My Birthday "Weekend"

So my very wonderful friend texted me and told me she wanted to take me to dinner and a movie for my birthday. Oddly….very oddly….enough I wasn't in the mood for a movie. I know…I must have been crazy. But maybe it was because I REALLY wanted to go to Kisho's Japanese Restaurant for dinner. So we headed over there for the most yummiest food I have had a in while. Seriously, why don't I go there more often? (Already planning a date night there with Paul for our Anniversary). Anyway, the food was amazing…oh wait…I said that. The company was pretty awesome too. We headed to the mall afterward and did a little shopping and then since it wasn't really very late, we stopped at Yogurtland for some frozen yogurt and sat and chatted until the store closed. Or close to it. It was such a fun night and I think I got a few more wrinkles too (Thanks Tina. You're the best!). 

Then bright and early the next morning, these two girls were crazy enough to get up (yes I monopolize my friends on my birthday) and try out some archery with me. Of course we were trying to channel our inner Katniss. And I think we did a mighty fine job at it too. I found a free class down in Van Nuys area (literally blocks from where I use to live and yet never knew this place was here). The first part was safety instruction and then we each had a one on one with an instructor and then they let us lose to try it on our own. It was a pretty crowded morning, but I had a really fun time. The class was about two hours long so afterward we stopped at The Habit for lunch. I have some pretty awesome friends. 

Gotta love this look Becky was giving poor unassuming Tina. I don't think it was intentional (or maybe it was), but either way it was pretty funny!

The instructors all had some pretty intense bows. One guy even called us "newbies". Okay, which is true, but still. The way he said it was rude. Luckily he was the only jerk there. Everyone else was really nice and helpful.

That night Paul and I got to go out too. We ended up at Black Angus for dinner and then more shopping. I was pretty wiped out at that point (I think I had eaten 4 straight meals out) so we headed home kind of early. Of course I took no pictures because Paul's not much into picture taking. But we had a great night and I celebrated a ton. Turned out to be a really good thing because the next day (my actual birthday) as I was getting ready for church, I started feeling not so great. I laid down and decided I wasn't going to get up. So Paul came and picked up Callie and the girls for church and I stayed home with the boys and slept. I was feeling well enough by evening, but not great. So it was a pretty chill night. It was still a really great weekend though and I felt pretty lucky and spoiled. Here's to another year. Sheesh why can't I still have birthdays, but quit aging at this point. Would be nice!

A post Christmas Swim

Hey…why not? It was a beautiful day in San Diego the day after Christmas and Uncle Steve heated the pool and hot tub just for the kids. And if it was a tad bit warmer, I would have gotten in too. But it was still a bit chilly for me and I was recovering from the tremendous amount of food I had consumed the few previous days…so,  I don't think my swimsuit would have liked me anyway.

BUT the kids had an absolute blast and I had to keep Carter from getting in "one last time" before we left.

It's always a bit of a drive for just a day visit, but we always have so much fun going down to see Uncle Steve and Chelsea and we hope to get back down there again soon. 

That's my brave little swirl of red head going down the slide first there.

Once Ashlyn determined it to be okay, Leah quickly followed.

Mostly the kids hung out in the hot tub. It heated up faster than the pool.

Christmas Came

We made the kids wait until we came and got them to go downstairs. Leah was chomping at the bit, but she was good and waited. Carter popped up quite cheerfully and announced, "It's christmas day" but Brandon wanted to sleep a bit longer. A little coaxing got him out of bed though and we were all heading downstairs by 7:40am.

Everyone should have a Leah on Christmas morning. This girl can't contain her excitement. It's so fun to watch.

Carter was THRILLED to get his "big buzz lightyear" from Santa and quickly got the big Emperor Zurg to go with him with the money he got from Grammy and Pop Pop.

Paul got the complete works of Calvin and Hobbes, which he was way excited about.

And Carter wasted no time busting out his finger paints in the kitchen.

Callie got to be with us in the morning which was really fun for us and hopefully for her too. She got a few little odds and ends from us and some gift cards, but her parents got her new ugg boots that she really wanted and they went to Disneyland for two days as a family. I was jealous. I wish I could have snuck in her suitcase.

Ashlyn got her desk, which she couldn't wait until we carried it upstairs for her so she could set it up the way she wanted. And Leah got her roller skates and spent pretty much all day in them.

Brandon got his remote controlled helicopter and enough legos to last him for a good while. I'm always amazed at how well he does at putting lego sets together all by himself. I love how he thinks. 

And I got a nap….ah…..it was lovely. 

I also got a watch I really wanted and some clothes and other things from my fabulous hubby.

We spent the day in jammies, lounging around and I made a ham and cheesy potatoes casserole with leftovers from the night before. It was yummy and low key and I loved every minute of our day together. 

Merry Christmas everyone. Is it too soon to start counting down for next year?

Christmas EVE

Christmas Eve was lots of fun. It started with OT for Carter, but after getting home I got to baking. I made red velvet cake and cut out sugar cookies for the kids to decorate for Santa. I put a ham in the crock pot, a turkey in the oven, and got the rolls out to rise and then started setting the table for the night. Heather came over around 3, we let the kids play and decorate cookies and then the missionaries came over at 6 for dinner and the nativity story. Everything went really smoothly, the food was super yummy. I was a happy momma. That night after the kids went to bed, me and Paul and Callie (who yay…got to be with us on Christmas after all) watched my favorite Christmas movie, The Nativity Story. It was a nice day and we went to bed excited for Santa and the festivities that were coming the next morning. 

This little girl is TOO cute for words.

Nice job Leah. 

Letting the girls ride around on the power wheel.

Opening a gift from Uncle Ty and Aunt Heather. They sure spoiled us.

Santa CAME! Hooray. The kids are gonna be SO excited.

And apparently he left in such a hurry that he didn't close the fireplace door.  He also left a crumby cookie mess on the tile. Boy that Santa is a busy guy on Christmas Eve.

AR Awards

All three of my school kids got 150% of their AR goal and got an award and medal at the school assembly. I don't know if that'll happen every trimester, but I was sure proud of them for making it this time.

Interesting story. Each of my kids assembly was at a different time in the morning. Ashlyn's was first, then Leah's right after that. While sitting at Leah's assembly, I got a text from Paul saying his alternator had gone bad and he had called AAA to follow him to a repair shop to get it fixed. I had to rush out after Leah's assembly, pick Paul up and drive him down to work. I then turned around and had to rush back up home to make it to Brandon's assembly in time. I was sweating it the entire time because one….I was extremely low on gas (which is VERY rare for me), and two….there was a lot of traffic. I literally made it to his assembly less than 5 minutes before it started. It was quite a crazy morning, but I sure was glad I made it back in time. I would have felt so bad if I had missed Brandon's first ever school award. Carter was a trooper the whole time and I was really proud of him for behaving so well during all three assemblies AND the long drive back and forth from Paul's work.

That night, we got to have Kylan, Khloe and Kamron over while Ty and Heather were at a Christmas Party. Leah's a great playmate and kept the girls happy the whole evening. Here's a quick shot of them chilling on the couch together watching a movie.

Two Parties

The kids and I went to Elijah's birthday party earlier this month at Jump 51/50. The kids had a blast. We sure love that little Elijah. He's pretty popular in our house. 

Too bad I didn't take more pictures.

The next night was the Relief Society Christmas party. It was a progressive party where groups of women went from house to house and then everyone ended up at Sister Snow's house together for dessert and a Christmas message. I got to stay at Tina's house with her and help as guests came and went from her house since she was one of the host houses. We had fun coming up with cute Pinterest ideas for appetizers. I think they turned out really well.

But the hit of the night was the photo booth Tina set up. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and got into the fun of it. Me and about 5 or 6 of us ended up staying at Sister Snow's house until about 10:30 pm chatting and laughing and having a good time. It was a great night.