Fun Night with Cousins

Monday night we had a fun night with a few of my cousins and their husbands. It was so fun to get together because I hadn't seen them in ages. We weren't able to go to the family Christmas party this year and missed seing everyone. We decided to get together at our house cause it is kind of the middle...not really but it worked. Melissa and Brian showed up first followed by Marci and Matt. We all sat down and started to talk but soon realized that we are hungry. We made Matt call and see what their specials are and then call back when we figured out what we wanted. Then we made all the boys go and pick it up cause it was super cold outside. The original idea was to play some games after eating our delicious pizza, but we ended up spendind the whole night just talking. I love how we can talk for hours and still not run out of things to talk about. Before we knew it it was almost midnight. The time always flies when we get together.



Thanks for coming over! It was so fun to catch up on life and just be able to see each other. I can't wait till we can all get together again...whenever that may be. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Friends Night Out - Tradition

Last Saturday we had our traditional friends Christmas night. We decided to go out to eat and then come back and do present and hang out. Once we all got to my mom's house we headed over to Apple Bees for some yummy food. It was Britt, Brett, Allie, Jacqui, me and Ben. When the guy brought us out our appetizer he asked Ben how he got so lucky with all the girls. I said he is a pimp and we all laughed. I do feel bad that he is the only guy but he doesn't seem to care most of the time. We were having so much fun. We were being so loud that I'm sure they were excited to see us go. We headed back to my mom's house once we were done and opened presents. We got some cute stuff. I made these cute necklaces with flowers and pearls for everyone and also gave them some lotion. Jacquie gave us all these cute headband/ear warmers with a big flower on them. I have been looking at them in stores and am excited to have one. Brett and Allie gave us a way cute ring, pictures holder and picture, fun mirror and tons of yummy candy. Britt gave me the new Michael Buble cd. I was so excited because I love his music. The rest of the night we just all sat and talked. We have such a good time when we all get together. I'm so grateful for how close we all are and look forward to our next adventure.

Merry Christmas

We had a great Christmas this year. This is the first year since we have been married that we actually bought gifts for each other. Our first year we went shopping on Black Friday and bought a bunch of stuff and then just wrapped it up. Last year we were in Costa Rica so we didn't buy gifts for each other, instead we bought souvenirs. This year we decided to do a few presents because we are going on a trip in a few weeks and want to get some fun stuff while we are there.

For weeks I had been asking Ben what he wanted for Christmas. He would tell me that he didn't know over and over again. I was really getting frustrated because I had no idea what to get him and he wouldn't give me any hints at all. I said, "Your telling me there is nothing in this world that you want." He said no there is I just can't think of it right now. So after bugging him over and over he finally told me that he wanted a cleaning kit for his gun and some new hunting boots. Well I know nothing about guns or what you would need to clean them so Ben had to come with me and pick out what he wanted. He picked out some new boots, gun cleaning kit and some other oils and things that he needed to clean his gun. I felt bad because Ben knew everything that he was getting, and I knew nothing that I was getting. Christmas morning was a surprise for both of us.

We woke up around 8:00 and went out to open presents. I had Ben open all of his first because he was so excited. I told him the order to open them once he realized there were a few more presents than there should be. He first opened his gun cleaning kit. He was so excited he had to open it right then to look at all the fun things that came with it. Then he opened the oil and cloth squares that he had picked out. Then he opened his boots...that he had already used.
Then came the fun. I love his face. He was really so surprised and excited to get some new sunglasses and then some new cologne.

It was fun being able to surprise him with something. Once he was done I opened my gifts that he had gotten me. I got the last book to the series I had borrowed from Britt and been reading. I was so excited I wanted to start the book right then.

Then I opened my new willow tree nativity set. I have been telling Ben I wanted this since we have been married. Every year he can add to it till I have the whole set. I'm so excited to start collecting it.

He also got me some fun vinyl to use with my cricut. Now I can make lots of fun things in all sorts of fun colors.

We had such a great Christmas morning. The night before we had made monkey bread so we just relaxed with our cute puppy while it was cooking.

Once we were done with Christmas at our house we got ready and headed over to Ben's parents for some more Christmas fun. This year we drew names and had a $25.00 limit. Clair had me and got me some fun slippers and a cute pink bag I can use for dance. Chris had Ben and got him a gift card to Cabela, 2 month gym membership, phase 10, and reindeer that poop. We were so excited about what we got. They are the best gifts.

I had Brandi and got her a fun new curling iron because she likes to curl her hair.

Ben had Corey and got him a complete car cleaning kit so he can take care of his new BMW that he just got. He was pretty excited and said it is only going to feed to his obsession of cleaning it. Corey had Clair and got him a beautiful picture of the grand canyon from when he stopped by during resident interviews.

Robin had Laurie and got her a new frying pan. She had been hinting to everyone that she needed a new one. She was so excited to open it.

Robin got some fun things for their new baby and a cute new maternity shirt from Laurie. It was fun to see all the new baby stuff they are coming out with. Brandi had Chris and got him a gift card to get some fun stuff to train his dog.

We gave Ben's parents blocks that said Noel that we had made. They turned out really cute. Ben's grandparents stayed the night and it was fun to open Christmas with them. They gave us some money and yummy honey that I'm excited to try. It was so fun to spend some time with everyone and celebrate Christmas together.

We couldn't stay very long because we needed to visit my side of the family. We stopped at my mom's house first. We got there as Kandice was finishing opening her presents. We opened gifts from my mom and gave them ours. My mom gave me a copy of their ward cook book and money to put towards my cricut. Ben got lots of fun new clothes for work. We gave Britt a cute coat and fun blocks that said let it snow to my mom and Dennis. After opening gifts we ate some yummy food and then just hung out together. Ben was so tired he took a nap.

Once we were done at my mom's we headed out to my dad's house. Everyone was there so the living room was packed. It was so fun to all be together. We gave my parents their gift first before all the fun began. We made them blocks that said Noel just like Ben's parents. We also game them the family proclamation with the Greg Olson pictures around the edges.

Soon after that the fun began. It was crazy but fun to have everyone open their gifts at the same time. I got a fun new workout outfit, lotion, body wash and spray, some cricut tools, cute willow tree figure, fun high heals, cool car scraper with a hand covering, 17 again, a fun new game, and so much more. Ben got a shop vac...which he had to put together right when we got home, socks, new shoes, basketball shorts, and a few more fun things. Grammie stopped by while we were all there and dropped off gifts. She gave me some fun books and a cook book. I also got a cute tile that has a quote about faith. Once we were all done opening presents my parents made a challenge with us. They gave each of us a Book of Mormon and a set of colored pencils and challenges us to read the Book of Mormon this year. Except instead of just reading it we need to read it with a topic in mind. So maybe this time I read the Book of Mormon I focus of blessings and highlight all the scriptures that pertain to that in the same color. Then next time I read it I pick a different topic and a different color. I thought that was a great idea and am excited to start.

We feel so spoiled and blessed to have such amazing families. We are glad that we could see everyone on Christmas and be able to spend some time with them.

Just a side note. Ben and I wanted to make gifts this year instead of buy so we came up with this fun idea. I just love all the new decorative blocks that are out so we decided to make our own. The Saturday before Christmas we went out to my dad's house and enlisted his help. We headed to Homedepot and bought some 4x4's and got to work. My dad set up the saw and we chopped them all to square blocks. I even used the saw while Ben held the wood. Once we were done cutting them all I used my dad's router and made all the edges round then passed them off to Ben who sanded them. When we got home we painted them and them picked out some fun things to say on them. We then cut out the letters with my new cricut and put them on squares of fun Christmas scrapbook paper. Then we modge poged the paper to the block. They turned out better then I hoped. We made some that said joy to give to my office, Noel for Ben's parents and my dad and Shan, and Let It Snow for my mom. We had so much fun making them that I'm ready to go get some more wood and have some more fun.

Christmas Eve

This past Christmas Eve we were able to Celebrate with Ben's family. The part was held at his parents house that evening. We arrived to find the house smelling of such yummy food. His grandma and grandpa Lamb were there and it was so fun to say hi and visit with them for awhile. Soon after we arrived Ben's aunt and uncle and their family came over to join in the fun. Once we were done eating we all headed down stairs to play some fun games that Brandi had put together. The first one was like the white elephant game. Laurie and Brandi went and bought cheap presents and then wrapped them all up. We went around the circle and you could either open a new present or steal one from someone else.

(I stole these pictures from Robin and Chris's blog...thanks for sharing!)

There were some pretty funny gifts. I ended up with a cute picture frame and Ben got a dog bone...perfect for us. Now Kai has a Christmas present. The second game we broke up into teams. One person would roll the dice and if they got a 1 or a 2 they would put on these big snow gloves and try to unwrap this present. While they are trying to unwrap the gift everyone else is rolling the dice trying to get a 1 or 2. Once someone else does they get the gloves and get to try to unwrap the gift. We were laughing so hard. The second you would even get the gloves on someone else had rolled a 1 or 2 and was pulling them right off of your hands. I ended up getting the candy all the way unwrapped and our team was the first ones to finish. They were such fun games to play as a family. After the games we headed upstairs for some delicious deserts. I had the brownie with cheesecake on top of it. It tasted so good.

It was so fun to spend some time with Ben's side of the family and get to know his cousins a little better.

Britt's Fun Car

A few Thursday's ago Britt was heading up to the University of Utah for her last final. She had just left her house and was driving on the freeway when she heard this sounds like a gun firing at her. She said the next thing she knew she was covered in glass and bleeding from a few cuts on her arm. She didn't know what to do and finally decided that she needed to get off of the freeway. She got off at the next exit and called my mom. They figured it was a rock that shot through her window ans just shattered it. My mom couldn't get ahold of Dennis and she didn't have a car so she called me. She asked me how I was getting home and I said Ben is picking me up at 4:30. She told me that Britt's window got hit by a rock while driving and shattered. She told me that she is bleeding from some cuts on her arm. I said lets go home now. Ben is just sitting int he parking lot waiting for me. So we hurried to Bountiful to rescue Britt. By the time we got there all of her cuts had stopped bleeding except for one. I couldn't pass up the moment and pulled out my camera to take some pictures. We got her out and somewhat cleaned up. Ben pulled out some gloves and started to break off the glass that was left in the window so we could get the car home. We cleaned up the seat as best we could and put a blanket on the seat so my mom could drive it home. We gave Britt a ride to the train station and she took my mom's car to class. It was quite the adventure.

Britt has posted her version of the story on her blog. She puts qutie the funny twist on the story. You can read it here.

Hair Change Time

So it was time once again to change my hair. I get so sick of it, I just need a change. So we decided to go dark again. I really liked it last year so we thought we would try it again. On Tuesday I only worked half a day and then headed up to my hair appointment. It was so fun to see Robyn and catch up on life with her for a little bit. She helped me pick the color I wanted and then went to work. She ended up mixing some brown and red together and then put a few blond highlights on top. She didn't cut it cause I am trying to grown it out...we will see how long that lasts though. I love how it turned out. It is a good change. I think next time we will go back to blond and pink...I love the major changes. Later that night Ben was looking through some old photos and said your hair is so different in all of these pictures that I wouldn't even know it was the same person if I didn't know you. It made me laugh. I'm not someone who does the same hair cut and color every time. I need change...and drastic change at that.

Elite Dance Productions Recital

Monday December 21 was our Christmas Recital for Elite Dance Productions. We had to be at Bountiful High School at 5:00. Ben was sweet and came to help out. I told him he didn't need to come to this one because I wasn't dancing, but he did anyway. We were amazing and had everything all set up and ready to go by 6:00. We wrapped lights around the bar on the stage, tied cute bows on the bars, stacked fake present and placed poinsettias at the front of the stage. We hung signs and tapped on the floor so the dancers would know where to go and checked music. We were on a roll. We were just waiting for the light guy to show up and the dancers to get there. Well the light guy never came. Bridget finally called and they said they would send someone else right now. So by the time he got there and he figured lights out...the show started almost a half an hour late. Over all all the dancers did a great job. I was very pleased with how my students performed. We were a little disappointed in our older competition girls. They weren't performing very well at all. They weren't in the right spaces, they weren't counting the music and just making mistakes left and right. I was so excited to have my extreme hip hop perform cause they had been killing it in class...but it looked like they just learned it yesterday. Oh well nothing we can do now. We will just have to hit it hard after the break to get us in shape for competition. Ben was sweet and went and bought me flowers. It is stressful as a teacher and he just wanted to let me know that he thought I did a great job. He is a sweet heart. I'm glad that the recital is over. Now I am officially on Christmas Break...no school or dance till January.