the rest of the weekend

i went back to vegas for about a day and a half after thanksgiving. we pretty much just hung out and played with the kids. i always love spending time with them. jeff started working in california this week so they are moving by the end of the year. i'm sad about it but just glad it's california and not somewhere far far away.

playing restaurant with the kids

 trying to get kyler to stand. the little thing is growing up so fast.

attempting some pics with the kids (always fun...)

latest cake

coworker Alyssa and fam ARE GOING TO HAVE TRUCK LOADS OF FUN WITH THEIR BABY...

GIRL. This is only my 2nd girl cake. Yay for pink.

thanksgiving

i'm having storage issues with blogger so this never got posted. so, much after the fact here is the recap of thanksgiving 2012.

we spent the actual holiday at grandma and grandpa mathis's house. the johnsons also came into town so we had a pretty good crowd. i realized this year i haven't been at my parents' house for thanksgiving in 15 years (that makes me feel super old). i am so glad i have family close enough to spend the thanksgiving holiday with.

playing outside with the kids before the meal

 the fam...me, grandpa, andrew, grandma, karlee, avery, marsha, malea, troy, abby, shaylee, chelsea and kyler, jeff and karson, david, leina (apparently john and gale were taking pics)

playing at the park after dinner (tradition)

kickball

kyler getting so big

troy helping karson kick the ball

we stayed in st george until friday night and then headed back to vegas for the rest of the weekend.

announcements

#1...I've been crafty blogging over on my other blog the past couple of years. Lately, I just can't seem to keep up. So, in an effort to simplify (whatever that means) just a tich, I'm combining for a while. I'll still blog my crafting, cooking, and all other things I NEED RIGHT NOW. I'll also still blog about life while DREAMING OF SOMEDAY. It will all just be right here starting right this second. Hopefully it will be easier to read and easier to write all in one spot.

#2...I've been talking and talking about it, but it really is happening. The blog makeover is in process courtesy of the lovely Kate over at a creative cookie. Who knows when, but sometime very soon the sidebar links will be gone...promise to make room for some sponsor swapping.

#3...I still have some catch up to do and then I'll be back on a more consistent basis...promise.

Looks like I have some promises to keep.

thankful

i interrupt this blog catch up to bring you a gratitude post. i can't let this thanksgiving day pass without stopping to think write about it all. i could be here all day listing all the things i am thankful for.

family
friends
job
healthy body
physical necessities
and a lot of non necessities
freedom
technology (did i just write that?)
churchy things
i mean seriously. i could go on for days.

i am one blessed girl

winter wonderland

utah got dumped on last weekend big time. it just wouldn't stop snowing. as much as I HATE the snow, there's nothing like getting up before the rest of the world and going fora snowy run. i kind of LOVE it

snow canyon half

for some reason, i have gotten a little behind in my blogging the past couple of weeks. i'm attempting to catch up in the next few days.

i ran my first post op 1/2 marathon a couple of weeks ago. it was the snow canyon 1/2 marathon down in st george. the weather was to die for amazing. the course was gorgeous. it was a beautiful day. really i couldn't ask for much more (besides maybe a faster time and the right running shoes)

at the start line with alyson, heidi, allison, and teresa

at the finish. brynn ran the last little bit with her mom.

the race went pretty well. i felt good most of the time. i didn't do as well as i hoped which makes me think i better get my butt in gear before i run another full.

weekend recap

Is it acceptable to blog about the weekend when it's almost another weekend? This past weekend was just too good not to document.

I went to St. George with Brynn and Allison to run. I had quite the eventful weekend.

We laughed our heads off when this baby hat turned out an itty bit too small.

i ran my first legit post-op race...snow canyon half marathon. things were going great until a mile or two in when i realized i brought old running shoes. they were fine, and the race went pretty well.

after the race i realized i forgot to pack underwear (kind of a problem) and also got locked out of the house when my phone was 100% dead. a few hours, 2 verizon stores, and $20 late, my phone was semi-charged and i found the group.

i left sunday morning to get home for church. i came home to an igloo of a freezer and a giant melty mess. 

we basically spent all day dealing with and cleaning that up. by 10:30 that night all the ice was gone.

needless to say, i was ready for the weekend to end (never thought I would say that). at least it made for some good stories.

Halloween2012

i like to dress up. i really do. BUT i basically only like to dress up with a group and spend very minimal money. i have participated in some good group costumes over the years (oompa loompa, flight attendant, costco sample lady, dance troop, squeeze it drink) so the pressure is always on. we had an itty bitty halloween party at work and somehow i convinced 7 of my co-workers to dress up as tetris with me. we designed the game board for 2 formations which might have been the hardest part of the whole thing (i really needed a computer nerd or something). everyone wore their color, and we played tetris music as we "played the game". it was pretty cute, way fun, and super easy and free. love!

as for the rest of halloween, i pretty much skipped it this year.

how about you? do you like halloween? did you dress up?

i'm linking up with megan and a several others. join the linky party.

Fave Post(s) of the Month

bloggy friend Megan over at http://megancamille.blogspot.com/ wraps up the end of the month with her favorite post. i haven't ever done it before because it's hard enough for me to remember what i read this morning much less the whole month. i've read a few posts that have really stuck with me. i love a good funny, picture filled post, but these are the reflective, make you think, hit you in the stomach or maybe heart kind of posts. you should really check them out. might just change your life.

i couldn't pick just one post so i am highlighting a few

i found thislittlemiggy through a co-worker who discovered her special needs spotlights. i love love love her blog. the special needs spotlights are amazing and personally and professionally so helpful. she is an amazing writer, and it turns out we have a mutual friend. this post, i'm prejudiced. and so are you, is no exception. i love kids with special needs with all of my heart, but she is absolutely right. go read it. it will make you think.

i grew up with caroline. we spent a lot of time in the pool together. she and her husband are amazing in so many ways. this post, why i always cry on sundays, seems like such a good idea. the next person to get married might just get this list as part of their wedding gift. if you are married or getting married, you should definitely read this post and even if you're not, go check it out.

somewhere along the way i started reading a lot of random blogs. i've found quite a few good ones that way.  single dad laughing is a legit professional blogger. he writes about all sorts of things. this series of posts, ways i blew my marriage, goes right along with caroline's post. what's with all the marriage talk around here? it's probably because mostly i know a lot of marrieds. so read this, and do what he says.

so many good things to think about. i like the idea of doing a favorite post of the month. i'm going to try (we'll see if it really happens) to do it on a regular basis.

house keeping

ok peeps. sorry for the quick pictureless post. i've spent literally all day working on my blog design (what a pain). links are disappearing within the week. if you want them, save them before they are gone. come back in a few days to see my new and improved blog.

on another note, i've been thinking about combining this and my other blog. what do you think? i have been putting a lot of effort into this one lately so i'm wondering if i should combine for now or just put more efforts into the other blog. thoughts???

i'll be back soon with a real post.

fall break=vegas trip

fall break was a couple of weeks ago. plans were up in the air until a couple of hours before i left. co-workers emily and paul and family drove down to california so they dropped me off in vegas. it was such a fun fall break. we went to the strip bellagio and saw the gardens and talking tree and of course the dancing waters. we also went to the pumpkin patch. this kids loved picking out pumpkins and mostly karson just wanted a donut. i saw karlee practice for the primary program at church, and played with the little tykes. it was so much fun, and i was sad to leave. get read for a picture explosion...

 karson was not into taking pictures basically the whole trip.

kyler smiles and we all melt

 karlee is really getting into posing for pictures. i die a little 

poor kyler needed a diaper/clothes change, but no one had anything for him.

 so happy to finally have a donut

so much fun. can't wait to go again.