Christmas is in the Air!

Last weekend was a mad house. We had two Christmas parties back to back. Caleb was a trooper and stuck through both of them with me. Houstin, Morgan, Kayl and Taryn showed up for the second party. We were there all day long and needless to say exhausted by the time we got home. We had so much fun spending time with the family, it was a little rough a few times not having Jason there but we made it through.

Tori, my sweet sister....girl....I just love you! We laughed so hard together (had nothing to do with the rum in Jody's coke...I swear it). Another funny turkey story for the books. As I was burning the ham, Tori was cooking her first turkey. As she is explaining her process to Jolene and I, telling us about taking out the yucky stuff in the bird we ask her what she did with the other bag in the neck of the bird. Yep, she did it....she cooked the Turkey with the bag in the neck. Maybe she and I should not be in charge of the big stuff next year.

I think this is the last year I will ever see this, Noodle with Santa. How could you get any cuter than this. Thank you Tori for snapping this for me, the best photographer to capture this moment. The more I look at this picture the more I want to cry....the end of innocents....

Noodle with Santa Clause

Sunday, another fabulous day. Took the kids to Park City to see John and Nikki, our newly weds! Congrats, I am so happy for you two and love you dearly! We had a great time taking the kids to lunch at Wasatch. They took off shopping down main street and gave us adults time together. What amazing people, I am so blessed. Funniest story, we were all sitting at the table and John kept sending Houstin text messages calling him a dork. Houstin didnt have Johns number in his phone so he had no idea it was John. Then the ultimate.....John sent Houstin a picture of himself sitting at the table....you should have seen Houstins face! Hilarious.

Kayl, Taryn, Houstin, Nikki, Noodle, Morgan, Me and Harley

Nikki, John and I enjoying an adult beverage.

We are all about Christmas this year....right mom! Its all about giving and family for us this year. Mom and I are having such a good time baking cookies, spending money and decorating. We are fortunate and blessed to have so much in our lives...and each other.

Thanksgiving and Snowboarding!

We had the absolute BEST Thanksgiving this year. Mom and I started cooking pretty early, of course she made her pies the night before to taunt us. I have to tell you all, I made my very first Turkey. I am getting better at cooking and try and make dinner most nights rather than find what you can eat night...although that is by far my favorite. The beginning of the Turkey..yeah so un cool. I say they take the guts out before they give it to you...that was just wrong! Mom was afraid I would not eat Turkey after my experience, but I did. We had a fabulous table decorated with Candles burning, incredible setting. We missed being with our family this year and told stories of past Thanksgivings. Apparently one year Becky cooked the Turkey with the guts in it and told Mom that it was already stuffed...no worries. We talked about the year Jason was addicted to his deep fryer.....everything was deep fried that year. If you were ever at my house that year...you had something deep fried. We made Calamari, Sushi and had a Turducken....not your traditional Thanksgiving but that was Jason. Good memories and a year no one will ever forget.

The Clan!

The fabulous table and turkey. I look tired already!

I was so proud of cooking a turkey.

Mothers incredible pies. Before the night was over, we had seven pies and five people. BAD BAD!

Christmas lights. Mom and I did half the house, Kayl and Morgan the other half. We were pretty proud of doing it this year.
Love my Xmas tree.

Tradition for me, BLACK FRIDAY! Thanksgiving Day I lay out all the newspaper ad's and begin the hunt. Typically I do all my shopping online, most of it starts at 12:01AM and I take full advantage of it. This year there was a tree on sale....that damn tree! One of my friends wanted a tree with built in lights, I figured hey I am going to be out I will just pick it up..no big deal right. It turned into a big deal, then it was a challenge. As detailed as I am, I read the ad wrong, thought it said doors open at 12:01 AM, nope not until 5:01 AM. So I drank a ton of soda pop to keep myself awake Mom and I kept checking on each other to make sure we were awake. 11:30, Jeep running, Caleb and Dalan (his buddy) dressed and ready to head out when I re read the ad. UGGG, I was awake until 2:00 AM and up at 4:20. We made it, got the tree and had a blast together. We were so tired Mom and I just giggled all morning. Thanks Mom. Noodle and Dalan for going it with me!

SNOWBOARDING

Here I am the day after and I am so sore, every part of my body hurts. I dont snowboard, I ski and not very good at that either. We had a fabulous idea to do our family trip early this year and hit the slopes. Kayl, Morgan, Noodle, Me and Dalan went to Brighton yesterday. First time on a snowboard. I spent most of the day lying on my back staring up at the lift chairs pass over head...but hey I had some really cute boots on. I have to tell you, my kids are my HERO's! Morgan and Kayl so patient with me on the first few runs, Morgan spent the most time with me thank goodness. He could pick me up, hold me up, catch me when I fall all with a smile on his face. Noodle told me on the last run as I have tears in my eyes what a great learner I was and how fabulous I was going to be at snowboarding...just needed to get the hang of staying up. We had the best day together! I am so proud of my kids, they amaze me every day with their talents and how absolutely kind they are to each other and to me. What a lucky Mom!

Morgan, Dalan, Kayl, Noodle, Me

Noodle

Noodle after a run where he crashed doing some crazy jump thinger.

Me and Noodle waiting for the boys to come off another run.

Kayl The look on his face is pure joy. He said to me as we were sitting there "I just love it up here" So content and happy!

Noodle and Dalan

Kayl on the bunny hill being a sport for me.

Dalan, first time on the slopes. He was doing double diamonds on his third run. Way to go DAL!

I love this picture of Morgan, he is in his element. Very cool!

Noodle, Morgan and Dalan at the bottom of the bunny hill. Morgan had just rescued me from my last run. He had charlie horses so bad in both his calves but still helped his mom off the mountain. I LOVE YOU MO!

On of the few times I was up!

Ride home, I think delirium set it about here.

Wow, I have no idea Noodle.

Creating Memories

Last weekend we worked on the basement! LOOK LOOK!!! Its coming along so nice. We had so much fun together creating memories, well at least I did. It feels so good to work on something you know is going to be there forever for your family to enjoy. We did put some empty beer cans in the walls for Jason.

Main Theater room, you can really see where the bar is going now.

Here are the boys working on the ceiling in the hallway. They stayed up a little late the night before and were pretty grumpy for awhile.

Andy doing the messuring, and marking all the spots for me to put a screw in. I did the best I could!

I even strapped on the tool belt. Honestly had a total blast but that can wear you out!

Houstin shot his first Elk on Sunday, he was so excited and we are so proud of him. Looks pretty gross but very cool for H. Here he is with Jared (Uncle) and Brogan (Cousin). Thanks Tori for putting that on your blog so I could steal it!

All in all we are doing well, we had the ick come through the house. I was in bed for two straight days. Not my idea of time off but I am now well rested. Caleb stayed home from school twice this week and Morgan once. Guster is still sick and home again today. Its been a yucky one! Mom is doing so good, she has most of her Xmas done and that makes her happy. She did have an interview with the City yesterday, we are crossing our fingers. We are hanging Xmas lights on the house, almost done! I cant believe I figured out how to do that, thanks for your help Noodle! Looking forward to Thanksgiving, wish we were all together!

They say Laughter is the best medicine!

WARNING, you might laugh so hard you pee your pants. Just be careful with your head so you dont do the same thing I did.

I wish I had something amazing to tell you, but really I dont! Cleaned Morgans room "Love Hut" on Saturday, went to unplug the IPOD doc and smacked my eyebrow bone on the window ledge. It put me to my knees and I wanted to cry. I was brave and didnt cry but walked around with a huge bump on my eyebrow.....the black started shortly aferwards. Everytime Mom would look at me she would laugh, the kind where she bends over praying she is not going to pee her pants from laughing so hard. You all know what laugh I am talking about.

That is some funny stuff right there...................................

Family Updates

October was a busy month to say the least. We have Mom all moved into her aparment, flooring is done (we wont mention the water leak!). We have been doing a few repairs, Mom and I need coveralls for XMAS! We anchored down the dish washer, and put a door sweep on the bottom of her door. We worked our tails off pulling weeds in the back yard and making a junk pile from the basement. We have started finishing the theater room so we can get the boys out of the "Love Hut". I promise you it is a very scary sight to walk into that room when all the boys have been home for the weekend. Its pretty gross really. BOYS! The other day Mother and I winterized the Fifth Wheel and the Coach, yes we did....we are super stars! We started on the boat but that sucker is so big and overwhelming we had to call Andy for back up. We are almost there just a few more things to do on it and we will be golden. We are go getters thats for sure. I looked out back the other day and what did I see? My Mother on top of her RV trying to cover it herself. Good Grief......heart attack!

Mom on the roof of her Coach

Here is the low down on the kids. Caleb is doing well in school and works out every morning. He started on protien shakes and he is bound and determined to have a six pack. He goes through a girlfriend every couple of weeks, total love bug.


Morgan is doing well, he moved home last weekend YES!!!. Took me two days to get him transferred from school to school but we finally have him settled. He and the boys went hunting a few weekends ago and he bit the head off a duck...clean off! Wasnt super thrilled the other day when he rolled the Ranger but happy he wore his helmet and seat belt. He was fine but in tears by the time I got to him.....another vehicle wrecked for the year.


Houstin is doing good in school, his mother had a baby girl and he is playing big brother quite well. Miss him all the time!!!! He called on Sunday and killed a deer, I am so proud of him. His grades are so good!


Kayl....oh I am so proud of him! He is pulling good grades and working very hard. He is still dating Taryn and he is just as handsome as ever, Kayl also got a deer on Sunday.....good job KAYL! He and Morgan were down in the theater room on Sunday with Andy hanging sheet rock. I made one of his favorite dinners.....Chili Verde.


Mom was very sick this week but she seems to be doing better. She is actually eating this morning which is amazing considering she only had a little rice yesterday. She said she feels like she has been hit by a truck! She did have an interview at the school the other day, we are hoping that she will get the position. I cant tell you how much I love having my Mom home. Our house seems to be running a little smoother. Of course it is a wreck most of the time, working on the basement and trying to keep up with everyday life has been a challenge.


Andy is doing well, he workes hard every day and helps me with the basement at night when he is not to tired. He did get his classes and startes the beginning of January. I think he has really missed school. We have been getting Guster alot lately and he is such a joy to have here. Its a crack up to watch him and Andy play basketball....total hoot!

As promised sister. Moms apartment

This is her entry way, we had to do new tile as well

South wall of the basement. This is the BAR!!!!

Theater room, we have thrown up some sheet rock since this picture.

Had to throw this one in. This is the "LOVE HUT" you cannot see the big screen on the other wall. This is the pit really.....GROSS BOYS!

Reality

Here is the reality of today. I was going to push all the emotions aside and make it my day. My Birthday....my day. Yeah no...this is not happening as planned. I opened my eyes this morning and the tears started rolling, I try and push them back but its not working. So I succumb to my emotions....one of these days my Birthday is not going to suck. Today four years ago, I was a bride. One of the happiest days of my life, the day I looked at my sweet love and we vowed together forever. Our boys stood by our side and vowed to be a family. So this day really sucks. I do know that it will not feel this way forever, and I think I do a good job of finding beauty in everything. So in attempt to find beauty, I am sharing the beauty of this day....four years ago.