And a Happy New Year

Our Christmas Was Merry...

Here's hoping for a New Year as bright as the Arizona sun!

Andrus Vision Center PARRRRR-TAYYYYYYY

The Andrus Vision Center Employees (plus one) joined us for a fun evening of

Cafe Rio Catered

Good Christmas Music

And some good ol fashion

White elephant gifts!

R.I.P.

Beautiful paisley Christmas tablecloth.

Your death by sterno was so unfortunate.

Not to worry,

you will be reincarnated as beautiful Christmas pillows.

I went a little crazy with the ornaments this year!

And loving the results!

White elephant gift exchange was quite tame I have to say, not much swapping.

Though secretly I know everyone wanted to peek at the

"Sex for Dummies" book!

Adam also came up with another game involving:

oven mitts

dice

and a movie gift certificate wrapped a gob of times.

A jolly time was had by all.

Including me (not pictured as usual)!

Same wreath different door

In other words... we moved (yes! AGAIN).

Here's the funny part

its only 7 lots west (I say lots because there is not a house on every lot)of the old house.

Its a lateral move aka- still renting. But a smart one.

And I say that because, about 2 weeks later

we became the proud new owners of

Andrus Vision!

Thats right! St. George is stuck with us.

After living the last 5 years in "limbo land" (a place I loath!)

It feels a bit strange to have a toe in "settled city". All options are off the table.

Yet we are very happy to be stuck with St. George.

The big three-oh

This year was my monumental 30th Birthday!

And I must take a moment to share my gratitude to all those who made me feel so loved and special!

Saturday morning this sweet amazing friend showed up at my door after a 2 hour drive from Vegas (almost ran out of gas too!) to surprise me with a birthday breakfast at the Bear Claw!

We were gluttonous!

After Crepes and Creme stuffed french toast, not to mention eggs hash browns, bacon AND if you can believe it hot chocolate (yes! Hot chocolate in August! Apparently its world famous at the Bear Claw, and just sounded so good!)

Needless to say we were "fat and happy" once that smorgasbord was through!

P.S. the reason I look like I just woke up, is because I did in fact

JUST WAKE UP!

Lindsay you look gorgeous especially for waking up at 5 am!

Thank you so much my sweet friend! I'm still geekin out over all the effort it took to make that happen.

And a big thank you to my hubby for being an accomplice and stopping me from downing the slimfast and ruining the surprise. Love you honey!

Later, that same day...

After a very enjoyable pedicure with Hilary,

I arrived home to this gorgeous work of edible art!

This sneaky man organized a fantastic surprise party complete with

Beautiful designer fondant cake,

Good pizza and soda (not the lil casars variety)

Good friends and games!

Thank you so much babe, I felt so special!

Notice the beautiful yellow roses,

a gift from dear friends.

Thank you Travis and Kristine!

Chocolate cake, with a hint of almond (I think)

White fondant

Chocolate fondant for the branches (tasted like a gourmet tootsie roll)

Even the blossoms were edible! (Except for the stamen, no dice)

Sunday morning brought more cake (moms request!)

Gifts from afar (Mesa/Gilbert)

Thanks Mom, Dad and Devin

for contributing to the designer jean fund and the new flat iron!

I can finally retire the old one being held together with tape.

Dana made this!

I love it, and always wanted one.

Thanks Day!

The party didn't end there! Oh no sir!

The rest of the week brought

cards from Grandparents

much well wishing on Facebook

Little treats like donut holes (love those ones from Lin's)

and Frozen hot chocolate from Dairy Queen (yum!)

Cute braclets from the in-laws

And as if that wasn't enough...

The week of celebration ended with a fabulous girls night

with dinner at Brick Oven,

movie:

500 Days of Summer (loved it!)

and we even fit in a jaunt to Target!

Thats a grand as it get on a budget in

good ol St. George.

It was perfect!

Thank you

Jen, Lori and Hilary

And thanks to everyone who helped make this gal feel fabulous on her 30th!

30 is the new 25 you know!

I'm loving this!

I was perusing a friends blog, and found another blog (aka- blog stocking! ha!)  called "This Young House."  SO  SO SO fantastic!  Love the fresh clean style, love the DIY attitude, love it ALL.  Check out there "wedding album" and how wonderful their wedding was, but don't let my mom see the budget!  Now I can't make a cute button so you can check it out from this post, but look down at my inspirations list and click there.  Maybe Holly can tell me how to make those buttons in the post.  Wow I sound like a blogging idiot.  Anyways, take a peek, and enjoy!

1 day till 7

Porter's 7th year in pictures

Hurrah! Its complete!

Porter has really had a great 7th year!  A carefree summer at the beach!  First grade got off to a rocky start, but is going fantastic now.  Porter LOVES to read (a boy after my own heart!).  He received a box set of 5 books for his birthday and finished them in one week (FYI: if you have boys, I highly recommend the "Captian Underpants" series!)!  He learned to tie his shoes, ride a 2-wheel bike, ride a DIRT BIKE and lost 2 teeth!  He loves to sing, and is constantly doing it, except at sharing time (go figure!).  And is oh so silly!  He has matured so incredibly this year and continues to be super thoughtful and loving to his family members.  Oh, Porter I can't believe you are already 7!  Watching my baby mature into a sweet boy has been scary and amazing.  I love you more than my vocabulary can explain.  I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father has placed you in our care. Our family is enriched with your presence!  Love- Mom

2 days till 7

Porter's 6th Year in Pictures

3 Days till 7

Porter's 5th  Year in Pictures

Had a bit of a countdown interruption (Week in AZ!).  But I'm determined to finish!  This is the year we got a new camera, hence tons more pictures!  They were all so good I couldn't cut anymore!

4 days till 7

Porter's 4th Year in pictures

5 days till 7

Porter's 3rd year in pictures.  

6 days till 7

Porter's 2nd Year in Pictures

Opps! I goofed!  The last picture is his 2nd not 3rd birthday.

Fell behind, Sorry!  This is so fun!!!

7 days till 7

Porter's 1st Year in Pictures

Chronicles of a Naked Baby

He plays the piano...

He reads...

He lounges...  Were does he get these ideas?

Oh man, this boy is confused!  Just an FYI... this happened on Adam's watch!

Yup! Its true

YES!

My Husband is home!!!!

What more can I say than

Yeaaaaaaah!

There is so much peace in being a complete family again.  My hat goes off to all the single mothers out there; there burden is huge.

Adam arrived bearing gifts!

I present our new (to us) piano!

And to any of you looking for a great deal on a  piano...try Portland Oregon craigslist, where a used piano mecca awaits!

Adam was back in time to enjoy a family Valentine breakfast complete with heart shaped pancakes and other sweets!!
Now its off to Las Vegas for 3 months more (well, 2 now).   Only a quick 2 hour drive and he is back to us every weekend!  Still not ideal, but much better than the alternative.  Its still hard, but we're grateful for what we DO have.

Have you read this?

I LOVE to be engrossed in a good book. 

 I acquired this from my mother.  

Well it is not good for a bookworm to be  without a good book to read.  

And this has been my lot for the last month.  

So what do I do?  

Pull out my tried and true old favorite (let me clarify;  ALL TIME FAVORITE!)  

I have read the Red Tent by Anita Diamant at least 6 times (I don't know, I've lost count).

 I'm not a big re-reader or re-watcher of movies for that matter.  I don't buy books, or movies. I rent or borrow.  

But this book!  Thank heavens I own this book!

Not many share my sentiments for The Red Tent.  

Some are disturbed by the way Jacob is portrayed, or they have a hard time separating the historical fiction from the Biblical story.  Some are concerned about the way the female characters are treated by the male characters.  

But for me its not about that, and its definitely, 

NOT ABOUT THE MEN!  

I love this book for the women and their relationships between each other.  

Mother and daughter, sisters, friends.  

It reminds me of how I deeply value the female relationships in my life, and I rely on them greatly.   

I love this book because it pays homage to why, as a mother, I desire to have a daughter to share what is so wonderful about being a women.  

I love my 3 strapping sons, but lets be honest; they'll never be able to relate!  

I love this book because I have a strong desire to know incite about the prophets of old, to know the details of their lives, and fill in the blanks that the Bible leaves out.  

Now hold your criticism, 

I'm not delusional, I KNOW THIS IS FICTION! 

But I love the idea, that maybe this could have been what it was like for them.  

I also know that someday I can come face to face with prophets such as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and there wives.  

I know that if I'm faithful to the covenants I've made here on earth I can have that dialogue I desire with the people whose faith has shaped my own in a place far more celestial.  

These are the thoughts that this book provokes for me.  

Bottom line, this book moves me!  

My only complaint; its over way too quick, and I'm left wanting more.  So I have to have something in waiting to pick up as soon as The Red Tent is put down.  

I think I'll go with Adam's favorite, 

"And There Was Light," by Jaques Lusseyran.  

A book that has moved him deeply.

After that who knows?  Which is a scary thought for me, I HAVE TO KNOW!

Any suggestions?