And The Winner Is...........

Thank you to everyone who left comments. There were several more comments then expected so I decided to divided up the prizes to the first three names drawn. I hope that everyone is ok with this. Maybe I will get to my 200th post sooner than I got to my 100th post and have another giveaway!. You are all proabably just wanting me to stop babbling and tell you who won. The suspense is killing me! The first name drawn was SALLY. The second name drawn was JANET and the third name drawn was JEN. Congratulations. So Sally you have first pick of the hair bows, cards or the surprise and just leave me a comment. Once Sally picks then Janet will pick one of the 2 remaining prizes and Jen will get the last prize left. Hopefully everyone enjoys their prizes and isn't too upset with me changing the rules a bit. Happy blogging!

100th Post Give Away

I finally made it to 100 posts.  I thought I never would.  I should probably make a blog book soon.  I thought it would be fun to have a give away for those 1 or 2 people who actually read my blog.  I am going to give away some cute flower hair bows and 12 handmade cards(2 each of 6 designs) and one more surprise.  If you are interested winning you will get an entry for every comment left on my last 7 blogs entries before Friday, January 14th by midnight.  I will announce the winner on Saturday the 15th.  Good luck.  Your odds to win should be excellent!

Trip to Utah

Trent has wanted to take the kids to Salt Lake and Temple Square for awhile now and we figured they were old enough to actually appreciate and understand it so we drove to Utah to spend 3 days there.  We left the Tuesday, Dec. 28th and came back on Saturday, Jan 1st.  My family had come to visit for Christmas and left Monday morning so it was a very busy day cleaning, doing laundry and packing to try to get ready.  We were able to get it all done.  I like lists and so I'm going to do another top twelve list for our trip to Utah.

1.  Good roads for the trip to and from Utah.
2.  We were able to visit with Trent's Aunt Nadine and Uncle Jim for a couple of hours.
3.  We met up with our dear friends, the Chesler family, from Portland, and played with them at Hollywood Connection.  The kids played bumper cars, miniature golf, went roller skating, played laser tag, and rode the several rides.
4.  We went to Temple Square 2 times and were able to go to tour the Conference Center and Family History Library. 
5. We visited the both of the Visitors Centers on Temple Square and were able to see the amazing Salt Lake Temple display and see the Tabernacle.  When you go to Temple Square during a blizzard you don't have to fight the crowds.   
6.  We watched the movie Joseph and the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. 
7.  We were able to watch the musical Savior of the World at the Conference Center on New Year's Eve.
8.  We spent some time with my brother Ross and his family.  He was visiting his in-laws and took Talia, Tucker, Parker and Lilly tubing behind their 4-wheeler.  They built a jump to go over.  (I didn't take any pictures it was too COLD.)
9.  Ross and Jana also came to our hotel the next day and went swimming with Talia and Tucker while my
sister-in-law Jana and I went bargain shopping at Target's after Christmas sale.  It was so much fun! 
10.  I got see Tauni,  my best friend from college and meet her boyfriend.  It was so good to see you Tauni.  I wish we could have had more time together.  (Next time we have to get a picture together!)
11.  We were able to see the gorgeous Christmas lights at Temple Square.  (Too COLD for pictures)
12.  Lots of good places to eat including: Cafe Rio, Zupas, and Lion House Pantry (my kid's favorite - they loved the rolls and honey butter). 

It was a wonderful trip and we are so glad that were able to go and visit.

Company for Christmas

We were blessed to have several of my family come to visit for the Christmas Break.  My sister Nancy was the first to arrive and my parents and sister, Janet came the Saturday before Christmas.  My sister Betsy and her family came the following Monday.  They were supposed to fly in on Sunday but the flight was delayed due to the wonderful weather we were having.  My family came to California to enjoy the nice sunny weather and that wasn't the case for the first half of the week.  They got to experience the constant rain and wind storms.  My roof leaked for 3 or 4 days while my dad and Trent tried to fix the leak.  Trent stayed home from work on the first dry day of the week and was able to fix it.  We were able to do some shopping and I also took everyone to the Candy Cane shop in Riverside so they could try a fresh candy cane.  They were as good as last time we went.  My sisters and mom and helped me make my goodie plates which was so nice. 

It stopped raining on Thursday so everyone except Trent went to Sea World for the day.  The weather was cool but at least it wasn't raining.  We enjoyed the amazing whale, dolphin and sea lion shows and got to see lots of sea animals.  I tricked my sister Nancy and Janet, my dad and brother-in-law Dave to go on a water ride with Talia and Tucker.  They all ended up quite wet and cold.  It was very entertaining to watch. 

On Christmas Eve day my sister Betsy and her husband Dave took their 4 year old Ella to see the princesses at Disneyland.  They left their 1 year old home with us.  It was OK because his favorite person is Grandma and he was very happy to have her hold him all day.  We spent the day running last minute errands and preparing for Christmas Eve.  We had cheese and broth fondue for dinner.  Betsy, Dave and Ella arrived home just in time.  It was delicious and very fun.  After dinner we acted out the nativity and played the Thimble game.  Even grandpa got wet.  Then we had chocolate fondue for dessert.  It was divine.  My family got our traditional matching pj's and Santa Claus brought everyone a Christmas Eve present.  Grandpa and the dad's got Nerf guns as usual and had the traditional Nerf gun fight.  It was very entertaining to watch.  Tucker was so EXCITED that he wanted to go to bed extra early so that he would go to sleep.  The problem was that he was too EXCITED.  The poor kid ended up laying in bed for 3 hours and was in tears he was so frustrate.  Trent went and laid down with him and he FINALLY went to sleep. I got sick Christmas Eve and Christmas Day but wasn't too sick to join in the festivities.  It was probably due to the lack of sleep and stress from all of the pre-Christmas activities.  I still remember when I was a kid and it took forever for Christmas day to come and now that I am a mom it never seems like I have enough of time before Christmas comes. 

Talia and Tucker didn't wake up until 6:30 and everyone was opening presents by 7:00.  I was excited to see the kids open their presents and they didn't disappoint.  They were very ecstatic with all of their presents.   It was a little chaotic but fun to have may people  here for Christmas.  I don't know how much my sisters liked it because all they got were pictures of their presents because there was no room in the car to bring any of them.  I am so grateful they came to visit us.   Everyone left within 1 or 2 days after Christmas and I was sad to see them go.  There is so much anticipation before everyone comes to visit and then it is kind of depressing to have them leave.  We did have a wonderful Christmas though and are so blessed. 

This is my favorite time of year and I love how focused everyone is on our Savior, Jesus Christ and wish it was like this year round.  We loved receiving the many Christmas cards that came in the mail and enjoy hearing about so many dear family and friends.  We hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Swimming In the Rain

During the 4 days of constant rain Talia and Tucker wanted to play outside in the rain. They had a a great time but then decided that they weren't wet enough and so they jumped in the pool.  What crazy kids!

Ward Christmas Party

Our Ward Christmas Party was lots of fun this year.  There was a huge turnout and we had a delicious dinner and a beautiful program.  There were homemade desserts and a visit from Santa Claus afterwards.  Tucker got to be a Santa's elf and help hand out candy canes that night.  I had to encourage Talia and Tucker to get a picture with Santa and they cooperated.  When they were little they were always scared of him and now they are too cool for him.  Enjoy!

December Happenings

December was a very busy month for us as it is for everyone.  We fit in a Scout Training meeting, Pack meeting, School Assembly, 2 class Christmas parties at school, a Swim Team Christmas party, a Piano Recital and Ward Christmas Party in less than 2 weeks.  I was in charge of Pack Meeting, both of the school parties and was in charge of the Swim Team Party decorations.  Talia participated in a Piano Recital and did a beautiful job.  She also received the Student of the Month award in her class and Tucker received the Coach's award at the Swim Team Party.  We are very pleased with both of them and all of the hard work they put into their school work and swimming.  I am blessed to have some really great kids.

The last 2 pictures are actually from January.  We never got around to decorating gingerbread houses this year at Christmas time and so I bought the large gingerbread men on clearance at Trader Joe's for $.99 for them to decorate.  I think we should do this every year.  The kids loved it and it was easy.

Thanksgiving Trip

It is long overdue and now that Christmas is over I finally have time to write about our Thanksgiving trip.  Talia,Tucker and I went home to Washington for over 2 1/2 weeks.  Trent came for a week.  We split the time with both our families.  We were able to see several members of our family and it was so much fun.  A few days after we arrived in Washington it snowed and snowed and snowed.  Talia and Tucker were in heaven.  They have missed playing in the snow and I am so glad that they got to enjoy the snow.  This could be a really long post so I will highlight our favorite things from this trip and there will be lots of pictures.  The list is no particular order and hopefully I won't forget anything. 

1.  Lots of playtime with cousins.  I wish my children could spend more time with their cousins.

2.  Sledding on Carmichael Hill with Rodabough and Archibald cousins.

3.  Tubing behind Grandpa Dave's 4-wheeler ( it was too cold to take any pictures)

4.  Snowball fight between Tucker and Dad

5.  Making snowmen - two tiny and one huge!

6.  Thanksgiving day with lots of yummy food and fun with cousins!

7.  Making crafts with Grandma Eyvon including edible turkeys and pilgrim hats.

8.  Going to the movie Tangled with the Archibalds.  We loved the movie.

9.  Playing lots of games of dominoes and Golf with counsins, Aunts and Uncles, and Grandparents. 

10. Delicious dinner at Casa Chapala with Jeppsons and Archibalds. 

11.  Making a big leaf pile and having leaf wars with Allen and Kemp cousins before the snow came.