family, food and friends

M2B =) days 690 - 694.  Thursday, January 5th - Monday, January 9th happiness:

Thursday, January 5th happiness:  Tonight we went out to the Keg with Steve, Elise, Chris and Merilee while they were still in town.  Sheri, and Marcy also came!  I had never been to the Keg before.  It was great.

We sat out on the patio next to the fireplace.  Nice.  It was a fun evening, hanging with friends.  Steve introduced me to "W" bands and eating dessert first.

The food was delicious.  We started with the Santa Fe Chicken Dip.  It was SO yum!  I had steak for dinner - mmmmm.  Good friends, good food, makes for a happy day.

Friday, January 6th happiness:  Brian and I went to see We Bought A Zoo.  LOVED IT!
It was one of the best movies I have seen in a while.  I laughed, I cried.  It was all good.

Saturday, January 7th happiness:  Today we "had a day", as Brian likes to call it.  Thanks to Sheri's generous birthday present, Joe, Brian and I went to lunch at Cheesecake Factory.

And, thanks to Steve's advice, we ordered dessert first.  Dutch Apple Caramel Streusel Cheesecake.  
Joe didn't take one bite.  He has pretty much quit eating sugar.  He started in early December.  Who quits eating sugar in December?  Anyway, I didn't think it would last, but it has.  I am so proud of him.  I wish I could do the same, but alas, I am weak.

After lunch, Brian and I went out and about and did some shopping.  It was fun.

Sunday, January 8th happiness:  Family Home Evening!  I don't get to see these kiddos nearly as much as I used to before I started working, so I LOVE family home evening.  I get to see (almost) all of my family all at once.

Alex, Dallin, Michael and Joe helped my mom with the lesson.
This cutie was showing off her new guitar.
My favorite photos of the night:

Love it!

Monday, January 9th happiness:  Left over Christmas candy.  I honestly can't believe that the bells lasted this long.  I love them SO much.  It's probably because Brian bought me several bags.
I bring them to school and leave them in my desk.  That way, when I take Max and Ben home, I can share.  They love the bells almost as much as I do.

Happy Day!

Dan the snow man....fireworks....and, shooting the moon

M2B =) days 685 - 689.  Saturday, December 31st - Wednesday, January 4th happiness:

Saturday, December 31st:  WARNING - This next photo is for mature audiences only! =)

So, Michael and Joe finished their snowman today.  Apparently they thought he should be an anatomically correct snowman.  For, if he truly IS a man, he SHOULD have man parts.  

Introducing Dan, the anatomically correct snowman (sorry mom!):

I didn't ask who's idea it was, or who had the honor of doing the sculpting.  I really didn't want to know.  

What can I say?  Boys will be boys.....and it kept them busy outside for a good long time.  And, Sheri's family had someone to welcome them when they made it in today.

Later, when the Trezise boys were there too, they all went out to play in the snow.  I love how this picture of Michael turned out.

Brian went out to see how things were going......and of course, they all ganged up on him.  Love it!
I was happy because I got to spend the afternoon with my sister....hanging out and doing a puzzle.

Later that night we had fireworks, of course. 

Some of the Trezise boys had fallen asleep, but not Max.  He had fun playing with the sparklers.
I love how in this one, he managed to make a perfect circle.  Cool!

Sunday, January 1st happiness:  Sadly the Trezise family left us this afternoon.  I think they would have stayed longer, but Evan was having a rough time.  He would go outside, and get freezing cold, then he would come inside and sit by the heater, and be too hot, so he would go outside and get too cold again.  You get the idea.  I don't think he was having as much fun as the others, so they decided to head home a little early.  I was sad to see them go, but was glad that they got to come up for a little while at least.

Tonight, Brian, Joe, Michael and I played hearts.  I LOVE to play hearts, but I am not always good at it, and I am NEVER gutsy and try to shoot the moon.  

Tonight was different.  I was dealt the greatest running hand EVER, and I HAD to go for it.  I did, and I ended up, not only shooting the moon, but winning the entire game.  Woo hoo!

Afterwards I had a brilliant idea that I would take a photo of my running hand, with Joe, Michael and Brian looking sad in the background.

The problem is, they would make the most ridiculous looking sad faces, and then bust up giggling.  This is what I got instead:

Oh, well.  I think it is hilarious.  One of my favorite photos ever.  Also, get a look at those cards.  A running had for sure.

Good Times.

Monday, January 2nd happiness:  All good things must come to an end, and so we said goodbye to the cabin.
And, as always, the best part of coming home is getting to see Bob and Tiger.  I missed those kitties. 

Tuesday, January 3rd happiness:  Back to school today.  I got to see all my kiddo's today.  I love that when I go to get them off of the playground in the morning, they all run to see me and give me hugs.  

Tonight, Brian and I had a little date night.  In the middle of the week- I KNOW!  we are crazy like that.  We just went to the mall for a bit and then had dinner at Paradise Bakery.

I am loving Paradise Bakery right now.  They have a delicious Turkey salad with pears and dried cherries.  I am also LOVING the turkey and bacon panini:

Yummy!

Wednesday, January 4th happiness:  Tonight's happiness was sitting on the couch with my sweetie, and watching our shows.  Usually, my favorite part of the day, is after all the craziness of work, and homework, and housework and errands and dinner is all done...I get to sit on the couch and relax with Brian and just hang out.  A perfect ending to the day.

Happy Day!

Boxing Day and Cabin Trip

M2B =) days 680 - 684.  Monday, December 26th - Friday, December 30th happiness:

Monday, December 26th happiness:  Today was the first time I have ever celebrated Boxing Day!  

Sheri, Evan and I went to Teresa and Stuart's house to hang out and eat yummy food.  It was a lot of fun!   Stuart is Canadian and so I asked him what exactly Boxing Day was.  He said that in his family growing up, Christmas Day was for immediate family celebration, and Boxing Day was the day you opened up your home to friends and visitors.  People would come and go and eat and hang out and just enjoy each other.  ( I really hope I got that right!)

So, we hung out and had a good time!  Teresa and Stuart always throw a great party.

It was so much fun that I didn't take any photos except for a couple of Evan in the play room.  I am kicking myself because I really wanted to get a photo of Kevin, Alena and Sofia together!  

After celebrating Boxing Day, Sheri and I went to see Sherlock Homes.  I may love Robert Downey Jr. a little bit (or a lot).  Fantastic movie!  I think it was my favorite movie of the year.

Tuesday, December 27th happiness:  Today's happiness was nothing.  As in I had absolutely nothing I HAD to do today!  It was wonderful.  December is always busy.  And I feel like I have just been going and going.  It was nice to have a day to sit home and do nothing.

Wednesday, December 28th happiness:  More going today - errands to run, shopping and packing and cleaning to do.  A nothing day is good, but so is a busy productive day.  Got things done so I can leave for the cabin tomorrow.  woo hoo!

Thursday, December 29th happiness:  Cabin Day!  Not much is happier than that!  We were a little disappointed when we checked the weather for the cabin this week because it is going to be warm.  We were worried there would be no snow.

No worries.  They must have had a ton of snow up there before, because even with it being so warm and some of it melting away, there was still a ton of snow!
So much, that we almost didn't make it in.  Chloe (our car) rides low to the ground.  I though we would get stuck for sure.  We were slipping and sliding all over that road, but she made it!

It is so gorgeous and peaceful here.

Friday, December 30th happiness:  It really is quite warm up here for December.  The boys went for a walk to Chocolate River and came back complaining about how hot it was outside.  They left with coats and mittens and hats and returned like this:

They spent the afternoon working on a snowman (more on that later).
I spent the afternoon working on a puzzle.
We had a fun evening of Rock Band.
It was pretty close to a perfect day!

Happy Day!

Christmas Day

M2B =) day 679.  Sunday, December 25th happiness:

Happy Christmas.

I still love to see Joe's face as he peeks around the corner waiting to come in and see tree and presents.

His dad surprised him with a new guitar.
We spent the morning opening our gifts.
Some of us played with bubble wrap.
My two favorite guys.
Later we went to my mom and dad's house for lunch.  We got to deliver their present to them.
I am going to miss having those chairs around.  They have been in my house for a few weeks and I have seriously enjoyed them!  I look forward to sitting in them on the back porch of the cabin.

We got to hang with this guy:

And eat some yummy food.

Then we went home and were lazy all afternoon/evening.  

I love Christmas.

Happy Day!