Under the Tree

This is what was under the tree for me this year ;)
Merry Christmas to me....



*EDIT*
Our Christmas was AMAZING! We had such a great time with both of our families. We spent Christmas eve with TJ's Dad and his family up in Park city. We went up in the morning and had a great time taking family pictures, opening presents, and just catching up. That night, my family came up for dinner, games, presents and some GREAT family time. I cooked dinner-this was so exciting for me because I haven't really cooked in months!! I made a Ham, scalloped potatoes, pear and goat cheese salad, garlic carrots, rolls (my mom made the rolls :) and then we had an ice-cream bar after. After that we opened presents and then made up a plate of cookies and milk for Santa, sprinkled reindeer food for the Santa's reindeer, and watched Joy to the World and then put the kids to bed. Then all of us adults played Mexican Train...my new favorite game! I love my family so much and am SO glad they were able to come up so that we could spend time together.


The next morning, we got up and opened presents-just our little family. TJ and I LOVED seeing the looks on the kids faces when they first walked into the room! They loved going through their stockings, and opening all of their presents. My favorite was when TJ opened his blue ray player. He had NO idea that he was getting it and I loved seeing how excited he was ;)

After opening all of our presents we went over to TJ's mom's house and had opened more presents and had a yummy breakfast. TJ's family is SO much fun to be around! It was so much fun to hang out with all of them!
While TJ and his fam went to an afternoon movie, I took the kids to my Grandma's house to visit. It has been a tradition for as long as I can remember to go up to my Grandma's and this is the last year she is having everybody over. It was great to see my uncles and cousins-people I don't see often enough!
After visiting my Grandmas, we came home and and played games and hung out with my hubby's fam. We played a game called Curses and it was HILARIOUS!!! Thanks for a great day guys!

Last but NOT least, we took family pictures today at TJ's mom's house. Craig's daughters Julie and Christie came this weekend and since it is rare for EVERBODY to be together, we decided record this day. We a had a great dinner prepared by Karen and then we spent the rest of the night just spending time together!

Only 4 left.

So, after a week of rehearsals + shows, then another two weeks of shows....I am down to the final four people. Yeah, don't worry, you heard me....thats 17 down...4 to go. If I EVER sign up to do one of these shows during Christmas again, I give anyone who knows me permission to trip me so that I'll fall and break my little arm.

Kinda Random...

Two of my fav artists right now Sara Barielles and Ingrid Michaelson just came out with a new Christmas song called Winter Song. I found a video on YouTube...it's a really great song, their voices blend so well together, I love the simple arrangement and instrumentation, and the sound of both of their voices. Check it out HERE.

Also, I am playing (my violin) in a show at the Pioneer Theatre Company at the "U" and if you go to there WEBSITE you can see a little clip of several scenes in the show. It's really a great production if anybody is interested in going!

Thankful

With this day of Thanksgiving, I just wanted to take a minute and tell my family how grateful I am for them and also how much I love them. I would like to start with my AMAZING husband. He is so, so wonderful. I'm so grateful for ALL that he does for me and for our family. He works so hard in every capacity and I don't tell him enough how happy he makes me. He is so thoughtful, so sweet, so caring and so loving. He is the absolute sweetest daddy! Cameron is his little man :) It just melts my heart to see how sweet he is with our boys. Next I'd like to tell my little boys how much I love them. I lose my patience a LOT and I fee bad, because they are the sweetest, cutest, happiest little boys. I love their little personalities. I love that Drew is smarter than he should be for his age (this is also the thing that drives me the MOST crazy). I love how sweet and tender Drew is. He is always concerned if anybody is crying, sad or just upset. He is quick to help and he tries his hardest to obey. I'm grateful for his happy spirit. I'm grateful for just how stinkn' cute my little Cam is. He is into EVERYTHING, but his cute non-pain-in-the-butt times are what really makes me smile. I love how he loves books and loves it when I sing to him (even though it sounds awful!).
Next I would like to tell my parents how much I love them. They have always been there for me and have always shared everything with me. I'm so grateful for how generous and caring they both are. I'm grateful for all the time they have spent helping me developing my talents and accomplishing the things I have. I love you both SO much!! They are also SUCH great grandparents!! I'd also like to tell my brother and sister how much I love them...they are both some of my favorite people and two of my best friends. They make me laugh and I love hanging out with them! I'd also like to tell my MOL Karen how much I love her. She is so much fun to talk to, so sweet, the woman who raised such an amazing son for me to marry and a great grandma. Thanks to Craig too for what a sweet Grandpa he is. He is always so attentive and loves to play with them! I love all my bro and sis in law too!! You guys are so much fun and such amazing people. I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life!

linds

Sneak Preview

If you want to see more of this GOOORGEOUS couple, visit my photo blog....

Tagged....

7 things I can do:
1. Play the violin.
2. Cook pasta like NO other!
3. Organize closets, drawers, cupboards...nothing makes me happier than perfectly folded towels and color coded clothes :)
4. Waste time...I REALLY have to try hard to stay on task!!
5. Creativ-y, Crafty things...scrapbook (digital of course).
6. Stay up late for SEVERAL nights in a row...but I always regret this. It's just so nice to have no distractions!
7. Lose my patience really fast, something I'm REALLY trying to work on.

7 Things I CAN'T do:
1. Be consistent with dieting...I'm picture perfect for about a week, week and a half. Then I crash! Ughhhh!!!!
2. Argue...My husband always wins :)
3. Remember things... I can be so flighty! My uncle Bob calls it "a fart in the wind."
4. Eat spicy food...I hate it when my mouth is on fire...you can't taste anything else!!!
5. Take naps. I'll be up ALL night, and if I take a sleep aid...then I'll be groggy til' noon.
6. STAND mouth noises!!! Chew with your mouth closed! (TJ!)
7. Control myself with spending money. I'm slowly getting better. TJ is definitely the frugal one in our relationship!

7 Things that Attracted me to my Husband.
1. His lips, they are SO smooth and super squishy. (and NO, that's not too much information) hee, hee
2. His sense of humor, I give him a hard time for going "over the line," but I have to admit, it makes me laugh.
3. He thinks that I'm HOT-but he was dropped on his head multiple times as a child.
4. He things I'm funny.
5. He honors his Priesthood.
6. He can speak Italian.
7. He's TOTALLY sexy...especially when he wears cologne (hint, hint teej).

7 things I always say:
1. For the LOVE!
2. Really...REALLY!!!
3. Yeah....ok!!!
4. Can you chew with your mouth closed please!!! PLEASE!!!
5. What the H (I learned that from my girl Mandi) hee, hee
6. Because mommy said, that's why!
7. Uh, uh, no, No, don't touch!!

7 Things I love to eat:
1. Sugar.
2. Chocolate.
3. Diet Coke with Lime.
4. Pasta.
5. Cheese.
6. Cereal.
7. Scrambled Eggs.

7 People I am tagging:
1. Jen Jenkins
2. Becki
3. Meghan
4. Debbie
5. Sarah Talbot
6. Janelle
7. Whitney

Check it!!

I've posted some new pics on my photo blog!!

I've seen this on a few different blogs and it feels as though this talk was given just recently! They things Elder Maxwell says pertain to us right now. I feel now, more than ever before that we need to choose the side we want to be on and cling to those ways. There are so many gray areas and opinions in this world right now and we just can't be in the middle anymore. Luckily, we have Prophets who tell us (and have been telling us) what to do, what to avoid, what to plan for. We are all so blessed to have this.

The below was given in an address to BYU students by Elder Neal A. Maxwell in 1978.

"Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had 'never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life.'

"This is hard doctrine, but it is particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ. . . . Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. . . . This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions.

"Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.... Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, 'summer is nigh.' Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat."

--- Elder Neal A. Maxwell

My Dad :)

Those of you who know me well probably know how much I love my Dad and how much I look up to him. Well, he has FINALLY created a website to showcase his work-his AMAZING photography. For as long as I can remember, he has been involved in photography. Before digital, my dad had a darkroom and him and I would develop pictures together. These are some of my favorite memories of my childhood and of him and I together. He is Incredibly talented, and would deny it if told so...one of his more endearing qualities. Now that I have begun my journey to learn more of this beautiful art form, I am even more amazed by his knowledge and talent. I'm grateful he has taken the time to show me and teach me. Most importantly, my dad always relates the beauty of the subjects in his photographs to the Lord and the beautiful world He has given us. I'm so grateful that he shares his testimony through his talent. I love you DAD!!!
To see my dad's Photography click HERE

It's been THAT kind of week...

It's just been one of those kinds of weeks. Nothing horrible has happened...but my boys have pushed me to the end of my rope every day this week! Every Sunday I have this grand planning meeting with me and my planner and I sit and make goals and plan my week. And, after four years, one would think I would plan "kids" into my day. I'm having a hard time balancing between having a clean house, being a good mom, a good wife, plus having personal time. I SUCK at it!! So, I start the week with these GRAND plans, don't get them done for various reasons, get frustrated when I can't do everything then I start over on Sunday....what a cycle!! Maybe I'm just too high strung! :) I tend to have a little OCD, ahem, I mean perfectionism (is that a word) problem :P
Anywho, this week really wasn't that bad...maybe I feel that way now that I've successfully vented about it :)
Here is some of the "highlights."

On Tuesday...or was it Monday...anyway, yeah Cam (bless his little blond heart) decided to break into the pantry (he can officially open doors-yes people, the round door knobs, not the levers). He brought out a FULL box of Macaroni and Cheese crackers and dumped the ENTIRE box onto the couch.
Observe exhibit A:


Cam has been trying my patience ALL week. He climbs everything (including my grand piano) and laughs when I punish him. Mom, since I'm blogging this and we're not talking face to face you can have your little laugh. I know that your are just LOVING karma right now.
Today, I decided to get the boys dressed up and try to take their pictures. I drove to a favorite site and 45 minutes later I was ready to slit my wrists. Don't be fooled by the cuteness of the following pictures. These are three of 150!! This was all I could get!!! Every time that I'd get them arranged, Cam decided to run as fast as he could in the opposite direction! And he would laugh while running, thinking that it was a game!!! So there I was running as fast as I could to get him with my camera around my neck and a lense in my hoodie pocket. I can only imagine what I looked like! And, it seems a little ironic that I'd get my kids in position, chase Cam, swat his bum, then sit and try to make them smile for a picture. Am I the biggest hypocrite EVER!?!?! ARGGGGHHHHHH!! Thank goodness Drew is a HAM, he cooperated. Good job Drew.





Last, but not least, Cam woke up with a Snotty nose this morning and so I gave him gallons (not really) of sugar-free grape kool-aid. This was the result: (his diaper literally weighed 3 lbs...yes, I weighed it, hee, hee)
Now, I call him my little Joe the Plummer. :)

Photo Shoot

I did another photo shoot tonight and I LOVED it!! It is such a rush for me!! I just love, love LOVE capturing great moments on film...a...or SD card :) Phil and Whitney were awesome!! They are so stylish, photogenic and fun...here is my fav so far. I still have to go through about 700 more! **Check out my photo blog (link at the left) for more!!



*click on the photo to make it larger.

Lost in Translation

My little Cam has been learning so many words lately. It's hard to understand him, unless you see him everyday and your used to his language...mom's you understand!? So, I thought I'd give some translations to the words he is saying...or trying to say.

Drink: (this is my favorite) a wink!
Milk: moke.
Juice: a juce, juce.
More food: a num, a num.
Snack: a nack, a nack (usually very whiney)
Monkey: a mokey, a mokey
*Note..notice how much he repeats. Very, very funny :)
Blankie: a bankie, a bankie.
Train: too toot.
Car: Bee beep.
Truck: wuck.
Tractor: Toppie
Scoop: coop.
Gross: gose.
Eww: (wrinkles nose, squints eyes and grunts) ewwwwwww.
Shirt: shuit
Hand: a han, a han.
Toes: tow.
Nose: (very nasaly) gnose (gn like nya).
Tongue: ton
Button: (as in belly button) butty.
Bath: a bat, a bat.
Daddy: a daddy, a daddy.
Mommy: mommy, a mommy.
Drew: a doo, a doo *he always asks me a doo? a doo? whenever we Drop Drew off at singing class or at Pre-school.
Elmo: emmo
Doggie: a goggie, a goggie.
Sheep: ship
Boat: a bote
House: house...I love that he knows this?
Get in the Car: a go, a go.
Piano: pano
Music: zic.
Movie: a mowie, a mowie.
Get Down: a down, a down.
Bike: a bike, a bike, a bike.
Outside: a side, a side.
Motorcycle: sookie.
Horse: moose.
Pumpkin: a puhkin, a puhkin.

Family Sticker

This is really cute...

Get your own Family Sticker Maker & MySpace Layouts.

Hysterical!!!!

hee,he, hee, hee........ahhh! I've watched this video about a hundred times and I can't stop laughing!! I don't know if any of you are SNL watchers, but you HAVE to watch this. Kristen Wig is so, so, SO FUNNY! Watch the WHOLE thing too! heee, heee HAAAAAA!

Easily entertained...

After tumbling today, the boys and I were headed home, when Drew started talking about bird pooh on his window. He made up some fantastical story about how the bird pooped on our car window and insisted on getting a car wash. Ok, I mean, I was having a hard time seeing clearly through my bug-spattered wind sheild. So, off to the car wash we go. There is this great new car wash place across from Sam's in Layton and it is AWESOME! They even offer free vaccums after you get your car washed! To say the least Drew LOVED the carwash! He was so thrilled and excited and I won coolest-mom-of-the-day award. It was a win-win. Except that the huge blue spinning rags barreling towards our car totally freaked out Cam. I won coolest-of-mom-of-the-day award from Cam once we left the building :)

A new page

So, I haven't been able to scrap a whole bunch lately because of the play I'm doing (I'm in the pit orchestra for "My Fair Lady" at the Pioneer Theatre Company). So yesterday, I made a quick little page from a template. I used Kasia's Dear Diary Kit over at Shabby Pickle designs. I really love how it turned out!!

favorite things

I thought I'd just write a short little post about some of my favorite things these days. If you would like to, do the same on your blog or tell me your favorite things (at the moment) in my comments.

First, this song makes me so happy!! I just found it a couple of days ago, but I just love how fun and quirky it is:
(p.s. be sure to turn off my blog music)

Also, I discovered John Mayer a couple of years ago, ( I know he's been around longer than that :) and just recently found his live album on itunes and must say it is AWESOME!! I so want the DVD! My fav's from this album are Heart of Life, Neon, Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, and Free Fallin. So, so cool!
I've rented a couple of pretty cool movies lately-I don't really love to see movies in the theatre, I prefer to watch them at home in my jammies. Have any of you seen Definitely, Maybe or What Happens in Vegas? Both are great! Definitely, Maybe made me cry and What Happens in Vegas made me pee my pants! Both are a MUST SEE!!
I love THIS new eyeshadow pallette from MAC is so gorgeous, I love, love love love love playing with shadows...and isn't the green so stinkin' awesome?
Also, I read THESE great books and LOVED them. They are called the Gem series by Lynn Gardener. Debbie Dee suggested them-that girl has great taste in books ;)
And last, but not least, I have a GREAT recipe for you all. I tried it the other night and got rave reviews :) I subsitute Japanese udon noodles for whole wheat spaghetti (you can find these in the produce department at Wal-mart by the wonton wrappers). Yum, yum!!

August in pictures...

This has been a Great month! I know I've been a bad, bad blogger lately, so hopefully the following will get everybody back up to speed ;) We had a great final month of Summer! Here's what we did:

Cam has been learning to eat with utensils... he has done REALLY well, the times I actually let him use them, you see I have OCD, and seeing the mess that ensues after he is given a fork or a spoon is just too much. The funny thing is that he just picked it up one day and started shoveling!?! I had to teach Drew for months!

Drew took swimming lessons. He LOVED them! At one point, his teachers asked him to do circle arms (freestyle stroke) and he couldn't do it. I had one of those you-mean-my-child-doesn't-get-something-so-simple moments. I was of course, still proud of him. He wasn't afraid of jumping off the diving board and loved flying off of the slide!

We had a lot of play dates with our friends we met in Vegas-the Nielsons-and Drew got to play with his very best friend Emily. They always have such a great time together and their is NEVER any drama, it's incredible! I just love this picture of them, it really just shows what good friends they are and how much fun they have together.

I did a TON of scrapbooking. I finished Jessica Sprague's third scrapbooking and photoshop class (Digi: In Deep) and it was SOO much work, but I got so much done too! I did a whole 24 page album and I finished Cam's 1st year scrapbook (I did about 20 pages to finish it...I had NO idea I had that many pictures left to scrap when I made that goal!!).

My mom, my sister and the kids and I went to the Zoo and had a really fun time. Cam LOVED it and I think Drew liked it ok. I don't know why, but whenever we take him to a fun place like Sea World, San Diego Zoo, Disneyland, he get's into this awful mood and refuses to have fun and enjoy what we're doing. It totally bums me out!! Cam on the other hand loves everything. Kinda wierd huh? Anywho, the picture above is of Cam "moo-ing" at a Zebra, because in his world, all animals moo.


We went to Bear Lake two times this month...and LOVED every minute of it!! We had a lot of fun just hanging out together, jet-ski-ing, catching grasshoppers, working on the house, and watching the Olympics-go Phelps!!!



In all the years I've been to Bear Lake-all 28 of them-we've NEVER rented jet skis. We had a boat, and the jet-ski's are so, so expensive, but this year we decided to. It was the most fun I've ever, E-VER had in my life!!! I got some pictures of my brother Dallan, my sister Mandy and my sweetie...they all had a great time too.

A new Layout and birthday pics!!

I haven't scrapped in a while, but was challenged to do something that I have been putting off. I've been wanting to finish Cameron's 1st year scrapbook, but haven't yet! My goal is to finish his book in two weeks...only about 5-7 pages or so. Here is the first of those pages...

Click HERE for the credits for this page :)
And here are some pics from Drew and TJ's birthday...I didn't get many of teej, sorry babe!!
Here is a pic of the pretty decorations-sorry I had to throw an artsy type picture in :)

Here is Drew when he first saw all of his presents...including his new bike!!

Here is Drew opening his presents...he'd just opened his new Mac truck from the Movie Cars.

More presents...I LOVE this picture!
Here's Drews first ride on his new bike...without any help!

Here is Cam opening a present that Grandma Judy and Grandpa David sent him so he wouldn't feel left out.

This pic pretty much sums up Cam's feelings about not getting all the attention and presents, balloons...etc.

Here are some fun pictures from the party with his friends...
The first is of Drew, Ethan and Carter playing with a fun sprinkler, the second of all the kids posing, and the third of Ethan "bobbing for ducks"



On Sunday, we had our families over for a family party. TJ got some money towards his new iphone (that he can't even get 'til September) and a GC to Nielsens frozen Custard-his absolute FAV!!-and Drew got a Banana Chair from Grandma and Grandpa Stephens and a Leapfrog learning video game from Grammy and Poppa. Thanks to all of our cute family who came, we love you guys!!
Here is Drew blowing out the candles on his cupcake...We didn't have a real cake 'cause he or TJ don't like cake. We had TONS of ice-cream though!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TJ & DREW!!!!!!!

It is officially August 1st, so ....Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear teej 'n' drew......Happy Birthday...too....yoooouuuu!!
Four years ago, our sweet Drew made his entrance into this world...on his Daddy's birthday. They were born 15 minutes short of being exactly 24 years apart. Only TJ could be happy to share his birthday...he has to deal with Thomas the Train cakes, buttercream frosting, and everyone forgetting about his birthday for Drew's sake. I appreciate that he lets Drew have all the glory...what an AWESOME DADDY!!
Teej, I love you, and I hope you have a wonderful birthday! You are so special to me. You make me laugh, you help build me up, you work so hard for our family, your selfLESS, fun to be around and are my rock. I love you so much sweetie!!
Drew, you are my sweet, special boy. You amaze me everyday...mostly with your sassy little attitude (which I love...but get frustrated with!!) and your intelligence. I love your sweet attitude, your innocence, your sweet, gentle, tender heart. I love your big, blue, expressive eyes. I'm so glad your my little boy. Happy Birthday buddy!

Photo Blog

Hey all! I've made a photo blog to post all of my pictures. If any of you are interested, check it out here. I'll post more soon!!

shaZAM!!!

It's good to blog again. I haven't done it in a while because I've been pretty busy...excuses, excuses I know! Anyway, there's not much of an update. We're all doing well and having a good summer so far. We went to my family's cabin up at Bear Lake over the fourth and had a great time. We went up with my parents and my sister-mostly to do some work on the cabin, but we got to spend the whole day on Saturday down on the beach and we got ourselves some AWESOME fireworks in Evanston and then had a little show down on the beach too. Some good news....Cameron is in NURSERY!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I'm sure TJ is much happier about this than I am because he is the one who usually watches Cam while I am in YW. Lucky for us, Cam has absolutely NO problem going into nursery-yay! One of the reasons for this post is to post to some pictures for a little drawing over at Jessica Sprague's blog. It ends tonight and if I get chosen I get a totally adorable camera strap from etsy-double yay!! For those of you who are interested, check out Jessica's blog for photoshop tricks. No worries if you have elements (like me), because they can be used in elements!
Here is the original:

And here is the shaZAM!! version:

Pinecrest Vacation

Last week Drew and I went on vacation to my favorite vacation spot in the world. I grew up going to Pinecrest, CA (near Yosemite) every year. I hadn't been back to the cabin since I was 14. My Aunt and Uncle have a 2 bedroom cabin. Their were 18 people there including cousins etc. My brothers Brad and Mitch and my sister Janelle came as well as my parents. Lindsay and Cameron couldn't come because the had to go to Violin Institute. We hauled a tent trailer that we borrowed from my uncle and towed behind my van, so that we had enough places for everyone to sleep. We couldn't drive faster than 65 mph so it made for a long trip. We ended up taking what was supposed to be a short cut that added 5 hours to the trip, so it took a total of 17 hrs to get there. On the way back, my sister Janelle, who is pregnant, was car sick so we had to pull over every 45 minutes so she could ralph. That also added about 5 hrs to the trip on the way back. All in all the trip was a blast. We did a lot of hiking and swimming. Drew and I went kyacking. It was just nice to relax and be with family. I went to high Junior High and High School in a small town just 20 minutes away called Twain Harte. We had a chance to go see our old house and school which was fun. Drew and I were able to bond which was a perfect way to spend fathers day.