Christmas 2008

Christmas was great this year. We got the tree up, 2 nativity sets (Mom would love that), the lighthouses (of course) and all the snowman decorations. Still not enough room. There is never enough room for everything. One night Dane and I surprised Michael while he was at work and decorated the tree. Dane loved that of course and made sure that he spaced the ornaments out this year.
We also went to the annual Ward Christmas Party and got a picture with Santa. I was glad that we are now past the crying and hating to sit on Santa's lap stage. He knew exactly what he wanted from Santa too.

Ward Christmas Party 2008

Dane on Santa's lap 2005
Dane and I had fun on our shopping adventures I asked him what he wanted to buy dad for Christmas and he said let's buy him a new car. I laughed and said that might be a little too expensive this year. So next he said a new phone laughing again I said what is wrong with dad's phone? He said "He needs a new one." Anyway, I realized I might have to give him some more affordable ideas this time. So we settled on a tool box, which Dane did pick out. We went to our friends house to decorate cookies and write letters to Santa this year. It was a lot of fun and Ali is a great hostess.

Having fun decorating cookies.
Dane had a short list this year for Santa and it was the same 3 thing the entire season, Star Wars Legos 1 (for our Xbox), Hot Wheels race track and Lightning McQueen race track. Luckily 2 out of the 3 had been purchased and so Dane was very pleased on Christmas morning when Santa brought him just what he had asked for.

Dane's big Hot Wheel track. Good job Santa!

Michael and Camille showing off the presents that Dane made. Very creative.

Work, work and wait no more work...for now.

As many of you know I have had some time off as I took a severance package from my employer at the beginning of November, also hoping to get rehired again in the new year. I should say Michael is hoping but I am not so much. It has been great to take a breather though and enjoy more time with Dane. It was also fun to not have the stress of working during the holiday season. This also gave me the opportunity to read the Twilight series. I had read all of Twilight but 50 pgs before I went to see the movie (loved it). I have now seen the movie...well I'm not going to tell. Anyway, it was super good and yes Kamie you were right should have started it a lot sooner. But I did enjoy the entire series (thanks to Morgan's sister Jackie who I borrowed the books from). I'm glad I waited though so I could read late into the night and not worry too much about getting much accomplished the next day. Stephanie Meyer is a great author and for those of you who have read the Twilight series but haven't read Midnight Sun you are missing out. I definitly hope that she continues to write the books from Edward's perspective. It is amazing what you miss out on when it is just going through Bella. Anyway, I did love it and yes I guess I will admit it here for all to see that I am obsessed yep there we go. So here is my favorite picture of the actor Rob Pattison. I had to post a picture and this was the first picture to pop in my head.

Snow much fun but done.

So we got a huge storm this December. It started snowing on a Saturday afternoon and didn't stop until Monday morning about 2am. Anyway, it continued to stay cold through Christmas and snowed off and on the entire week. It was fun for the first couple of hmmm.... days maybe hours, I don't know. It was fun for Dane but we still had to get out and take Michael to work. Costco never sleeps! Luckily it is only 3 miles. However if I wanted the car I had to take him to work. Luckily we have 4-wheel drive but never had to use it. I also found it was a great time to go shopping. No one is out here when it snows. Brenda and I were even daring enough to go up to Talus to Jaime's house for craft night. Not sure if that was brave or stupid but it was a blast. Good times with good friends I'm there. So all in all the snow was fun but glad when we got home from our little post Christmas vacation that it had rained enough in two days to melt it away. The one thing I was most grateful for was that the power did not go out with this storm. I kept thinking bring on the snow just leave the lights on!

This is Dane in what we thought would be the BIG storm that we would get.

This is what we actually got. I had just cleared off the Explorer a few hours ago to take him to work then noticed it had already piled back up.

I tried to convince Dane that it would be fun to go down the slide but he is too smart to fall for Mom's tricks these days.

Thanksgiving 2008 Photo Shoot

This year we went to the Russell's home for Thanksgiving again. We have always felt like they are a part of our family and so we love going to spend time with them. It's always a good time playing games with them as well (I think that is Linda's favorite part). Anyway, we had the regulars turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, rolls, and of course pumpkin pie for dessert. Before we sat down to eat I had Shelly take pictures for us with her awesomely nice camera. They all turned out so cute. She is such a great photographer. This year we have much to be thankful for we have been blessed with so much.

My Opinion November 2008

So I haven't updated my blog for awhile I feel like the last 2 months have flown by and gotten away from me so here is where I want to start. One reason I was holding out is that I had gotten into quite a few discussions about the political issues and especially Prop 8. As I heard things and discussed the issue with others I came across this picture. One I never thought I would ever see.

So I want to share my feelings but as I do so I hope that others reading will understand that this is my blog and therefore my opinion. If you do not like it please stop reading and don't leave me nasty messages for voicing my opinion on my own blog. So I didn't realize how much of an opinion I have on the subject. I do have sympothy for those who have chosen to live an alterative lifestyle. I have family and friends who I care about who are affected by the outcome. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a member of the LDS Church and to have a knowledge of the eternal plan of our Heavenly Father. I have heard others say that the church shouldn't have gotten involed in the political issue however the one thing that we stand for is in defense of the family. We even have a proclamation in the defense of the family that was published years earlier. The backlash that has come against the church is sad to me but Joseph Smith so long ago said: "...armies may assemble, calimy may defame but the church of God will go forth boldly nobley and independent till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

The Things Kids Say!

So my friend Brenda and I took Dane to a movie on Saturday, Madagascar 2 it was hilarious. We had gone a few places together that day and during our travels Dane made some very funny comments as usual. So Dane said, "hey mom guess what? I'm getting married." I laughed and then asked "oh really? So who are you going to marry?" "Emma" he said, with no thought about it. "Then I'm going to wish for babies." Brenda and I laughed and then I said ok just make sure you ask her first and maybe wait a few years. The whole day was great. We had a lot of laughs, Brenda kept asking "hey Dane what do I like to do?" "I like to move it move it!" They played the song in the movie it was so funny cause he would start laughing and dancing. Love it! Later that night Brenda sent Dane this link he keeps watching it over and over. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x3W6hutEj8&feature=related

Halloween 2008

This year Dane had a great Halloween. He decided that he wanted to be Spiderman. He is in Preschool now so they had a party at school and got to frost cookies, decorate pumpkins and play of course. That night we went to the church for trunk or treat and Dane was a little nervous at first but then jumped right in and began to collect as much as he could. It was fun the kids just go in circles collecting as much as they can get. Then Dane's friend Kai invited us to go trick or treating with him around his house so we went to another 10 houses or so. He and Kai really got into the excitement of knocking on doors and even got scared by someone at one door. All in all a good night and of course way too much candy. I gave Dane the option of taking it to the dentist tomorrow to turn it into cash, they give the kids a $1/lb. He didn't want to take me up on that even when I told him that it would buy him 3 Hot Wheel cars. Still didn't take the bait. Anyway, here are some pictures of Spiderman and Wolverine. We got the Wolverine (Michael's favorite) on Saturday for half price. We started taking pictures and he all of a sudden started posing for every shot. Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!!