Business in the Front...Party in the Back

How scary is this? While on vacation visiting my sister-in-law somehow "extensions" came up and I said, "Like these?" and proceeded to unclip mine and take them out. Yes, I love drama. In very silly moods, we decided to try them on the kids. Spencer was a trooper and posed for these lovely "mullet" pictures. What do you think of my white-trash son? Should he change his hairstyle?

Oh Christmas Tree...Oh Christmas Tree!

Okay...for those of you who know me, you know this is HUGE. I bought an artificial Christmas Tree this year! I still can't believe it. After shopping and shopping for the perfect tree, and never finding it...I decided to go where I knew there would be a tree the perfect size, with perfect branches, and THE BEST PART...lights already on! Costco of course! It was awesome! I got to get right to the decorating-no chopping off the bottom, spraying off the tree, making sure it is straight, spending HOURS stringing lights perfectly on every branch. I have to say, "I LOVE IT"!!! Matt says it's the best thing since sliced bread and he fought me on it at first. I know, I know...I won't have that Christmas Tree smell, but I guess I'll just have to buy a really yummy candle now! Don't hate me because my tree is beautiful.

Off to Costco!

Thanksgiving Highlights

Family Time...Matt sacking his first deer...WAY too many hours in a car with four kids...Chex Mix...Hailey's drama over the porta-potty bathroom in Barstow...getting locked out of the hotel in flip-flops at 12:30 at night...swimming in November...the kids having a separate hotel room...Tai Pan...buying wheat (love you mom)...having somewhere to wear my new Burberry coat...not having to cook for an entire week...falling in love with Hank...Thanksgiving Dinner at Sundance..."August Raines"...Amanda's Chili...Cabella's...A BYU basketball AND football game for the boys...Park City shopping...getting the tree home and finding out it had COLORED lights!..Frelly lovingly caressing my face and saying, "Allison, you have big cheeks"...Cousin Time...Off-roading...shootin' time...Matt buying the boys cowboy boots...John's Pie...Chelsea and John's new house...fighting over who gets to hold Blake...playing "Would you Rather" with Courtney and the boys...FAMILY TIME!!!

And We're Off!!

And we're off...we are heading to Utah for a week to enjoy the Thanksgiving Vacation with our families. Wish us happy driving!

"The Birds and The Bees"

So tonight I'm having "the talk" with my older kids Hailey and Spencer- one of our periodic conversations to make sure they are getting "correct" information about important things and not just hearing kids talk at school. Anyway, about halfway through Jake came in wanting to know what we were talking about and I said, "just the birds and the bees...do you have any questions?" He says, "yeah...do all bees die when they lose their stingers?" Way too cute...I just had to share.

TAG-I'm It!!! Things You May or May Not Know About Me...

I got tagged by Jillian, so here goes...

My favorite thing in the whole world is being a mom. I've always wanted to be a mom. There are pictures of me as a 2 year old taking care of my "baby dolls" (I'd post them but I don't have a scanner...hint, hint- It's almost Christmas Matt!) The only part of motherhood I haven't liked is pregnancy (okay, and maybe potty-training too). When I was a teenager I wanted 12 kids, but am content with the most beautiful, amazing, sweet, funny, energetic four kids I know! I love my babies!!!

I LOVE to eat. Probably a little too much. On that note...if I don't like the size of my clothing-I cut out the tags!

I'm obsessed with my parents. Probably more than is healthy for a 35 yr old woman! I don't just love and respect them, but I have a blast hanging out with them. Matt and I actually used to double date with them all the time in high school. The hardest part of moving to San Marcos is not being able to see them everyday. My mom and I get the giggles so bad when we're together! There's just something about having two people in your life who love you unconditionally

I've had the honor of witnessing the births of all three of my sister Amanda's children. I love babies! There is no greater miracle in life than the birth of a child. If I had know how much I love the birth process when I was in college I would have been a Labor and Delivery Nurse. Thanks to Amanda and her very understanding husband, I was able to "play" nurse 3 times!

My bosom buddy (no pun intended) Rachel makes me laugh harder than anybody I know. She is always up for a good time and is HILARIOUS!!! We moved to San Marcos around the same time and I know meeting her was one of the reasons we were supposed to move here. Love ya Rach!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to travel. Luckily, Matt does too ! Some of our recent travels ...

Rome

Florence, Italy

Montserrat

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Barcelona, Spain

This last year, I witnessed a miracle. My dear friend, Shayla, gave birth to a 26 week old after a very touch and go pregnancy with her sixth child. I was in that special room through hours of labor and then waited with my heart in my throat while an emergency C-section was performed. I was able to be in the NICU when they brought Viviana down and hold her tiny hand as they put in a central line and intubated her tiny 1lb. 12oz. body. Lots of prayers were said on her behalf and angels kept vigil at her bedside. I was honored to be a part of this precious miracle.

Viviana Faith-Happy and Healthy at 5 months!

I can be gross...REALLY gross. And I think it's funny. It think toots are funny, much to Matt's horror who thinks no true lady should ever fart. Jokes on him, HE MARRIED ME!!!

After 20 years together, I'm still desperately in love with my husband

I tag Rachel, Shayla, and Chelsea

Something to Puzzle Over

I need everybody to vote...Kitchen Table or Happy Puzzle Boy??? Spencer got out my puzzles last week and has spent hours putting them together. He loves doing them, but I'm not so sure I love not having a kitchen table! The good mom and the good housekeeper are at odds. By the way, how cute is my Spencer? He's in 6th grade now (yep, middle school) and is such a sweetie. I love my Spencer!!!

Don't You Love Date Night?

Come Mondays, when all I do is work-out, work, manage four kids, clean a house, do a bunch of laundry...you know...I look back fondly on my Date Nights with Matt. Luckily, he's good about taking me out regularly. This weekend a bunch of couples from our ward went to see "Dan in Real Life"-GREAT movie. We had a blast and ate way too much at Johnny Carrino's after. Yes, Matt was extremely mortified to be posing in front of the movie theatres on a Friday night!