Ice Storm

My sister lives in Boston (a FAB place to visit!) and sent me these photos of the river outside her house. I thought they were so pretty I wanted to share . . .

It is so much colder in Boston than it is here. I guess I will quit complaining about the cold here!

Merry, Merry Christmas

Why I love Christmas:

I feel a little more giving.

I feel a little more patient.

I feel a little more loving.

I feel a little kinder towards others.

This was probably one of the best Christmases our family has had to date. It was calm, it was simple, it was peaceful, it was wonderful. Some of our highlights:

We start out Christmas Eve morning with breakfast - this year we picked Village Inn. Delicious!

We spent a quiet evening with some cousins - This is Cam and Will. They are the best of friends - most of the time!

We open ONE present on Christmas Eve - wow - we all got Christmas pajamas!

Cameron woke at 6 a.m., screeching into our room yelling "he came, he came! Santa came! Get up, get up, get up!" Here is a shot of the peace before the ripping started.

Cameron with his favorite gift - skateboard ramps!

Ashlie with her favorite things - all of them! She was most excited about her longboard and a NEW CAMERA!!! The camera, however, broke the second time she used it. Luckily, mom emailed Santa the next day and he shipped her a replacement. She got the new (working) camera on Monday. Life is good again!

Taylor and her favorite gifts - new clothes and a new camera. Luckily, Taylor's camera worked just fine. No emails to Santa necessary.

What a wonderful, wonderful holiday season our family had. We were surrounded by giving, loving family and friends.

I love each and every one of my family, friends and neighbors. The delicious meals, the wonderful gifts, the much appreciated visits were all so heartwarming. Merry Christmas to all of you. I love you all dearly!

Things I have never done

These are literally things I have never done before this last week:

1. Gone a full week without doing my hair OR makeup - I'm the girl that takes the makeup to the cabin, in the woods, where no one sees me. I'm the girl that wears makeup at Lake Powell where I'm in the water all day. I'm the girl that puts on full makeup after having a baby - in the hospital - before people can come in. Literally have never gone a whole week without makeup.

2. Eaten nothing but soup for three days straight. I love food - I love to eat. I love to eat food. For three days I ate nothing but soup. Clear, brothy soup. Don't get me wrong. It was delicious. It was the best soup I have ever had in my life (thank you, mom!) But those that know me will find the fact that all I ate was soup very, very odd.

3. Not changed out of my pajamas for a week. I love clothes - I love to buy new clothes. I love to wear the new clothes I buy. I love to wear something different every single day. I have worn the same pair of sweat pants for a week, with some mild alterations to accomodate my lovely post-surgery accessories. Don't get me wrong, I love pajamas. I love to wear pajamas. I love to wear them every night. But not the same pair for a week. My mom managed to get them off me for an hour so she could wash them. Again, thanks, mom!

I guess change is good for me.

Thanks for reading.

I am starting to get a little bored sitting in bed all day. Not bored enough to get up and do anything, however.

Grades

Are finally in. I didn't fail any of my classes. I actually passed them all! I am so glad this semester is over. If I didn't feel so terrible I would go celebrate. Wow - almost feels as good as finishing a half marathon. This is pretty close to what I think finishing a marathon would feel like. 2010 WILL be my marathon year! No gain without pain, right?

Wow

I actually, literally thought I was going to die last night. I have never been in such intense pain in my life! I have a good husband that suffered through it with me. I think he needs a vacation when all of this is over!

Thank You

For all the dinners, phone calls, well-wishers. Everything is going well. I'm very sore and very tired, but other than that, I'm doing great. My husband is a fantatic nurse and my friends are the best. Thank you, everyone!

I Have To

Post photos of the kids with Santa.

Another Tradition:

Grandpa and Grandma have a close personal relationship with Santa.

He comes to their house every year to visit the grandkids and find out who is in the Good Book. It was a close call for Cameron this year - Santa knew all about his fights with Ashlie. Oops!

This girl only wants a camera or a longboard -

I guess she is going to use the longboard as a ski???

This is the boy that wants a Nerf gun and
a remote control car that can climb walls -
I guess he gets lonely climbing the walls by himself


You'll never guess what this girl asked for -
of course, more clothes!
I think she is trying to see if she can get enough outfits to go 6 months without wearing the same thing twice. Good thing she looks so cute in them!

And a digital camera, of course
And texting on her cell phone, of course

The joy of teenage girls . . .

Here are all the cousins together - even our St. George cousins came! It was great fun to laugh, play and sing. Miss B sang her beautiful solo from The Dickens Festival. Ash brought out the violin, Freaky T wailed on the piano . . .

BUT

The highlight of the night came when our very own Bon "Jabie" belted "Livin' on a Prayer" - watch out world, we have the next American Idol!

NOTHING better than hanging with the family at Christmas.

May Santa bring you everything on your list -

Merry Christmas!

Let it Snow!

Lots of snow = lots of water in the lakes for boating come warmer weather, right? Right? RIGHT???

Someone I Totally Love

Is this awesome, fun, always smiling, super sassy, always stylin' teenager I like to call Morgie Morg!

She is one BFF of another awesome, fun, always smiling, super sassy, always stylin' teenager I like to call Freaky T. Together they are a laugh a minute - as you can tell by this very fun portrait they took of themselves.

She is a fabulous shopper - between her and Freaky T I think they keep Aero in business. So glad you girls are helping our economy!

Morgie Morg, thanks for being an extended part of our family!! We love you!

Science is Cool

This is the very cool science project that these very cool girls concocted. Cassie (aka "Sassy Cassie") and Taylor (aka "Freaky T") toiled day and night, night and day! It really, really helped that Freaky T's super cool, super talented, super smart Aunt Kathy (who just happens to be a PhD in science, chemistry, biology - really all things smart) was visiting for Thanksgiving. With the help of Aunt Kathy's susper smart lab know-how and Sassy and Freaky T's determination and hard work, here is the end result. Way to go! You ladies are totally on your way to becoming the next Superfly Science Guy! ( I mean girls, but it didn't rhyme.)

Traditions

I love the traditions of Christmas. Here are a few of our family traditions:

Christmas Tree Hunting - every year we drive to Price, pick up a permit, and cut down our very own Christmas Tree. My kids think this is the coolest thing ever. You can tell by the smile on their faces that the boys really get into it.

All the cousins line up with our "findings" for a group shot It is always really hard work - and a really, really long drive. It wore Cam out!

Another tradition is the Nutcracker with Grandmas

First we have a "fancy" lunch (at the Cheesecake Factory - fancy!)

At the performance with Grandma Sims, Taylor, Ashlie, Grandma Jen, the mom

Me and the girls

The performance was wonderful - we all loved every minute of it. I mostly love spending time with the grandmas and my girls.

May you enjoy your traditions this year as well!

I'm Doomed!

I broke, I caved, I ate at In-n-Out Burger tonight. I had my cheeseburger protein animal style. It was delicious. I want another one! I am going to have to find some serious restraint to stay away from that place. Darn them for opening up 5 minutes from my house!!!!

Mourning

I am mourning the loss of my Utes last night. Sad, sad game.

I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Mine seemed to go by way, way too fast. And I didn't even get to do any shopping!

Christmas is coming - yeah!

For me - The Wedding

Brother Steve FINALLY married his beautiful bride, Amy, last Tuesday.

Why I love weddings:

Will - the ring bearer in his fancy "paquito" (tuxedo)

Steve, the groom, Brooklyn and Ashlie

Grandpa and Grandma Sims (the BEST grandparents ever!)

Thank heaven for Uncle Randy's IPhone - it entertained Ashlie and kept her from harassing everyone

The always dashing Jayden

cousins and crazy CAM

Amy, the beautiful bride, with Ashlie

Good looking boys

Beautiful girls

My beautiful girls

Thank you to:

Laura Adams for making the girls' hair so beautiful (and saving me the headache!)

Kaarina for taking so many fabulous pictures

Natalie and Matt for bringing my darling niece and nephews to visit
Steve for giving us a beautiful new sister-in-law

Mom and Laura for playing the fabulous music

I love weddings - it gives me a reason to buy new clothes and dress my kids up dorky (mostly the boy)

Aeropostale Sale

Aero is doing their friends and family sale this weekend - I think it is the only one before Christmas. 30% off online and in the store. Online you only need FFNOV code, but for in store you need a coupon. I have one coupon left. Let me know if you are interested in it - respond to the blog or give me a call. I am heading over this morning to get my shopping done for the girls. The sales runs today through Sunday. Happy Shopping!!

Moab XC (Xtreme Challenge)

We spent the weekend in Moab for the Moab XC - which stands for Extreme Challenge. Extreme challenge it was! Just the boys ran this year - I am still out of commission. A litte info on the XC - it is trail running. Five miles in red sand to the top of a mountain. Then the course takes you across the mountain top for a few miles. After that, you head STRAIGHT down the mountain through rocks and boulders. Then you reach the wash - which is full of freezing cold, waist-deep water for about a mile. After the mile, you get to run 3 more miles in sand WITH WET SHOES! Finally, the last 1/2 miles is uphill on a dirt road. 13 miles in all. Definitely not a race for wimps!

Here are a few of the highlights . . .Men in tights - Uncles Gary, Randy and Chris - the start temp was 22 degrees. The boys needed their running "tights" to keep them warm!

At the finish

Yeah! The boys made it across the sand, rocks, mud and waist-deep water to finish the race

Our "group" with the fabulous finishers - minus Jerri. Thanks for taking the photo, Jerri!

Another finish photo taken by the proud wife

Refueling at the post-race party

Uncle Randy and Cameron (after Randy showered, of course!)

And, of course, a trip to the XC would not be complete without a stop at Arches (or the Articks as Cameron calls them)

A view of Delicate Arch

At the Windows

Our final shot of the "Articks" - don't know how he came up with that one, but so darn cute I can't stand to correct it!

What an awesome weekend! Congrats boys on an AMAZING race!

Leaves are Falling

Cameron and Keller were being very, very quiet outside. I went to check on them and this is what I found:

I asked them what they were doing - their response was:

"We're piling leaves. What does it look like?"

Why are you piling leaves?

"Because it's fun"

Duh, mom.

Halloween Pics

This is how we spent October . . . Found a pumpkin (5 days before Halloween)

Took our friends to Gardner Village

and hung out with some awesome witches

Got fancy for Trunk or Treat at the church

Ninja, Pirate Princess, War Baby and Malibu Barbie
all joined in on the fun

Our favorite "crazy girl" Maize came over

and played dumpster roller coaster

We watched the always fabulous Halloween party at the school

(No-mask ninja)

War Baby and Aquarius

Hung out with the cutest GI Joe

Celebrated Will's 4th birthday with the cousins

It was a super fab Halloween party

Ninja and Soldier went trick-or-treating

(Mom stayed home and watched the Utes - Go Utes!)

Our very own hobo went in search of candy

She took her "crazy baby" with her and they hit the jackpot - pillowcases full of candy

Very fun, very busy month. What more can you want?