New Year’s Eve

This year for New Year’s Eve we invited ourselves over to the Peterson’s Fun Party. Well, we did get invited but we sorta asked when they were doing, so felt like I invited myself. Either way, thanks for inviting us so we weren’t so lame. We had a blast. This picture makes me laugh because we were laughing so hard when they took it. We felt like movie stars or something - we had people taking our picture from every angle. We had so much fun. We really know how to party!!

Jeffrey popped open his grape juice from years past. Like 2005 and 2007. Both good years. Apparently the juice was still really good and not even a hint of fermentation ;)

Not to self: really start wearing a little bit more makeup ;)

New Shoes ~ Cheater Too :)

Okay so these last few posts are so so lame, I know and it makes me feel even worse that I cheated. But I had to cheat to finish out the year.  I’m admitting it - I didn’t take a single picture after Christmas. I just ran out of steam. So I had to cheat and add some stuff that I got for Christmas to finish the year off. Sorry all, hoping to continue this blog for next year.  (Even though today is actually Jan 15 and I don’t know if I have enough pictures for this year so far either - aaaahhhh bleh!)

I have loved looking back through this blog and maybe no one else even cares - but I do.  It brings back happy memories and helps me remember little things that happened through out the year. I’ve loved it and want to continue on, so I might have to cheat to catch up.

It has brought me a great deal of happiness and I hope it will this next year too.

New Hat

Here’s a little funny fact about me. I <3 hats!! Love them. Lately, I’m starting some sort of a collection.  I got one for Christmas too. They’re just fun. 

I’ve not worn them much before for two reasons. First reason, I have a huge head. Serious. I really do. When it says one size fits all, they mean everyone but Cindy :)  Second reason, is my ears. I hate my ears. A long, long time ago my sister called me dumbo ears and it just sunk in too much. I was (still sorta am) such a worry wart. I couldn’t get over the worry that I had big ears and people would make fun of me.

Fast forward about 15 years in the future and look at me now LoL ;)

New Pans

I got new pans for Christmas this year and I'm loving them :) Thanks hon.

Was a little nervous about the stainless steel I have to say. Cause I’m really lazy when it comes to washing out a pan. After taking all the time to make dinner I hate having to take all the time to clean up too - it often sits until the next morning. Why do I do that?!!!

Regardless, so far so good. They’ve been super easy to clean up - even when I’ve waited and easier still when I don’t.

Don’t Fit in My Pants ~ Wahoo!!

Okay so I went to put on my new pants and go back to work today and lookee-lookee. I don’t fit in them anymore. You’d think that might make me sad and it does a little bit because they’re new and I can’t wear them. But I’m excited cause that means I’ve lost weight.

Am I bragging - you bet ya I am!!  Feels good!!  I can’t believe I didn’t post about it before. Started this sugar detox on November 13. Which basically means no sweets, no cookies, no cakes, no treats. No sweets. I’ve tried this before and didn’t make it past the first two weeks before I “fell off the wagon” so to speak. But this time I did it. Even through Thanksgiving - no pie. At first I didn’t realize or see that it was helping. I lost three pounds for that first month. But then, I decided to continue on. I did have a few pieces of candy and goodies for Christmas but since then I’ve been back to no sweets or treats.

Three things I’ve noticed, I feel better. I really do. I have been able to fast (two whole complete meals) I’ve only been able to do that like once before. Serious. And the best thing of all, I’m losing weight.

Okay I’m done bragging now, but just so proud of myself.

Cool Crepe Maker

Berneen and her family came over for dinner tonight. For dessert she brought over her crepe maker. It was fascinating to me. This little cooking machine is so cool. You turn it upside down and swirl it in the batter then flip it right side up and let it cook. You peel up the edges and wah~lah crepes!

Yes, I had two they were delicious!! Thanks Berneen - that was so fun!

Christmas 2011

It’s hard to pick just one picture from today but this seemed to be the favorite one. There was one with Josh really enjoying his lava lamp (thank goodness for simple pleasures). There was one with Zac surprised that Santa got him Sky Rim too. But I couldn't resist this one where Hayden is realizing that he's a spoiled boy - must have been good this year. I love that excited face moment. You can tell that Josh is excited to get it open.  Wish I had a picture with all three of them together, but in the hustle and bustle, I guess I never made them stand together. Didn't have a single one.

I'm always nervous it's not going to be special enough and I'm always pleasantly surprise how thankful and excited they are. Thank goodness, Christmas is finally here and it was happy.

Ice Skating

Today we went ice skating. Well, some of us did and some of us didn’t. Funny how something that’s supposed to be so fun can end up being a lot of work. ;) The kids gave it a good try but overall I think they had fun. I even tried it and forgot how hard it really is. I love to watch other people though. It was a beautiful day to do it too.  This has become a new tradition. We've done it twice in a row now. See how long this one lasts. For now, I love it - makes me smile. :D

Christmas Cinnamon Rolls

Helped Jeffrey make all these cinnamon rolls today. Got his hands in the picture - wouldn't let me take his picture. Usually this event would be entitled Cooking with Jeff ~ Cable Style.  But this time it could have been on PBS. It was actually fun. Reminded me of Christmas cooking with my family. Made this year feel more Christmasy. (Apparently that's not really a word - it's underlining it in red ~ LoL)

We made 5 batches for some lucky ones in the family. Let's see there was pistachio cranberry, cinnamon pecan and cranberry pecan. Really truly, Jeff's cinnamon rolls are the BEST!! (member Ratatouille - seriously)

Silent Night ~ Smiley Night

Had to upload a video today instead of just a picture. Tonight I took Zac to see Abby (cute friend girl of his) sing at her Christmas concert. It was fun for me. I’m such a choir nerd at heart still and I had fun watching her choir group sing. When we came home Zac had his guitar out and to my surprise was practicing Silent Night.  I l<3ved it! He made me smile from ear to ear! Couldn't wipe that smile off my face. Couldn’t let it slip by - had to record him.  <3 it :)

Sleepy Baby

Okay, iPhone picture alert!!  Sorry they just don't turn out as good, but I just couldn't resist. Look at this cute little kitty.

Okay, have I ever told you that I love, Love, LOVE the feeling of a baby falling asleep in my arms?  Well I do, that's one of the things I miss the most about little ones. Miss that so much sometimes. Well tonight when I was playing sudoku on the couch downstairs, Simba proceeded to jump up on me, climb as high as he could and curl up right there on my shoulder and fall asleep.

It was so unexpected and so cute. I loved it! It made me smile and knew this was the happy moment today. (I know, I know - I'm becoming a cat lady) I love it :)

Hoar Frost . . . Happy Frost

I think they should call this Happy Frost not Hoar Frost.  I think Hoar Frost sounds so not magical. But I think hoar frost IS Absolutely Magical.  When I saw it this morning as we went to church to meet with the Bishop, it brightened my morning. I am fascinated by this phenomenon. It turns a cold sorta dead world into a beautiful sparkling place. :D

Gingerbread Houses

We made our gingerbread houses today. I love this family tradition. It's so fun to see what designs the kids come up with. Note to self:  Next year make two extra houses. One for me and Berneen. We had just as much fun helping with the designs as the kids did.

Another funny little thing about this year that you can't see in the picture and I want to remember is that each one of them pried the roof back and threw candy inside for later. That just cracked me right up. I think it started with Annie (Annie!! you make me smile :) so smart - really so smart!!)

Surprise Gift

Okay. . .so you probably know by now, but have I told you lately that I love big rings?!!  I do...and today Jenn brought me this!!

So sweet of her to get me a fun big ring! She knows I love purple and she knows I love big rings. She did so great. It warmed my heart and made me feel so happy.

So nice Jenn, thanks so much for this special surprise gift. Love you.

Whoooo Whooo

Tonight on my way out to the car I heard a whooo ~ whooo!  Almost like someone was hiding in the parking lot making that noise. For a few seconds, I gripped my keys a little tighter and re positioned them in my hand. I looked around prepared for someone to jump out at me.

But. . . . . .then. . . . . . . I heard it again!  This time I could tell it was up high. If you look really close at this grainy picture, you will see it. Right at the top of the church.

Okay, maybe you can't but it's an owl!!  I real live owl. I was like a little kid - I thought that was the coolest thing. You should've seen me trying to take this picture with my phone. It was pretty humorous. This made me smile :D I LOVE LOVE LOVE OWLS - so cool!!

Girls Lunch

Kristi invited me to be part of her girls lunch today and it made me feel happy. We had a lot of fun talking and laughing and eating and laughing some more. Love these girls - they make working worth it!

Thanks Kristi!!

Work Schedule

Okay this is a lame picture I know - but it's the only one I took. It's not the only thing that made me happy either. But this will do for today.  I was just looking at my schedule for the rest of this month and it made me feel happy :D  I have all short weeks left. Wahoo!! :D

Basket Play

This Silly Kitty keeps getting in the gift baskets. Maybe I should get him a basket to sleep in. AND Yes, I am becoming a cat lady!! This cat brings me many smiles. Yay for simple pleasures :)

Eclipse of the Moon

Jeff had been watching the patterns of the moon lately and noticed that we would have a full eclipse of the moon today.  So, when Hayden's alarm went off this morning even though it shouldn't have (cause it was Saturday) we all woke up and stared at the moon. I thought it was amazing and so, so cool.

This picture honestly doesn't do it justice but it's the best one I got. Keep in mind this is a full moon, you can see how it's almost completely covered at this point. We didn't get to see the whole thing get back out but almost. Those beautiful mountains blocked the rest of our view, but we saw most of it and it was amazing!!

Happy Birthday Annie

Annie's birthday was actually yesterday but we got to celebrate it with her today. Happy Birthday Sweet Annie - you are such a Happy girl :)  I love that about you. You always have a smile to give and your smile always makes me smile. You've been a great friend to Josh and to me. I think you are turning into a beautiful young woman it's so fun to be a part of it.

Joshy Loves the cat too

Josh loves this cat. Something I've seen from Josh over and over again is how cute he is with little kids and babies in particular. Well, this cat seems to fall into that "little" category. He is so cute with this cat. He just loves him. It's amazing how very tolerant he is of us teasing him and it just makes us smile :)  Josh was playing with him like a stuffed animal. Folding his arms, making him dance making funny faces with him and giggling and giggling. The even funnier thing is, Simba fell asleep while he was getting this sort of treatment. LoL too funny.

Nativity in the Glen

Emalee invited us to come to the live nativity in her neighborhood. It's called Nativity in the Glen. They really do a great job with it. I think there is a special spirit there. What a fun tradition. I'm glad we got to go. Thanks Emalee :)

New Advent Blocks

Another early Christmas present from Paula (Gma Quick) for our family. She made us these cute advent calendar blocks. I think people are so clever. Paula is so creative and I love this idea. Mandy gave us a darling sock advent calendar garland that I was planning on filling up but never got around to it and these will work just great for this year. Maybe we'll do both next year. Thank you so much we all love them lots!!

Christmas Purse Party Exchange

So tonight was the purse party for the girls in the office.  It was a fun new idea that they had to instead of exchanging presents with each other we'd have a purse exchange. We were supposed to find a purse for $20 or under. Found out that was quite a challenge. Apparently I am a cheap skate and had no idea how much purses really are. But none the less, I found one and got this one in exchange. It turned out to be a really fun idea that made for a really fun party.  Thanks girls

Whipped Cream in a Can

Josh had a science experiment that he had to get done and so we did it today - of course at the last minute. Josh makes everything fun!! This time the science experiment was SUPER EASY and SILLY.

He decided to see which whipped cream held it's shape the longest. Never imagined it would be the cheapest one - Western Family received that prestigious honor.  Go figure.

Cute Christmas Toes

Cute Little Christmas Toes

Candy Cane Colors

Cute

Still Getting Use to Him

Look at this cute little cat!  Oh, I know you are probably all sick of me talking about our new little addition but I love him so much. He brings such happiness into our home. We named him Simba. He's a silly cat - he chases his tail and seems to chase after imaginary things. He hates, hates, hates, a collar! He loves to eat. He is very social for a cat (as I understand it). If you leave the room - he comes and finds you. He loves to be right up in your face especially if you're laying down. He loves my hair (so scary). He loves to lay on my bed.

He’s so cute and brings so many smiles and lots of happiness to our family. I'm glad he found us and I'm glad for the willingness of friends sharing little inspirations to tug at my heart and make me listen.