JAXSON'S "ROCK"- ING BIRTHDAY

I had a fabulous time preparing for Jaxson's 10th birthday! He decided he wanted a rock climbing birthday,which I was very supportive of, I had been so busy recently with work and other responsibilities that the idea of not having to plan the birthday party was awesome (which is very unlike me.)

I checked out several places and we decided on Life Time Fitness because we could schedule the party during a time the rock climbing wall was closed to the public and we would have the entire place to ourselves. So my job included getting the invitations out, making cupcakes and putting together the goodie bags!

We had everyone come directly to the gym for the party and I was able to decorate the party room with green and charcoal decorations and balloons. The kids all enjoyed the 1st hour or so of the party rock climbing. It wore them all out so it was perfect to serve them pizza right after.   All of the boys did an incredible job climbing the wall and were so polite and well behaved throughout the party. Even the party hosts commented on what a great group of kids it was. Reagan had a blast too and had no problem getting up the wall. She has already decided that her 6th birthday will be a rock climbing party.

After pizza and soda Jaxson opened his presents and tried guessing who each present was from as his eyes were closed and back turned to the wall.  It was pretty funny to have the boys come up with different accents to say happy birthday.  

The party hosts were also so accommodating and when I got up to help serve the pizza, they said "No, No, you sit down, we'll do this." I have never had a party where I couldn't do anything - IT WAS AMAZING!

We ended the party by serving"Rocky Road" cupcakes. I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting, then added toasted marshmallows and chocolate rock candy on the top. DELICIOUS!

The boys all played basketball until their parents came to get them. I sent them all home with a nylon, drawstring back pack, that said ROCK ON. It was filled with all sorts of rock climbing goodies, including; trail mix connected to a carabiner, bottle water, pop rocks, air heads and a rock bouncy ball.

This was by far the easiest party I have ever done!

VOCAL POINT

Dan and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary yesterday! Wow, that is a long time! We would have loved to have gone on a cruise to celebrate (I found one for $452 per person, that went to the southern Caribbean for seven days) however, we did not have the funds to go on a trip, so I started thinking about what we could do to celebrate. Obviously a date night was in order, but I wanted to do something than the usual dinner and a movie. I started looking around at all the productions shows going on and there was nothing. Then I remembered that the group Vocal Point was performing. Unfortunately because I had waited until the last minute, tickets were sold out. I came across some tickets on KSL for second row and thought for sure they must of been sold already. To my great surprise the guys still had the tickets and was willing to sell them for face value. His wife ended up going out of town and he couldn't use the tickets.

I was so EXCITED to watch them perform! I loved their performances on the Sing-Off and felt that they should of won the show. It was really entertaining to watch them in person, because I sort of felt a connection to them watching them on TV (even though I really didn't know them). Some of the performers had changed since the show; however my favorite performers including; Jake and McKay were still there! One of the most exciting parts of the evening was when Tanner the beatboxer did a solo on stage. I could not believe or explain the sounds that came out of his mouth. Needless to say he is AMAZING! Apparently he won first place in a international competition last year and I am not surprised. The group sang several of the songs they sang on the Sing-Off, including my favorite, The Way You Look Tonight! Another fun part of the evening was when the base Robert started talking just like Elmo and then said he wanted to sing with the guys, he asked what part does Elmo sing, and he replied with a very low voice "Base!"

After the show Dan and I went to the Olive Garden at 10:30 for some appetizers! I really had an enjoyable time - what was most enjoyable was spending the evening with my wonderful husband, who I love and adore!

BLACK EYE REAGAN

So we left my parents in charge of the children and went out on a date with Jared and Erin while they were in town. Madi usually babysits for us; however she had plans with her friends, so they agreed to watch Jaxson and Reagan while we went to dinner and a movie. We had my parents bring the kids back around 10:00 after Madi got home, so they could go to bed.

Saturday morning Reagan comes running into our room and tells us that she has a black eye. I didn't have my contacts in, so I couldn't quite see what she was talking about and thought she was making it up anyway. When I was able to focus, there it was, a big shiner in her left eye. When we asked her what happened and she told us that she ran into the piano bench. I guess she had been turning off the lights and then ran straight into it, in the dark. I am assuming when she made contact with the bench, she fell onto the corner, which is what blackened her eye. Her eye was black and blue from the inside corner, all the way around. Not to mention swollen as well. The rainbow of colors we saw throughout the coming weeks around her eyes were beautiful; Reagan and I would comment on them as we were doing her hair each morning.

The great thing about her eye was Reagan had tumbling pictures a few days later, I was able to cover it up pretty good with makeup and the pictures turned out better than I hoped.

I guess this is my dad giving us a clue that they don't want to babysit or be in charge of the children anymore. I guess this is what happens when you leave the grandparents in charge. I told people that my dad gave her the black eye a few times and Reagan got so upset with me.

Her black eye lasted over two weeks. (Her eye is still not quite back to normal to this day as is is still bumpy and and swollen where she made direct contact with the bench - and it has been nearly a month.)

BASKETBALL FEVER

Jaxson had another fantastic basketball season. His team went undefeated in his division and the games are so excited and intense to watch. I really saw Jaxson come to life on the court this year, he can shoot and whne given the opportunity he can really score. During one game of the season he had the highest points of the game, scoring double digits. The great thing about his team is when they are playing for each other, they really do well. Another game during the season, everyone of the players scored in the same game - Now that's teamwork! His coaches are incredible and we love being a part of their team (Scott, Kody and Jeremy). Jaxson played on the same team the previous year and I believe they are going to continue playing with this same team for years to come!

Because the season went so well, they signed up to play in a Junior Jazz tournament, they played four games, however lost in the second round of the tornament. The coaches told them not to hang their heads beucase in the past two seasons, they had only lost 3 games. They had an outstanding record!

One of the things Scott said during the season to the boys I will never forget and I think it is a great slogan for these boys "Hard work is talent when talent doesn't work hard enough!"

PINEWOOD DERBY WINNER

Last year Jaxson's car did not do so hot in the pinewood derby race, so he was really hoping for a good showing this year. Time got away from Dan and they started building his car the night before the derby. Last year they bought a kit and worked on it for weeks, this year Jaxson wanted to make his own, so Dan went to Hobby Lobby multiple times and purchased paint, decals, weights, tools, etc. We remembered that the winning cars last year had the majority of the weight in the back of the car, so they focused on installing the weights in the back.

When the car was complete, it looked like a winning car, we just didn't know how well it would do on the track. Lucky for Jaxson - it was a winning car! The look on his face as he raced past his competitors was priceless. He was so proud and so happy. The only person he couldn't beat was his good friend Kaden Pierce. Kaden took first place last year and repeated his victory this year. Jaxson came in second and took home a trophy to prove it.

I guess waiting until the last possible minute wasn't just a bad idea after all. (Madi had given her Dad a hard time the night before, but I guess he showed her.)

A BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

We decided to do a surprise party for my Mom's 60th and my Dad's 16th birthday this year. Jared and Erin came into town and we had the family over for dinner. Little did my parents know that the basement was decked out for the party and everyone had made food for the party. After dinner was over the doorbell rang and our first guests arrived. Ralph and Bettyann Baer from our neighborhood on Sharron Drive. It was a fun evening to celebrate with my parents. Lots of friends, family and neighbors stopped by to wish them a happy birthday. Friends that couldn't make it, sent notes for their memory book. I was glad to be a part of the evening and do something nice for my parents. Below is the invitation we sent out to everyone.

Marlene’s now sixty – Steve’s turning sixteen,

could you imagine a crazier scene?

It’s probably illegal in all fifty states,

so were running out of time to celebrate!

A surprise get-together from six to eight,

on Sunday the 19th, there’s no time to wait!

Soon Marlene will be in a holding cell,

while poor young Steve tries to post her bail.

Never been kissed, NO – this isn’t the case,

Marlene’s been a cougar on the chase!

Not so sweet after all, is this birthday pair,

so stop by, say hello, offer up your prayers.

SOLIDER HOLLOW TUBING

Jared and Erin came into town for Presidents Day weekend and we all went up to Midway to go tubing. We found a great deal on Groupon for half the cost, so Dan and I took the kids out of school to spend a family day together.

As always my kids were in heaven going up and down the mountain. This is my kind of sledding as well,when they pull you up the mountain and there is no work involved. The best thing about the day was that it was sunny and beautiful, we were shedding layers throughout the afternoon because it was so warm.

Kaitlyn wasn't quite as happy as the rest of us and was a little frightened going down the hill (quite the contract to Reagan, who had the biggest grin on her face), so Jared and Erin took turns staying back with her, while the rest of us would go up the hill and hook up our tubes to go down the mountain together. The more weight you have the faster you go down the hill. I had to get mad at Dan one time because he put he feet in the snow to slow us down at the bottom of the hill and all the snow kicked up and went down my shirt - it was so COLD!

At the end of the day, we stopped in a little bakery for some pastries when Dan realized he was missing his phone. We looked everywhere for it in the car and even tried his find your phone app, but nothing worked. We called the Solider Hollow and check with the front office and they didn't have it either, so we decided to drive back to the tubing hill, so see if we could find it on the mountain or in a tube. We spoke with a couple of workers and no one had it. Dan left his name and number at the front desk, but no luck. When we arrived home, there was a message from Solider Hollow stating that they had his phone. One of the workers had it and turned it in during a shift change. Tho following morning he had to drive all the way back to Midway to get his phone (So I made him get more pastries, while he was there!)

VALENTINES DAY

We started off Valentines day a little early this year by having a Valentines Day dinner with Grammie and Papa on Sunday. I made chicken cordon bleu with pink mashed potatoes and pink gravy. I prepared some red jello parfaits, and made heart shaped rolls. We ate in the dining room and enjoyed some Valentine's Day Trifle after dinner that Grammie brought over.

On Monday night Dan and I took Madi and Jaxson to the Desert Star Playhouse to see CSI Provo. We laughed and laughed, this was one of the best shows they have done. The kids loved going out on a date with us. Gratefully Grammie and Papa watched Reagan so we could attend the show together.

I had a fantastic time preparing the kids Valentines this year. Using pinterest is awesome and gives me lots of ideas! I made them dynamite out of Rolo's and told them they were the BOMB! I gave them love potion, and Zots for I love you Zotz and Zotz! They also got Valentine socks and crazy/silly string.

Dan got a six pack of Mountain Dew, with a tag "I love you - I DEW, I DEW, I DEW!"

On Valentine's Day I made heart shaped cinnamon rolls for breakfast with strawberry smoothies and sent them all to school so I could work.

Later that day I sent Reagan to playgroup with her "Cereal"-sly think your sweet valentines (cereal boxes with conversation heart) and then I arrived at Jaxson's class to head up the Valentines party. We made butterfly pencils, decorated doughnuts, had Valentines sodas and played a few games including, stack the hearts and darts!

That evening Dan and I went out to dinner with some of our closest friends. I had made reservations at Ruth's Chris steakhouse and then we went off to see the movie This Means War. It was an incredible night - great food, fantastic conversation, lots of laughter at dinner and the movie. It was a great way to spend the day (or days) with all the people I love!

BLUES CLUES

Last night Reagan was pulling some attitude with me - because she didn't want to go to bed. I was explaining to her that she needed to listen, when she told me

"But, Mom, one of my shows says - I CAN DO AN-Y-THING, THAT I WANT TO DO!" (This was said, partially sung, with a sassy tone in her voice.)

I told her that if that's what Blues Clues was teaching her that she couldn't watch it anymore because it was teaching her to be naughty.

It never ceases to amazes me the things she comes up with - I guess it should by now, but she still catches my off guard.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

We had a fabulous Christmas season this year between Christmas parties, volunteering, spending time with family and friends and singing in the church choir for Christmas.

Early in the month Reagan and Jaxson both attended an elf party at Reagan's preschool teachers home. It was a late night party, so Dan and I got to enjoy and evening out Christmas shopping. Next all the kids attended the annual Grammie's Christmas party and had a sleepover at my parents house. The kids enjoyed making cookies, playing games, crafts and watching movies together. The next morning everyone came to our ward Christmas breakfast.

We spent an evening volunteering at the Utah Food Bank and brought in bags of food to donate. I love doing this with my kids because we get to donate our time instead of money and sometimes that is more important. Later that same week my girlfriends and I went downtown and volunteered at the Candy Cane Corner. This is a place where the homeless can come with their case worked and pick out items for their kids for Christmas. While serving at the Candy Cane Corner, we sorted items, organized the brought new items out on the store shelves. This is our gift to each other instead of exchanging gifts and I am so glad we started this tradition last year. (The only thing missing was Jolynn, who came up with the idea a year ago.) Our family also enjoys participating in the Night of Sharing our neighborhood does each Christmas in lieu of neighbor gifts. The kids get to visit with Santa, roast marshmallows and have some yummy treats, while dropping off gifts to Santa.

The Monday before Christmas, we had a FHE and made gingerbread houses. Everyone made their own and they are all very unique. Reagan's idea was to put as much candy on hers as she could. Next she decided to line her entire house with marshmallow trees (it was pretty cute, she didn't want to leave any trees for anyone else to use). Jaxson in his mind had a brilliant idea, but he couldn't get the graham crackers to cooperate. He wanted to cut them in all sorts of shapes and that just wasn't possible. He even took a marker to the graham crackers and drew a reindeer - he thought he could cut it out. Because his plan was foiled, he was a little disappointed, but with a little coaxing, he got right back into it and made a huge sledding hill outside of his home. Madi decided to go with the 1970's look and make a flat roof home. It was easier than pitching the roof; next she made Santa's sleigh and put it on top of the roof - it was darling! Dan and I both made smaller homes, cottages if you must and tried to outdo each other on the decorating. Like I said earlier, all were cute and very unique!

I took the younger kids to go see Santa Claus at the mall. When Jaxson was asked what he wanted for Christmas, he told Santa that he wanted his parents to have a vacation, a cruise to be exact. He is so thoughtful! He just didn't have any big desires this year for Christmas, it made it really hard to shop for him. Reagan asked Santa for a Ariel Barbie - the one with the legs, not the mermaid tail. She also requested a Sleeping Beauty dress.

On Christmas Eve, we had the kids open their presents from each other and from us. As always they received new pajama's and ornaments for the Christmas tree. Because Madi and Jaxson were so into ball this year, I made them ornaments that represented their jerseys. Madi's was a purple softball jersey and Jaxon's was a blue football jersey. They both had their pictures on the back of the ornament. Reagan's was similar, but instead of a sports jersey, it was a dancer, with her little recital picture on the back side. Madi gave Dan a gift certificate to Maverick - the girl knows her dad so well. Earlier this year when we were very short on funds, he commented to Melissa and I "My bank account is empty and I only had a dollar to my name, so I went and got a drink at Maverick." Madi also gave me a beautiful watch band in black and red, my favorite colors!

Next we headed over to Grammie and Papa's house to celebrate with Scott and Ali, and Grandma Ila. It was a small gathering this year due to Melissa and Chip visiting Montana and Becky and Doug and Jared and Erin both living out of state and not able to come into town for the holidays. We had dinner, watched the kids open their gifts and then continued on with our annual white elephant gift exchange. We even let Madi and Jaxson participate this year because their were so few of us. Gifts exchanged included; a musical tie, Grinch boxer shorts, a fish, a slap watch, Bean Boozled, a stocking full of candy, amongst other things. Jaxson ended up with the fish and he was so excited! He really didn't care about anything else at that point because he had his fish.

We had planned to go sledding with the kids that night up in Park City, our car was packed and ready to go; however things got off to a late start and we didn't end up going because there was not enough time. Both Madi and Reagan were crying because they were so excited to go! We decided last year when we went on Christmas Eve that we would make it a tradition and our plan didn't work out. We promised the kids we would go another time and we ended up taking them to the movies instead.

Christmas ended up being on a Sunday this year, so we had to fit in Church on top of everything else. Luckily it was just sacrament services, but I was a little worried how we were going to make it all work. Our kids are not early risers and we usually have to wake them up to open presents. I had to make sure everything was in order, because we had to be early, due to singing in the choir. I french braided Reagan's hair the day before, so I would have to do unbraid it, brush it and put a headband in. I made a crock pot breakfast and sticky buns the night before, so all I had to go was put them in the oven. Then Dan and I got up early, showered and got ready, so after we opened presents we would be ready for church. The morning went like clockwork! The funny thing was is both Reagan and Jaxson were up and ready to go, we had to hold them off, while we got ready and waited for Grammie and Papa to come over for breakfast. Jaxson complained that we never eat breakfast before presents and we couldn't convince him that every year we eat before presents (even though we do). After breakfast we all went downstairs and the magic began! Reagan received a new Barbie house and barbie furniture, along with her Ariel Barbie and Prince Eric of course. She got a new robe and was so excited because her Daddy wears a robe. When she got down to her final present, so was so sad because she thought Santa forgot to bring her a Sleeping Beauty dress. I told her that maybe the present she was holding was her dress and she told me it couldn't be, because last year when she got her Snow White dress, it wasn't in a box like that. Sure enough when she opened the box - there it was. She was extremely happy! Jaxson got some new basketball shoes, laser tag and ihome dock for his ipod (which turned out to be drama, because he couldn't find his ipod. He cried - which he should have because the kid loses it all the time!) I finally found it in his room tucked away and he was so happy. He also got a new skeleton robe along with some Shawn White clothes that he was very excited about. Madi was extremely pleased to find a Justin Bieber cut out in her pile of presents, along with a Kindle and some new boots.

He headed off to church, and to my surprise we were on time! Dan and I both sang in the choir this year along with both of my parents. The meeting consisted of several musical numbers and one speaker, which was also my mom. She did an amazing job! After which I did a solo and I pulled it off! I was so nervous because I really hadn't had time to practice and it was a song I had never heard until two weeks prior to the performance. Lucky for me it came together beautifully! I loved being a part of the choir and being able to sing songs about my Savior. It really helped set the mood and brought the spirit of Christmas into my heart this year.

After church we had a couple of hours before we were expected at Nana's home. Dan and I decided to open our gifts in the mean time. A funny thing happened because I wrapped both Dan's gifts and a couple of my gifts (we have an agreement that I will have something new to wear on Christmas as long as I buy it). Well, one of the gifts I wrapped I put the wrong name on the tag and had Dan open it, when he saw it he was very confused because he thought the sweater looked very feminine. He tried to say thank you, when I saw it and said "oops that one was for me." She sighed relief and then busted up laughing because he really thought it was for him and he didn't know what to think. We both received some nice gifts, Dan got some new driving gloves and I got a auxiliary input to be installed in my car.

Later that day at Nana's house we had dinner and opened presents. Reagan received a new play kitchen, Jaxson got a remote control helicopter and Madi got some new Tom's and Justin Bieber Cologne. We stayed the rest of the evening and played games with the family.

I couldn't believe how perfect the day was, until I realized that because we got to attend church it made the day so special. We really got to put Christ back into Christmas by attending church services today and I loved it!