Happy Christmas

We hope you all had a very merry Christmas! We were blessed to be with our immediate family plus my grandparents, who drove all the way from Oregon in the ice and snow. We ate too much, opened too many presents, played too many games, watched too many movies, and had too much fun! It was perfect!

It's Winter in Wonderland

The snow has been falling with no end in sight,

It's drifting and piling all day and all night.

The driveway is deep and the porch lights are buried,

The icicles' dripping with speed that's unharried.

The roof is so full there's no room for the snow,

So it's falling in waves t'ward the house - watch it go!

Now on this Christmas as snow keeps a-comin'

We're snug in our house, doing nothing - just bummin'.

We're grateful for heat, and our four-wheel-drive,

And the moisture that thru summer keeps us alive.

A wondrous day we have had, all in white -

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!!

Check it out - the worlds first anti-gravity icicles! I've never seen them go straight for the house before...for a minute I thought our house was crooked!

This is what happens when the snow gets so heavy it falls off the roof - but freezes on the way down! Also note the horizontal icicles that were gouging holes in my window screens (until Dillon kindly walked through the snow to knock them down!). This is a very cool example of nature at its best!

Snow Day

Tuesday was the first real snow of the year. It was Georgia's first time playing in it, and she was quite confused at the whole idea. Gibson had a great snowball fight with daddy, and we all decided we need better snow gear! Brrrr!

Happy Birthday, Babe!

Today is Lu's birthday...the big 3-0! He had the day off of work, so I surprised him with a visit to the Harley-Davidson showroom in Lindon. He's always wanted to go, but never has had the time (I can't imagine why!). He was really excited, and we both had a great time looking at all the bikes and over-priced apparel *there was a T-shirt for $100.00!!*. He sat on a few, and we planned our future of buying a cruiser and touring the nation. I mean Utah. Because I won't drive that far on the back of a motorcycle, whether it has rear speakers or not! Well anyway, it was fun to see him with all the chrome - like a kid in a candy store. We ate a fabulous lunch at the restaurant, and ogled at all of the tattoos and rat-tails (yes, even Happy Valley has an underworld - you can witness it at the Harley store). It was nice to spend a few hours alone together and talk and laugh and re-connect. When we got home, we decided the party wasn't over, so we took the kids to see Igor at the dollar theater. Georgia cried in the lobby with Lu the whole time, and Gibson and I enjoyed the movie. Not so fun for Lu on his birthday, but we sure had fun! Happy Birthday, Babe!

These Boots Are Made For Walkin'....

Sassy, don't you think?

Bye, Bye Lu's Arm Hair

Today Lu was sealing a hole where the old swamp cooler used to be...some of the foam dropped on his arm and before he know it, it burned all the hair off! Now he has two bald patches - I laughed so hard!

New Songs for Commercials

My friend emailed me this video and it is hilarious! The immodium one is my favorite...the more times you watch it the funnier it is! Have fun with this one...

Georgia's Modeling Debut

We had the opportunity this past week to have Georgia's pictures taken! She modeled a new line of hats from a company called Jamie Rae Hats and it was so fun! The photographer was great and got some really fun shots, even though Georgia hated having to change outfits so often! Luckily I had my mom with me, and she coaxed a few smiles out of her. Here are a few of the
pictures!

Finally...Halloween Pictures!

I wish I had more time this past week to post these pictures! But alas, things this week were even crazier than normal, although looking back I can't think of anything that actually got done. Oh well, such is the life of...well...everyone! Halloween really was a total blast this year. The day before, I was putting the finishing touches on Gibson's robot costume and Jenell came over with Jackson who was planning on being a ninja. Well, one thing led to another and pretty soon we were working on robot costumes for Jerik and Jackson, too! It was SO fun to have all three boys dress up together again (last year they were all pirates). They looked awesome in their costumes, and had a great time trick-or-treating. Gibson didn't quite get up to the neighbor's door before he face-planted on the ground. Note to self: don't make the box so long that the boy inside it can't bend his legs to walk! Gibson only went trick-or-treating for about 20 minutes before he was done, which was fine with me. Georgia was my little flower girl, and actually wore her entire costume for the entire night! She discovered that she loves suckers, which she won't be having again for a while. We spent the whole night at my parent's house - they had a bonfire with chairs, cookies and hot chocolate set up in the driveway. It was a total party for all of the parents and kids that came by! It was cold and rainy and all together a perfectly memorable evening!

Georgia LOVES dandelions! I (don't) wish we had more!


I love fall! Our yard is full of mums in full bloom - I love the contrast between the blossoms of summer and the pumpkins of fall!

Pumpkin Party

In the true spirit of fall festivities, we spent our last Family Home Evening carving pumpkins! We took the kids to the store to pick out the perfect pumpkins and I made the mistake beforehand of telling Gibson he could have whichever one he wanted. Well, as soon as we got there his heart was set on one that must have weighed, oh - 80 pounds. Forget it! Who wants (to pay for) a pumpkin that big?! It took some doing, but we finally swayed his affection to a much more manageable one although it was still a little heavy for him to carry! So we bought the pumpkins, along with an electric carving knife that Lu couldn't live without (after all, it IS a power tool!) and headed home for the carving party. Fast forward through a couple of tantrums, an entire newspaper being strewn throughout the house, and Lu spending an hour on the phone -and finally we begin! Gibson would NOT touch the guts of the pumpkin. I tried, I really did. But his obsession with keeping his hands clean is just too much so he just watched. Georgia was way past her bedtime, but she was a good sport. All in all, it was a great FHE - and the electric carving tool WAS pretty awesome. Touche, Lu.

I Believe In Christ

My mom read an article a few days ago about an artist named Mark Mabry who has created an exhibit of photographs portraying the life of Christ. On the website, there is a slideshow that has been put to music. My sister showed me this slideshow today, and I have watched it several times this evening. I have felt the Spirit so strongly while watching it, and my testimony has once again been renewed of the purpose and sacrifice of my Savior for me. I know that He lives, and I feel His influence in my life every day. I encourage you to view this slideshow and pass it along. Just click on the link below...

http://mabrystudios.typepad.com/reflections_of_christ/

Big Mommy

Actual conversation between Gibson and I on the way to tuck him into bed:

Me: I love you so much.
Gibson: I love YOU so much.

Me: I'm so proud of you.
Gibson: I'm so proud of YOU.

Me: You're such a big boy!
Gibson: You're such a big mommy!

Both: Hysterical (but hushed) laughter. Man, it was cute!

Georgia's 1st Birthday

My, my, my. Our baby girl is no longer a baby! On Saturday, October 11th, we celebrated her first birthday! Just like with Gibson, I spent several minutes being very emotional. Here are the emotions I was feeling:

1. Sadness. She was just barely born, and here she is walking and getting into things and doing big-girl stuff! Where did the time go? I want my baby back, baby back, baby back....

2. Incredulity. What???!! Baby back??! What-ev. Babies are just way too much work. Thank goodness she is out of the needy baby stage. No more sleepless nights. She can stand up while I put her pants on, which is so much easier. No more formula. A front-facing car seat. Table food. This is the life!

3. Sadness again. My baby! She doesn't need me anymore! Today she can walk towards me, but tomorrow she'll be running away!

4. Reality check. She won't be running away from me. I mean come on, she still poops her pants! If she runs too far or too fast, she'll get a rash!

5. Admiration. Dude. She's gorgeous and funny and sweet and girly-but-not-too-girly. She is clever and smart - just enough like me to make me smile, and just enough like her daddy to make me laugh out loud. A true marvel of genetics.

6. Gratitude. What a choice blessing to have this precious little daughter in our family. She is one of Heavenly Father's daughters whom he has entrusted in our care. I will try and savor every moment with her and enjoy watching her learn and grow! Oh, how I adore my beautiful baby girl!

New York, Baby!

I just got back (okay, it's been a few weeks, but I've been busy!) from a fabulous week-long trip to NYC. I went with my sister and her husband, and my parents. We had a great time and saw just about everything there is to see! The food was amazing, the city was right out of a movie, and all in all it's a glittering and colorful and out-of-this-world place to be. I got to go to lunch with my dear friend Anica Maggard, who I haven't seen since I got married! She is living in Connecticut and working as an aesthetician/makeup artist. It was the highlight of my trip to see her and visit for a couple of hours. **Anica, you're fabulous! You are a friend for a lifetime and I am so grateful for you and the influence you have had in my life! I hope ALL of the drag queens in Manhatten hire you to transform them! You rock, sista!** Lu got to stay home and be with the kids for the entire week, which he said was really hard but really fun. Welcome to motherhood! He sent me pictures and videos every day, which was fun but made me homesick. Luckily, we all survived the week! The kids were both excited to see me and wouldn't leave my side for days. Okay, that's not entirely true. Gibson was happy I was home and he wouldn't leave my side; Georgia couldn't figure out who I was for a couple of days which only hurt my feelings a little bit. Anyhoo, here are a few pictures from the trip!

Here I am, a little swollen but whatever, on one of the bus tours we went on! We went on a few tours, and had a few hilarious guides. What a great way to see the city!
This is the site of Ground Zero, where they are busy working on construction for the new WTC. It's bustling with activity, but there is still a very reverent feeling here.

The Statue of Liberty!!! I have to admit, I got teary when I was here. I was in complete awe of her and felt so grateful for all of the freedoms and liberties that she represents. We are so blessed to live in this chosen land, and I hope I never take it for granted.

The view from Rockefeller Center of Central Park. Wow!

The Naked Cowboy! I wanted to get a picture, but right as it clicked the car drove by. We had a good laugh when we saw the picture - what timing!

Gibson's Self Portrait

Gibson came into my office the other night before bedtime and gave me this drawing he had done. I asked him who it was, because it's obviously (?) a face. He said, "It's me silly!" I was very impressed that he drew such a detailed picture! What a prodigy! Haha!

Gibson's First Day of Preschool!

It's a fact. Gibson is officially a "real boy." On Tuesday he got to go to Preschool for the first time! He opted for a Spiderman backpack rather than Transformers, and wore it for 2 days straight before he actually needed to. His class is at the American Fork Rec center (it's so close I can see it from the backyard). He is actually in the 4 year old class, but so far he's fitting in great! He loves stuffing his backpack with the "projrects" he makes and singing the fun songs he's learning. I'm just amazed that he's so big. Only 2 years to kindergarten!

A Brief Update

Well, it's been a crazy month! Just to give you a brief overview, here are the highlights!
- Lu is no longer working for AT&T. He is now working at Carmax in their sales department. He spent a week in California doing training and now he is on the lot selling cars. So far he is doing really well and really enjoys it. It's a lot different than the wireless industry, but he's learning a lot about his other passion - cars! So for right now that's where he's at - but he would still love to work in the phone business again, so who knows? Only time will tell!
- I was offered a great opportunity by a local dermatologist to work in her office a couple of afternoons a week, so I am doing that now. It's fun to be a grown-up for a few hours and I'm getting valuable training in medical billing and transcription. Within a year I will be able to do most of the work from home, and that's exciting! Today, my mom, dad, sister and I booked all of our tickets for our New York trip that's coming up in September. We will be doing all of the tourist-y things there, including the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, a Broadway musical, and more! I am so excited!
- Gibson is starting preschool next week. It's pretty much all he talks about anymore! We're going today to get him a "big boy pack-pack" for him to take to school. I can't believe how big he's getting!
- Speaking of getting big, Georgia is growing like a weed. She is walking. Oh, yeah. WALKING! At 10 months! She didn't beat the record that Jackson set, which was 9 months, but I think she's doing great. Of course, I'm not entirely ready for this stage of life yet.
- Grandpa Gary and Grandma Arloa were in town this last week for BYU Education Week and Georgia fell completely in love with them. When either of them entered the room she lit up like a light bulb. It's so fun to see her and Gibson spending time with them. We spent a couple of days camping and Gibson, as usual, was by Grandpa's side pretty much the whole time. They went fishing and on walks and shopping together, which made Gibson's trip. Grandpa did this thing where he held Georgia around her tummy and swung her back and forth between his legs - it was hysterical because when he would stop, Georgia would tuck her head down and lean forward for him to do it again! Thanks, G&G for being such amazing grandparents! We love you very much and can't wait for you to move here!

Well, that's pretty much the gist of things around here! I hope you are all doing well - it's always fun to view your blogs and see how your lives are going! I'll get some pictures up soon!

Camping Out

Just one week and several loads of laundry later, it was time to head out again! This time we went camping up in Midway. It was the first time we went to this campground at Wasatch Mountain State Park and it was a very pleasant surprise! The tent sites were amazing! We had such a great time, in fact, that we are planning another trip up there in a few weeks! Gibson had a great time - he loves camping. And Georgia did really well, too. It was her first time camping and she was fascinated by the whole thing. It was nice as always to spend time with the family and we can't wait to go again!


Hanging out by the fire with my mom and dad.

Braden & Jen shared our campsite for the night they were there. It was their first vacation since their honeymoon and Jen's first time camping since Girl's Camp!

Lu & Georgia outside my parent's trailer.

Me & Georgia outside my parent's trailer!

Gibson & his cousin Jerik had lots of fun playing together at our campsite. Jerik got to spend one night in the camper with my parents and loved every minute of it! Neither of the boys wanted to go home.


Jerik & Gibson roasting "S'more-smallows." That's a name that Jerik came up with, and it was so cute that we all started saying it!

Wallowa Lake

In our family, summer isn't summer without a trip to Wallowa Lake. Last year when we went, I was 6 months pregnant with Georgia and we camped. There are two things wrong with that sentence...pregnant and camping! But this year, our trip was more spur of the moment. With only a couple of weeks notice, we packed up the kids and the car and drove to Oregon ready for a fun and relaxing week. This was Lu's first vacation since last summer and we were lucky and excited that he got to come (we left on the second day of the new iPhone premier, the busiest day of the year at AT&T!) My parents were already there so we got to hang out with them. We spent a couple of days on the lake - last year my parents found a rope swing, so we spent most of the time there. On the first day, we rented a row boat - yes, a row boat - and my little brother Dillon rowed us to the swing (about 1/2 mile of lake, I would guess). There we had lunch and had fun swinging into the water. Even my mom got in on the fun. We never got Lu to swing or even set a foot in the water, he's a party pooper. But he was good to watch the kids so I could have fun! After a week of swimming, shopping, hiking, and lazing around it was time to come home. We had a great time and can't wait to go back next year for our family's 25th anniversary of spending summers at Wallowa Lake!


Me & Gibson swimming in the lake...the water was so cold we had to wear life jackets just to keep us from getting tired in the water. You can't breathe and swim at the same time!


Dillon banzai-ing off the rope swing.



My mom, Lu and I went on a hike up to this waterfall - so pretty! (The waterfall, not us. Come on, we'd been hiking for an hour!)



Uncle Dill taking a nap with Georgia.

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Gibson tearing up the mini-golf course in his "Grandpa-Gary Hat."

Gibson's First Catch

On Saturday we took a picnic up Provo Canyon to Vivian Park, where they have a stocked pond for kids to fish in. Gibson was so excited, because he's been wanting to go fishing forever. He and his cousins spent the afternoon with Grandpa and Grandpa Gary. Jerik and Gibson both caught fish! Gibson was so excited. Now the only problem is that he wants to go fishing all the time!

Gibson & Grandpa after lunch.

I love this picture...dad was very patient in trying to get Gibson to hook the worm!

Success! Good job boys!

Grandpa Gary & Gibson hold up their trophy.

Gibson and his Grandpas.