Happy 30th birthday mommy

Christmas Part One

  We took to the road this Christmas. We were a traveling clan that looked much like the Clampits. We went to the mountains first and had such a great time with Ross's brother Randy and his family. We stayed with them and ate the most amazing food I can remember eating in a long time. The kids played in the snow and followed around their "Hero Cousins" the whole time. Catherine the Christmas Warrior stayed up till 5:30 am on Christmas Eve and woke up ready to roll at 7:30 for the big Santa Reveal.

       There is something so magical about being in the mountains for Christmas. It made me miss my old home and the people we used to see daily. We had a delicious dinner of Seafood Chowder at Ross's moms on Friday and  opened  the first round of gifts of the weekend. We went to my moms after church on Sunday and were greeted with an amazing prime rib dinner and a whole new batch of gifts to open. We always love being at my moms and all the perks that come with it. Here's some photos from my moms house........................................................................................

                                    Vanilla Ice 1 and 2 keepin it real for the holidays

     

                                     I am Davids favorite niece. If you don't believe me just ask him.

Seawolf loves Bobbie

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 Papa Ivan played legos with Jaxon FOREVER. Jaxon was in heaven and Papa Ivan was a great sport

 We payed little Laynie a visit at home at she showed off her new tricks of letting you hold her until she saw her mama walk by and then she would make the saddest face in the world and hold out her arms for mama!

                         Sophie and Ivy are always good for a pose when the see a camera....

Santa drinks Margaritas

We spotted the real SANTA at MI RANCHITO in American Fork drinking margaritas and enjoying an enchilada. The kids were so excited! Ivy was batting her lashes across the restaraunt at him and Jaxon was folding his arms in reverence at the pure though of him being in the same room.

Christmas Card Practice

 We have these awesome neighbors. One of them secretly moonlights as a Christmas card photographer.
                                                               
                                                         Lucky for us!

Here are a few of the wannabe Christmas card photos that we took today. This way if I never

send them out in time, I feel a little better that I posted them on my blog.

                                                          This is not the big winner

31 Flavors

              31 flavors of LOVE

(in celebrating Ross turning the big 31)

1. He is a great kisser
2. He wrestles with me and the kids
3. He loves his family and extended family
4. He is feircly loyal
5. He can fix anything
6. He can make killer omlettes
7. he can polish concrete like "nobody's business
8.  He says his prayers
9.  He is a sexy dancer
10.  He can organize a fridge like a true pro
11.  He can (sorta) braid hair
12.  His nostril flaring is intense
13.  He does push ups every night in the living room
14.  He secretly likes the Bachelor and The Real Housewives
15.  He worships his brother
16.  Helps his Grandma
17.  Tells me I'm a ten
18.  works in the cold
19.  Rarely complains
20.  Makes coffee in the morning
21.  Can cry at a movie
22.  He is a wuss when it comes to Ivy
23.  He has big dreams for our future
24.  Says he's sorry when he really is
25.  Worries about me driving (ha ha)
26.  He can bust out some moves with glow sticks that could rival even a rave pro
27.  He loves to win
28.  He did my make up (once) and it looked pretty good
29.  He is honest and trustworthy
30.  He is such a giver
31.  He makes my days so much better

Dang AUTO CORRECT

gLOCKETS

I am so excited to announce the launch of my new website, gLOCKETS! These are such a great gift for anyone on your list, including you! This is a glass locket that opens so you can put in little birth stone charms to remember all the little "GEMS" in your life while keeping them close to your heart! Whose stones would you put in your gLOCKET? Leave a comment and you may just win a gLOCKET.

Medium-Fat Elves

I have felt like a big loser-mom for not having the "Elf on a Shelf" for about a year now. Not really a year, but close for sure. All of the sudden there's a movie about it on TV and so of course my kids are talking about it and wondering why they are so unfortunate and don't have the elf flying around their house everynight, yaddayadayadayaddda. I told them that "chippy" was coming in the mail straight from the North Pole after school today. Well... We went to Target right after school and that crazy "Chippy" was spotted on an end cap by Jaxon. I think all the Elves that come with adoption papers and a book were long gone by Midnight on Black Friday sooooo, We ended up with the plush version of the "Elf On a Shelf" and a long explanation of why Chippy was confused and flew to Target instead of our house.

 Turned out that Chippy was hungry and wanted some popcorn at Target and was so happy that we somehow knew he was there and came to take him home! Phew

This is my version of an ADVENT CALENDAR... I filled a bunch of Christmas socks with little toys and treats so my kids will know exactly how many days there are until Christmas! The bad news is that there are socks hanging from my patio door. The good news is that I have a lot of Christmas socks when this whole thing is over and done...

P.S. Ross and I both still remember our childhood Advent Calendars. I'm telling you... This is the stuff they will remember. We still do.............

P.P.S. Today on the way to school Jaxon told me that because there are two teachers in his class he sometimes forgets their names and sometimes even mixes them up, He just kindly refers to them as.... Wait for it.... I about cried.... "The Skinny One" and "The Medium Fat One".

Thanks Again..

I am THANKFUL today and everyday for a million things. I am so THANKFUL for the health of me and my little family, My warm home and full pantry. I am full of thanks for my family and Ross's family who treat me as if I am their own. I am THANKFUL that I know my prayers are answered in one way or another. 

Tasha and John hosted Thanksgiving this year. They pretty much host everything.. I am so grateful to have a place to go wear I am am fed, entertained and  drinks are flowing on any given holiday or any other day of the week. Truly Grateful for Tasha (especially since I moved here).. I brought this sexy salad to Thanksgiving along with a slush drink that everyone seemed to hate. Dang...

   Thankful that sweet little Witney is really not drinking this wine. Tori Jo is THANKFUL too (More for TORI). It's always so fun when "My Tori" and Blaykers come to town. I miss those girls so much.

 And then the Hostess of the year had Santa come to sit in the Pergola and give the kids a gift on Saturday while they sipped Hot Chocolate that was accompanied by Pintrest worthy Marshmallow stirring sticks. Santa was really shy and happened to live next door to her. This is the best picture I got so it looks like we will be headed to the mall for another shot at the 2011 Santa photo.

And I am grateful for a tall and sexy husband who works so hard for our family! I love this guy (Most of the time)!!!!!

So... My dad sent all his girls and all our kids to California for a little pre Thanksgiving celebration. We watched the Bonita Bearcats chew up Pasadena poly and spit them out in the CIF championship game. My little brother was smoother her than silk in the water at the game. We had such a great time with everyone! Thanks again for entertaining us and taking such good care of all of us, I hope Matt plays in college so I can watch this little brother of mine dominate the pool for a few more years!

Spider Girl shakes her Money Maker

missing shopping cart

While helping Granmonica move into her new Senior Apt community I spotted this posted on the bulletin board in the elevator.

a PERM? at 3 years old....

The daily battle with Ivy's stick straight, baby fine hair drove me to desperate measures. A PERM
She did great as the "QUEEN OF PERMS" put in the rods at record speed. Stay tuned for how curly and sassy Ivy's new do is. My sister Calyn was not quite as lucky after the former " QUEEN OF PERMS" got a hold of her bleached locks.

HALLOWEENISTA

 This year Jaxon's dream finally came true! He was painted up by a pro (not mom) and turned into the scariest Werewolf I have ever seen. Ross's cousin, Eric is an artist and was so nice to give Jax the best paint job before school on Halloween. Since Jax is my first baby in school this was the first time I got to help in a class party. thought about doing a cake walk. baked  4 cakes on Saturday. All of them stuck to the pan and the counter tops when I turned them over to decorate. I freaked out! I had no choice but to make my classroom debut with candy and tattoo's as treats for the winner of my SORRY game of broomstick limbo. It was a hit (thankfully).

Jaxon thought he was a real life movie star. Thanks again, Eric.

The good news is that I finally got to meet the mysterious girlfriend, "EMMA". I think it's official. I saw them holding hands during carpet time. I still have no idea who her mom is which is probably a good thing since I have made a You Tube video with her name and (now infamous) white skin in the title.

 

and then..... Joe Dirt, Axle Rose, Randy Carson (as a teenager), or  Brett Michaels, Bat Girl, The Baby Witch, and the Werewolf did some old fashioned trick or treating in Shannons neighborhood. Her birthday is on Halloween and she calls herself a professional Halloweenista. That she was for sure. The kids got tons of candy and a SODA???? in their Trick or Treat bags. This was the first year my kids didn't have to wear coats over their costumes. I'd like to say it all ended nicely but......... It was time to play  turn " The Werewolf" back into Jaxon the kindergartner for school the next day. Lets just say it ended with me in the shower armed with a pumice stone and every species of soap in our house and....... a wrinkly, whiny and red faced boy whose face apparently wanted to remain a Werewolf for time and all eternity.

Zombify

                                        Happy Halloween you filthy animals, and a happy NEW YEAR

Jaxon is in love...

Tattos

We played Tattoo shop tonight. Ivy was the customer, Jax was the artist! I used the opportunity to snap a few photos while they were happy and high on their new tattoo BUZZ.

Game Day

 We went to Tasha's the other day to let the kids play, brainstorm crafty neighbor gifts to make, talk about CHINA, go on a WINE WALK, and take too many pictures of our offspring while the leaves and lighting were both on our team. We made the treats.. Click here to see just how crafty and neighborly we are. Having only one neighbor makes it easy!

 This is semi creepy but way too sweet to not post! I love that they are still little enough to kiss each other for the camera. Jaxon has a girlfriend now in his Kindergarten class. Her name is Emma. He isn't quite sure if he is her boyfriend, but he has no doubt that she is his GIRLFRIEND. Maybe he's practicing on IVY. I hope not.

 Ivy loves Camden. You know she loves you if she requests your hairdo. There are only a few who have made it into her wannabe hairdo club that are not animated characters. At my desperate attempts at her letting me brush, curl or even touch her hair I have created a little game. It goes something like this...

ME: Can I please fix your hair pretty today?
IVY: No. No way, I like tangles, I want spiky hair like Jax.
ME: Only boys have spikes. You are a girl. Lets make your hair gorgeous like Rapunzel.
IVY: I want Kung Fu Panda hair
ME: Okay, Kung Fu Panda loves pony tails.
IVY: I don't look like a panda with this pony
ME: You do. Trust me.
IVY: I want Emily hair. I want to be gorgeous(her new favorite word) like My Emily.
I was happy I could at least pull off the Emily for a month or so, but when it turned into the Camden I was at a loss again. This morning she asked for the best one yet..  The BUBBA. My mom has the typical mom do that she rocks like a Rock-star and has proudly for.. WAIT.  MY whole life.  I tried, lied and told Ivy she looked just like Grandma. She looked in the mirror and pretty much chanted the words, "No I don't" until I found her a hat and told her she was a DAD!

Looks like we need some Patriots jersey's if we wanna hang with these boys. Even their dad was sporting one. Too cute!

Mr. Potato Head Pumpkins

        Much easier than carving and pretty dang cute

                                                        These two are pretty darn cute too!

Lets just pretend

Today I made these perfect treats for my perfect family. I had these gorgeous raspberries laying around(local, of course). I tossed in chocolate chips for a sweet surprise! yummy...

Then I felt like my makeup brushes were lacking a proper home, so I let them live here instead of in a drawer.

   I had an extra hour and so little old me added some funky lace to Ivy's "baby legs" for a hot and sexy fall look. To die for! Seriously....

                                           I threw together this darling kids art display while they napped.

   and added a little style to the whole art room when they woke up from their incredibley long naps.

and then I ordered these hot little numbers online throwing my fear of  "Cankles" to the wind.

                     I treated my family to this Candy Corn Cheesecake for desert because... Let's face it. Cheesecake needed a update.

I wanted original Halloween yard decor..... So I threw the ratty old scarecrows away, and hand crafted these lovely ghost dress silhouettes instead. I think they turned out great. What do you think?

         I finally found a way to make my stairs more functional. I can't believe it took this long..............

                                                                   I worked out.

                                                             Got my nails DID..............

I wrote a long overdue entry in my, "Gratitude Journal" about how grateful I am that my husband looks just like Rob Lowe. Grateful. Grateful. Grateful.

I was so grateful that I put a photo of the two of us in a mason jar with olive oil and then I remembered that none of this stuff was real at all, and the people in the picture wasn't even us. I was just clicking around on PINTREST pretending that I was so awesome.