Happy Birthday Troy!

Happy Birthday Troy! We hope you have a great day!

Elliott created you a fabulous cake of floam and he picked 3 green candles just for you.

Yes

Elliott has taken to saying "yes" when something goes his way- and doing this every once in awhile. Never a dull moment.

70's Dress Up and Casino Night

The last $300 I had- then I hit it big at the craps table. The dealer did cheat a bit and gave a few of us a few thousand extra to play with....it might have helped me get my big $25,000.

The whole group of us- everyone looked great- I was awesome.

A good friend of mine had her 30th birthday. She planned the greatest party. It was a 70's Dress up Casino Night- man, it really was fun. We decided that everyone was sick of Craig's 70's suit and I didn't have anything exciting so we chose to go late 70's Grease inspired- Sandy and Danny. One of the funnest costumes for us yet. These pants will be a sort of investment- I can be catwoman, batgirl, etc. in the years to come. Sad thing- I bought them after I saw a girl wearing them as everyday clothing. Ouch- urgh.

Random-I seem to pucker up whenever it is time for a picture and I am in costume.
I have no idea why. Game face?

The last picture is me kissing my $25,000 that I won at the craps table. I think I got the hang of it finally- but another friend (Jennifer B.) kept the dice going for like 20 rolls- rolling a bunch of 6's in a row and that is how I won my $25,000. Wish it were real....

It was fun dressing up (what girl doesn't love a dress-up party?) playing and being a careless adult for an evening. Thanks Jennifer G. we loved every minute.

The things he says

Last night when I was throwing a fit- Daddy came up and held me...
So- he likes my fits.

(In your face mom)

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Mom, Jazz says "thank you"

me- Your welcome.

My pleasure.

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When you tip upside down all the blood goes to your head and you can't think.

Oh yeah? Where did you learn that?

Grandma Arlee in Idaho
I teached that from grandma.

Randoms from December

Elliott was one of the cow's in our Ward's Christmas Program this year.
All the kids were adorable.
The best part was how none of them could stop talking- especially my son- who thought that the donkey next to him really could hear through his HUGE donkey ears. He kept pulling one right to his mouth and talking into it- hilarious- I was in tears by the end- from laughing of course.

We like to see the boat parade that they do in our harbor every year. Elliott makes it way more fun- everything is soooo exciting to him. The whole night Elliott was just delighted to yell as loud as he could "Merry Christmas" to every single boat- then cute Luke joined in-together they made the night eventful!
The picture above was one of my favorite boats.

Happy Birthday Josh!!!

Happy Birthday Josh!

Things I love about Joshua:

He is sensitive to others.
He has a good sense of humor.
He loves Elliott and Elliott adores him.
He knows what is important to him.
He has a love of the gospel.
He is fun to be with and do things with.

Josh and I are 10 years apart in age. We have always gotten along and been friends. I love this about our relationship and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Happy birthday tall Josh- have a great day! I love you- Well, we love you!

The things he says

A much needed catch up of some crazy thoughts from my little guys head.

Today-
He has been introduced to the XBox- he loves XBox time. I don't like him playing it much because I think it is a waste of time and brain power- sometimes okay- he needs to have some wasted time. He loves this Star Wars light saber game that we play. He can only do one part of it because the other part is killing other characters. He knows that he can't play the other part.

Mom, do only big guys play that one part on Star Wars?

me- "yes"

Well, one day I will be sooooo excited when dad asks me to play the other part with him- and I am a big guy.


On our way to Idaho (we drove)-
We have been discussing the act of smoking- how it is a bad habit and very bad for you. He has been pretending he is smoking- it is lovely- let me tell you.
So we park the car to get gas.

Mooooom, why is dad out there smoking?

He was so bent out of shape- like I had been lying to him or something.
You know when you can see your breath in the cold air? Something we haven't had to explain yet.


Recently-

It's venom, right behind me.
Mom, I have to save the day..... (runs off to save the day)

Wedding Madness Bliss

On December 27th my littlest (tiny, youngest, baby) brother Joshua married Janae. It was a crazy day for everyone. Crazy- but beautiful and lovely. The day started a little weird- Josh was a little sick and it was freezing!!! But- Seriously- can you believe the snow? It was amazing! I felt terrible that they had to take their wedding photos in the snow- but it was absolutely beautiful and such a perfect snow moment.
I was in heaven- the happy couple was in heaven- so it was perfect.

I love this picture of my brother, Curtis and one of my uncles, David. They were waiting to open the doors of the Twin Falls Temple for the new bride and groom.

Josh and Janae after coming out of the temple. Then is started to snow like crazy.

My new sister-in-law Janae.

My other two brothers- Spencer and Curtis. We always joke about the two of them looking like mafia members whenever we take pictures. So- of course Curtis flashes the gang sign. Seriously! They crack me up, I miss them.
Ladies- both cute and single.....

My boys!

Mom and Joshua at the wedding luncheon.

My Aunt Tamie and Uncle David- they both stuck around and helped out with EVERYTHING. It is so nice to have family around to be there with us all and to help us. Most of the family from out of town were unable to make it- that made having the little bit of family there mean that much more. Even though it felt like we hardly saw them- weddings are busy.


My cousin Jacob and his wife Lacey.

My other two cousins- Jameson and Darren- little champs! They were the best clean up crew ever! Darren- I LOVED the vacuum.

Scott and Collin

Curtis

All of the girls.

Elliott loves doing this with his arms when we are trying to take a picture. It is so endearing- he really is the sweetest.

He was such a little cheese for the cameras- I have no idea where he got that one....

My Dad and his wife Sally

And... at the end of the night- it was just the most perfect night- not too cold and large snowflakes falling. We were all in heaven. Elliott says to me "mom, I need your gloves" and I went outside to find he and Craig having a snowball fight and Craig dipping E's head in the snow. Elliott loved when Craig did this- burrr- loved it.

Thank heavens for those great boy cousins and brothers that I have. All of us had forgotten about the "going away car"- we just said the word and this is what happened! I hope you can see all of the fresh Christmas trees (6 or 7 of them) in the back- it was hilarious.

Poor guys- waited and waited and waited for Josh and Janae to actually leave their reception so they could see thier faces when they saw the truck- finally after being forced to open their presents on their wedding night (don't get me started... who opens presents on their wedding night? Ehh- don't they have better things to do?) it was close to midnight and the left.
What little champs the Going Away Car Crew were.

It was a great day- it was an awesome day and an awesome vacation. I have not been home for Christmas in many years. I was so glad that I got the chance to go home and be with my family (who all got along- miracle) and watch my little brother be sealed to his wife in the temple.
Isn't that what it really is all about? Family and forevers.

Thank you to everyone who unselfishly gave up Christmas with us all so we could be there for something that was so important to me.
I have the best family ever- my own and Craig's- I am a blessed woman.

My Own Private Idaho Christmas

I forget how BEAUTIFUL Idaho is in the winter. Especially snow covered Idaho. I kept saying how beautiful it was- then I'd hear Elliott say at some random time "isn't it beautiful mom?" or "look how beautiful the snow is..." This was his first real experience with snow- I was worried a few weeks before we left that there would be no snow- but man, Idaho did not let us down! It was FREEZING for a few days but it was one of the most wonderful Christmases I have ever had- it really was perfect.

I had a really great friend growing up- Sarah. We have been friends for pretty much our whole lives. We had moments when we weren't as close as we had been at other times- but friends nonetheless. We were so lucky this last trip to Idaho to get to stay in their home. It felt a little like going home to me. When my family lived in the country (not so "country" anymore) we were neighbors and since my childhood home sold I have not really been back much. So- to get to stay out there and just look off the canyon again meant a lot to me. This is the view- perfect view. Thank you to my friends for giving us such a good Christmas gift.

Elliott was in heaven shoveling the driveway with Craig. It was so funny! Things that I used to hate we were all loving- okay, so I didn't shovel the snow myself but enjoyed them doing it for us!

This picture has a story- I was inside making breakfast or something and I hear E calling me- so I go to the door (knowing what was in store- the door is glass- I grabbed the camera) and I get pelted with a snow ball. Elliott was loving throwing the snow.

Christmas Eve- We hung our little stockings on the fireplace- man, E was so excited.

Elliott got what he had been asking for- for the last 3 months "a talking Optimus Prime"- he was thrilled. Optimus sits on the floor as I write this- he is totally over him!

My dad, his wife Sally, Craig and Elliott built a snow hill to sled and shovel down (yes, I said shovel- they would sit on the shovel and ride it down- hilarious!)- Elliott preferred just going down in his snow pants. These little grey snow pants were ours when we were kids.

Then Craig made us this rad snowman- one of the best I've seen- Thanks Craig-o.

This is my dad- Papa Mark. He and Elliott used this beauty to make the snow hill. I think Elliott was more excited to drive the tractor than the snow this day. As soon as he saw my dad he asked him where his tractor was. This tractor is one of his fondest memories of our trips to Idaho.

Ahh, yes, what would a trip to good ole Idaho be without a little gun shooting? It wouldn't be a fun trip at all.
Craig got a full auto Bebe gun for Christmas from- yes, yours truly. However, I am not that cool- he bought it for himself and we wrapped it- but the clay pigeon idea was mine! Elliott is quite a good little shot and I must admit I had a great time shooting it with them.

We went to check out the falls to see if all of the melting snow made any difference in the flow- not really but it was beautiful and E was too excited to leave. It was time to go and he gets all pouty and says "but, I want to play for awhile here- and have fun." There was a lot of coming and going- I think we wore the guy out.

This is my mom, Grandma Lee (E calls her Grandma Arlee). She was ready to do whatever we had planned- problem is we never had a plan because of the wedding (see post above)- until the last few days- then we had a plan.

I think the last two times I have left Idaho have been the saddest. I realize how important my family is to me- so much more than when I was young, single and without cares or worry. On the drive home we were talking about how we wish we were all closer and then we decided that it really isn't bad-they could live in Maine (thinking of far in the US) or another country- much further away. I will take a 12 hour drive anyday. I say we meet in Cedar City sometime- 1/2 way for both. What do you think everyone?

Christmas partying begins...

We have been making gingerbread houses for the last few years. The first time Shelly (Craig's sister) made all of the houses out of actual gingerbread. They were amazing but way tooo much work! (Not that I can claim the work myself... Shelly did it all.) Now we use cardboard and graham crackers- so much easier and still just as fun.

Jennifer and her boy- Troy.

Wrestle mania- Jason was a total champ- he was wrestling with 3 boys- ages 4, 3 and 2. He kept it up for quite awhile- it was an amazing match. No one in particular won- but the amazing diaper to the face moments almost won it for Trevor!

Luke was being so silly!

Sweet Madde- she gets so shy when we take her picture.

We started the holiday season off with a little get together at Craig's parents house. Everyone was there- it was so nice to see everyone- even if it was only for one night. (We were off to Idaho the next day)