Parka's and Party's

This Saturday Russ woke up and got to work cleaning out the garage in preparation for the forthcoming snow storm. Halle woke up and wanted to be involved in all the snowy glory. So I got her all bundled up and we headed outside. She loved being outside with her Daddy and in her cute snow gear. I love her little face in these pictures.



That night we had a party with some friends. It was a blast, awesome food and games and hilarious white elephant gifts.

Life size Beyounce'

The coveted "pimp stein"

My awesome gift, yes I think my gift was awesome, I even ended up with them, adult size footed pajamas! So amazing! The best part was when Matt put them on and stuck his hands in the pockets and pulled out a snotty Kleenex, tears of laughter were flowing around the room!

And last of all Russ' gift, lemon jello and a baby ruth never looked so gross!

Win a Baby Sling!

If you want to win a baby sling here are the instructions straight from the modmum baby sling website. My favorite sling is the emma.

If you feel like you broke the bank buying gifts for everyone else, it doesn’t mean that you can’t get the baby sling you have been coveting. Throughout December Mod Mum is giving away 3 baby slings a week to moms in need!

We have different ways to enter, so choose one or increase your chances by doing them all:

1. Write about the contest in your blog telling us which sling you love the most and include a link to Mod Mum. Then send us an email at contest@modmum.com with the link to your post to receive one entry.
2. Add Mod Mum to your Twitter and “tweet” about the giveaway. Then send us an email at contest@modmum.com with your Twitter name to receive one entry.
3. Add our button (to the left) with link to our site to your side bar. Then send us an email at contest@modmum.com with a link to your blog to receive one entry.
4. Email three friends about the contest and copy us on the email at contest@modmum.com to receive an entry.

We will announce the winners weekly! Good Luck!

For the big day we . . .

Halle and I took some delicious Mini's Cupcakes to Russ and then went to lunch with he and his co-workers. We went to Pat's BBQ. it was good, true southern BBQ, which was a lot of smoked meat. We accidentally gave Halle some really spicey beans. She was screaming and we couldn't figure out why until we tried them. It was so sad because we were trying to get her to eat something else so it would stop burning, but I think she didn't trust us. I finally just gave her one of my ribs. She loved it and thought she was such big girl!

(smiling for the camera)

Russ wanted to go to dinner with his parents and my parents. He picked Rubio's. He loves that place! Anyway it was a fun day and I love my Russell so much!

Happy Birthday!

I love you baby!

(i picked this picture because it shows how much fun we have together and how freaking hot my husband is all sweaty and dirty!)

Happy Thanksgiving . . . for some of us.

Halle got sick on Thanksgiving day, right after dinner. My sister-in-law Jen was holding her and she just suddenly puked. I took her and was walking her into the bathroom and she ralphed again? It was so sad. She threw up a few more times so Russ and i decided to leave early.

I'm going to have to say worst day to get sick EVER!, that kind of sick anyway.

Poor baby girl. At least she went to bed early and woke up feeling just fine and slept a lot today.

She got a bubble bath with daddy today too, She is so cute!

Twilight . . . The Movie

Spoiler Alert

Ok so last night a bunch of girls in my neighborhood and I went to a midnight showing of Twilight. I totally enjoyed myself and liked the movie. Some of the girls I was with were kind of disappointed and I have also read some reviews online of what fans have said. The majority of people are saying they were disappointed and didn't think the movie lived up to the books. All I have to say to that is,

"No Duh!"

I am sorry but it really bothers me that people are thinking they are going to see the exact things they were imaging in their head when they were reading it. Stop taking it so seriously, it didn't really happen, just watch the movie and know that it is just someones interpretation of the book.

Another thing is that these books were written for teenagers and i am sure most of the people who are disappointed are 30 somethings who aren't married or dating anyone and forgot that we were talking about a 16 year old falling in love. Of course it was going to be cheesy, over the top, dramatic and sometimes dumb, that is how you act when you are a teenager "in love."

Sorry I will get off my soap box. I guess I am no better than the people who are ranting about how their first kiss wasn't in her bedroom, or how they are bugged that charlie and Bella went to dinner at the diner?
(yeah get off it people, it's a movie not your fantasy come to life!)

Darker Hair

Ok so when i saw this picture of me . . .

i decided i needed to do something about my hair. I just felt like it was not looking good and ever since i had Halle, it has lost some curliness, anyway i decided to go dark and i like it. It was a much needed change. sorry the picture was from my laptop i am trying to give you fierce!

Lover her!

I just wanted to say how awesome Halle is for being the perfect baby for me. She is such a good sleeper and sleeps in until 10:00 A.M. Which means I can sleep for as long as I want. I put her to bed at 8-8:30 and she sleeps for 14 hours.
I get to bed pretty late because Russ is a night owl and I am such a light sleeper that it is hard for me to go to bed before he does, i usually will just lay there. Oh and for some reason Russ is also a morning person, I don't know how he does it? I need my 8 hours of sleep or else I just don't function. Honestly it blows my mind, how can Russ be up so late and then be singing in the shower the next morning?
Anyway, I am just glad that Halle will sleep for so long. It does mean a shorter nap in the day but oh well. She is just so fun to be with (when she is not tired) that it is ok!

Oh and I have to tell the cutest thing she did the other day. I was making dinner and she was right under my feet, so as I was getting something out of the fridge I gave her the loaf of bread, there were only a couple pieces in the bag. Anyway she did her thing while i cooked and when i turned to see what she was doing, she had gotten the pieces of bread out and put them in a pot that was in a cupboard and put the lid on. It was just so cute how she was making her dinner.

LOVE HER!!!

Family Photo's

We had our pics taken by the wonderful Katherin Wallin of Wallin Photography. Halle was not having it that day, not one bit, so she isn't her cute adorable self. Oh well, we tried.

Hoop-La Jewelry

My awesome cousin just informed me that she has finally started a blog to show off her adorable hand-made earrings. They are really cute and very affordable and all hand made! I just had to share this with all of you!

http://www.hooplajewelry.blogspot.com/

All Hallows Eve

We had a great Halloween weekend.
For my Birthday we went to Fong's (a fabulous Chinese food restaurant in draper). It was so delicious it is totally an undiscovered restaurant that I highly recommend. I got this cute red coat, which I love from my hubby Russ. We decided that Halle is getting to old to take with us out to dinner.
On Halloween we went to my Mom's house and played outside in the leaves with cousins. It was so pretty! And Halle loved it!

That night we went to my parents ward's Halloween party. It was fun to see some old faces and friends.
My mom's costume was awesome . . . Sarah Palin. We wanted my dad to be McCain, but he didn't go for it.
Jared Hess (writer and director of Napolean Dynamite) and his wife Jerusha live in my parents ward and their costumes were amazing. They were Princess Buttercup and Prince Humperdink from the Princess Bride, and their kids were The Dread Pirate Roberts and Inigo Montoya. I am a HUGE fan of both Napolean Dynamite and the Princess Bride so I had to get a picture. Oh and P.S. Jerusha made those costumes! AMAZING!
Oh and she is wearing a wig but he isn't. LOVE IT!

"Murder at the Deadwood Saloon"

I have always want to do a Murder Mystery, and I finally did it. It was so fun, and awesome to see my family getting into their parts, lying, deceiving, all of that good stuff.
Here is a list of the Characters:
Lacey: Black Barbara; Outlaw
Russ: Jesse Wales; Outlaw
Steve: Harry High-Stakes; Owner of the Deadwood Saloon
Dale: Montgomery Money; Wealthy businessman from the East
Alisa: Minnie Money; Debutante and Montgomery's daughter
Lani: Banker Bonnie; Owner of the Deadwood Bank
Kevin: Clay Coldwell; Gambler
Lindsey: Holly Hickok; Gambler and southern belle
Brody: Mitch Maverick; Gambler

Russ won for best actor, he was really intimidating and scary with that mustache!
Kevin won for best dressed, he really did look awesome! (everyone looked great though!)
Brody won the Mr. Money Bags award (you dirty lawman!)
About half the people figured out who the murderer was.

It was so fun and I can't wait to do another one. I put together a little slide show of all the pictures. Thanks family for such a fun night!

Hail Highland High . . .

Russ sent me and email today asking if I knew Highland High School and Sugar House Park used to be a Jail? Honestly, what kind of Ram does he think I am? I told him that is why our colors are black and white. And I also like the fact that I talk about it in the present tense, once a Ram always a Ram!
He did send me a really cool picture of the old Jail, and I thought I would share it with my fellow Rams, and anyone else who reads my blog and likes to learn about random Utah trivia.


p.s. my dad just sent me an email with a pretty cool story. i will just copy and paste it below.

"Just read your blog (don't know how to comment there) and thought I'd tell you an interesting little anecdote. Before my mission I worked at a smelter (melted down different kinds of metal and poured them into ingots) and one day we had a ton of old aluminum toilets to melt down. When I asked where in the heck they came from I was told the old Salt Lake City Jail that once stood where Sugarhouse park is now located.

How about that!"
pps. my dad is the cutest!

What a weekend!

This weekend has been jam packed! On Friday we had an adult only Halloween party at one of Russ's co-workers house. Russ got second place for best costume! He is a little boy dressing up like a super hero. I wanted him to wear tighty-wighty's only, but he said that was immodest??? I was supposed to be Little Orphan Annie, but everyone thought I was I love Lucy. Oh well I do look like I love Lucy.

the co workers wives: me (annie), Tenille (fairy), Kristy (wendy)

The Co-workers: Kevin (tourist), Chris (Nacho Libre), Russ (little boy), Grady (The Burger King)

Saturday morning we went with Russ's family up to Snowbirds Customer Appreciation day. We got to ride up the Tram for free if we brought a can of food. It was so beautiful!

Halle loved that apple!!! i think she ate the stem, but I couldn't get it away from her to check.

Saturday night we had a party with some of Russ's friends he grew up with. This is why I was Annie, Halle had the cutest dog costume (thanks annika!) so I tried to think about what we could all be with a dog? and i thought of Annie, Sandy, and Daddy Warbucks. I got everything for Russ to be Daddy Warbucks, but he didn't like the bald wig so he did something else. oh well

My cute baby girl!

twilight trailer . . . awesome!

This is for all you fans out there that haven't seen this last trailer, it's longs and it's is really good, i am getting super excited! (ps thanks Hayley)

Twilight HD Exclusive Trailer

Proposition 8: Protect Marriage

I don't know a lot about politics, but I do know that I know about families and I want to protect them. If you haven't heard or don't know about Proposition 8 in California, you can go to this website and learn the facts and even sign up to help if you want. At least be aware of what is going on, it will affect you and your children or friends and family more than you know.

http://www.protectmarriage.com/


Thanks

100 things

This is for you Laura
1. i love chocolate chip cookies

2. i especially love chocolate chip cookie dough

3. reading is hard for me, i start thinking about other things and have to go back like five pages, I
seriously can "read" five pages and not read anything. Harry Potter was the first book I didn't do that. But i am getting better and enjoy reading.

4. I am very picky about buying shoes, so i usually don't. (i wore the same pair of flip flops this summer that i wore last summer)

5. i like scrap booking

6. i wish i could sew

7. i wish i could cook (i can cook, just not like my hubby, he's really good, he can make things up
and they are good.)

8. i don't mind doing laundry

9. i LOVE going out to eat

10. my favorite place to go on vacation is Lake Powell

11. i want to get a boat (now that Russ has been to lake Powell, so does he)

12. i would go to my parents cabin every weekend if i could

13. i would love to go to Greece, Egypt, Italy, France and Australia. after that i would go anywhere.

14. my biggest weakness is my impatience.

15. having a baby is helping me learn patience.

16. i am a back seat driver to my hubby, and only my hubby (sorry babe)

17. i wish i was more self disciplined with working out.

18. i enjoy blogs and blogging and love being able to keep up on so many friends lives

19. i want a personal trainer, even though i could be one if i got certified.

20. i didn't mind being pregnant

21. i didn't like taking care of a newborn

22. i love taking care of my 1 year old

23. i love to shower but i hate having to get ready afterward

24. i don't like hot tubs

25. i don't like green bell peppers, but i like the orange red and yellow ones.

26. i HATE picky eaters, well i hate when people won't try something (what do they think is going to happen? they won't like it, OH NO!!!)

27. i hate that people get paid to make crappy advertisements.

28. my dreams are usually very crazy

29. i don't have my ears pierced

30. i don't like to wear jewelry but i wish i did.

31. i wish i was in dance classes

32. i wish Russ would want to take a dance class with me

33. i like my hair

34. my hair stylist's name is Lacey too.

35. i wish i had a really nice camera

36. i wish i could take really cool pictures

37. i wish i knew how to use Photoshop

38. i have always wanted to be a massage therapist.

39. i like being on time and i get upset if i or someone makes me late.

40. i wish my husband would get home earlier from work

41. i love homemade ice-cream

42. i don't have a favorite color

43. i want to plant a garden

44. i want to look like my mom when i am her age (she's pretty much a freak of nature)

45. i wish i could have a business from home

46. i don't get embarrassed but i get nervous

47. i can possibly faint if i see my own blood but it doesn't bother me. and i love to see other people's blood and guts and help people who are hurt.

48. fall is my favorite season

49. thanksgiving is my favorite holiday

50. one thanksgiving Russ and i had to get McDonald's fries on our drive to his families dinner, we were just craving them.

51. i wish woman weren't so hard on themselves body image wise

52. i like my body

53. i have always been pretty confident, of which i am very glad.

54. water and milk are my favorite drinks

55. it is easier for me to buy things for other people than it is for myself.

56. i have been on fire

57. my favorite TV shows are what not to wear and Jon and Kate plus Eight

58. walking around shopping makes me need to go to the bathroom (#2) ???

59. i am obsessed with recycling

60. i want to go to bed earlier and wake up earlier than i do

61. my sisters and my husband and i always watch the lord of the rings extra stuff every Christmas.

62. my favorite movie is Clue

63. i want to end up living somewhere near my family

64. i hate horseradish and dijon mustard

65. i am afraid of moths

66. when i was younger i wanted to grow up and own an ice-cream shop in Moab UT with my sister Lani

67. i want to be a more decisive person

68. i love chocolate covered pretzels

69. i prefer dark chocolate

70. i have been to New York City and i didn't like it ( i guess i am just a country girl)

71. my best day (excluding days with my hubby or daughter) was at Busch Gardens in DC, spent with Laura, Megan, Alicia, and Becky, kinda random group but i have never laughed so hard all day long in my entire life.

72. i like to sing and wish i were better

73. i don't wish i knew how to play the piano (i took lessons for 10 years and i couldn't sit down and play a tune)

74. i think my mom and i are telepathic with each other.

75. i am very ticklish, it was hard to get a full body massage because it tickled?

76. i want to live where there are aspen trees all around me

77. i don't really like candy

78. i love baked goods

79. i think black leather is ugly

80. i don't like how Bella refers to Jacob as her best friend but she is married to Edward. i can't imagine not being married to my best friend (twilight reference)

81. i wish i had my sister Lindsey's memory

82. i wish i had my sister Lisa's goodness

83. i wish i had my sister Lani's witt and listening skills

84. when i was younger i thought i would get married when i was 25, i was 23, 1 month shy of 24.

85. when i was younger i would kick boys if they swore ( i guess i thought swearing was worse)

86. i have never tried alcohol or drugs and i never wanted to

87. i have never broken a bone just a stress fracture

88. i have cellulite and i blame it on heredity

89. i don't really like peanut butter

90. i have always loved Michelangelo's statue of David and i was lucky enough to marry one

91. i am competitive but it doesn't bother me to lose

92. i can be very defensive

93. i don't think my hands are very feminine

94. i was in labor for 48 hours and was miserable the entire time, even with two epidurals and a shot of morphine

95. my favorite quote from this conference session, "he hasn't asked us to walk across the
country, he has asked us to walk across the street" (sorry i think it was pres. monson who said this but i can't remember)

96. my right ear can hear better than my left ear

97. i love learning

98. i am excited to play make believe again with my daughter

99. i am glad i am at # 99

100. i am a very light sleeper

Did you make it through all 100 things? Do we have anything in common? Were there things that surprised you?

If you are bored and have nothing to blog about please post 100 things about you! I would love to read it.

the seasons of change are upon us . . .

Megan do you remember Spencer and Adam saying that all the time, anyway. i love fall and absolutely love my view of the mountains and all of the leaves changing. this post is totally random, i just came across some pictures that i wanted to share. so here ya go.