

Crafts with all the cousins on Thanksgiving day!!

Thanks Aunt Alayna for being the mastermind behind these super fun candy-turkeys. 

Thanksgiving Pies:  Key Lime, Pumpkin Cheesecake, Salted Caramel Apple.

On Saturday of the Family Reunion/Thanksgiving we had a Cousin's Birthday party.  All the kiddos took turns swinging at the pinata. 

(Left to right) Cousin Mabel, Banks, and cousin Sienna with Grandma!

My mother-in-law's face!  Need I explain anymore...  :)

(In Ohio over the Thanksgiving Break) The final night these two best friends/cousins seemed to sense they might not see each other again for a very long time. (since Mabel would be moving back to Switzerland with her family)  Banks kept trying to convince me to let him go to sleep with his best friend Mabel in her crib.  It kinda broke my heart to say no.  I wished we lived closer and could play all the time.  Banks LOVES Mabel.

(Back in Utah...) Almost the entire month of December (so far) has been the mildest, best weather!  Banks and I have been playing outside lots!  Trying to take advantage of this great weather!!

I took Banks and his friend Jada to the dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point the other day.  We met his friend Kate there.  This is the sandpit where they can dig/uncover dinosaur fossils!

Banks as a lil Shepherd.  Dressed up for 'A Night in Bethlehem' (our ward Christmas Party)

More FUN pictures from the Hamilton 2014 Family/Thanksgiving Reunion.  Its a lil cold but we're sure having fun playing games outside nonetheless.

COUSINS!  So much fun!!