Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! It looks like we're actually going to survive the holidays. It's been so crazy and stressful to move this month but the house is actually feeling pretty good right now and as of last night we decorated the tree and all unpacked boxes (which is a lot) and unfinished projects (also a lot) have been retired to the garage until after the Christmas break so that we can actually relax and enjoy ourselves. We have had SO much help from our wonderful family and friends and we couldn't have done any of it without their countless hours spent helping us. We're very happy to be here and have been so blessed as a family this year. I'm so grateful for my sweet husband and children and am looking forward to what this next year will bring. We love you all and hope you have a very Merry Christmas. Thanks to my friend Leslie for designing this cute card. You can check out her website at www.sassyst.com.

"No Mommy, Teachers are NOT our honey's"

This is the reason Aidan gave me, while driving him to school today, on why we cannot love our teachers. Where do they come up with this stuff?! I'm still laughing about it. :)

It's fixed!

So I spent the time to load them correctly and now all the pictures are up with the new posts. I've put so many on you'll have to click on the 'older posts' link once to finish them up. I really need to stay caught up with this!

One (of a million) reasons why I haven't been blogging....

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!! We signed the contract on Thursday and hoping and praying that everything stays on task we should be able to close in 3, yes 3!, weeks. Right before Christmas... what better time is there to move? However, we couldn't ask for a better Christmas present either. We love the house and are really looking forward to having a place of our own. Here's a few facts for anyone that is at all like me and wants to know all the details... It's in Spanish Fork, has 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, a GARAGE!, and the best feature- a family room AND living room so that I can teach piano in a separate place then where the whole family is hanging out. It's in a subdivision with a million homes just like it (feels a little like Pleasantville) but we're on a side street on the furthest street north so we just have fields (ok, and the freeway) next to us. Here are a few different angles on the house.

Nice long driveway and cement pad for riding bikes

Behind the garage

Side yard which we will eventually fence off


We are thrilled and terrified and are really looking forward to having a place of our own with some breathing room. I'm planning on getting all of our October craziness on here this weekend and then don't be surprised if I don't blog again for a month! Life is about to get really crazy!

St. George Marathon

We started out October by going to St. George over conference weekend. Every year we go watch my dad run the St. George Marathon and this year was his 24th year. I am so proud of him and impressed by the amount of hard work and discipline he puts into this every year. It was the first time we have ever been rained on (it poured all weekend!) but we still had a great time and love to be able to get away with family.

My Dad is the one waving


Aidan with my brother, Joseph


How cute is that face?!

Fall Break...Day at the zoo

We weren't able to get out of town and go to Nebraska, like we originally had planned to do over Fall Break, but Brett was able to get one day off work and we took the boys to the zoo. It was such a wonderful day! The weather was perfect and not very many people were there and the boys had a great time. We knew Aidan would love it but were pleased at how much Ethan enjoyed it. It was really great to be able to spend a day with just each other- it feels harder and harder to find the time to do that.

I love how their mouth's are the same in this picture

Carving Pumpkins

This was a little more messy and crazy than usual since Ethan was ON the table, but still fun to do!

Halloween

Halloween was so fun this year! I took the boys to my Mom's school parade, we went to Brett's work party and then trick-or-treating. Our ward usually has a trunk or treat but it was so much more fun to go to all the houses in our neighborhood. The boys had a great time and even Ethan caught right on. He'd waddle up the porch in his pumpkin costume and knock and then immediately peek through the glass to wait for someone to come. It only took a couple houses for him to figure out how to pick a treat and put it in his bucket. It was so fun to watch them! Anson and Julia came along and were a big (and creepy) hit as the Joker and his girlfriend (I forgot her name). Afterwards, my parents brought over yummy white chili and I made "mummy" dogs. It was a very fun day!

Our Little Pumpkin! (Don't mind all the bruises on his forehead)



My mom (the dalmation), Anson (the Joker-who looked a little TOO real. It was a little scary), and Julia (his girlfriend), with the boys at the school parade


Rockin' Aidan!

Girls Weekend...

I finished the month by hopping in the car the next morning, after Halloween, and heading up to Park City with my BFF's An'Jalee, Leslie, and Michelle. We spent 2 fun days shopping, laughing, shopping, crying, shopping, sleeping, shopping, swimming, did I mention shopping? We almost couldn't fit ourselves in the car after all our shopping and luggage. It was so wonderful to get away and be with my girls! Thanks to our wonderful husbands for making it possible!

Cheesecake Factory! Yummy!


Our stuffed trunk


Leslie squished into the car with all our bags

A Rare Moment...

We caught a rare moment this month when Brett came home from work and were able to have a few relaxing minutes outside together. These are just a few cute pictures of the boys being themselves.





We have this same picture of Aidan, at this same age, but I don't think its on the computer. Apparently the dishwasher itches to be sat on!

October has been such a busy month! I have a million pictures to post of all the things we've been doing- hopefully I'll be able to get them up this week. I was able to attend the state Utah Music Teachers Conference this weekend and have 2 full days of learning from some of the best piano teachers and professionals that our state, and country, has to offer. I was hesitant about spending the time and money to go but I'm so glad I did. It felt so good to be learning again- I didn't realize that I missed being in school and missed that environment of piano 24/7. I even wondered (for only a milli-second)how I could go back and get my masters. Anyways, I've left motivated to be better and have so many good ideas. Sometimes it feels a little overwhelming to want to incorporate everything and keep your studio's business aspect ahead of what the other teachers around you are doing, but overall I feel like I'm running a really good studio and am so grateful for the education I have to do this. I'm lucky to live in a state where music, and especially piano has such a large culture. I've been able to learn from some of the best of the best and look forward to learning more.

Brrrr....

This morning I got up and ran/walked (ok, mostly walked- but there was some running) 3 miles with my mom in 37 degree weather and it was my idea! So, I'm pretty much the worst exerciser in the world but I was motivated and couldn't let the cold weather stop me. Since I have the worst excuse for running shoes, ever, my heels and feet are all blistered and bleeding. I'm even more proud. We'll see what Monday brings.

What I wish I was doing today....

It's been such a busy week and I am so tired. I could really use another one of these. Anyone want to join me?!

Drill Team Reunion

So... who doesn't relish the chance to relive the glory days?! We had a drill team reunion the first weekend in September and it was so much fun! We had a long practice and dinner with everyone on Thursday night and then Friday night we danced at half time at the Spanish Fork Homecoming game- against Payson. I can't even tell you how goofy we felt but loved every minute of it. It was so fun to get to see old friends again and get out there and strut our stuff. We don't quite move the same that we used to but it was fun none the less. Our advisor has been doing the drill team for 30 years so there were women there from the 80's. Drill team was my favorite part of high school and I was happy to have fun with some of the team again. I'm just glad I'm finally walking normal again. :)

Charlie's Angels? Power Rangers? I don't really know why we did this. An'J? Les?


These two girls are my family and I love them dearly! The best thing I got out of drill are these best friends of almost 15 years (that makes us sound so old!). This picture cracks me up because not only do we have a million pictures of us posed like this, from high school, they all have Shane doing the bunny ears in the background. Thank goodness An'Jalee and Shane got married so we can keep the tradition alive. :)


The 90's group

Rock and Roll Party...

I'm so behind on blogging... I'm going to try to catch up a little. Here are some pictures of Aidan's fun Rock and Roll Party. I've been meaning to get them up so that our family who couldn't come could still see them. We celebrated with Grandma and Papa, Joseph and Juli, Anson and Julia, the Burningham's and the Gleaves'. We had Anson's band come play, which Aidan was so excited about but ended up crying through the whole thing. I don't know if it was too loud or just complete sensory overload but that part of the party was a bit of a bust. Thanks to my awesome brother, Anson, though for being a good sport and providing the entertainment. Once we took things inside Aidan had a great time. The tattoos especially were a hit. They took a bit of scrubbing to get off before church that next morning but all in all it was a success!







Leslie's girls, Jalen and Halle, killed me. They were like Hannah Montana meets Cindy Lauper.


Fun with the tats


What's a Rock and Roll party without a little "Guitar Hero?"


Ethan, of course, LOVED the balloons