merry merry merry christmas

We had an absolutely wonderful Christmas! This post might go into a lot of detail! Sorry, I've been slacking on scrapbooking and I want to print our blog instead, so I can't leave anything out!

Sunday morning Beau and I got up at 7 and got ready for church really quick. At 8 my mom came over and we woke Blake up to see his santa gifts! He was so not excited! We had to force him to even go down the hall! After church we came back home and Blake threw a fit. He has been getting molars the past few days, so he was super testy. We decided to just set him in the other room and let him watch Tangled until he decided to cheer up. 

(again, sorry for the detail, it's mainly for my memory!)

I got a Kitchenaid, a punch bowl, lots of clothes, sunglasses, a belt, a remote and memory cards for my camera and lots of other fun stuff. Beau got a TV, hiking boots, a shop vac, a leaf blower/vac, a dvd player (since blake stole ours), movies, tools for his air compressor,  and lots of BYU stuff. Blake finally came in to join us after a while and he opened his gifts. He got lots of Toy Story stuff! A Buzz and a Woody, a tent, bath toys, a nerf shotgun, cars and a 'road rug', a rocking horse, clothes, jammies, and tons and TONS of toys! He got spoiled!

My mom was there, so we opened our gifts from her too! Beau got a gun case, a BYU book, wool socks and stocking stuff. I got a REALLY cute purse organizer, nail stuff, a scarf, and a veggie steamer along with my stocking stuff. Blakester got a fun camping chair, a push popper toy, another buzz and woody, and more toys! We also got a really neat Book of Mormon from my mom that explains what is going on as you read it.

Every year I take a photo of our christmas gifts while they are still out on the  couches, I never did get one of Blake, so you'll just have to imagine his cute face with all his stuff!! ;)

After we got done at our house, we went over to Beau's mom's and had lunch. She and Allen got us a card table and chairs (MUCH needed!) And Blake got a learning toy and a new outfit! None of Beau's sibling were there, which was kind of sad, (we missed you all!!!) but we did get to see all of his step family! we dont get to visit with them that often so it was nice to see them!

After that we went to my mom's house to talk to Elder Carlson!!!! Oh it was SOO good to talk to him! He is doing AH-MAZING! He just barely got out into the field on the 20th so he was pumped with stories! He talked a million miles an hour for about and hour and a half! But I loved it! Hopefully on Mother's Day he will get to Skype!

That was the end of my picture taking sadly :( I started to get sick around 3ish so I wasn't too enthusiastic the rest of the day. But then we went over to my dad's. We got a few gift cards and a movie with popcorn and Blake got fun toys, a studly church outfit and a little puppy that runs around. After that we went to my Grandma Jolley's. She got us an Olive Garden gift card and Blake some fun bath cups and toys. the very last stop of the day (mind you this was like 8pm) was Beau's dad's We got a REALLY cool gift from them! It's a wooden high chair that turns into a rocking horse and THEN it turns into a desk! It's pretty awesome!

After that it was time to go home. aaaaahh. We put Blake to bed and Beau set up his TV in our bedroom while I organized my purse (seriously this purse organizer is the best! I'm going to post about it on LLS soon!) then we stayed up chatting about our day.

We had such a great Christmas. It was a tad stressful ftrying to get to everyone's house, but we areso blessed to live within driving distance of all our family and to be able to get to them all in a day. We were so spoiled by everyone and are so grateful for the gifts we got, but we were even happier to give to others. I thought a lot about how blessed I am during this christmas. I know that we are very lucky to have what we do, and I am so grateful for Beau's job and the opportinities we have.

I hope you all had a great Christmas!

Oh and I have to add my excitement for today! Beau told me that I could go out and buy a new purse, since I haven't bout one since before Blake was born. (which is a big deal for me!) So after like 3 stores I finally went over to Christensens. I didn't have very high hopes because normally I can't afford to pay their prices! But i went anyways and found the top purse and it was 30% off! So while I was wandering I remembered

that if I spent $10 more I could use my dixie direct card and get $10 off! So I got the bottom purse and ended up getting 2 purses for what I was planning on spending on 1!! It feels SO good to have a new purse! All clean an organized!!!

merry christmas eve.

Hopefully Santa finds your house as quickly as he found ours!

Have a WONDERFUL Christmas!

Our Christmas card

Christmas Party x3

On Saturday we had 3, count em' 3, Christmas parties to go to! We started bright and early with Interstate's company party for Breakfast and a movie. We saw Sherlock Holmes 2, it was actually really good! Before that though, they made a little movie about the history of Interstate Rock Products, they had lots of photos all the way back from when Beau's grandpa and his 2 brothers started the company. It was amazing to see how far they have come and the different generations. I am so proud to have married into such a wonderful family with such a great heritage.

That night, we strted out at Beau's dad's house for their Christmas party. we ate yummy soup, played bingo, family fued, had the nativity, and Santa came! I think I counted 6 toddlers! It was insane! But so much fun!

then we headed over to My grandma Jolley's for her Christmas party. When we got there everyone had finished eating and they were onto games! My mom brought this was fun game where you had to unwrap a candybar with oven mits while other people rolled the dice to try and get a 6 to steal it from you! It was hilarious!

Then santa came! I was so excited for Blake to sit on Santa's lap! This was the same Santa that came when I was little! So it was really neat to have Blake sit with him! I am a sucker for anyhting sentimental! ;)

He actually did okay with santa! He wasn't scared or anything, he just didn't want to be held!

 Then we had a white elephant gift swap! there were some pretty funny gifts!

I was really glad to get to go to all these parties! I've been kind of stressed and bummed this Christmas. I miss Scott a lot and I have NO CLUE what to get Beau still!? But the parties finally made it FEEL like christmas!

SLC Trip.

Last week we went to SLC, okay so we actually were in Draper 90% of the time, but same thing. Blake did AWESOME driving! He always amazes me how he does so well traveling!

The hotel we stayed at was across the street form a mall (don't ask me what it was called) all I know if that it had a 2 story Forever 21! HEAVEN! I think I spent 2 hours in just that one store! Beau was so great about shopping with me! He mostly just played on his phone and kept saying "Yeah, buy it!" (seriously what husband says that to EVERYTHING you pick up!?) Best Husband EVER!

the next day we went to visit Beau's Biological Grandma and Great Grandma. His GGma is 98! And she is still smart as a whip! She loved the babies!

After that we went out to eat at Joe's Crab Shack, LOVE that place! Blake was so ready for a nap, so he wasn't loving the play place. He mostly just wanted to suck on the lemons. Weirdo.
Plus, the only picture I got of us, I have like 2 chins.
So you get a pic of Tiff and Brian instead!! :) 

 At Thanksgiving Point they had 'Santa's Reindeer' that you could go see. It was PACKED with people, but Blake loved the animals!

 You can tell how much he loved them! He wouldn't look away!

 

It was SUCH a fun weekend! We did a TON of shopping! I ended up spending probobly a total of 3 hours in Forever 21 between the 2 malls we went to. And on a whim, we went into the Disney Store, and Blake came out one spoiled kiddo! We were supposedly done shopping for him before we even went to SLC, and came home with TONS more for him! My defense is that he is our first kid! Spoil them while you can! Maybe it has something to do with me being so spoiled? ;)

Date Night

Last Friday we went out to dinner with ramsey and Shaunie. It was SO much fun! We hadn't been out with them in quite awhile! Well, it was a long time compared to how often we used to get together! It's gone from like once of twice a week, to once a month. Sad I know, kids will do that to ya! Speaking of kids, have I mentioned they are having another little girl!? In like a month! I am super excited for them! But I let Shaunie know that she was alone in this pregnancy! Maybe I'll catch her on the next time around! ;) It was really fun to be pregnant at the same time with Bailey and Blake, but I am SO not ready for round 2! It's so nice to have such good friends that only like like a few blocks away! Anyways so we went to Olive Garden, it was yuuumyy. Mmm. I forget how good, and heavy their food is. I can still feel that chicken parm in the bottom of my belly! we all got the same thing actually, the Tour of Italy. then the couples shared plates. And it was still too much for all of us to eat! To be honest I would be content with salad and breadsticks there! But the ooey, gooey, cheesy pasta is just too tempting to pass up! ;) the boys were not excited about me asking our waitress to take our picture. Apparently I am embarrassing? But I'm okay with that! Hey, when you only do this once in a blue moon, you got to document!

In my last post I kind of sounded like a whiny loser, huh? I'm not, promise! I am super excited for Christmas! I've got SO many projects going on! I love it! Thank GOODNESS Beau got a saw for last Christmas! I love making gifts, I am so much more excited to give them when I know they will mean something! Hopefully they all get finished before the holiday though! I've got a lot to do! I foresee a lot of trips to Home Depot in our future! ;) These next 2 week are going to be a whirlwind! This weekend is going to be FULL of yardwork, projects, shopping, and wrapping. Next week we are headed up to SLC with Beau's mom and sister to visit his brother and SHOP ;) then the weekend we have 2 Christmas parties, work meetings, and more shopping and wrapping, then the next weekend is CHRISTMAS! YAY! I actually love that we are busy! It makes the holiday come faster!

 Just a cute picture of my boys, watching football and eating pomegranates.

Random thoughts for December.

I really can't believe it's December already. This year flew by! Everyone says that, I know. But I think it has something to do with having the little munchkin around that makes time whirl by.

Last night Beau and I were laying in bed talking and I was telling him that I am happy. I am so content and okay with where our life is right now.

I remember when we were dating,

 all I wanted was to be engaged,

and then all I wanted was to be married,

 and then all I wanted was to be pregnant,

 then all I wanted was a house,

 then all I wanted was for our baby to be here.

 Now, I am good.

 I love where we are in life. I don't feel like I am waiting for anything. Of course, it would be nice to have a bigger house, or more money saved up, and I miss being pregnant, but all in all, I am content.

It is a wonderful feeling.

Christmas is stressing me out this year. I'm not exactly sure why, but I feel behind. I still haven't finished stockings, my decor isn't 100% finished, and I still don't know what to get a few people for gifts.

Blake is terrorizing our trees. I can't even look at them anymore, there are bare spots, and crooked ornaments, some that are just tossed into the tree. It's not pretty. I used to be SO uptight about our tree. All of my decor was specifically placed, and every inch of my house, top to bottom was decorated with garland and blocks. Not this year. Anything within Blake's reach has been moved up higher. My house does not look as festive as I would like. Bummer.

Don't get me wrong, I am REALLY REALLY excited for Christmas, I'm just over thinking it a little this year. I need to get back to the real meaning.

For some reason, I always thought that Mean Girls went away after high school. They don't. They just get worse. It's a different kind of Mean Girl now though, it's moved on from the

'Say-it-to-your-face'  'I'm-better-than-you'  'you-can't-sit-at-the-cool-kids-table'

to

'I'm-going-to-smile-nicely-but-never-talk-to-you' 'i-have-a-nicer-house-nicer-car-and-more-money-than-you' 'you-aren't-invited-to-our-playdates' kind of mean.

The only difference is that it doesn't bother me now. I just can't help but wonder if they really need to give those forced smiles to make themselves feel better.

Blake is finally sleeping allll the way through the night. Can I get a Hallelujah? 13.5  hours last night. I honestly think it may be the humidifier in his room. The sound or the moisture, I'm not sure which. But he is going to bed without shrek, and if he does wake up, he puts himself back to sleep! I am loving life! (Knock on wood!)

I have the painting bug. I really REALLY want to paint Blake's room. And our room (But I don't think that one will happen) And we have started to talk about remodeling the bathrooms again. We'll see what happens with that though, most likely it wont be until after the back yards are done.

We got emails from Elder Carlson yesterday! I LOVE thursdays! I even got an email just for myself! TOTALLY made my week! He is doing A-MAZING! He can't wait to get out into the Field! I'm super excited to talk to him on Christmas! He gets a choice of a 3 hour phone call of 45 minutes of Skype. Which should be an easy decision, except he has to talk to 2 houses, so we aren't sure what he's going to do yet.

I had a few pictures from Thanksgiving that somehow I forgot to post!? Shocking I know.

After we had taken a few family photos, we saw a HUGE leaf pile across the street at the church, so we took Blake to play in them!

 Blake was so funny with Bristol. He wasn't quite sure how to act with someone his own age. Bristol was hilarious and Blake was just looking at her like 'huh?'