Mail Christmas Cards.

Mail Christmas Cards.

I finally, finally got most of these mailed today. If you don't get yours, so you know, this post totally counts.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and beyond!

Wrap presents.

Wrap presents.

Remember how I ordered all my Christmas gifts online? Well, Amazon, for some reason, finds it necessary to box each item individually in a box ten times the size of the item being shipped. No lie, ten times. So pictured is the mound that arrived on my doorstep this week. Embarassing.

I have so far convinced my kids the boxes are "stuff for church" and they've totally bought it. I'm waiting for a friend of theirs to point out the obvious and foil my cover though so it's time I get these gifts wrapped.

Because there must needs be opposition in all things, I also had to unwrap the gift that arrived in a box for me! Pictured below is the Christmas gift from my parents. Being the dork that I am, I have been SO excited to get it and can't wait to hang it up, YEAH!

Attend awards ceremony.

Attend awards ceremony.

Cute little Taylor's picture was one of five winning pictures for her school Reflections contest (out of 260 entries in her category grades K-6!).

She was so tiny, when she went up to accept her medal, the vice-principal, who was handing them out, was looking around for her for several minutes before she realized she was standing right in front of her at her feet.

Taylor keeps saying, "I can't believe I won a medal! It's my first one!"

Order School Pictures.

Order School Pictures.

Hooooooow cute are these?

Before she left for school that day she actually showed me her "poses" she planned on for the photographer. She told me when it came time to take the photo though she was too scared to do any of them.

Here is one of her before-school practice poses:

I think she may have seen me watch a few too many episodes of America's Next Top Model (but how else was I to make it through the 60 episodes TiVo recorded for me??)

Christmas shop for kids.

Christmas shop for kids.

I am completely done shopping for my kids for Christmas and I did it all in less than an hour, sitting on my bed all toasty warm with the swirling blizzard outside my window, while my kids played in the next room with friends. I love the internet. Totally worth the total $20 shipping.

Download "Wicked" Soundtrack.

Download "Wicked" Soundtrack.

I am incredibly lucky to have been adopted by Jake's sisters and be included in an incredible (expense-paid for all of us! thank you again Jenni!) girls weekend last week.

The three sisters, Jake's mom, myself and another lucky sister-in-law high-tailed it to L.A. last weekend for a three-day getaway. Jake stayed behind with the kids and didn't have one complaint about the ordeal. I know, how lucky am I?

We opened the trip with amazing up-close and personal tickets to "Wicked: The Musical". I was nervous as I sat between the two soundtrack-obsessed sisters and made only one rule: no singing along. They obliged. It was amazing. Seriously amazing. (The performance, not the fact they obliged).

(The six of us at Pantages Theatre for Wicked)

To top the night off, we apparentally sat only rows in front of a real-life celebrity as we followed movie and television star Felicity Huffman out of the theater and through the streets of L.A. back to our car. Sarah moved in and got an border-line-invading-personal-space look and creeped the star out enough to make her turn around, away from her, but looking right at us. Sweet! There's nothing like a star-spotting on Hollywood Boulevard to make a Hollywood trip.

The next day we went to Universal Studios and I was able to convince only two of our party to go on the good rides. The other sister-in-law I am sure barely survived a heart attack and Jenni peed her pants (well, she claims one of the dinosaurs just "happened" to spray right between her legs, but I am doubtful as to the legitimacy of the claim). I laughed maniacly the entire time. I do love my amusement park rides. We also got to see "Wisteria Lane" from Desperate Housewives. Unfortunately, they were filming (the reason Huffman was in town?) and we only got to look down it and not drive down it. Still....awesome.

(I got this original photo booth idea from America's Next Top Model. I knew I was learning valuable information from that show)

We finished the trip with a visit to where we think, but are not sure, was the fashion district and came home with some discount goodies for all. Good times, good times.

I finally got around to downloading the soundtrack last night. This also required finally setting up my itunes account, 7 months after purchasing my shuffle. That's two to-do items checked off my list in one night! I will now spend the next 7 months uploading our 500+ cds (and reminiscing about our super time!).

Have a Halloween Party.

Have a Halloween Party.

When Jake suggested we have over a couple of friends we haven't seen in a while, I took that as an invitation to not only invite them over, but to make it a party...and then also give the night a theme. And I still get to call it his idea. Awesome.

So we had the "Wig Party" last weekend. It was a simple game night with one requirement: all party-goers must wear a wig.

Everyone looked great. In fact, I looked the lamest of all. But I rocked at Guitar Hero so that makes up for it in my book. Here are some photos from the evening:

Trailer park Cody was creepy even to his wife:

Sue's wig is made of feathers. For real.

We decided bangs looked good on Amy and tried to convince her to cut her hair. And perhaps die it purple.

Jake and I were the least convincing of all. But rocked at guitar hero, just remember that.

Carve Pumpkins.

Carve Pumpkins.

The family carved a pumpkin last week for a family activity. Well-- I carved the pumpkin while Jake played computer games and the kids watched me do the carving-- that was, until they eventually got bored, went to their room, sat in front of the TV and called to me, "tell us when you're done."


But they were giddy with excitement again when we took the pumpkin outside and lit it's smiling face in the night for the first time. I love Halloween, but it's so interesting to me that a holiday centered around monsters and demons is so family-friendly. Look at the wild light spewing from the pumpkin's mouth unbeknownst to us while we take a smiling photo--eerie.

Run a 5K.

Run a 5K.

Running a 5K? Yeah, waaaaay harder than running IN a 5K.

Inexplicably, I have had the desire for a while now to put together and direct my own 5K from scratch. When the responsiblity of the school fundraiser fell in my hands? I couldn't help myself.

It was fun to see the entire event come to fruition but I have decided I can check it off my list for good. Race sponsors, race t-shirts, course approval, registration, timing, prizes, goody bags...absolutely no need to put myself through those four months of all-consuming stress again.

Pull out winter clothing.

The kids making their first snowman of the year, Sept 29, 2007.

Pull out winter clothing.

September snow. Sigh.

Man up, Autumn! Can't you hold off winter at least a month or so? You fight for what, less than two weeks, and you give in, just like that?

I do love the smell of the furnace the first times it fires up for the season. And the excitement of the kids with their noses pressed against the window asking when they can go outside and make snowballs in the season's first snow. I could, however, have waited another 6 weeks for those moments.

Make Veil for Wedding.

Make Veil for Wedding.

It only took eight years, but one of my brothers got married last week, making me no longer the black sheep in the family. Yay!

Taylor and Chase were both flower girls, er, children. They were both, of course, adorable.

Chase and Nana

Taylor

My sister-in-law put way too much faith in me to make the flowergirl headbands, baskets, and yup, the veil.

I only accepted because my own veil was made by (family secret now being revealed) my father. If Big Al could pull it off, I figured, so could I.

It went off without a hitch! Unless you count the headband being too big for the other flower girl and her refusing to wear it and the bride's homemade veil flying off in the wind and rain in the middle of the ceremony.

Oops. I tried.

(Photo of the beautiful bride only moments before her veil took flight)

Other then that, it was a beautiful and delightful ceremony. Congrats to my bro and new sister-in-law!

(Joining of families representation with flower bouquets)

Post more items on blog.

Wow! I hadn't checked my mail since Thursday and what a mistake! I opened it today to find, along with--I counted--nine clothing catalogs, no other than the incredible Baker's Edge brownie pan in my last post! Anonymous gifter, reveal yourself!

What a great surprise, thank you!

I also wanted to now blog about this awesome car, that if it was priced $170 instead of $1.7 million, I would totally buy it...

Bake brownies.

Bake brownies.

If this pan was $15 instead of $35 I would buy it in a heartbeat. I am so glad to know I am not the only one who loves the edge pieces of brownies.

I think it would be awesome for lasagna too.

Get hair cut.

Get hair cut.

It seems no matter how many times I get my hair cut, it always grows back...

Break in new running shoes.

Break in new running shoes.

A new pair of my favorite running shoes arrived yesterday and I can't wait to break them in today. Stepping into brand spankin' new running shoes (especially these super cushy ones) is one of the best feelings in the world.




I will also have to try out the neon orange reflective material at night. They are supposed to increase visibility but they are so orange and so reflective I'm convinced they may provide night vision as well.

Watch HSM2.

Watch HSM2.

That's "High School Musical 2" for those of you not in the know. It premiered last Friday on the Disney Channel--with record breaking audiences, I might add. Did I record it? Of course I did. Am I the biggest 20-something dork ever? Of course I am.

Can't wait to watch it!

Dress as well as my daughter.

Dress as well as my daughter.

Off to Kindergarten in her skinny jeans and peasant top... so cute! If only I could dress so trendy. (Not that my cut off sweats and tee shirt I'm currently donning aren't cute. Well...shoot.)

Use Water Filter.

Use Water Filter.

I was floored when I read this article on how Salt Lake City won a contest for best tasting water. Mostly because not 20 minutes outside the city, my city's tap produces what quite possibly is the foulest tasting water known to man. Maybe it's not that different. Maybe I'm spoiled with bottled water and I can just feel really sorry for the rest of the nation. But even my three-year old son cringes in disgust when I try to trick him with a glass from the tap.

I do, however, feel guilty for filling my recycling bin twice a month solely with water bottles. I think eventually I will give in to a filter on the tap. But it's just so hard to give up the convenience of grabbing a water bottle on the way out the door, or throwing it in my tote on the way to the pool, or putting it beside my bed for when I wake up without worrying about floaties and bugs I can't see floating in it in the middle of the night. If I recycle the plastic bottles, am I really that bad of a person for enjoying them?

Order School Shirts.

Order School Shirts.

Aren't the elementary school t-shirts awesome? (Say yes because I designed them). I know, you can't wait to see the backs. Here they are:

The girls' shirts are cap-sleeved and fitted and the boys are 3/4 sleeve. My favorite though are the hoodies. Available in adult sizes too!

Ban video games in our home.

Ban video games in our home.

Well, all except Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution, of course.

I just read about a new service that allows gamers to pay, say $10, to play a video game online against other players and the winner takes home the proceeds from that game. This has to be the worst idea ever. It is also my husband's dream come true, so it's a good thing it is banned in the state where I live. Here is the article about it. My favorite is how they claim it is not like gambling at all.

Have my plants call me.

Have my plants call me.

I got the biggest kick out of this segment on "Good Morning America."

It is a device that triggers your plant to call you, identify itself, and let you know what it needs. I can't tell you how much I need this. The voices crack me up. My favorite is the Scottish Moss (2:50 into the segment). Check it out here.

Take advantage of summer.

Take advantage of summer.

Schools starts next week. That's right, next week. Then comes fall, which I love, but then...then comes winter. I don't so much like winter.

At all.

As I checked off the days of winter, I told myself I was going to take advantage of summer this year--be outdoors and appreciate it before everything froze over again. We still have time and will still do more but already the days are getting shorter and I feel as though we should have tried harder.

But here are a couple of things we did get out and do...

Fourth of July fishing

Best Buds

Jake's friends and their boys went fishing the morning of the fourth and caught what I think are the cutest pictures ever.

Small town carnival

1st pony ride

I love that we live in a town small enough for hometown carnivals and rodeos. Yee haw!

And I have the best neighbors ever-seriously I couldn't have picked better neighbors--and we threw a rockin' fourth of July celebration with inflatable waterslides, bounce houses, egg races (I anchored the winning ladies team, thank you, thank you) other games, lots of food, and fireworks (until the cops busted us for being in a no-forework zone and we sat on our decks and watched ten different simultaneous fireworks shows in the valley!) Good times.

Bubbles

Water Slides

You can see she takes these things as seriously as I do.

Fireworks in the circle.

Throw Taylor's Birthday Party.

Throw Taylor's Birthday Party.

Taylor had her birthday party today.

Hello Kitty was the theme for the nine little girls we had over. Jake ducked out near the beginning and left me trying to juggle the craft projects, birthday cake and candles, presents, pinata fanfare, and multiple emotional breakdowns by the birthday girl (we had to have a second round with the pinata where I shook candy out of the headless kitty for only Taylor to grab) all by myself-- thus my explanation for lack of photos this year.

I am all partied out. No more summer babies.

The photos I did get after the party...

(Taylor made this mouse from one of her birthday presents and I just thought it was really cute)

Take Anniversary Trip.

Take Anniversary Trip.

Jake and I have been married 8 years today.

Yup, 8 years. Who'd a thought?

No trips this year but it's on my list for when we reach the big 10.

This was our last anniversary trip. It was our honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta. I can't help but think it looks like a "before" picture. And that it was so long ago digital cameras were a new phenomenon, thus the blurry picture.

Happy Anniversary, hun, I love you!