I bid adieu to a rocky year

I'm so glad it's over!

Well some in the world have already rang in the New year. I wanted to wish everyone a Happy New year and may the best day of your 2008 be the worst day of 2009.

The last few months have definitely been a little shaky for me. I know that with my family and friends and the most amazing husband I will get through it all.

Good things are going to come this year, I can feel it!! Whoo-Hoo! Although I am glad 08 is over I did have some good times.

The Highlights:

My daughter has grown so much. She amazes me everyday. I don't want to brag but seriously she is a smarty pants! (she gets it from her momma)

'08 marked the 1 year anniversary for us.

I hit the jackpot marrying him.

Our cruise to Alaska was fabulous
But I preferred our trip to Mexico.

I don't do well with the cold weather

Friend Ashlee #2 had the most adorable twin girls.
(P.s. I think they love me more than #2's bff- Ashley #3)
I hung out with old friends as well as met new friends.
My new years resolutions?

• New job where I will be able to spend more time with the family
  

• Loose 30 LBS
  
• Surround myself with positive people

Happy 2009 Ya'll!

blog challenged

"Backgrounds, colors and fonts- OH MY!."

As you can see, my blog needs some serious help! I am sick of what ever I can come up with and for some reason every background I have picked does not look like it does in the preview. In my blog it looks like everything is zoomed up and only half the background shows. I just think my whole blog needs a make over. Any volunteers!?!?

Haha and my work wants to send to school to learn all this web design stuff. But I think I am seriously challenged in this area.

Daddy's Girl

Although I think these pictures are adorable...

I think I would have a nervous breakdown if she ever wanted to be a fire fighter. I can't handle having two of my loved ones with their life's on the line.

I'm am always on edge when James does a shift at the FD.

My angel
But I do have to admit, She does look pretty darn cute!

MmMm...I likes Whoppers!

I heard on the radio this morning that Burger King came out with a new fragrance,
This is what I found out about the wonderful scent:

The WHOPPER® sandwich is America’s Favorite burger.FLAME™ by BK® captures the essence of that love and gives it to you. Behold the scent of seduction, with a hint of flame-broiled meat.
Set the mood for the flame to ignite at firemeetsdesire.com

Why in the world would you want to smell like meat you ask?
Well I am here to fill in the answer.

• You could go into a Vegetarian restaurant and wear the stuff to see if anyone would notice


• Spray it and just watch the men fall at your feet
  
• Go to a dieters meeting and watch the pure torture in the eyes
  
• Wear it on your African Safari to see how long it takes for an attack
  
• Spray it in someones house that you don't like


• You could always smell whoppers and never have to eat one
  

What would you use it for?

Santa made an early stop just for us.

A friend had a party on Friday. We had pizza and the kids all played. While they were playing we told all the kids to get upstairs because we heard loud noises on the roof and wanted to do a head count. Turns out, it was just Santa.

Santa had landed his sleigh and just made an early stop since we were all together.

It was great of Santa to stop by, he read the story, Polar Express, and then sang Jingle Bells.

After Santa left the kids decorated cookies but we left before cookies.

Bella was TERRIFIED of Santa. She was shaking so bad. It must be the beard or the fact that she knows she has been naughty. I didn't want to traumatize her so I kept some distance.

Here are some pics from the night. Thanks for inviting us Tori and Ashlee.

This was Bella trying to stay away from Santa.

I think the kids really enjoyed the story.

I tried to get her to sit on Santa but she was not having it.

He was still kind enough to give her a Candy Cane filled with M&M's

And of course Daddy saved the day when we got home.

She wouldn't let him out of her sight.

Bella at 18 months

Bella is 18 months so I decided I better document how she is doing.
This time last year she was only six months old! What a difference a year can make.

• Weight- 22 pounds


• She still is on the bottle but drink from a cup very well (no I don't want a phone call from Jontue or Amanda about her still on the bottle!)


• Her vocabulary is getting bigger. Its getting much easier determining what she wants.


• She some how feels it is necessary to take her shoes off every car ride. She is getting quick at it too. She can have her shoes off before I pull out of the driveway sometimes.


• She is starting to get her independence and learned how to say "NO"


• She walks around in my high heels, purse in hand and baby in the other and says, "Bye" as she walks about the house.


• Her shoe size is 5 in toddler! (Sorry baby, you got mamma's big feet)


• Tantrums have started to show up the past month.
  
• She loves our dog lola. She can't wait to give her a bone everyday
  
• She is going to bed very nicely. Still wakes up sometimes but then will go back to bed. But atleast there is not a fight to go to bed anymore.
  
• She is a fish. She LOVES taking a bath. If I let her, she would spend hours in the tub.
• Now that James leaves before she wakes up, she thinks he is playing hide and seek and will look for him all morning.

This ain't no Festival of Trees-Tree

A little embarrassed to post a picture of our tree. It looks much better in my vision.

You might have to dig deep into your imagination box or file or where ever you keep it, to make anything of my tree. Ready? Dig deep.

Just imagine here that it's the most beautiful tree you have ever seen!

Also pay no attention to the T.V. that James said he would be hanging on the wall, but instead decided to use my file cabinet as a temporary stand.

Everything in this house is a work in progress.

James put the kibosh on the green ornaments. If he had his way it would be all black.

Next year maybe my tree will be pretty enough to be sold at the festival of trees.

But there I go letting my imagination go to far.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Tree

I may have mentioned before that this is the first year I will be able to put up a Christmas tree. I have been known to stress over things that don't need to be stressed about. I am sitting here worrying what colors are going to be on my tree and there are so many options out there. I didn't realize all the possibilities.

My color scheme I came up with= Black, White, and a light green.

I thought I had my choice narrowed down but when I told a few people I wanted black ornaments, "Morbid" was the first thing out of their mouths.

Are black ornaments really morbid? I was thinking it would give it a classic look, Black and white with a dash of green. Please tell me if I am wrong here cuz I don't want a morbid tree for Christmas.

Since I think pictures explain what is going on in my head better than my words, I put together some picures I stole off the internet, Probably wont buy those exact ornaments but I think it gives you the gyst.

Imagine on the tree with some black ribbon or should I go with white ribbon to down play the morbidness? I do like the ribbon on the ornament idea.

I was also thinking I could throw one of these on there to represent the hubby.

It would match very nicely, I think.

What do you think, Morbid or Classic? Do you have any better ideas for a first timer?

Oh and P.S. My tree has alot of empty space any ideas on filler? We went with a cheap tree for a 1st. I think it will make us remember it, or hate it. Either way we will appreciate it when we get a nice one. I'm not to worried about it until I know Bella will keep her hands off.

GGT

I am So, So excited for this movie to be coming out!
I am pretty sure that I will not get the Mr. to go with me so I figured it would be a good excuse to have a Girls Get Together (GGT) The movie doesn't come out until Feb. I maybe premature in excitement, I just can't help it. It looks so good!

He's Just Not That Into You trailer

The Spirited Toddler

I took a quiz to see the temperament of my toddler. This is What I found out about her.

You have a Spirited Toddler:
The Spirited Toddler is extremely active physically, often willful, and may be prone to temper tantrums. She is very social and curious and will point to objects and reach out for them and for other kids early on. This child is the consummate adventurer; she will have a go at anything and is very determined. She displays a great sense of achievement when she accomplishes something. At the same time, she needs very clear boundaries so that she doesn't act like a steamroller, trampling anyone or anything in her path. Once they start crying, Spirited Toddlers have stamina and staying power, so you're in for a long haul if you don't have a good routine going. Given good guidance and an outlet for her energy, however, a Spirited Toddler can become a leader and very accomplished in whatever area interests her.

Wow, really didn't need a test to tell me that my little girl is determined, throws tantrums and is adventurous and get into things.

We bought her an easel for Christmas. The easel has a crack in it and instead of being $30 it was $6 Quite the deal considering it's not even christmas and she has already ruined the thing by coloring on the wood and tray.














I just wanted to set it up and see what it looked like and then hide it until Christmas but considering it is a broken toy I decided I can't pass it off as Santa quality, the elves would never do that to a child.

I didn't think she would even notice the crack in it but as you can see in the pictures, she did.

Thanksgiving Football

We tried to get rid of the extra 80,000 calories we just ate by playing a little football.

Not all would play and I am not going to name any names but she is a red head and is a sister of mine. She didn't want to mess up her hair.

NFL here we come!

Bro and Hubby
Dad and I

Mom and Bella
My sweet angel
She is waiting to catch the football, Daddy's girl for sure

It mostly ended up James and my Brother playing catch but at least we tried right? I was just glad the the snow has melted and we were able to have such nice weather we don't usually get nice weather for Thanksgiving.

Thanks mom for cooking a wonderful meal as always.

Gone but not forgotten

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Sorry for stealing the video off the news, I was having a very bad morning and forgot to bring batteries for my camera.
This weekend was really hard for me. I honestly didn't think it would be as hard as it was. Let me just start by saying that his viewing and the funeral was absolutely beautiful. He was definitely loved. And he accomplished a lot in his short life.

Every time I looked at my friend Becky, I would bust up into tears. May she find peace. There is nothing I can do for her to take away the pain. It will always be there. I just wish I could do something.

After the funeral me and my friend walked back into the cathedral, I walked in and saw his fire gear, I completely lost it, even more than during the funeral.

I see my husbands fire gear every day and yell at him for leaving his gear in the living room. What if that was my husband and he wasn't there one day to fill out his gear, what if that was my husbands gear sitting next to the candles laying there so lifeless. Maybe I am being selfish thinking about my self when Becky and Patrck and his family are greiving. It just really hits home. I can not imagine what Becky is going through right now. My heart and prayers goes out to his family, As well as out to Brian Myer and Craig Weaver's family. I hope they make a full recovery soon.