THIS YEAR'S VERSION OF OUR CHRISTMAS CARD

This Christmas Card is for everyone who reads this... which is for the most part who we would have sent them to in the mail anyway.

Yes, I am alive. This month has been INSANE! Since Thanksgiving, my life has been in overdrive. I don't even have pictures to post because I never had time or forgot. We were in charge of the Ward Christmas Party this year. We did Polar Express and it turned out great. I also got a new calling in YW's as 2nd couselor. Cory was gone for 2 weeks and of course, was gone when I needed him most. We couldn't get family photos done in time with him gone for cards so for the first time ever, I'm bagging it! I've always done neighbor & family gifts but seriously, I can't deal with it all this year. I watched my sister's kids for a week and I wasn't home. Steph came and stayed a week in the beginning of December. All I have done is put up a tree. Not doing stockings this year. No traditional pajamas for Christmas Eve. I did go Christmas shopping one day back in November for Mason and that's it. I'm wrapping up some tools Cory bought for him and I'm calling it good. Talk about simplify! I'm not a person that usually does that. I am just out of time and sanity to do more. So I hope nobody gets offended over no present or christmas card. I do love and appreciate everyone that has sent us a card or given us a gift Thank you. I've wanted to do so many things but I just don't have it in me this year. To top it off, we are all sick. AGAIN!!

7 DAYS OF GRATITUDE CONT...

Day #4 I did a thankful day from Mason. He drew daddy a picture on a thank you card, I made a movie of him telling his dad different things he's thankful for and singing songs (I can't get the video to load, it's making me mad!) he sent daddy a text and called daddy. Mason was so excited to give his daddy the stuff he made for him when he got home.

Day#5
I made 5 "thankful" coupons and gave them to him. Yes, I didn't post one of them on purpose Ü


Day#6 I told him we were going to go on a $8 date to appreciate him, but he got home from work late and we have yet to do that.


Day #7 I wanted to watch a Thankgsiving-ish movie, and this is what I planned on watching but Cory said no he wanted to watch James Bond instead. (Boys!)

7 DAYS OF GRATITUDE

I decided this Thanksgiving Season to do something different for Cory. I decided to do 7 days of Gratitude for Cory to show him how much I appreciate him. I decided to do it this week and I will post what I have done so far...

DAY #1

This was supposed to be put inside a cake for him to find - but he wasn't in the mood for cake so, I just cut it into a puzzle instead for him to put together and read.

DAY #2
I just had these as magnets on the fridge for him to read.


Day #3

These were the favorite things I put together for him... Chicken Enchiladas, Strawberry Dessert, Vanilla Coke, Orange/Vanilla Sherbet Icecream, Sugar Cookies, Snickers and Jerky. (He ate the jerky before I could put it in the picture)

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ALREADY!

I have been planning our ward Christmas party for a few weeks now and have started to feel the Christmas spirit. So I thought I would start listening to Christmas music. I'm usually an avid "wait till after Thanksgiving!" person, but I just couldn't help it. I heard this song called, "New Again" by Brad Paisley and Sara Evans. I had never heard it before and I fell in love with it. I don't know if it's the pregancy hormones or what but I bawl everytime I hear it. I went online to see if there was a video or anything for it. I found out that it is from the movie "The Passion" This is a pretty good video, it tells the story of the song really well. I don't totally love the look of the Jesus in it, but I still liked the video.

Here it is: (pause my music so you can hear the song)

SILLY BOY

A funny thing that Mason said today-
**********************************************************
Noticing Mason pushing and getting red-faced I say:
"Mason, are you pooping?"
Mason: "Where did it go?"
Me: "Where did what go?"
Mason: "Where did my fart go?"

Aren't kids adorable?

CLEAR THE AIR...

I've had this post saved in my drafts for sometime. I've been hesitant about posting it and now I finally decided I should post it. Just to clear the air, I know there was some questions and confusion. I DID have a miscarriage a few months ago. I was to be due in January. I was 10 weeks when I went to the doctor and they did a routine ultrasound (which I'm greatful) to see how things were. Things didn't look good. The fetus was only 6 weeks and had no heart beat. The doctor handed me a prescription to have blood work at the hospital and sent me out the side door. I can't even describe the experience. First shock, then almost stupidity or rejection to be sent out the "side" door. I felt as though I didn't pass some test. I found out they do that so I wouldn't have to see all the pregnant people and feel bad - or so no one would look at me if I were to be emotional. Still, I felt horrible. I got into my car and I was still shocked. I didn't know what to think exactly. So I called my mom. I didn't know if she would answer because she was on a mission and got horrible service. She did answer and the flood gates opened. I couldn't even talk. My mom had been through 5 miscarriages and understood. I felt as though I had a rug pulled out from under me, or like I had just been robbed. I went to the hospital 4 days in a row for blood work. My arms were completely black and blue thanks to some Russian lady that didn't seem to know what she was doing. The following week I had another ultrasound. The hope I had left was shattered when they told me that the pregnancy wasn't viable. They said 1 in every 5 pregancies are miscarriages. Of course, you never think it's YOU. The following day I had a DNC. Through that emotional roller coaster I could not have made it without my Savior. I had prayed and cried like never before - but when I would pray, I experienced the most overwhelming calming peace and assurity that everything was going to be ok. It is an experience that I would wish on nobody. It is difficult to describe losing a baby that you thought was coming to you. We are now expecting another child in May and everything thankfully looks good. I just want to thank all the friends and family that were so supportive and there for me through my challenging time.

HALLOWEEN PARTY

Every year my sister Cindy does a family Halloween party at the Lehi pump house. She had a maze cut into their phragmites, a spook alley in the pumps, and the party and eating in the back. She always does an amazing job and I wish I would have taken more pictures of everything else.

The sisters: Kim, Sheryl, Cindy, Kerry, Gina
Mason, Cory, and Me
(I was laughing so hard when I saw this picture because it looks like Cory is wearing the helmet that is set up on a cabinet behind us)

Us again. We decided to be pirates this year.

Cory as a Pirate

Mason as a cute little pirate!

HALLOWEEN PARTY CONTINUED...

Some other fun costumes!

Mason with his cousins Mayci and Addi

Jake

Jason and Kim
Aunt Becky, Debbie, Cindy

Brooky, Kenzie



Darren and Sheryl

Jared, Aunt Mary, Joe

WE GOT "BOO"ED!!

So last night while we were lounging around watching The Office season 2. I swore I heard the door bell ring. So I go down and open it up and no one is there. Just as I'm about to close the door I see on the porch a plate of cupcakes. I started laughing and yell up to Cory - "We got Booed!!" He didn't know what that meant of course. I felt really bad cause it was pitch black outside - we had absolutely no lights on. At least the culprit was able to sneak away. So I bring them in and show Cory. They were so cute! Orange frosting, green sprinkles, and a candy corn on top. I wanted to get my camera and take a picture but as you can see they didn't even last that long! They were still warm and everything. I have an idea of who it was. I have this REALLY creative, crafty, cute neighbor down the street and I think I recognize the chinet plate from Bunko. Hmmm.... Steff was that you last night?Ü!?

OUR PUMPKINS

Here are our jack-o-lanterns we made this year. These are the first pumpkins we have ever made since we have been married. That's 8 years I might add. I tell ya, Jersey made us so boring. Cory wanted a scary one so he picked out a really warty pumpkin - and his son had to match him of course! He wanted a smily face on his. I wanted to be different so I got a green one.

PICKIN' PUMPKINS

Cory's brother and his family invited us to go to a pumpkim patch in South Jordan. We were watching Braxton so all 3 boys were there. They had a lot of fun picking out their pumkins. Afterwards, we went to their house and carved them. It was lots of fun. Thanks for inviting us Chad and Jamee!

GETTING FESTIVE

This is the first year I've ever really decorated for Halloween. I don't know, things were just so different in New Jersey. Here are som pictures of few decorations:

Our bloody ghost on our front door. It kind of happened on accident. I was putting blood on the screen door and just had my ghost over my other door and when I closed them together... voila! It looked like a bloody ghost. I thought it was kind of cool for an accident.

This witch is so ugly that I love it. She just makes me laugh. She is sittin' on our table with her smokin' cauldren.

WHY I'VE BEEN BUSY

I've been out of the blogging world for awhile - so I guess it's time I catch up. Our ward has an activity coming up that I'm in charge of and getting ready for that has been keeping me busy.

We are having our chili cookoff and a Day of the Dead celebration. Hopefully everything goes smoothly!

FIXIN' TIRES

As I was working at the computer Mason comes in and starts playing under my chair. He starts saying that the tires are broken and runs out to get "tools" to fix them. I tried to record some videos of him "Fixin' Tires"

KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS...

These are some funny things Mason has been saying lately:

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mom: "No, Mason you can't have any more of daddy's jalepeno chips."

Mason: "I want daddy chips!!"

Mom: "No! They'll give you diarrhea!"

Mason: yelling, "I WANT DIARRHEA!"

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mason playing on his pretend cell phone-

Mom: "Mason, you need to clean up your toys."

Mason: Putting his finger to his lips, "Sssh! Mom, I'm on phone." Puts phone back to his ear, "Sorry Kyson, talking to mom."

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mason: "Where's daddy?"

Mom: "He went to work."

Mason: "Get money?"

Mom: chuckling, "Yep."

Mason: "Buy diapers for bum?"

Mom: laughing, "I guess so."

(Cory must have had a discussion with him)

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mason watching tv in other room-

Mason: "Moooommm!!"

Mom: "What?"

Mason: "Come 'ere!"

Mom: "Why?"

Mason: "Lay by you!"

Mom: "I will in a minute, I'm busy."

Mason: "Moooommmm!"

Mom: "What?"

Mason: "Just talk-a to me!"

Mom: Walking in by him, "What do you want to talk about honey?"

Mason: "Mom, I love you sooooo much!" Gives me a hug

Mom: tickled, I hug him back "I love you so much too honey."

Mason: Pulling back from our hug and looks at me, "You get me pop and cheetos, kay?"

------------------------------------------------------------------

Mason sitting at the computer pushing buttons-

Mom: "No Mason! Don't play on the computer."

Mason: "In minute, I'm busy!"

(Boy, they pick up things fast, don't they?!?)

OH NO... THE BIG THREE-OH!

Cory's 30th Birthday was on Tuesday. I planned a big surprise party for him. It turned out that he was genuinely surprised. I had invited people from his past and everything. There were about 40 people. I was pleasantly surprised with how well it turned out. Everything went really smooth. We had it at Talons Cove, which is where my sister works. So my excuse to go there was to drop Mason off for her to babysit. She was supposedly running late from work and was almost on her way home. We were supposed to be going to dinner and Cory was SUPER ornery. He was very hungry and was bugged I was taking so long. Whe we got there he had no idea. I wish I would have gotten pictures of him coming in and the look on his face. He went all red with embarrasment and was totally surprised. We had pulled pork sandwiches, caramel apples, veggies/dip, and there was chips and salsa on the tables. I had a slide show/dvd throughout his passed 30 years that I played during dinner. Then we played Cory Hardy Jeopordy with each table as a team. I had framed pictures of him from when he was young until now on display on a table. There was a sign in table with a matted picture of him that people could write on. I think my favorite part was his shock when I gave him his present. He was soooo excited!! He couldn't even sleep that night - he had to take medicine. He said it was the best birthday he has EVER had. He has never had a surprise party he said that worked that well. I'm glad it's over though. Trying to keep all that a secret was tough.

CAMPFIRE IN THE CANYON

For Adult Night last Saturday we went up AF canyon and had a little campfire. We cooked tinfoil dinners and roasted marshmellows for smores. The girls went on a strenuous hike (it was strenuous to us) up the mountain and found a really pretty open area. We were having a little too much fun with the camera. It was really dark and we couldn't see anything. So we would just count to 3 and take a picture to see what people were doing. It was a fun getaway from kids.

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

People have always told me that Mason looks a lot like Cory. I never could see it until I walked in and saw them both sleeping the other day. It was fun to see the father - son resemblence.

PROGRESS!

We have been trying to potty train him on the regular toilet, but not much was happening. So we bought him his own potty and he absolutely loves it. He carries it around from room to room. It sings and talks. It has it's own pretend flusher which he thinks is so cool!

HORSEY RIDE

Mason went for a little horse ride with his cousin Kaytlyn. The horse's name was BJ, and he won't stop talking about him. He loved riding around and around.