New Years Eve!

A friend of mine was asked by the stake to help decorate and put on the adult stake New Year's Eve dance. But she was also supposed to ask two people to help her. Enter: me and Travis. It was from 9pm-midnight, and I was actually able to get a babysitter while the boys slept. I think this was the first New Year's Eve that we hadn't spent with family. I figured if we didn't go to this, we'd probably just be in bed. Lame.

I was forewarned, that last year's event was populated mostly by the geriatrics of the stake. 

But walking into the "party", I was still taken aback by the formality and "adultness" of it all. First of all... we were under dressed. We didn't get the memo that it was Sunday or holiday attire. I was not in a skirt and Trav was in jeans. Oops.

There was old people music playing and old people waltzing. There were like 8 tables set up. Remember this was a STAKE event. I was impressed with the decorations. Lights everywhere. Over a hundred balloons strung up.

I took some pictures for my friend, who actually ended up too sick that night to go.

When I went to the people in charge to explain the situation and offer our services, I was awarded a strange look and an eyebrow raise. She glanced around and said, "Um, well we pretty much have it covered. I'll come find you if we need anything." I sheepishly returned to the table that Trav was sitting at and apprised him of the situation. To which he immediately stated, "We out." 

But we had gotten a sitter! And the babysitter's parents were there, knowing we needed a sitter for the sole purpose of helping at the stake dance. I felt too guilty to ditch out and catch a movie. 

So we sat and immaturely joked to each other about any of the relatively younger dancers getting their foxtrot and and cha cha on. I mean, there was one guy who was really cutting a rug, BYU style. We laughed about how they all probably met on the BYU dance team and forever promised to polka together. 

We had to stifle back giggles when the only other couple our age, walked in and started talking to us. I had actually met the girl at some playdates before, and he was a dentist, so Trav and him had some things to talk about. But then I asked how they met. "Oh", she paused and looked at her husband, "We met on the BYU-Idaho dance team". Haha! Oh, I feel bad, because I don't mean to cause offense. I love dancing and think it's great people find love that way. Maybe it's the just the Mormon cliche about it that gets me. 

Anyway, we actually became really grateful they were there. They, and one other couple were about the only ones interested in dancing to anything that wasn't produced in the 1950's. The other couple went up and requested Gangnam style! YES! I didn't even know that was allowed! That was my opener and it was over from there. Throw in Rihanna, Spice Girls, One Direction, Taio Cruz, etc. and I was a dancing maniac. I mean, I seriously recognize it in myself as the closest thing that could possibly replicate drunkenness. I just have absolutely NO inhibitions. It's like I'm not even in control of my actions. The music takes over and I just dance. Much to Travis's dismay (who accompanied me on the dance floor for EVERY song, I must add.... he is amazing. I don't think I would even want to dance next to me when I'm acting like that) we pretty much had the attention of everyone in the room. I think the old people were happily amused. We even got a few different couples who came up to us to say how much they like watching us. 

After a couple of hours of that, my soul was happy. There isn't much else, besides my adorable husband, that makes me glow inside. I must have had a perma smile on my face. I loved our funny, old person, New Year's Eve dance.   

We stayed until the countdown and blew noise makers and got covered in balloons as Auld Lang Syne played. It was perfect.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Rest of the Week

I wasn't so hot at taking pictures the next few days, but we did have some fun times. 

I met up with Shelley, Jessica, and LaRee on Thursday morning at Freestone Park. It was a rainy cold day. What good friends to still meet me outside! We had fun making sure the train didn't run anyone over, the kids didn't run off and get lost, the lake didn't take anyone's Christmas skateboard, and no got hypothermia. :) It really was fun to chat though! Thanks girls!

On Friday, us sister got together at Shelley's to get our hair did, then I met Leah and Kristen at Freestone again for a playdate! Yay for warmer weather, and a different section of the park that was sans water or trains. I literally remember the first day I met Kristen on Meet the Teacher Day of Kindergarten. She remembers it too! We were friends all through elementary and then taught school together in the same grade at that same elementary school. Leah met her in the teaching program at ASU. Small world! I hadn't seen her since before we moved to Buffalo. It was so fun to meet her new baby and try and get caught up on life. Well, as much as you can do in two hours, anyway. :)

I don't know HOW I never got a picture of the boys on Grandma's new trampoline. They loved it. This was taken later that day when Grandma doled out a Drumstick to each of them and then they took to the tramp again. 

Later that night we decided to venture out to Queen Creek to eat at Morenos. Apparently, a brother or something of the guy that owned Gecko Grill, runs Morenos and they server some of the same food. Sold! It was literally a 20 mile drive out there though, and both boys conked out.

Oh, this is pure torture to look at these pictures. I want! I want! The Southwestern Shrimp burrito is to DIE FOR. So are the chips, green salsa, and bean dip. 

The boys were TERRIBLE. Weston wouldn't stop crying. Collin was whiny and I was about to blow my brains out. But it was worth it. 

At one point, Casey was teasing Collin by saying he was going to steal his nose or something. Collin was giggling deliriously, and retorted, "Well, then I'm going to steal your shirt!" So Casey said, "Then I'm going to steal your pants!" And with glee in his eye, Collin yelled, "Well, then I'm going to steal your GARMENTS!" Bahahaha. We all got a good laugh out of that one!

We packed up and left the next morning. It was a really fun trip, but that week felt like a month. It's hard having young kids away from home and their normal routine. I never felt like I could keep track of them or keep them contained. And the drive home was kind of murderous. It just felt so loooooong. And Collin didn't sleep one minute. Weston slept less than an hour. I think driving that "trip" three times in two months was a little overkill. I need to give it a few months before I'll be ready to do it again. I was beyond thrilled to pull back into Farmington! Home sweet home!

Hiking

The day after Christmas, Travis had to drive back to Farmington around 5pm, so we wanted to make the most of our last day together. Collin had been begging to go on a hike for weeks, so we took them up to "Hole in the Rock" at Papago Park in Phoenix. 

It's a really short "hike" up to a rock that has a pretty good view of the valley. We took Aubrey, and met Trav's friend, Chase, there with his little girl, and Reddin with his two girls. 

Since it didn't take too long to do that hike, we walked farther away to a tomb that also had a pretty good view.

Proof that I was there too!

Some of the views...

That's ASU's Sundevil stadium enclosed in that mountain. 

After that, we met Marcie, Shelley and her boys, and my mom at Firehouse Subs to get lunch, then take to the park. The boys played and rode Skitters and Grandma kept them safe for us. :) 

Then Trav took Weston home for a nap and it was time to SHOP with Marcie. We went to Home Goods and it was so fun to get a few new things for our house! Never in our married lives have I ever really shopped for home decor. Got to admit, it's pretty fun. 

Trav left not long after that and so began the rest of my week flyin' solo with the kiddos. :(

Christmas Day

Craig took our family picture before we got started. I should have taken his, because he was just as excited as our boys to see what was under the tree. Nothing was going on upstairs yet, so he joined us in our little Christmas first.

It was so cute to see the boys so excited. And Weston acted like no amateur ripping open that paper!

He picked his Captain America shield when I told him to get his favorite present. I'm surprised it won out over talking Spiderman. The Transformer Bots were a close second. 

Weston got a PINK, flowery stroller. He seriously loves to push them. He also got a toy broom and dust pan, since he's always trying to help me when I clean. Together, they got a Play- do set, Candyland, and one of those pop up tents to play in. I put books in the stockings. I got The Sweet Touch. Travis got Harold and the Purple Crayon, Collin got Go Dog Go, and Weston got Are You My Mother?

Then it was upstairs to warm by the fire and get shot up. The 4 cousins gave each other dollar store toys, and wouldn't ya know it... all 4 ended up with a gun! They were thrilled. 

I love this picture. So if Collin shoots Rusty, Rusty shoots me, and Weston shoots Jefferson, who is responsible??

Casey, with his mad skills, made my mom two kid's benches. I guess it's something my mom always wanted. On the back they each have an engraved plaque. One says, "Lindblom Munchkins est. 1983". The other, "Don't burp your bottom on Grandma's bench!" You might need to be in the family to get that one!

The shirt says "Wounded Soldiers" with a skateboard underneath it. It's now even a joke among ward members that my dad can be accident prone. Especially trying to stay young. :)

How did I not get a picture of my FAVORITE part??!! Breakfast of biscuits and gravy, eggs and juice. I die. It's the best part of Christmas.

Then we waited and waited and waited..... and finally David called!! Skyped, actually. Gotta love his hat on. He was just transferred back to the city and I guess he was able to borrow a guys lap top that lives under him. It was so good to see him and hear his voice again! Can't believe he'll be done April 30. I think we talked for 2 hours before I had to leave. Grandmother came over for part of it too. Love this missionary!

I need to get a copy of the big family picture so that this isn't the only one of Christmas night! We gathered with the Evans' again and had yummy beef sandwiches and exchanged presents. The kids are always spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa. Then we all put on our matching pajama pants for a picture. My pretty Weston wasn't appreciating the accessory. As usual, it was a wonderful day with our wonderful family. :)

Christmas Parties and Christmas Eve

I left Farmington around 10am, the Friday before Christmas. I left Collin at a friend's house so he could go to his preschool Christmas party, participate in the gift exchange and see Santa, who was visiting.

It was kind of nice to just have one kid on the trip! 

My only apprehension was caused by all the ice on the roads about 30 miles out of town. It was pretty thick and covered long portions of the road. I called Travis to have him remind me how to drive on ice! (Cuz apparently all my Buffalo driving went right out the window.) Thankfully, the roads got way better after that, and after a quick Wendy's stop in Gallup and an A&W stop in Holbrook, we got to Mesa 6 1/2 hours later. Dolly needed a wash. Bad. So we swung into a carwash first, then had 1 hour until the Lindblom party started! 

My parent's hosted this year and we had pizza and salads in the big garage. I brought my new fav recipe for cookies.. Salted Chocolate Chip cookies... for dessert! It was fun to see my aunts and cousins and listen to all the talent in the program we had after. Including our contribution of holding up signs and leading Must Be Santa. Best/Most Annoying Christmas song ever.

After it was all over I made the grand mistake of getting on the hay ride with Weston. 1/2 hour of kids screaming in your ear. When will I ever learn to pass on that one?!

Then, the rest of the night was spent watching the kids take turns on the karaoke machine. But when One Direction and Carly Jeppson came on, some of us adults joined the dance party too. :)

Lo and behold, we were still rocking out at 10pm, when Trav and Collin walked in the door! Luckily, Trav's entire afternoon canceled, so he was able to get Collin right after preschool and drive out. Ol' Dirtay wouldn't have made the trip, so he rented a car. And the family was back together again!

On Saturday night, we had the Evan's Christmas party at 4pm, then the Udall party at my parent's house again at 5:30pm. 

Love my cousins and sisters!

Have to make the trifle! Even with the evil peppermint! (My dad was the only one special enough to get a separate bowl made without it)

I LOVE, love, LOVE the Udall Christmas program. It's short and sweet, and spiritual. Then it's time for presents! My grandparents are so sweet to get gifts for all the kids under 4. The rest do an exchange. 

Collin was pretty stoked about his monster trucks.

A stuffed animal??!! Do they know Weston, or what?!

I'm so happy I arranged this little photo op. Love Grandpa Jess.

Then it was time for the adult White Elephant game. 

While munching on Uncle Dwight's {crack} beef jerky.

We were hoping for a gnome again. I think it's actually in my mom's basement somewhere. Hmmm.

A package of mustache tattoos was brought... and had to be distributed.

This picture just makes us look like a bunch of dorks, haha! Too bad the mustaches are too small to see.

That's a little better!

 Leah, I mustache you a question.... but I'll shave it for later.

(Mwahaha!)

I love her raised eyebrow!

More karaoke!

Christmas Eve!

The boys had yet to see Santa, so we met Shelley at Superstition Springs mall on Christmas Eve morning to see the jolly fellow.

Shocker of shockers, it wasn't even crowded! Score.

Double score... Weston thought he was being sacrificed as I handed him over. 

Ohhh, it brings me such pleasure.

Totally worth the $22. Glad I could split the rape charge with Shells.

He doesn't even know what's comin'!

Writing their letters to Santa. Lane hand delivered his request for a bow and arrow. I think he was really confused when Santa didn't deliver on Christmas morning. Ha.

Then we met Marcie, Austin, and Jeffers at the ever famous, Venizias for pizza. I have heard way too much about this place to let another visit go by without trying it!

Have to say... pretty darn tasty. 

 Yuck on glare!

Take 2!

Then we put the kids down for a nap and watched Pitch Perfect. We'll just say it was holiday appropriate. Pretty funny movie. Acca-scuse me?!

Then it was to Grandma Evan's house for the Christmas Eve dinner and program. Collin followed tradition with having no interest whatsoever in dressing up for the nativity. But Weston was pleased as punch to don an armchair cover and be a shepherd!

In the end, Collin is always coerced into a Wise Man or shepherd. 2012 was a Wise Man year.

Time to open the matching pajama pants! The boys loved them.

After we got the boys bathed and in bed (first time ever that Collin was BEGGING to go to bed so Santa would come), we headed upstairs to watch A Christmas Story and have Travis assemble the Big Wheel. My dad about got nauseous with memories of Christmas Eve's past spent in the garage assembling something or the other. I made a big pot of Hot Cinnamon Milk and then we got a call from Davey Love! Supposedly setting up our time to talk tomorrow, but really was long enough to SERVE as the talk for Christmas. :)

We hauled one of my mom's decorative trees downstairs to act as our family's Christmas tree. This was the first Christmas that Collin really started to understand what was going on. The first Christmas we actually bought real presents. It was kind of a fun feeling. It's like our family isn't just in the pretend stages anymore. I love being able to do nice things for our kids. And grateful that we're in a position to be able to do so. It sort of feels like paying it forward, for all the nice things our parent's did for us.

(And no, the crutches were not a part of Christmas. But they add a nice touch, huh? :)