all is calm, all is bright...

Joy to the world, we can take a break.
Or is that even possible?!!!

Christmas 2008 was a hit! (did I ever tell you 8 is the BEST number) Of course it was!!!

A URIBE FAMILY PARTY

Uribe family Christmas party was fabulously put on by Dawnie and Kasey in their BEAUTIFUL home this year. They made everyone feel so at home, even Santa! We did this on the Monday before Christmas so no one had to share Christmas eve. It turned out to be perfect!

Get ready for some pictures!

My favorite pic.
As you can see all the kids so excited to be sitting in front of Santa, except for little Lukie! He is definitely not a fan of the big scary guy, until Christmas Day when he didn't have to see him but got his Hungry, Hungry Hippos!

Savvy always complains about not having a sister, however there are 5 girl cousins right around her age. I had sisters but not cousins, which would probably have been better, because Dawn stole EVERYTHING of mine! This is the whole gang, lots of grandkids for my Mom and Dad. Thats what they get for having so many kids! We were even missing a few!

Santa!

The giant on Santa!

Santa telling Carter to say "I love you" to others. We love Santa! Carter told Santa he would do it as long as he brought him a long sleeved, Manchester United, Christiano Ranoldo jersey.

Savvy telling Santa she would love a Nintendo and American Girl Doll!

This is as close as he would get!

But the girls will get close! We asked Santa for a Christmas Party one day where every single person in my family could be together. It may not happen but I hope it will. This year we were missing Lee and Ricky. It's amazing how you grow up thinking life is Christmas and vacations and games and laughter, and easy, and then life happens. It's much, much more. More bad. More good. Families torn apart, and families together. There are highs and lows. For me this holiday season has been a high. It started with this night, and I am thankful for my mom and dad and for the family they gave me. They do good!

definitely dance...

The Christmas season wouldn't be complete without a performance from our cute little Savvy. She only had one recital this season because she is taking a break from Ballet and Musical Theatre. She misses those classes but it sure is nice to have a break for a minute! This was Tuesday night and she did fabulous with her striped tights and suspenders on wrong because of her lame jock mom! No one told me to cross them in the back. Where were you Corbie?? We sure think she is just the cutest dang thing!

My goal is to one day be able to get her ready for ONE dance recital without making her cry and smear her make up. Know that she cries REALLY easy and it is almost impossible to get her to stop once she goes. I planned ahead, started getting her ready early so I wouldn't be yelling Hurry, Hurry! I made her eat long before we had to leave, so she wouldn't be hungry and cry. It all went down hill when I asked her to wash the ketchup off her face from dinner and then found her singing in the bathroom with soap suds on her forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. (She already had her make-up on). It was sordove automatic when I yelled "What are you doing?" She then had little spots from the soap on all those places and she started the lip quiver, and then it happened. She cried. And cried. And cried. And smeared her eyeliner. And got tear lines on her cheeks. And those red spots from crying on the sides of her eyes. I spent a good 10 minutes apologizing and hugging and yelling a little more...maybe. She did stop eventually and we were ok and made it only a few minutes late. We still love each other. Maybe next time I will be able to pull off the 'makeover with no tears'.

Nana and Papa came to watch her and Lauren dance along with Dawnie and Taygie. Thanks for coming and going to dinner afterward! I am so thankful Savvy has Taygin. They are sisters born as cousins. They have so much fun together just like their mom's! There is nothing like a sister for a best friend. My mom called the next day to tell us how much her and my dad loved spending time with us and the grandkids. My dad said that the best present he could ever get was that night, to just be together. I couldn't agree more Dad. Love you!

much to be thankful for...

I know, I know, I am a couple weeks late and it's Christams time, but Thanksgiving this year was fabulous. I love Thanksgiving at the cabin. It is much more relaxing! (no traveling from Mimi's to Nana's) Everyone cooks together and cleans together. Two ovens, two dishwashers = fabulous! It was even more convenient this year because we could drive right to the cabin, when we usually have to snowmobile up the mountain. There was just a little snow, so it wasn't as beautiful as it usually is, but more convenient and warm!

This was taken at oh, about 4:00 in the morning!

It was a very memorable Thanksgiving. It was our first attempt at shopping in Park City, first and last attempt at shopping at Wal-Mart (we should have kept that promise to ourselves), and first time Ambree got to come with us. We showed that teenager how women shop! Savannah lost her first tooth right at the Thanksgiving dinner table! Then she lost another one the very next day. If she shows me a loose tooth, I HAVE to pull it out. Even if it is at the dinner table! She was so excited to get a dollar for each tooth, and she was lucky enough to even get a note from the toothfairy! She had a very vivid dream of seeing the toothfairy that first night. I don't know where she got that imagination! Her note was so my favorite. She can't believe she was lucky enough to actually have the toothfairy write her a letter with her wand!

First one gone....

Second one out!

At least she's "sincill" about it!

I am actually a complete emotional mess right now. Much is going on. I can't stop crying. I am so thankful for so many things. I have the best friends, an amazing family, (all of them) it's Christmas and life is good! This is the best time of the year. I am reminded everywhere, everyday that Jesus was born that night in Bethlehem. Because of His life, I have been given mine. I've been given such special people in my life and I am thankful.

drum roll please...

Hats - 172

Gloves - 214

Socks - 309

Bonus: 14 coats, 9 scarves, 2 pair of boots

For the Warmth of the Children 2009 was a huge success! Thanks to ALL of you who donated, we are amazed at how many neighbors, companies, friends and family members gave to the boys and girls in the Jordan School District. Many times we didn't know the names of people donating and sometimes they were just left on the doorstep. People are good. People are giving. I feel so lucky to be surrounded by people who care about each other so much. I am a very lucky person, I know I have been given much. I hope that my kids will remember the feeling they had when we went to the school and they saw those children who needed these things. The school was out of gloves again this year and I hope they realize that they can be angels to someone else no matter the time of year. I hope that I can remember to be as giving as children. Those little treasures are taught something and they do it.

There is nothing like giving during the Christmas Season. I know you have probably given to someone in need this season, and I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas.

Flyers are ready to take out!


I thought this was a cool picture, I didn't realize it until we got home that he was looking at baby Jesus. This is the reason we do this.

Mission Complete!

...it's over.

This weekend was exactly what I said it would be, one to remember! After the Friday movie (loved it) (no pictures, dangit) with ten of my favorite people, I had a LAME Saturday. The worst thing that happened was Carter lost his soccer game. I think there was another game but I can't really remember what happened. I do know, that I did not see my friend Corbie at church, and I have a date with her some time next week! But whatever.

I had soooooo much fun this year trash talking with all you Ute fans! I love BYU football, I really do. It's not because of the Prophet graduation count, or the fact that it is a LDS college. It's because they are MY team. We all have teams that we love and have always loved from the time we can remember. I am a fan of LaVell Edwards and Bronco Mendenhall. I'm a sports loving girl who grew up with a dad who watched BYU football and 49ers playing on Sunday was more important than Sacrament Meeting. It has since changed at my Dad's house, (he has DVR) but I will always love BYU football. One year when I was 18 my Dad and I went in on a pair of season tickets. Blue is a part of me, and luckily husband loves them even more than me! So cheers to all of you who stood up for the Cougs and cheers to all of you who were on the opposing side and cheers to you (two doors down) who brought me U of U cookies, they were so dang delicious, but dumb.

You finished on top this year, we will have to wait an entire year for this much fun! (you do have A LOT of seniors, yeah for us) Thanks for the money Utes and I still think you smell funny!

This was obviously BEFORE the game.

I can not pass up sugar. We made our kids taste them first so that we knew they weren't going to kill us!

This was obviously after the game.

There was a story from an Indian Chief Alec found preparing for a talk in church today. It talks about the group of pioneers that Brigham Young was leading. They had almost reached the rocky mountains . A group of Indians and their chief hated the “palefaces” and brought 1,000 Indians to shoot Brigham Young and everyone dead. The pioneers camped and started singing Come, Come ye Saints. The chief gave the signal to shoot, but their fingers were like stone, not one shot was fired, the Indians left and knew the great spirit was watching them.


You're telling me all we had to do was sing Come, Come Ye Saints to save us from the Indians?

Friday - a Twilight viewing...

Saturday - a Cougar victory...

This Weekend - One to Remember!



(I'm so excited)

TAG...

This is actually really crazy that I am doing this. I think I have been blog tagged maybe 3 or 4 times. I always plan on gettin' crazy and actually doing it. I think about it for a couple of days and then life happens. I forget. Or I remember weeks later and then feel like a bad blogging friend and think if I just don't do it maybe they won't remember they tagged me. I actually know that those who tagged me probably did not even notice, and I am just flattering myself to think they cared. Anyway, I thought today I would give it a try... (here we go Marti!)
Here are the rules: you need to type 7 things about yourself that you don’t think anyone knows and then choose 7 people to tag at the end and leave their link.

1- I hate the number 7. One reason I should have never done this post is because the number 7 is in the rules. The number 7 is ugly. It makes my insides feel weird and I can't stand that so many people have it as their lucky number! The number 8 is sooooo much easier on the eyes, and on the heart. Two circles connected together, what a beautiful thing.

2- Little House on the Prairie is a part of me. It has childhood memories written all over it. When ever Ma runs out to meet Pa crying, I cry. Every time. I can't not cry. Just this morning it was the one where Charles and Caroline meet when they are little, and I kept getting the chills over and over. Ask my brothers how much I loved Little House.

3- I am a shower decision maker/thinker/planner. I come up with all the best ideas for ANYTHING in the shower. I can plan a lesson, party, activity, tradition in the shower. The commercial where the office goes into the shower for good ideas...I totally relate!

4- I had a crush on Handy Smurf. (Maybe that is why I fell in love with my hubby)

5- You know how most mom's can't sleep until all the lights are off, the kitchen is clean, and the doors are locked and double checked that they are locked? I am NOT one of those mom's. I can totally sleep if there are dishes in the sink. I usually don't check the doors or the lights. You may think I am a bad mom because of it, but I have a husband who does the checklist before bed. He will check it even if I have already done it 8 times. So why should I? I hear women talk about this all the time and I just can't relate. If he goes out of town, he usually calls me at night to remind me, but Of COURSE I am on it when he isn't around!

6- My favorite snack is a piece of white bread rolled into a ball, and nacho cheese Doritos. Take a bite of the round bread then eat a Dorito. Wash it down with a Diet Coke. Don't knock it til' you try it!

7- When I grow up I want to write children's books. I have already started my little dream, and maybe one day it will happen. For now a notebook with lots of idea's, but you never know! A work in progress for sure.

8- And because I can't end on an ugly number, I have to leave one last bit of information. I love the violin. A violin solo in any song makes it better in my opinion. The best part of the symphony is the violin. My fingers are crossed for little Savvy!

The end.
I think I deserve 8 years of good luck for that!

Now I tag Tawny, Janet, Natalie, Lisa, Nancy, Jolee, and Danielle + #8 Dawn!
(if you don't have a blog, just leave it in my comments. ha ha ha, love you all)

a little service project...

If you haven't already, please take a minute to look at our new little blog dedicated to my kids fundraiser
"For the Warmth of the Children."

forthewarmthofthechildren.blogspot.com (there is a link on my list)

This is something we look forward to every year, it definitely makes our Thanksgiving especially meaningful. Any help or passing the word along, would be much appreciated.
Thank you!

one more thing...

Ok, I know I said goodbye to October, but I hadn't put up pictures of Lukey's birthday! Silly mom. My baby turned 3, and I don't know what to do about it! I love two year olds. I love that they are still chubby, that they still hug you, that they still climb into your bed, that you can still carry them and that their little hands and feet are still so small and round. I have said before that I always want a two year old, forever, and now it's over. He's three. The only way to have another two year old is to have another child and that's just crazy! Good thing we have siblings still working on their families so they can share. They're good sharers!

Happy Birthday Luke. Please stay chubby forever.

The kids got Luke a couple of fish. He woke up to a new tank along with "Tiger" and "Froggy". One had died the night before. So I ran back to Pet Smart first thing in the morning to get a new one. These too have both since died along with "Antonio" AND "Tony the Tiger". We literally can not keep a fish alive. The last one was a Beta, we heard they lived forever, and yet the Johnson family killed it quickly. I have no answers. I only know that we have kept the tank running with the fake sharks! He still loves it.

He already looks thinner.

Before his birthday he told everyone he wanted ORANGE cowboy boots! I was not looking forward to ORANGE boots, however when I saw these I knew they were it! Now he doesn't have to wear Savvy's pink cowgirl boots!


This was the hit of the party! Mimi and Papa gave him this huge remote control dinosaur! At first he was a little nervous, but now he can't get enough. You may have seen it at Target in a huge case. It is just as cool at home! It was also a huge hit on our porch for Halloween! I don't know who likes it more, him, or us!

Well he is three now, we are pretty much done raising our kids. As my friend Kelly says, "After they are potty trained, the rest they can do themselves."