10th Anniversary

On the 30th of December Jason and I celebrated our 10 anniversary. It was a Wednesday, so Jason had to work. But to make it special I made us dinner pork borritos (recipe of Miste and Dennis) and spanish rice. Dillon was our server and brought us our chips and salsa, along with sparkling apple cider. Then he brought us our dinners and dimmed the lights, lit candles and took Elleree and Truman downstairs to watch there X-Box movie (Red Box). It was sooooo cute, and Jason loved it. The kids stayed downstairs the whole movie and didn't disturb us.

Then, this weekend Jason took me on an adventure. He told me that we were doing nothing for our anniversary so I was very surprised. He packed the kids up for the weekend at Grandma Kay's House (thanks Kay) and we were off. He did everything that night, that we did the night he proposed to me. Took me up to the pillars at ISU, dinner, ice cream and then to Lava Hot Springs to soak in the pools. He then checked us in the a bed and breakfast (we did not do this the night he proposed to me;)) in Lava, (lions gate manor) the rooms were all themed. We had the medieval chamber. You should see the furniture in this place it was amazing!

The Medieval Chamber

http://www.lionsgatemanor.com/

The next morning we ate breakfast, I have never stayed at a bed and breakfast before, it was really fun. Jason had arranged to the two of us to have messages. It was the best one I have had(not that I have had a lot). Then we drove back to Pocatello went shopping, met up with some friends from college and went out to dinner with them. We went to Sherlock Holmes at the theater and then drove home. We spent the rest of the night just relaxing without our kids. What a wonderful time we had.

I love my husband so much. These past 10 years have been great! I have been blessed with a partner that can still make me laugh and cry (but at least he makes me feel and there is something to be said about that) He has given me three beautiful children, that are my life. He can surprise me still, and I can honestly say that I am happier now than when we were first married. I love his willingness to take care of us, even when he hates his job. I love his honesty and integrity. I love his dreams, and his willingness to pursue them even if sometimes they are a little crazy. I love what a good father he is. I could not have asked for a better husband, father, lover and friend. Thank you Jason!

New Year's Eve 2009

New Years Eve, yeah baby! Jamie and Tonya had us over for Christmas Eve, we returned the favor for New Years Eve. Minus the good cooking, it's called pizza and root beer floats. We had a blast. We played Beatles rock band on the Wii. I have to say I am the best singer ever. The kids liked it too. We played some other games and just relaxed until the bewitching hour. Truman and Elleree crashed before then. Morgan a 15 month old stayed up in a drunken stupor until 12:05 then she literally crashed, it was hilaroius! Happy New Year!!!!

Our Beatles band. Jamie on base, Truman and Tonya on drums, Jordan on guitar, Dillon back up singer, and Addessa lead singer.Miss long legs Morgan is out of there.

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009 was spent with Jason's family (although it seems I didn't take any picture...with them, don't ask me why) These pictures where all taken at our house Christmas morning. We opened presents, ate waffles and strawberries, bacon and eggs. Then I went back to bed and Jason proceeded to get the kids ready for the day. I know I am the best wife ever! Oh wait..... Jason is the best husband ever!

Christmas was incredibly difficult for me this year. It was the first year that I didn't get to see any of my family before or after Christmas. It is also the first Christmas I have not been able to see my sister at all. I really missed them all. I know your thinking grow up, and I did.

That being said Jason's family was wonderful. We opened presents at their house, and then went over to the Church where Kay had prepared a wonderful meal. We got to eat all together. Only one of Jason's brothers and his family were missing. We played basketball. Michelle (my sister in-law) and I played against Josh(7) and Dillon(6) and I am happy to say we won (it was close), and no we are not pathetic! The rest of the day was spent lounging around John and Kay's house shooting the breeze and playing games. It was a good Christmas!

I am thankful for My husbands family and how loving they are. I am grateful that they are willing to treat was as a daughter, and take me for who I am!

Elleree pushing her new baby and stroller around.

Dillon opening a present from mom and dad. Apperantly we suck, we only got him books or cloths, thank goodness for Santa!

Elleree trying to see if she can poke her eye out with her toe and sit in the stroller at the same time. It is possible!

Truman was pleased with all of his presents. Dillon was pleased with all of Truman's preasents too.

Christmas Eve

This year we spent Christmas Eve with our friends Jamie and Tonya, and their 3 kids. It was a ton of fun. Tonya normally has a big party every year for her family, but this year only her dad was able to come. So we invited ourselves. She makes some mean cheesy potatoes. We had tons of junk food, and played a game. The game was really kind of fun. It was a game where you are running for president, and in order to get the electoral votes from each state you have to answer questions correctly. Questions about the Presidents, Constitution, History of our nation.......it was hard, and the only reason why I did well at all was because not long ago Jason and I watched a 5 hour long PBS special on John Adams. It was really good, and it gave us a ton of answers about the founding fathers, and the start of our nation. The kids watched movies and played the Wii. It was wonderful! Thanks Jamie and Tonya!

Here are the kid in there new PJs

New Tree

Pictures after and before, I still have not gotten this blog thing down. Anyway, this is a cute little Christmas tree I found at a hobby store, it grows. The kids loved it, they helped spread the branches, and put the "magic water" in! It only took 12 hours, and lasts for like 4 days. It came with glitter, garland and star to decorate it with. I thought it was way cute. Enjoy...;)

Good Times

Last night my family (everyone but Jason, and Allison and her family) went out for our traditional "Dinner and a Movie". We go every year and this year was no exception. We ate at Red Robin and it was a very tasty meal. Then we hoped on over to the Theatre to see Planet 51. We ended up being about 30 minutes early, so I just let the kids (Dillon, Truman, Pierce and Elleree) run around in the lobby for awhile. I told my mom that I needed to go to the bathroom, so she watched the kids for me while I went. When I came back all hell had broken loose. There was a huge pile of vomit on the floor and all over Truman. Elleree was being kept away from the scene, because everytime she came close she started to gag, and the employees were asking if we wanted a bounce back pass. This happens way too much to us!!!!!!

We had to explain that my kids were not sick, but that Truman suffers from asthma, and that if he runs around too much he coughs and throws up. It is, what it is. We then had to take all the kids to the bathroom to clean him up. Unfortunatly Elleree got too close to Truman and ended up throwing up all over the floor and herself as well. It was fabulous! The employees love us there! We went to the movie anyway and it wasn't too bad, maybe a little smelly, but not too bad. Jason's take on the whole thing "man sometimes I'm glad I have to go to work".

Nothing Much

I just realized it has been forever since I last posted. I have been trying to get ready for Christmas, shopping, baking, mailing, cleaning, ect. I have also been sick with some sort of mutant head cold that refuses to go away.

Jason and I have also been busy trying to get his pharmacy thing off the ground. We are trying to come up with a good name I want, We Be Drugs and Shit, but Jason says no......I don't know why. Anyone else have any ideas? We came up with a design for the space that we are going to lease. Jason has been working really hard to secure financing. It would be really easy if our land in Mackay would sell. Anyone want some land? We were giving auntie C a hard time when she was here that she is supposed to be the rich aunt, what is up with that! It's a good thing she is so cool!

The kids are doing well. Elleree is reaching that tantrum phase that my kid always go through. It last for.....wait Dillon still does it......I will let you know. A couple of days ago she had a complete melt down in the middle of the Alberson's parking lot. I had two people ask if I needed help. Yes, I am the best mom ever!
Truman had his Preschool Christmas program tonight, I took pictures but am to lazy to post them. What does he do in preschool "nothing", ever.
Dillon is doing swimingly. We had parent teacher confrence about a week ago, and he did very well. Plus the teacher told Jason and I that we must either travel alot, or expose Dillon to alot. We were confused, she could tell, so she elaborated. I guess Dillon is very well rounded....yes I know. He knows lots of words, and other things (mostly about food, j/k) that other kids do not. It made Jason and I feel really good, for about a second. No really it is nice to hear sometimes that you don't suck!

Well hopefully we will have a very uneventful Chirstmas!!!!!

Christmas Cards

My Christmas cards are now officially finished, all 50 of these babes. I know they look kind of like Christmas in India, but if you can believe it, the gold paper was the only Christmas paper left in Idaho Falls. Don't think I didn't look. I guess people are making their cards in October now. I really need to rethink making them every year. It used to be no big deal when we were in College, we knew like 5 people and they were all related to us. Now it is a bit harder. I still have to address all the envelopes and get all the pictures together and send them. I am slowly checking off my Christmas to do list!

Jason's Stocking

Jason's Stocking is finally done. It took me a month to cross-stitch it. I was kinda bummed though, when I hand washed it, you are supposed to do that after you are done, the color blue bled onto the white, and yellow. You can sort of see it in the picture that has Jason's name. So it doesn't look at good as I would have liked. I now have Dillon, Truman, Elleree and Jason's done. All I have left is my own. Maybe by Christmas.

Tree

After Thanksgiving this weekend Jason wanted to go get a tree. This is the first time we have ever cut down our own Christmas tree. Usually we just go buy one, and I think in a couple of years we will just get a fake one. None the less we went on an adventure to get a tree up the Mine Hill. I told Jason that these trees are very ugly, but that did not deter him one bit. He hunted and hunted, I say he, because I didn't even get out of the truck except to take the picture, and finally found one. By that time Truman and our dog Chewy had come back to the truck, because they were cold. The tree is not too bad, okay it is super ugly. But it only cost $10, for the tag, and the kids enjoyed it (Elleree was asleep in the truck with me).

It brought back memories of when I was a kid and my parents cut a tree every year. Some were worse than others. I remember if they had a bare spot my dad would just drill a hole in the trunk and stick a branch in it. I also remember when we would look for them we would always spot one and my dad would say it was too big. We had no concept that the 20 foot tree would not fit a 9ft ceiling. We also didn't see why my dad couldn't just climb the tree and only cut off what he needed. So no matter how ugly the tree is, it was a good experience for our kids they love the tree! Who knows they may end up with memories of their own, probably of how their mom kept saying how ugly the tree was.

Turkey day

This year was such a great thanksgiving! All my siblings were able to make it with all of their kids, except Pierce. Heath and Emilee brought Emilee's parents and Grandma and Grandpa Vaden were able to make it too, so we even had a few extras. I was nice to be all together, no fighting (not even our kids). My mom did a wonderful job on the meal, including extras for my dad and grandma that were Glutin free. Arron and Jason took the older kids out shooting pumkins later, so they were out of our hair.

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I am truely greatful for my family. I love each of my siblings so much, and although it may not seem like it some times, all I want for them is to be happy! I love my parents and am very grateful for all the sacrifices they have made for me, and how much they still do for me and my family! I am grateful for my grandparents. I am so blessed to have grown up so close to them. I am thankful for the realationship I have with them, and the wonderful advice and insight they give to me!

Busy Weekend

This last weekend was very busy. We had Allison, Arron and their four kid come and visit us. Eli my new baby nephew was blessed on Sunday, so we had everyone from their two families over to the house on Sunday. It was nice to see everyone!


Truman and Elleree both got sick on Saturday at the wrestling tournament I took the kids to. So after the tournament I had to take Elleree to the doctor. On Monday we went and had the 9 grandkids pictures taken. They were all there, which doesn't happen very often. They turned out very cute. These are pictures of Eli and my mom holding Elleree and Paisley.

Forever

It feels like I have not posted forever, but it doesn't feel like I have been busy. So I decided to catalog all the things I've been doing other than the usual housework....

I have been working on cross-stitching Jason's Christmas stocking, while listening to PBS a ton (I will post pictures when it is done),
read two books (Lance Armstrong and The Thirteenth Tale),
cleaned all my M&M dispensers (I know right),
went to two movies (Time Travelers Wife and Bright Star, both of which are not very uplifting), babysitting other people's kids a lot( of coarse they are other peoples kids, if they were mine it wouldn't be babysitting),
Putting up Christmas lights (Jason is afraid of heights, but loves to do them)
Taking Dillon to wrestling practice (I am so taking pictures and posting those too)
Going over spreadsheets, business plans, etc. (Jason is trying to open his own pharmacy, anyone have extra money they have lying around they could give us?)

Hope that gives you an update on what is going on around here. I will post more later!

Best sister

Do I have the best sister or what! She designs all my blog headers for me. This one I sent her pictures (courtesy of Jaclyn Davis Photography, she rocks) and she just puts it together for me. She does it all, in between painting her living room, taking care of her 4 kids and her crazy social life. My sister is the best! Thanks Alli!

It all fits

These picture are mainly to prove to my friend Lori's husband Fancois that all my kids toys do fit into the cabinets.

These before and after pictures really show you what I have to deal with on a regular basis with my kids. The trash everything!

My mom and dad built these cabinets for me. The work really well, and I am so luck to have parents who are willing and able to build things for me. Thanks mom and dad!

Halloween 2009

Every year I have a Halloween Party. This picture is of Truman trying to hit the pinyata (I can't spell). We had lots of food, a scavenger hunt, decorated cookies, made spooky picture frames, had a fishing pond, and had a pinata. This year we had a ton of people, it was a lot of fun. Mostly just family, but we have some friends come too. I missed a lot of my friends, and really missed some of my family that could not make it this year.
My friend Lori and her son Xander. She made that costume for him "gasp". She was such a trooper. These are all the pictures before the party, because once the festiviest start, I am too busy to take very many. My poor kids!
Heath and Pierce, he was cracking me up with that wig.
Emilee and Heath, how cute are they?
Truman, Bumblebee one of the "Transformers" he really got into it.
Dillon, as one of those "Star Wars" guys. What are they called? Anyway, I really liked playing with his gun. Jason had to take it away from me. I guess it is pretty annoying if your not the one pushing the button.
All the kids.
Elleree was a little lamb, and she was soo cute. I got the costume on cleance, and bought it because I did not think she would wear anything for very long. Boy was I wrong, she loved her costume. She kept it on the whole night. Plus it was super warm for trick or treating.
My mom made up goodie bags for the grandkids, the boys got wax mustaches. Way funny.

It's a Pumkin Thing

First we had to clean out the pumpkins, Dillon was the only one willing to touch "that stuff".
Dillon decided that he wanted to do his pumpkin all by himself this year. He did a pretty good job, I think.
Truman, on the other hand picked out a design and opted for me to work out the details. He did help a little, as you can see here.
Finished product, not too shabby if you ask me. I love to decorate pumpkins!