Roy's Most Wanted!

The female, aka MOM, in this picture is the thief that STOLE my SD card with all my Christmas pictures on it!

She could have just asked for a copy of my pictures ~ but NO, she turned to a life of crime.

She can usually be found with her accomplice, aka DAD, which is also shown in the picture above.

These criminals MUST be brought to justice and pay for the crime they have committed :)

PSS : Christmas Presents

This week was Amy's turn. She asked, What was your best Christmas present? What was your worst? What did you always want but never get?

The best Christmas present I received was, two years ago, when Joel gave me Diamond Earrings. They are so pretty. I loved it. Unfortunately I lost one about a year ago, but I am now thinking about turning the one I have left into a pendant, to wear on a necklace.

I can't think of the worst Christmas present I have received. Nothing jumps out at me... I have friends that get things like vacuums and other cleaning tools from their husbands, I'd hate that, but Joel knows better than to buy me anything like that for Christmas. However, one year my parents bought me the carpet cleaner I wanted. It was, and still is, fabulous... So, I guess it just depends on who is giving me the cleaning stuff.

Always wanted and never got...hum, I'm pretty spoiled. Even as a child I always got what I wanted. Oh... I know, a week long vacation - just Joel and I. Every time we plan a big trip, it's either, JOEL doesn't want our kids to be left out - he is such a great Dad-, or we go with friends and/or family. Guess I'll have to wait until the kids move out, until then I'll be happy with our weekend getaways alone!

My kids answers were:

Ry
Best - Metal Detector ~ It cost $500, it better be the best so far....
Worst - Clothes
Never got - PlayStation 3 (only came out this year)

Ky
Best - iDog ~ she's easy to please :)
Worst - I don't know...
Never got - Wii and a DS (only asked for them this year)

This morning I took the kids, with my Dad, sledding at Eagle Lake Golf Course. IT WAS FREEZING! Ky only made it a few times, then got tired of walking back up the hill. Ry...that kid never gives up. After I told him he could only go a few more times, on the next run, he crashed big time! It was kind of sad and really funny. He made it all the way to the bottom on his $10 snowboard and then decided to go for the jump. He flew about 10 feet in the air, he went left...the board went right, and he landed on his head, the poor kid. My Dad and I stood there laughing until we realized he wasn't getting up. We finally got him up and...Yeah! we got to go back to my parents house. I totally wasn't prepared for how cold it was, brr.

Once we got back to our house, Joel took the kids Christmas shopping and I stayed home to make Christmas Candy. It was fabulous! No kids begging to help and I could turn my iPod up as loud as I wanted. I was able to get it made, packaged "cute" for Joel to take to work, and cleaned up before they got back! Once they got home, it was time for dinner and then we settled in to watch "the game".

It was so, so sad :( Ry gave up sometime in the beginning of the 4th quarter and went to bed, crushed... Joel and I turned it on in our room to finish it, Joel feel asleep and I watched it to the brutal end. BYU 21 ~ ASU 31 We'll get'em next year! Go Cougars!

The E.R.

Well, as many of you know, my husbands life would not be complete without MANY trips to the E.R. ~ I do what I can!

On Wednesday morning it started with chest pain that I thought was asthma. After using my inhaler and other asthma medicine's, it didn't go away. So, I went home and took a nap - thinking I was over doing it in VERY cold weather, which is very bad for those that have asthma. Cold + Asthma = BAD NEWS. However, by late that night the sharp pain in my chest was still there.

So, Davis Hospital E.R. here we come! (Yes, I know people die there Christi, but ...NEWS FLASH... they die at McKay too ;) Anyways, the doctor and nurses were fabulous and enjoyed my husband teasing and harassing me the entire time. I'm glad I could provide the laughs! It ended up being, after hours and hours, that I pulled chest muscles while working out at lady fitness, and breathing and coughing (from the cold+Asthma) made my chest muscles hurt VERY BADLY! Okay, I admit, I'm a wimp - this is not a news flash!

Now with the help of pain medicine (for the pulled chest muscles), cold & flu medicine (for the cold) and asthma medicine (as a preventive), I feel rather fabulous! Never better :)

And just for the record...If Joel decides to post the pictures that he took in the E.R. with his iPhone, I...WILL...GET...EVEN! Dude...I totally know where you sleep, or better yet...I know how to get in contact with those fabulous gentlemen you work with and I am sure they would LOVE to help me! I do believe a few more people look at that website you work on compared to my blog :)

PSS : Snow

This week Kim D. asked us what's your favorite thing about snow? Your favorite thing to do in it? Your favorite memory in relation to it?

My favorite thing about snow is that it keeps my children busy for hours playing in it with friends in the neighborhood. They love to make snowmen, forts, hills to sled down, and anything else they can think of. Most of the time it is me dragging them back in to get warmed up.

My favorite thing to do in it, as an adult, is to take my kids to go sledding. My parents live by Eagle Lake Golf Course in Bountiful and they have awesome hills for sledding. Actually, everywhere you turn up by my parents house there is a good sledding spot, including their front yard. That's a bonus for living up on the bench I suppose. Joel and I love watching our kids while they are sledding, one is very cautious and one is so daring, it's kind of scary... Can you guess which is which?

My favorite memories include going skiing on the weekends with my Dad. My parents put all three of us kids through ski school when we were young, it was fabulous. Night skiing was my favorite. I think it was a way to keep us close by, and out of trouble, during the winter while going through school. It's kind of sad that all of us married NON-skiers. The last time I went skiing was before I got pregnant with Ry, so about 11 years ago.

Unfortunately Joel and Ky have no desire to learn how to ski, or snowboard... Actually, there is a hilarious memory about trying to teach Joel to ski, but that's entire blog worthy all by it self, oh good times :) There is talks about teaching Ry how to snowboard this year with the help of my friend, Joanna. I am sure that he will love it.

Holiday Fun

Friday night, while Joel took his Mom out to dinner and Christmas shopping, I took the kids to the Ward Christmas party. The kids each took a friend, so I was a little worried about being by myself. Luckily the Gentry's and the Olsen's came over and sat by me and made the night bearable. Both of the Daines' boys played with the Roy High Jazz Band for our entertainment and then Santa Clause made his appearance. I was really surprised that both of my kids went up to see him, but then Ry said, "Mom, the guy was giving out candy. I tried to sneak behind him and take it but Kallie Bingham did the smack down on me and told me to get in line". Thanks Kallie! I should have figured he was getting something out of it. At least I have great pictures of them setting on Santa's lap - I thought for sure that wouldn't happen this year :)

Saturday night the four of us went with my Brother and his family to dinner and to see the Layton City lights. My brother was also babysitting his neighbors kids, so we had kids 7 kids all together...they were everywhere. Dinner was at El Burrito in Clearfield, yummy. Even though it was freezing the we all had a great time walking through the lights. Brent and Joel had to comment on each light display... They were hilarious. Then after the 20 minutes it took to get all of the kids together for a picture, we headed home to match videos. The kids had a great time and thanked us for taking them a bunch of times on the way home.

My PSS friend, Lisa, tagged me - So here I go!

Christmas Tag!

Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, it's so much fun to unwrap a gift!
Real tree or artificial? Artificial.
When do you put up your tree? Thanksgiving Weekend.
When do you take your tree down? Before New Years Eve or it's bad luck, right?
Do you like eggnog? No, Yuck!
Favorite gift as a child? Cabbage Patch Kids and then Swatches.
Do you have a nativity scene? Yes.
Hardest person to buy for? My In-Laws, still have no clue. Any ideas?
Easiest person to buy for? Ky.
Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail, if I do them at all :(
Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Every gift has been absolutely fabulous ;)
Favorite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story - It's a classic.
Have you ever recycled a gift? Yes.
Favorite thing to eat at Christmas time? Caramelized Chex Mix.
Clear or colored lights on the tree? Clear.
Clear or colored lights on the house? Colored, not by choice - I got out voted.
Favorite Christmas song? Don't have a favorite, Sadly I don't really like Christmas music at all. It's on my blog by kid request.
Travel @ Christmas time or stay home? Both.
Can you name all Santa's reindeer? No, sad but true.
Open presents on Christmas eve or Christmas day? Christmas day.
Most annoying thing about this time of year? Large Crowds.
Favorite ornament theme or color? Gold and Burgundy.
What do you want for Christmas this year? UGG Boots.
What is your favorite Christmas memory? My Grandma's Christmas Eve party.

I tag Robin, Shawna, and of course, Susie :)

I have been stuffed full for the past 24 hours. Last night, Joel and I, went to Maddox up in Brigham City for the Brent Alvey Plumbing, Inc. Christmas Party. It' is my favorite place to eat, it's the best! Joel and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner there with all of our family, I loved it. Anyway, the night was a lot of fun and it was nice to see my brother relax and have a good time. The kid works WAY to hard. All together their were 10 of us, Brent & Christi, Joel and I, Nick and Anita, Glen and his wife, and Chris & his wife. Thanks Brent, dinner was FABULOUS and I couldn't ask for a more wonderful boss! Your the BEST, I love ya :)

Then this morning, after dropping my kids off to school, I attended the annual PTA Christmas Breakfast at Village Inn. Only 8 of the board members showed up with Susan England (principal) and Quinn Karlinsey (asst. Principal). I enjoyed being able to meet with these fabulous people and not have to discuss the happenings at the school, well...officially anyway. We did drill Quinn about where he might be placed this next school year, but of course he doesn't know yet. I am praying that Quinn is the one chosen to be the next Principal at Midland. Susan England is retiring at the end of this year and we are all in suspense waiting to hear who the next Principal will be.

Quinn also dropped a huge bomb on me this morning. With all of the boundary changes that will happen next year, Midland Elementary will be getting about 200 students from Freedom Elementary. The school board held an Open House style meeting the other night at Freedom so that the parents who have students transferring to Midland could have a few questions answered. Quinn told me about the parents who he talked to had heard the Midland had a wonderful PTA.

OH BOY! They are going to be really disappointed when next year comes around and they find out they have me as the PTA President. Even though I have been REALLY involved in the PTA, being the President is going to be a huge challenge. It's going to be crazy...new Principal, new PTA President, new boundaries with new students and new parents - and it's the new parents that scare me the most. Some of the new parents are not happy about this change, and I don't blame them, I wouldn't be either if the shoe were on the other foot. Oh well, ready or not...I'll give it my best.

Ry's Fortune Cookie

The other night on the way home from Lucky China, our favorite Chinese Restaurant, Ry opened his fortune cookie and was very upset. "That's the worst fortune cookie EVER" he yelled. So, I turned around to look at him and asked him what it said. He said, "You are autistic in many ways"...long pause - I AM NOT AUTISTIC! Sara in my class is autistic and I am absolutely nothing like her! I am NOT a handicapped person! -- I sat there and thought about for a minute, it just didn't seem right, so asked Ry if I could see the paper. Once I read it, I started laughing. Still laughing, I said, Ry it says "you are very ARTISTIC", like an artist, creative... He gave a huge sigh of relief. "Oh good, I was NEVER going to eat another fortune cookie again", he said. Joel and I sat there laughing, and then had to explain what being autistic meant to Ky. It was the funniest ever :) Gotta love him!

PSS : Family Traditions

This week Kim E. asked what are your family's traditions?

As a child:
Besides our Christmas traditions, I would have to say that my next favorite would have been Halloween night. Every year on Halloween, my birthday, we would go out trick or treating around the town of Uintah and then we would met all of my cousins up at my grandma's house for caramel apples. I loved it. We also had the Memorial Day BBQ at my Aunt Gartha's, 4th of July BBQ at my Grandma's and Thanksgiving at my Grandma's.

As an adult:
My kids favorites traditions include the Easter Egg Hunt at my Mom's, the yearly camping trip with the entire Alvey side, Halloween Party at my Mom's, and all of our Christmas traditions. This year we are holding the 1st Annual New Year's Eve Party at my Mom's house, everyone is planning on attending. The kids are so excited for everything that we have planned. I'll let you know how that goes :)

A must for us during every Christmas season is a weekly, yes weekly, trip to the West Haven Lights. If you haven't taken your family to see this, it's a must! It is a unique Christmas display where all the lights are computer controlled and synchronized to music, which is broadcast on a FM transmitter to your car radio on 93.7! The house in located in West Haven at 4346 west 3925 south. If you are familiar with Roy, it's straight down 4000 south. A must see :)

Giving Blankets

This year everyone in my Mom's ward, in Bountiful, was given the opportunity to help others with "Giving Blankets" provided by the Utah Food Bank. Attached to each lap blanket was a name, address, and other information about an elderly person in need for the holidays. My Mom took three blankets. I don't think she expected us kids to help her, but once we found out what she was doing, all three of us wanted to help.

On Sunday, all of us met at my Mom's house around 11:30. My Mom had decorated each lady a small Christmas tree, and filled a stocking. Once we put the stuff together that each of us had bought, each lady had two large boxes full food, pet supplies, toiletries, and more.

My Mom had called earlier and made appointments to meet with each of these ladies. When we all showed up at their doors, they were very welcoming and excited to have visitors. All three ladies had similar situations; their husbands had passed away, they lived on a very limited budget and all of their kids were living out of state and seldom heard from. They all lived in the same rough area in downtown SLC. I was even joking with my oldest nephew that he shouldn't give eye contact to the people that were passing us outside, it was scary.

I think Ry took it the hardest, he had a hard time believing that the elderly could live that way. But overall it was a great experience for my entire family and a great reminder that we are very fortunate with everything, and everyone, we have in our lives. Once we had visited with each of the ladies, we returned to my Mom's house. We baked yummy Tony's pizzas and decorated sugar cookies.

Thanks, again, Mom and Dad for the great afternoon and the opportunity to serve others during the holidays!

KSL Christmas Party

On Friday night Joel and I attended the KSL Christmas Party. It was Fabulous! They held it at the Little America Hotel, in Salt Lake, in the Grand Ballroom. The room looked amazing, the food was delicious, and the entertainment was the best! Jericho Road performed for us. They were so much fun to watch, full of energy! At the end of the evening they sent home, with each couple, a popcorn bucket filled with candy, a can of Stephen's Hot Coco, and coupons for 2 free video rentals and a free Papa Murphy's pizza. The kids are excited for the next family night!

Next: Brent Alvey Plumbing, Inc., Christmas Party at Maddox! Yum, my favorite!

p.s. I have told you about how fabulous Brent and Christi are for taking over our family Christmas Eve party? They do an AMAZING job and we all LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them very much :)

PSS : Christmas Memories

This week Shane asked, What is your most-memorable childhood Christmas?

I can't remember any details about any ONE Christmas, my Mom and Dad went out of their way to make every Christmas memorable. I love the family traditions they started, and do them now with my own family.

Every year, a few weeks before Christmas, the Elf would start coming, once a week or more, and leave us small gifts at the door step. Every Christmas Eve, while at my Grandma's Christmas party, the Elf would leave us our final gift, the Christmas PJ's. It drove us crazy that we couldn't figure out who the Elf was. I didn't find out for sure who it was until after I was married.

Once we got the Elf present open, and the ONE gift we could open on Christmas Eve, my Mom would barricade all three of us kids, and one or two dogs, into one bedroom, literally lock us in. I think it was usually mine, the one right across the hall from hers, she would make it so that when mine opened, hers slammed shut. Me and my Brother would try just about everything to get out :)

We were allowed to come out of the room any time after 6:00 am. Most of the time we were wide awake waiting for the alarm clock to hit 6:00 am. Then once everyone was ready we could go to the tree, where ever my Mom decided to put it that year, upstairs or down, and start opening presents. My parents always told us we had a $100 limit, but now as a parent, I know that was not true. $100 does not go far, and we always had a ton.

Then at around 6:30 am, we would call my Grandma A. and wake her up. Her and my Grandpa would show up for breakfast about 30 mins later with their hot coffee, joking about how it was so early she didn't have time to do her hair, so she looked like Wanda the Witch. I can still remember the smell of their coffee, even though they have given it up for hot coco. My Dad always made a BIG Christmas breakfast with all the trimmings. Ry, it was Yum...lol!

Then it was, and still is, on to the Christmas Day movie. We saw my Dad's side of the family on Christmas Eve, and my Mom's side of the family lived to far away, so we went to see a movie. My kids already have picked out the movie they want to see with Grandpa and Grandma on Christmas Day - Marley and Me, about a dog a lot like Fisher, our lab. Thank goodness he grew out of it.

The hardest thing for me, as an adult, was when my Grandma stopped having the Christmas Eve party. Don't get me wrong-Brent and Christi, you do a wonderful job at it! But, it's still not the same. It was around the time most of us kids had gotten married, my Uncle Doug had passed way and her health started going down hill, it became to much for her. I still miss it to this day :( It was the best!

Now that your yawning, if you kept reading, the point I wanted to make was - I loved every Christmas growing up! Thank you Dad and Mom! I love you and thank you for all the wonderful memories. I hope Joel and I can make the same wonderful memories for our kids that you did for me. My kids love having the Elf, the Christmas Eve party, Christmas Breakfast, and of course, the Christmas Day movie!

I've been tagged...

I was tagged by Shawna, so here it goes:

I am: A mom, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a grand-daughter, an aunt, a niece, a friend, a maid, a den leader, an accountant, a shopper, and much more.
I think: That I should still be upstairs cuddled with my husband in my warm bed, but I still have issues with NOT sleeping, and I get bored just listening to him and Zoe, my dog, breathe.
I know: That I have the most amazing husband! We have a lot of fun together.
I want: A flat screen TV in my room, I have the perfect wall for it that is going to waste!
I have: Taken on too many "projects" and sometimes I feel like I am in way over my head.
I dislike: That sometimes I am to hard on Ry. I need to remember that even though he is maturing, he his still a kid.
I miss: My Grandpa and Grandma Slater, my Uncle Doug, and my Uncle Paul.
I fear: I fear something bad happening to someone I love. I fear losing someone close to me.
I feel: Loved by my family.
I hear: My dog, Zoe, breathing...still. She followed me down here and is asleep at my feet. Love her!
I smell: Cinnamon Vanilla Scentsy wax in my warmer. LOVE IT!
I crave: The lunch special at Chili's. Chips & salsa with soup and salad! Yum.
I cry: With my brother while watching Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. When they have lost a loved one, and make a special place for that special picture, gets us every time.
I search: For the best deals. I love online shopping!
I wonder: What my kids will be like when they get older.
I regret: That I ate WAY to much over the Thanksgiving holiday :(
I wish: I was a better cook.
I love: My family and friends. I ADORE my husband and kids.
I care: What others think and feel. I probably care too much.
I always: Tell my kids and husband how much I love them.
I worry: Constantly, about everything.
I am not: Organized...I use to be really good at staying organized, but lately, not so much.
I remember: being a size 8 when I got married.
I believe: That families can be together forever.
I sing: In the car.
I don’t: Take time to "smell the roses". I need to remember to slow down.
I argue: More than I should about the small things sometimes.
I write: About things on my blog that I want to remember, it is my journal.
I win: Only with the help of others.
I lose: My mind sometimes when I get extremely overwhelmed with all the stuff I need to get done and places I need to go.
I listen: To the radio, love anything but talk radio - Sorry Joel, I just can't do it.
I don’t understand: A lot of things, sad...but true.
I can usually be found: On the Internet - late at night or early in the morning.
I need: To work out more and eat less.
I forget: All the time.
I am happy: With my wonderful life, I really don't deserve it, but I give thanks for it everyday!

I tag my blog slacking friends; Amy (yes, you Amy J., hee, hee), Staci, Jennifer, Shelly, Andrea, Carie, and my sister, Susie.