Christmas get together

Our friends invited us over for a little Christmas fun. We got to their house around 6:30 had some dinner and snackins, watched Jeff Dunham's Christmas special and Christmas Vacation, and played a 4 hour game of Phase 10. Any of you who have played Phase 10 knows that it is a long game, but for some reason this game was extra long. Every time I play there is someone whether it is Corey's Dad, Cousin, or in this case, Friend that has to skip me every time they have a skip card. Needless to say when I am getting skipped all the time I get a little bent. It was ok this time and we had a lot of fun.
Thanks Natalie and Jeremy for the fun!

This is "splash" he had a hard time concentrating some times and I think this is why the game took so long. :)

We are such a wild bunch, can't you tell?

"Splash" telling a story with lots of action in it.

Lagoon Christmas Party

Every year Lagoon has a Christmas party for all their salaried employees. Every year we complain about having to get dressed up to go to this "lame" party. Every year we continue going. I have asked Corey many times why he continues going if he hates it so bad and every year he says, "maybe I will win something this year." and then we walk away with none of the big prizes. I on the other hand make the best of it and have enjoyed most of the entertainment they have had. I like to move it, move it. (Yes, I just busted out in song and dance.) Even this year at 6 months pregnant, I wiggled and danced in my seat to the groovin' tunes. I love to dance. Corey does not. So every year I sit in my seat and just move. This year one of Corey's co-workers asked me if I wanted to go up and dance and I gladly accepted. I wiggled and jiggled and probably looked like I was having a seizure, but I had fun. After about three songs I was all sweaty, but I didn't care. Shortly after the dancing they did the drawing for the big prizes which of course we didn't get anything and then we left. Overall I thought it was a good night and we will most likely be there again next year.

Christmas Tag

Christmas Time Tag...
I was tagged by my cousin Chandra.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Growing up I think we had a real tree once and it was an awful mess, I am all about pre-lit artificial trees.
3. When do you put up the tree? The Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving (never before)
4. When do you take the tree down? Whenever I get the motivation after Christmas.
5. Do you like eggnog? I like it, but only mixed with ½ eggnog and ½ milk.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I don't have a favorite gift, but I do have a favorite Christmas experience. Every year my parents taught us the spirit of giving. We had a neighbor that really didn’t have a lot of family. We would always do something special for her for Christmas. My mom would buy gifts and wrap them and then we would leave them on the door step from Santa. We would do this for her every year and we also did it for another family in our ward one year. This above all is the best part of Christmas!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, mine is very fancy, so this year with how active my kids are I didn’t put it out for fear it would get broke. I need a better way to display it.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Parents and siblings
9.Easiest person to buy for? Corey and the kids. I get told I want, I want, I want all the time :)
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I am bad I don’t do either. So Merry Christmas to all of you and your family! (Does this count?)
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don’t think I have ever received a gift I didn’t like.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? This year I started in September. Usually I start end of November into December up until Christmas
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, when I receive gift baskets from staffing agencies, I give them to other people because I know I won’t eat anything in the gift baskets and I don’t want them to go to waste.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree ? Clear
17. Favorite Christmas song? Josh Groban “O Holy Night”
Faith Hill “Where are you Christmas”
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rulolph.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? I don’t have either.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? How commercial it has become. The true meaning of Christmas is about giving and not receiving. We celebrate Christmas because of the birth of our Savior. He has given us so much.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love Christmas bears. I decorate with bears and the colors on my tree are red, gold, and silver.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Pumpkin Pie and Turkey (I know turkey should be Thanksgiving, but I like it all the time.)
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I have told Corey many times not to get me anything. I am happy to sit back and enjoy the kids opening their presents and to see how happy they are.
26. Who are you going to tag for this Christmas questionaire?
Cami, Wendy, Melanie, Angie, Pam

Oh what a night!

Last week I got together with some friends and had a girls night out. It started out Becca wanted to get a hotel for Brandi and her for their birthdays. Then she thought it would be a great idea if everyone else could join. She invited everyone and said if you can make it great, if not we will plan something else another time. I was all for a get-a-way! So Friday 12/5 I met up with Becca and Brandi to carpool down to SLC. I am a laugher and I think I laughed the whole time I was with these guys. I think I may have even pulled a muscle in my tummy. Our first stop was Old Navy. We needed to find some p.j.'s. We found us some cute bottoms, each one different and then it was time for shirts. We searched all the shirts and I first found a shirt with a squirrel and a nut. The only thing I could think of was Johnny Depp in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory saying, "Little girl don't touch that squirrels nuts." I was set on getting that shirt right then. Well as Brandi and Becca looked more they found some long sleeve Christmas shirts and one was perfect for the night. It said, "I've been naughty" so we giggled and all purchased the same shirt. Then we headed deeper into the gateway about as far as the fountain and realized it was too cold to be doing that and we were just silly to be outside, so off to the hotel to check in. We had many conversations and some were about not "trippin'" or not "hatin'" you know just silly little things, we saw famous people or so we thought, but Becca did get a shout out from Ed Yates. He smiled and winked at her, or so she thought. Brandi got a little confused on the elevator and was talking to some strangers and I think they thought we were drunk. We got to the room and got fancied up to go to dinner. There was some picture taking, one not so flattering of me and I am glad Becca didn't post it. Then off to P.F. Changs. Good thing we had reservations cause there were people there that had waited hours for a table. Destini and Shannon showed up for dinner and there was more laughing and good times to be had. Destini ate like I have never seen her eat before. I like that she is pregnant. She only has a belly and that is it. I have gained all over mostly in the thigh and butt region. GEWWW! Enough about me though. We ate all of the food we had and even made room for dessert. Then it was time to say goodbye to Destini and Shannon. We wished they could stay for more fun at the hotel, but they had to get home to their families. So back to the hotel we went, Brandi and I with our chopsticks, which we looked absolutely hilarious with. We thought we were walruses. Me describing us being to funny is no justice to the true humor that went on. By the time we reached our floor I had almost pee'd myself two or three times and Bec had an issue of her own. We got to the room for some pajama fun and people watching. We chatted and giggled and had so much fun. Then I fell asleep first. We woke up, checked out, went to Denny's for some delicious breakfast and more laughing and more pictures. Bec said we had to "simmer down" due to all the food we ate. I had such a great time! Thank you Becca and Brandi for the fun. I am thankful for all the friends I have and can't wait for the next get together and hopefully more can make it next time.

Look what I did

I love to do crafty little projects. Mainly painting is my thing. My grandpa always decorated his yard with painted wooden projects that he did himself. I guess that is where I get it from. This is my latest project. I think it turned out pretty good.

Christmas is almost here

After Thanksgiving I have started to make a tradition of putting the Christmas tree up the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year Camrey kept asking when we could put up Christmas and I had to keep telling her after Thanksgiving. I have this issue. I don't like that Christmas music starts playing before Thanksgiving and all the retail stores start putting Christmas out in September. I know with that comment I may upset some people, but I believe that each holiday should get its time. Thanksgiving seems to get overlooked and it is all about Christmas. Don't get me wrong I love Christmas, just not the commercial part of it. With that said I did wait until after Thanksgiving and finally got the inside decorated. We just haven't got the lights up outside yet. It gets too dark to fast. So on Friday evening Corey brought up the tree and I got a head start and got the tree up that night. Saturday morning I fed myself and the kids and then we got started on the decorating. I get a little stressed when the kids help because I am afraid they are going to break all the ornaments. I want to make the experience good for them, but the experience is not good for me if I am stressing. I let them help put ornaments on the tree as long as I could tell them where they went. This project took a lot out of me this year, but it is now done. Here is the final product.

November in a Nutshell

I only posted three things in November. How sad! I did do things I promise, but things just get crazy and I don't know where the time goes. On the 15th of November we joined Corey's family in celebrating the marriage of his sister Heather. We had great food and great conversation. It was fun to get together as a family. And as you can see at 5 months pregnant I am still trying to be sexy.

It was the first time in a long time that all of Corey's family was together so they got a great picture of Mom, Dad, and siblings all together.

Thanks for taking pictures Melanie.

Camrey turned 5 this November. I can't believe it has been 5 years already. Camrey has blessed our lives in so many ways. She is a smart, beautiful, loving little girl. Camrey started crawling at 6 months old, starting walking at about 10 1/2 months old, and she can memorize anything. At 3 years old she memorized the Articles of Faith up to the 5th one. If I would have continued working with her she probably could of remembered more and if I would have continued asking her to say them she would have remembered the ones she already learned. Two Christmas's ago Melanie and Brian gave us a great gift of Camrey singing "I can go to the Distance" (I can go the Distance from Hercules). She has her very own CD single of this song. She still loves to sing and dance and color. She is a great big sister. She can't wait for the new baby. She wants to feed her and change her diapers and she just wants to be involved. I just want Camrey to know how much I love her and what joy she brings into my life.
For Camrey's birthday Corey made teddy bear pancakes for

breakfast.

Then we took her to see Madagascar. She loved it.

In the theater

Before we got to the theater we went to the Pet Store. That is a favorite pass time I have found. Whenever Corey is off he takes the kids on field trips. They mostly end up at Cabela's, Sportsmans Warehouse, and the Pet Store. Camrey keeps begging us for a cat. At this point we have to say no because of the new baby coming. We invited all the family to our house for a birthday party on Sunday the 23rd. Camrey couldn't wait for everyone to come and sing happy birthday to her. Thank you to everyone who came and for the great presents. It was funny one of her presents was wrapped in a priority mail box. She didn't know what it was so she just held it up to have her picture taken with it. We had to explain to her that we had to open the box to get the real present. It was classic.

Priority mail?

The real present...that's better

Happy Birthday Camrey! We love you!

Of course in November you have Thanksgiving. I didn't get any pictures for Thanksgiving because I have no brain and forgot the camera. We went to my Dad's house this year. With my family it is tricky because Mom and Dad are divorced so every other year we go to my Mom's house and then the off year we go with Corey's family. My Dad always gets left out of the mix. This year we decided to do Thanksgiving with my Dad. Thank you to Corey's family for understanding the situation. I know my Dad was very happy that he got to have a Thanksgiving with most of his kids. I am very thankful for my Mom and Dad who raised me to always choose the right. They taught me the importance of the gospel and the importance of a temple marriage. Though their marriage ended up not being perfect they still taught me a lot and I love both of them. I am thankful for Corey. Corey has done so much for me and continues to prove how much he loves me. Corey is a great father and husband. Thank you Corey for all that you do. I am thankful for Camrey and Brennen. Each day they bless my life. They say or do things every day that make me laugh. I would not trade any moment in my life if it meant I didn't get to have these two wonderful children. I am thankful so far in this pregnancy that all is going well. I am thankful for the men and women who fight every day for our freedom. Their sacrifice keeps us all safe and for that I am truly thankful. I am thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ for the sacrifice he gave so that we can return home and be with our family for eternity. I'm thankful that I have been raised in the gospel to know that families are forever. For all of this I am blessed.