Christmas Tag

Christmas Tag:
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper! Can't waste my ZCMI gift wrapping skills.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Real. We had an artificial one we got from the dumpster in VA that we used when we went to Utah for Christmas, but we always buy a real one if we get to stay at home for the holidays.
3. When do you put up the tree? As soon after Thanksgiving as possible.
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years day.
5. Do you like eggnog? YYYEESSS!!! Except I always eat eggnog icecream. It lasts longer than drinking it.
6. Favorite gift received as child? Teddy Ruxpin doll that talked.
7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother and sister and their family. I don't know why.
8. Easiest person to buy for? Jared. He'll just exchange them if he doesn't like it.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No. The only Christmas decorations we own have all been gifts and this hasn't been one yet.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail! I love to put everyone's pictures up on my fridge.
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't really think of one that I recieved, but the worst Chritmas gift I ever gave was a bunch of chocolates in the same bag as rose smelly soap. The chocolates tasted like roses and it made my best friend amy throw up...hee hee hee.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? While You Were Sleeping.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually after Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably.
15. Favorite thing to eat or drink at Christmas? I can't think of what they're called but they have toffee in the middle dipped in chocolate then dipped in nuts. And the yummy cinnamon almonds from the mall.
16. Lights on the tree? Of course, what kind of a question is that?
17. Favorite Christmas song? I thmight be called "Were You There" I'm not sure. But it's the prettiest Christmas song I've ever heard.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel to New York.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? We open jammies Christmas eve and the rest on Christmas morning. Sometimes I never wrap my presents and just wear them as soon as I buy them....At least that's what I've done lately.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? FM 100 playing Christmas music Waaay before Thanksgiving.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? An ornament we got in Florida for our first Christmas together. And I really like dark red and gold or red and silver or red, gold and silver.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? I'm usually stuffed full of sugar by the time dinner comes around I don't really have a favorite. But I do love the raspberry drink Grandma and Grandpa alwasy made and the banana bread with nuts and cream cheese.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? New couches, LASIK, a trip to New York and Hawaii...but I'd settle for all the things I've already bought myself and used already.
26. Favorite thing about Christmas? Sitting next to the Christmas tree after everyone is in bed and reading a good book.

10 things I am UNgrateful for...

This face.
JUST KIDDING!! I wouldn't do that. Here are some things I am grateful for:

A husband who will stay up all night talking with me even though he has to get up early and get ready for a long day of work.

Money. Sounds superficial I know but what I mean is...house, food, clothes, car, gas...I'm grateful we have enough money for our needs to be met and more!

A dad who has good work ethic, who taught me how to have a sense of humor and not be too pampered, who has taught me that supposabley-expecially-boughten have now been added to the English dictionary teaching me that we are progressive and capable of change. I am also grateful that he taught me to never sit on my tushy on a saturday and that he worked hard so I could have so many opportunties as a kid (and an adult)...violin, traveling, education, braces....

A mom who taught me to appreciate our beautiful world and all that is living in it, who laughs out loud and cries at the same time, and taught me that feeling sick is never a good enough excuse to get out of things. For giving me the memory of bribing me with a nice laffy taffy (since I was obviously pretending to be sick to get out of violin lessons) and then projectile vomiting pink all over my violin teacher's house later.

I am grateful that I had good friends who helped making good choices easy to do.

Kids who are healthy and laugh a lot.

I am grateful for in-laws. My family has more than tripled and I love every one of them.

I am grateful for my body and all that it is capable of doing.

Music.

Did I already mention Jared? I am really grateful for him. I really don't like to be mushy but I am so happy to have found him. He's kind, understanding, open minded, determined, fun, and cares so much to provide and protect our family. I certainly don't feel deserving of him but am so thankful to be with him.

I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful to know that I have a Heavenly Father who knows us and our needs. I am grateful for the scriptures. I am grateful to have a prophet on this earth to lead and guide us.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Huh?

So, I was at the gym a few weeks ago minding my own business when a trainer came up to me and said
Trainer: "you were looking at me wierd like you didn't know what you were doing"
Me:"Really?!? That's wierd because I wasn't. My contacts are bugging me, maybe that's what it was."
Trainer: "Hmm, well, do you have a trainer? Because I'd like to give you a free session.
Me thinking: I really don't want a free session for two reasons 1. waste of time 2.eventually will be a waste of money after he convinces me I need a personal trainer all the time.
Me: sure.
Trainer: Well what day would you like, I'm pretty much open all week?
Me: How about Friday?
Later after my workout...five minutes later to be exact.
Same trainer: "Hey, do you need a trainer?"
Me: "really?!? you JUST talked to me."
Trainer: "oh, that's right...don't forget Friday."
Friday rolls around and I don't really want to be doing this so I don't go seeking him out but I decide I'll be willing if he finds me. I walk in and he looks right past me and I go by him again and he still doesn't acknowledge me. So I went on with my own workout. He soon calls me and leaves me a message to tell me I missed my session. I walked up to him and said
Me: "Sorry I missed my session"
Trainer: "you were working out here this whole time?"
Me: "Yep."
Trainer: "Do you want to reschedule?"
Me thinking: Heck no! You're a wierdo!
Me: "I guess so, how about Tuesday."
Sooo, Tuesday I wake up sick and I cancel. He calls me Wednesday to see how I'm doing and if we can reschedule for Friday. So I go in this morning, still feeling a little sick and I wait around for him. A different trainer I've never met comes up and says
Stranger Trainer: "Hey," (while giving me a high five) "How are you? How did you eat, mm, ea,mem,...eat Andy again?"
Me:"How did I eat Andy?"
Stranger Trainer: "huh, um, yeah"
Old Trainer shows up and says
Old Trainer: "What was your name again?"
Me thinking: "HUH?!?! Who is this guy?"
Stranger Trainer: "Have you ever had a trainer before?"
Me: "No"
Stranger Trainer: "Why? Is it because you think we're ugly?"
Me thinking: What on earth is he talking about? These guys are soo wierd.
Me: "Yes"
Old Trainer: "I've seen you running in here and you come what like 5 days a week?"
Me: "yeah, I'm pretty consistent."
Old Trainer: "Well, I don't really know what to do soooo, if you just have any questions feel free to ask me."
Me: "so....we aren't going to do anything then?"
Old Trianer: "Well, I mean, if you want me to take you through a workout I can, it's just....you seem to know what you're doing."
Me thinking: You're wack dude! I would've got more accomplished if I was at home sleeping.

And finally...the last post for October!

This was our first Halloween back in Utah and we decided to spend it the Astle way. We started at Grandpa's house with some soup and goodies then headed off for what Jared called "extreme trick-or-treating"...meaning we trick-or-treated for more than 20 minutes.

Jackson and Tanner were supposed to be Ninja's but for some reason they found dress up clothes and decided those were cooler. So Jackson is once again superman and Tanner is once again a lion. If you can't tell, Jared was "Dave."

Here's Tanner, Jackson, Parker, Marcus, Stanton and Addy.

Jackson showing off his muscles

Tanner growling

Tiffany, Mick, and Addy.

Heather, Jason, and Parker


I missed pictures of Paul, Cindy, Marcus, Jennifer and Stanton. They were all cute. Tanner was partial to Jennifer the Dalmation dog. He adopted her as his mother while trick-or-treating which meant she was stuck carrying his trick-or-treat bag the whole time...hee hee

My dad was dressed as a guy just out of knee surgery...the kind where they remove bullets. It sounds like he liked his costume so much he's going to dress up as that guy for a few weeks. I didn't get a picture of him or the bullet but here is a pumpkin he carved.

Five of many for October....

Jackson was the VIP for preschool last week. That meant he got to take a poster he made of himself, share his favorite treat, and had kids in his class ask him questions.

He was really excited about being the V.I.P He's funny because the idea of having attention really excites him, but when it's time to actually get all the attention he seriously shies away from it.

He got to sit in front of the class while the other kids asked him questions about himself. It was really cute. They kept asking him what his favorite color was and the first time he said "black." Then when he got asked the same question again he just looked at me like "Are they serious?? What do I say, it hasn't changed yet?" Jackson's a funny kid.

four of many for October...

To be perfectly honest, the first four years of Jackson's life have been a bit stressful. With the newness of having our first baby, then having Tanner quickly after that, and always trying to keep Jackson from killing Tanner, then always tring to keep Tanner from wrecking the world, it wasn't my favorite time ever. BUT, things have really gotten a lot more fun now that the boys have tamed down a bit. Not to say they aren't still boys...but it's a lot more fun now.

Here we are carving our pumpkins. I didn't want their clothes to get nasty...hence the unders.

Jackson quickly realized how icky pumpkin guts are.

My boys.

Three of many for October...

Last weekend after we picked up our kids from Shelly and Jason's we headed up to Logan to see my best friend Amy and her family. We got some yummy grub at the Bluebird then headed over to the pumpkin walk in North Logan.

The kids weren't really into pictures that night..so this is as good as it gets. Here's Jackson, Aden, and Tanner.

I think Noah's Ark blew all the others out of the water.


This was Jackson's favorite. You can't see batman very well, but he's there up in the sky.

I always love to visit Logan. It's one of my favorite places in the world and it's just an extra plus that one of my favorite people live there. We had a great night.