Hanna's Birthday Party

Hanna has been planning her 8th birthday party for about 6 months. She came to me over the summer and told me she wanted to have a tea party. I said sure honey, not really knowing how to do that, and was sure she would change her mind. Nope! Not only did she not change her mind, she kept bugging me every few weeks. "We need to get planning my party she would say"! Well, her blessed tea party finally happened and not to toot my own horn, but I loved how it turned out. My sweet friend Jen came to help and had so many great ideas since she threw a similar party for her daughter recently so I guess I can't take all the credit. And for those of you who know Hanna she always has her own ideas and don't get in her way or try to change her mind on them. I don't know where she gets it....or maybe I do:) Its one of my favorite things about her, her determination and creativity! Here are a few pictures from the big event, but you'll have to visit Hanna's blog in a few days to get the unedited version!


We served mini sandwiches, chocolate covered strawberries, mini cookies, and hot chocolate with mini marshmellows (instead of tea!)

Never say Never

As a side note; the casino behind these palm trees is 3 minutes from our house. It just recently opened up with movies, bowling, restaraunts, and yes gambling.
The mountains at the north end of our street
The gates into our neighborhood

Since moving to Las Vegas, I've had to explain to my kids several times that it doesn't snow here and it never will the whole time wile we live here. Didn't want to get their hopes up for something that would most likely never happen. So you can imagine our delight and surprise on Monday when driving to school I exclaim to the kids, I think those rain drops are actually tiny snowflakes! As the week has progressed, they've gotten bigger and bigger! So when we woke up this morning, they tell us on the news that school has been canceled!! A snow day in Vegas....this is crazy! This apparently is the worst snow storm they have had in 30 years. We feel blessed and excited to be part of it!! Its also hanna's b-day, so Jared asked her if she wished to have a snow day when she blew out her candles at her party on Saturday. Maybe she did because this weather seems like an unbelievable child's wish come true. It has instantly put me into the Christmas spirit and transformed me into a giddy little child.

The Fine Print

So apparently I married a hunter. It must have been in the fine print. I don't know how I missed it when we were dating at BYU. I must have been thrown off by the Doc. Martins and girbaud jeans he was disguised in at the time. I remember him mentioning it once or twice over the past 11 years, but it never sank in until this past Thanksgiving when we were in Utah. His mom and Boyd hosted the first annual "Turkey day shoot" on the morning of Thanksgiving Day. (as a side note, we didn't actually shoot turkeys, Hanna was very confused by this, we shot clay discs. Jared informed me that night that he was going to buy a gun safe and bring his guns home. (he's been storing them in Utah by orders of me until they could be in a safe at our house).
So you can imagine my surprise as I entered Sportman's Warehouse today for the first time and entered a whole different world! I was trying to find a present for Jared that would actually be a surprise for Christmas (he usually picks out everything). I had no idea where to start!! I was so distracted by the John Wayne framed art, stuffed elk heads everywhere, and twangy country music playing over the loud speaker. Thankfully, a flannel shirt, wrangler wearin' employee saw my dazed expression and helped me with all my questions. We were on our way in no time and as I exited the store and spotted the familiar palm trees, I found myself saying whoaaa... that was interesting.
Its not that I mind this hobby, it just a little foreign to me being raised in suburban america. Jared enjoys it and had a great time at the turkey shoot as one of the four finalists. Carter and I even shot too! So don't be distracted by the skechers and American eagle attire. You can take the boy off the farm but you can't take the farm out of the boy. I guess you'll understand when you come visit and we have a stuffed elk hanging above the big screen now.....just kidding....I mean I think Jared was kidding.....maybe I better go consult the fine print.

Dear Santa

Last night at FHE we wrote our official letters to Santa. Hanna's cracked me up!

Christmas music anyone?

I love to buy a new Christmas C.D. every year. I need help this year picking a good one, so if you could all comment and leave your favorites that would be great! Then I don't have to guess....I can take your advice!!

Sweet Jake

Jake has said some really funny things recently. Last night while decorating the tree he said, "Mom, I think Santa is going to faint, because the tree is so beautiful!" He's also started calling things "thingamajinkies", and I heard him tell his friend Koby today, "look, we have a gram cracker", (pointing at the Christmas nutcracker!) We love you, Jake, you are so FUN!!

Soccer Mom and proud of it.

It was fun to have all our kids on "blue teams" this season.

The Saturday before Thanksgiving, the kids had their last soccer games. They were both at 9 am and even though we were leaving for Utah that day we decided to stay for them. I headed to Hanna and Carter's (their on the same team), and Jared who has been an assistant coach headed for Jake's game. Carter was playing awesome! He has improved a ton over this season and last spring. Anyway, he got a break away and scored an amazing goal!! I was so proud, that I started crying and screaming like one of those crazy banshee parents. I immediately called jared on the cell phone and told him. He was so excited and sad since he missed it. You see this was Carter's first goal after many seasons. He has been a great defender and goalie for years, but just recently has learned how to be an amazing forward.
The story doesn't end there.... 5 minutes later Jared calls me on the cell phone to tell me Jake just scored a goal too!! This was also Jake's first goal of the year. We were so proud too, since most of the season we have watched him play pretend games on the field and occasionally kick the ball when it worked into his schedule or happened to be nearby. Crazy!! Hanna was sad she didn't get to join in all the fun, but played great all season. Needless to say, we were glad we stayed for the last games. I love this sport, some of my happiest moments have been on a soccer field....and it just keeps getting better for this soccer mom.