Visits to the Grandparents on Christmas Day!

Didn't the girls do a great job at capturing the chaos and fun at the Arveseth's?!?

Poor Brandon wasn't feeling well. Mike had to go to Maverik and pick up some children's motrin. We thought it was ears...again....but now I think it was his molars. He's getting all 4 at once and they even look painful!

So random

I asked Amanda to take some pictures because I was holding Spencer for Doug & Cath.....well, for me! So fun to hold a little one again!

Pictures to follow from Gibson's........

At the Gibson Grandparents on Christmas Day!

Amanda with some new tunes!

Merry Christmas! This one is in the books!

Christmas 2009!

Cute kiddos waiting for the moment when they could open gifts!

Happy Christmas morning!
Awesome Star Wars ship!

Amanda after Dad got her with the silly string!

Sydney's very own travel pillow...courtesty of Kalee Lucas! She was so excited!

Lots of surprises!

Dad handing out the gifts....

Yea! Some new Wii games!World of Zoo for the Wii!

What could this be?

Brandon hit the jackpot! He's so happy!

Lots of reading ahead!

Yea! A Camera!!

Sydney's new camera.....cutest blue/green color....didn't work. Now she has a cute pink camera instead!!

What could this be?

Moment of surprise and happiness....that is a smile!

Yea!!! A new camera!!!

Here's Amanda's haul...Wii Fit, cute clothes, cute boots, Harry Potter series and other stuff....

Sydney's haul.....easy bake oven, cute clothes, pictureka, camera and more stuff!

Here's B with his new DSi! He is so happy not to be using his sister's pink and white DS's anymore!

Mikey got a calendar of the kids, an AWESOME ice scraper with a glove attached to keep fingers warm....he thinks it's gay, so I'll take it back...shirt, pants, and a SUPERCOOL framed poster/picture and ticket from last year's Utah win at the Sugar Bowl! I'll get a picture of it later.

Mikey also replaced my 'dog-destroyed' camera with this hot little red Cannon! Love it! He also gave me some cases. One for the camera and a couple for the cute little red iPod to use while working out! Yea!!

Isn't my iPod pretty?!?!?! I have messed around with it a little and it does AWESOME things! Video, radio, you can tag songs off the radio, watch movies, plus listen to music! Thanks, Babe! I love it!!! We had a great Christmas! After lying around all morning, we headed to visit Mike's Grandma who is in the hospital. Only Mike went in. Then we headed to my parents and spent some time exchanging gifts and visiting with them and also Darin & Kat. Then, off to the Arveseth's for some Christmas chaos! We were spoiled and had a wonderful time!

"word" of the year

I will get around to posting Christmas and New Years soon.....I had hoped to get it all done today, but Amanda is home sick and I will be taking her to the doc this afternoon. Then, once 3pm hits, my day is over for anything but the necessities!

However, as I was reading some of the blogs I follow this morning, I came upon one gal that picks a theme word or phrase for her year. Something to focus and concentrate on the entire year! I have many goals for the year, but concentrating on this word seems to be less overwhelming....My theme word is 'Determined' This word sums up my resolutions and my hopes for the coming year.

As we teach our cute girls in Young Womens.....you must write a goal/theme down and review it often to acheive. So, it is officially written down!

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!