Good-Bye Sucks.

There just is not a nicer way to say it. I tried. But frankly, good-bye's suck. I hate them - but I hate them even more when my children have to say good-bye too. Last week we said goodbye to some very dear friends. Lori and her kiddo's Hannah & Jake. Lori has become a great friend of mine and someone I really admire. Not to mention her daughter Hannah is Emma's best friend. They moved up here two years ago from San Diego and had to move back for job reasons. We have had Hannah over for many play dates, taken the kids on outings, had them over to roast s'mores, shopped Target together, ditched the kids and saw a movie. I will miss you guys terribly. Make sure and move back soon!!! (tomorrow is good for me)

Funny Boy

typical happy jake up from a nap. and wearing my favorite shirt of his.

'Mischief is my business,

and business is

GOOD.'

oh so true.

Random

After taking Emma to preschool, back home so Jake could nap... we ventured to Walmart for some groceries. I don't particularly like Walmart, but I wanted to get the cute little half cans of Dr. Pepper and I was told that is where to find them (thanks to Trena!). As I walked to find a checkout lane that wasn't ridiculously long I saw these card tables with scarfs on them... piles of blue and white... I finally saw a sign that explained how they were made by generous knitters from all over the US - they were only $2 and 100% of the proceeds are donated to the Winter Games of Idaho. I found did my part, I bought two:

On the way to pick up Emma after preschool something completely random caught my eye. A shoe. A very nice white tennis shoe - just hanging out on the side of Eagle road. Have you ever wondered how that happens? I mean, laces tied, slightly worn.... do they just fly out of your car window randomly? I better keep a leash on my shoes... which made me think of something else. My funky new shoes... with a big fat hole in the back. Awesome. Thanks Harley.

That's about it for the day. Oh... and I submitted a scrapbook layout to a magazine. Cross your fingers for me!!! AND your toes. Toes count double cause that takes talent.

Have I mentioned?

Have I mentioned how insanely C.U.T.E. my niece Ava is?? She is Matt and Elizabeth's girl. Love her to pieces, here are a few pics I got of her over Christmas. Missing my girl!! :)

It's been awhile!

We have been busy busy busy! So I'm going to do one of my 'sum-it-all-up' posts - and hopefully throw in a LOT of random pictures! These past few weeks we have:

*Aaron and I celebrated our 5th anniversary! YAY!! We went to an ah-ma-zzzing dinner at our favorite place downtown, then went out Christmas shopping for the kids. It was a lot of fun!! We played a little game and went back through the years saying the best and worst memories from each - it's a challenging game, you should try it!

*Welcomed my in laws after a long drive up from southern California - and they stocked my freezer with the best bread ever that they always stop and pick up in Bishop Cali. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

*Headed over to WW for Christmas. My in laws rented a beautiful vacation home for the holidays. It is just a bit outside of WW (technically just outside of Dixie), and it was a gorgeous Tuscan inspired 6 bedroom home that I wanted so badly to steal the linens and decor - oh and the furniture. beautiful, simply beautiful. We spent a few days with Aaron's parents, his brother, wife and baby Ava, and his Grandparents.

*Once home we had Christmas with Mom, Jeff, Ryan, Nick, Andrea and Kylie - the kids were of course spoiled rotten!! And the food was fabulous too!

*We had an uneventful New Year's Eve and went to bed early :-)

*I photographed a wedding on New Year's Day!! That was a challenge... and it turned out beautiful! There is NO WAY I could of managed to do it by myself - Andrea was so gracious enough to help me out - even though she didn't feel good. LOVE YOU! I'm so excited to edit - but that means I go into hermit mode with 1500 pictures to proof. yikes!

*For Aaron's birthday we drove to McCall and had a quick visit with my dad, Denise and Khloe' and they did Christmas for the kiddo's. It was a fun and FAST trip.

*Today we are back to routine - even with the brand new 5" of snow from this morning!!! Aaron is off to work, Emma is at PreSchool, and Jake is down for a nap. I feel like it is time to breath and get life back to normal after the past three weeks of chaos!

Some random pictures from the past few weeks...

We got a box in the mail from the Fautheree's!!! Jan made me (ok so I was probably suppose to share..whoops) red hot popcorn!!!!!!!!!!!! Best treat EVER. A cute Elf that Emma latched onto, and another tub with a fabulous sweet chex mix. Very special to have a christmas package all the way from florida!!!

The kids new ornaments this year from my mom.

Jake has fallen in love with reading his books. He of course has to be sitting in his rocking chair in his room, it is just too precious.

more to come later.... i need to go proof some photos!