Sweethearts 2012

Last night was Hillcrests Sweetheart dance.  It's a girls choice dance and Lindsay asked Kayden Finlayson. These two have gone to school together since 3rd grade. When we moved from our old house, they moved too and Lindsay and Kayden started Sandcreek together in 6th grade and they knew no one but each other. They have stayed friends through all these years!  His mom also happens to be a dear friend of mine!  Here she is with me and Chris before leaving to pick Kayden up.

Jenny came over to tie her sash for me.  I don't do bows well but she does and this is actually the second time for a dance she's come over to make sure Lindsay's bows look perfect! Thanks Jenny!!

All ready to go

A close up

Megan Searle did her hair again and I'm always amazed at the wonderful job she does!  She's done it now numerous times and she's never done the same hair style twice!

Nicole was generous enough to let Lindsay use her convertible Mustang again.  We love having this car around, it's so fun - Kenna is sure this car is her destiny!  Since it's February and still cold, she had to keep the top up!  Here she is leaving to pick Kayden up

They were in a group of 14, for dinner they did a progressive dinner.  I made the lasagna for the main dish but our house served the 'light' dessert. It was the final stop before the actual dance.  They had frappe and I didn't think that was enough so I made Oreo truffle pops and had some fun heart shaped gummy candies too! After the dance they went to Avery's house for the real dessert -   Here is Kayden and Lindsay enjoying some frappe

I couldn't let them leave without taking a few pictures but getting them all together for a good picture was quite the challenge.  Here are a few of the boys 'planking' in my living room - Yep, Kayden is on the bottom of this pile

Strike a pose!

And a few of Lindsay and Kayden

Wait, one more before you leave!!

This was such a fun evening for them all.  I can't believe this is Lindsay's last girls choice before she graduates, it's been such a fun time in our house getting ready for dances.  Not to worry, Kenna turns 16 in May and it will start all over again!  This was a fun group of kids to have over and I've said it before, Lindsay has some really great friends!

Can you do that?

The other day I came into the living room and found Jace watching a cartoon and this is how he was 'sitting' - it made me laugh so hard!  He then asked if I could do that, to which I said, 'heck no!'

New school pictures

Okay, so these pictures are about 2 months old and it isn't the beginning of the school year but, I don't purchase the pictures from the school, I get the ones I can control how the kids look.  I just forgot to post these when we got them taken, I was too consumed with picking a family picture.  They are however, the current photos of the kids for this school year.  I didn't post any of Lindsay since she already had her senior pictures taken.
Makenna - 15 sophomore

Emily - 12  7th grade

 Alison - 8  3rd grade

Baylie - 6  1st grade

Jace - 5  pre school

Here is one of all 6 of them -

All of the pictures turned out so cute and it was hard choosing which pose to put on my wall.  I can't believe how quickly my babies are growing up - where does the time go?

SURPRISE!

The Tuesday before my birthday, I had plans to have lunch with 3 friends at our favorite Mexican restaurant.  When I got there, I was in for a huge surprise.  Two of my good friends had worked together to get about 20 of my friends together to surprise me for my 40th birthday.  As you can see as I'm walking in the restaurant, I was clueless as to what was going on! (A HUGE thank you to Brooke, my camera happy friend for all these pictures!)

 I'm still in shock, looking at everyone at this point.  I couldn't figure out how some of them knew each other and how a few little groups of friends became all one big group of friends - for this celebration anyway.

Nicole Hall, one of the ring leaders, made this sign and went to the restaurant early to decorate the place!  She got me all dressed up in this get up as I entered the restaurant. Can you see one blinking red thing at my left ear?  Yep, she had blinking red chili pepper earrings and all!

You can't see everyone in this picture or the next but I was so grateful for each one of these ladies for coming and making my day a bright one!  I definitely have the best friends ever!

Nicole even got my favorite cold stone ice cream cake -complete with all 40 candles!

 Chris and the girls knew about this surprise for several days beforehand.  Chris call the school and got Lindsay and Kenna released from school to come eat lunch with me - don't they look cute with their mustaches??

Deb Weldert, Tracy Hanks, me and Brooke  (my camera loving friend)

My cake!

All the candles are lit.....

One BIG breath...........

And, BLOOOOOOOW!

Kara was in town and happened to be near so I had her come on over!  (I was so glad, Nicole tried to text her but accidentally texted her home phone so she didn't get the information about the surprise)

Chris stopped in to get Jace

There were GAG GIFTS GALORE!!  This jar says "40 sucks" and was full of 40 suckers

A hot flash fanner

Even a homemade bra! Nicole sewed tube socks to the cups of this bra and added candies in the bottom to weigh it down - it's seriously hilarious! (That's Nicole sitting to the right of me, Angie Lords is on my left)

Like I said, gag gifts galore!! Here is a small sampling of some of the items I received

This was such a fun surprise, you can see why I say I have the best friends!  I can't believe they were able to pull it off without me having any knowledge of any of it!  I'm not one that's usually surprised but I really had no clue and it was one of the best days ever!  Thanks ladies..... it was great, just remember what could happen when you turn 40 - you know what they say about paybacks!

Looks like we were good this year!

When we woke up Christmas morning, we all realized that we had indeed been good this year.  Santa had not only found us, but was very generous!

Since Christmas was on a Sunday this year, we let the kids go through their stockings and see what Santa had brought before we headed to church.  Here are Jace and Emily checking things out.

Baylie found a kitty webkinz in the top of her stocking and was happy about it!

Jace just beginning to 'dig'' into his stocking - he's sitting in front of the 'Hot Wheels Wall Tracks' Santa brought him

Lindsay was super thrilled with her new MacBook Pro Santa brought her!

After church, we came home (the kids put their jammies back on) and started unwrapping the gifts that were under the tree...... Jace

Kenna and Emily with Jace looking on

Lindsay with Baylie and Ali watching her

me (it was a new tripod for my camera)

Chris

Ali, showing off her new webkinz - a walrus she named Wille

After all the presents were opened....... we had a bunch of smiles and a big mess of paper and boxes!

Each of the kids always gets a new outfit and this year I found Jace the best shirt.  It has a guitar on the front that he can REALLY PLAY!  He absolutely loves it, but I think I'm already tired of it!

This picture is a bit out of order but here is Makenna with her gift from Santa.  It's a big high heel shoe chair! 

We had a great Christmas, we love this time of year we have to celebrate the birth of our Savior and be grateful for His sacrifice for each of us.  It was wonderful to have Christmas fall on a Sunday and the kids were really good about not opening gifts until after church.  We are truly blessed and this time of year definitely reminds us of the blessings we have and to be more grateful each day for them.