Whirlwind Weekend

Last week James began his ER rotation. Because this rotation allows him to set his own schedule, we have a lot planned this month - a quick trip to AZ, James' board exams he's also heading to Utah for a ski weekend (my Christmas present to him).

We just returned from the AZ trip and boy was it a whirlwind weekend! We drove over on Friday and got back at 1:30am yesterday. It was so nice to see our friends and get out of town for a couple of days. THANK YOU Shawn and Kathy for letting us stay with you!

The first night we went out to dinner at the Italian place by where we used to live. We miss that place! It was our friends birthday, so it was a nice excuse to get a babysitter and go out.


Dillon and Katelyn got to hang out again, finally. They were practically siblings before! It's hard to be so far away from people who we've become so close to and relied so much on during the last five years! James and I realized that in March it will be the first anniversary in SIX YEARS that we will not spend with them!! They really are like family.



Becoming good friends happened almost the minute we met, but over the last several years, we've become more like sisters! I miss you Jen!


More awesome AZ friends I got to hang out with! (You might notice that this picture was taken a few days before I cut my hair short again)


I actually literally RAN into Beth (above) at Disneyland a couple of weeks ago! It was the craziest thing. They were there for the day for her daughter's birthday and we had just driven up for the afternoon! It was fun to see Jill (below) one of the gals I hung out with once a month for girl's night!! What I wouldn't give to have those again!



From the very minute we got to James' brother's house, the boys BEGGED us to go swimming. Afterall, we had spent so many of our Arizona days cooling off in thier pool. However, there was one major difference, we never swam in the middle of winter when the water was about 44 degrees! But, they wouldn't let it go, so we gave up and let them! It was soooo hilarious. They froze, but loved it anyway!



(Notice Charlie has Dillon's underwear on... BACKWARDS!)


I took some cute pictures of the boys goofing around this morning. Charlie's hair dried so funny after his bath! So I got out the camera and they just started posing! What's a mother to do?




This week, we are really buckling down and trying to get Charlie potty trained before he turns 3. He's doing really really well. This morning I heard him yelling for me to come and see his.. "accomplishments." When I got up there, he bowed and said, "Thank you thank you... hold your applause!" I have no idea where he heard it, but it cracked me up, of course!!

What?!? No cute pictures of the baby??!!?? Yeah, right! :)

Lazy Sunday

We may or may not be sluffing Stake Conference... James is on call and I'm not exactly up to managing the three of them on metal chairs in a gym for 2 hours!

Speaking of James - here's a cute one for you to watch at work Honey...




My three cute kiddos-

Charlie-isms

Charlie has been really cracking us up lately. He's so smart and funny and he remembers everything! (that's a good and bad thing ;) ) The other day at church, he looked at James intently, and then proclaimed,
"Daddy, you're made of MONEY!"
Then later on Sunday, we had some of the other residents over for a "soup party" and as they were leaving he perched himself on the edge of the porch, leaned over and yelled to them,
"GOODBYE EVERYONE! I want you all to bring me CHOCOLATE!"
Here are some photos of our little get-together:



Charlie really is quite a choco-holic. The other day he came to me to ask me for a snack. I asked him what he wanted and he said,
"Just a big big piece of chocolate."
Then I noticed the Hershey's kisses wrappers all over the floor. He'd climbed up onto the couter and managed to find some kisses... oh 6 or so of them. So I told him,
"It looks like you already had some chocolate!" and he replied,
"Um, that was just little ones. I'm ready for the big one now."
Oh are ya??!!??


And now the photo portion of todays fun..

Sweet little Annabelle in her sweet little church dress :)


Only 21 days to go until the worlds most frusterating and awesome show FINALLY returns..




Something I've been dying to try for years now.. Mineral Foundation. The UPS guy just dropped it off not 5 minutes ago! Mary Kay has just come out with it and it's supposed to be amazing.



Season 7 -----> can it possibly be as cool as last season??



I really really like his cd - "Audio Daydream"... especially "Break Anotha"
Take a listen!

I listen to it on my new......................

December re-cap (you might have to take it in shifts)

Holy Moly. I'd say that this last month was hectic and crazy, but I hate excuses ;)

So December was great. It was all kind of a blur and I'm not sure some of it really happened (just kidding) but I can't believe its 2008 already!

Since I haven't blogged in forever, here's a few shout outs (and possibly an illustration of why the month was so nuts)!

Happy Birthday to my amazing sister-in-law Lyna in NYC. MISS YOU MISS YOU MISS YOU MISS YOU a thousand times over!!

Happy Birthday to her cute little daughter.. my only niece on my side, Alissa. You are a rockin' little princess diva and I love you!

Happy birthday to my girlfriends, my favorite twins Ruth and Rachel, and my amazing Kellie!! So sad we didn't get a birthday lunch this year :(

Happy 6th Birthday to my firstborn!! Dillon - I love your creative, hilarious, sensitive and smelly guts! You are the reason I am a mother. I'm glad you are mine.

MOM - If you ever con me into making Christmas presents for all yours and Doug's kids again (mean face)...... just kidding. It was kind of fun spending 2 1/2 days with you buried alive in craft supplies and making the recipe boxes. Now, did you even give them to people or what?

Dad - This last year had some rough points. Happy New Year??

To My Siblings: You all drive me crazy. I love you all so much it physically hurts. My wish for each of you is that 2008 involves major changes- happy and positive changes. Lets spend some time all together sometime this year!!

Dustin and Lyna- I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET THAT BABY!! COULD YOU TURN UP THE HEAT AND GET 'ER DONE ALREADY??!!??

James' family: I can't believe it was our first Christmas away from you all! We missed you terribly.

As far as New Year's Resolutions, I'm feeling like this year I need to focus more on my faith and my Savior. I just feel so grateful right now and can totally see the way God's hand directed my life over the last year. Each year I learn more and more to rely on Him and let myself be led. It's just better that way. I would be so lost on my own. SO LOST.

K- pictures. Here are some photos from Christmastime and what not--->


The Magic Kingdom. Annabelle and I finally get to go with the guys. They've gone 3 times without us and we had such a nice time together. LOVED all the Christmas decorations and the fake snow at night.. wow. Dillon finally is not afraid of the characters!


Cute cuddly baby - el natural- but still irresistable!


Not so natural, but oh so scrumptious!

My boys dressing up like Lewis on "Meet the Robinsons" They made the glasses themselves ;)


Annabelle in her Christmas dress.

Our Christmas tree

Charlie displaying his present from Santa - Tools! I guess they weren't much of a surprise Christmas morning, though. Aparently shortly after Santa stopped by, Charlie sneeked downstairs to play with them. This was taken moments before he threw up all over the place.. look at his face! He's feelin' it.


Various candid shots of Christmas Eve- the calm before the barfing storm. I'll explain- Over the week of Christmas and primarily on Christmas Day, we all kind of took turns with this fun little stomach virus that made you throw up non-stop for about 8 hours and then feel like crap for a couple of days. It was amazing.



The Birthday boy

The Birthday boy's birthday toys!

And..... two more cute pictures of Annabelle.

Show me your silly face baby!!