We just did the "IT"S CHRISTMAS EVE, YEAH!!!!!" dance. Now we are headed skiing to get some of that energy out.

Although I am tired of cleaning up its needles, I sure am going to miss it when it is gone. Merry Christmas to all!!!

scattered thoughts paying rent in my brain

-How all the fallen snow has Will convinced that Christmas is in fact here and that he should be allowed to open the presents under the tree. And the argument that insues when I tell him no. -How when Elli asks for a drink of water, she asks for 'ice cold water'. This comes from Grandpa Steve. I can't even begin to count the number of times I made him ice cold waters when I was little. It is the only way I like to drink it now. -This one goes all the way back to the Wasatch Back race in June. How we didn't offer good support to one of our teammates during her most difficult leg and she bonked. I still feel bad about that. Happy weekend!

texas in review. part 4

Thanksgiving arrived and...

everyone ate this

they did this

she did this and this(can't do that in Utah)

we did this (I had sexy blue eyes and Courtney got her first ever request for a unibrow and fu-man-chu)

I did this (ate outside and in short sleeves, can't do that in Utah either)

Thanks to Courtney for doing A LOT of peoples awesome face art. You are sooooo talented. I wish I could have included every picture of that day, but with 35 people, there just isn't a blog big enough.

That night we slept soundly and woke up to the fun all over again. We enjoyed our last day with the Ripp fam and managed a girls outing to the American Girl doll store in down town Dallas for a little shopping and dinner at the bistro.

Then we woke up at 3:30 the next morning and drove back to our homeland. And home. Which I love and missed.

And, thanks Haley and Mom for taking care of Chloey while away. I could tell she really missed us, her trademark smile and crooked body wag gave it all away.

texas in review. part 3

Our first day in Dallas Cowboy country went like this.

Just in time for the family picure planned for that evening. I guess we captured Will in his truest form. On a good note, we spent the day playing with long-lost cousins and visiting with long-lost family.

texas in review. part 2

Our first destination, out in the beautiful hill country of west Texas, finds us doing this for a few days....

texas in review. part 1

Shiprock, New Mexico

Mid way through our first day of driving, we ended up in Shiprock and had a roadside picnic. Turned out to be one of the funnest moments of the whole trip. I love it when happiness is found in the most unexpected of places. Amongst the dirt roads and sage brush.

The 1700-ft eroded volcanic plume was the perfect back drop for a fam shot.

Everyone getting out ALL the wiggles.

A rare moment. Publicly anyways. How could we resist when Elli grabbed the camera and wanted a picture of us k-i-s-s-i-n-g-ing.

We're back. And we all survived. When I get a few moments between unpacking, laundry, christmas decorating and work, I will tell you all about it. It was so much fun...with so much family.

happy turkey day ya'all

There is some catching up in the posts below. I am going to be away from my computer for a while. Because... In approximatley 33 hours we are piling in the sub and braving the road trip to Texas. A last minute decision. Something that has never been done. Something that may never be done again. We are in for 1400 miles of driving before we reach our first destination in Fredericksbug, Tx. When we get there, I will be thankful for dvd players, activity sheets, naps, dvd players, treats, gas station pit stops and dvd players. Did I say that already? However, I know once I get there, I will be thankful for a safe trip, getting to see every single member of Jake's family at the same time and having my cute little family around me.

After some friends stopped by for carmel apples on Sunday night, when Elli was down to the count with a headache, I found these adorable letters from their two oldest (girl age 9 and boy age 14) children. As if I didn't already know how great these kids were...

Elli plans to leave a thank-you note for the next time they come over. And not be sick.

the car wash experience

If you have never been thru a car wash with three over-excited 4 year olds, who are coming off a morning of preschool and are desperately in need of a good lunch, here is what it looks like.

Luckily, you don't get to experience what it sounds like. My ears are still ringing...a week later.

A new, 6 inch shorter do=less snarls and tears!

I worked today. Well, of course I worked, I am a mom. Let me clarify...at a job that I get payed $$$ for. Putting up Christmas, yes already, at a restaurant here in town. Working with my girls, after an almost 3 week break, was fun and good therapy. As it always is.

However, coming home was even better. Laying on Elli's bed watching her show off her new dance moves (thank-you camp rock), all the while hiding my laughing smile under her quilt so as to not distract her.

Then I traded places with Jakey. So that I could cuddle on the couch with Will and tickle his baby-soft back. It is soooooo soft. While he watched a little Star Wars and tried not to giggle.

Not even an reminder about yoga could pull me away. And, they were going to do headstands in class. Headstands. Life is just to good at home.

how do you know it is only 18 degress outside?

when everyone is gathered around the heat vent,

anxiously awaiting the next round of hot air.

happy halloween

the pumpkins...

our pumpkins...

hope you all had as much sugar and exhaustion as us.

good-bye candy, hello book fairy!

The last few days have been absolutely perfect, thanks a whole lot to the weather. Cool, crisp mornings followed by warm (68 perfect degrees), sunny, blue-sky afternoons. We are taking advantage, I hear changes are coming.

Will and Stryder. Two wild men. In need of energy releasing/zapping activity. A scooter course. Of course.

Elli and Eliza. Two girly-girls. Lovely bracelets. Made with chestnuts found on afternoon stroll.

what the?

I found this as I was loading some videos off Jake's camera and I am not sure why I can't quit staring... Is it the stunning back-drop to this picture (somewhere between Green River and Moab, Utah)? Or is it the ballet-inspired (I think) pose and the fact that someone is taking a picture of it? I think I'll keep staring for a while...

halloweens gone by

2003-my little monarch

2004-pretty in pink and an only 12 day old will

2005-shark boy and fairy girl

2006-jo-jo and a handsome cowboy

2007-a witch. a dragon. a gimp

it is so much fun to look back and see how great the years have been to us. 2008 should be no different, check back with us on Halloween for this years great adventures. only 3 more days!

-i couldn't find elli's first halloween when she was only 9 months old and a spider. She was decked out in all black and looked more like a bank robber than an acutal spider. it was adorable. if I can locate it, i'll post it.

today i...

• was showered and dressed (in normal clothes, not gym clothes) by 8:30 am. not a normal occurence.
• made will take off the clothes he wore all day yesterday by convincing him that his new wallet would hook to another pair of clean pants.
• took birthday donuts and cider to preschool for will's birthday party, that was actually on monday. oops.
• got to spend the morning all alone with elli. we had coffee and cocoa with friends, shopped for birthday gifts, and hid small, feel-good fortunes for strangers.
• took the kids to the fun park and let them turn in their tickets for just candy if they wanted. elli did. will opted for a ninja and a frog.
• came home and vegged. the kids watched a movie while I read a book.
• fed the kids cereal for dinner.
• went to my parents and gave the kids a bath in the hot tub and then my dad curled them up on the couch in front of a halloween show so that we could actually visit for a few minutes.
• crawled into my comfy chair at 8:15 with my computer to catch up on blog reading and posting.
• decided that i still want a new camera. not a good one. a really good one.
• will hopefully be asleep in a hour. just like chloey. we have a parade and birthday party tomorrow.