Christmas Eve

We always enjoy every year going to spend time with my family on Christmas Eve. All of my mom's siblings live in Orem so it is easy to have everyone get together. Since my mom and dad live back east, it is a great time to see all of my family. We had a mexican theme and had lots of yummy food as well as many tasty treats. We also had the famous "Mint Julep" that we have as a tradition. Some of you have had my mint julep. It is really out of this world. Christmas Eve is always my very favorite night as there is always a program about our Savior where the kids ALL dress up in a Navitity (I was THRILLED Logan did it....it took some coaxing for sure). The kids are always so giddy and anxious for the next morning. So fun.

Swedish Tea Ring Making!

Garrett decided to help me make my yearly tradition of swedish tea rings for the holiday season. They are a tradition that I had growing up and I enjoy continuing the tradition through my family! It was so fun to have Garrett learn how to make them himself. I told him that his wife would sure love him when he was older if he could learn to make tea rings now! We had a good time together......They turned out quite beautiful. Way to go Garrett!

My Christmas present!

I always am amazed at the talent my husband has. I have always wanted a fireplace and decided that there was no better time like the present to ask for one before the holidays rolled in. My dear sweet husband took a picture of a fireplace/mantle that I liked and created a masterpiece. I absolutely LOVE it. He is so gifted and I believe my grandpa who was also a carpenter would be very proud of Jeff. He was very maticulate and careful in every single step of the way and wanted nothing but the best. It blew the picture I gave him out of the water and I just love waking up each morning to a warm fire. I love you dear. You amaze me. Thank you.

Tag you are it!

Wrapping paper or gift bags? Really only wrapping paper.

Real Tree or Artificial? Artificial unfortunately. I am allergic to the real thing. But you can always find my head plastered down inside a real tree though at any grocery store inhaling the phenomenal aroma.


When do you put up the tree? Typically the first Monday of the month of December.

When do you take the tree down? Having an artificial tree allows it to stay up until New Year's.

Do you like eggnog? I LOVE egg nog! Many childhood memories there.

Favorite gift received as a child? Probably my personally sewn cabbage patch doll. Totally cool.

Hardest person to buy for? Any of my brothers. They buy what they want.

Easiest person to buy for? Garrett (Anything having to do with animals is a given)


Do you have a nativity scene? YES! I love it so much. I got it 5 years ago or so from Scrooge and Marley's and it is the most beautiful one. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. I had to have it. Every year when I get it out I forget how much I love it.

Mail or e mail Christmas cards? Mailed Christmas cards for sure!

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Maybe my vacuum a couple of years ago???? I know that is rude but come on honey, a VACUUM for ME????

Favorite Christmas movie? One Magic Christmas with Mary Steenburgen. FABULOUS! I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT. I think I shall watch it today as a matter of fact.

When do you start shopping for Christmas? The middle of November. I was pretty close to being finished the first week of December.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Um.............

Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Oh there are many things. I love my homemade hot chocolate, my mom's famous tea ring, and the wonderful sausage casserole on Christmas morning. YUM!

Lights on the tree? Yes can you say pre-lit????

Favorite Christmas song? just one? White Christmas probably.

Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year we are staying home. I am so excited!!

Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Heck yeh!

Angel on the tree top, or star? A rustic star. It is rather cute but falling as I am looking at it actually.

Open presents Christmas eve or morning? The elves leave pj's on Christmas Eve, but all the others are on Christmas morning.

Most annoying thing about this time of year? Spoiled rotten kids that don't know how much they truly have been blessed with when so many have far less.....

Most favorite thing about the season? The traditions, music, and thinking about the Savior's birth.

Favorite ornament, theme, or color? Probably this old fashioned Santa. I love Santas.

Favorite food for Christmas dinner? I love a good honey baked ham with homemade rolls. I am pretty much done with Turkey after Thanksgiving. Bye Bye.

What do you want for Christmas this year? I really just want to enjoy being with my family and making more wonderful memories. I also want peace and harmony among my children. That is the greatest gift a mother could receive.

I tag YOU!

Gingerbread house

It is that time again when the boys decorate a gingerbread house. I am amazed at how simple it is today to make a gingerbread house. Now several years ago I was still homemaking my gingerbread and cutting out the pieces for the house, but ever since they have made those kits I just can't go back. I remember growing up worrying that the sides would not hold even though they were made of that black tar. Boy they sure smelled good though.....It is always such a wonderful time to bring in Christmas and enjoy time together!

Hayden's Team wins it all!

Hayden's soccer team went to St. George for the annual Dixie Cup Invitational Tournament. We left right after Thanksgiving and had games first thing Friday morning. Hayden's team came out strong and creamed all the teams they played. It was actually a little discouraging. It would have been more fun to have more competition but a win is a win right? In between games, we hit a brand new pizza/pasta joint called....???? I forgot but it was huge! We showed up with the whole team at 5:00 and weren't seated until 6:30. That wasn't so much fun, but frankly the setting was amazing. I felt like I was in line at Disneyland to ride the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. There was a large boat where all the food was prepared, waterfalls, rocks and crevices to play in. Even ropes to climb. The kids had a BLAST waiting. I am sure glad because I was sure my insides were eating eachother. I was SO hungry. We finally got seated and ordered the mammoth pizza that serves atleast 12. It was called the Crackin and was GIGANTIC. We laughed SO hard when it was brought out. One slice wouldn't even fit on a plate. Funny funny. The pizza wasn't that great, but the environment sure was fun. Hayden's team made it to the championship game and it was played on the Dixie College Football Field. It was awesome to see the boys playing on such a huge field with the lights on! I was so proud of him and how he played his little heart out there as the BEST DEFENDER EVER! It was a great game and the boys were THRILLED to win. We sure enjoy going each year as now it has become a tradition. Hey, I even got up in St. George on the day after Thanksgiving and went shopping by myself at 4:30!!!

It turned out!

Well let's just say that I was asked to make one of three turkey's for the big Hale Thanksgiving dinner this year. I about had a stroke.....I have never made a REAL turkey. I have made many turkey BREASTS in my crock pot, but nothing where I stick it in a deep pan and roast it for many hours. I finally accepted that I could do it and ventured to Food Network for security and answers to all my worries. After much stress and fear, I found the recipe that I thought I could handle and carried it out. It was a huge success! I bought a new roaster pan, a digital meat thermometer, and a 17 pound turkey ($8.00 at Smith's Marketplace....love that place). When I pulled it out I could't believe my eyes! It looked just like I hoped. As Jeff was cutting it, he said, "I don't believe you can get it any better than this!" I was thrilled!!!!! It was tasty and moist which I was most worried about. My aunts thought it was fantastic as well. Here's to many more turkeys. Who was scared?

Clip clip snip snip

Well I finally did it. I wacked my hair off! 9 1/2 inches to be exact. What can I say? I once had boy short hair. I loved my hair when it was really short. This time I only wanted to go to my shoulders but was convinced that if I went a little shorter that I could donate it to someone who truly needed it more that I! I had cutters remorse for the first few days as I felt frustrated and completely unable to style it in any way! I have since found a liking for it and have discovered many wonderful and fun ways to change it up (straight iron, messy curly, scrunchy curly, flipped out, little pony....the choices are endless). I am not sure Jeff likes it quite this short, but it's growing on him and I feel SASSY!

4th pic in 4th folder

Oh my gosh can you just die at how cute? I am not sure if this is really the 4th pic of the 4th folder, but I had to add it. This is my mom or "Nana" with Garrett in 2004 at Thanksgiving time. Oh I want him back like that! Oh what a flood of memories. Why how time flies.

Fall is here!

Did I say how much I love fall? I have been thinking how excited I am that this season is upon us. We have truly been able to have a nice enjoyable fall and just now the leaves are starting to fall off. I love the wind, the bite in the air, especially first thing in the morning. I love that in two weeks we will be sitting with people that we love and cherish and celebrate all that has been given to us in plenty. I always love Thanksgiving because it is such a wonderful opportunity to truly sit and think about what really matters. I love my family. I love this holiday, and I love that it is the beginning or the start of the Christmas Holiday which is my FAVORITE. Bring on the mashed potatoes, homemade rolls, pecan pie, (you should hear a southern girl say "Pecan") and homemade stuffing. I frankly could do without the turkey.....weird I know but not so great. GOBBLE GOBBLE.

Trick or Treat!

Well Halloween has come and gone once again! I can't believe how quickly it creeps up on us and flies by. My oldest spent the evening at a Murder Mystery Night which sounded like loads of fun. He was playing a "Beach Bum" which I see completely fitting for him. I asked him if he got to personally choose his character. He said he didn't, but I sure thought it was perfect for him. I was lucky to get ONE picture with him in it. Hayden was Batman, and little Garrett was Pinnochio. I know, hysterical. He wanted to be it the second he saw it online. I said, "Whatever you like." I really was skeptical that he would go through with it and wear it, but he did and became quite the talk of the Halloween parade at school as well as that evening Trick or Treating. I told him that he kind of was a celebrity. He said, "What is a celebrity?" I said, "It is someone who is very famous." He thought that was really cool. Hayden went off Trick or Treating with his friends, and Garrett, Jeff, and I hit the pavement and left a big bowl of candy on the porch (I know, LAME) with a note that read, "Take 2 or we will HAUNT you!" I have found out that many of course took more, but it was so worth it to go with Garrett and watch him have fun. He came home for a break at around 7:30, and then his friend Joseph came up to our neighborhood and they went back out for another hour or so! Those animals! It was a fun and festive night.

Halloween Party!

I threw a little couples Halloween get together at my house where everyone had to dress up! It was so much fun to see what everyone came as. I was proud of Janine for dressing up because she sure didn't want to! We had a good time laughing, eating, and visiting. Besides wishing I had a bigger house for entertaining, I would say it was a huge success. Check out Dora the Explorer in the front row. She won best costume. Jeff of course was a deer hunter. So original....

What a sight.

This is what I saw this morning as I was heading to work. I know you are all wishing you had this is YOUR garage. I am so lucky........

Jeff's luck continues!

After 3 months of hunting as a dedicated hunter and going up for the final night of the rifle hunt last night, Jeff returned home with a 4 point deer. I must say, I was surprised that he hadn't gotten one yet, and hoped Logan would go up with him last night. He however had more interesting and exciting plans as a teenager does. Jeff says at around 6:00 he was on his 4-wheeler and saw it just off the side of the road. He knows that Logan would have been able to shoot it. Logan begs to differ because he thinks he is "deer cursed". Jeff was excited and had me take a few pics of his success. I still don't get it but know how happy it makes him. Way to go honey!!!!

Do I really want to tell all my deep dark quirks?

I was tagged to share 8 of my quirks. Now I do not know how comfortable I am with sharing these things. Frankly, some may surprise you and others I know will NOT. Please do not judge me.......
1. I will NEVER leave the house dirty. I have to go through each and every room to make sure it is straight before we leave. I am embarrassed to say that I have been late to appointments because I have been doing dishes.

2. I have a complete obsession with poo. I know it is gross, but I am finding myself always talking about it and frankly I find it fascinating.

3. I absolutely love to read the obituary page in the newspaper. We don't get the newspaper, but when I do get my hands on one, that is the FIRST place I read. What can I say, I am fascinated with death. Creepy I know.

4. I hate my nose. I always have. I always am facing sideways looking in the mirror holding my finger over part of my nose to see what it would look like smaller. I secretly want to have a nose job but am too chicken.

5. I am obsessed with the show The Hills. I rarely miss it and know that it is a naughty pleasure. I would never want my children watching it. Hummmmmmm......

6. I have zero control when it comes to anything chocolate. If I buy something chocolate (which I do frequently) over the course of a couple days (maybe just one day) I will eat ALL OF IT. You wonder why I can't seem to lose weight. Hummmmmm.......

7. I LOVE BEETS. Any time we go to a restaurant with a salad bar I am quickly darting to check out if they have beets available. I love them. They are always refilling them at the bar after I have made a trip through. Jeff always is horrified. I love to eat them out of the can with a fork.

8. I believe I have (I know most of you already know this) OCD. Every night, I have to go around and check the locks on the house even if Jeff already told me he locked up. I also have to set the alarm clock 4 times before retiring to bed. Weird I know......


I tag Jenny, Christy, Lisa, Dorothy

More pictures of the birthday

How handsome is he??????

My oldest is 15!

I don't really know how to say what I feel about my oldest child Logan. He is such an amazing boy. I have always felt a closeness with him since he is my first born. He has the temperment of his father which makes us get along very well. He was born on October 12, 1993 at 6:35 pm. It was NOT any easy experience for either of us, and to say it in simple terms, he was 9 lbs. 3 oz. He was a beefy baby full of rolls from the very beginning. After pushing for over two hours, he finally entered this world with a large cone on the back of his head (not pretty and I quickly put a little hat on him). From the very beginning he was an easy going and pleasant child. He rarely cried and when he did it wasn't for long.I remember how white his hair was. People in the stores would always comment on how beautiful his hair was. He quickly decided that he did not like that he had "white" hair and wanted to change it to brown. He was quick to learn to read (is that a first child thing?) and he never struggled making friends at school. Logan has grown up so quickly. I find myself on a daily basis getting a tear in my eye as I think about him going out into the world on his own in only 4 years. He is such an amazing example to his brothers and has been labeled as the "peacemaker" in our family. He adds a very important part to our family to make it complete. I love him. I am proud of him and his wonderful accomplishments. I am so grateful that he loves the Savior and has such a strong testimony of this gospel. It is such a joy as a mother to watch him evolve into such an amazing young man. Happy birthday son. I am glad you are now at the age of DRIVING. Give me the strength. He is in the THICK of the teenage years and I am LOVING IT! I am proud of you son.

Garrett earned his Bobcat!

Garrett is our youngest and we seem to take just a little more time getting things done with the youngest. Hence......Garrett finally earned his Bobcat. He is working hard to earn his Wolf badge.






I can't believe my baby is in scouts. What is this world coming to????????

Homemade Salsa.....YUMMY!

I must confess that I am not a canner. I love to eat bottled peaches, pears, and other wonderful fruits and vegies but I do not like to can them. I believe it stems back to my childhood. My mother canned a lot and I frankly am not HALF of the person my mother is in that department. She has always been such a "homemaker" and I value that about my mother. I remember going to the strawberry farm and picking baskets and baskets of strawberries. Anyway....I went off on a different story. Sorry. I do however can salsa. I try to do it every other year as my family doesn't go through the salsa yearly so I save myself the stress and do it every other. Hayden was sure cute in offering to help me this year. It is a time consuming process and takes two days to complete. He offered to help me blanch the tomatoes which is probably the most time consuming part. It was fun to have his help and to let him see the work that goes into the salsa that he enjoys so much! Here's to a wonderful new batch of homemade salsa!!!!!