The Big "28"

Getting Nellie (retiring American Girl Doll) for my birthday

My sweet party hat

My Family had kept it a secret, including my two babies, I had no idea

Me walking into my surprise party

My Sweet purple polka dot cleaning gloves from my Mom and Dad, I love it!

My birthday was actually a surprise! This was my first birthday that I had not been either at home with my parents or with Brady's sister, Angela, so Brady actually had to plan it all himself. We had been planning to have a family dinner and I had invited some of my friends. After I invited them, Brady called and "uninvited them". They kept the secret though and so did my kids! I truly had no idea that wasn't what we were doing until I got to Grandma's and Brady refused to go get the kids and put them in the car until I came to help him. I was stressed that we were going to get home late and that my friends were going to think that we weren't coming, so I was upset that he wouldn't just go get the girls. I stomped over to Spencer and Karson's and should have realized it was much to quiet. I walked into the kitchen and they had decorated it all in purple and everyone yelled SURPRISE! I was very surprised and Brady was pretty pleased with himself that he had pulled it off. We had strawberry shortcake ( the real biscuit kind) and I opened presents and it was fabulous! I have to admit that I was a little mad at my husband for doing a surprise party. I don't really like surprises; it is the OCD, controlling aspect of my nature that just sucks all the fun right out of it. We did have fun though and I was really happy.

The Christmas Nativity

The Whole Gang

The Sullen Angel

"Mary" holding the baby, Jesus

Cat and Kohl being Mary and Joseph

The Goofiest Angel

Catherine being Mary

Grandma had the Az grand kids over for a special FHE where they acted out the Nativity Story. Catherine got to be Mary this year and Sarah was very put out. She was convinced that she needed to be Mary, but got to be an angel with a scratchy pipe cleaner instead. She braved through it and smiled once or twice. Cat was sweet and offered to let her be Mary, but I could see how much she wanted to be Mary too, so I said it was okay for Sarah to be disappointed this year. Cat took her role very seriously and was a very reverent Mary. She loved that her favorite cousin, Kohl was Joseph. All the kids looked so cute and did such a good job.

Christmas Recitals

Cat's Class with Miss Angie their teacher (4-5 year olds)

Ta-Da

Shake what your Momma gave ya!

Beautiful Ballerina

The cutest group of girls ever!

The girl's giving Miss Angie her presents

Sarah's Class with Miss Angie (3-4 year olds and 2 yr. old Sarah)

Sarah enjoying her snacks!

The Littlest Angels

All I Got for Christmas was the Chicken Pox Dance

The girls' recital was so adorable. They did just a little mini recital for Christmas and it was very cute. Cat's class got to wear the fabulous red tutus and Sarah's class were supposed to wear PJ's. I could not get Sarah to get into her pajamas! She would only wear the new outfit that Kelly got for her, so I took her pajama pants and snuck them on at the last minute, but couldn't get her out of her leotard. We tried... They had snacks and treats and it was a lot of fun. The girls picked out a present for Miss Angie and they both picked out lip gloss, which is their favorite, so she is well glossed. Auntie Suzi took the pictures for us, as I was video taping. We had a great time!

So lazy!!!

I don't know why, but when I start getting really busy, I have the strongest urge to just be lazy and not do any of it. Like posting my Christmas pics that we had taken a month ago. Here they are, better late, than never right?

Already!?

I cannot believe it is already half way through December. I feel like just yesterday we had Halloween and Thanksgiving and it is only 10 days to Christmas. I have been consumed with planning our Ward Christmas Musical Program. After a bit of a mix up, everything is all planned and assigned. We had to find some pianists on the fly, but the Lord is supposed to make up the difference right? Let's hope so... My kids are so excited for all of their cousins to start arriving for the family reunion. They ask me everyday if it is time yet, or if anyone is coming TODAY!! They have their Christmas recitals on Wednesday and Suzi is coming up to see them dance. We are having a little Christmas party at the end of each of their classes. The girls and a friend of mine are all going to help decorate the sugar cookies tomorrow afternoon. I still have so much to do and feel like time has definetly slipped away from me this year. We are so excited though to be busy with fun stuff.

Silver Bells...

Wow! It feels like forever since I last blogged. Can you believe that it is December already? I love it! We already have our decorations up and I can hardly wait for my birthday and Christmas. We just split our ward and now have a new building and ward we are attending. I really am enjoying it thus far. I was nervous at first, but I think it will be good. I got our Christmas photos back and Michelle did a great job again this year! I will post some soon. We are looking forward to having the Nickerls here in a couple of weeks and having the big Thomason Family Reunion. It's going to be crazy around here. Merry December!!!

TWILIGHT!!!

My cute T-Shirt that Brady got for me to wear to see the movie. The front has an apple and says, "Bite Me" and the back says, " OFFICIAL, I love Edward Cullen fan club member". I thought it was a super cute gesture!

Us two Twilighters, after the movie. Aren't we cute?

Friday afternoon we went and saw the movie for the first time...yes, the first time. Saturday, we went back and saw it again and I liked it better the second time around when I wasn't watching everything with a super critical eye. I am hoping that it will make enough money to do the next two movies.....Fingers crossed.

What was lost, now is found

The incriminating picture taken by the camera theif.

Mud wrestling, I had a picture of their little naked butts, but I figured I should not put that out there for everyone to see. It was super cute though!

The girls watching Dancing with the Stars. Notice our legs...

The Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker Tea that Cat and I went to.

Catherine with Clara from the Nutcracker.

My beautiful Catherine Grace at the Wright House where we went to the Nutcracker Tea, put on by the 4 studios that make up Jeanne's School of Dance, which is where Cat attends tap and ballet.

Sarah swimming in a bowl in the front yard. We havent' put in a pool yet, so she is having to make due.

I am so grateful that I found our camera! Sarah had found it on the counter and decided to take some pictures of Greta. She hid it under her booster at that point and I finally found it today after going through the garbage and tearing apart the whole house and offering up countless prayers. I am so glad that I have it in my custody again!

NOOO!!!!

I LOST MY CAMERA!!!!!! I have so many cute pics to post too...say prayers for it's quick retrieval.

Thanksgiving...Help!!!!!!

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year and I am nervous. The turkey, I can so do, but it is the stuffing that is killing me. We all know my personality and that I am a tad obssessive and have a little issue with perfection and I need to know how to make stuffing from scratch. I personally do NOT like stuffing, it is soggy and gross, but my sister-in-law would like some and I am here to please. Please help me by sending me all of your stuffing secrets! I am totally lame and am buying a pumpkin pie from Costco along with my traditional pumpkin cheesecake that I cannot live without! It is possibly the most delicious thing that I have ever tasted in my whole life, besides a good cheeseburger, but I digress. If you have ever made stuffing or if your Mom has a great recipe, please send it to me pronto! Thanks!