the antlers of Christmas

As a last minute Christmas errand, the girls and I decorated the antlers I won at our friend white elephant party. We thought they looked gorgeous! We sneaked up (well, it was still daylight) and left them on the Hollingsworth's doorstep! Then, headed to Grandma and Grandpa Gib's house for our traditional Chinese (and sushi) dinner and opening presents from our cousins.

When we returned from our Christmas Eve antics, the kids started getting ready for bed. Sydney looked at her window and said she saw a man running across the yard! I peeked out and realized that it was James 'returning' the antlers. We secretly watched him as he fastened the antlers to our light post....and there they stay...because they are frozen. I'm thinking that some Valentines Day decor will brighten them up and they will have a return trip back to their home!

"Mom, You are 40 now!"

I awoke on my birthday to those 5 words. Not a good way to start your 40th birthday. In fact, the kids were so excited about telling me that I was 40, that I was pretty grumpy! But, trying to be a good mom, I just laughed and said you are right......I'm old. Then, they gave me a gift card to a day spa. Ahhhhh.......can't wait!

They also gave me a card that said, "Holy &@#% you are 40!" More fun. Then, with glee, they ran with Daddy outside to put up these signs. It was actually pretty funny and a little reminder what my family had done for me as I heard honking all day long! This made up for the hijacking Mike did of my Facebook account for the previous 2 weeks. There was a running countdown on how many days before I turned 40. And always a comment from my younger husband saying he was only 39. I was surprised at how many friends said they thought I was really counting down. I tried changing the password, but he knew how to change it back! He's good.

So, I had a little cry in the bathroom about getting old, and then moved on with my day. I taught a group piano lesson and then headed to Nicole's to get my hair done! I was so happy to have good hair on my 40th birthday! No grey!!!

My birthday sister-friend, Elise and I then headed out for lunch and shopping. She's not 40. She's younger. We tried to get pedicures, but couldn't get in until 5pm. She couldn't do it at 5pm....and later I would find out why I couldn't do it at 5pm, either.

After getting home, and getting the kids settled again, Mike arrived home and said we were going to dinner. I could tell something was up because Mike & the girls were saying things like, 'did you lock ALL the doors?' etc. but couldn't figure it out. Then, the girls started fighting in the car about where we should eat. I kept saying, it's my birthday, shouldn't I get to choose? And also, kept asking Mike why he wasn't yelling at the kids for fighting.....should have caught on here, but I didn't.....I'm old. My mind isn't very sharp.

We decided to go to Roosters. We walked in and I told the hostess there were 5 of us for dinner. Mike chimed in and said, 'We're actually with this party back there' pointing to the back room! I could see the back of my brother, but no one else when we walked into the party room. Then, there was singing! 'Happy Birthday to you' and lots of hugs and I processed what had happened! Mike & the kids got me.

Emily & Scott Harwood

Rachel & Rick Orison

James & Holly Hollingsworth

Chris & Natalie Morgan

Darin & Elise Jensen

Dad & Mom

They kept a secret for 2 months! The girls! Kept a secret for 2 months! Our friends and family that I had been hanging out with for 2 months had kept a secret! I was clueless! Surprised! And happy! Never thought I would like a surprise party, but this was fun! Everyone was so good today. Friends came and visited. Parents called to wish me a good day. Just like normal. Never letting on that we would be together later that evening!

Really yummy food and fun conversation. Mike even got a huge Backer's cake! Thanks to Rachel and her Mom who picked it up in Salt Lake and drove it up to Kaysville!

Nicole & Elise also helping him by getting balloons.

Dan & Stacie, Roger & Cozette, Darin & Kat, and Staci Medina all made the trek up from Salt Lake. Mike's parents came a little later. His grandma is sick and in the hospital, so they were taking care of her. Casey Francis.....

I had a great time! Mike was so great and did so much to make this birthday memorable! It really was a lot of fun! It made me ever more grateful for the wonderful husband I have, the adorable fun children and my great family and friends! I'm one lucky 40 year old girl!

Boondocks......in Kaysville!

We have a local Boondocks now. We decided to use the free bowling coupons they handed out at school last Saturday. Brandon didn't want to bowl, so he and Mike did arcade games and the girls and I bowled. There were a lot of kinks in their system still and they made us rent the bowling lane for a time period instead of one game. Strange. Sydney and Brandon had the most fun in the play area. I always feel like those places are ripping you off......I'm sure we won't make it a habit, but it was fun to see the kids happy!

This is Brandon telling me he had to pee!

Dinner anyone?

Mikey, Nicole (Casey was sick), Darin & Elise Jensen

Emily, Holly, James, Rachel, Rick, Natalie, Chris & Drake

Last year, Mike & I were talking about how we get all these decorations out, and then no one comes over to see them! We casually talked about having our friends over for a dinner party. So, I went ahead with the plans, only to find out Mike had to be in Denver the next morning. Luckily, he was able to stay for that night and left very early the next morning. I laughed to myself because we didn't get all the decorations out before this party! We even missed getting the lights up this year......that's how it goes, right!?!

Here's Scott since he wasn't in the other pictures!

We had a great time! Great food (thanks everyone!) and a fun white elephant exchange. I went first and got some real deer antlers (thanks, Holly & James) that no one would trade me for! (Christmas Eve day, the girls and I decorated the antlers and left them on Hollingsworth's doorstep!)

Emily modeling her new sauna suit! Mike read to us from his new book, 'The Kissing Book' strangely dedicated to Natalie from Chris. We had to hide that book!
Nicole enjoying her new shirt, if for only a moment as Rick stole it.....
Holly actually picked this present (a framed picture of James!) and James got an 80's hair band cd, which we promptly put in the stereo and rocked out!

Darin & Elise with their new Snuggie!

Rachel, what nice antlers you have!

More Christmas catch-up!

Sydney is still willing to hug her sister. Amanda, on the other hand, can hardly tolerate it!
The girls had a singing performance on the 14th for this little singing group they took this fall. It was strange in that there weren't any familiar Christmas songs whatsoever! The leader even had Sydney's age group singing a song about 'where did Christmas go?' with sad little faces! Our girls were done with this group before the performance, so this was their finale! Sorry about the fuzzy pictures. We weren't close enough to focus, I guess....even though our friends saved us great seats!Sydney with her friend, Abby (left). Doesn't she look like she's having fun? ;) Grandma Gib and Grandma Arveseth came up for the performance, so afterward we took them to Pace's for Rainbows. This new favorite treat was introduced to us (well, every one but Mike) by the Harwoods this summer. It's soft serve ice cream with a snowcone over the top. Delish!

Trying to catch up!

Where has the month gone! Here's some updating: I thought it would be really fun to show some of my favorite decorations. The kids were so excited to help decorate this year. They did most of the Christmas tree! They decorated all of the gingerbread house after Dad did the construction. They are at such great ages......we can actually have decorations on the floor and on the low branches of the tree....well, as long as the dog isn't inside!

We get the kids an ornament each year. Here are the kids showing off the ones they received last year.

Our large Nutcracker is one of our favorite decorations! We got him from Bombay Co. before they went out of business....we were so sad when this store left. We purchased quite a few things from them.

Here is our smaller Nutcracker that sits on the fireplace hearth.

Our metal Christmas advent calendar. Love this....Brandon has been manning this calendar this year. I just tell him what numbers to look for and he finds the piece!

I don't have pictures of our Nativity scenes....I'll have to remember to post those later. Also, the Dicken's Village didn't quite make it out this year. We missed the good weather for putting lights on the outside of the house, too. But, really.....it's been fine! We are all just happy to have done what got done. Mike's work has been sooooo time consuming lately, that we are just happy to have him home with us. No time to be concerned about what didn't get done. Christmas will still be wonderful! And, we will probably save some $$$ on our electrical bill! Yea us!

Here's the Santa elf! His little jingle bell on his hat jingles whenever we walk into the family room!

Many cute ornaments!

And the kids elves! Sydney's elf is named Sparkle, Amanda's elf is named Tinsel and Brandon's is Ollie.

These elves watch the kids from various points in the house to make sure they are being good! Sydney made Sparkle and Tinsel some bead bracelets this year and she is really good about giving them one Cheerio to eat every couple of days. On Christmas Eve, the elves leave to go tell Santa if the Arvy kids were naughty or nice!

They also leave new jammies to wear to bed that night!

And then....here is our Christmas card picture. We sent this card to only Utah fans and a couple of our Y friends who could handle it! We got more comments on this card! Mike's idea...he would laugh to himself every time he put one in an envelope! Merry Christmas!!!!

(More updates later....)

Welcome Christmas

So December has officially started! I have felt behind all week! The Christmas decoration boxes were just brought up from the basement by Mike & the kids Saturday morning.....and still they sit unopened!

We have been to a couple of parties. Mike & I went to the Stout family party Friday night. We were about an hour late due to traffic. I enjoy the south part of the Salt Lake valley, but the traffic is horrible! I'm a true small town girl now when it comes to traffic! Traffic congestion in Kaysville is when there are 6 cars at the light! We had a great time visiting and joking about Max Hall (the BYU Quarterback) and his comments. Mike's cousins are Utes and 'classless' commments were flying!

Saturday, we attended the Bishopric party since Mike is now financial clerk. We had a great time! The food was fantastic and so was the company. We played a couple of games. The second one we played was Guesstures and we played girls vs boys. Can I just say the girls smoked the men! We could point and get a word. This amazed the men....It was really fun to get to know these neighbors better!

Also on Saturday, the girls and I attended Abby Orison's baptism. Just before her baptism was to start, it started snowing and snowing hard! It probably snowed 1.5 inches. It was beautiful! What a great day for a baptism! I was lucky to play the piano for the meeting. It's not often that I get to do that anymore. Afterward, we had a great lunch at their home! Mike & Brando stayed home and shoveled walks.......