'Tis the Season!

Christmastime always seems to hurry past me with so much hustle and bustle that I forget to really relish in all my favorite little delights of the season, so I thought I would share a few in hopes to better remind myself to enjoy the journey and the time of year that everything seems to be a little brighter....

1. My camera and all the fun things that it can do!  I have barely scratched the surface with this baby, but after following the directions on Stephanie;s blog and realizing that maybe I have a smidgen of talent compared to her I took a picture of my #1 favorite thing at Christmastime...LIGHTS! I love this picture!  This is how I see my tree when I find a few spare moments in the day to enjoy the beauty of it.  I squint my eyes so I can see all the little twinkles and somewhere in my deranged Type A brain I say to myself..."The tree looks so pretty!  Look how symmetrical you strung all the lights this year!"  LOL!  I love twinkle lights.  Somehow they just make a bad day better.  They put your mind to rest.  They ease tension.  They make a messy house look cleaner.  I think the New Star that Heavenly Father gave the Baby Jesus was the perfect gift.  The best twinkle light ever.  Peace, Light, Brightness, Hope.  That is what I think about when I see my cute little twinkle lights!

 2.  My Christmas tree in general.  it's nothing spectacular.  In fact it's a fake one that we've have for years.  It's tall and skinny and on it's last leg and if I was proud I would go by a new, bigger, better one that filled the room and reached the vaulted ceiling of our new bigger house, and put ornaments on it that matched or had a theme, but I like this one.  I like that it's a little humble and reminds me of what it took us to get to where we are.  It was hard some of the time.  It was a mismatch of trying to make ends meet.  It was a tight squeeze.  it was bending and breaking and sometimes not being the best. But it was and still is a great journey that I don't want to forget.  I like the old fashioned look of it.  I like the wooden ornaments that we once upon a time we had to have to so little hands wouldn't break them.  I like that the kids can still play with them and decorate and un-decorate it at will.  I like it simple.

 3.  Advent Calendars!  I will admit that these have never made it the full 24 days at our house.  The boys love them...especially Zeke who likes to get it all over with in one night and eat them all at once.  That was fun to watch.  More than that though, it's a memory from my childhood.  I remember my best friend Amy Klemm's Grandma would giver her family one every year and they would take turns opening them.  She even let me open the door and have one once when it was her turn.  It was a small act of kindness and I remember it.  I remember feeling loved by someone other than family.  I remember wanting to return the favor. It's a sweet memory and now I like sharing that with my kids...hoping that someday they too will want to share that small act of kindness with someone else.

 4.  Mittens.  I don't know why , but I love mittens!  They are so cute!  They are warm.  They are winter!

 5. The Baby Jesus.  I love this story.  It is my favorite.  I like to think about what Mary was thinking about.  I love that she loved him and us enough to give us that most precious gift.

 6. My New Nativity Set!  Anyone who knows me knows that I would never spend the kind of money on myself that this costs.  For years I have wanted this and this year I got the first piece of my collection!  I love That I now have something to collect.  I love that it's simple.  I love the story that it tells.

7.  Last but not least Christmas Programs, Festivities, Parties, Family and the Hustle and Bustle!  It's crunch time...I mean Christmas Time!  Hey I work the best under pressure!  I pull off my best P.J's and Primary Lessons and Parties at the last minute.  I love all the Hullabaloo!  (This is Dallin's 2nd Grade Christmas Program.  It was darling! He did a great job!!)

I hope you enjoy the season as much as I do.  Hopefully you'll take the time to really notice the little things that make you smile too!

Merry Christmastime!

Happy Birthday Dustin!

We went to Dustin's Mom and Dad's the day after Thanksgiving to take some tables up that had been ordered and his birthday happened to fall on that day.  I secretly think he likes to be home for his birthday.  It where he can be "a kid" again.  This is Dustin at age 32.  He is still a kid at heart.  His favorite food is still Spagetti!  He still loves football and teasing the kids!  Happy Birthday Dusty!  We Love you!

While we were there Dustin's Mom had a fun game for the boys...they went "fishing" for their birthday presents.  They loved it!  Alex wouldn't  hold still long enough to get his picture, but she made them all a cute vest/outfit to dress up in and play all their lost boys games in.  She gave them both hats that used to belong to my dad and grandpa that I had given her to keep in the cabin.  It was special especially for me to see them love them so much.  She put a lot of time into their gifts and they won't take them off.!  Dallin looks way to grown up for his own good in that old fishing hat, but I guess that's the way it's supposed to be.  Thanks Mom, for making things special while we were there!  (We all enjoyed the pie too!)

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010!  This year was special.  With Tara's wedding the week before Thanksgiving, we decided have dinner at my Mom's on Sunday.  It was so fun to have everyone there together.  A tight squeeze, but everyone seemed to have a good time.  Thanks to everyone who chipped in to make it a success!  It was so good to see family and remember what's important.

 This is my favorite Thanksgiving 2010 picture!  Becky and Robyn getting their game on with the Wii!  So fun!

 Cousins!


 FAMILY...is EVERYTHING!

 

 Relaxing after dinner

 

 Dustin clinging to his slush cup...LOL!  He said all he wanted was slush for his birthday.  Good thing his birthday falls at Thanksgiving time.  The look on his face says it all.  He was telling me to stop taking picture of him.  Everyone was picture out from the wedding the day before I guess.Oh well...smile for the camera!

 Uncle Craig

 Mom and Carolyn---can you tell they're sisters?

Uncle Ross---This look is so him!  Reminds me to laugh once in a while!

Mr. & Mrs. Wilkinson!

Tara and Jonathan tied the knot at the Salt Lake Temple on Saturay, November 20th 2010!  We are so happy we could be there to share their special day with them.  Here are a few of my favorite memories!

 Just Married!!!

 This is sooo my Dad!  I think it's cute!

 Family

 Siblings...I love this picture!

Hip! Hip! Hooray!!!

 Mom and Tara

 Nephews!

 Dallin and Derrick pooped after the temple.  Someday they will kill me for this picture...all snuggled up together, but I love it!  So cute.

 The boys with their new "Uncle J"!

 Handsome men!  The brown suits were killer!

 Zeke found himself in the mirror and loved it!

 Boys with Grandma Herb'

 Derrick trying very hard to make a heart like the picture!  So sweet.
P.S.  I made the quilt that the picture is sitting on---I must admit I even impressed myself with that one, and I found a new friend in the process!  I lady that machine quilts at a price I can afford!  I am in heaven!

 One big happy family!

 

Bridesmaids!

 Dallin and Alex were in charge of getting the presents at the door.  They about ran a few people over tackling the gifts out of their hands.  It was a contest to see who would get chosen to carry the present to the table.  They were in heaven!

 Tara and the boys

Our side of the Fam...Not a bad looking bunch if I do say so myself...LOL!

 Yummy cake!  Rum frosting...who knew?!?

 So Tara.  Always prepared with a coke and some suga'!

Proud Dad!

The Alldredge Family---This is us trying to be formal.  I talked the photographer into snapping a picture of our little family.  Pretty funny!  I won't even attempt to point out the flaws...LOL!  Let me just say this...Who gave the boys the gum??? 

We had a great time!  It was an awsome party!  When we left the reception center it was a blizzard!  Snow everywhere!  The kids were amazed!  I guess we need to get them to the snow more often.  Dustin was glad he only had to help shovel for one day and then it was back to St. George.  We forgot how cold and wet it can get up there!  We've turned into wimps when it comes to weather.  LOL! It was so good to see everyone!  Friends and family I haven't seen for a long time.  Made me a little homesick for my childhood. Thanks to everyone who make a special effort to come and see us, we wished we could have spent more time with all of you! Welcome to the family Jonathan!

29 plus 1

Ok...I know you can do math, but I just couldn't bring myself to type #30 as the title for the post!  Yes!  I am in the club!  I actually am very excited to see what 30 will bring.  So far everyone I talk to says that the 30's are the best!  I had to work on my B-day so I came home to find this cute display on the table from Dustin, the Kiddo's and Julie.  Thanks everyone for making my birthday so special! (My favorite part is Dallin's pink card on the end and the fact that he wrote "30ith"---so cute!)

 My BFF Melissa gave me this book for my B-Day! I have to say I was a little sceptical...I like the "everything turns out fine in the end kind of stories with a little mystery and some old fashioned falling in love," but this book turned out to be one of the best I've read in a long time.  Read it...you'll love it! 

Smile for the Camera!

School Picture Time!  Hurray!   I am always pleasantly surprised at how good the kids school pictures turn out.  This may be because I always thought mine were terrible...LOL!  Looking back though they mark the years--the missing front teeth, the "Hip" hair-do's, etc.  Sad that some of the "cool stuff" has already come and gone and come back in my short 30 years.  Just today Alex asked me why all the girls at school wear "Very Tight Pants?" ...and why don't boys wear them too?  Try explaining that one - LOL!  That kid is too observant for his own good!  Anyway, without further adu, here's my cute kids and their 2010 school pics!  Enjoy!

 

 Dallin age 7 - 2nd Grade

Mrs. Meyers Class

Loves to find little things to make bigger things ie: sticks, rocks, paper clips, nails, etc.  Always putting things together to make something "cool".  Love to play with with friends, and listen to music.  Very good at spelling and math.  Loves to tease his mom. : P

Alex age 5 - Kindergarten

Ms. Gardner's Class

Love to play the Wii and watch movies.  Always dressing up like a cowboy or super hero.  Very observant.  Loves food.  Especially chicken nuggets, chocolate, pizza, and chicken and stuffing casserole and ham and cheese sandwiches.  Loves going to school.

Derrick age 4 - Preschool

Mrs. Cami's Class

Likes to sleep in and watch TV in the morning.  Says the funniest things...

"Mom my Thinger hurts!" (Finger)
"Mom did you know we are in a Flamly!?!" (Family)

"Hey Mom!  There's the Hostible!  Let's go get a new baby! We need one!" (Hospital)

...yes I am choosing to ignore the 'new baby' comment.  Lol!

Derrick can always make you smile.  He pulls the funniest faces!  Full of life!

Trick-or-Treat 2010

I'll be honest.  It seemed like this year we were Trick-or-Treating for a week!  By the time the kids picked out one (or in Alex's case THREE) costumes, had thier school parade(s), class parties, pumpkin carving at grandmas and then a VERY LONG walk on Halloween night, I was pooped!  I know I know...I am a party pooper, but it seems like an awful lot of work for a few Kit Kats, and bite sized Snickers....(those are the ones I like to steal out of the loot when we get done checking it out...he he!  He are the memories in no particular order:

 Alex at the school parade in his Knight costume.  He was NOT happy about having to wear Levis underneith and this sealed the deal on not wearing it to Trick-or-Treat in.

 Derrick's cute Pre-School class...anyone see Derrick?  He is the pair of eys in the window on the left under the au in "Laugh".  He didn't want to come out for the picture....oh well...cute class anyway.  He still loves school.

 He finally came out...Monkey costume, face mask, sticky doughnut and all.

 While Dustin and I were at the boutique DenniAnn helped the kids carve pumpkins at Grandma Alldredge's house.  They had a blast.  Alex was very proud of the Pirate!

Trick-or-Treat!  This is what we fianlly ended up with Halloween night.  Woody for Alex, Pirate for Zeke (His shoes were way too big, but he wouldn't take 'No' for an answer), Superman for Dallin, (slicked hair and all) and you guessed it...Derrick is the one in the Spiderman costume.  He kept that mask on the whole night!  We couldn't help laughing becuase who knows how he could see a thing in it, but he wore it with pride and somehow managed not to fall and break his neck on our two hour trick-or-treating adventure around the neighborhood.  

P.S.  Yes...Cloey is in a princess costume!  You know how I love to torture the dog!  She wasn't happy about this, but we thought it was hysterical!  She was even a good sport about not biting all the kids that wanted to pet the princess!

I love getting pictures of the actual Trick-or-Treating fun.  There is just something about running from house to house for treats.  So cute at this age.

Dustin is Dustin Shelves...

...and tables, and toy boxs, and benches and just about anthing else you can make out of wood!  Every year in October during the Deer Hunt weekend in Fillmore they have a "Hunters Widow" Boutique.  For the past several years I have had a booth and have done vinyl or crafts or helped someone else with thier projects.  It's always fun...and a little stressful.  Don't ask me why I keep doing it...I say every year that I'm NEVER doing that again and then October rolls around and I can't help myself.  Well this year Dustin decided that it would be some good publicity for his new and up and coming business to have a booth for of his shelves and tables.  He made all of this stuff in about 3 weeks and that was on top of the other orders he already had rolling in!  The cherry on top was when he stayed behind from hunting and sat at the boutique with me all day!  It was so fun spending the day with him!  ( Fun for me anyway : P  I am pretty sure he was noticing he was the only guy there a few times...LOL!)  He did great though!  Came home with tons of orders and hardy any inventory.  It couldn't have gone better and I am so proud of his work and all the neat things he can do!

I'm Lovin' It!

Well my "trial period" for trying out coupon shopping is over and I have to say I AM HOOKED!  I love all the deals I am getting and the free stuff is way fun!  I will admit that it is time consuming and tedious at times, but seriously I can't help but love how full my food storage is and the fun things I have found.  This picture is a few weeks old, but one of many great deals...$9.07 for all of that!  Wahoo!  I am having so much fun!  Just yesterday I had my very first FREE shopping experience!  I went to Smiths and got a whole grocery cart of soup, noodles, razors, toothbrushes, and tons of other stuff and the total came to -.05!!!!  So much fun!  The checkout lady told me she couldn't give me .05  so I had to buy a candy bar for .50 to make it even...LOL!  I'm lovin' it!  A few of my favorite coupon helper sites are:

The Krazy Coupon Lady

Freebies2Deals

Coupons.com

Happy Shopping!  Here's to free groceries!