Christmas Time

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. The kids got spoiled by grandparents. We got lots of party games. We ate lots of food. We saw lots of family (and really missed the ones we couldn't see). We got lots of snow!

IT'S ALMOST CHRISTMAS!

So, my kids are extremely excited for Christmas this year. Sydney is finally old enough to remember Christmas last year and Connor just feeds off her and my little sister's excitement. This was my attempt at getting them to sing for my blog. This is right before bed, so I thought they would be calm enough to do this, but, well, see for yourself.

Here are a few more pictures of all our recent festivities.

Christmas cookies with Grandma

Connor falling asleep on my brother's massage mat that was a gift from his girlfriend

And, some of Sydney's art work from School

a tree

a gingerbread girl

Merry Christmas!

Superman vs Batman

Recently I bought Superman Returns (for $5 at Walmart, go me!) and thought I would revisit it. John and I and a few friends went and saw this movie in the theaters when I first came out and I was quite disappointed. John hated it. It was the most expensive movie at the time and the special effects were quite laughable. So, why did I buy this movie? Well, I am Superman fan (hence the 6 seasons of Smallville in my movie collection) and I just had to give the movie one more chance. I will have to say that the special effects are still laughable, but I really enjoyed the movie. So, this brings me to the argument. John says that Batman is a better that Superman, and highly disagree! So what if Batman can just bring kriptonite and end it all, can't Superman just burn him with his eyes before he gets close enough? Besides, Superman is tall, dark, hansome, super strong, and he can fly. Need I say more? I will agree with John on the fact that Batman is more of an interesting charactor because he isn't perfect and therefore there is more story to work with ( I absolutely love the new Batman movies) but as far as a better superhero? Sorry dear, we are going to have to agree to disagree. I bet you haven't thought about this much, but what do you think? Superman or Batman?

Sigh of Relief

I am done!
Done with Christmas stuff that is. Presents are wrapped, packages are mailed, and cards are out. Now what do I do for the next week? Oh ya, make neighbor treats and party treats. That is a huge project in and of itself! Anyone have any creative ideas for neighbor gifts this year? Don't worry, I won't steal it, my mom and I are making fudge, molasses cookies, and caramel and chocolate covered pretzels. (But, I may steal it next year!)

Friends, Lights, and True Christmas

Last week we had the opportunity to go to Temple Square with some friends and look at all the beautiful lights. It has been quite a few years since I have gone and it was fun to see all the new manger scenes from around the world that they have added. There's nothing like going to Temple Square to remember the true meaning of Christmas!

Charlie Bit me!

My brother showed John and I this video on You Tube that is just so funny. Click here to see it first.

Well, since then, John likes to show it to Connor every once and a while because Connor likes to imitate and sometimes you just need a good laugh!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I just love Thanksgiving and this year we were lucky enough to have 2 dinners! Okay, it was a bit much, but so fun to be with family. First we went to John's brother's and my only assignment was to bring pies, which I failed at. Oh, I made great pies the day before, but I forgot to bring them. Crap. So I was thankful for Albertson's and Marie Calendar.

After that, we ate more turkey at my mom's. The place was packed and I loved it. It is just so fun having most (we missed you guys who couldn't make it!) of our family all together. We ate 'till we were sick and then we played a ruthless game of Outburst. I have to say that maybe John and I need to be on the same team from now on. All the other couples seemed to figure that out, but not us. Unfortunately, John's team killed us the first round and then beat us by 1 the second round. I want a rematch at Christmas!

Things I am Thankful for: (in no particular order and not at all comprehensive)
1. John, Sydney and Connor. What a boring life it would be without them!
2. My mom and Lynn for supporting us through so much.
3. That we can be close to family again. I didn't realize how much I missed my brothers and cousins until we came back.
4. My dad and the relationship we have been able to develop over the last year.
5. Movies, we wouldn't have much to talk about if it weren't for movies.
6. Email, facebook, and blogger so I can keep in touch with all my friends that we miss so much!
7. I am a stay-at-home mom. I am thankful that John and I are on the same page with this issue and that I get to be there for every tear and every giggle.
8. Education, mine and John's. Even though I don't teach, I learned so much that helps everyday and even though we complain about the last 4 years, we grew so much, together and individually.
9. Our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, etc. It is just so nice to have everyone's love and support. That is what this time of year is all about.
10. The gospel and my knowledge of the plan for us here on earth.

Bitter Sweet

I am a little behind in the blogging arena, so I am trying to catch up today.

Last Saturday started out great. I went with some of my family to see the new Twilight movie. I will have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! Okay, the special effects were not that great, but I was prepared for that and I felt that they knew they had that limitation and so they didn't use them that often. Although I don't think Robert Patterson is all that cute, he pulled off a pretty good Edward. He was just awkward, which is how I pictured a vampire tying not to eat the one he loved. I thought Kristen Stewart as Bella was great! They gave her a little more strength in the movie than in the book, which I liked better. I actually think John might like it, as long as he can look past some of the cheesy special effects. Have you seen it yet? What did you think?

The Bitter part came later that afternoon. John's face says it all

Yes, BYU lost to the U! We had some of my family come over for the game and a BBQ. It was a lot of fun, well, until the end. John and I were outnumber so, all the U fans loved gloating.

Next year, U better watch out!

Older and Wiser?

John has had a lot of patients tell him he looked too young to be a dentist, so he thought he would try and experiment:

Can you tell? Does it make him look older?

This was after two weeks of growth and thankfully he didn't think it was him and shaved it off. Maybe it was because his wife couldn't kiss him without cringing?

Children's Museum

Connor and I were able to join Sydney's preschool for a field trip to Discovery Gateway last week. It was probably the smallest children's museum I have seen, but kids don't care about size, only content and there was plenty to do there.

New Hair

Sydney and I got new hair styles yesterday, thanks to my cousin Jenny.

Okay, I finally got the pictures up of John's crash. Check them out.

Rough Week

I'm not going to lie, it has been really hard starting up dentistry here. We knew it would be more difficult here than in another state, but we really wanted to be by family and John got the opportunity to work with a really good dentist in a high-tech office (which if you know John, you know that is something her really enjoys.) Well, John has had a really hard time getting new patients and so it has been quite slow and a little disheartening, but this week was really a rough one.
On Tuesday, he had his sister-in-law in for a crown. He gave her the anesthetic and suddenly she couldn't breath. She had an allergic reaction and John had to call a "code blue" and everyone ran in to help. They had to stick her with an epi pen (which later, she was thankful, but her leg was not) and give her oxygen. The ambulance came and took her to emergency room. She is fine, but it was quite traumatic for everyone involved. The office that John works at has never seen an allergic reaction in the 10 years or so that they have been there. So John was a little shaken up but I guess he is prepared if it happens again right?
So, Thursday comes and it just gets worse. He borrowed my mom's car that day because we were going to use our van to bring home some chairs she just bought. Well, John got in a wreck coming out of the Arby's for lunch and totaled my mom's car. He hit his head pretty good and bruised his left hand. Thank heavens it wasn't worse! Just look
Of course I hyperventilate everytime I see pictures, but I am just so thankful John didn't get hurt worse. It really could've been bad! Oh, the other guy was okay too. John got it the worst. Also, my mom was thinking of getting a new car, so really we helped them make the decision. I think John and I would've rather talked them into it, but what can you do? So let's just pray that next week is better okay?

Last Weeks Snow

Okay, I am a little late. All of the snow is now melted, but I just had to show these pictures!

Happy Halloween!

On Tuesday we had an impromptu Halloween party at my aunts house and made haunted houses. (Hint: if you ever make one of these, don't lick the frosting off your fingers, it is nasty!)

On Thursday we carved pumpkins.

On Friday, of course we went Trick or Treating!

I actually get to eat all this?

This was actually the kids first time Trick or Treating outside and they loved it. As we were walking, Sydney said, "Mom, this is fun! I really like Halloween!" and we could tell because she did not want to go home even after mom and dad were tired.

Moab Trip

We need a truck!



We went to Moab with my aunt, uncle, and cousins and had a blast! Besides all the beautiful scenery
and the wonderful hikes,



my uncle took us on an "easy" jeeping trail. Since we didn't have mega-jeeps (that's what I like to call all the other jeeps we saw), we took trucks. That is why he took us on an easy trail. (I was surprised that this was easy, but I guess the real jeeping trials are scary hard.) I was thoroughly impressed by what these trucks could do! I just kept thinking any minute one the axles would break. I kept looking at my cousin face and he didn't seem too worried. John even got a chance to drive and I think he is now convinced that we do indeed need a truck!


This is my cousin's husband driving. It took him 6 or 7 tries to get up this. Again, amazed it didn't break!

And of course there was some of us who like to, not only hike to the arches, but climb on them (I climbed up Broken Arch, but I had to take the picture). The view up there was incredible!

I took tons of pictures, so if you want to see more, here you go!

Everyone should go to Moab at least 5 times in your life! It is highly recommended.