Ugly Sweaters and White Elephants

Our friends Sheri and Josh had us over for a New Years Eve party. We had all planned on having a sweater party before Christmas, but things got too crazy for every one, so we decided to combine it with our New Years party. We had a very yummy dinner. Sheri made sweet potatoes and cheesy potatoes, Dale made a ham, I did a veggie tray, and Steve and Tami brought drinks and lots of them. Their was way too much food and we all ate way too much. That's what new years resolutions are for, right?

Tabitha, Sheri, Me, And Tami. Josh washed and dried Sheri's sweet wool sweater, needless to say it shrunk a little. I think it was pretty hot though. My Shirt was just naturally a belly shirt, no washing and drying needed. I guess that what you get for $0.99. I think Tami definitely takes the price for ugliest sweater though. Look at that beauty!


Josh, Steve R., Steve A., and Dale. Aren't our boys handsome? Steve R. was soooo uncomfortable doing that pose. He's not a real touchy feely guy, so that pose was killing him.

We had a white elephant exchange. Everyone got some pretty awesome gifts from hunting gear to "The World According to Mr. Rogers." I'm sure that's a must read.

The crew playing the Wii.

The boys seriously rocked at Rock Band. I even got an awesome video of their performance, but my husband won't release the rights so I can post it. I'm going to keep working on him though. Lincoln (bottom left) thought he was playing too. He had a nunchuck in his hand and kept saying, "I'm winning!" So Cute!! I wish I would've taken a picture.

We had a great time! All the kids (except Kyle) even made it to the new year. Thank you Josh and Sheri for hosting us all. We had a blast! Happy New Year everybody! Here's to a great 2009!"

Our 5 Year Old

Gavin was so excited to turn 5. The other day he asked me, "How do I turn 5? Is it magic?" He didn't quite understand how one day you're 4 and the next you're 5. Today we did family stuff. His friend party isn't till next Tuesday. That's what happens when you share your birthday with a day like New Years Eve. Poor kid! We had a great day together though.

It's our tradition that on your birthday you get what ever you want for breakfast. Gavin choose chocolate chip pancakes with powdered sugar and pink milk. Pretty healthy, huh mom?

Steve and I with our favorite boy! You can say that when you only have one.

We told Gavin we could do what ever he wanted today, so bowling it was. It was so fun to watch him try to hurl that heavy ball down the lane and then we'd all watch as it crept slowly towards the pins. And for the record Steve and I tied 159 to 159, so what if I was using bumpers.

Gavin got a snowboard for his birthday. He couldn't wait to try it out, so Steve took him in the back yard to show him the ropes. He actually did a really good for his first time. It was icy snow and he fell a few times, but he seemed to get the hang of it pretty quickly.

I don't know why I filmed this sideways and I don't know how to fix it. So turn your head to the side and check out our budding pro. Sundance has a hill that you can board on for free when you're learning. So Steve plans on taking Gavin up there as much as he can.


I made him a cake to take to our New Years Eve party, so everyone could sing happy birthday to him there. He kept asking when we were going to HIS party. I guess that's one benefit of sharing your birthday with New Years Eve, theirs always a party.

Some pictures of my little chunk the first 6 months of his life. Gavin's first year he was in 90 to 95th percentile for both height and weight. But as soon as he started walking the chubs went away. We haven't seemed to have that problem with his height though. He keeps growing like a weed.

I feel so blessed to have this amazing child in my life. I don't know how I got so lucky. He has such a sweet spirit. He's so loving and caring with his family and friends. When he says his prayers at night he blesses everyone he can think of, from his family to his friends and even his friends parents. I feel like these 5 years have gone way too fast. I love watching him grow and learn new things, but at the same time I wish it would all slow down. I just need to hold on to my little boy a while longer.

Some of his favorite things this year:
*Wall-e-He loves everything Wall-e. He has the Wall-e voice down and he'll correct you if you try to say it, because your not doing it right of course.
*Iron Man-Remember my post after Halloween about him wearing his Iron man costume everyday? Well it not quite that bad anymore. He's down to about every other day.
*Playing with friends-He think he needs a friends to play with from the minute he wakes up till he goes to bed.
*Playing in his imagination-His imagination play can get pretty intense and involved. And don't even think of interrupting him.
*Wii and Wii Fit-This is only since Christmas, but he loves it.

The Best Christmas Ever!

While opening his presents Christmas day Gavin said, "This is the best Christmas ever?" That made me so happy! What more can you ask for as a parent? This was the first Christmas we spent alone with out extended family. So we were able to start some of our own traditions. It was lots of fun to have that special time together, but we did miss our families. We were suppose to go to Steve's parents Christmas day, but the weather didn't permit. Luckily my brother stayed in town so he was able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with us.

I think this was the funnest Christmas we've had so far with Gavin. He really got into it! He was sooooo excited about Santa and everything Christmas. I recorded every Christmas movie and cartoon I could find on TV and we spent endless hours watching them. I remember how much I loved those things as a child. He would play with the Nativity and ask me over and over again to tell him the story about Jesus. A couple days before Christmas he was at the mall with Steve and they ran into one of his friends. While Steve was talking to him Gavin kept interrupting and trying to get him to continue Christmas shopping. Steve told Gavin that Christmas is about friends and to be patient. Later that day Gavin told me, "Mom, daddy said Christmas is about friends and he's wrong it's about Jesus." It was so cute! We of course both assured him he was right.

I didn't quite have the energy back to do a make a big Christmas dinner, so we went out for our Christmas Eve dinner. Gavin might not look like he's enjoying his dessert very much, but believe me that was his, "this is sooooo delicious" face.

Gavin and Daddy putting out the Reindeer food for Santa's reindeer on Christmas Eve.

Our very musically talented neighbors singing us Christmas carols.

Making cookies for Santa in his new Christmas PJ's

The children were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. Gavin was so worried about falling asleep fast enough so that Santa would come. He also wanted to sleep with a Christmas blanket, because it would help him dream about Santa. I don't know if I've ever seen anything more beautiful than my boy sleeping peacefully. I may be a little bias though.

Going through the stocking Christmas Morning. He was so excited about the candy canes for some reason. He said we had to put all of them up on the tree and eat one every day.

Getting another present to open.

He was very excited about his Iron Man

The Wall-e movie and Wall-e game for the Wii got a few good shouts of joy! He was so excited and thankful for every gift he got. He kept saying, "Santa knew I wanted this!" He even said that when he was opening gifts from Steve and I.

Christmas morning cuddles without makeup (a little scary).
I love this boy!

Our neighbors the LeSueur's and uncle Mikey came over for Christmas breakfast. Gavin and Oliver were way to into their new toys to worry about food.

Gavin and some of his loot.

Gavin showing off his Iron Man PJ's, gloves, and masks. Doesn't he look tough?

THANKS!!

I'm finally feeling better from my surgery and wanted to take a minute to thank all my family and friends who took the time to let me know they cared. It has been a really rough week and a half, but the out pouring of love has been overwhelming. I had friends bring flowers, jamba juice, meals, and let Gavin play at their houses for hours at a time. I had a lot of friends and family who sent messages by text, email, and facebook. I got a phone call from my sweet parents everyday. And lots of great advice from my mom who I know was wishing she could be hear to care for me herself. My little sister Julee sent me a text everyday knowing I wasn't able talk, to see how I was feeling. My brother came by everyday to play with Gavin. My wonderful husband waited on me hand and foot and even did laundry and dishes. Any of you who really know my husband know what a major act of love doing laundry and dishes is for him. My amazing mother inlaw came and took care of me when Steve had to go back to work. She took Gavin to school, kept our house in order, and cared for me like my own mother would have.

When my mother inlaw had to leave my plan was to send Gavin off to a different friends house each day and I would just take care of myself. I had it all lined up, Wednesday-Tami's, Thursday-Sheri's, Friday-Stephanie's. They had all generously said yes to taking care of my son for three days. But Wednesday morning their was a knock at the door. I was pretty drugged up and not real coherent, so I just stayed in bed. I figure it was probably just UPS or something. But the knocking didn't stop, so I stumbled out of bed and made my way slowly to the door. When I opened the door it took me a minute to register who was standing in front of me. It was my sister Lisa! She had surprised me by flying in from Michigan to take care of me. She talked to my mother in law the day before on the phone and when she heard what a hard time I was having decided she needed to come. She got off the phone and told Shawn what was going on any he told her to go and he would take care of the kids and everything else she was suppose to do that week (which by the way was a pretty long list.) So she dropped everything and jump on a plane. I was so happy to see her. I wrapped my arms around her and started crying. I managed to whisper, "I'm so happy you're here!" She took me back to bed and told me to make a list of everything I needed her to do. She was amazing! She took Gavin to and from school, did my grocery shopping, she stuffed, addressed, and mailed my Christmas cards, she did laundry, cleaned my house, cooked the meals, cleaned up my throw up (SICK!), she even did some of my Christmas shopping that I wasn't able to get done before my surgery. The list goes on and on.... I truly believe she was an answer to my prayers. I really didn't know how I was going to make in through the next few days on my own. I could hardly pull myself out of bed to go to the bathroom and was in constant pain. My Heavenly Father knew what I needed and sent me my own personal angel. Thanks you Lisa and Shawn sooooo much for making those sacrifices for me!


Thanks to all for your care and love! Have a Very Merry Christmas!!

Celebrating Early

We celebrated Steve's birthday early this year because I have to get my tonsils out 2 days before his birthday. I didn't want him feel to neglected so I called a few friends to meet us and Tucanos to surprise him. He claims he was on to me the whole time but I think is was the hostess that sold me out. When we got to the restaurant the hostess told us that the rest of our party was already seated. Apparently she didn't quite understand the surprise thing. It was really fun to get out with friends and enjoy each others company. Thank you everybody for coming and celebrating with us! When we got home I gave Steve Rockband 2 and we stayed up playing it till 1:30. And let me tell you I'm a pretty sweet singer for a girl who can't carry a tune and Steve's can really rock that guitar. So challengers beware!!


Happy Birthday babe! Sorry you have to spend your real birthday taking care of me :-(

Breakfast with Santa

We went to Breakfast with Santa at Thanksgiving Point. The $20 breakfast was definitely not worth it, but the kids loved seeing Santa and all the other Christmas characters.

Julee & Ayden

Me & Gavin

Keely & Lisa

Gavin & Steve

Keely & Gavin with Mrs. Clause

Ben couldn't have cared less about Santa and the others, but he sure did have fun running around

Keely & Gavin with the Ginger Bread Man

This was as close as Keely would get to the Grinch & Gavin wanted nothing to do with him. Poor Grinch got no love.

Keely, Gavin & Ben (sort of) with the Sugar Plum Fairy AKA Tanya Thompson

The only Grinch Gavin would get near

Ho, Ho, Ho!!

Taking a break after the our big morning

Kids Village Christmas Party

I know I went a little crazy with the updates, but I neglected my blog for so long I had a lot to check up on. And I almost forgot Gavin's Preschool Christmas Party.

Kids Village always does such a good job with their Christmas party. Every year they have Santa, treats, crafts and the kids preform a few Christmas songs. Keely and Ben were still in town, so they got to go with us. It was lots of fun for everyone.

Keely, Gavin & Ben eating the yummy treats

Gavin & Santa

This was the only way Ben would get near Santa


Gavin & me making reindeer food

Trax & Temple Lights

Gavin's been asking me to take him to see the "big Jesus" and take him on on train ride for a while now. So I figured we could kill two birds with one stone if we took Trax to Temple Square to see the Christmas Lights. The kids had so much fun riding the Trax and seeing the statue of Jesus and walking around the visitors center, but waiting for the lights to come on was a little difficult for these excited children and their parents. We thought the light were going to come on at 5:30 and they didn't come on till 6:00. So by the time Temple Square was lit the kids were hungry and ready to leave. We saw the Nativity and caught a few glimpses of the light on the way out. It was beautiful, but I would have loved to spend more time seeing the lights.

I LOVE These Kids!!

When family gets together things can get pretty loud and crazy and these sweet little faces are the biggest offenders. But even with all the screeching, screaming, crying and yelling I love these kids to pieces and will miss them like crazy!!

Loads of Fun!!

Kangaroo Zoo


Jump On It


Dinosaur Museum