a bunch...

So we had our Ward Christmas Pary last night~~ super fun (great job Kata!)... Feliz Navidad! We had yummy enchiladas, salsas, and churros. The kids put on a Nativity skit, and Kylie got to be a shepard. Then, Santa came to visit... Kylie ran, so no pictures of that. Although the other kids looked very happy to see him! :)

She did a pretty good, "CHEESE!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is from a bit ago. December 5th is St. Nicholas Day, and it's German tradition to put out a shoe before you go to bed that night. If you're good, you get something... if not, you know to shape up before Christmas.

This is our before picture...

And this is our after picture...

The wagon is really cool~ we go to the mailbox in it. It has a door, drink holders, a cubby space for storage, and seatbelts (thank heavens~ because one of them sits and one pulls, and it can be a bad thing waiting to happen)

Matthew surprised me while I was running errands. He left work and I guess was thinking I was home, but I wasn't. So he left them on the counter for me as a fun surprise. (Now the obvious question~which his dad even said~ "what did you do wrong?" And his response, "he was just being a wonderful husband and buying me flowers.")

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

We spent the day up at Mt. Charleston. It's amazing how just a 45 minute drive will have such different weather... I think the car reading was 29 degrees! There was snow everywhere, and Kylie was in heaven. Kacey was a little unsure, especially when Matthew asked a stranger to hold her for a second because Kylie and I couldn't make it up the steps to get on one of the sled paths. The steps had completely frozen over and were literally a slippery 45 degree incline. It was hilarious... I was cracking up, but I could not hold onto Kylie and pull myself and her up. Matthew had to make a few trips to get us (up and then back down)... what I wouldn't do for a picture of that!

Snow Angels! She just started laying down and doing them, we didn't even know she knew how to do it or what they were. Plus, she didn't care how wet her jeans were. We have to get the girls some snow pants.

Look at that beautiful background!

She was bundled up nice and warm... but her cheeks and nose were still bright red.

After all the playing, we went to warm up and have lunch at the Lodge.

This was the absolute best family fun Saturday!!!

I can't wait to go back... (but we need to get a really cool sled first)

the stockings are hung...

I had to give a big *T*H*A*N*K * Y*O*U* to my sister-in-law, Rosanne.

She handmade these stockings, and I just love them!

There's 8 total... she's so sweet for giving them to us. Thank you so much for the package of the other 4, I just got it yesterday. I can't imagine the time and effort... Rosie you are super talented and I'm so glad Bryan married you!!!

(Kylie's also chirping in that she loves her Aunt Rosie)

Look at that detail and fabric coordination... wow! I just hate buying Christmas stockings, because they are only good until the next kid comes along... (me being slightly obsessive compulsive) I want them all to match, and be personalized, and I can never find one to match what we already had, so I end up buying all new ones... Problem Solved. :)

Flashback Friday

It's been a while since I did a Flashback Friday. Since it's actually raining here today, I thought I'd look back in our files for some snowy pictures. This is our Utah house, 11/01/04.

Snow, what's that?!?!?Christmas 2004, Kylie was 9 months old.******************************************************

Okay, so Matthew's job can be pretty cool. I never know what he's going to call and tell me. He's called to say he's in Nicholas Cage's house (Carrot Top's house, who's not as skinny in person he said), he's golfed with John Elway (ex-Bronco's QB), met a Laker Coach and he gave Matthew his phone numbers (including home phone, Matthew was thrilled because he has hidden dreams of being a Scout) he knows the bass player (I think) from Fuel... he's met some people on Big Brother... etc.etc.etc just really random stuff.... here were just a few pictures from his "excursions."

This guy means nothing to me, which shows my love for sports. I think his name is Ron Jarowski (and I'm sure I butchered the spelling)... I think he's an ex-Eagles QB and now a sports commentator for Monday Night Football. Not sure, but Matthew thought it was pretty awesome.
Yeah... so Matthew calls me to say that he's just hanging out with Jon Bon Jovi. So I'm like, "you cut out, it sounded like you said Jon Bon Jovi." Yup...

(I cropped this picture a bit... Matthew didn't feel the need to be IN a photo with him, so he took a picture of someone who works for him and Jon)

Personal Progress Night

We made dinner for some families in our ward. We had a really great evening.

Thanks Sister Meeks! This is everyone at their stations, working on salad, rolls, yummy cookies or the lasagnas.
My girls were in heaven with all the YW in our house.
Shannon and Emily are starting an ONION eating contest... silly girls! They were hating it afterwards :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, from our feast to yours!

I love cooking for our big meal! I set the alarm for 6:30 to get started, and I made enough food to feed an army... Our "buffet style" menu included: turkey (that just fell off the bone, perfect!), glazed spiral honey ham, creamy tomato parmesan bisque, butternut squash soup, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, German potatoes, stuffing, cornbread, croissants, rolls, pumpkin bread (with a glaze that is to die for!), banana bread, corn, green beans, lima beans, peas, baby carrots, cauliflower, and pumpkin/dutch apple/cherry pies. And get this, I forgot the cranberry sauce in the fridge... didn't realize it until we were doing dishes! Also, those are Sparkling Grape Juices in the front :)

***Are any of you waking up early tomorrow for sales? I heard Target is 50% off all toys. My mom and I are starting our journeys 3:30 am.

the BIG question...

For a long time, Matthew and I playfully battle over who the girls look more like. It's our ongoing thing, that will probably continue to grow with each child. Someone will say, "Oh Kacey looks exactly like you..." and we'll smirk at the other and quietly take our imaginary chalkboard out and tack on a point.

So for fun humor us, and put an end to the competition... Please cast your vote who Kylie and/or Kacey looks more like, me or Matthew. If you usually don't leave a comment, go ahead and leave one (I accept annonymous posts, just state your name in your post) so we can finally come to a verdict. We're really anxious to have the truth come out, hehe.

(I did the look-alike-meter, but both girls favored me so Matthew thinks it's biased.) :)

Turn Up Your Volume!

I can not tell you how proud my husband is of me now. For the past little while, he keeps asking me if I've figured out how to get music playing on our blog... and I've finally done it!

So, here's a quick explanation of why those songs are there and what they represent.

1. Savage Garden: I Knew I Loved You--- Matthew and My Song. Every word of it has been true since the day that I met him.

2. Billy Currington: Good Directions--- Kylie and My Favorite Song. It used to be just my favorite song, but we would sing it together and dance around... so now it's her favorite song. She knows all the words and sings it loud and proud! She requests it everytime we're in the car. Matthew calls home when it's on the radio for Kylie to get all excited and sing it.

3. Alan Jackson: Drive--- The song that was on the radio when we got in the car after my ultrasound and we found out baby #2 was a girl... I was floating on cloud 9, how I was coherent enough to remember the song is beyond me.

4. Lionel Richie: All Night Long--- Kacey and My Song. Her first year of life, that is what I sang to myself to keep the post partum away.... rocking her, night after night (after night) and she cried and cried. One night, I swear I got 20 minutes of sleep... if that.

5. Aha!: Take On Me--- Matthew's Favorite Song. It dates him... you're old babe! He was graduating high school, when I was still in middle school :P

6. Rod Stewart: Maggie May--- We named our dog after this song. It suited her... "all you did was wreck my bed and in the morning kicked me in the head... you stole my heart, I couldn't leave you if I tried." Maggie's had a lot of health troubles, but she's a member of our family and we're in it for the long haul.

6. Heartland: I Loved Her First--- Love This Song. It really hits me having girls. As Matthew says, our girls are not dating until they're 33. Their teenage years should be fun :)

8. Evan and Jaron: Crazy For This Girl--- Reminds me of when Matthew and I were engaged :)

**Part 2**

The second batch:

Kylie's favorite character, Minnie Mouse... and the whole reason we go! Oh yeah... sporting Daddy's shades!
We won "Dream Fast Passes" for a bunch of rides good for all day... we got 4. (Needless to say Matthew was in 7th Heaven!)
This is Kylie's first time driving the bumper cars.
We went to see the Playhouse Disney Show.
Pluto!
Tinkerbell face painting, which I can only assume will be a MUST from here on out.
Long day.
This picture is priceless (like my new stroller... thanks Yaya and Papa!)... Anyway, Matthew went real quick to the ride that shoots you up really fast. The line was short, we were right there. Kylie was heartbroken that she couldn't go too, because she was Daddy's little partner for everything. Crying does not even begin to describe it, "please, take me, take me... I not too little, you're too big!" then Kacey joined in for sisterly support. Everyone was looking at us... it was traumatic.
This was to make up for the ride he went on without her.

D*I*S*N*E*Y*L*A*N*D... part 1

This is the first post of pictures, but I know the gals check the blogs Sunday afternoons :) so I wanted to have something posted for you. Yes, we were the family (everyone sees) that were all dressed alike- festive with a Mickey Mouse on the left corner of our shirts. But we spice it up a bit and color coordinate according to gender. Girls in red, boys in blue (well, Matthew in blue... mainly because I couldn't find his in the same color and right size)

They decorated for Christmas already. They must have known I was coming. I am so lucky to have such a cute family!!! CA Adventure, the next day... coordinating colors, same sweatshirt design.
I have more pictures to post later.
Tired doesn't even begin to describe me right now... but we had such a good time and the memories and pictures are priceless. Kylie went on everything but the Tower of Terror. Kacey's first ride was Dumbo- a family favorite that's for sure.

When you go the an amusement park with my bunch, you GO to the amusement park. Kylie and Matthew go early, like as soon as it opens. Kacey and I stroll in about an hour later... with incessant phone calls from my fabulous husband, "are you coming??? where are you?" Because I'm going to miss something that won't be there after 8:30 am!

Anyway, park hopping yesterday for 10+ hours and I'm beat. Just for clarification, that meant no quick trips back to the hotel... the whole 10+ hours in the parks... and that was day 3.

Word to the wise (lesson learned on our end)... when debating on if you should take the playpen or not... take it. ALWAYS TAKE IT! We decided Kacey would sleep with me, and Kylie would sleep with Daddy... we wouldn't need the playpen. Right? Wrong. Kacey was so out of her element, so overtired, she cried for a grueling 90 minutes (pass off back and forth so our ears could have a rest) until finally falling asleep.

Matthew wanted me to post this, boasting his 650,000 score. That's Kylie's little head popping up on the right, but you can see who was really into it!

I've been tagged...

Sheri tagged me! So keeping the spirit of the other girls, here are 6 things you probably don't know about me...

6. I know Sign Language. I took 2 years in high school and another 2 years in college. I can pretty much sign anything I say. When I was in my "prime," it was like English didn't even exist for me and I could just sign without thinking. My dreams started to be in Sign Language then too. Now I'm rusty, but I'm teaching my girls.

5. I have a degree in Economics from BYU. I love business and math, so combine the two and you get Econ. When my time is my own again (meaning my kids are steady in school), I'll go back and get my Master's. I'd like to teach on the college level.

4. I am a miracle baby. My parents were told by numerous doctors that they could not have children. In fact, they moved to the county I grew up in because the adoption time was shorter. Lo and behold, 7 years later... there I was. That's also why I do not have any siblings.

3. I can't fit into my wedding rings. Two babies later, and I've come to the realization that I will never be a size 4 again. Matthew offered to get my wedding rings resized. But (being the difficult one that I am .... my husband just said "amen" to that!) I prefer white gold now to the yellow gold that I had. So recently we went out and he bought me new ones. :)

2. I am a Grey's Anatomy freak! I can't get enough of Greys, I could watch reruns all day. If you don't watch it, START! I feel like the characters are actually real people in my life. I know how crazy it sounds, but that's my one show that I sacrifice anything for. Everyone and everything must be silent so I can watch it, no phone, no talking, no interrupting. I just LOVE IT! Matthew's a closet Grey's freak, he's in denial but he's into it too.

****I have two #1's****

1. Words cannot express how much I LOVE CHRISTMAS! Everyone has a holiday they love, well mine is Christmas... I love the cooking and baking. I love the music. I love the colder weather. I love the feeling that Christmas is coming. My Christmas trees would be up today, if we weren't leaving for Disneyland tomorrow (and my energy has been going to packing us and the van). But within 24 hours of us coming home, my 6 (yes I said 6) my 6 Christmas trees will be up. We already started last night listening to Christmas music through dinner and then throughout the rest of the evening. (I've gotta say too, Matthew was shocked I hadn't put the trees up yesterday.)

1. I have the best looking husband in all the world :)


That's it!

A House Full of Boyds

Matthew's family is visiting so we spend the day at Circus Circus' AdventureDome. Kylie had the best time riding all the rides! She's gonna sleep good tonight (yeah!!!). Kylie's a Daddy's girl for sure!
We actually bought the video of this ride. There's a small camera on each train taping the whole ride experience! She was smiling, screaming, and loving every minute of it.
This was Kylie's favorite ride, the Frog Hopper. She went on this thing about 8 times, in a row (and it was after lunch). I don't know how she did it.
Kylie loves Uncle Aaron (who's still single... we're taking applications, must be approved by the sister-in-laws first!)
WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Bumper cars was a big hit!Kacey was so good, just watching everything and enjoying the scenary.
Kylie loves her Uncle Bryan too. Although, she was a little scared of the Sponge Bob.

Pucker Up Uncle Bryan! Here's a big Kacey kiss.

The girls with Grandpa, or how Kylie says it, "Grammmpa."

This was on Halloween. Kylie got to wear her Minnie Mouse costume to Preschool, then REFUSED to take it off the rest of the day!