Daddy, I wanna mercedes for ma BERFDAY!

(said in my best "sweet sixteen" spoiled teenager voice of course.)

Another year FLEW by me like a speeding train,
...and what a year it was.

Having my birthday two days after Christmas is always a tricky matter, but our family was very sweet in making the day special for me.
It started not so hot as we were driving to family pictures and blew a tire on our van. sweet. after Conrad came and rescued us, we had crisp outdoor pictures taken where everyone looked cute bundled in coats and scarves... and of course inside was a spread of wonderful belly bounding food. Babysitters stepped in from all sides to watch our rascals so chris and i could go shopping for a new tire and a velour and denim dream of a much needed wardrobe. The icing on the cake was gifts of a James Christensen signed poster, book, and dinner to my favorite sushi place downtown (TAKASHI'S), followed by a night alone with papa bear at a hotel. double sweet. Morning greeted us with rested eyes, a rock in my mcmuffin, and a new goal to become a vegetarian... yeah that lasted all of one hour.

ThAnK YoU DeAr OnEs

FoR MaKiNg My BiRtHdAy

DeAr!!

chris,

being NOT as enthusiastic about raw fish as me,

kept making hilarious comments during dinner,

and i have never seen him drink so much water

... i think he swigged after each bite.

i love his guts.

him- "where are the strawberry shakes?"

her- "that say's SAKE not SHAKE"

him- "these chopsticks are slippery,

not like those wooden kind you pull apart"

her- "trust me, you'll be craving this later,

and i feel so good after eating it!"

him- "i like how i feel after a hamburger,

that's why i eat a hamburger."

him- "where's the spoon?" (for the soup)

him- "i love you"
her- "i love you"

Christmas in Lindon

Deciding to hang back and chill at home this year for Christmas changed last minute to a fun trip to Nana and Pa's house for a sleepover with cousins. Shelly/Nate and family were in town from Arkansas so we were able to get in some good time with them.

Christmas Eve traditions include opening pajamas and writing our

gifts for Christ for the upcoming year in the white stocking

(which we forgot to do)

The kids also look forward to acting out

the Nativity with very special glass puppets.

Running up the stairs in the morning to see what Santa left.

Addy's girly, crafty, domestic loot.

Landon's boyish, masculine, troublemaker,

i'm going to tune you out and listen

to Matisyahu on my headphones full blast

until the only way you can get my attention

is to do a sign language jig in front of

my face loot.

Oliver's i don't want to be a doctor anymore,

i want to be a policeman when i grow up loot.

Tade's obsession with vacuum's and apples loot.

Cousin Olivia was made an honorary elf by Santa himself by way

of a special personalized letter. We're so glad he didn't take her to the

North Pole to be an elf...we would have missed her...instead she had

very important assignments, one being, the passer outer of presents.

GOOD JOB VIVI!

***

I always kick myself for not being a better picture taker.

Pa carved us some rad canes

which will have to be shared in a future post, and the

kids got some great books and a Wii, which is definitely

a step up in fitness levels as far as video games go.

The best part of Christmas though,

was spending it with family...

and Nana's caramel & chocolate dipped pretzels.

You're My Everything

Wedding number two for 2008!

Congrats to Jeff & Sadie SABIN

who were married in the

Idaho Falls Temple on

Saturday, December 20th, 2008.

Sadie looked Gor-Geous,

Jeff was giddy,

together they were perfection.

redneck...i mean REDHEAD WOMAN!! (a late birthday tribute)

In honor of Tiff's past birthday,

I dedicate the tweeked lyrics of this song-

REDNECK WOMAN

to her!

Well, I ain't never been the Barbie doll type
(our mama curves are way hotter!)
No, I can't swig that sweet Champagne, I'd rather drink beer all night
(or root beer, or ice water...boo yah!)
In a tavern or in a honky tonk or on a four-wheel drive tailgate
(karaoking of course)
I've got posters on my wall of Skynyrd, Kid and Strait
(or our strapping hubbies Chris and Shawn)
Some people look down on me, but I don't give a rip
(word to your mother)
I'll stand barefooted in my own front yard with a baby on my hip
(been there, done that)
'cause I'm a redneck (redhead) woman
(yes, aren't we all)
I ain't no high class broad
(hey, i only eat where i can get free refills)
I'm just a product of my raising
(true dat boo)
I say, 'hey ya'll' and 'yee-haw'
(don't forget "oh my heck")
And I keep my Christmas lights on
On my front porch all year long
(it's year round festiveness)
And I know all the words to every Charlie Daniels song
(who's charlie daniel's?, how about sarah mclachlan)
So here's to all my sisters out there keeping it country
(does is get more country than Tooele or IF?)
Let me get a big 'heck yeah' from the redneck (redhead) girls like me,
(heck yeah)
Victoria's Secret, well their stuff's real nice
(who needs it)
But I can buy the same dang thing on a Wal-Mart shelf half price
(just don't let dad know you went there)
And still look sexy, just as sexy as those models on TV
(dude, we eat...and proud of it)
I don't need no designer tag to make my man want me
(just a smile)
Well, you might think I'm trashy, a little too hardcore
(n.e.v.e.r.)
But in my neck of the woods I'm just the girl next door
(yeah, the HOT girl next door!)

You're a redhead woman!!

I can't wait to live in your neck of the woods-
together we'll turn that town upside down!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIFF!

LOVE YA!!

Delish by Dev (a late birthday tribute)

For a limited time only

**DELISH BY DEV**

is available for only $999.99!!
She will make you look delish
by training you to be the best you can be!
She will make you sweat off those extra lazy pounds
with super motivating encouragement.
She will push you to do...
5 more curls,
4 more knee bends,
or run for just 3 more minutes.
Devons sass and style is just the medicine you need
for that new years resolution funky fever!
What's that you say?
You don't know if you can put down that cheeseburger
and trade it in for a soy dog or hummus on pita?
Of course you can!
Devon says health is a mere turbo jam away...
can you feel the quiver in your chubby thighs,
can you hardly reach up into the cupboard for those chips
because your biceptuals are shaking from confusion?
GOOD!
Devon says pain is gain!
Not gaining pounds,
but gaining fabulous delishness!
She could show up in beautiful baubles and hot heals,
but don't let that throw you off...
it is her vixen venom,
she looks meek,
(and kinda like mandy moore and angelina joli)
but just you wait,
inside is a tiger ready to pounce on your sorry tail,
but with a heart of sweet apple pies!
Her sparkling charm and shiny twinkling eyes will
inspire you and the extra weight will literally
melt away as you follow her training plan.
Call now, this offer won't last long!

***

She is a real fitness trainer with real skills...
she'll kick your butt into high gear...
she's in Salt Lake if anyone's interested...
those aren't her real prices,
but she's worth MY weight in Havarti cheese.

***

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY DEVON!!
WE LOVE YOU!

Week of Babies

The full moon swung two very dear people

into birth giving mode last week.

CONGRATULATIONS

***

Cheri and Tony

&

Charisa and Trent

***

Both had their baby girls.

We can't wait to hold those sweet newborns

and cover them with kisses.

leprechaun on the shelf

White Elephants & Handmade Gifts

the yearly party we went to friday is famous for its great food, but also for it's hilarious white elephant exchanging... some gifts have had great thought put into them, some great ammounts of money, some great sacrafice...like when people decide to part with big old broken t.v.'s, "special mugs", or amazing works of art like the following:

this magical pegasus picture is one of the gifts Chris and I brought, entitled

"My Horn Can Pierce the Sky"

I was lucky enough in the passing back a forth, to obtain this glittery pinkish fan decor made by someones loved one, for reals. She takes special orders in any colors to match your home. How often do you see something made with forks, lace, puff paint, glitter, and silk flowers...there is even a ribbon hanger on the back to place it on your wall....PRESH!

In other news...

i try to make as many gifts myself as possible, it saves money and feels a little more meaningful. i've been making these soldered charm necklaces, made popular at the highland store, dear lizzie. i take special orders if anyone is interested...my prices are better than anywhere else and include- initial charm. bubble crown charm, angel wing charm, and chain....$25.

my friend and i were on the same wavelength with aprons on our minds. she made us each the most adorable aprons as seen in the previous post. i had been working on completing this half apron for a late birthday/housewarming gift for another friend.... you can never have enough aprons, that i know!

HAVE YOU MADE ANYTHING FABULOUS

FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS THIS YEAR?

Tis The Season!

For over five years our group from Lehi has shared the joy for making things. The clan has grown and dwindled with different people... it started as a card making girls night out, and has turned into an out of control- i'll sew your children's clothing for you, fill your freezer with food, pay your mortgage, donate my kidney...okay, I'm only slightly exaggerating...
*
Rock star Audry is a gracious host for our christmas party, and her house is a feast for the eyes...decked with seasonal merriment in only the way she can.
*
Thank you lovely ladies for your hard work...your frustrated and patient husbands...your tired hands...your dirty dishes...your late nights... your creativity... your sacrafices...your driving...your cooking & baking...your messy houses...your decorating...your listening ears...your funny stories...your hearts...and your friendship!!

jaimie . johanna . heather . mary . audry . shaneekwa

the serious hard work of latter day women in all its glory

signature picture of audry talking with her hands

and her awesome tree reaching for the heavens.

happy birthday johanna!

salad of paradisial bliss...i drank the dressing.

oh no you d'int...oh yes i did.

that little white box holds the key to happiness

embrace your longitude and latitude crouching tiger...

LOVE YOU!

early december weekend

i missed another five sense friday...but until someone decides to pay me to do them on a regular basis... well then, we just won't complain will we:) the weekend was packed with lots of stuff as usual. papa bear hadn't been home for three weeks, so we had a lot of catching up to do.
friday night was addy's nutcracker performance- she did AWESOME! her dance was at the beginning, and i missed the first couple seconds because i had to run back home and make sure we had unplugged her curlers... when i finally made it back, she was hopping around the stage in her cute pink dress and looked ballerinish as ever. the rest of the numbers i spent in the hallway with a wiggly screaming toddler... i totally had the walmart sweats. after that fun, we headed to the airport to pick up the big daddy and everyone fought for his attention and showered him with loves.
*
saturday was filled with a trip to the dump, lots of paperwork, and a stolen wallet. we are being audited for 2005, probably because of all the medical claims with Chris' last tumor. it's really fun preparing paperwork for an audit. actually, i shouldn't complain because papa bear did the preparing and i just looked on with frustration at the situation, i'm good at doing that. after some catch up on bills and house orders he ran his bike to the gas station to fill it up before winter storms hit. when he got home he realized his wallet was missing-
back to gas station...asked a dude "have you seen a wallet"....dude says "no"...chris goes into gas station to look at surveillance camera...chris see's that he did drop it...chris see's that the dude who said "no" did take it... no license plate on car.... chris rushes home to cancel credit cards...wife says what about the pump receipt of the dude who bought gas and took your wallet... wife calls gas station...gas station says someone found the wallet...chris rushes back down to gas station... $80 missing, but all cards, and tithing check intact...police come and they watch surveillance again... the dude took the money and then threw the wallet back on the ground...the dudes gonna get it...we are sick of people being dishonest, stealing, getting away with it and us being left to pick up the pieces................on another note, the cop told us some news in relation to the burglaries of our homes earlier in the year, the man was caught, his ex wife came in and turned him in...a woman scorned...tsk tsk.
*
Sunday- church was splendid, especially since papa bear and I played hooky during sunday school so we could sneak in some more make out time (no one reads this blog but my sisters, right?) then later nana, pa, and maggie came over for dinner, and soon after, my man road off into the sunset back up to idaho.
*
the weekends always end too soon.

a favorite past time- nibbling scrumptious baby toes

addy always has to slip out of her costume so quick,
but she's still as cute as ever, even in her "street clothes"

the boys hangin' in the halls

nana and pa's dog maggie

***

this is what i've been listening to lately...

a thrift store christmas...

i am quite proud of my treasure seeking skills when it comes to thrifting, and collecting bits and pieces for this "photo shoot" was like hitting the jackpot. almost every piece is from my local d.i., aside from my fabulous jacket from a tooele store called Delicious that is really "delicious", my skirt- which is actually a tree skirt, and a few other hand me downs. if you would like one of these christmas treasures,
and i don't already have your address,
email me at- sbschofield@yahoo.com

HAVE A MERRY GYPSY CHRISTMAS!!