PARTY, PARTY!

12.1.07
My work party began very early this year and was held at Crane Creek Country Club! It was beautiful and so fancy. When we arrived, there was someone checking in coats, the tables were decorated so beautifully, and hoer 'derv's were circling already. We met our friends Ian and Jaime prior to the party enjoyed mingling with them. Angie and Geoff Moore joined us shortly after the party began and Loreesa and J.R. Freeman joined us as well. We gals left our husbands to talk hunting, fishing and fight stories while we mingled with our co-workers.
We danced, ate wonderful food and enjoyed our date night. Taylor Toll, Miss Michelle's daughter watched Trey for the evening and what a nice evening it was; to be able to enjoy ourselves and know that our little man was in good hands!



Loreesa and J.R. Freeman (they have a son named Trey too!)

Angie Moore

Extreme Home Make Over in Idaho!

12.1.07
So, it is finally here. The eve of the Extreme Home Make Over airing which took place in Middleton, Idaho! Me, being the googly-eyed paparazzi wanna-be convinced Justin and Trey it would be a wonderful experience to see the action in person while the home was being built,( we took our friend Sommers and Scott Gerratt (prior to the birth of Baby Shaydon!) and Sommers and I got to meet Paige! That is Sommers with me!) and then when Justin heard there was going to be a benefit "concert," I knew that we HAD to go. With my camera in hand, I took many pictures, and luckily got some great ones of the "design team."
So, this Sunday is the airing of the Idaho Home. Here in Idaho, we have SIX hours of coverage, NO JOKE, and I am sure once Sunday evening rolls around, we will have seen the inside and outside of the home more than 4 times, but, who cares!
I drove out to Middleton yesterday for a sneak peak and snagged a picture. I drove by the home TWICE, a little embarrassed and nervous to take the picture, but it looked very inviting and I didn't think I was harming anything. UNTIL, I got a close look at the front door. Right next to the front door there is a sweet little sign which read, "We ask for NO TOURS and NO PHOTOS until the airing of this home." Well, I hadn't driven out there for NOTHING, I quickly hopped back into my car, looked through the passenger window, and stole a picture. THEN, as luck would have it, just as I put down the camera, the FAMILY drove up, stared at me, and turned into their driveway.
The one thing I wanted to get a picture of and didn't was the new bright red truck they were given! It matches their home!
I can't wait for the 6 hour coverage!
Oh, also, look for us at the benefit concert. Trey is on Justin's shoulders, and I am wearing a khaki paperboy hat, a khaki shirt and black skirt. I didn't care for the "concert," so I drug Justin and Trey around the whole evening following the celebrities and snapping pictures. Do you think I am fit for paparazzi life or what?!!!


Justin and Trey at the benefit "concert"
The red thing in Trey's mouth was a red bracelet that they were selling as a fundraiser for the family. Trey liked the taste of it and NOT the look of it on his wrist

We're Building!!!

11.30.07
Did I catch your attention?! Yes, we are building, but not a home to live in! We built a Gingerbread House! Thanks to Costco, we had the best evening listening to Satellite Radio's MANY Christmas stations and decorated the most festive gingerbread home I have ever seen; complete with ice-icles and a BSU tree out front. I had never decorated one, and it has been since childhood that Justin had, so it was basically new for the three of us. Trey was ecstatic, of course loving the candy and frosting!




I attempted to decorate a gingerbread boy, and ended up with a scary looking monster. I asked Trey if he wanted to eat it, and he got the most scared-look on his face. "No Mom, that boy's scary!" I had to bribe him for this picture. Notice his closed eyes, he wouldn't even look at this red-eyed monster!!! Hilarious!

The gingerbread home now sits on top of our fireplace, a constant reminder to Trey that there is candy everywhere! Poor little man!

The Waites are Safe and Sound in St*r, Idaho

11.30.07
As a tradition, my mom makes advent candles and takes them to her friends on December 1st. One family friend from Bend, the Waites, just moved to Star, Idaho and she was wanting to get a candle to them. So, at Thanksgiving, she gave me the candle to take to Idaho and deliver it to the Waites!

I dropped in, unannounced (so not like me!) and I was pleasantly surprised that they were home. In fact, Linda Waite was in the process of making advent candles of HER own to take to people in her new ward that helped them move in!
These pictures are to prove that they truly are, safe and sound in their new, beautiful home! Check out their garage doors, LOVE THEM!

A Morning of Entertaining!

11.30.07
This morning Trey really, REALLY played all by himself. I dumped out all of his cars and he went to town as I completed my Sunday's lesson plan. I had cut up some apple slices for a little snack for the Trey-Man, and he said his cars were hungry two. After I had given the apples to him, I peaked around the corner, and I saw the cutest thing ever! Thought I would share it!

He had some of his cars lined up around the bowl of apples, they were all at a drive-in, munching on apples. As I was cleaning up his cars before he took a nap, I found an apple slice tucked away in the hood of one of his cars! I guess that car was REALLY hungry!

Temple Night with the Book Club Babes!

11.29.07
We decided to get together as a book club group and attend a session at the temple. What a wonderful experience we had. Eight of us got their early enough for the 7:00 pm session, we all sat in the back row (which I think made everyone turn and look in our direction! Pretty funny actually!) and we enjoyed the bond we all share. I think we even witnessed a possible "engagement" taking place in the celestial room, I guess we will never know, but in our minds, it was truly happening! (kind of awkward actually!)



After a picture outside the Boise Temple for posterity, we decided to get something to eat. We chose Shari's, which was fairly close to home and open 24 hours right? Well, I think the cook was sleeping because it was the slowest service I have ever experienced! We really didn't notice because we were all laughing and talking, enjoying each other's company. (I seriously haven't laughed THAT hard in a LONG time. I was bawling, tears streaming down my face, laughing! All of which the jokes were pointing in MY direction! Labor and drug allergy related stories and jokes, imagine me with a "joker-like perm-a-grin!" Yes, scary thought, but the thought still brings a smile to my face and sometimes even tears to my eyes, all in fun and laughter!)


When we got to our cars and realized it was nearly 11pm, we all knew we would be hearing it from our husbands! (mine was asleep, he didn't seem to notice the time!!!)
I hope we do a temple night again, it was wonderful!


Me and friend/fellow blogger Jessica-a mother of three, and cute as can be! (she is "Jessica and Kip" under my friends list if you were wanting to see pictures of her cute family!)

Lunch with Chelsea Ann

11.29.07
We skipped Play Group this week in fear of getting the girls sick, and met Chelsea Ann for lunch. We met at the most perfect Mexican place ever! Total kid friendly, SOOOOOOOO fast, (seriously, Chelsea ordered a Taco Salad, and two minutes later, it was in front of her!) and the kindest service you could possibly imagine.
We had the best time, Chelsea was kind enough to supply Trey with as many quarters as needed for the "sucker machine" which kept Trey's little mouth occupied while we chatted! I love Chelsea and am so fortunate to have her in my life! She is the greatest friend!

Baby Shaydon's a YouTube SuperSt*R

Here is Baby Shaydon's YouTube "claim-to-fame"!! Enjoy!!

Happy 3 Month Birthday Baby Shaydon!

11.28.07
We had the privledge of watching Baby Shaydon on his 3rd month birthday while his mommy got her hair cut and colored. We have been planning this for almost a month, and Trey has been so excited to play with him.
When he first arrived, he was still sleeping. Trey kept asking me to get Shaydon out so he could "walk around." Can you tell he is just anticipating the rapid growth he thinks Shaydon will have?



Trey shared his lego's with Shaydon and made silly faces and noises to make him smile. Trey wanted to "take a nap in mommy's bed" with Shaydon and wanted to sleep in the basinet with Shaydon. I hope Shaydon grows up loving Trey just as much as Trey loves him!

Sick Day for Trey-Man

11.27.07
Trey-Man came home from Bend sick, and my work was kind and considerate enough to let me have a day off so I could take care of my little guy.
What a day of bonding and recuperation we had. Trey knew he was sick, I think he played it up a little too well for a 2 year old.
Whenever he is hurt, he always needs a band aid. Well, he couldn't tell what was hurting him, but he knew he needed a band aid.

And no, I did NOT step on his feet, he just decided that his feet hurt. (I actually think he was looking for an excuse to use the cute Curious George band aids. As of this posting, the box is GONE! Every one, last band aid has been stuck to either me or him!)

Another favorite of his, and not just on sick days, but every day, are his "Bear Candies." They are GummiVites, and for those of you who aren't privileged enough to have your child ask, cry, BEG for these yummy morsels, they are gummy bear vitamins. Yes, I could eat the whole bottle myself, but they say you are only supposed to take 2 a day. Trey usually asks for "2 red ones please" first thing in the morning, then an hour later, he wants 2 more, and an hour later, TWO MORE! Seriously, these vitamins consume the poor little guys days. And when he is sick, he usually gets what he wants, but I put my foot down on the overload of vitamins!!!



After a morning of laziness (and not just on Trey's part I will admit!), it was nap time for sick-boy and when he woke up, I wanted to run!!!


SCARY MAN! Sun's Up, 'Noon is here, up and at 'em engineer! This engineer was NOT feeling it! He was sad, mad, and confused!
I didn't know what he was wanting to eat, so I offered some bite-sized little cookies that boast to have vitamins fortified in every bite (yeah, I don't buy it!) and a nutrigrain bar. It was amazing what a little sugar could do for a sick boy!




He finally wanted to get dressed and was running around like a mad man. To top off the whole day, I had promised him the night before that if he took his antibiotics (instead of spitting it out all over my face and shirt!) I would give him ice cream. So, campfire ice cream it was on a sugar cone. Who says sugar doesn't do the body good. Look at this smile!!

Gas and Friends in Burns, Oregon

11.25.07
No, our friends did NOT have gas. Get your head out of the gutter! But there WILL be some bathroom talk. As I was exiting a restroom in the small town of Burns, Oregon on our way home from Bend over our Thanksgiving Holiday, I heard my name. I wanted to bust out of there, being in my pj's for heaven's sake and barely brushing my hair, let alone my teeth for that matter, I was dying. Who could it be? I slowly turned in the voice's direction, and to my pleasant surprise, it was Shane Stevens, my best friend from High School's husband. Chelsea Ann Hill (now Chelsea Ann Stevens!!!) and I grew up in Bend, we were college roommates, she was my bride's maid and we both ended up marrying guys from Idaho. We actually live about 5 miles from eachother in Nampa! I was so excited to see them. Chelsea had with her 2 of her younger sisters who I hadn't seen for years! They were a little crammed in their car and we offered to take some of their belongings with us. You might think we are kind people, but the offering was more for selfish reasons: we mostly did it for the opportunity to visit with them more once the trip was completed. That evening they came to claim their goods and we were able to hear about the rest of their holiday!
Lesson to me: NEVER travel in your pj's. Even though Chelsea has seen me in all of my glory, you never know WHO you might run into in a gas station.

Just Married?!

11.24.07
This one's for you mom!
So, my mom and I have had running "games" if you will for several years now. It always deals with a camera, and something silly we see out in our daily lives. For years, we would secretly take pictures of nasty "Mullets." I once stooped to the level of hiding behind my shopping cart in the WinCo parking lot to get a picture of what we called a "MexiMullet," developed the picture and sent it to her as a postcard. Now that the "fad" of mullets have officially dwindled off, we have now taken interest in "Just Married" cars.
A few months ago I found a postcard in my mailbox. It was of a very old camper and beat-up truck with the words "Just Married" written across the back window, parked at a McDonalds. On the back of the postcard, my mom mentioned what an awful way to spend the first day of your lives, eating breakfast at a McDonalds and sleeping in an old camper. (and as I write this, I have a fear that I might offend someone if they truly DID do this on their honeymoon-sleep in a camper and eat at a McDonald's. So, I quickly will apologize!!!!)
Well, while waiting in a rather long line for gas at the local Fred Meyer's in Bend, Oregon, a scary, almost pedophile-looking white van pulled up next to us, and my Mom and I just about busted our guts. Written on more windows than one were the words, "Just Married!" So, of course I had my camera at arms reach and I quickly took some candid shots of the newly married couple. I fail to post the picture of the blushing bride, who knows if she would have liked to appear on my blog, and I wasn't ABOUT to tell her what we were up to. So, cheers to the happy couple who filled up at Freddy's. We sure enjoyed our laughs!

Mountain Pictures

11.24.07
More pictures of our trip to the mountain!



Derek, my Mom and Trey! Isn't my Mom so youthful looking? She is beautiful!!!




LOVE this picture. I love the look on Trey's face, he admires his uncle Derek



BIG BOY on a little mountain!

"let it snow"

11.24.07
Justin and my brother Taylor wanted to take their dogs out hiking, and even though Trey loves to go on hikes, I knew it wasn't a hike he would enjoy. So, my mom, my brother Derek, me and Trey all loaded into our car and we set our sights for the mountains where we could find some snow!
On our drive towards Mt. Bachelor, Trey fell asleep and wasn't too happy when we arrived at the snow-mobile park. Trey wanted me to get out the stroller and push him around the park. I told him we don't push strollers up big mountains IN THE SNOW, and he eventually came around to the idea of hiking.
Derek has amazing endurance and basically ran up the hill. My mom had just heard a story about a teenage boy with Autism who was hiking with his parents and got a little too far ahead of the group and became lost. I think she was a little nervous, so we quickly followed Derek, as fast as we could with a 2 year old in tow.
There wasn't enough snow to build a snow man or do snow angels, but there was enough to get a glimpse of what this winter may look like!





Bless my Mom's heart, she is always willing to help others!