New Years Goals and Things I want to have happen in 2009

It's that time of year where we get to set goals once again. One advantage of being pregnant is that I don't have to put down lose weight!

Here it is:

1) Have a baby girl, and decorate her room, and buy tons of stinking cute pink stuff!

2) Read my Sunday school and Relief Society lessons beforehand

3) Catch up on scrapbooking

4) Finish garden pavers

5) Actually grow something in my garden

6) Let my kids see Yellowstone (because it's so far away you know)

7) Have my hair be in a pony tail

8)) Learn more about Photoshop

9) Write more

10) Make Birthday cupcakes that I am proud of and don't cringe when I look at pictures of what I made.

(Here's the cake that made me decide to switch to cupcakes! Uggg! )

11) Cherish the moments with my kids more

12) Fully finish the basement (cabinets and drawers on computer table, tile in bathtub)

I know it's not too ambitious, but these are my goals for this year. Hope you have a great year!

Christmas Snapshot

A few photos of our holiday:

Opening presents at Grandma Carols:

Whitmill Party:



Christmas Eve Party at our house:

Decorating Christmas Trees

Rudolph Relay
Christmas Eve Pj's


Christmas AM



Hope you had a great Christmas!

The Nativity

A couple of years ago in Young Women, Mirinda Taylor told me about how perfectly the song Breath of Heaven go with The Nativity movie. We showed it our girls before Christmas and I show it when it is my turn to host the Christmas Eve party.

It's amazing how perfectly the words and song fit with this video.

Enjoy if you have time!

9 Happy Years

Nine years ago today, Tristan and I were married in the Idaho Falls Temple for time and all eternity. In some ways in seems fast and I can't believe it's been that long.

In other ways it seems like we have been married for longer than that. We actually met in the 7th grade. Scary, I know!

He asked me out at a 7th grade dance, but I had to tell him we were too young. We were kind of distant friends for a while, and then he asked me out again when I turned 16. We dated a few other people, but were mostly together ever since.

We got engaged on September 11th,1999 (two weeks after he got home) and married on December 17th 1999.

Things I love about Tristan:

1)He works hard for our family even when he hates his job during tax season.

2) He spends quality time with his family and comes to all games, performances etc.

3) He is a very sweet and attentive to me and supportive of my hobbies.

4) He honors his priesthood and is very faithful in his callings.

5) He has a terrific sense of humor.

6) He takes care of our money and makes me feel secure. He is frugal when he needs to be, but also doesn't mind spend spending money on trips, etc that help build family memories.

I love you babe! Can't wait to spend the rest of our lives and eternity together!

First dance with Josh. Whe knew we would live 2 houses down?

Last dance, Senior Commencement in a Limo
He was pretty hot with a tan after umpiring all summer. (He's still hot with his Mormon dad tan!)

Wedding

One Kid

2 Kids

3 Kids

No Kids!

A must see this Christmas (if you live in Idaho Falls)

So, we were substituting for Russ and Joy in nursery on Sunday and Mike Belnap told us we had to go check out his parents house. It is one of those houses that coordinates with Christmas music on a radio station with amazing lights.

There is another house around here that does that I guess, but I've never done it. His parents started doing it a few years ago.

I'm telling you that you have to go check it out this Christmas! It is absolutely amazing. It seriously rivals a lights show you would see on Disney property.

And it's not that far. You take Crowley Road, turn R on Iona, then look for Iona Elementary. Then you take a Left on 55th East and you can't miss it. Trust me, you'll be glad you did!

I guess that was our blessing for subbing in nursery.

We also tried to go to that house out by the airport that has all of the Christmas trains. The news story I found on the Internet says he is open every night except for Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. We drove all the way out there for a Closed sign.

Probably cool, but I guess you should call first!

My first real digital layout

So, I have been interested in digital scrapbooking for a while now but never really started.

Here's a layout I just completed. Now, I have no idea how people afford to print these, but I still had fun. Do you print them yourself, do you take them somewhere, use Shutterfly or Winkflash? Sharon and fam are missing because I couldn't get a photo of them to work.

Now I better stop ignoring my children.

Christmas Exchange

Every year, we get to about this time of year and Tristan and I say to each other, "We really should let the kids draw names this year."

But, then we think we've already spent too much already, we should really do that next year.

This year the same thing happened, but we decided just to save one gift each for their Birthdays and let the kids draw names.

Giving gifts is really one of the best parts of Christmas. There is nothing like anticipating watching someone open that gift that you thought so much about.

So, we drew names. I took Tyce to buy Brandon's while Creighton was at preschool. Since he is still clueless, it was easy.

But, tonight I took Creighton with visions of him lovingly thinking about Tyce dancing in my head.

It is definitely a learning process for both child and parent. It is their present, even if the recipient would never play with it, or it is something the giver would want, or for $1 more you could get a way cooler thing, it is their decision.

Maybe next year the kids will be thinking more about what their person would want and mom can just let it go.

It's not the end of the world.

Do you exchange gifts at Christmas? Do you give suggestions or just let them go?