Traditions

Every Christmas my family gets together for a Christmas breakfast. We don't exchange gifts, we just get together and enj0y every ones company. This year was EXTRA special because my older brother Jeff and his wife Amy drove all the way from Cali! AND my aunt Kodi came from Denver with her baby boy Noah, who I met for the very first time! (We also had a few friends stop by...Linda and Brandy!) It was so great to see everyone and spend time with the entire fam!!! This is us...aren't we a great looking bunch!

After our breakfast with my family, we went over to Daniels parents house. We hung out there for a bit, then it was off to my Dad's house. 3 families in one day?!..we had enough at that point! So off we went back home. As soon as we walked in the house we all decided that it was a good time to have a few drinks! What a wonderful way to wind down on Christmas night!

just have to add that without those "few" drinks I WOULD NOT have done this snow angel! BURR!

I just want to share with everyone some of the best, cutest and easiest Christmas cookies EVER! I made the reindeer ones for a pot luck lunch for work, then I just did the others for fun!

Both are just the Betty Crocker peanut butter mix. So easy and delicious!!! The reindeer cookies have broken pretzels for the antlers, mini chocolate chips for eyes, and m&m's for the noses! I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! This will be one that I remember for a long time!

How I celebrate...

EAT, EAT, EAT! Under no circumstance should you turn any kind of food offered to you away. I have consumed everything from cheeseballs and crackers to hotdogs to anything with chocolate! (and it's no where close to being over!) So I have decided that under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food! Have fun eat tons and I hope everyone will be surrounded by the ones they love and care most about.

My family came to us this year. My Aunt Kodi is here with her baby boy (who is just over a year old) whom I have never seen. And my brother Jeff and his wife Amy drove from Cali. They all got here on Friday and we all met at my mom's house and watched home videos which was a ton of fun! (I don't think me or Bobby have changed a bit...he is still a handful and I'm still a snot!)

My Christmas Tree

While I was making my wreath that I am so proud of, Monty would not leave me or the lights alone...so I decide to try the torture method and wrapped him all up in them and he just sat there looking so pitiful yet adorable! The entire time he was wrapped in them he just sat still not moving...what a good pup we have, we definitely lucked out with him! And I just wanted to wish everyone a very

MERRY CHRISTMAS

(it's the best time of the year)

'Tis the season

Just 6 more days??!!?! (I think I might puke!) I thought I would share some of my decorations with you before I get way too busy and forget. I love being married and having a house of my own to decorate...as some of you know I use to be a Scrooge and wasn't not into Christmas at all. However, after celebrating with Daniel and his family the last couple of years I have grown to LOVE it! (BTW. please excuse the pics, I know they are not the best and I was going to wait and do this post so I could get some better ones...but that just isn't going to happen!) (These are hanging right above my dining table)
I'm really proud of this wreath...I made it all myself for under $6! And it goes perfect right above my fireplace! (yes we are missing stockings...give me a break, it's my first year in this house!)

***soon to come, my version of Christmas trees!!!

I can't wait anymore...

So, I originally wanted to do this post WAY earlier...BUT when I went to do it and get all of my pictures in order I noticed I didn't have all of them from the party on the computer...somehow when Daniel put the pics on the computer they didn't all transfer (and of course he deleted the memory card and I can't find them anywhere...boo.)

Anyway WAY back on Nov. 15 I threw a baby shower for my friend Sheena. I have never been in charge of hosting such a large party before but everything seemed to turn out just right! We had a large turnout of people! And her baby defiantly got spoiled!!!

My dear friend Trish took some of the pressure off and offered to make her delicious chicken salad (THANKS) and I had a couple of cheese balls and punch and "poopy diapers" (which is just a no-bake cookie in a napkin folded into a diaper)

(and I was super excited to get to use my very cute dishes for the first time!) Well, Sheena...I hope you enjoyed it and had a TON of fun with all of your friends...you truly are blessed to be surrounded by so many caring and loving people!

Thanksgiving is over...already?

Wow, that went by way too fast! Here it is the first of December and I didn't post anything about Thanksgiving. I guess it's never to late!

We went to Daniel's parents house this year (we probably will every year!) we had a total of 17 people there. There was a few who said they were going to come that didn't make it (which was fine with me, that just meant more leftovers for us!!!). It was really nice of them to invite my mom and my little brother over for dinner. We don't have much for family here, so I know that they were both extremely thankful to have a place to go enjoy a feast!!! My mom and I made pies the day before. Me, Daniel, and my little brother (Brandy also came to visit!) all went over to my ma's house and had pizza for dinner while we made the pies.

After Thanksgiving dinner we all sat around and chatted and looked at ads for "black Friday". Thanksgiving night we went to see Twilight for the 2nd time. Hope this doesn't ruin it for anyone...but it's WAY better the 2nd time! (I won't say why!)

I told myself after working retail for 7 years, I would never go shopping on that day...well I lied! We got up at 6am, which is way better than 4am when most of the stores opened up for business!!??! We went to 1 store, spent about 2 hours there then decided we had to eat, waited about 25 minutes for a table, ate, then went shopping some more!

(Have to throw in a horror story about shopping)

We were at the lovely Cache Valley Mall looking at some aprons for my mother-in-law. Me and Becky decided to go half-sies on one for her so we picked out the apron and took it over to the kiosk thingy to pay for it. Apparently aprons and flat irons go hand-in-hand because there was a lady (at the same kiosk) trying to sell flat irons. For some reason she decided to harass me...I told her (very politely) "No thanks" but she wasn't having any of that (she really wanted to style my hair) so she grabbed my arm and started pulling and yanking me over to the chair...UMM...REALLY??!?!? I decided that fighting against her was completely useless, so I stopped looked at her dead in the eyes and said "You need to let go of me RIGHT NOW." (I should have added "before I punch your guts out"!) She let go and I had to walk away, I was so PISSED!

After the mall, I met up with Brandy and we went over to the November-fest. I got home at 1pm and was EXHAUSTED so I took a nap and woke up at 4:30pm. Ready for more shopping? I was! So I went out for round 2!

No spoilers here...

So I went to the Twilight movie, I don't know what I was thinking when I thought I could stay up 'til 3am and go to work the next day at 8am. (Not to mention that my stomach DID NOT agree with all the JUNK food I ate at the movie) It just made me realize that I'm getting old! I am extremely happy that I went to a private showing...I don't think I could have handled the screaming 13 year old girls!!!

Welcome to the Coven

Twilight premiere is tonight at midnight and YES I will be there. Call me CRAZY but my father-in-law rented out the theatre. Now how could a girl turn that down? (even though it starts at midnight...and I have to be to work at 8am the next day!) All I have to say is that the movie BETTER be as good as the book! (who am I kidding??!!?)

B-Day wishes

At the beginning of the month, a fabulous friend of mine celebrated her 28th birthday. It was a very surreal birthday for her (and those close to her), having to celebrate her birth and mourn on the same day. So I wanted to do something very special for her. After a lot of thought, I decided that I would get her something that was warm and cozy (with the weather getting bitter) and something that she could do to escape from her thoughts.
That's her gift. A very soft blanket, aloe infused socks and a book (along with a homemade card). I really hope that she enjoys it as much as I think she will! (The best part is that I get to borrow the book when she's done reading it :) Happy Birthday!!!

Nobody’s perfect!

I just had to share with everyone my favorite physical feature about my dog...
Yes, that is his bum. To be more specific, I'm talking about his tail. If you look closely it's crooked...it goes off to the right and I absolutely love it because he is so stinkin' cute...but not quite perfect, but that makes him perfect for me and Daniel! It was hilarious when he first started to wag his tail, because it was just a short stumpy thing that isn't centered and it barely moved! (Yes, I realize I need to get a life and not focus so much on my dog...I just can't help it!) Not to mention that my dog is going through an "awkward" phase...kinda like a teenager..........

You see his ears? One has started to stand up on it's own, the other? Who knows what it is going to do???!?

Montalban Brutus

My dog lives here, he's here to stay.

you don't like pets, be on your way.

he shares my home, my food, my space

this is his home, this is his place.

You will find dog hair on the floor,

he will alert you're at the door.

he may request a little pat,

a simple "no" will settle that.

It gripes me when I hear you say

"just how is it you live this way?

he smells, he sheds, he's in the way"..

"WHO ASKED YOU?" is all I can say..

He loves me more than anyone,

my voice is like the rising sun,

he merely has to hear me say

"C'mon boy, time to go and play"

then his tail wags and faces grin,

he bounces and hops and make a din.

he never says "no time for you",

he's always there, to GO and DO.

and if I'm sad? he's by my side

and if I'm mad? he circles wide

and if I laugh, he laughs with me

he understands, he always sees.

so once again, I say to you

come visit me, but know this too..

My dog lives here, he's here to stay.

you don't like pets, be on your way.

he shares my home, my food, my space

this is his home, this is his place..

-anonymous

(CHEESY as it may be...my mom e-mailed me this poem and I just had to share!)

Tommy boy

So yesterday Daniel started indoor soccer again. It's nice to have an excuse to get out of the house. We've become quite the home bodies lately (which is just fine with me!).Then right after his game we headed over to the in-laws because Tom (Daniel's little bro) was opening his mission calling and we didn't want to miss that! Daniel thought that he would be going to either Russia or Argentina, my guess was either Nepal or Canada...AND THE WINNER IS..............
MEEEEEE! He received his calling to the East Toronto Canadian Mission. Wow I'm good! Or just extremely competitive about everything! Anyway, Tom leaves on Feb. 4 2009 and he will be missed!

RSL

They did it...finally made it to the playoffs! My hubby is thrilled...I have never seen him so giddy for anything! Which in turn makes me extremely happy! Their first game was on Saturday (Nov. 1st) so we decided that we couldn't miss the very FIRST playoff game for RSL! This is right before the game started...It was so much fun and the new Rio Tinto Stadium looks AMAZING. And everyone was so loud...the cheering really got me into the game! But they sure did take their sweet time scoring the one and only goal of the night. They scored in the 90th minute (which is how they got to the playoffs in the first place, they won Colorado Rapids...who I HATE with a PASSION) we never lost hope though! It was the most remarkable thing ever...the whole stadium was chanting "RSL, RSL, RSL" and right at that point Yura Movsisyan scored the only goal of the game! This is the bench for RSL after we scored everyone was SHOUTING and SCREAMING and CHEERING and JUMPING!!! It was one of the most remarkable things I have ever seen in my life, I will never forget this experience!

The red, white and blue.

So I didn't vote...I should have but I didn't. It's really hard living in Utah and thinking that my vote would have made a difference. (Utah ALWAYS goes red.) I made up my mind before the results (which ended up in my favor) that no matter who was elected our new President, I would honor and support him 100%.

So I decided to go patriotic with my blog in honor of the election and celebrate our freedom and our beautiful country! (and I couldn't resist...I had to wear red, white and blue to work today...partly to rub it in!)
Thank you to those of you who aren't lame and got out to vote yesterday!

Hallow'eeeeen

(Yes I'm a little late posting this...but at least I'm doing it)

We had a small Halloween party with friends this year and it was so much fun! Here are some of the costumes..Yep, that's me and Daniel as Lumber Jacks.

And this is Chris and Krista as a cat and a mouse, check out Krista's eyes...

CREEPY, huh?

Here is the best costume of all...As you can imagine, that didn't stay on him for very long! (Although I think a lot of the reason is because Daniel was so embarrassed for him!)

Any-hoo...we also made lots of Halloween inspired food, here is a pic of my "devil(ed) eyes"

and Krista's "witches brew"

And here is a pic of the "snake" that Stacy made
We all had LOADS of fun and I hope this is something we will continue to do!

10/30/08

So my little brothers birthday was on Thur. He turned 25, that's a quarter of a century...getting up there!!! I baked him a cake that was lopsided and lumpy (in my opinion it was worthy of "Cakewrecks"!) but he just said that it "takes after him". How sweet huh?I was so excited to do this for my 'lil bro. I called our other brother Josh and he came up from Brigham to sing "Happy Birthday" (which sounded DREADFUL!!).
I was also eager to give Bobby his birthday gifts. I got him some wood cutting boards that a guy from work made and a toaster oven so he can put his sandwiches in them and toast them (he claims it's the best!). I think he enjoyed himself and it was good to get together with the fam. Even though one was missing...Jeffy!
Anyway, Happy Birthday Bobby!!!

Mouth-watering!

So I roasted pumpkin seeds for my very first time and they are SO GOOD! I've been patting myself on the back for how scrumptious they are!

Here's how I made them...

I let the seeds sit out overnight on the cookie sheet to dry and I though "hey, I should put some seasoning on them now and let them sit and soak it up!" (Best idea ever!)

The next day I melted 4 tablespoons of butter and mixed in the seasoning (I used Devarels (sp?) and garlic powder, but you can use whatever you fancy!) then I poured the butter and seasoning over the seeds, covered the bowl and shook it like crazy to cover every last seed. Pre-heat the oven to 300 F and bake for 45 minutes (or until golden brown) stirring occasionally! I hope you all enjoy as much as I (and Trish) did!!!

Gearing up...

For Halloween!!! Last night me and Daniel carved our pumpkins (even though I am feeling like crap...I didn't want to put it off another day!)

This year I decided that I wanted to try and roast the seeds...I'll have to let you know how they turn out! BTW, my husband nearly throws up every time he sticks his hand in the pumpkin...seriously he gags every time! He can't stand the texture or the smell, so I have to do all the DIRTY work! But I don't mind at least he's willing to carve pumpkins and spend time with his wifey-poo!

And here is the final product..His is on the left (the goofy one) and mine is on the right! Uber fun! I love this holiday, I just can't bring myself to decorate my house too much...I think I'll save that for when we have babies! (don't get any ideas...it will be at least 4 years til that happens!)

Eat.Sleep.TV.

Now that's what I call vacation. We went to AZ over the weekend with Daniel and his parents. We went to go see his little bro Tom play soccer. (They won the game...so it made it worth the entire trip!!!) We had a blast and I love spending time with my husband and his family. But I can't believe how much I ate!!! wow! I think I put on about 20 lbs. this weekend alone. I just have to hit the gym extra hard this week to work it all off!!! (yeah, we'll see if that really happens!)

I did bring the camera...but forgot to take it with me whenever we actually left the hotel! So no pics...I am so lame!!!

I was most excited to come home to this...

How could you NOT miss a face this cute?!!??

QUITTER!

So I made it. 6 months. At the beginning of this journey of quiting smoking I never thought that I would get this far. I still have a hard time and still have cravings, they just aren't as bad as when I first quit. I have the hardest time when I get bored. I miss having something to do during those times. So to help me through the boring and tough times I painted my fingernails and toenails. I also got back into drawing and sketching. I think it helped to be doing something (anything) with my hands!



When me and Daniel started dating, we told each other "if you ever quit I will too". He quit chewing, so I quit smoking. He has been my crutch through this whole thing. When he could tell that I was having a hard time, he would start rubbing my shoulders or tickling my feet to help get me through the moment (or hour). So I owe a lot of my success to him! THANK YOU HONEY!

Daniel's Project

So Daniel has been working on getting grass into the backyard. Not an easy task considering this is what he had to work with...If you notice behind us the over grown weeds. This was the only pic I could find that shows even just a little bit of the "jungle" (if you'll just take notice to the Round-up bottle next to me, we had already started the long task of killing the weeds and vines). This isn't even the worst of it...when we call it a "jungle" we are not exaggerating. We had weeds that were higher then the fence and vines EVERYWHERE. (BTW, I quite smoking...it will be 6 months on 10/08/08)

This is after hubby worked for weeks on the backyard. He killed then pulled everything (but the trees in the corners and a couple of evergreen bushes). TAH-DAH!!! This is the finished product! I can't believe how much room there is in our backyard now. We got grass just in time for winter.yeah. But I'm not complaining...really...I am so happy that it's finally done! Now Monty has a place to run free!

My SMALL taste of motherhood...

So as you all know we got a puppy on Sept. 20. He has been so much fun! and it's been a blast watching him grow and become more cordinated! The only gripe I have about him is that fact that I have to get up at 3:30 in the morning to let him out to go "potty".ugh. Daniel means well and tells me that he'll do it...He just doesn't hear the alarm go off and I don't have the heart to wake him up when I'm already awake. The worst part about it is when I put 'lil Monty back into his crate for the rest of the night all he does is WHINE.

This is Monty 5 days after we brought him to his new home.

AHH. Puppy kisses and breath!!! This 'lil guy chews on anything he can get his mouth on. We learned really quick that the shoes are going to be put away as soon as we get home! I consider that to be an added bonus to getting Monty...I don't have shoes scattered all over in the living room!I absolutley love taking pics of him! Here are just a few of my MANY!As you probably guessed I can't get enough of this pup! I love him to death and he was the perfect addition to our small family!