Monster

So, I had my surgery a couple weeks back. My hormones seem to be getting back to normal and I have not been throwing up as much. However, my sleep is really not going well and the other day I needed a boost of energy. Me? I never need that I can go and go. Anyway.. I have not had very much soda and for that matter a energy drink in over a year. Well... NOW I know why we are supposed to stay away from that crap..

I felt like what I think you would feel like if I was on speed. I remember drinking coke all the time and energy drinks and not getting that caffiene and sugar rush.. that is sad when you reach that point.

So, back to the grind.. back to no more soda and for sure no more energy drinks.. just running to get my burst of energy.

Vinyl Lettering

I really have to say how much I love vinyl lettering and how easy it is for someone like me to make something turn out so dang cute by using it.

Grandpa and Cera

Cera has really taken to my Dad and it is so different to see how my Dad has changed too. My Dad is such a hard worker but I have seen the effort he has made this last 6 months on taking time out to spend with the kids. He is way better than I am at stopping to read books and letting kids sit on his lap.

Cera loves the mornings when she can run upstairs and see Grandpa. When he is gone she asks grandma and then says the funniest.. Grandpa? over and over.. when he is home she yells.. Grandpa home..too cute
My favorite is when she says night night about 50 times and hugs him and grandma.

Valentines Day

The girls and I made traditional sugar cookies yesterday for Valentines Day. Ok, traditional means store bought sugar cookies that you roll out and decorate. Funny thing.. I couldn't even get those to turn out!! ha ha.. Good thing my kids have a pallete that doesn't care how bad my cooking is.. actually it usually tastes ok, just not a good visual.

In this picture the cookie looks more like she is putting peanut butter on toast but they had fun!



As for Valentines Day.. I have never been into this holiday either. I don't know, I think maybe I am not a romantic. I have a hard time getting flowers from my husband because I hate spending that much money on something that dies. I love them if they were picked up from Costco or something. And really, I like telling my husband how much I love him everday so this day is no other than any other day for me. And Toby is not too into this holiday. I remember one day years ago.. probably our first year being married and he forgot what day it was and asked if he could go bowling with his brother. Oopsi.. oh, well..it is overated anyway.

Last note: I am figuring out why we as Americans are overweight!!! It is because every stinkin holiday we celebrate every month is tied in some way to CANDY and FOOD!
NO wonder.
Happy Valentines!

Gift Projects

Sometimes when I take the time I really can make up something cute. These are some pictures of the cute projects/gifts that were made for the holiday season.


This was a gift from my mom that Em and I put together for her friend.


This is some family home evening boards that I put together from my mom to my sisters.
Cyrus and Courtney helped me put these cute rootbeer reindeer gifts together for their teachers at school.

Birthday Party

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Happy Birthday, liz!!

Enjoy your day and here's to a great year!

Love,

Rascal Flatts

I wish I could figure out how to play the birthday wishes that was in my inbox when I got up on my birthday. Rascal Flatts really is my favorite group.

I had a great day. Toby remembered my birthday this year and even got me a gift! Yay.. it is not that he forgets he just gets the days mixed up so it is usually the
5th or the 7th or someday around it.. but this year he even put more effort into it because he had to send the gift early to get here in time



He got me a handcarved jewelry box that I LOVE! It came in a group of boxes with Toby's stuff so that made it even more awesome because that helped remind me that this deployment is almost over!! Now that is a birthday gift right there.

My visiting teachers surprised me with a vase full of beautiful flowers and a nice card. That was really nice of them. (didn't get a picture cause my camera was getting fixed.)

I spent the day with the girls and got a new dress with the gift card my mom gave me. I got all the kids welcome home outfits. We actually celebrated my birthday all weekend so that was fun.

Saturday.. I took the kids to the boat show (tennyson tradition) and then to the Mayan to eat for dinner. My Mom and Dad, brother Mike, Em and Dan and my kids were all there with me.. it was great.. I wasn't feeling that hot at the end so we took off kindof fast, but I really appreciate my family going with me.

Sunday Em and Dan came over for dinner and my Mom made a great meal and Em brought some awesome cheesecake which is my favorite. They sang Happy Birthday to me and Carmen was kindof confused cause she thinks it should have been her birthday.. ha ha

So all in all, my birthday was good. I really wish Toby could have been here but he called and I got to hear his voice so that was good too.


Thank you all for the birthday wishes and cards it really was great!

Blurb.com

Do you all know about this. It is a website that prints books.. Better than that it can transfer your blog over and you can print it out. I am teaching a blogging class (maybe to show them how to slack off!) this week and have not got mine here in time, but I am sooo way excited about it and look forward to printing mine every year.

www.blurb.com

Christmas Nativity

My sister Jen and her husband Mark are sooo great at celebrating everything. I love to have them here. This year we stayed home for Christmas Eve to have our own family party of sorts. The tradition has been in the past to go up to meet my Moms side of the family that has a party every year. Mom just got out of the hospital and we wanted to be with her so we are starting our own.

Jen and Mark prepared the Christmas Nativity skit and did a great job. Here are some pictures of the kids. It was hilarious and they did a great job. Two things I did notice: 1. my Dad was probably secretly wanting to kill whoever made my dog a sheep for the play..(i blamed that one on Mark ha ha) and 2. Michelle played the piano fantastically but her and Jen did not sit and play sleigh ride together, which is one of my fondest Christmas Eve memories. The kids had fun doing the play and I was glad we could all ( except for Toby and Kath and Darrell) be together to share it.

We had Mom's barbeque and it was a great night.

We also had another visitor! Santa actually stopped by our house. How lucky are we. Again, Jen and Mark are AWESOME!.. Mark bought a Santa suit like that day and decided to do it. I am so glad he did.. it was soo fun for the kids and gave me some good needed laughs.

Lastly..I cannot continue without adding my thoughts of Christ being born in such humble circumstances and fulfilling His mission in Life is such an inspirational to me. I am so greatful for my Heavely Father and for His plan and that Jesus was willing to do His part. I am greatful for Mary and think of how it must have been for her. Telling her parents of the child must have been a bit hard for her. Not only to carry this baby who she knew was the Son of God but also for the faith she must have had. For Joseph to stay by her side in these circumstances and help her along the way. To go to a stable to have a baby that you know is the King would have been a humbling thing for her. What great examples they are to me..I am thankful this day for the message Christmas brings and am reminded of how blessed I am.

Merry Christmas

Today was a great day. We got to start it out with Webcamming early so Toby could see the kids and their faces in surprise at what Santa left. It was good, but at one point we let Toby go because it was really hard to not be here.

We made a great day of it however and had alot of fun with cousins and family that was in town. We had a full house. Jen and Mark came with their four kids. Michelle and Robie with their three kids, and Em and Dan stopped by every chance they got. (or ran every chance they got, however you want to look at it ! lol)

We have some great traditions as a family and breakfast casserole is one of my favorites. Everyone was upstairs this year due to moms hip accident, we wanted her to be a part of it all too. We had the kids open all the gifts and then took a breather and ate breakfast and then the parents continued on.

It was a really fun morning and then my favorite part of the day came. I am such a nerd about this. No other day of the year do I like to clean but Christmas day I love to put everything away. I tried to leave most of the decorations up because I understand that most people like to enjoy it all day, but I got the downstairs Christmas tree taken down at least.

We had a great Christmas Day dinner and enjoyed some great company. I have to add that I got a new heart rate monitor from my Mom and Dad and LOVE IT! I love doing interval training and have been using my Dad (which he is desperate to get back..right Dad..lol) so I am glad to have my very own. YAY

Other than that as far as gifts go.. Rock Band is probably going to be our most used, but everything was a hit.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Memories of Grandma

I took this picture of Carmen and Grandma doing the dishes. She was asking me if I ever did the dishes with my Grandma and it took me back to some of my favorite memories of my Grandma's house. Much like many homes, Grandma had a window by the kitchen sink that looked out on a huge tree. It also was very unique because you could (not that I think we should have been) climb out the window and sit on the roof of the extention of the home and play in the big tree.

Many times I remember doing the dishes and then climbing out there. I don't remember if Grandma was overjoyed at us doing that. I remember one time doing the dishes and my sister Kath had climbed the tree and was making faces at us from outside.

How fun it has been to unconventionally live with my parents on and off. My kids have definetly been spoiled in that aspect with getting time with Grandma and Grandpa.

I was glad though that Carmen could make some of the same great memories that I made with my Grandma.