Christmases Past

A couple of nights ago we set up the Christmas tree, turned on our favorite Christmas tunes, and watched the kids decorate the tree.

Watching them decorate the tree reminded me of how my dad would always get a little teary as he lovingly watched my brother and sister and I decorate the tree.

Since then I have been reflecting on Christmases past and remembering the ones that have been extra special and meant the most in my life.

The picture above is of Devon and I at Temple Square, in Salt Lake, seven years ago. I was approximately 22 (or so) weeks pregnant with our daughter Taylor.

Being pregnant at Christmastime, to me, is such a magical experience. It made the whole nativity story more emotional and meaningful to me. I can't imagine riding on a donkey pregnant, sleeping in a barn pregnant, or delivering a baby in a barn among farm animals...amazing!

The gift of life is a miracle in itself! Now, seven years later, I feel so blessed to have three little ones of my own--they are so precious! Yes, they all have their quirks, at times, but every time I look at their tiny hands, sweet faces, and interact with their fun personalities, I am reminded, especially at Christmastime, how blessed I am!

Give Thanks

These last 10 months have been filled with numerous ups and downs, however, with Thanksgiving just around the corner I wanted to remind myself of all my blessings and what I am thankful for...

• I am thankful for a daughter who kindly reminds me that all of the other moms put notes in their kids' lunches at school and that she would like to have one as well.

• I am thankful for the 70's. Had the 70's not existed, I would not have been born AND Disco would have never been invented!! Without Disco, my substitute teaching life would be completely boring and I would not be the Rockstar on campus that all the kids make me out to be. The Rockstar image really suits me well...the second I am spotted, on campus, the kids start screaming my name and rush to hug me...it's a great self-esteem booster!

• I am thankful for the Jig-A-Lo game I learned at Cheer Camp back in 1992! One of these days I'll post a video...it's hilarious!

• I am thankful I read the entire TWILIGHT series and could attend the midnight movie premier with a bunch of screaming teens and my hubby!
  

• I am, seriously, thankful for cookie dough, doritos, and One Life to Live! On a bad day, those things always make everything better!

• And, last, but not least, I am thankful for an amazing husband, children, family and friends! Nothing feeds the soul more than good family and friends and knowing they are there for me when I need them!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Family Art

This is our most recent family project. Devo is finishing up his first semester, and, in preparation for his art final presentation, we all took turns throwing and flicking paint onto these three canvases.

Our little artists had a ball. In fact, I admit, it was pretty dang therapeutic throwing paint at the canvas!!

Who Me?

I admit it! I am either having bloggers-block, or my life has turned completely boring...which explains the lack of posts.

I could write and tell you about Disco Dancing with 4th Graders, today's Primary Program {{Luke memorized his part--very cute}}, or my NEW Vinyl Lettering hits!

I could also tell you about my friends dog getting shot for stealing a chicken {{I told you I can't relate to this place}}, getting my hair cut and high-lighted by a newbie at the salon, being invited to my first official "girls night out" here in CC {{maybe there is hope for me here after all}} and visiting, in person, with one of my best friends from SD this weekend {{w00-hoo}}

However, I figured since I have been tagged numerous times...it was time to make good on one of those tags. So. Here it goes, 6 Quirks about me!

1. I cannot go to bed without brushing my teeth or washing my face! No matter how tired I am, I always force myself to cleanse, tone, and moisturize my face and brush and floss my teeth!

2. I have said this before, but I L.O.V.E. musicals and teenage flicks. When I was in Elementary School, I really wanted my life to be a musical. I would skip around the playground, at recess, singing "dumb dog why are you following me...," or "do a deer a female deer, ray a drop of golden sun...."

3. When showering and getting dressed, I always do everything in the EXACT same order. I always put on my makeup BEFORE drying my hair. When applying my makeup, I always start on the right side of my face and can't put on eyeliner before eyeshadow, etc. I also, always, wear makeup! It's a rare thing if you see me without it or with just mascara on.

4. I workout everyday. Sometimes twice a day...those are the days that I teach at the gym. If I don't workout I start to feel stressed out and anxious. Exercise always calms my anxieties. Also, when I jog on the treadmill, my mind can't handle it if I don't start on my right foot, and, if I increase the speed or incline on an odd minute. For example, I can't increase the speed at 1:58, it has to be on 2:00 EXACTLY.

5. I can't sleep in. This is an inherited curse from my father {{thanks Dad}}. My brain starts to wake up before the kids do and once my brain is awake, there is no turning back!

6. I love dogs, but extremely dislike cats and rabbits. I'm not sure why, but holding a cat or rabbit disgusts me. I can't stand how you can feel their bones through their skin when you're holding them. I think I must have grown up around a lot of scary neighborhood cats when I was a kid or something....anyway?!

Halloween Birthday Style!

It is no secret, Halloween is my Birthday, and this year it was GOLDEN! Aaahhh, yes, I have officially entered my 30-somethings!
It was an emotional and happy day! Emotional because many of my friends from back home called to wish me happy birthday (and I miss them), and happy because so many people remembered me and texted me, emailed me, called me, and sent me fun, fun, fun packages in the mail!
It was full of lots of surprises and good times! One being my brother, Michael, came to visit...he is my favorite, and one and only, brother who I love and adore and love spending time with!
We ate at Costa Vida for dinner and, before Trick or Treating, came home to celebrate my birthday in High School Musical fashion! Yes, my husband knows me all too well and treated me to an HSM birthday party. He really knows how to make me feel young! Love ya Honey!
For Halloween, Luke was Darth Vader, Taylor was a Princess, and Blake was Spider Man, or, as he likes to say: "Spidey!"
The rest are pictures from our fun day! The kids had a blast trick or treating and are still coming down from their sugar high..ha ha!
All weekend we played games, watched movies, and went to see HSM3...yay!

Michale and Kimberly

Darth Vadar, Luke, at preschool

Blakey, or should I say...Spidey!

Twilight Giveaway

Are you counting down the days until the Twilight Premier?

OOooh, I can't wait!

Tell ALL your friends to check out my Twilight Shirt featured on Natalie's Sentiments and also enter to win my Giveaway!!!

Only 21 more days...

Pumpkin Patches and Carving

Truthfully, it's a miracle that these pictures made it to the blog! Life, as usual, has been extremely busy and it doesn't help when the kids come down with a viral, infectious disease-like looking rash all over their bodies (which explains all of the rosy cheeks in the pictures).

Anyway...
October wouldn't be the same without visiting a true "redneck" pumpkin patch which included a redneck trampoline, slide, swing, and spray-you-with-mud-all-over cow train! I never knew getting sprayed with mud could be so much fun! Also, Blake met his true match...a REAL ROOSTER...oh, yes...who do you think can puff out their chest better and claim his territory?!

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for taking the kids to Panguitch (hopefully I can post pics of that later) to get their pumpkins while we were away...the kids had a blast carving them! Oh, and thanks Darcie for the cute hair ribbons and hair-do ideas...if you blow up the middle picture, you can see how cute Taylor's hair looks...I just love doing little girls hair.