Christmas

Christmas this year was great! Here are a few pictures of our holiday:

The traditional acting out the nativity, starring:
Parker as Joseph, Jane as Mary, Ryan as an angel, and Jordan as Baby Jesus

Jane got a new night gown and LOVED it! She kept saying "I always wanted this and it's PINK!"

Ryan was a little mesmerized by all the yummy treats in his stocking, he eventually got to his presents

Ryan got a new vacuum. He loves it and I love it because it actually has a little suction! Now he can do all the vacuuming I usually do everyday!

My mom gave us all hoodies this year, so this was our attempt at a family hoodie picture. Jane was having some issues with who knows what.

We spent the day visiting family, eating, and opening presents, how could it get any better?! The next day we left for Vegas for Jeff and DeAnne's wedding. It was a crazy weekend, but so much fun! It was like a second Christmas when we came home and the kids actually got to play with their presents. Hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a Happy New Year tomorrow (and try to have a little fun tonight too!)

Christmas Sunday

We went to church with my parents on Sunday. My mom was singing in the choir and my dad was on grandkid control. Steve, Crissy, Parker, and Jordan came into town on Saturday, so they were with us also. This first pic is Jane holding her cousin Jordan, who is a hefty 6 month old!

Here is one of my parents with all their grandkids

Here are the cousins: Parker, Jane, Jordan, and Ryan


Jane and Ryan

Our family

Lame, I know

It's now obvious to me that I'm not getting actual Christmas cards out this year, so this is your Christmas card. Sorry, I'll try to be more on top of things next year.

Merry Christmas!!

Polar Express

We went on the Polar Express the day after Thanksgiving. We went with a big group of Jeff's family. Jane loved it! Not the Santa part, but getting to sit with her cousins and riding on a train was great! Ryan is squirmy and he doesn't like to sit, but he wasn't too bad. It was freezing outside, but warm enough inside, plus we got some rich hot chocolate!

(I don't know where Ryan gets his huge teeth from?!)

Jane and Jeff's cousin, Ashley:


Jane, cousin Lucy and cousin Emily:

Santa

Sorry to disappoint everyone this year with a decent Santa picture. We would have one similar to last year with 2 screaming kids, but I guess Santa didn't want to try and hold them down for a picture. SO instead, they "suggested" that Jeff and I be in the picture. Uh, wasn't planning on a picture. I would have at least unrolled my jeans and worn shoes instead of my stand-by, running out the door flip-flops. Oh well. Jane was going to be very brave for Santa, but as soon as it was our turn she started screaming and shaking. I guess I shouldn't want to torture her, but the picture would have been funnier! Ryan started crying as soon as Jeff put him down. I never know if Ryan is crying in reaction to his psycho sister or actually to Santa. Jane gets to see Santa at her preschool, so maybe we'll get a better picture then!

Vent

***WARNING: If you don't want to hear complaining, don't read this***

I recently started to take a cycle class at the gym on Monday mornings and I love it! It works you so hard and the teacher isn't scary (I've only heard about scary teachers that teach cycling classes). BUT, here's the thing I need to get off my chest: passing gas during class is NOT OKAY!!! I do not like to be working out and continually have a foul smell clouding my air. This is especially applicable when we "hover" on our bikes which means we are head to booty with the person in front of you. I mean please, push yourself while you're in class, but not to this extent!! I'm sorry if you have issues that make it hard for you to not fart when you're working out, if this is the case, the cycle class at 5:30 at the Orem Gold's Gym is NOT FOR YOU. And while I'm venting, it would also be helpful if everyone follows the instructor and does not obnoxiously bob around on their bike for the entire class time. It makes me dizzy. Thanks for letting me put that out there!

Real Men Sparkle

and do they ever sparkle! I saw Twilight last night at midnight and I don't want to say much about the movie b/c I don't want to ruin it for anyone (and everyone) who will be seeing it. But I will say it was funnier than I expected and it is worth seeing if you're a true twilight fan. I went with Sarah, DeAnne, DeAnne's friend Alisha, Jamie and Cori. We didn't all sit together and I wish we could have so we could have kept DeAnne and Alisha awake! Huge THANK YOU to DeAnne and Alisha for getting there early and saving our seats!!!! Here are Sarah, Jamie, Me, and Cori:




And here is a vampire we saw:


I don't usually ask to take pictures of random strangers, but she looked really cool. Plus if you go to the effort to buy colored contacts, I'm sure you don't mind a little extra attention, right?

And I don't know how this picture happened, I think my camera took a picture by itself from inside my purse or something:


Just wanted to throw that one in there for you Jamie!!

And randomly I want to send a birthday shout out to my little bro today, Happy Birthday Jeff!!! And now my rambling blog is done!

My Ryan

Happy Half Birthday to my funny little baby!! He is now 18 months old and he is looking more and more like a little boy every day! I'm mostly excited he can be in nursery now - woohoo!

#249

I did it! I finished my triathlon! My friends, Cori and Carlie, and I have been training for the past few months for this. Carlie wasn't able to participate due to a wedding, which was very sad for her. But Cori and I were able to compete and finish, who knew right? I didn't place very high at all (35th in my age group), but my times were right where I hoped they would be. My 3.1 mile run was 29 min., my 10 mile bike was 41 min., and my 300 meter swim was 6 min. It was fun participating and interesting to see how it worked with transitions to each event and all. Now that I've rested, I can say that I would do it again maybe.

This first pic is me on the bike in my new run/bike outfit that helped me go really fast! This 400 S. hill was almost the death of me!!!


This is at the transition station while I am transitioning from the bike to the swim

This is me after I was all done!!!


And here is Cori and I after the race

Twilight's #1 Fan

I just ordered my tickets for Twilight's midnight showing at the new University Mall theatres on November 20th!!! I can't wait!!! And I'm hoping someone will want to come with me :)

Love It

I picked up this little Swim Lap Counter & Timer the other day at PocoLoco swim shop and it is amazing!!! It fits on your finger and you just push the button after you complete each lap. It tracks your time and # of laps. At the end of your workout it tells you how many total laps, total time, average lap time, fastest lap time and slowest lap time. I love it love it love it! No more trying to remember how many laps I've swam. Just wanted to share for all my swimmer friends out there - you need this!

Happy Halloween!

Jane was a kitty cat for Halloween and Ryan was a puppy. They both looked adorable and Ryan even acted like a little puppy! With some last minute alterations, their costumes were perfect! We had a fun Halloween week. We started with a Little Gym Halloween Party. It was too crowded but the kids loved it.

Then we had the ward party, also fun. Jeff and I had some last minute throw together costumes. He was a pirate and I was a panda. Lots of people at the party thought Jeff looked good with long hair, so he might try and grow it out now, what do ya think?

I used Jane's toy panda bear as my artistic inspiration

Last night was so much fun taking the kids trick-or-treating in warm weather!!! Both of them loved getting candy and giving it out too. Ryan would often hold out his bag and trick-or-treat to the people who came to our door. Most of them were nice enough to give him candy!! Ryan got a sucker at his first house and was set for the night. I didn't check, but I'm really hoping their costumes are machine washable. Jane woke up this morning asking what we were going to do for Halloween today, sorry chica, you have to wait a whole year for that one!

Prints Prints Prints

Jane gets to pick what to wear Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. She also gets to do her own hair these days. I get to pick out her clothes and do her hair on the other days, which somehow just happens to work out that those are her preschool days and church! Carlie gave me that little nugget of advice and it has worked wonderfully! Today Jane chose her own outfit and I thought it needed its own post. Please don't submit her to What Not To Wear just yet! Let's give her a few years to see how her sense of style turns out!


And some for fun:

Curly Hair

Today Jane wanted curly hair for preschool, like her friend Mackenzie. So after I had already roundbrushed it, I got it wet and put the curlers in. It came out cute, but I didn't have time to take a picture b/c I was rushing to get us to preschool, until I checked the calendar and saw that it's fall break, so no preschool today! When I was teaching, I used to make fun of parents who sent their kids to school on teacher development day or other holidays. I always thought, how do you not remember that your kid doesn't have school?! Now I am starting to get it!

I found the camera and tried to take some pictures, but Jane kept running away from me saying "I not having my picture taken! NEVER!!!"

Here's what I got:

TAG

10 years ago I:

1. had just graduated from Cy Fair High School
2. was starting my freshman year at BYU
3. was sad my family had moved to Utah (and a little relieved to have them close by!)
4. was having the best time ever with the coolest girls of 144 M Smith
5. had all my stuff in storage

5 things on today's "to do" list:
1. make jello for a BBQ
2. make a chip dip for the BBQ
3. do dishes
4. clean off kitchen counter - yikees!
5. finish the laundry I started on Monday

5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Magleby's chocolate cake
2. Great American Cookie Company cookie cake & double doozies
3. Paradise Bakery cookies
4. Pizza Factory's cookie sunday
5. Diet Dr. Pepper (better be diet w/ all those desserts!)

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. pay off our mortgage
2. buy 2 new cars
3. maybe invest in one of Jeff's crazy business plans
4. get a permanent Friday night Nanny
5. go to Hawaii, or maybe have a house in Hawaii

5 places I have lived:
1. Orem, Provo, and Salt Lake City, UT
2. Houston, TX
3. Casper, WY
4. Anchorage, AK
5. Seattle, WA (one summer)

Five jobs I have had:
1. Mommy
2. Teacher
3. Lifeguard
4. Little Gym Instructoer
5. Phone Surveyor

I tag...everyone on my blog list

Rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 or more people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

Ryan's Latest Dr Appt

For those of you (like Grandmas) that are interested in the stats, here are Ryan's from his doctor appointment today:

Weight = 21 lbs. (5 %)
Height = 31.75 in. (59 %)
Head = 18.25 in. (22 %)

I would say I don't know what's up with my light-weight children, but I do. Jeff is their Dad!

TEXAS!!!!

We went to Houston this past weekend! Originally it was for my 10 year reunion. Then because it sounded like nobody was going, we were going to go down to hang out but not go to the actual reunion. Luckily that was what we planned on because they cancelled the reunion (without notifying anyone!). So we mostly just got to go see some of my favorite old spots and spend time with some of my favorite Texans!! We stayed with my friend Jenni's mom and hung out with Jenni and her family a lot. Sorry, there's a ton of pictures!

Here is a picture of my old house. It looks pretty much the same except for the green paint color (what is it with me and green houses?). There wasn't too much visible hurricane damage, just a lot of debris and some knocked down fences.

Here is the pool where I used to lifeguard!

Jenni and I before the football game. We haven't seen each other since her wedding almost 7 years ago, but it was like we were still in high school - so much fun! We enjoyed a little El Gallo before the game!

Jane and Mackenzie (Jenni's girl) wearing their mums that Jenni made them! It's a Texas high school homecoming tradition.

The homecoming game was at the new stadium. It's crazy how huge it is! Gotta love Texas football!

The girls watching the game. They loved each other from the start and are now BFFs! They could not be seperated and held hands the whole weekend! Too cute!

The Brigade (Cy-Fair's drill team) lined up at half time to present the homecoming court. Yes they used the same hilarious fanning moves and the same fans that I used over 10 years ago!

Jenni knows me too well and got a cookie cake and some kolaches for my stay!!! Mmmmmm!

On Saturday we met Erica for lunch at JB's. I had some delicious brisket!!! We ate good food and were able to catch up on the past 10 years!

This the only picture I have of mine and Jenni's kids -
Mason, Mackenzie, Ryan, and Jane

Saturday night Jenni's mom babysat the kids so we could go on a double date! Jenni and Justin took us to Shogun, a Bennihana's type place. It was yum!

And what weekend in Houston doesn't end in wrapping a house? Jenni and I still got it!

Didn't we do a great job?

Erica's parents moved out to an airplane community, so on Sunday we went out there and Jeff and Justin got to go flying - that's them!! It's an amazing little set up of houses with their own airplane hangers and a grass runway strip for a backyard!

On Sunday, we also got to see my friend Beckilyn. It was great to see her and hopefully she thought so too, despite the kids terrorizing her house! We had soooo much fun while we were there. The airplane rides were terrible both ways, but it was worth it!! Hopefully we can do it again soon and not take 7 years to get back there.