Coolest picture

My mom and grandpa. Love the classic feel of this photo!!!

My Christmas...

I spent my Christmas wrapping presents for my in-laws. It took about 6-7 hours to get them all wrapped, but it was pretty fun and satisfying to see all the presents under the tree and know that I wrapped them all cutely. Then...the mass carnage began. All my work...ripped to shreds. Tis the season to be destructive. :)

Mike spent his time entertaining Kaitlin and Abby, two neices. They are the sweetest little things!

I don't have pictures of my family's side of Christmas, but it was crazy, and fun! Hope you all had a great one!

Awkward....

Why is it that this cuteness on the right....

Can so easily turn into this awkwardness on the left?

My poor children.

Merry Christmas...

Enjoy the time you get to spend with family, and do what makes you happy! Have a very Merry Christmas!!!

Call the Fashion Police...

The sisters - Evelyn, Irene (my grandma), and Cleva. Their mother (and my great-grandmother)- Grace. Although I'm sure it's not the case, it looks like Mama Grace is embarassed to be seen with these true fashion divas...

At least they've touched on all the most popular fashion styles- animal print, polka dots, and...paint splatters?

My girls...

I was just recently released from Young Women's. I really am excited to go to teach the 10-11 year old girls, but I am truly going to miss my young women. I've never met such an amazing group of girls. They love each other, stick up for one another, and try to do what's right. I admire them so much. These are just a few of them- Rebekah, Hannah, Julianne, Adria, and Paula. They're all so different, so unique, and I feel so privileged to have gotten to know them. Aren't they wonderful? (And how dare they look so gorgeous at CAMP of all places?!)

Why, oh why....

...does this dad have that creepy look on his face??

What were they thinking?

I doubt I've ever been more frightened than the last few minutes of looking at these vintage ads. First off, get that kid some braces. Second, why is he so happy to eat hot dogs and spaghetti?

If that were my kid, I'd sleep with my eyes open and a bat by my bed.
The thing that really scares me about this is the hungry look she's giving her mother's hand. Unnatural....and frightening....

Worries...

Things can change in an instant. Up until now, that thought of becoming a mother has been nothing but fun, exciting, and hard to comprehend, but today...today, I'm nervous. A mom! I've never been a mom before. I have a great one, and know so many great ones and worry that I won't be able to live up to that. I worry that I'm going to wake up to a baby with a 103 degree temperature and not know what to do. I'm afraid my kid's going to be unhappy. I'm afraid to be a bad mommy! I worry that I won't know the answers to their questions, that I'll forget to do their laundry, that I'll name them something stupid, that I'll forget to kiss them everyday, that I'll accidently forget to feed them, that I'll get frustrated, that I'll be one of those "yelling mommies in the store", but most of all, that I'll forget how important my job is....that I'll not live up to this amazing, eternal, and terrifyingly humbling experience that's awaiting me. I think I need my mommy.

27 years....

I'm grateful for 27 years of...

family...

freedom...

dreams coming true...

and me...

Because, most of the time, I really like me. And I'm glad to be here.

Happy Birthday, Me!

Woes and Wahs!

Ok, so the baby isn't pressing on my bladder. It has somehow swam up to my eyes and keeps repeatedly stepping on them to make me cry. Seriously. I'm a crier from way back (not a town crier, but a regular-type) but this is getting a little out of hand. Somebody call the Wah-bulance, but quick.

fussy baby....

My child HATES roast beef. It's the one food I still can't keep down. This is not a good sign. I may have a picky eater on my hands. But then again, it would serve me right. I was the worst when I was younger. Blasted karma....

Just can't help myself...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

My favorite duo...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

christmas info you don't need

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Leave your answers on your blog or email it. Thanks for the idea, Jeanette! :)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, especially when I use cute little fabric ribbons and crepe paper... It makes me ridiculously happy. There are some bags that are so cute I have to clap when I see them, however.
2. Real tree or Artificial? REAL TREES! I always had a real tree growing up. Anything else and I may cry....3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as I can after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Usually after New Years Day.
5. Do you like eggnog? No, besides....Mike and Zach would beat me down if I tried to take it from them.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? When my mom gave me banana stickers. But for Christmas, I would have to say when I got one of those stupid holiday bears with the year stamped on the foot - I thought that was freaking awesome.
7. Hardest person to buy for? The boys...including my husband.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Jeanette or Amy
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Not yet.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail!
11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? a broken glass candy cane last year from a girl at work...wait, that was a Christmas present, but whatever.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I would have to say....I love them all. Elf, It's a Wonderful Life, PeeWee's Christmas Special - I love Christmas movies!
13. When do you start shopping? Usually after Thanksgiving, but I seriously haven't started.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, lots of times. Especially when it's from a Secret Santa or something.15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? I actually don't stop eating around this time of year....Breakfast!!! Cinnamon rolls, egg and sausage bake thing, and hot chocolate - nothing beats Christmas breakfast at Moms.16. Lights on the tree? Absolutely, although one year at Mike's, Caroline put on so many lights, she had to wear sunglasses because the lights were so bright. It was the brightest tree I have ever seen!!
17. Favorite Christmas song? Anything but the Del Rubio Triplets singing Sleigh Bells. I think I will have a nightmare tonight just from writing that....
18.Travel at Christmas or stay home? A little of both. :)
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzin, and Rudolf-the-taunted. Look, I'm better than Ernest....
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? We don't have one yet. We haven't been able to find one that doesn't creep one or the other of us out.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas normally but since we've been married it's been whenever we can get time together. :)
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? When there's no snow or because it doesn't last long enough!
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Hodge Podge - I love knowing where all the ornaments come from and getting them out each year. It's the best!
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We never had Christmas dinner, really - mostly breakfast.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To know the gender of my cute, healthy little jellybean!!!

First comes post...

I know you've been dying to read my first post. Well, here it is! I don't know if it's just the pregnancy hormones, or if I'm just an over-emotional mess, but this movie made me cry like a little kid the other night. WHY was I crying you may ask? Because of all the trouble he was going through? Maybe because everything turned out so happily in the end? No. I cried because I love George Bailey so much, and he isn't a real person. Yes. Seriously. Irrational? Yes. Maybe even a bit crazy? Definitely. But at least I can blame it on the little jellybean.