A Book for Christmas

A couple weeks ago I was searching for a gift for some friends. These friends are like my second family, (I seem to have a couple of these, thanks to so many people for adopting me!) I had wanted to get their family a nice Nativity picture or a picture of Mary holding baby Jesus. I was having a really hard time finding something in my price range that would work. (this family isn't mormon so I wanted something spiritual that captured to true heart of Christmas but wasn't over the top.) After looking and looking I gave up and decided to get them a book, thinking The Fogotten Carols would be perfect I set to work looking for that. I kept passing by this book...

I have ALWAYS loved this story. Partly because our family is a Train family now, but mostly the story of young Thomas who realizes someone elses need is greater than his. I kind of tear up a little everytime I hear it.

 

I kept looking at this book wondering if I should get it for me, but I was here for someone else, even if I couldn't find what I wanted for them. So I finally told myself if I still REALLY wanted it to get it after Christmas, but leave it alone.

 

This Friday my Co-Worker and good friend Tiffany, (that lucky lady with the Twin Girlies) told me she had my present but told me before I opened it that if I didn't like it I could totally return it and she wouldn't be offended (She is the sweetest, like I wouldn't like something she picked out). Turns out she got me the best Christmas gift this year. I almost cried a little when I opened the gift and saw this book. (I know I am a big baby!) Thank You Tiffany for the best gift!  

A Play!! (Or two)

I love plays, well I love directing and narrating. Maybe I enjoy bossing people around...

Fancy Christmas Dinner Party

My Bestie (Jessica Foust) has done a dinner party for Christmas the past 3 years. The first year I gave an ornament with her name on it as my white elephant. This year I had to up the anti.



Thanks to her sister Katlyn for helping me sneak this gem. Isn't she ADORABLE!

Thanks to Camie for supplying me with an outfit and all this bling.

Brittany, Me and Mel

The Soups and Salads were divine and the dinner conversation was entertaining.

What kind of a party would it be if we didn't play a game? If you haven't played loaded questions I suggest you give it a try! You won't regret it! (Maybe you will, I don't really know you that well.)

Little America

My cousin and her family come out every so often for meetings and I occasionaly get to watch her littles while she and her husband go to their fancy dinner.

Chaz and I spent the night counting lights, watching choo choos (trax), playing with his baby sister, and going on a walk to get ice. (how magical that ice machine is!)

The next morning we got to play again. We again spent some quality time behind the couch, sitting on the floor, hiding behind the curtains... waiting for the choo choos to come and go.

Choo Choos are the best.

Time To Go Home Now.

Had to go to Gygi's to find a White Elephant Gift- CHECK (Mustache Ice Cube Molds) Decided to call the Lowrys to see if they were busy and could I stop by? Rachel is great and not only said that was ok, but totally invited me to dinner!

Thanks for the Christmas gift wrapped in, UNDERWEAR? You silly heads! (kinda looks like I'm lickin it, huh?) Poor choice of a crazy face on my part :(

After dinner we made Ninja-Bread Men and GingaStache Cookies!

They were a delight on and in the mouth!

 

Thanks to Ben for taking the picture and thanks to SoSo for yelling out, "Time to go home now!" once Ben got home. He obviously gets the whole awkward, real daddy is here, fake daddy should leave, things could get tense with the ex and the current together in the same house......

Snow

My friends keep convincing me to play in Snow. I think the time Jess and I played music and got videos of the guys snowboarding was the most fun. It's even more fun if they fall. Especially when you are sitting there doing nothing. This week I'm off to find some Cross Country Skis!!

Fall Break

Thanksgiving was Thursday and we only had school Monday and Tuesday, that meant I go to PLAY!

Of course I went with this little boy!

Soaking up some sun. It was a PERFECT Fall day.

Ice Skating is always fun, even if you aren't very good at it...

Halloween

Started Halloween off with a little Ward Party. Katlyn and I threw our costumes together in about an hour. Not too shabby right?! (Katlyn the the hot blonde nerd next to me, her Sister is my Bestie Jessica) The other 2 nerds we met 2 seconds before this picture was taken.

Effie: Poison Ivy. Katlyn and I: Nerds. Emily: Witch

I Saw this Edward Scissor Hands guy and had to have a picture with him. I mean who DOESN'T love Edward Scissor Hands?!?! Took me a second to realize, oh hey I know you. His costume was really good.

 

The party was entertaining once Katlyn and I (and occasionaly the Male nerd, Milo) decided to liven things up by being in as many photos as we could.  

 

And now for a little Daycare fun!

It's not a holiday until I'm coming up with cute hand or feet crafts that I drive myself crazy trying to make sure happen. Every time I tell myself, gosh this is a lot of work (because I'm OCD and won't let anyone help, what if they mess it up!!) and really I don't NEED to do this. But without fail every new Holiday brings new excitement and really it's not that hard and I NEED to do this one craft.

The ghost hand is my favorite Halloween treat and the Green Ribbon is my FAVORITE book to scare the children with.

My 2 Captain Americas: Talon and Chase. Chase was a great mentor and kept an eye on Talon, showing him where to walk and making sure he got candy.

YAY my sister came:We were OBVIOUSLY Phineas and Ferb. Hey, Where's Perry?!

Snow White made an appearance

Jacque: Phineas. Ashley: Ferb. Oakley: Minnie Mouse.

Talon: Cap'N Merica (as he pronounces it) 

Ashley and Oakley: Thanks for coming to visit and for comin all the way to my work so I could trick or treat with my favorite Galbraiths.

(I don't have photos but my co-worker's kids had the CUTEST costumes!! Her Kindergartener was the Cat in the Hat and her Twinnies were Thing 1 and Thing 2. So CUTE!!)

First Ever Field Trip!!

October 29th we went on our first ever field trip. Thanks to the Viewmont Daycare for inviting us along to Black Island Farm.

my little bus buddies

my field trip buddies: we are on Hay Ride! (minus the hay...)

It took a couple tries to get this AWESOME shot, because I was either too fast or too slow.

I did not impress this Llama

Jaclyn and her boy Crue. So glad she played hooky to come with us.

 

All my little munchkins, I love them all so dearly!

Pictures from my NEW iPHONE!!! (and some from my old iPod)

Yes I have finally headed into adulthood and purchased a smart phone!! (remember this line when I post pictures of me playing on all the toys on the daycare playground, yes I have some of those pictures)

The handsome Talon is visiting me and I am SO happy I get to see this face EVERY day!!

First photo taken with my new phone

On my way to a picnic with some friends. My cute sister wrapped up those flowers for me in Newspaper and yarn!! She's so cute!!

Shopping at City Creek with my cousin (We spent way to much time and money at the LUSH store!)

Fancy Drinks & Fancy Ladies

Me and Oakley

Now look how big that Oakley is!! and look how GORGEOUS!! She is a beauty and I'm so happy to be her Auntie.

A Fancy Bridal Garden Party Shower

Our friend Diane Balling got married June 8th and so June 1st we threw her a Fancy Bridal Garden Party Shower. (HEY that's the name of the post title!)

 

Complete with fancy drinks 

   

Silverware with Seed Packets (thanks for the tip Camie)

Red and Yellow to match her wedding color: CHECK

Fancy Cookies: CHECK

Photo Booth Props: CHECK

I guess we do need a Bride to Be: CHECK

Diane met her Fiance JT at Legacy Prep academy where they both work. She teaches dance and he teaches gym. Such a cute story. :)

Having fun with the photo booth

Bride and her Sisters

Who are these 3 ladies who put this Fancy Bridal Garden Party Shower together? 

Let's meet the Bachelorettes  

Jacqueline Uresk: Enjoys Yachting and Summers on the Cape

 

Jessica Foust: Quiet weekends away to her Beach House and rubbing shoulders with fellow celebrities.

 

Brittany Hammond: Enjoys jet-setting around the world and shopping in the most expensive boutiques. 

(NOTE: Brittany has a boyfriend so she is not TECHNICALLY a Bachelorette. Sorry Folks)

A Toast!!

Emily Cooper, Diane Balling, Jessica Foust, Brittany Hammond, Kelli Bradshaw, Jacqueline Uresk

Sherilynn, Hailey Achter

Jessica got her brother and his buddy to serve drinks, wearing tight t-shirts and bow ties!! OW OWW!! They also gave the bride to be a big ol smooch on her cheek and made her blush a bit. Jessica has the best ideas.

What kind of fancy garden party would it be if we didn't play a round of croquet?

I don't know Jeeves, don't bother me with such frivolous questions while I'm blogging. Now be a dear and fetch me a spot of tea. 

d