Busy time of the year

I know that January is usually a slow month, but for me it is not. I'm busy getting spring products ready for our upcoming show, which is this week. Anyway, I promise? to post again in February. Um, maybe not, because then I will be fulfilling orders. But I will try to get some updates soon, how about that?



BTW: I went to dinner last night with some great friends to celebrate BRENDA'S birthday. (yes, she is still 29) I haven't been out with friends in so long. Brenda and I shared a cubicle a LONG time ago at TNI. (welcome to the world of an office) She and a few others from there I consider my best friends on this earth, I'm sure that they will continue afterwards as well. Even if time spands between visits it is not awakard to bump into them and we can just pick up where we left off. These are friendships that I truly treasure.

I have a fun halloween picture from the TNI days, I will post it when I find it. Don't miss working there, but I am grateful for the friendships I made there.

HELP!!!

Calling on all true friends, family & strangers!!!

My bff posted a contest on her photography blog and put Reiss' photo in the contest. So I NEED everyone who looks at my blog to jump on over to http://www.photosbypicme.com/blog/ and VOTE for #10!!!

Just scroll right past #1 (traci & jack, no hard feelings sis) through #9 and look at that adorable red head on #10! There is a $200 stretched canvas at stake here. I mean business, so please help me out! ;) Contest ends January 14th. Let your friends know (i'm serious) to so they can vote as well for #10!!!!!

If you ever send out an SOS, I'll be there for you!

We wish you a Merry Christmas

My wish list

{A}

{B}

{C}

Okay, so I was thinking since I'm the one who usually has to shovel that I should be able to get the best tools to get the job done. I just would like to be effecicient when I'm doing this.

If A or B is sold out I guess I'll settle for C, Bora Bora.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

You know you had a lot of snow when your neighbor has to come over with his CAT to dig you out! So grateful that he did. He put some of the snow at the end of the cul-de-sac so the kids could play on it. And they did for about 2 hours.

It was so heavy to shovel. All I could do was shovel the walkway up to the house. Caden was loving every bit of snow that was falling. It was up to my knees. We received at least 12 inches if not more today.

What we've been up, I mean down too!

{Not us}
{Not us}

This is where we did our first Open Water Dive. We have to do 2 more dives here then we will be certified. We were supposed to have our first dives yesterday, Friday the 19th, but you needed chains to get up the canyon yesterday so we canceled it. I know, what a fun time to take scuba!


This is the entrance to the crater at the Homestead. It's 16 degrees out and they are going to do what? Burrhhh!

Before the dive, all nice & warm!

After the dive, not so warm anymore! As soon as I got my gear off and laid my tank down I ran and got my towel & hat. The water is naturally warm, it was about 95 today. Getting out was a shocking experience.

It was really cool to be on the surface of the water and look up and see the snow coming in through the opening. (they have a grate over the opening)

So why are we doing this? Scotts company is called OceanGrown International (ogilife.com) that's why. It's a part of the culture. They wanted all the employees to have the opportunity to take this class and become more familiar with the ocean and its beautiful surroundings. We have been taking this class for 2 weeks. Thanks to Traci for watching the boys so we could this!


I understand why people don't scuba. It can be scary. When I was descending for the first time today I wanted to ascend and get out. (Its much easier in a swimming pool) But I reminded myself to relax and to stay focused on the instructor. Everything went well. I'm glad that we are doing this. It's a great activity to do, something that Scott and I can enjoy together. There are no fighting kids down there! I doubt that we'll ever be die hard divers, but definitely occasional recreational ones. Seriously, I don't want to descend more than I did today and that was about 40 feet.

The weather outside is frightful!

Seriously, don't laugh. When it is blowing and snowing I'm grateful for my garage! I don't have to load the kids up in that nasty weather. I can bring the groceries in without eating snow and falling on my butt! Anyway, sorry for those who don't have one, I mean it.

Not to mention scraping ice and snow off, I did enough of that in Kansas! Oh the dreadful midwest winters of inches of ice on the car. Although I do miss aspects of Kansas, the winter weather is not one of them. The Utah winters are easy compared to those of home.

If you look close, the wind already blew off two of my swags that I had on the lights.

Santa Clause is coming . . . . to our house!

Whoo Hoo!!!! Reiss didn't cry!! I had to convince him at first but then he was fine. We are so lucky to have a "Santa" that loves our kids so much and he brings a little gift for each child. He flew in all the way from Colorado!

When he was leaving Reiss said, "I love you Santa, I love Rudolph too!" It was sweet.

Did I mention how much I love my Dad?!!! He truly is the best!

Lights

It was a warm 26 degrees or so. Scott didn't think he needed a coat? Okay. Seriously, it was beautiful. The navitity on the water was pretty cool. I wasn't able to get a good picture for 2 reasons, 1) my camera isn't the greatest 2) there were so many people we couldn't even get close to it.

BTW, it was freezing!!! We had to go to the Joseph Smith Building to thaw out before we headed back to the car.

39 isn't sooooo BAD

(Yummy lips Reiss!) You too Scott!

This is Scott after finding out that Traci told the waiter that it was his birthday. : {

This is Scott after being humliated in front of the entire Texas Roadhouse Resturant and having to sit on a saddle with 3 little very excited boys! See, it wasn't so bad! That's what keeps you young honey, laughter! Remember that next year when the big 4-0 is here.

What were we thinking?

When we bought this sink we thought it would be something unique & fun for the boys. But did not think that sitting in the sink was one of those. I should have known! The first week we moved in Caden thought ALL of his hotwheels needed a bath. That sink held them all too! And Reiss once climbed in wearing his diaper and turned the water on. Let me tell you now Huggies do not hold that well!

Apparently it is a pretty cool place to just chill out in too.

{please disregard the mess, my life has been crazy busy lately}

Thanksgiving Program ~ Caden Style

Aw, isn't he such a handsome pilgrim? So happy and glad to be a part of the Thanksgiving program.



Wait! What is this? Why is he upset? Crying? What in the world? His teacher asked me to go talk to him. I thought are you kidding, he has stage fright right? NO! He is mad because he wants to be an Indian, not a pilgrim. So he took his hat off and turned the collar around. Whatever, who knew? He wouldn't sing at all, it was a real memory maker!

December News

Well, there are some posts coming. I just don't know when I'm going to get to them. So check back soon and hopefully I will have posted some for your enjoyment!

I'm thinking tomorrow night (Saturday) I should have time! :)

Let the PARTY Begin

Seriously, this party was toontastic! The boys didn't want to leave. I had to give myself a little pat on the back. Thanks Traci & Stephanie for helping me. I really appreciate it, like a 1 ton weight! =) (toontown gag)

This is Frizzy, Cadens toon on toontown. My sister, Stephanie, did this. Doesn't it look great!

We played a couple of "Trolley Games" so the boys could earn jellybeans to buy gags. Tag was a hit, but not literally! My 2 year old nephew did make one of the boys cry though. Seeing him up there in the orange jacket pushing a 9 year old!

After earning enough jellybeans the boys were able to "buy" cream pies to throw at the CFO. He hid Caden's cake and they had to battle him before they found it. This was the high light of the party! Four cans of shaving cream & 100 paper plates go a long way.

Cashbot CFO

{before battle}

Caden, Daxton, Cale & I made the CFO. His head is a cash register.

Cashbot CFO
{after battle}

The answer is YES, they all smelled like Barbasol Shaving Cream afterwards.

Somehow the CFO came back to life Saturday morning so Caden, Reiss & Cale got to go at it again.

The toons saved the day once again and found Frizzy's cake, it was in the dryer!


Caden loved his cake! It was hard to cut it because it looked so good, but come on, it tasted even better. Everyone received a toon name, it was fun trying to call every by their toon name. Here are some of them: Sir Crumblezap, Noisy Rhinogargle, Megasplat, Little Fangs & Sheriff Bert Dynopretzel.

I would do this all over again. Yes, I would even gain the 60 lbs again. We are so lucky to have Caden in our family. He is a wonderful son, a fun brother and a great friend. We love you so much!

Good Morning my 7 boy!!!!

Gee, I can't believe he is 7! It has gone by so fast. We had to start the morning off right and that means pancakes! Seven of them + a #7 one. He loved it! Then the race of the family phone calls began. It was a busy morning, thanks to everyone that called and he loved cousin Sydneys birthday song. (she has good pitch!)

Getting ready for the big day!

This was the front of Caden's Birthday invitations. Yes, those are jellybeans. He wanted a TOONTOWN birthday party. Jellybeans are like currency in Toontown. Everything we did had to be created by us because they don't make any birthday supplies for Toontown.

Wonder what he's dreaming of?

Okay, so Reiss loves little books and magazines. He carrys them everywhere. Lately he has gone through the toy flyers of Wal-Mart, Target & Toys-r-Us. Of course he wants every toy and has to show us all of them. Looks like he finally wore himself out. He is so adorable.