Better Late Then Never

So I thought even though it is a distant memory, that I would post about Christmas, more for journal purposes. My family has a Santa come to our family party and this year Kenton really understood and was asking a lot of questions about, " Do we have a chimney mommy for Santa to come down?" and " Mommy, if there is presents under the tree already, will Santa still leave me some?" He also was very much about that Santa would bring him what he wanted - ALL he wanted!

Here is the kids Christmas outfits. I love getting them new Sunday clothes. I have bought too many hats for McKelle that she would never wear. So when we were at the store and she wanted the hat, I was very reluctant to buy it for her. But I did, and she has worn it! Hurray!

Has anyone elses child gone through a phase when they can't smile? This is what I get when I say smile Kenton!

Oh here is my little princess. When we asked her what she wanted Santa to bring her, she said "Pink Presents" I get such a kick out of her little personality. Girls, Girls, they are the funniest, most dramatic things in the world!

This is my baby girl, TO A TEE! My sweet little angel is constantly getting into my makeup and my drawers. If I am getting ready, she is in there with me asking for "MY EYES!"

And I have found numerous splashes of color on my rugs.... ! (when she helps herself) So she got her own "make up". When she realizes it isn't real, we will have a problem ;)

Happy New Years! This is me and Lance on New Years at his parents house. We always go and hang out and have yummy food! We usually try to put a jig saw puzzle together before midnight, but this year we watched MAMMA MIA! I didn't have any idea what I was getting myself into;)

2008 Was a long year. But working from home, and having Lance only working at one job has really made a difference.

2008: Started out with Radiation and MRI's

Lance working 60-80 hours a week.

Lance started to finish our basement

Had another surgery in February - UGH

Good blood results in May

Still living with boxes in my living room in June

Started working from home in August

Pushed to get the basement done- Sheet rock dust!!!!

More good blood results in September

Lance started only working one job- Hallelujah

First Thanksgiving meal ever cooked by myself

Carpet laid on Christmas Eve! Hurray

Lost 5 pounds not working at the office!!! - A miracle

This years goals:

Start a food storage

Get in better shape

Keep good blood results! ( Exercising does lower cancer rates)

Turn 30 gracefully! - We will see ;)

I have more but that is all I will post about!

So Long DSW - Hello Shoes!!!

So I love shoes, what woman doesn't...

I ran into an old neighbor at Harmons who told me that DSW was going out of business in the District and to go over for the amazing deals. Well as a New Year resolution I was not going to do much shopping this year and work on food storage and the necessities....

Well as you can see I have no will power I suppose! But it was too good to be true!




I got all these shoes for such a bargain.... I know your thinking what it the world...!!!? For the cost of all of these shoes, I would usually get maybe a pair and a half at normal prices. And in this next year I would probably buy 1 pair of shoes... So I had to do it right!? ;) ;) ;) ;)

So before you scroll down guess what you think I spent for

10 Pairs of Shoes!

I tried to call everyone I had numbers in my phone for that would have appreciated a major shoe sale. And I told everyone that I talked to... It was too good to resist!!




So are you ready for the cost....

That's right! $96.59 - Which wasn't in the budget, but it had to adjust ;)

So I have done shoe shopping for about 3 years now! I feel good about it, even though the hubby was annoyed with me and gave me the, "I thought you weren't going to....." speech.

I tried to tell him that wasn't it worth saving all that money and getting enough shoes to last me for a couple of years! His response was... " You know you will buy more shoes in the next 3 years..."

Well we will see if he is right, or if I can hold out that long... ;)

Anyways....

FOR THE LOVE OF SHOES RIGHT!!!!

What's Been Going On!

So I was extremely busy the week of Christmas, and I then took some time off of work, and vowed to not sit in front of a computer, so I haven't blogged FOREVER!!

So here our some of our Christmas/December events that went on... And the first was I made sugar cookies with my kids for the first time, since being a mom. It is funny. I made them a million times as a kid with my mom, then by myself. But as an adult I haven't made them, so I was calling my mom about the dough consistency, cooking, etc.

But the kids had a great time and ate more frosting then they spread!

They turned out good for my first try... but I think Valentines and Easter will get a better shot at perfection! ;)

We get a real tree every year. I love the way they smell, and as a kid, one of my best Christmas memories was to go to the tree lot to pick out a tree with my parents. Then cutting it and standing it was always an adventure too. So I put my foot down and said, "Real Trees Baby!" I want it to stay a family tradition.

And without fail McKelle of Kenton falls down at the tree lot, and gets soaking wet every year. Sure enough McKelle went a running and tripped and drenched her clothes and put nice dirt stains on her knees!

So if you remember me saying that I like to wrap gifts, I tried to take a picture of some of the gifts I did, but it doesn't really show off the wrapping that well. But anyways, here is my quirky side... I like to wrap gifts.

And finally....

We are almost finished! Hurray, I don't think I could have taken another week of dust, boxes, and disarray! We got our carpet laid on Christmas Eve and the kids went wild running around on it! They were so excited ( I was too, just not enough to run in circles ;)

We sent this picture to Lance at work right after the guy left. The kids still run around every time they go down there. I get dizzy just watching them!

So we just have to get our back splash for the Kitchenette AND a 60" Plasma, Sectional, Surround Sound, Speakers, you know everything to make it functional ;) - Because right now it is just a big blank room. ( And probably will be for I don't know... FOREVER! )

So that is what went on during the first part of the month. I will post Christmas later. Now I am back to work.... UGHHHHHHH! And it is busy season for me. So pray for me to make it through my 6th time of constant calls all day long!

Am I A Bad Mom.....?

For being so happy that he made this at school?

Cooked, Ate, and Cleaned UP!!!!

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone, and for anyone who has talked to me knew I was cooking for my in laws, and had a lot to live up to! It has been very stressful around here... But now it is over and hopefully everyone thought my turkey was decient.

Can you see the sigh of relief in me that I have finally served up! I was so stressed out that I didn't even think to take a picture of my first Thanksgiving Turkey I cooked!

And here is the fam... Do you think they look satisfied? I Hope so!

After dinner we usually wait a couple hours then get out the pie buffet! I had gone to my grandma's and learned to make her pie crust, and again didn't think to take pictures of my Peacan Pie or Apple Cranberry. If you look close you can see them. I have to say they turned out really good! Thanks Grandma!

I have to say at the end of it, I think it turned out nice and I think people enjoyed themselves..... But I think next year I will let someone else have all the fun!

Fall Happenings...

It is my turn to post my FALL pics, and what has been going on here at our house.

Every year we have a tradition to take a fall drive up some canyon and take pictures. This year we did the Alpine Loop, but we took a detour that we don't normally do, and found this beautiful meadow, and a great spot to take pictures...

I thought this was such a cool place, one of the best we have found...

I wish I was a better photographer, and had a digital camera... I didn't do it justice!

It is also Lance's birthday, and I think that is why he loves the fall, it seems you love the time of year you were born... Happy Birthday!

And finally Halloween... We were Star Wars this year ( due to Kenton's request) I think it will be the last year we match, because I think McKelle will have a say in it next year... ( Sleeping Beauty?!)


Don't we look HOT! Who posed us, Darth needed to come up a bit!


The kids got a kick out of Darth

Vader, they all wanted to fight him, it was like being in the movie! ( We have some real Star Wars fanatics in our family)

And then there was my sister.... I ordered my costumes in September, and then suddenly we were all going to be princess Leia and Queen Amidala, - Family, you got to love em right!

So that has been the last 2 months of our lives in photo's! Now we are on the Holidays, and I can't wait!