DANGIT!!!

I can't stop eating Hershey's Kisses!

Little but BIG...

There are so many good things all around us all the time and I'm trying to take a few minutes each week and really focus on it. Like:

Walking out of the gym from a great workout and the first gulp of air is fresh and crisp. Even though you are sweaty, for some reason it makes you feel so clean.

Dinners with just the two of you. I love eating with the whole family but when you can go out without the kids and talk with no interruptions, it really is a treat. At the end of these nights, I always feel refreshed and rejuvenated- ready for the next week.

Babysitters. People you can trust, and when you are out, you actually don't have to worry about your kids.

Bubble baths with a 12 inch layer of bubbles that smell like white tea and jasmine and a really good magazine.

The kids bringing out every pillow and blanket you own so that when you are on the couch everyone will be as comfortable and cozy as possible.

A COLD, But Fun Time!

Our family headed up to Breckenridge with Justin's brother Jimmy, and his family. It was fun to see art in the form of ice. I have a ton of appreciation for anyone who can create. The ice sculptures were beautiful. We were able to be there as the sun was going down and glinting across the ice making it sparkle. It was magical, especially for the kids.

We worked up an appetite and headed to a local restaurant, Rasta Pasta. Some friends recommended it and it sure was tasty!

We ended the night in front of Safeway, eating powdered sugar doughnuts and milk, in Jimmy's van.

The kids feel asleep on the way home and Justin and I talked 100 MPH. A perfect ending if you ask me! AHHHHH.

Together....

The Best Place To Be!!!
All I wanted for Christmas this year, (other than a few white undershirts to replace my yellowed arm-pit ones ) was for my entire family to be together! I must have been a good girl because my biggest wish came true!

These boys had a BLAST!!!

The boys headed up to the church to try out their new bikes. They stayed nice and toasty!

My Super Heros!

I'm not just saying this because these two are the BEST possible parents for me to have but seriously, they really are my hero's. I've never met any two people that can turn trials and hard times into gut-busting laughter and fun!

I have much to learn from them but slowly I think I'm getting their motto..."Oh hell, lets have a party!"

The Eve of Christmas!

Christmas eve is always full of lots of fun traditions! Now, if my brain was working properly, (I was a tad bit out of it this Christmas season- wink, wink) I could remember most of them:). Here it goes:

We spent most of the morning visiting-me, and making all the preparations-everyone else, for that evening. Sara and I went to the mall and did some pretty impressive last minute shopping. She was literally pulling me in and out of stores and I enjoyed (as much as I could) being in a fog as I followed on her shirt tails. Love her!

That evening we watched as all 5 boys opened their matching jammies from Mammy. They were so excited and just like we did when we were kids, they immediately put them on!

On each of their packages were their teddy bears and their "magic reindeer food" that Aunt Jeri sent them. They went outside and sprinkled it all over the snow so that Santa would be guided to the house.

We then proceeded to act out the Nativity story. Justin read from the scriptures, Todd and Martha made a very cute Mary and Joseph, Kendall was the angel , and our three wise men as Papa said, transformed into the three wise guys.

We ate, and laughed, and ate, and told stories, and ate, and played games, and ate, and got Santa his plate of cookies,and ate, and got the little ones to bed, and....ATE!

Like Father, like son!

The whole living room was then transformed into a scene from Santa's workshop. We had lots of boy elves come in and help Santa put together bikes, scooters, and more bikes. All the girls went downstairs to finish wrapping gifts. We saw all the little elves fill the stockings and eat!

Sometimes, You Can't.

That is how I was feeling when I was trying to get ONE picture where all the boys were showing me some cuteness at the same time. Instead we ended up taking tons that were making us laugh. The "flops" turned into a really fun night before we headed to the Christmas party.

Cole-2, Nathan-4, Kendall-2

Having Fun in Grand Junction!

COUSINS!
Defiantly our favorite reason to go there!

Lisa put it best: walking to the park, painting all her mismatched furniture black, monkey pancakes- yum! lots of snuggles with Grandma and Grandpa on the couch, painting with watercolors, playing the rainbow game, Heavenly white chicken chili, window shopping downtown, digging in the mountain, making deluxe paper airplanes, playing poker with candy corns, solving cryptograms, taking naps, watching the fifth season of the Office, Biscuit supreme and buttermilk pancakes at the Pufferbelly restaurant.

Having a blast at the Christmas gift exchange party, "tooth-paste flavored" cookies-not eating them- saying they were horrible-and then realizing the lady sitting next to Lisa was the one who made them! SHOOT! Going home with tons of delicious goodies, a cookie jar, and dang cute candy dish.

Hannah's 5th birthday party at the Kidplex, Italian breakfast burritos, getting hooked to Zuma, going to the ward Christmas party in matching outfits, listening to Joel sing "O Holy Night", touring the neighborhood Christmas lights, seeing thousands of birds in the sky,

A Nativity lesson on Sunday, eating at the food court in the mall, Pitching an 8 man tent in the living room and eating hot dogs and smores, waking up to the worst storm in over 15 years, playing in the snow, going with Lisa and Joel to their ultrasound appointment and finding out I'm getting a NIECE! Playing Quiddler, Dutch Apple Cranberry scone Carmel Sundae, seeing Santa at the mall! WHEW!

Making Gingerbread Houses!

Woops!

This is what happens when you get your older brother to spin you fast as a Ferrari on the autobahn, around and around your Mammies chair and you FLY off into your Papa's custom baseboard and split your head to the skull.

A strawberry Popsicle from the doctor, a vanilla ice cream cone from Mickie D's, and 5 staples later... we are going to survive! Okay, breathe.

Here's To 2010!

We hope everyone has a most wonderful year full of puppy dogs, rainbows, ice cream cones, sunsets, Friday night dates, splashing in puddles, and celebrations! Yes, even celebrations of depression and anxiety!