Winter and Casey's Wedding

My niece Winter got married yesterday. The ceremony was beautiful! The temple was so peaceful. The weather outside was downright cold! My fingers were frozen by the time I got back to the car. The reception was held at The Manor. Her colors were brown and green. Darling!

I loved her cake! So cute!

Cutting the cake -they started out nice and ended nice, but the middle...

Winter and Casey's first dance as husband and wife.

Getting the garter.

Two of Winter's nieces, London and Natalie.

Winter's nephew Spencer and niece Mailee.

Mailee with her daddy.

Natalie's little brother Bennett. He didn't want his picture taken and was hiding in the poinsettias.

Stacy posing with Brooke, Winter's photographer and the one who sold Stacy her lens! Brooke is a fantastic photographer and I can't wait to see her photos of the day!

Tracy

Tracy and me.

Winter, changed, ready to go, and telling her dad (my brother) thanks and good bye.

Christmas Day

I got a cold the week before Christmas. It wiped me out for a couple of days. Then I think I ate something that didn't agree with me, because I felt nauseous for another couple of days. I did not feel well at all on Christmas Eve. It was all I could do to get the shopping done and get the house cleaned with help from Stacy and Tracy. I went to bed, not caring if presents were wrapped. Tracy and I wrapped them Christmas morning. See the wrapping paper still out behind Cody?

One of my kids' favorite presents to get on Christmas is The Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley's Believe it or Not. They love to look at all the weird things out there in the world. Here are Cody and Jace perusing them.

Jace loves these Oatmeal Creme Pies and was excited to get a box from Santa.

Marinda opened this gift to the whole family. When I saw it at the store, I thought it looked a little like Pit, so I bought it. Tracy thought I was crazy. We played this game for a long time! It's not like Pit, but it is a lot of fun. Cody won most of the games. He is very competitive and now I see why Stacy wanted to slap him when she played Slap the Penguin with him when they were little. I could have won a fortune if I had only video-taped those two back then.

Tracy's kids came over for a little bit, but I was running around, trying to figure out where I had put the gift card for my mom. I thought it was in my purse, didn't realize I had taken it out and put it in a "safe" place. Dang those safe places.

We went over to my parent's house for Christmas Dinner and enjoyed talking with other visiting family members. Then, we headed back home and prepared to go down to Dallan's house. He invited us over for dinner too. I told him it was getting stormy, but he said it was barely raining in SL, so off we went.

Here's my three oldest, posing for who is going to be the biggest loser this year...weight wise I hope.

We had a great time, but it snowed like crazy and the roads were horrible on the way home!

Family Christmas Party

For the past few years, my parents have thrown the family Christmas party at Classic Fun Center. The grandkids and great-grandkids love it! We all love it!

I took my camera but let my niece borrow it to take this picture of her dad (my brother-in-law) with a few his grandkids.

Here's Brockton, last year he was just a week or two old at the party and now he's walking, sniff, sniff...

Kenley putting on her rollerblades.

Some of my sisters had family parties the night of my niece Winter's Bridal shower, so they threw her a surprise bridal shower that night.

I had to show you a close up of Winter's ring. Her fiance (now husband) had a special ring designed just for her! I love it! It goes perfect with her name!!!

When my brother had his first daughter, he named her Autumn Brooke. She was of course born in Autumn. The next daughter was born in Spring, so they named her Sarah Spring and called her Spring. Winter Noel came next, but in actuality, her birthday is earlier in Autumn than Autumn's birthday. Then my brother had two more boys, no more girls. His second son carried on the tradition though and named his first little girl Summer.

I'm Excited!

I asked for Adobe Photoshop CS4 for my birthday and Christmas from my family. Here I am on Christmas day! Can you tell I'm super excited?

I can't wait to try it out! Thanks family!!!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! I am so very grateful to my Heavenly Father for sending His beloved son down as a gift to mankind. I am so very grateful to my savior for loving me enough to live and die for me! He loves us all so very much!

I love Him and wish Him a Happy (pretend) Birthday!!!

Get a Free E-book!

Everyone knows that my favorite author of all time is Marcia Lynn McClure. Not only is she the best clean romance writer, but she is also one of the nicest people I have ever met!

Right now Marcia is giving away a free ebook if you sign up for her newsletter or a free audio book of the same book if you tell 3 friends about her.

Now's the time to check her out!

http://www.marcialynnmcclure.com/rogue/ free ebook

http://www.marcialynnmcclure.com/rogue/refer.cfm free audio book

Brockton's Birthday Party

Brockton had his very first birthday party today. What fun to celebrate the first year of his life!

Finally getting to open a present that he had been trying to unwrap earlier in the week.

His very own birthday cake.

He loved the frosting! Yum!!!

Sharing with daddy.

What a mess!

Into the sink to get cleaned up as he doesn't like the tub.

All clean!

And dry.

Wow! His own laptop computer! Batman even!

Playing on his laptop with Aunt Monica.

Happy Birthday Brockton!!!

Brockton is one!!! It's hard to believe a year has flown by so quickly.

Just last year, I had a math final and prayed that Brockton would not be born until after it was over. Stephanie went into the hospital the night before my final, so we were up most of the night. Brockton was born 1-2 hours before my final. My brain was shot, but I got an A!

Look how big he has gotten. I had to buy him his own piano since he loves to play the piano when he comes to our house. He's having a birthday party on Saturday, but I couldn't wait! I had to give it to him today!

Brockton loves balloons. He got two for his birthday. One from his parents and one from me.

Brockton by his daddy.

Christmas Lights

Last night Stacy and I attended a photography club. Stacy won a Nikon duffle bag! We talked about taking Christmas lights, then went over to the park and took pictures. Here's one of mine:

It was freezing cold!!! Plus, I have a small tripod, no fun! Stacy borrowed Doug's tripod which is super nice and tall! She also borrowed my gloves. I had my mittens which are super warm, but I had to keep taking them off to take pictures. Plus, since my tripod was short, I had to keep lifting the rope out of the way while I was taking the pictures. Stacy wore a t-shirt under her coat and canvas shoes, so she was freezing too!

Stacy took over 100 pictures. I took maybe 20. She was having way too much fun. I was simply freezing to death. After awhile, someone showed Stacy what they were doing to create pictures like the one above, so Stacy started taking some like that. I think it's pretty cool. We finally decided we were too cold to take anymore. We discussed how awful it would to be pioneers in the handcart company! My great-great grandma was in the Willey Handcart company. I think I would lay down and die! Stacy had wanted to go shopping on the way home, but we were so cold, she just wanted to get home! We did stop at Pizza-retti to get a couple of pizzas for dinner though.

My Gorgeous Niece

Check out this link to see a gorgeous bridal of my lovely niece Winter.

http://www.blushbybk.com/blog/?p=522

Skyler

My nephew Skyler came home from his mission today! It was so good to see him again! He went to the New York South Mission, which includes Brooklyn, Queens, etc. Skyler is two months older than Cody and they have always been close friends. Cody has missed him and is glad that he is finally back home.

Here's Cody, Skyler and their cousin Jesse. Jesse is two months younger than Cody. Jesse came home from his mission last year due to health problems. He served in Columbia.

Skyler with Cody, Brockton and Stephanie.

My Birthday Cake

I have had the same kind of birthday cake for as long as I can remember. I love it!!! My mom makes it for me! She's so sweet. She was a little sick this year, so I got it a little late, but that was okay. I was too full after Prairie Schooner to have it on my birthday anyway.

It is made with angel food cake cut into 3 layers. Neopolitan ice cream is sliced and placed between the layers, then it is frosted with whipped cream. Yummy!!! Best birthday cake ever!

Birthday Dinner

When Cody found out that I would be alone on my birthday, he told me he was taking me out to dinner. Cody used to work at the Prairie Schooner, so he wanted to take me there. It was a real treat for me! When Tracy and Jace found out, they decided to alter their plans a bit and come along. It was a fun dinner with great food! I am very grateful to have such a thoughtful and caring son.

Our Photography Teacher

Stacy and I just finished Photography 101 and 102 with Nicole. She is a fantastic photographer and teacher! We are very sad that she is moving to San Francisco! Nicole married Adam a couple of months ago. He is graduating this semester and already has a job offer there.

Here is the cute town house she lives in where we have been taking classes. It is for sale or rent if you know anyone in Orem who needs a place to live.
We have loved having Nicole for a teacher. She is a stock photographer for Rubberball. Here is a photo from my favorite shoot of hers:

Check out the rest here: http://nicolehill.blogspot.com/2008/09/lemonade-fresh-squeezed-lemonade.html

(All the above pictures were taken from her blog.)

Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.
3. When do you put up the tree? This year Thanksgiving Day.
4. When do you take the tree down? New Years
5. Lights on the tree? I like white lights on my tree.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A doll that could walk and skate. When I was 15, my mom made me a Bay City Roller bedspread and pjs. I loved it!!! My mom's the best!
7. Best Christmas Memories? My mom's holiday cooking, our advent calendar, we always decorated the fireplace.
8. Do you have any holiday traditions? Sitting in a circle as a family and sharing the light from our candles with each other. My family rents Classic Skating for our family party.
9. Do you have a nativity scene? yes, 2 or 3
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? My ex gave me a cd of a soundtrack I requested. We didn't have a cd player, later found out he had bought it for his girlfriend and gave it to me by mistake.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? It Nearly Wasn't Christmas - I know one of the boys that was in it.
13. When do you start shopping? Later than I should. I'm a procrastinator.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Don't think so.
15. Who do you want to be under the mistletoe with? Tracy of course.
16. Do you like eggnog? I hate store bought egg nog. Love my mom's homemade eggnog, but can't have it anymore thanks to salmonella.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Baby, What you Gonna Be, Parson Brown, and Sleigh Ride
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay Home
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? yes
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? a poinsettia sprig and a bow.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Pretending to be a rich old fat man.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? Angels I made one year.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Turkey
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? Photoshop CS4! I'd also really like a Canon 5D Mark II camera! I can dream!

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday is this week! If this blog was private I would tell you what day and how old I am. As it is, let's just say it is sometime this week and that I am going to be the same age again! Why? Because this whole year I have been thinking I was already the age I am turning this week! I could have enjoyed the younger age all year and I totally missed it!!! I did the same thing when I was in my twenties. It's just something about the second digit that makes me think "That sounds so old." So, now I get to be that age twice!

My favorite birthday as a child? The year I got tons of Barbie accessories! Like shoes, combs, hangers, etc. I couldn't wait for school to end that day so I could go home and play with them all!

In celebration of my birthday I'm changing my blog background for the week. Some people might think I am weird, but one only has their own special day once a year! And I'm celebrating, even if it is the yucky age!

Can you tell my favorite color is pink?

Some Christmas Pics

I was looking at some of the photos Stacy has taken, and I found this.

I decided to try my own and found this little ornament that had fallen to the ground.

Stacy and I took a little trip out to the greenhouses to take some pictures. Here are some of mine:

A sea of poinsettias, just waiting to be shipped to the stores.

My favorite poinsettia is Monet. Unfortunately, we don't grow them at the greenhouses I work at. They are grown at a different location. We do however grow one pretty close to it this year called Picasso.

We plant the poinsettias in July. It takes 4-5 months for them to mature. You can see the date planted on the stick above. This poinsettia is called Jingle Bells and used to be my favorite years ago. It has a splash of pink on red.

My sister and I both like this poinsettia the least - Carousel.