My Funny Valentine

My New Nephew

My sister just had the most beautiful baby boy, Taylor. He was born today, January 30th, on her 30th birthday! What a birthday present : ) He is such a cutie....just wanted to share that I'm a proud aunt.

He was 6lbs 11oz and 19.5 in long and super handsome. Here's a few pictures to prove it : )

Big brother Chase (almost 2yrs old) , baby Taylor, and Daddy Brett

Santa Visit 2010

I was looking through pictures last night and I decided that even though I'm late on posting many fun things we've done this past year, I still want to share them and have them on our blog "family journal". So here is Belated Christmas post #1!

We went to the local library to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. They came to read a story to the kids. Aubrey was super excited about it, and I was thrilled to not have to wait in a huge line at the mall to see Santa : ) There were only about 20-30 people there tops so it was just right.

This is Aubrey anxiously awaiting Santa's arrival.

Asher on the other hand could care less...and was ready for bed : )

Santa read "The Night Before Christmas"

Aubrey waiting patiently in line...

Asher wasn't much for posing by that point, but Aubrey had a great time. She asked Santa for a camel! No problem, right?? (I told her it would have to be a toy camel though because Santa Claus only makes toys)

As we were leaving she said to me "Mommy, why is Santa Claus just a man?" ( oh no...) Maybe she was expecting him make a bit more magical entrance than just walking in the front door : ) I told her he was a man but that he was a special man who had Christmas magic.

She said, "When he takes off his special suit he's just a man, mommy." Seriously? This is like the first Christmas that she's even understanding/excited about Santa and we're already questioning his existence? Come on! : ) She was still full of questions after that, but we seemed to answer them all to her satisfaction at least...until next year!

Nap Hair

This is how I found Asher when I went to get him from his nap. If you can't tell, he's definitely a "morning person" : ) He's up on his knees, which means I better have Steve lower that crib.

These are all pics of his awesome "nap hair". I love it... but most of all I love to kiss the rosy cheeks of this sweet, cuddly little boy right after a good nap :)

KC Temple

A friend sent me this pictures of the progress on the Kansas City Temple. We're so excited!

Here's a link to a whole slideshow of pictures: http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/kansascity/construction/

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

We had our first little snowfall start last night and Aubrey wanted to go right outside and make a snowman, although I doubt there was enough snow even for a proper snowball, let alone a whole snowman. I told her we'd try and go out tomorrow though just the same. She also saw some pawprints outside her window, which we told her were probably from a cat or dog, but she knew better and is now convinced there is a baby camel somewhere walking around : )

We had our ward Christmas party last night and had a lot of fun. Steve and I decided to embarrass ourselves again and sing/play guitar in the talent show. My brother Owen came to play with us as well. Let's just say we're pretty rusty and the nerves got to us, but at least we tried : ) It did remind us of our old days in Rexburg though, especially with Steve hauling in equipment and guitars in the snow. We had a lot of delicious food though and had fun with friends and family.

We spent our Sunday today after church just being homebodies with the fireplace on, and attempting to make a Christmas cookie recipe that didn't call for eggs ( it seems we're always out when the baking mood strikes!). We had a nice evening.

Christmas seems to be coming so quickly now and although 99% of my shopping is done, there always seems to be all those lovely last minute things to make/do/plan. I've got a big ward Relief Society Christmas party on Tuesday that I'm in charge of. We're doing a full course ham dinner and an auction, it should be fun, but I'll be glad when all the stress of prep and planning are over.

I was just looking on LDS.org today and came across this video and thought I'd share. Merry Christmas : )

Christmas Letters

Found this and thought it was funny. Definitely NOT the kind of letter you should expect on getting from our family this year! :

Martha Stewart's Christmas letter

Hello Friends and Family!,

This perfectly delightful note is being sent on paper I made myself to tell you what I have been up to.

Since it snowed last night, I got up early and made a sled with old barn wood and a glue gun. I hand painted it in gold leaf, got out my loom, and made a blanket in peaches and mauves. Then to make the sled complete, I made a white horse to pull it, from DNA that I had just sitting around in my craft room.

By then, it was time to start making the place mats and napkins for my 20 breakfast guests. I'm serving the old standard Stewart twelve-course breakfast, but I'll let you in on a little secret: I didn't have time to make the tables and chairs this morning, so I used the ones I had on hand. Before I moved the table into the dining room, I decided to add just a touch of the holidays. So I repainted the room in pinks and stenciled gold stars on the ceiling. Then, while the homemade bread was rising, I took antique candle molds and made the dishes (exactly the same shade of pink) to use for breakfast. These were made from Hungarian clay, which you can get at almost any Hungarian craft store.

Well, I must run. I need to finish the buttonholes on the dress I'm wearing for breakfast. I'll get out the sled and drive this note to the post office as soon as the glue dries on the envelope I'll be making. Hope my breakfast guests don't stay too long, I have 40,000 cranberries to string with bay leaves before my speaking engagement at noon. It's a good thing.

Love, Martha Stewart

P.S. When I made the ribbon for this typewriter, I used 1/8-inch gold gauze. I soaked the gauze in a mixture of white grapes and blackberries, which I grew, picked, and crushed last week just for fun.