10 YEARS!!!

How can it be?! Ten years ago today,

I got all dressed up


Met up with this guy


Joined a handful of family and friends


And made it official.


(No great photo with the temple in the background, as Main Street was under serious construction - boo!)


10 years. TEN YEARS OF MARRIAGE! I really can't believe it. It's been a pretty great ride so far and I'm looking forward to the next ten...million! Happy Anniversary Sweetie. Love you!!!

New Bed

Today I am getting a new bed. Saturday we were out and about in Southlake and stopped in at Weirs Furniture. They were having a great sale and we scored on a new bed. We have been waiting forever to find something we liked. For the past, ahem, several years, we have been sleeping on a mattress and hidden bedframe, like white trash. No rails, no footboard, not even a headboard. Needless to say, I am psyched! This is the beginning of FINALLY getting our master bedroom decorated. This is what it looks like, only we got it in cream instead of black.



I am going to punch out the dotted panels and add padded fabric panels instead, just as soon as I decide on curtains and bedding. {giddy}

Happy Tunesday: Spring Cleaning

I know it's not technically Spring yet, but taking down the Christmas decorations always gets me in the mood to do some house cleaning. I am in the process of reorganizing my bedroom closet, among other things, and this is what's keeping me motivated.

Blessed by Brett Dennen
Yesterday Morning by Nina Storey
Wake Me Up by JT Spangler
You Are The One by Meritxell
Love Is by Scott Klass of the Davenports
Sky and the Sea by Lauren Molina
Lucky Day by Erinn Allison
Reasons To Love You by Meiko

Nic Cage As Everyone

Saw this website over at Mindi's blog (love that chick)and laughed till it hurt. Too good not share. You should check it out for yourself, but here are some of my favs:
Nic as Zac Efron

Nic as Willy Wonka

Nic as Vanilla Ice

Nic as Suzy Ormon

Nic as Michael Jackson

Nic as Hurley

Nic as Friends

Nic as Elian Gonzalez

Nic as Buzz Lightyear

Nic as Blossom

Nic as Bob Ross

Nic as Bella

Nic as Baby

Nic as Amelia

Christmas Eve

Last night we went to the Nutcracker Ballet at Bass Hall with friends Joan and Chad.

When people saw our mad skills, they thought we were IN the play. I don't blame them - we're that good.


Today is Christmas Eve, so naturally we had lunch at Whataburger.


And...are you ready for this... it's SNOWING. We are going to have a white Christmas after all.


Considering the fact that it was in the 70's yesterday and we had the air conditioner on, this really is a Christmas miracle.

I'm off to roast marshmallows in the fireplace and nestle my child all snug in her bed so the sugar plums can start dancing. Merry Christmas to all!!!

Merry Tunesday

So last year, I bought this Christmas album and it was totally my fav. Still enjoying it (rather a lot actually), but I've added to it.

This year, I've added picks from this (awesome!)and this. Here is the playlist I keep on repeat:

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by Barenaked Ladies w/Sara McLachlin
Someday At Christmas by Jack Johnson
Song For A Winter's Night by Sara McLachlin
Oh Holy Night by Avril Lavigne and Chantal Kreviazuk
The First Noel by Leigh Nash
Maybe This Christmas by Ron Sexsmith
Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer by Jack Johnson
All That I Want by The Weepies
No Christmas For Me by Zee Avi
Blue Christmas by The Perishers
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by Hem
Guadete by Mediaeval Baebes
Silent Night by Zach Gill
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Martina Sorbara
Green Christmas by Barenaked Ladies
The Man In The Santa Suit by Neil Halstead
It Came Upon The Midnight Clear by Sixpence None The Richer
Sweet Secret Peace by Neil Finn
Christmas Time by ALO

Christmas Cards

They are a beating. I don't know why I do it. Lots of work. No one send me a Christmas card. Seriously. We got one this year - from Craig's Aunt. Now I totally know what Charlie Brown was talking about. But all of mine should have been received by now, so here it is.

Front:

Back:

No...

Yes, this really is the restaurant they just put in by my house. Lovely.

Hallelujah!

I think I've reached a point in the season where I finally have time to update my blog. Christmas cards have been sent, the last gift packages are shipping today, presents are bought, decorations are done. Besides neighbor gifts, I think I only have to sit back an enjoy the rest of the month (and blog). I hope someone still reads this!


BTW - I am back-dating my posts for the last two months for my own journal keeping.

The Nativity Exhibit

Every year, the Colleyville Stake puts on an AMAZING Nativity exhibit. This year, they had over 900 Nativities on display. After we toured the exhibit, we watched the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional. A perfect way to kick off the Christmas season!

Bell Helicopter Day at Six Flags

Instead of a Christmas Party, Craig's work has Bell Day at Six Flags. Not my choice, but no one asked me. So there you go.

And since we paid for our tix ahead of time, we went even though it was FREEZING. But we bundled up and made the best of it:

Santa in front of the chopper at the main entrance:


Hot chocolate with the Looney Toons Gang:


Waiting in line to see Santa:

The big guy himself:

Thanksgiving

We started the celebration early, going bowling the night before. And remember the flamin finger from last April? Well, I rocked it again. While playing around in the bowling alley arcade, I hit the ticket motherload. And that's the 2nd time in a week I beat the flamin finger, believe it or not. Last Saturday, Laurie, Lisa and I went to Etsy Dallas and while waiting for dinner at the Spaghetti Warehouse, you guessed it. Beat the Flamin' Finger AGAIN.


I think I've finally found my spiritual gift.

For Thanksgiving dinner, we joined Rochelle and her family - scrumdidilyumptious! More friends joined us for dessert,


the guys watched sports,


the ladies chatted,

and the kids roasted marshmallows in the backyard.



It was a pretty perfect day. I'm thankful!

New Moon Movie Premier

I camped out with a bunch of my crazies for the midnight showing of New Moon. I enjoyed the movie (better than the first movie, still not as good as the book), but I think I enjoyed the hours leading up to the movie even more.

AJ's Thankful Harvest Program

I feel that I have officially entered the realm of parenthood, now that I have sat through a riveting preschool singing performance. AJ mostly stood there NOT singing, and trying to avoid making eye contact with me.



After the program, we had a delicious feast of cold chicken nuggets and baby carrots. Yes, I am truly a mother now.

AJ, Kenzie & Brooklyn

Game Night

Buffalo Wild Wings is always a fun place for dinner.


Sometimes AJ really gets into it.

Halloween

Craig & I went to a Halloween party dressed as "Indians". I was a dot-indian, he was a feather-indian:


A.J. wanted to be Tinkerbell (from the Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure movie - which came out 4 days before Halloween and 2 days before her class party?!), leaving me little time to construct a costume. She was please with the results, which was all that mattered. I think it was the glitter, ahem, "pixie dust" that sold her.
This is what I had to go on...

This was the result:




We did easy dinner this year - a pumpkin shaped pizza from Papa Murphy's and "witch potion".


Dry ice is always a hit at our house.


Of course we needed to carve a Tinkerbell pumpkin to go with her costume:



After the trunk-or-treat, AJ's friend Aimee and Geoffrey joined us for some neighborhood trick-or-treating.


What a haul! I'm ashamed to say that even this much loot didn't last long at our house. I do love candy.

Family Night Out

We had a fun night at Color Me Mine, a ceramic studio in Flower Mound. AJ painted her own plate, (wish has subsequently made dinner time better for her.)

After we finished painting, we went to dinner at Babe's for some of the best home-cookin' you can find. Oh, my mouth just watered.


Good times!

Her Name Was Lola...

She's my new perfume.

Marc Jacobs has done it again. Ooo La La. This is MY fragrance. It's like it was made for me. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! Plus, how can you pass on the fantastic bottle design?! Makes me happy, yes indeed.

Elementary School Fall Carnival

AJ won't actually go to this school until next year, but we have friends on the PTA who invited us. We had a blast.

Pumpkin Decorating


Face Painting


Duck Pond


Beanbag Toss


Pumpkin Roll


Wiiiiiiinnnnnnnnerrrrrrr!


Digging for Gold


Musical Chairs


AJ's favorite prize (yay for me...)

5K

Craig ran in a 5K last Saturday in support of a local youth getting his Eagle Scout Award. He did great - ran it in 30 min. Way to go honey! AJ and I waited at the start/finish line sipping hot chocolate.



Once Craig finished, AJ decided she wanted to run too and took several laps up and down the sidewalk.

Bliss

Book Orders - one of the highlites of my childhood. When the teacher would pass out the flyers, (and grouchily tell us to immediately put them in our backpacks) I would anxiously fidget until I could race home and spend hours combing through them with my trusty highlighter. The only thing better? The following Friday when I would enter the classroom and find a stack of glossy new books waiting on my desk. True bliss.

Even still, coming home with a heavy bag from Barnes and Noble tops my list. So imagine my shear delight when A.J. came home from school with her first book order. And I may have been a little teary-eyed when she whipped out a highlighter and started circling.

Happy Tunes: Lady Antebellum

I think this album is fantastic! If you like any kind of country, give it a try. If you don't, give it a try anyway. It may surprise you.

Breakfast of Champions

Because of this handy device,

I can literally have a breakfast sandwich, with bacon and cheese, in under 90 seconds. No joke.

And because of this lovely purchase,

I can accompany it with one of my favorite seasonal beverages, the caramel apple spice.

It almost makes me look forward to waking up early. Almost.

Primary Temple Trip

Today the primary kids all got to go to the Dallas Temple. A member of the Temple Presidency came out and talked to the kids in the foyer and the kids all sang primary songs. It was fun for AJ to be able to go inside. It's something that's talked about a lot in our house, so it was good for her to be able to see it for herself.


Mostly, she was just excited to hang out with her friend Aimee.


And it was funny to watch 3 dozen kids try to smile without squinting in the sun!

More Utah Tourism

I think I'm getting close to the end of our summer posts. I rock! I mean, it's only October?!

The ever-exciting Bingham Copper Mine:



Craig thinks you should always teach your kids to follow the rules:


Our favorite curry spot in Downtown Salt Lake:


We attended the Oquirrh Mountain Temple open house:


Ate chinese for dinner that night - AJ was diggin' the giant fortune cookie:


Went camping, aka slept in the motorhome in Grandma's driveway:


Went shooting with Grandpa Nielsen at Eagle Mountain:


AJ tried her hand at throwing pigeons (didn't work out too well):



And shooting was a "bit noisy" for her:


She truly had most fun collecting "treasure" (discarded shotgun shells):


Toward the end of our stay, I escaped to attend BYU-Idaho Education Week with friends:


And also spent a few days in Mesquite, NV with my mom and her friend. (No pics because this is all we were doing):

You've Got Supper

So check out this fantastic website! Simply give them your email address and they will plan out your dinners for the week, recipes AND grocery list. This will save me at least an hour a week. That's 52 hours a year. Just think what you can do with 52 hours...

This Lady Is Amazing!

Have you seen this blog?

Last year she made this - AND GAVE IT AWAY! Go look at the photos, seriously.


This year, it's this.


Amazing. Wish I had talent like that.

A Jolly Holiday With Mary

On Saturday we went to the Mary Poppins Broadway Musical. It was really great. This was AJ's first theatre experience, and she loved it. I think she was a little ancy at the end, but that's a long time to sit still for a four-year-old. But when it was over, she wanted to see it again. She also insited that she would fall over dead if she didn't have the Mary Poppins umbrella and since her umbrella just broke, we caved (SUCKAS!). Can't say I regret it. It hasn't left her hands since.

Happy Tunesday: Chillout

Rock and Roll by Eric Hutchinson
Sunday Best by Augustana
Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Tangled and Wild by Oh Susanna
She Is Love by Parachute
Closer To Love by Mat Kearney
Other Side Of The World by KT Tunstall
Don't Believe In love by Dido
Sleeps With Butterflies by Tori Amos
Big Jumps by Emiliana Torrini
Say by John Mayer

Holy Crap

Truly, there are no words. (Maybe because my mouth is full)

BTW - Why are the best treats always "Limited Edition"? It's bunk!