We Have An Announcement!

Yes, we have an announcement, and NO I'm NOT pregnant! I finally caved and allowed Santa to bring my kids something that they have BEGGED to have for YEARS! Our new puppy arrived on Christmas Eve...he even had the big red bow around his neck. He was delivered across the street to our sweet neighbors who puppy-sat for the night (and put up with the whining!). The next morning, the kids were led on a scavenger hunt all around the house and ended up on the neighbors front porch to see their new adventure. He is the sweetest thing (as of now)...he is a pure bred shitzu and his name is 'Buddy'. So far, he has been pretty good. He is paper trained, which is good, considering the 12" of snow we have in the back yard. It would make it a little hard to have him be out there right now. He hasn't bothered my allergies, or Jake's, so it looks as though he may stay with us....Kim and I were saying last night, that really, we could have gotten them nothing else other than the dog and they would have been just as happy. We also had a laugh last night when Natalie announced that "if we got another puppy, he could be Buddy's 'buddy'...." The adventure is still new, so ask me in a month if I'm glad that I caved!

Crazy Life, Crazy Wife...

My sister-in-law has repeated this quote often to me: "Happy Wife, Happy Life". In short meaning that if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! True, how true. We have had a crazy month with something to do, somewhere to be just about everyday. Concerts, performances, class trips, class projects, scouts, church, parties, company, shopping, wrapping, more shopping, more wrapping...the list could go on all night. I have a new quote for myself: "Crazy life, Crazy Wife". My life is crazy, and I'm on my way to the looney bin....Here's a re-cap of our crazy life in just a few pictures....

Abby and her friend Chelsea played a violin duet of 'Up on the Housetop' at our ward party. They did a great job.

Our ward party, a week ago. Abby played Mary in the Nativity scene. Our cute neighbor kids were wisemen and an angel. Someone took alot of time and effort into making it so sweet and cute. They all looked adorable.

The kids had a Christmas Sing at the school on Thursday. We had good seats, but not a good zoom lens on the camera...this is Jake's class singing 'Rockin Around the Christmas Tree'. Don't they look cool?

Today, December 20, we were invited to attend a performance of the Nutcracker Ballet in SLC. Our niece, Kristen, had a small role and we were happy to have a great excuse to see the show. It was at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake and quite a fancy occasion. We bought the tickets several months ago and were glad we did....they weren't cheap and I was glad to have already paid for them before Christmas was so tight! We started the day by meeting Allison and Kaela to have the girls hair, nails and make-up done at the beauty college. They were in heaven.

Abby getting her hair, makeup and nails done at the beauty shop before the show. Right up her alley...

Emily putting the finishing touches on her hair and makeup. She had a guy do her hair and nails and she was a bit nervous about the whole thing. She only let me leave her side for a minute! Emily, Abby and Kaela posing in front of their "wheels" to the theatre. Someone on Allison's side of the family had a hookup for a limo ride to lunch and the theatre. I, on the other hand, had to travel by mini-van. The girls were in heaven... Marquee outside Capitol Theatre...Ballet West's 'The Nutcraker'

In the Lobby of the Capital Theatre...next to a 10 foot Nutcracker! We had an awesome time, thanks for inviting us, Brandon and Allison!

It's Beginning to FEEL Alot Like Christmas....

It's official. The fabulous fall weather that we have hung onto for so long is over. My skin is dry and itchy (despite the soft water), my pedicure has faded, and my feet are officially icicles (and will remain so until about May). The fall was fabulous and it really didn't seem like it could possibly be December until about two days go. It turned on me and now I will be cold until May. I think that it would help if my husband would allow the thermostat to creep up over 67 degrees. Our house is ALWAYS cold. I actually look forward to driving in the car...I can crank up the heat as high as I want AND use my seat warmer. Every time I complain about how cold I am, Kim says..."go put some clothes on!"....meaning slippers, sweatshirt, gloves, hat. I'm kidding about the last two articles of clothing, but it may be what I resort to soon. For the last two nights I have crawled into a steaming tub of water at an awful hour of the evening in order to thaw my feet. It is the only way I can get warm before I crawl into my freezing cold bed, in my freezing cold room, after I have stood on the freezing cold tile in my bathroom.

How cold is it here, you ask? I think it was in the 40's today. Now, I know what you're thinking, and I've heard it before....I AM FROM NORTH DAKOTA! I SHOULD KNOW WHAT REALLY COLD IS! I have one word for you people who dare criticize.....ACCLIMATION!!! I have lived here in Utah for 13 years now and I can't think of a time when it has actually dipped below zero. I have acclimated to winter here, and not the unheard of, frigid temperatures of the North. No, we don't have even a hint of snow yet, and really it has barely begun to frost the car windows at night, but it's coming. I feel it.

I'm a weather wimp. I know it, and I don't care. I'm off to try and thaw my feet in the tub before putting on my snowsuit for bed....

Family Pictures 2008

Last weekend while in Las Vegas, we had our family pictures taken. My cousins wife, Marsha, took them. She claims to be 'just beginning' her business, but the photos turned out so well that I don't believe her. I got them in the mail today and got a little choked up looking through all 144 shots she took. They were much more than I imagined. And, she was so patient with the kids. They turned out to be a bit more difficult than I had imagined. I am so happy with them and can't wait to turn an empty wall in our downstairs into a wall of great family photos. This may or may not be one for the Christmas card, so look through the slideshow as well to see all the different shots. Thanks Marsha! We love them!

36 Things I Love About You

I feel grateful everyday for my good husband. He turned 36 on Friday. He looks, feels and acts not a day over 12. This picture is from Halloween - Kim sporting a mullet WIG. I didn't want anyone out there thinking this may be his real hair! Here is my list of 36 things that I love about him and am grateful for:
1. He's kind, very kind.
2. He's generous.
3. He works hard.
4. He plays hard.
5. He's a great father.
6. He's a great friend.
7. He has a positive attitude, everyday.
8. He speaks kindly of everyone that he knows. Even if they are unkind to him.
9. He makes me laugh.
10. He puts up with my moodiness. Everyday.
11. He is my heater at night.
12. He lets me put my cold feet on him.
13. He eats whatever I make for dinner.
14. And then eats it again the next night.
15. He takes me on a date almost weekly.
16. He lets me rent and watch chick flicks.
17. He works hard for me to be a stay at home mom.
18. He gives a great massage when I have a headache.
19. He puts up with my scrapbooking addiction.
20. He compliments me daily.
21. He honors his priesthood.
22. He cleans up puke and poop.
24. He buys me flowers even though they are a waste of money.
25. He buys me flowers just because & when he's in the doghouse.
26. He scratches my back.
27. He plays with the kids.
28. He takes the kids out with him to run errands or just to get them out of my hair.
29. He coaches Jake's baseball team.
30. He's got a great smile.
31. When he laughs, it is usually until he cries.
32. He will help anyone, with anything, at anytime.
33. He listens to me when I complain about something and tries to help me fix it.
34. He puts up with my long hair on the bathroom floor.
35. He cleans out my car. Begrudgingly, but he still does it.
36. I LOVE that HE LOVES ME.

Thanksgiving Holiday

We spent our Thanksgiving in St. George where the weather was delightful and the food was fantastic. We drove down on Tuesday night and spent until Saturday in S. G. and then we ventured to Las Vegas for family pictures and a missionary farewell. Although the weekend was fairly uneventful, we did have a few highlights. And, again, I have no pictures to document the weekend. Wednesday morning Kim hit the golf course...surprised? Probably not. It was raining that day, and he still went. I, on the other hand, had to brave Costco and the grocery store in order to get my ingredients for the dinner contribution. It was horrible, but I lived. Thursday, we had dinner early, consumed well over 5,000 calories, and then spent the rest of the day moaning and groaning about how full and sick we were. Friday, was Kim's 36th b-day. It was also the day that I spent 6 hours in the emergency room with my youngest sister, Timmi, who had a kidney stone. She was bawling like a baby and in alot of pain, so we sat there, and sat there and sat there. By the time I got home, Kim had given up on having any kind of a birthday and had gone four wheeling and shooting. Later, we celebrated even less when I went to the movie "Australia" with the girls. I invited him to come, but he declined. He wasn't interested in seeing Hugh Jackman all scruffy and good looking like the rest of us were! He was a great sport about it, and really didn't seem to mind that his birthday stunk. Hopefully, we'll get in a good celebration this next week sometime. Saturday, we packed up our 40 suitcases (not really, but it seems that way) and went to Las Vegas for family pictures to be taken. My cousins wife takes some great pictures and so we hired her out for the afternoon. I hope they turn out...I'm excited to see them soon. After that we hit 'In and Out Burger' and then off to spend the night at Grandmas. But, not before we had an argument with Timmi who had this great idea that we would just 'drop her off' on the Strip. She was going to meet up with "friends". Ummmmm, No. A 19 year old girl, on the strip with two guys she hardly knows. I don't think so. She still isn't talking to me and better yet claims I'm "just like mom"....poor baby. Sunday, after church and a quick lunch with family, we headed home. Along with the 40,000 other cars going north on I-15 heading home from a long holiday weekend. We're home, and grateful for so many things. Thankful that our trip is over and we can spend Christmas at home....

For Brenna, From Emily

My sister, Brenna is pregnant with her first baby. My kids (and me too!) are very excited to have a cousin close by and really to just have a baby around again. For me, I'm excited because its a new baby that I DON'T have to feed, change, and lose sleep over. I just get to hold, love and kiss and then send it home. Last week my sister had her ultrasound and discovered that she is having a baby girl! I kept saying that I wanted her to have a boy first just because we have ALOT of girls in our family, but I secretly knew that she would have a girl first. My grandma's had girls first, my mom had a girl first, I had a girl first and so did my other sister. So, the odds of having a boy seemed too great. At any rate, we were in St. George when Brenna made her announcement, and I told the kids right away. Within an hour, Emily decided to compose a 'name list' for Brenna. It consists of her choices for Brenna's baby girl. She finished it up this morning and put it in an envelope for Brenna to have. I had to make a copy of the list in order to blog about it today-it was so cute, I just couldn't let it get away. Here it is, with translations (after all, Emily is in the first grade and does that "spell it how it sounds" thing):

1. Alli

2. Jessaca (Jessica)

3. Jooley (Julie)

4. Jooleya (Julia)

5. Masey (Macey)

6.. Rashel

7. Mushel (Michelle)

8. Kaice (Kasey)

9. Miyle (Miley, yes like Hannah Montana)

10. Vronaca (Veronica)

11. Vnesa (Vanessa)

12. Kathryn (she knew how to spell this one because there is a Kathryn in her class)

13. Shanel (Chanel?)

14. Drina (I have no clue)

15. Alix (Alex)

16. Delilah (again, a girl in her class)

17. Jeney (Jenny)

Brenna has opted to pass on all of these names, although we won't crush Emily's spirit with the sad news. So, all of these options are still on the table for all my friends out there that are pregnant with girls. Emily would love you forever if you would say that she named your baby!