Christmas Quiz

I know its been a while, and I have a lot of blogging to catch up on.  I've been in a rut and haven't felt like blogging just yet.  A few of my blogger friends have posted this Christmas Quiz, and I decided to get in on the action to, and take the quiz.  Enjoy!
1. Egg nog or Hot chocolate? Hot chocolate!  I love Stephen's mint hot chocolate, and Stephen's cinnamon hot chocolate.
2.  Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? If it was my way, he would set them under the tree, but Lee loves to wrap presents and watch the kids unwrap them so we HAVE to wrap the presents.  But I make him do most of the work.  I only wrap the presents that are easy to wrap.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  I prefer white.  I think they are beautiful and peaceful.  Lee like colored so we compromise.  White lights on my tree upstairs.  Colored lights on the kids tree downstairs, and all red lights on the house.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No
5. When do you put your decorations up? The weekend after Thanksgiving.  I love having them up this early.  Growing up we couldn't put up our tree until 2 weeks before Christmas.  My dad was a bit of a scrooge.  He is better now that he has grandkids.  :)
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? I don't know that I have a favorite, because their isn't anything that we make just for Christmas. 
7.  Favorite holiday memory as a child? Every Christmas Eve as a child we would go out to Goshen and watch their Christmas program.  Then Santa would come, and we would get to visit with him.  Then we would get a brown bag full of peanuts, candy and an orange.  When I got a little older I found out that Santa was actually my Grandpa Jensen!  It then became very special to me, knowing my grandpa did that for so many years.  He was the BEST santa ever!!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I honestly don't remember.  I know it wasn't a horrible truth to find out.  I wasn't crushed to learn the truth. 
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Yes, we get to open pajamas on Christmas Eve. 
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?  I have two trees in my house.  The one upstairs in the livingroom is my tree.  I decorate it in silver, green, and red, with white lights.  The tree downstairs in the familyroom is the kids tree.  They decorate it with colored lights.  We also go buy an ornament every year for each person in the house and that ornament gets put on their tree.
11. Snow!  Love it or dread it? I dread it!!  I don't like the snow at all.  Especially if I have to go out in it.  I always tell Lee that I am not meant to live in Utah, even though I have been here my whole life.  I am meant for warm places.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but the last time I ice skated was 8 years ago.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? When I was a child I think my favorite gift was a crimp and curl cabbage patch kid.  I loved playing with her hair. 
14. What's the most important thing about the holidays for you? Spending it with family.  Being able to teach my kids the true meaning of Christmas. 
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Once again, I don't really have a favorite.  I like to try new recipes, so I don't make one dessert just for the holidays. 
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? A few years ago, Lee and I started a tradition with our kids that they love.  Every Christmas Eve before we go to bed, we write a letter to Christ.  The first couple years we started this, Tyra would draw a picture for Christ.  Last year was the first year she could write her letter.  Paisley this year will draw her picture.  Its a good reminder for them for what the true meaning of Christmas is.  We stick the letter in our stockings.  We leave it in there all year, and the next year we read them, and then write our new letter.
17. What tops your tree? A bow
18. Which do you prefer: giving or receiving?  Definitely giving.  I love to see the joy in the faces when the gift is being open.  I love shopping for gifts. 
19. Candy canes: yummy or yucky? Yummy, as long as they are peppermint.  I don't like the candy flavored ones.
20. Favorite Christmas show? I have lots of favorites.  They include: Christmas Vacation, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (with Jim Carrey), Its a Wonderful Life, Polar Express, Four Christmases, The Family Stone, A Christmas Story.
21. Saddest Christmas Song? I cry when I hear Christmas Shoes for the first time of the season.
22. Favorite Christmas Song? I like most Christmas songs.  I like to listen to Bing Crosby, I have been listening to Glee's Christmas soundtracks (both of them).  I like Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill.  I like I Wanna Hippopotamus for Christmas.  Listening to my kids sing that song is awesome.  I like Porky Pig's version of Blue Christmas.

High School Reunion, and some firsts!

Remember how I was helping plan my 10 year high school reunion?  Well, it came, and went and it was AWESOME!  Or, at least I think it was.  Everything turned out perfectly.  Many people showed up and we all had a great time, talking and reminiscing about high school.  
Here are a few pics from the reunion:

 Everyone who came

 The masterminds behind the reunion: Blake Ballard, Amanda Cingolani, and myself

Me, Jessie, Rachel and Heidi

Now, onto my firsts:

On Labor Day I ran my first 5k!  I wish I ran it faster, but I did it, I completed it, and that is all that matters!!  :)

Here are some pics from the 5k:

Yay!  Stefani and I completed our first 5k!

Also, on Labor Day, I got to ride in the parade for my first time ever, and I got to ride on a fire truck for my first time!  I was in the parade for our high school class.  We had lots of fun, and we stopped the truck every time someone on the truck would see someone from our class.  We would call them out from the crowd and have them get on the truck with us!  Lol!  It was fun!

And here are some pics from the parade:

 Me, waiting for the parade to start

My BFF Jessie 

Riding on the truck! 

Fun Facts

I am stealing this from my friend's blog.
Fun Facts about me:
1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:28 am
2. How do you like your steak? I rarely eat steak, but when I do, it has to be well done.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Mr. Popper's Penguins
4. What is your favorite TV show? I like Modern Family, Biggest Loser, Big Bang Theory, Jersey Shore, Cougar Town, The Middle
5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? On an island in the Carribean
6. What did you have for breakfast? Green Smoothie
7.  What is your favorite food? Chips and Salsa
8. Foods you dislike? Avocados, fish, shrimp
9. Favorite place to eat? Tucanos, I love the grilled pineapple!
10. Favorite dressing? Kraft's Roasted Red Pepper and Parmesan
11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? 2002 Dodge Durango
12. What are your favorite clothes? I am a t-shirt and jeans gal.  I also love to wear hoodies in the winter
13. Where would you visit if you have the chance? Paris, France, and Italy
14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? I try to see things at 1/2 full, but I'm not perfect
15. Where would you want to retire? Somewhere warm
16. Favorite time of  day? After 8 pm, when I get to spend time with just Lee
17. Where were you born?  Payson, UT
18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Football!  GO COLTS!!  :)
19. What is your favorite fragrance? I have always loved the smell of Cool Waters.  I also like Amber Romance from Victoria's Secret
20. What is your favorite face cream? Oil of Olay products
21. Favorite baby/kids products? I don't have a favorite.  I like my kids to have toys that also educate them.
22. People watcher? Yes.  I love to watch people.  People are strange and fascinating all at the same time.
23. Are you a morning or night person? Both
24. Do you have any pets? Yes, two dogs
25. Any exciting news you'd like to share? Hmmm.... No
26. What did you want to be when you were little? A nurse or a teacher
27. What is your favorite memory? The day Lee and I got married, the day Tyra was born, and the day Paisley was born
28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog person
29. Are you married? Happily married for 7 years now
30. Always wear your seatbelt? ALWAYS!!
31. Been in a car accident? Yes, 11 of them
32.  Any pet peeves? Stupid people, people always complaining about everything
33. Favorite pizza topping? Pineapple and Canadian Bacon
34. Favorite flower? Hibiscus
35. Favorite ice cream? Cookies and Cream
36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Wendy's and Taco Bell
37. How many times did you fail your drivers test? None
38. From whom did you get your last email? Flylady
39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I could have lots of fun at Target, or any clothing store.
40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Not really, chopped my hair off last month, after trying to grow it out for a year.
41. Like your job? Love my job!  I love being able to stay home with my girls!
42. Broccoli? I love broccoli!
43. What was your favorite vacation? Any type of getaway with Lee
44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My friend, Amanda
45. What are you listening to right now? E! News on the TV
46. What is your favorite color? Brown
47. How many tattoos do you have? Zero
48. Coffee drinker? Nope

Happy Birthday to ME!!

Yesterday was my 28th birthday and I had a GREAT day!!  Lee took the day off, so that we could spend the day together.  He took me to Tucanos for lunch.  Yesterday afternoon we took the kiddos to DQ and got chocolate dipped ice cream cones.   Later that night I rode with my friends up to Orem and back, and got a Berry Parfait from Wendy's.  It was a nice enjoyable birthday!
I also have started a tradition where I take a Real Age Quiz from Dr. Oz every year on my birthday since I don't like to think that I am getting old.  This year the quiz told me that I am 20.7 years old!  Pretty marvelous, if you ask me.  There are always benefits to being healthy!!  :)
Tyra also had a big day yesterday.  It was her first day of Kindergarten!!  I still can't believe that she is old enough to go. Tyra was the cutest little kindergartner in her class!!  Take a look at these pics and you will see for yourself how adorable she is!  :)

Paisley and I decided to take a few pics of ourselves while Tyra was at school.

High school memory

I have been on the planning committee for my ten year high school reunion.  As I have been looking in the year book and thinking about fun memories from high school I thought that I would share my favorite memory.
Whenever people ask me what I did in high school, my reply was always, "nothing".  I didn't do dance or cheer, or sports, or music of any kind.  I was just "there".  I wasn't popular, but I wasn't a total nerd either.  I would say I was a partial nerd.  One class I did enjoy both my junior and senior year was my peer tutoring class.  In this class I got to work the special education class.  I did have a favorite person that I loved to work with, and he made a HUGE impact on my life. 
His name was Brandon.  During these two years, Brandon became one of my best friends.  He couldn't talk, but I understood him, and when I talked to him, I know that he could understand me.  During my peer tutor class both years, I got to do "P.E" with Brandon and a few others.  I say "P.E." because I either took them down to the track downstairs and played basketball with them, or if it was nice weather outside, we would go walk the track.  I also got to go on many fieldtrips and we went to the movies, Bean Museum and other fun places. 
I would get to school early every day (I am always early, lateness bugs me), and sit in the hall with my friends until class started.  Brandon would come sit with me every morning.  And during lunch, Brandon would find me ( I sat in the same spot every day so I wasn't hard to find) and sit with me during lunch too.  I enjoyed having his company.  I kind of liked knowing where he was, and knowing that the people I was with would treat him kindly, than not knowing where he was, and wondering what others were trying to teach him that day.  People like that made me so mad in high school.  Taking advantage of Brandon and the others and teaching them to do inappropriate things just for their entertainment.  So, I was totally fine having Brandon sit next to me and want to visit with me. 
One time me and another peer tutor had taken Brandon and a few others to the downstairs track to play some basketball.  Well, the other peer tutor (who was a male) was just having fun and threw the basketball at me, missing on purpose but getting close enough.  Brandon was MAD.  He went up to this peer and was ready to throw a punch at him!  Brandon then looked at me, and I could read in his eyes, saying, "are you okay?"  I assured Brandon that I was, and that he was only playing with me.  From then on, I knew that I had made an impact on Brandon.
I have been out of high school for ten years, and every once in a while I will run into Brandon, usually at the store.  It makes me so happy that he still remembers who I am.  His nickname for me was "Crazy Driver" which he signs everytime he sees me. 
So, I may have thought I was a nobody in high school because I wasn't popular and I wasn't in any groups or clubs, but I did make an impact on someone's life while there. 

Whether you went to school with me or not, share with me your favorite high school memory.  I would love to hear it! 

Happy Birthday Paisley Love!

 Newborn

 2 months old

 7 months old

 1 year old

 18 months old

2 years old!!

I can't believe that my baby is 2 years old today!  Time has gone by so fast!  I sure do enjoy this little munchkin in my life.  She is so full of energy and life.  She has no fear.  She definitely keeps me on my toes. 

We started out the day with a special breakfast made by Lee.  Then her Granddad Bill and Grandma Loretta stopped by and brought her a present and visited with her.  Afterwards we went to lunch at McDonalds (a rare treat for her).  We then went and played at Jumpin Jacks for the first time.  We had so much fun there!  Paisley loved it!  She especially loved the huge slides and insisted on going down them all by herself.  After playing we went to DQ and got an ice cream cone.  On the way home she fell asleep.  We got her into the house and she slept for 2 hours.  We definitely wore her out.  After dinner we ate popcorn and watched a movie, and had a visit from Papa Kevin and Grandma Carolyn. 

I am pretty sure she enjoyed her special day!  She was smiling and having fun throughout the day.

Here are some pics from Jumpin Jacks today.  She is hardly looking at the camera because I couldn't get her to hold still long enough to take a pic!  :)

Birthdays, birthdays, and more birthdays!

My husband Lee turned the big 30 on the 30th of July.  It was a pretty big deal I thought.  A milestone, plus his golden birthday.  I wanted to plan something amazing for him.  But, he wanted to keep it low key. The day before his birthday we took him to Blissful Yogurt and ate some delicious Fro-Yo.  He then went to the store while Paisley was napping and came home with a mountain bike!  Although, I am a little irritated on this one, only for the fact that I had a really nice mountain bike, and last summer he told me to get rid of it, because I never use it and it was taking up space.  Now he has one, and I don't.  But my birthday is coming up at the end of the month, so maybe I will get one!  Hint, hint, Lee.  :) Anyway, on the morning of his birthday he went fishing with my dad and my brother-in-law.  While he was gone, the girls and I went to work on making him a few gifts.  I had the girls (mostly Tyra) tell me 30 things they love about their dad.  Then we put the pieces of paper in a jar and tied some ribbon around it. 
When he got home we just hung out around the house.  I made a dinner for him.  His request: ribs, roasties, and veggies.  He didn't want a cake since I was making him one for the next day. 
So, that was his big golden birthday.  Nothing crazy big, but he enjoyed it.
The next day was Sunday.  We celebrated Lee's birthday, my niece McKelle's birthday (who's is the same day as Lee's), and Paisley's birthday.  Paisley and McKelle are only ten days apart, which makes celebrating together lots of fun!  We got together with my family, and my sister's in-laws and celebrated all three of these birthdays.  We let Paisley open her presents that day, so it was like Christmas in July.  Wrapping paper was EVERYWHERE!    Shanny (my sister) and I decided to do Mickey and Minnie for the girls since they both love Mickey and Minnie Mouse.  Shanny's friend made the cakes and cupcakes for us.  They turned out so cute! I made a cake for Lee, so we had 3 cakes, and 24 cupcakes!  YUM!   I love celebrating birthdays!  I can't believe that my baby is almost 2!  Time flies by so much!   It seems just yesterday I was bringing her home from the hospital. 
Now, get ready for lots of pics!  Enjoy!