Happy Skeleton Day!

Izzy. I feel like all the stories I post about her are just so random and wacky. She must have got a little of grandma and aunt Aileen's wackiness. Addie said that they had to get a card or something for Izzy's class and Izzy refused to give her class anything but transparent green skeleton's that she spotted at the store.

Exhibit A:

Addie said that this is one of Izzy's new favorite toys and that she dresses it in the poly pocket clothes and plays with it in the bathtub. Who knew a tiny skeleton would be a 4 year old girls new prized possession. Her and Kt were running around the house yelling 'happy skeleton day!!'. So I guess, HAPPY SKELETON DAY!

*Also Kt has now lost 5 teeth!

**Sophie has gone down from the 97% in her weight range to 80%, and still just as cute as ever.

Valentine Love Birds

I went to Addie's today so she could cut me out some letters

for my Valentine's garland on her cricuit. With her help and

superior craftiness we came up with this heart throb.

We copied the one that she bought at Thanksgiving point,

and although hers is still the reigning champion between the

two garlands, I do have to say that this one comes pretty close.

Many thanks to my sis Addie, my all things crafts mentor.

A close up of the crowned love bird.

A Girl Can Dream, Right?

Recently while perusing through design/decor/DIY blogs
I came across this "girly kitchen". I'm not sure where the blogger
found this (she didn't list a reference) but
I LOVE it.
3 chandeliers, are you kidding me?!!! Heaven.
Although I don't think a man would be caught dead in it.
*Sigh* so pretty.

I also found this beaut' below and ogled for oodles of time
over the ornate wall trim surrounding the mantel.
The silohuettes are pretty awesome as well.
Thank heaven for the internet or where would anyone get any ideas?!

Progressive Dinner

This past Saturday night the Giles, Fawcett's, and I had a progressive dinner. We started our night at the Giles' apt. for the appetizers. Season whipped up a delicious tray of sorts with a pomegranete jazzy drink which all was consumed in a matter of minutes.

Here are the couples waiting to sit down to eat. Only soon-to-be-mama Season can be seen smiling (in the 2nd picture). What? You want a close up of these faces? Well, sure, scroll down.
Classic.

Afterwards we headed to my place for taco salad. Nicole, Season, and I worked on setting the food out while Nate and Tom did some "fix-its" around the house. My dad has designated Nate as my maintenance man, and luckily he doesn't seem to mind to much. Tom opted to use the Edward cup with dinner. I think he might be in love.

For dessert we went to Nicole and Nate's new townhome. Nicole, the excellent baker that she is, made an apple pudding cake to DIE for. It was so good I ate two pieces. I don't think I've ever had anything she's made that wasn't super good. Ummm... cinnamon rolls. Just sayin'. While our food digested we watched episodes of our new favorite show "Modern Family" with a special screening of Tiny singing in Disney Santa buddies. Good night and good friends. What a great combination.

Be Merry: Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010. This post is going to have a clump of pictures in a somewhat organized matter, but just getting them all up and posted is making me sigh a 3.5 minute long sigh of "it's done". The first picture is my attempt of having my own Christmas tree. I made the tree skirt and coordinating stockings (hanging on the bookcase). I had it all up (except tree ornaments) before I left for Thanksgiving, which was my goal to enjoy it for as long as I could.

This year the Nicole's, Nate, our new friend Jayna and I decided to do a Christmas dinner with each other instead of presents to save money. Along with the potluck dinner (at my house) we gave each other a little treat. I made smore's kits. Everything they need for smore's ready to go. The picture was taken before Jayna got there (she had a previous engagement) and unfortunately is the only one, so sorry for the blurryness. I made Nicole's soooooouper delicious enchiladas, Nicole W. made a salad, and Nicole and Nate made cowboy caviar w/chips for an appetizer. After dinner we played a couple gut-splittin' games of MASH. Everyone's favorite fortune game with Nicole and I's wacky twist on it. It's sure to bring on laughing tears.

Addie and I also attempted to take some pictures of the girls for her and Shaun's family x-mas card. We got some cute ones, but nothing compared to having a fancy SLR camera, which we both would like very much. I included some of the candid ones that aren't usually seen so you can get an idea of how much these girls "love" (maul) their baby sister.

Addie, Shaun, and the girls, Kc, and I all arrived home Christmas Eve so there wasn't much to do before we hit the hay excitedly awaiting Christmas morn'. Kc and I did have a good pre-bed giggle fest wrapping knick-knacks around the house and tagging them "Your a jerk - love mom". The funny thing is my mom was there the whole time shaking her head with a smile on her face. She's always up for a joke. Who do you think we learned it from? Christmas morning was a mad house like normal. It always starts with good intentions to open one present at a time, but that lasts 2 seconds before everyone is opening at the same time. The girls made Sophie a very cute paper bow headband. Addie was lucky enough to get a stick w/duct tape on the end. Courtesy of Kc and I's gift giving. We told her it was the "beating" stick passed on to her for her posterity. I made Brook, Kt, and Izzy rag dolls. I was sure Izzy would love it the most, but she was the first one to forget it. Kt kept telling me how much she loved it which made me feel good. Izzy got the movie "Up" and showed us her best impression of Kevin. She also had her first experience with shelled peanuts. The picture shows her eating the shell to get to the peanut.

The next day we all went to Olive Garden to celebrate Kc's birthday. Our little baby is growing up. That probably should have been said 15 years ago since he is now 27!!! Whoaza. How old does that make me? Still 19? I guess so.

New Year's Eve I went up to Addie's and we had one wild n' crazy night, or as much as you can with 3 tired adults and a 7 and 4 year old. Kt was checking the clock every hour and Izzy only made it till about 10 pm. I was just waiting for the apple to fall so I could finally go to bed. Pretty sad if you ask me, but not sad enough for me to care. New Year's day Shaun took the girls to the squeakquel and Addie and I went with our friend Natalie, Penny, and her mom to see "New Moon". Yes, of course we giggled. Jacob with his shirt off? We didn't notice... maybe a little (smiling a lot inside).

Whelp that's a wrap for the end of the year '09!!! Here's looking at 2010... sorry that post was posted long before this one. Oh well, whadda ya do.

Somebody shops at Smith's...

... and somebody lost her TWO front teeth!!!

Next Christmas all she's going to want is her two front teeth together.

As a little treat I'm also adding a video my friend sent me with a caution to have tons of tissues on hand. I giggle/cried the whole time.

2009: A Reflection

In honor of 2009, I take a moment to reflect on some of my goals accomplished. It's kind of like kicking the soccer ball into the goal and it splitting on the post and only half actually going in... or maybe 1/3. Either way I figure it's still something, right? Right. Also, a look back at some 2009 highlights.

2009 Goals:

1. After a rough 2008 in the weight department, and support of my family, I lost over 50 lbs. I still have a lot (and I mean A LOT) more to go, but it gives me hope and motivation to lose more. Here I am as Miss Piggy.

2. and 3. I decided to have Nicole (my beauty operator) put pink streaks/panels in my hair (which I loved, but have recently been colored out). I told myself this was the year I was going to Hawaii, and I did. Me and mom spent a week over my birthday relaxing in Oahu. We had a great time and got to see a lot, and mom spent double the time at the beach than I did. I think she's 1/2 fish.

4. Two new temples (Draper and Oquirrh) were dedicated in '09. In September I set a goal to go to the temple once a month. I got 3 out of 4 (for year ending) which is once again a split ball, but hooray nonetheless. This goal is going on into 2010 though so we're shootin' for 12 out of 12 or more. I haven't been to the Oquirrh temple yet, but the Draper is beautiful. During the open house Nicole and I got in trouble for being silly and laughing. By Nate. Her husband. Good thing he was there to keep us in line.

2009 Highlights:
(in order of occurence through the year)

1. My good friend Anneliesa (Scott) got married in Mesa, Arizona in January, and my good friend Gabe (Brittany) got married in Oakland, California in June. I was lucky enough to attend both and had a sooooouper fun time.

2. We had a suprise baby shower for Addie at her favorite place Dear Lizzie.
3. Sophie blessed us with her presence July 6th (probably the fan favorite of all the highlights).
4. Nicole and I had a niece sleepover with Kt, Izzy, and Megan, which we're still exhausted from.
5. Nicole/Nate, Tom/Season, Anamae, and I went camping up in the Uinta's, complete with whistling games, spooky (or weird) stories around the campfire, and tons-o-fun!
6. In September Blake was baptized and Sophie blessed. We did them together in Hurricane. That was followed by lunch at Chuck-A-Rama where I ate my weight in cinnamon pull aparts, which is A LOT.
7. Kc was installed as the Senior Steward in his Mason chapter. Ma and Pa came up for the dinner/ceremony.
8. I purchased an antique dresser and desk (I'm assuming they are about 50 yrs old). Two lovely beaut's to go in my home office/sewing room.

(pictures of all highlights below)

In the year 2010 the only thing I hope to become is this:
Yes, a money hungry cat. Wish me luck.

*Christmas pictures to come in less than a week (fingers crossed)!!!