Just Over 12 Hours To Go

You have just over 12 hours to repent, resolve to change your life and write it down! We need written proof to show you around the 3rd week in January that you have already fallen off the wagon.
Mine are already done. How about yours?

Good Friends

Once a year, after Christmas, we get together with a group of our friends that we have been friends with since time began it seems. As a matter of fact, Jason is responsible for hooking Ross and I up. We are forever in your debt Jas! Or on other days, we just blame you;)
Anyway, there are a lot more of us now with all of our kiddos. It is so fun to see all of them play while all of us big kids catch up on each others lives.
The best kind of friends are the ones when you don't see each other for a year and you pick up right where you left off. And you know that you can still count on them for anything.
Thanks Jason and Mary Jane for letting us trash your house! We love all of you guys!

The Non Stop Christmas Party

It was such a great year. We had fun seeing family and friends, eating too much, playing secret Santa. We had many an opportunity to help out others this year and it really brought the spirit for us. We are so blessed and we are happy to impart of our substance.
The Stahle party this year was awesome! We always get a visit from Santa Kirt and his trusty sidekick, Buttkiss. (Buttkiss is a stuffed monkey that helps hand out the toys to the kids. He got his plastic eyes poked out by Tyson this year for trying to hoard presents.) We also got a visit from the one and only Rudolph! (a.k.a. Clay and Colt, the 2 coolest cousins ever!) It made the kids excited and the adults laugh their aces off.
The Christmas Eve party at grandpa and grandma Walker's house is always a hit. We were all spoiled rotten as usual. Some of us a little more rotten than others, but we won't say any names!
Christmas Day is always fun for me because I get to see the huge smiles on the boys faces. Somehow, Santa always comes through. Make sure you ask Ross about his rockin' new shirt he got from his loving wife;) Ross hooked me up with a tv for the gym so I can use my workout dvd's or watch a little something while on the dreadmill. You are the best honey!
Later that day we got to go to Aunt Emmy's house for a late lunch and more presents. It was a lot of fun. My sisters and I did a cool thing this year. We did a charitable Christmas. We all have so much so we decided that in lieu of gifts for each other, we took the money and gave it to different charitable causes, people in need, etc. It was awesome. I think we will do that every year. Next year we are going to include mom and dad in it too.
Such a fun time of year.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have a magical Christmas. I pray for all of you and know that we will all be blessed in our journeys through life. Remain faithful, have joy and let love abound.

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!"

Poppy the Popcorn Man

We had a rip roarin' time at the Keith's Christmas Party last night. One of the cool things about where we live is that there are way fun people that love to party. Never a dull moment in the Valley!
We had great food which led all of us to eat way too much once again. What are the holidays for if not to overeat? We played some really fun games that led to Ross being nick-named Poppy. I am not at liberty to explain here as children might someday read this blog, just know that it was freaking hilarious!
We missed Chad and Kelli since Kell has the flu:( Get better soon!)
Thanks Brian and Sherene! You guys know how to throw a great party even if you can't count Sherene;)

A Few of My favorite Christmas Things

My friend Kelli inspired me to write this post. Thanks Kell!

1. Snow. I love snow. It makes me happy. I love the way it looks and feels and smells. Yes, I think there is a smell to it.
2. Kindness. Usually at this time of year, my faith in humanity is restored. I am amazed at the things people will do for each other.
3. Reverence. There is a certain reverence that comes at this time of year for me. I stand in awe. Which leads me to #4.
4. My Savior. His birth. His life. His death. His love for me. His love for all of us.
5. The nativity. I love looking at different depictions of how people think it "looked". I have an overwhelming respect for Joseph and Mary and the things they went through and their willingness to do it.
6. Freedom of Religion. and part of that, Joseph Smith Jr. Happy Birthday to him this month too.
7. The song O Holy Night. It's my favorite of all time.
8. Candy canes and hot chocolate.
9. Gingerbread houses.
10. Playing Secret Santa
11. When I find the "perfect gift" for someone.
12. Family. Ross and I have the best. Our kids, parents, siblings, etc. I am so grateful for all of them.
13. Friends. We also have the best of friends. We have added many to our circle over the years and are always looking for more.
14. Traditions.
15. Watching my kids getting the spirit of Christmas.
16. Peace. Hope. Joy.

I could go on and on but I will stop there for now.

"Hello? Is this thing on?"

Corbin has great comedic timing. He is always saying the most hilarious things. We took a trip to the Valley Market the other day and he had a few good ones.

We are walking into the store and I notice he has tennis shoes with no socks, holy jeans, and a Lowe's ball cap. (He's ready for the runway I know)
"Corbin, where in the heck are your socks?"
"Mom, I don't care about socks. I care about Lowe's."

In the store he climbs into the back of the cart. "Ok woman if I'm going to sit in this thing you are going to have to be a good driver." (snickers from the lady buying avocados)

We go down the candy aisle and he wants me to buy a bag of treats for just him.
"How about I buy a bag you can share with your brothers?"
"How about you buy a bag just for me?"
I give him the "look".
He points at himself with his thumb, shakes his head, "I've got good ideas!"

I know, kind of random but he just makes me smile.

Barbie Is Getting Uglier By The Minute

I love the song "Barbie Girl" by Aqua. Call me shallow but I think it's hilarious. I am a teeny bopper at heart. Anyway, I have it recorded onto a disc that my boys always want me to play in the car. Tyson and Jaden love to sing along and add in Weird Al Yankovic's lyrics.

Oringinal: I'm a Barbie Girl, in a Barbie World, Life in Plastic, It's fantastic! You can brush my hair, undress me anywhere, Imagination, life is your creation.

Tyson, Jaden and Weird Al: I'm an ugly girl, my face makes you hurl, Sad I have it, I should bag it. Acne everywhere, unwanted facial hair, I'm a relation to Frankenstein's creation.

Watch out you ladies in the future, you've got quite the ladies men on your hands!

Puppy Love

We have been thinking about getting a dog for quite a while. Ross did research for like a year to figure out what we wanted. I had never heard of Vizsla's before he found them on the internet one day. There happens to be a breeder in Bluffdale. The puppies were born just a few days before Thanksgiving and they are so cute! We went down to see them today and I think all of us fell in love with them. I mean how can you resist that face?

We get to bring home our new addition to the family the first week in January. Let the countdown begin!

Kermit?

I stole this post from Ross off of our other blog but it is high time it is posted here too.





"Do you see the frog in this picture? Look hard. Its not a real frog, but the image of a frog across the whole mountain (looking to the right). Yup, there he is! (Easier to see with more snow.)

Last year when the snow came we noticed this funny image (actually I think Kelly saw him first) and we named him "Oh Great Frog". He is an all knowing, protective, loving animal. He disappears for the summer (I think he hibernates) so we were so glad to see him come back this winter. Welcome back O.G.F.!!

We have adopted him as some what of a winter mascot, although if you wish to honor the frog you can, he is not just ours. He provides us very important guidance, O.G.F. has offered deep insight into:
1- Fashion: Like when Tyson doesn't believe his mom that his clothes dont match, the frog will confirm it.
2- Prophecy: He told me about a few christmas gifts last year.
3- Entertainment: He suggests movies to watch .
4- Covert Intel: Tells me when the kids did not finish their dinner and tried to hide it in the garbage.
5- Financial: Actually all the stock tips he gave me tanked!
6- Guidance: We always know which way is west cuz thats where he sits in our valley.
7- Health: I go snowboarding every time he has fresh white on his skin.

Dont be afraid he knows when not to look and does not peep in windows!

Next time you are looking at the mountains look for our frog. In order to get his attention you must yell "Oh Great Frog...." then ask your question. You will be amazed by his knowledge, and how people look at you when you yell that in the church parking lot.

We love you OGF!"

A Christmas Village for Ants?

We have a tradition every year of decorating gingerbread houses with my mom and sisters. The kids have always made theirs out of graham crackers but they don't hold together very well. I was so excited when I found that someone had put together a mini christmas village gingerbread kit complete with frosting, candy and the pre-made houses. So I bought it for all the kids. I figured they would be about half the size of a regular house kit.
HO BOY! When they said mini, they meant MICRO mini. I have never seen anything so tiny! They were no more than an inch and a half high. We all got a good chuckle out of it. The kids had fun none-the-less. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera:( Not that you could see pictures of something so tiny anyway.

Choir Concerts and Ward Parties

Tyson and Jaden had their choir concert tonight at Christmas Village. It was freaking cold but so worth it. The choir did such a great job. Jaden had a speaking part for one of their numbers. He did really well. Tyson has got some serious soul! He was jamming like you wouldn't believe. He gets that from me.
Our ward party was also tonight. Everything turned out so beautiful and from what I hear, the dinner was tasty. We got there in time for dessert and for me to talk to a few people before I started cleaning up. There is no rest for the weary and right now, I AM WEARY! Please Lord, stop giving me callings! I can't do it all!
Corbin was brave enough to actually play with the infamous Alex. It was pretty cute to watch.

Alex the Babe

My friend Jamie has the cutest little girl named Alex that Corbin is totally enamored with. She doesn't know it yet, but I think Corbin plans on marrying her someday. It was her birthday yesterday and all she wanted to do was go rock climbing so the Froerer's came over for a while last night.
Sunday night when I told Corbin that she was coming over for her birthday, he said, "Mom, can you PLEASE make cookies or brownies or something for me to give her tomorrow? It's important!"
We ended up with a plate full of brownies for her. Even though he is madly in love with her though, he almost didn't give them to her. Too much pressure! But he was brave and for 2 seconds he actually looked her in the eyes and wished her a happy birthday. And then quickly hid behind my legs.
You know how it is. You can't actually look at the person you like let alone TALK to them. They are able to see right into your soul for heavens sake! Which is why Ross and I haven't spoken since we met. (he only WISHES I wouldn't talk to him sometimes!)

Rebuked

I am so ashamed. I was rebuked, rebuffed and publicly humiliated by my Kelly club vice president of operations. Okay maybe not as bad as all that but I was informed I need to post more. The sad but true thing is, I am just not that interesting! But we will pretend like I am and here it goes.
I am in this weird zone lately. Kind of reflective of what my current goals are, if I am happy with what I am doing, when can I go see Twilight again and what I need to change. I have been on a fitness craze the last couple of years but I never seem to be quite where I want to be. Could it be that I can't stop eating food? Why does food have to taste so good? I mean, when there is another cookie sitting on a plate or an extra piece of Thanksgiving pie, what recourse do I have except to eat it? I am helping it fulfill it's god-given purpose. (I am a true humanitarian, I know.)
Anyway, to make a long story even longer, my grandma told me last week I am chunky. Forget the fact that I lost 35 pounds this year and ran 2 major races. Forget that she needs to have HER mouth sewn shut. (love you gram) It just makes me realize I am not quite there yet so I have to recommit and do the work. Could this have come at any WORSE time? Just thinking about all the Christmas treats is making me gain weight! AAHHHH the pressure!
On another note, as president of Kelly club, I am thinking of rescinding all rights of free speech to any other parties in my club. (hint hint KELLI!) Unless of course, she wants to go see Twilight with me again;)