Beware the NINJAS!

They're coming for YOU!

Ahh the wisdom

Chris had his wisdom teeth removed in March. He didn't do anything youtube worthy like he was hoping, but he did tell me several times how much he enjoyed the anesthesia. (That was so cool! They said I was going to fall asleep but I didn't believe them them they woke me up and told me I was done! It was so cool!) As a matter of fact he still tells me about it:)

He is kind of a difficult at home patient. He told me he felt fine , he need any medication, planned on going to work the next day and even wanted to try and fanagle his way into a NCAA playoff game. He refused to believe that he was still under the influence of what the doctor had given him in the office. He refused to believe that his face might swell and that he should put an ice pack on his face. He refused to believe that he might be able to learn a few things from the experience of his doctor and millions of other people who have gone through the same situation, until about 3pm. When I came home from getting the kids at school he was in pain. I had to stifle the "I told you so" that was bubbling up inside me and be nurturing instead. Unfortunately the medication didn't agree with him so he had a couple of rough days of pain and nausea. He's all good now but he will never admit there was anything wrong with his logic.

Happy Birthday Ashton!

My older brother likes to tell me what an old lady I am all the time. Hypocritical I know, but today I am feeling like that old lady. I now have two kids in double digits! Our sweet little Ashton is now 10, which makes her not so little, but even sweeter. In honor of my favorite ten year old, here are my 10 favorite things about Ashton in no particular order.

10. She is so nurturing. She loves to love her baby cousins.

9. She is adventurous. She's pretty much up for anything.

8. She makes friends so easily, a trait I would love to possess.

7. She is a smarty. She's in the gifted program and she loves it.

6. She has great hair. I know a little superficial, but when she lets me I love to style her hair.

5. She is so helpful. She will usually help any time I ask without complaint.

4. She is kind. She tries to make sure everyone is included.

3. She is obedient. She has an independent spirit, but she understands why we have rules and she follows them.

2. She is compassionate.

1. She is very loving. She loves her family and friends fiercely.

We LOVE you Ashton! Happy Birthday!

We had a friend party on Sat. with Wii, pizza and a trip to the movies to see "Gnomeo & Juliet"

The birthday "Puffle" cake. I don't understand the Club Penguin craze, but at least their characters are easy to draw:)

We've had more than our fair share of of cakes and candy over the last week ( the result of having your birthday the day after Valentines Day), so Ashton had a birthday fruit salad on her actual birthday. She was pretty excited about the idea, and so was I.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm not a big valentine person. I don't need the mush or the gush or even gifts (unless you're offering to clean the house:). Honestly it feels like forced romance which makes me a little uncomfortable. I'm weird like that. Chris feels the same way so I guess it's lucky he found me. My kids on the other hand love any reason to celebrate (and thank goodness they're not old enough to even consider romance) so I like to do a little something for them. Usually this means a helium filled heart shaped balloon which they are thrilled with. But this morning I had a flash of inspiration by way of another person's idea. They had attached some candy to some sticks then put them together in a cup like a bouquet. I put some chocolate hearts together to look like a flower to make my bouquets. If we're being honest mine turned out way cuter;) So from our home to yours, and in a rare moment of valentine spirit, Happy Love Day!

Behind the times

It's been a while so I'm going to play a little blog catch up.

We had Thanksgiving with some of Chris's family (Yeah I'm that behind). It was a lot of fun to visit and of course eat. My sister in law Megan hosted and she made some magnificent food. We all ended the day sufficiently stuffed but still wanting more. It's been a couple of years since we've had family pictures and we took advantage of my sister in law Kim who kind enough to take some for us while she was here. I think they turned out pretty cute. I know it's a picture overload, what's your point?

Our Christmas was pretty low key this year. I finally learned my lesson and wrapped the presents two nights before Christmas instead of the night before. I know my efficiency is astounding. But Christmas eve was much more enjoyable for me. I heard the pitter patter of impatient feet starting around 2 am, but they didn't wake Chris and I up until 4:30 (at least not intentionally).

Christmas morning

Chris had a birthday and we went to his favorite restaurant Texas de Brazil. It's a carnivores dream. There are servers carrying around skewers of meat that they keep serving you and serving you until you burst. It is really good, but I only had two pieces before I was done. We celebrated with the kids by having Claim Jumper cake.

If you're going to give me pose like that, you know it's going to get posted:)

We got free tickets to the circus. I'm not a fan of the parts with animals because they always look so sad, but the rest was pretty fun. Chris and I decided that Aiden can be a professional fan when he grows up because he was certainly cheering his heart out for every act.

Ashton was not impressed with the elephant smell

The cannon for the human cannonball

Walmart Car

While we were in Salt Lake for the funeral I had an unfortunate meeting with a yellow parking lot post (at least I missed the car I was trying to avoid;). I let out an appropriate "CRAP!" and Aiden was sure that is going to affect my standing with Santa. Kaylee made the comment that "now our car looks like one of those crummy dented up cars you always see in the Walmart parking lot." The next day Chris was driving and the car in front of us came to a sudden stop, so we did as well. Dalin said "Fhew I'm glad we didn't crash, I don't like to crash." I replied, "I don't like to crash either." Without missing a beat he said, "Yes you do!" (Thanks pal!) I still feel smarter than the ladies we saw in the parking lot wearing only sleeveless cocktail mini-dresses in the 29 degree weather!

Grandpa Romney

Last week Chris's grandpa passed away (his mother's father). Grandpa Romney delighted in his family. I loved how happy he would be every time we came to visit. He loved to be kept up on what his grand children and great grand children were doing and he could tell you what most of them were up to. He was a lover of learning and passed that quality onto his posterity. He was literally a genius and took every opportunity not only to learn new things for himself, but teach us. He graduated from high school at 16 and had originally wanted to be a lawyer, but he tested to well and the military picked him and trained him to be a doctor during WWII. He always made me feel welcomed and loved. He had been in a wheel chair for about 25 years but he never let that slow him down. He was an adventurer and he loved to travel and U never heard him complain. We love him and we will miss him so much, but we are happy that he will no longer be limited by his earthly body and can be with our Heavenly Father again.

Ralph & Patricia Romney on their wedding 1949

Grandpa was infamously frugal. Instead of using air conditioner he would put nickles in the freezer, then stick them on his forehead to cool off. Here is most of his family paying tribute to that eccentricity.

A bakers dozen

On Monday Chris and I celebrated our 13th anniversary! We went to Mesquite and took advantage of their hotel/spa package. It was supposed to be a surprise, but Chris had been doing something to my phone so he checked my e-mail to see if it had worked, and he saw the confirmation I got from the hotel (oooh so close!) We had a choice of a massage, seaweed wrap or facial. Neither one of us are massage fans, and I feel claustrophobic if I'm wrapped (no I never tried it, but just thinking about it makes me panic a little bit) so a facial was our choice, or mine anyway. When we got there they sent us to the "quiet room" to wait for our appointment. We chose just to keep our clothes on rather than get a robe, but there were several old bodies in robes in the quiet room. Fortunately we waited less than five minutes before they called us out. The look on Chris's face was priceless as he went one way down the hall for his appointment and I went the other. I kind of loved it, Chris not so much, but for my benefit he told me he liked it. It was fantastic just to be with each other for a whole 24 hours (Chris even held true to his promise not to talk football with any of his fantasy leaguers). I love him and that he is my best friend and can still make me laugh after 13 years!