Before I forget about Christmas

The drive down took a very long time. 30 mph was our top speed most of the drive. We saw two Bald Eagles, which one we almost hit.

We had two Christmas's. This is at Grandma Chamberlains house. Which he did not want to leave.

Playing with all his cousins at Grandma Reid Burgesses. He had a ton of fun.

We spent most of the break at Grandma Reid Burgesses house. This is Chamberlain on Christmas Eve we have a tradition of opening one presents and its pj's. This is as still as we could get him the whole night. Josh and I stayed in a hotel which was great for us since it was like a vacation for us on our vacation. However, I felt really guilty on Christmas Eve. I felt like I needed to be sleeping under the same roof as all of my family.

This was the drive home. LONG!


This is what Chamberlain did to entertain himself on the long drive. Played with all his toys and wanted me to take pictures of him while doing it.

Over all we had a wonderful Christmas. We can't complain about 75 Degree weather, watching Chamberlain play outside with all the toys he got, and not putting on a heavy coat all break long. Oh and not having to brace for the cold when you leave the house. I loved it. I did not want to leave. The sound of living in sunny California gets more and more appealing each winter. This was a Christmas we sure wont soon forget!

Random!

Today Chamberlain and I actually left the house. I just cant bring myself to leave our warm house on these, oh so cold days. However, today I wanted to get out and lunch time sounded like it would be the best time to go. Further, thinking, I thought lets ask uncle Truett if he would like to join us for lunch. Then, I got this tasty idea, to go to, In-n-Out! I was hoping the newness had rubbed off and it wouldn't be busy. I was wrong, but It was good.
Now to the Random.
As Truett, Chamberlain and I were standing in a very very long line packed tight like sardines. I was literally standing shoulder to shoulder with Truett when this huge, as in, tall bulky (not fat) guy, more like college student, kept looking back at us (as he was in front of us waiting for his order). He finally gathered up the nerve to say to us, "when you two have kids they are going to be huge!" Obviously he had not seen Chamberlain running in and out of the line. Truett looks at him in disgust like "please we are related". I so kindly replied "this is my brother." The Guy immediately looks at my ring finger, (lucky today I wore a ring) and goes well you are going to have huge kids no matter who you marry. Which at this point Im thinking in my head "am I supposed to be taking this as a compliment or what!" When Truett finally chimes in and say's "Her husband is tall like me and bigger". Chamberlain finally realizes this strange man is talking to us and immediately makes himself known! Then the Guy is like "oh, is this yours?" Followed by a "he's huge how old is he?" the rest of our conversation goes like this

Me: "He just turned three"
Guy: " He is going to be huge, he is huge!!!"
Me: "Yes, I like to think of my marriage more of an investment" (Jokingly might I add)
Guy: "Well too bad you aren't black!"
Me: "Right!?"

I mean what am I supposed to say to that. "Too bad you aren't black." Honestly. I just had to laugh, who say's that, but, no really, who say's that out loud! WHO?

I actually get this a lot it used to be wow your tall do you play ball? Now since I look like a mom I get you have got to have tall kids. All of my tall friends get this same thing. But this is my FIRST, "too bad you aren't black!"

I wish I would have remembered to take my phone in so I could have taken a picture of the dufus! He watched us the whole time we were there! People, where are your manners!

this is what we've been up to!

The Christmas Festival. This festival started 19 years ago as my mothers "Brain Child" to raise money for different axullieries in Kanab. Now its purpose is for the Symphony of the Canyons and the music department at Kanab High. Its a big deal, the money raised in this two day event supports both Symphony of the Canyons and the High School all year long. So, we transform the middle school gym into something not so quite like a gym. On Friday night we hold a fancy catered dinner, prime rib and all (thanks to Houston's Trails End Restaurant, Yum!) and the Symphony serenades us with some beautiful Christmas music while we dine. Then Saturday is devoted to local artisans with goods to for us to buy, and yummy food with entertainment going the whole day. Its quite a production for just 1 day and a dinner. Here is what we (my mom Chamberlain, and myself) did. Oh and for the 2nd year running we have had a light parade that runs down main street. so thats the dark picture with the truck that has lights! I wish that I did have a camera instead of my broken cell phone camera because it really was awesome. The theme this year was "Christmas is for the Birds" and we had bird cages hanging from all the chandilers as well as a huge 150 year old bird cage hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the gym.

Hanging Chandeliers

Chamberlain and Grandma on the Cherry Picker

All the arrangements that my mom made to go all throughout the gym


All the Trees that we cemented into cans that the sweet lunch ladies saved for us

The final product



Probably the funniest thing is, that we didnt take any pictures of the actual event during the night nor the day except the one of the delicous Navajo Tacos

Giving Thanks

I am thankful for many things but here are a few that keep passing through my mind.
My Family (isn't everyone)
Mexican Food
My Glycolic Acid Face wash (Thank you Karly for introducing me to this blessing)
Cars (as well as the movie Cars which entertains Chamberlain while I get ready in the mornings)
My Rosebud lip Salve
Chocolate and Peanut Butter
The State of Utah (which is really like living in a bubble compared to the rest of the world, I like that)
My Warm Green Coat
Girl Jeans that come in XXL long lengths ( before the trend I had to buy men Jeans and let me tell you I felt soo sexy when I had the frontal bulge in the you-know where area)
My Comfy Bed
SPF
Turquoise
BYU Cougars (Go Cougs)
Thursday Nights with the Smiths
My husband who understands my craziness and embraces it!
High Heels
Basketball (and the time that I actually played it)
Friends (even those friends that I rarely see or even talk to, but when I run into them its always a treat)
Bookface and other peoples Blogs
The Book of Mormon (which I just learned is the best book to help your little ones learn how to read because its phonetically perfect!)
Oreo s
My one and only time, but definitely not the last time to Hawaii
All things Homemade
My Family (especially all the girls, my grandma would be proud we all get along)
All Holidays (which brings family together)
My beautiful son, Chamberlain
Margarita Pizza
My Ward (especially Sunday School and Relief Society the teachers totally rock)
and last, but really first in my life
The Savior

1 month and counting

Chamberlain has officially been off diapers for almost a month.
We hope it lasts!
We really like NOT changing diapers.

8 apples on a table

These are a few other things that I enjoy about living here. Football games and Fall leaves.














I just love this picture of Chamberlain. He has a new love for apples, no joke! Sometimes I wonder where this kid comes from because he loves I mean LOVES apples and fruit of all kinds. Which I love, I mean LOVE candy of all kinds! Especially when I was little. These apples are just some of the many apples (aren't they beautiful and they were delicious dipped in homemade caramel drizzled with a bit of chocolate), that we pick fresh off the trees, here, in valley. That, is also another thing that I just love about living here, the bounty of fruit trees, and gardens. Well when it wasn't soo cold!

HaLloWeEn

Lets see, Halloween went by too fast for Chamberlain. He is still wondering why it's over, I guess it doesn't help that some houses on our walk still have Halloween decorations up, people its the middle of NOVEMBER. Or maybe that its because I still let him dress up in his costume. I love what Chamberlain wanted to be this year. We still don't have TV or Internet (cross my fingers we get it for the new year) so he doesn't really know of transformers, spider man, batman, etc. . . so his decision was of his own volition, which again I just love! He was so adamant about it. He wouldn't even flinch with his decision on the BLUE pumpkin bucket to put his candy in. I have his crazy dragon costume from last year, but it was a consistent no, every time I brought it up and out of the closet. Although he did wear it once in late September on one of our many walks. He got to dress up several times and each time the costume had to be identical. Then finally on Halloween he was like, "hey! mom and dad you need to wear a costume" so one hour before we went out trick or treating and to ride the haunted train I caved and threw together a costume for myself. If you cant tell, which I totally understand if you cant (I also had a friend comment "cute outfit" which its a COSTUME), I'm a Gypsy. And for the record I was the ONLY adult in our party for the night to dress up. So I felt a little silly to say the least as we went out with 5 other adults and 3 kids and I am the only one in costume but then again maybe people just thought it was a "cute outfit!"
P.S. Yes I had to draw a swirly mustache on Chamberlain's face each time and if it wasn't correct I had to do it over again!
P.P.S I would rotate those pictures but I cant figure out how to do that on a mac lets just say Im a PC