Happiness Is...

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Holy Macaroni!

Weird post title? Maybe...but its how I feel. I have had several friends ask where we have been, in regards to emails, phone calls, blogging, etc, etc.

We had a relief society enrichment night last Thursday, and it was a HUGE undertaking. We had a bake off and made cookbooks with recipes from the sisters in our ward. We are talking, 40 hours of work the week prior to the activity, and I won't even go into the week of and the weeks before that. Anyway, that is where I have been. The night went beautifully, and if any committee members are reading this...THANK YOU! You guys were absolutely wonderful and definitely helped me to keep my sanity.

Here is the result of many many hours of decorating with the help of my wonderful Mom.

Anyway, I have been absent from blogging for about a month, so we have some catch up to do...as in...clear back to Halloween. So, here goes!

My sister and I thought it would be fun to throw a Halloween party in her awesome new house. We spent the day of decorating and cooking and had so much fun. We had a fish pond where Matt played the friendly ghost as the kids put their fishing pole over the blanket and he surprised them with some fun prizes. We had a doughnut eating contest, and even got the adults involved! It was an awesome party, if I do say so myself.

Hitler Andrew helping us get ready for the party.

Scariest costume of the night...yikes!

Lucas kicking back to relax

The friendly ghost

The mummy game

Both October and November included sensational six activities. In October we got together for pizza and a scary movie. November was a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner.

Also in November my best friend came to visit and ended up staying the night. We had a blast pulling out an air mattress and sleeping in the living room...it felt just like high school. She wasn't originally planning on staying, so when she decided to she needed to borrower a few things (i.e. toothbrush, pjs, etc). Matt pulled a good trick and gave Lauren some of his biggest, baggiest pajamas, folded up to look small. When she put them on and saw how big they were, we all had a good laugh, and for some reason, she kept them on the whole night...

Crazy sleeping bag static hair!!!

Yo, sup dawg?

Also in November was a fun game night with some friends from our ward. I only have a picture of the appetizers I made...I was really proud of them.

Don't leave out the U of U game, which, despite its sad ending was a fun time with my family. That same day we made gingerbread houses at my Mom's house with all the girls. Fun, fun, fun!

Matt put his U apparel on all the kids. Don't be fooled...they aren't all U fans

All the kids love hanging out with Uncle Matt

Finally we arrive at Thanksgiving! This year we went with Matt's family to San Diego to spend the holiday with Matt's Dad's side of the family. It was the first time I have been out of Utah for Thanksgiving, actually, I think for winter period. It was really weird for Thanksgiving day to feel bright and sunny and to be walking around without a coat on. We had a fun 12-hour car ride down (can those 2 concepts be said in the same sentence? Just kidding, it really wasn't bad). Matt's Dad rented a mini-van for the trip. We had 2 different Thanksgiving dinners, spent a day at the Beach playing frisbee and just strolling on the sand, did some shopping, and just had a great time. Thanks Mom and Dad Tanner!

This is after 6 hours on the road. We stayed the night in St George

Morning brotherly wrestling match

Shopping!

Hanging out at the pier

Mushy parents...ewww....

Thanksgiving dinner

Nana and Bompa

Jameson and Yesenia

Wahoo!!!

Lunch in Mesquite

Well, whew! We have finally arrived back in the month of December! Thanks for joining me on this journey through the past 2 months!

Friday, December 5, 2008

We Are Alive

Just wanted you all to know that I do fully intend to update this blog....later.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Viva Las Vegas!

WARNING: NUMEROUS PICTURES CAN BE FOUND BELOW. IF YOU DON'T CARE ABOUT MY AWESOME PICTURES...YOU CAN KINDLY SKIP OVER THIS POST.

A few weeks ago I had this great idea to plan a spontaneous vacation, so I did! Matt keeps really busy with school and work and really needed a break. I kept the whole thing a surprise, got Matt's bosses to let him off work, booked the hotel (non-refundable) and was so excited about my fancy little plan!

A couple nights before we left I was talking to Matt about how busy he had been, and how nice it would be for him to relax over the weekend. He then told me that he was so busy that he wouldn't be able to relax at all, based on all the homework he had due Monday morning. I immediately panicked and had to tell him about the trip! I was bummed about having to ruin the whole thing, but we ended up getting it worked out in the end and had a great time. Here are the highlights!

We started out going to In-N-Out Burger because I had never been there and we've heard all kinds of great things about it. I have to admit...neither of us was very impressed.

What a big mouth! Just kidding Matt!

After about 5 1/2 hours of driving we arrived in Las Vegas! We headed straight out for some sight seeing. Our first stop was the Bellagio where we watched the fountain show, which we loved.

This is near the fountains with the Paris hotel behind me.

The next morning we went to Denny's. Matt was apparently very excited...

Outside the Venetian

Inside the Venetian. It is dark, but you can see a gondola behind me if you look closely. They were really fun to watch.

This is also inside the Venetian where we stopped to watch some street performers.

Treasure Island

The Mirage...I think that was what it was called...?

I made a new friend inside Caesar's Palace...awww....

Matt made a new friend too...sort of...

We splurged and bought tickets to Phantom of the Opera! This is inside the Venetian while we were waiting to go to the performance

We stopped for a chat with Humpty Dumpty

Ran into Whoopie Goldberg

And then Nicholas Cage. Both, of course, asked to have their pictures taken with us (naturally)

This was after the show. It was amazing! We both loved it and it was definitely the highlight of the trip.

Matt cooking up some good eatin' in his tennis shoes

The Las Vegas Temple

We visited there on Sunday after church

GRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Outside the Luxor

Me next to a giant dude

Matt, making another strange friend...

I can't remember the name of this hotel...

Inside New York New York

After all the sight seeing we were dead tired. It was so nice to have a little vacation, and we had a blast!

Kids Say the Darndest Things

1/30/13- Cam heard Sid the Science Kid say, "everybody can do something special!" He turned to me and said, "even I can do something special? Like fly to Mr. Clawson's (our neighbor SISTER Clawson) and play with all her toys, and when I am finished I could fly back? Wow! That would be really cool!"

Awhile ago- Cam and I were looking at a picture of Jesus, when Cam reached out and poked His nose and said, "honk!"

Awhile ago- I was helping Cam put on his shirt when he started saying, "sings...are doing?" Translation: fingers, what are you doing? Because he got his fingers stuck inside his sleeve.

Awhile ago- We went to the store as a family. After we pulled into a parking garage and got out of the car, Cameron looked up and yelled at the top of his lungs, "HABITAT!"

2/4/13- I laid my head down on Matt's shoulder. Riley walked up and gave me his dirty look and said, "no Mom. My Dad."

2/6/13- Cam did his first poop in the toilet today-yay! We were cheering and getting really excited! He walked back over to the toilet to look at his poop and said, "Wow! It is so beautiful!"

2/10/13- Cam woke up a little groggy this morning and stumbled as he walked. "Mom, I am having a pretty wibbly wobbly day today!"

3/4/13 - Cam learned the word resourceful from Super Why. When I asked him to go upstairs for quiet time, he told me he needed a treat, and I told him not right now. He started to cry and said, "but Mom...I will find a way to get one, because I am gonna be asourceful!"

3/10/13 - Cam while walking up to a large group of strangers: "Everybody! We are here! I am Cameron, this is Riley, and that is Camille."

3/10/13 - Cam: "Mom, can we go buy a cupcake at a....cupcakery?"

3/22/13 - I had Cam and Riley sit down on the couch and I told them I would play them a bedtime song on the piano. It ended up being a pretty long song, that I needed to practice. They sat there the entire time and didn't budge. When I finished, Cam said, "Mom, that was a beautiful bedtime song, but I was just thinking about hampsters!"

4/25/13 - As Riley and I were walking home after dropping Cam off at school, we passed a man who had long brown hair, and a beard. Riley yelled out "Mom! Its Jesus!" Ironically we saw him on our way to pick up Cam as well. It was so funny, I had to tell him. He did kind of look like Jesus, if you don't count the cigarette....

4/28/13 - In primary, Cam was asked what he loves about his Mom. He said, "I like that she cleans up the house for me." Glad to know I'm doing something right.

4/28/13 - The teacher in sharing time said that Joseph Smith was a prophet. Cam yelled out, "No! Smiths is a grocery store!"

5/24/13 - I asked Cam his favorite thing about himself (giving him examples, like, you have a nice smile, good at sharing, fast runner). He finally said, "Mom, I don't like any of those things. I just like my toots."

6/27/13 - While putting Ry to bed, he was singing his ABC's.

"QRSTUVWXY and Z. Now I know my ABC's, next time I want some help."

8/30/13 - Cam: "Mom, when I was 3 legs tall, I didn't know how to read this book. Now I do". Referring to 3 FEET tall.

10/30/13 - Riley said to a GIRL wearing an Ariel shirt, "see? These is my spider rings, Mermaid Boy!"

2/24/14 - Cam: "Mom, are there real bad guys on earth?"

Mom: "Yes. There are some people on earth who make really bad choices and do things that aren't kind."

Cam: "Like...throw up on your head?"

2/26/14 - As Matt was washing Riley in the tub and poured water over his head, Riley said, "Dad! You are being so insensitive!"

2/26/14 - Riley asked where Dad and Cam were. I said they went to work and school, but they would be home later.

"Mom, I believe it is possible that I will never see them again!"

3/10/14 - Riley kept asking me for a snack while I was feeding Micah. He finally said, "Mom, how many times I gonna have to tell you? I meed (need) a snack!"

2013-2014 - Cameron can't say remember. Instead it's "benember?"

3/15/14 - Riley in the bathtub: "Mom, this is a Mommy and a Daddy duck and 2 baby ducks, and they have a baby kitty, and a baby horse that's like a fish, and a sheep!"

3/14/14 - I shushed the boys because I heard a funny noise and Riley said, "what is it Mom? Is it the Holy Ghost?"

3/13/14 - Matt says all the time as a joke, "You know what I always say" and then proceeds to say something he has probably never said in his life. Apparently Cam picked up on it. We were talking about something at dinner time when he turned to me and said, "you know what I always say Mom..."

4/5/14 - Micah was crying in the boys room, and Cameron said to Riley: "Riley, you should probably go down there and nurse him!"

4/7/14 - I wasn't feeling very well, and Riley noticed and said, "Mom, I will take care of you today. Dad and Riley and Cameron will take care of you and Micah, ok?"

I asked Riley who would take care of him and he said, "I don't know. But...I will take care of you!"

4/6/14 - Cameron was having a rough little moment while we were at my parents house for conference. He gets a little overwhelmed when there are lots of people around. He came and asked me to spend a little time with him, away from everybody else. Later that night my Mom was asking him about it, and said, "sometimes you just need to be alone, don't you?" Cam answered, "No, Grandma. Sometimes I just need to be with my Mom." Melt my heart!

4/8/14 - Cam sure know what he wants! He wasn't feeling well last night, and wanted to go to bed early. As I put him to bed, he gave me a full list of his wishes:

"I want socks tonight, and music, and I want you to lay with me, but only for 1 minute. And I want a mask from the doctor so I don't share my germs, and I want my special blanket that you made for Dad, and I want Riley to be quiet, and you to draw on my back." Whew! Whatever the little prince desires...

4/5/14 - Cameron was so excited that we set up the bunkbeds today! We were hanging up his favorite pictures around his bed when he suddenly had to go to the bathroom. He ran out of the room and said, "I will go potty, and when I get back, I will be so surprised by SpiderMan, and Jesus!!"

We were also putting up the beds while we listened to conference. He was so excited that he would hear a word the speaker would say, and yell out, "Yay! The Atonement! Yay! Testify!"

4/6/14 - As Cam was playing with his cousins during Conference, Aunt Megan was telling them to pretend they were in tents listening to the Prophet, just like King Benjamin. Cam got so excited, pumped his arm in the air, and shouted, "Yes! Let's learn the gospel!"

3/28/14 - Matt's Mom was watching the kids. Apparently they took her downstairs to our play house. Cam said, "Grandma, lets pretend this is Heaven. Now we can teach you the gospel!" Riley said, "yeah...the gospel of...poop!" And Cam angrily answered, "no Riley, not the gospel of poop, the gospel of super heroes!"

4/18/14 - Cam: "Guys, I want to tell you my dream. I wish that turkey fell from the sky. I would eat all the turkey on the sidewalks."

4/18/14 - Cam was carrying a blanket and pillow downstairs for a family sleepover when he said, "I am being really big and strong about this!" Suddenly this look of realization came over his face and he said, "maybe I really AM the real spiderman!"

5/3/14 - Riley was jabbering and jabbering in the car-nonstop, to the point that everybody was getting kind of annoyed. When we all finally gave up on talking to each other and the car got quiet, Riley said, "Everybody? Are you enjoying me??"

5/23/14 - Cameron: "Dad, you need to start wearing your underwear on the outside everyday, cause you are really strong!"

5/27/14 - Me putting on fake glasses and playing with Cam: "how are you today sir?" Cameron: "I'm doing good, I suppose."

5/29/14 - Riley was looking at a cat at the zoo and said (in a high sweet voice) "Oh...his name is Kitty Kat, and he has beautiful stripes."

Me: "those are spots, Riley"

Riley: "Yeah, I know...spikes."

5/31/14 - Cameron: "Dad, you should really start wearing your underwear on the outside, cause you are REALLY strong!"

6/19/14 - Riley as he picked a booger out of his nose and showed it to Matt: "Dad, do you want a bite of my golden fruit?"

7/14/14 - Cameron: "Mom, you should pray that you can be a pretty pony when you grow up. Yeah. That's what you should be praying for."

10/17/14 - Cameron: I was telling Cam that the letter "c" can make 2 different sounds. "Yep Mom! It's a pretty powerful letter!"

10/21/14 - Riley: Riley was eating a cookie and getting ready to play the ipad. Cece was sitting in front of him staring him down (obviously, because of the cookie). Riley made a grumpy face and said, "no, no Cece! It isn't your turn to play the ipad!"

10/22/14 - Cameron: "Mom, do the weather people think it is going to be really smooky (spooky) this Halloween?"

11/4/14 - Cameron: "Mom, is it sometimes right now?

Me: "No, sometimes isn't exactly a time-it just means not all the occasionally."

Cam: "What is occasionally?"

Me: "It means every once in a while."
Cam: "What is every once in a while."

Me: "Every now and then."

Cam" What is every now and then."

Me: "Think about going to the park. We don't go all the time, we just go sometimes-and we don't always know exactly when it wil be."
Cam: "So, can we go to the park now?"

11/4/14 - Riley: "Super doggie gets super hero bad guys, and he doesn't cry about it, and he doesn't have a grumpy face about it and he has a happy face about it."

11/5/14 - Cameron during his prayer: "please bless that I won't shoot Riley with that type of nerf gun I'm going to get for Christmas. And please bless that it's the one not with balls, but the one with darts, and please bless..."

November 2014 - Mom- "What should we do for Dad's birthday?"

Cam- "Let's tie him up!"

November 2014 - After I set lunch down, Cameron reminded me that we need to pray. I thanked him for reminding us, and Cam said, "I'm just always trying to make Heavenly Father happy!"

11/21/14 - Riley came all the way from the breakfast table downstairs to my room to use the potty. When I asked him why he couldn't just use the bathroom downstairs, he answered, "because then it might make me have feelings?"

December 2014 - While listening to Christmas music, Cam heard, "I don't know if there'll be snow, but have a cup a cheer!" He asked me to repeat what it said, and then got a confused look on his face. "Mom, does Heavenly Father ask us not to drink cheer?"

December 2014 - Cameron: "My favorite Christmas story is the one about Jesus being born."

December 2014 - Cameron gave me a great big hug and then said, "Mmmm. Now I know what hair tastes like!"

12/23/14 - "Mom, do killers come out on Christmas?" Cameron trying to ask if CAROLERS come out on Christmas.

1/13/15 - We lost Cece for a little while, and after we found her I mentioned that it was a little bit scary that she was lost. Riley said, "she wasn't lost. I knowed where she were!"

January 2015 - Riley: "You know, Jesus is bigger than the wookie man."

2/3/15 - Riley: "When I had a little boy when I was a mudder (mother), my little boy didn't eat."

2/4/15 - Cameron: "Mom, is first grade when I will make a wife?"

2/7/15 - Cameron: "Mom, when I breathe, it feels kind of....boring."

2/11/15 - As I sat down taking a break from a hectic day, Cameron said, "Mom, Heavenly Father doesn't like us to be lazy!"

Riley age 3 - "To inbinify and beyond!"