Christmas 2008

I haven't posted in a while now and I have lots of pictures to share- I will start with Christmas!

Christmas Eve, Carter and I rode TRAX train downtown and went to Temple Sqaure! It was sooo fun and really cold! Carter loved the lights and we talked a lot about the temple. We also watched the Nativity presentation. Carter was fascinated! It was a great way to be reminded of the purpose of the Holiday season. I think this will become a Christmas Eve tradition for years to come!




We headed home and picked up some Chinese takeout for our Christmas Eve dinner. This is a tradition we did for a couple years when I was a child and I loved it! Carter doesn't really love Chinese but he really enjoyed the Sweet & Sour Chicken and Fried Rice. I had the Kung Pao Tofu and Potstickers! Yum!





We had a great Christmas morning; The highlights? Carter got a Leapster2 (a educational hand-held gaming system) and I got from Carter a Sonicare toothbrush! What a thoughtful boy, huh? (Thanks Ma!) We went and visited Nana and Papa, then Carter went to his dad's for a couple days. That weekend, we went to visit Carter's Grandma and Grandpa at their cabin. It was beautiful with fresh snow! We had good food, good conversation and a great snowshoe outing! Carter was absolutely spoiled rotten and we had to fill an entire duffel bag chuck-full of gifts! Oh, and Carter got to go on lots of rides on the snowmobile and snowcat with Grandpa!






All in all, Christmas was a happy and memorable time for us!

Imagination

I just told Carter he had to go potty and his exact words to me were:

"I caaaan't. You will flush me down the toilet! And that would not be good!"

Christmas Surprise

My former MIL and FIL surprised me with a GORGEOUS, brand new, shiny washer and dryer. That's right my friends- a high-efficiency, front-loading washer and dryer. I cannot even begin to express my love for these things. It was only a week ago that my one day off was devoted entirely to doing laundry at Mom's house. Not anymore. I can throw one load in at night and wake up to clean clothes. I no longer have loads and loads to do at one time. It is a beautiful thing!

Jim & Carol, Thank you a THOUSAND times! I LOVE them!

Breakthrough!

So, I finally did it. I asked a man out. Ok, I kind of asked a man out. Really, I did not ask him out, but I left him my number so he could hopefully ask me out. I will update as soon as I something to update about!

Frugile, Frugile, Frugile and PROUD!

I have a new obsession. It is online shopping. Yes, I can lie in my bed in my pajamas AND SHOP! I discovered this recently (even though I have been working for an online skincare retailer for almost a year now-hmmm, go figure!) and it gets even better!

You can google coupon codes for bukoo savings!! Yes siree!

I came across this website (you can find in my list of favorite websites) called Couponseven.com. Holy smokes! I found a coupon code for 30% OFF my purchase... That's right THIRTY PERCENT OFF!! I got Carter a hand-held educational gaming system and I saved like 50 bucks! Oh I am so stoked! Michael, I am sure you are just beaming right now with my Frugality!!

Carter and I had our pictures taken at a orchard in Provo. The talented Wendy of Bluelily Photography did an INCREDIBLE job with Carter and managed to snap a plethora of amazing pictures in just 20 minutes- even with a wardrobe change half-way through!

I am so excited! I just received the proofs today! Unfortunately, I can't post the pictures to get help deciding which ones to choose (really I have about 30 to choose from!). But, Wendy did put some on her blog so I will post them here. Enjoy!

Congratulations!

To Mom & Michael!

I had the wonderful opportunity to be able to attend their Temple Sealing. It was an amazing experience. I haven't sobbed like that in a while!

You two are a incredible example of what a marriage should be- I can only hope to find someone to share that kind of love with!

I love you!

We LOVE Halloween!

Wow! Halloween 2008 was extra exciting! We had lots of different festivities going on this year and we barely made it through! By 10:00 on Halloween night, I was practically comatose.

This was the first year Carter picked out his costume. I was slightly nervous at first at the thought of him picking out his own costume- it left me feeling a little out of control! I have always dressed him up in the cutest, cuddliest costumes I can get my hands on... so what does he pick? The most un-cuddly costume ever... BATMAN! I'm not gonna lie... He was ADORABLE! See for yourself!




We started out the week with our Ward Halloween Party, which somehow I got roped into being in charge of the face painting. The kids loved that! I did have one boy ask me to paint a penguin. That was kind of weird. Funny story though- Carter was hanging out with this little boy from the ward and the little boy asked me if I was Carter's sister. I told him that I was his mom and be looked me up and down with a disgusted look on his face and said, "I have never seen a mom that looks like you." Not sure if that was a compliment or not!

Then the night before Halloween, Carter helped me make my costume. He got way into it saying things like, "Oh Mama. It's beautiful." and "You will be the cutest paper doll ever!"



Halloween morning, I woke up at 5:00am to get in my costume for work then I dropped Carter at school at 6:30am and went to work. I left work at 10:00 to go watch Carter in his school parade. Unfortunately, my camera battery died so I couldn't get any pictures of that. Went back to work where we had a fun Halloween lunch (soup in breadbowls- yum!) and had a costume contest... and GUESS WHAT?! I won!! I never win anything! I won Best Costume. It was pretty exciting! My favorite costume by far was Waldo (AKA Dan the Man). I tried to work for a little bit after that but I could barely contain my excitement. Then we were able to invite our kids to come trick or treat at work. It was so fun! Carter came and was loving how easy it was to get all that candy! We did see Flash along the way so we had to get a quick picture of a couple members of the Justice League!



We went home and met Carter's dad for a little trick or treating around the neighborhood and then we headed to Dad's for a Halloween spread. I love that family tradition! Seriously, its one of my favorites! Dad, you are gonna be hosting that one for a long time to come! We ate good food, talked, laughed, had an all-out wrestling match with all the neices and nephews on the front lawn. That was hilarious! Andrea and Jayson didn't dress up for the first time in years- so disappointing! I have a vague memory of Jayson in spandex and a 'fro and Andrea with incredible facial hair and a kilt! They usually are the King and Queen of Halloween. Well, maybe next year, huh guys? And to finish of the night... there was the Mullet. Stay tuned for a future post on that one.