Play, Party, Repeat

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I think we had a little theme going for a few weeks. While the sis is here, you have to play!

Mom suggested a girls day out to Scottsdale. We started with lunch at Grand Lux then lots of shopping and a trip to Sprinkles on the way home. The best part of the day was when our waiter was shocked to hear that we were married with children and to tell our husbands that they were lucky men. Haha, you bet I did!

I forgot how refreshing it is to have a day out with the girls. I think it should be a monthly requirement. No but really I might start doing that. Beware, you might be getting a phone call or text from me soon saying you have to hang with me !

New Years Eve was on the agenda. We were planning on going to Backyard Tacos but I guess they were having their own private fiesta because there was a sign on the door saying come back next year. I was secretly happy because it was COLD that night! I was happy and warm at Tia Rosas instead.

David got his mission call New Years Eve as well. So exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. I wonder how he was feeling! He opended it at 7 with a slew of his friends and family there. Honduras will be lucky to have him at the end of April.

After the opening the party got started. Dance Revolution and Would You Rather.

Would you rather: eat moldy bread or cat food- by Marcie (duh, moldy bread!)
Would you rather: show up to your 10 yr high school reunion as a geek with no spouse or with big boobs and a big butt-by Casey
Would you rather: sleep in an igloo the rest of your life or be in -20 degree weather wearing a thong at your wedding- by Travis or Austin, cant remember.

As you can see we are hard core game players by the tuckered out father.

I hate admitting this but Casey and I have never kissed on New Years. Sad huh! Either we aren't by each other or he is asleep. I voiced this pretty loud for him to hear while talking to someone hoping he would catch wind. No Bueno. He rang in the New Year sawing logs on the couch... oh well:)



We had a lot of late night baths at grandmas with Collin. This meant trying to find the smallest shirts of Craigs
old clothes to wear home until we could put on our real pj's. This was the highlight of the boys day, seriously. It got really exciting when one night David joined them in his boxers. I have a picture. It took real strength not to post it. But he totally looks naked and I'm sure the Stake Pres would love to see him on FB somehow bathing with minors.  It's a quality pre mish activity, right?

FHE was sushi night. Steph our sushi loving sister showed us the ropes. It really wasn't bad. I liked everything we put inside. Rice, cream cheese, avocado, crab, carrots, cucumber... it was the seaweed you wrap it in that was the deal breaker for me. Once I unrolled it into a bowl, it was all good.

Now I am sad because the party is over and they went home to Buffalo. Val left for Utah with Bre and Martin which makes us even more sad.  Another whole year until Christmas AND I have to make new resolutions. Who am I kidding, I never do.  On the plus side Christopher and Jael are coming soon that will be something to look forward to!

A VERY Merry Christmas!

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I didn't do any Christmas party posts this year. I am kind of disappointed in myself for that. I counted 6 parties we were able to attend. Minus the hang out with fam on Christmas eve type stuff we like to do as well. Seriously in my opinion, the more you get to do with family during the holidays, the better! We never could get sick of party-ing (however i'm sure our families got sick of us:)

We woke up at 7:50 to open presents. I was kind of worried about an early start because at 3:30am I could hear Lane whimpering in his room. I go in and ask what was wrong. He said he was scared because he heard jingle bells and was wondering if Santa had come. I didn't know Santa was so scary!

It took them negative 10 minutes for them to unwrap their presents from us. Lane loved is SKATEBOARD, tool set and jacket. Rusty loved his CHOO CHOO musical train and ball!

We made it over to our parents around 8:30 to start in on some more present fun!
Here we have the father trying to figure out his gift. Any guesses?

The mother opening her gift from Stephanie, Travis, Casey and I. The funny thing was that I thought about giving her this gift LAST year on Christmas day, so for a whole year I was excited to do this. My mom is burned out on making dinner. She is an amazing cook but after 16 years of cooking for 7 or more...I can't blame her. Since Stephanie has been able to visit for a few weeks we decided to take a day and make 10 freezer meals for my mom to pull out if she isn't feeling up to making dinner that night. I think the expression on her face says it all. Priceless.

Instead of buying the married kids gifts my mom makes up a game where we win money. She is really creative with it. This year it was Jeopardy style with categories like: name that primary song, my brothers keeper (questions where we had to name what brother said or did what), it's all relative, etc. There is even a bonus round with bonus mula!

We ate yummy biscuits and gravy made by father then off to the Goodmans.

I of course don't have any pictures of us opening gifts there but we got some great things. We enjoyed our amazing mexican lunch and trying out our new toys.

 We went over to Grandmothers for pie that night then went home to lay down our sleepy, full bodies that had a most wonderful Christmas spent with those who we love most.

We are truly blessed!

The "Star of David"

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My brothers seem to keep things interesting around my parents house. I was going to write a post about this but decided to copy and paste the one Stephanie wrote instead! She is a way better writter then me anyway:)

As I've said before, I love homemade ornaments and cozy Christmas trees adorned with noodle glued memories. It's been a while since I really looked at the ornaments on my mom's tree, but was happy to see some of the ol' "originals" still intact....

This hair was brought to you by "rags". :)

I don't know what school year this was, but my mom really knew how to rock our 80's bangs.
Mason jar lids really had their season in decorating...

And a personal favorite....
Davey love handsome boy around nursery age.

Well, apparently David was seen this year, scrutinizing this very ornament. The cogs and wheels in his mind must have been turning, because a few hours later, a new and improved version was drying on the table.....
And the Star of David II was born.

Davey was gone when we fixed it to the top of the tree, but was thrilled when he got home to see his mug in it's "rightful" place atop the pine. Unfortunately, while trying to stand on a chair to get the best picture on his phone, the Droid was dropped and had to be replaced on Christmas Eve. So while this is a seemingly cheap star... Davey paid in the neighborhood of $100 to see it shine. :)

Never a dull moment! What are we going to do while he is gone on his mission? Bieber and Craig will pull through.

It Was Good



(don't make fun of the non matching, off center font colors. I hate when I delete by accident and don't have the patience to start over)

MERRY CHRISTMAS TOMORROW!

We can't wait!

Giddy Up

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Rudolph with your nose so BRIGHT...

"Mom, where is my shiny nose"?

(Reindeer ensemble courtesy of Goodman progressive dinner last night)

What's Been Cooking, Good Looking?!

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The Mother invited Marcie and I to a Saturday day date to the Christmas Idea House! This was my very first experience with the Idea House so I was excited to go.

We charted the Greyhound bus (full of the Red Hat Society gals) that drove us to the Las Sendas house chosen for this years boutique. Funny thing was that Casey had been pouring concrete right next door the whole week before. He said it better be good because they have been hauling in a ton of stuff for days. I was happy with my purchase...homemade cinnamon rolls made on site.

I told Marcie the Desert Club is going to beg me to use my home for next year;)

 
For FHE we took the boys to see the lights at the Temple. First we went to dinner at LJ's. Rusty boy has unfortunately learned what the good stuff is. I only say that because he is now MESSY when he eats. He has a deafening scream if you don't offer up what's on your plate. He can straight up eat a whole ice cream cone. He polished off a whole drumstick at my parents the other week. No joke... the thighs don't lie!

I recently received a new church calling after serving in the primary for 4 years. I am now in the Relief Society presidency. NOT president, 2nd counselor. This past week was a little bit of a doozy. I managed to make it through my first lesson on Sunday then be in charge of our Christmas progressive dinner on Tuesday night. I had a blast doing it but the combination of doing both at the same time were not good for my nerves! Wednesday morning I'm pretty sure I layed in the La-Z boy chair half asleep with the boys running a muck until about 11 in the morning.

I am so excited about this new change for me and to get to know the sisters in my ward a little better. I put together these  ornaments for them to take home for their Christmas tree.

The weather has been A-MAZING. We like to play in the backyard and eat our CUTIE oranges. (aren't those things heaven to peel)!

Who's got a beard that's long and white? Santa has a beard that's long and white! Who's got a laugh that says HO HO HO? Santa has a laugh that says  HO HO HO! Must be Santa, Santa Clause!

Bass Pro Shop has free Santa pictures.

 However, if you go on a busy weekend say at 6pm, you may get in line and start waiting your turn. A worker might start to announce that you now need passes to see Santa. You may say, ok give me a pass but they might say, well I don't have any more. Come back at 8 when we close and you may get to see Santa.

You might start to say, I looked online at your website before hand to see all rules and regs about this whole free Santa business and nothing on there stated you need to get a pass. Friendly worker may reply, well we don't have it advertised because we don't know what days we will do passes, sorry. You may say sorry my rear and start walking over to customer service because you may have a kid now crying because he can't see Santa due to no pass rule.

You might explain so called situation to 3 different employees (who are very nice, and so yourself:) until they apologize repeatedly and move you to first in line to see Santa! Moral of the story, CALL BEFORE GOING!

Rusty Boy is 1!

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Wednesday was a bittersweet day for me. My little baby turned one.
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As I was driving to the gym Tuesday night I passed Banner Gateway. I had mixed emotions as I drove by. Part of me wished I was back at the hospital with a tiny newborn in my arms. The other part was happy I wasn't driving there at midnight in labor and walking the halls till 4 in the morning like last year!
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We celebrated low key. Like really low key. Poor daddy had to work late plus Thanksgiving was the next day so we kept it mellow by visiting Grandparents with an offering of cupcakes:) Rusty enjoyed all his wonderful presents and the cake he got to eat. The candle was the best part. Once it got lit his face got very serious trying to figure out what the heck that thing was.
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This last picture is my favorite. I was taking the cake away because I was done with pictures and boy did he not like that!
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If I knew I was going to have kids that turn out like Rusteeze I would have 10 hands down. Ok, maybe not 10 but I wouldn't hesitate to have a lot.
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He is the most social, easy going kid ever! He will cruise around the cultural hall at church until somebody picks him up. He will chill with that family for a bit then get down and roam until the next family adopts him for another 10 minutes. He could care less who is holding him. I could drop him off at a total random strangers house and he wouldn't mind a bit.
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He has an unconditional love for flip flops. If you have them, he will find them. He loves to pop up and suck on the round plastic thing that holds the straps together on the bottom. It's really gross. We had to make a rule for Lane that he can't leave is sandals on the floor because Rusty will go to town on them.
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The little man is officially a walker! It is stinkin cute. He has a bad waddle with the biggest bow legs and raises both hands in the air. I don't know how he's doing it? He can say the usual momma, dadadada, hot, ouch and yuck (my favorite).
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Rusty, you put a smile on my face every day! We just love you to pieces. Happy Birthday!

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Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Laners!

Our big boy turned 4 yesterday! Birthdays are so exciting for Lane. Whenever he hears of anybody having a birthday he makes sure that they have a birthday cake and candles to blow out. Needless to say  he was counting down the hours until his big day. Actually he would constantly ask "mom, is my birthday today"? Hallelujah I could finally say yes!

His day started by going to pre-school in the morning. He came home in an extra good mood and wearing a birthday crown with the number 4 all over it.

Later in the afternoon he chose to go goofy golfing with his 3 favorite pals Randon, Kennedy and Val! We also had a pizza party that night with the rest of our families.

Lane...oh that boy. We sure love him but sometimes we wonder where that kid came from! It's a good thing that when he is sweet he puts it on thick. Even if he can put a damper on your day we know we would be miserable without him!

Happy Birthday sweet boy. We love you!