A new phone & some OLD photos!

So, I got a new phone this week.
Because ... well, you know.
I don't ever want to get to the point where I say
"I can't keep up with all the new technology"
because then I would feel old.
So, anyway...
in getting the new phone, I in turn get to put away the old one.
I don't know about you, but it's sad when you lose all the pictures and videos that you have on your *old* phone.
So, I transfered them to a memory stick and put them on my computer!
There are some DOOZIES!


Brooklyn was so excited about her bike, she couldn't wait to ride it....outside!
A new outfit I got for her...i'm pretty sure I was sending the picture to Allison to make sure it was cute!

When she falls asleep in the car like this, Brian ALWAYS sings...."wo wo wo, she's a lady!"

The princess on her way to grandma and grandpas for halloween...2008

And the goggles....oh for the love!

Apparently, all that I ever take of the Gus-ster is when he is in the car....

that or I have some of him naked on the toilet...man, I should have put those ones on here!

Don't you just feel bad for them when they fall asleep?

I mean, really, how comfortable could it be!

The kids just absolutely LOVE to be in the "way far back!"

You can't tell by the look on his face, but he is EXCITED!

Now, these last 2 are just WAY TOO CUTE! He was such a cute baby!...

I know he's not a BABY in these, but compared to what he is now, he was a baby in these!

Little cute stinker!

Ok....ok!

You know you are a slacker when you have a friend/neighbor that is telling you to update your blog.

I did so good, update all my December activities in January.

And now it's been 2 weeks and nothing.

So much for keeping on track with things.

I just feel so OVERWHELMED right now!

I am a sunday school teacher for the 16-17 year olds...

and this year it is the Old Testiment.

HELLO!

I struggle teaching already, but I just feel like I don't know this stuff anyway...

so it seems like I am studying harder than EVER before.

When I was in Young Womens I only had to teach every OTHER week.

I need a partner...

oh wait, I have Brian.

He loves to teach, and is more than happy to do it for me.

I think i'll have him as a guest teacher once a month.

PHEW!

Glad I blogged about that to get that problem solved.

I think I can handle 3 lessons a month!

OK, next *I'm so overwhelmed* moment...

...my dessert blog!

Some of you may know, and some may not,

but I started a dessert blog.

www.grandmasdesserts.blogspot.com

I have really enjoyed doing this.

It's been fun and challenging at the same time.

I started it to try and make some extra money...

because it is possible to do.

I'm almost there!

HOWEVER, ever since we went to Arizona

I've kinda been in a rutt!

I had 2 weeks worth of posts saved up

and right now...I have NONE!

I don't even have one to post tomorrow.

I'm in the process of having a new design for my blog made specifically to the way I want it!

AND

I feel like i'm running out of dessert recipes!

So, I think I need to take a week off, to relax, calm down, bake, get caught up, get the design up and running, and find some new recipes.

OK, that's been decided!

NOW, onto the NEXT *i'm so overwhelmed* moment

This one is my own fault

(like the other ones haven't been!)

I ordered Becky Higgins new scrapbook,

PROJECT LIFE.

The idea is to take a picture every day for a year and put it in this *predesigned* scrapbook.

It's a FABULOUS idea!

I'm 20 days into it and have 20 days worth of pictures!

I can't help but think to myself....

OH.MY.GOSH!

I still have 11 months and 10 days to go!

Work is crazy, they are offering some *over-authorized* time that I would love to take them up on.

We refinanced our mortgage...with the lower interest rate came the struggle with my 2nd mortgage company approving our subordination....and making us lose our good rate we were locked into.

Dance on monday morning,

Preschool on monday and wednesday afternoon.

Brison's not napping during the day and we just moved him to a toddler bed.

Trying to get the kids to bed earlier....

and getting them UN-addicted to the tv!

dishes to be done...

meals to plan...

shopping to do...

house to clean...

closets to organize....

toys to get rid of....

CALGON!!!

If I don't show up to work or church, or answer the phone...please, don't come looking for me!

I'll be at the FUNNY FARM!

Juice anyone?

What do you do when you have 2 cases of oranges?
Besides make orange bubble loaf bread..which I did,
YOU JUICE THEM!
The kids were struggling with their "black tuesday" blues so..
I decided to put their muscles to work!

We first started with just one juicer

but that just wasn't going to work for us.

So, we went and borrowed my mom's.

Then, things started hopping after that!

Brian was busy on one...

Brooklyn was going to town on the other one!

Brison was there for comedic relief!

Also...he was there to make sure that we were safety conscious!
HELLO!
I've got the camera...Brian was supposed to be watching him!

We did really good...got 7 quarts!
Not too shabby!
When we were done, Brooklyn asked if we could go to Arizona and get more.
Yes, yes we can.
Next year though.
I wish we could go now.....sigh!

Things that happened...post 7! (the last)

We had a family christmas party on Brian's side of the family the Sunday after christmas.
It was fun, and as usual, the kids were SPOILED with MORE gifts!
Aunt Shannon got them flashlights...which turned out to be the BEST.GIFT.EVER!

Apparently Brison uses his like a gun..

Brooklyn will ask for a flashlight almost everyday at home.

I don't see ANYTHING wrong with this picture...do you?

Maybe this is why she doesn't have good eye sight?

Cousin KC was there....along with Uncle Kelly, Aunt Roxanne and cousin Sheridan.

My kids ABSOLUTELY adore them!

Especially when they get to ride on shoulders!

Things that happened....post 6!

Since we were out of town the Sunday before Christmas...

I had to wait until the Sunday AFTER Christmas to take their Christmas outfit pictures.

Don't they look CUTE!

I love it when Brian will stand behind me and make them laugh....

Because he wasn't doing that for Brooklyn's picture.

But he was for Brison's....

Can you tell the difference?

I also wanted to post some pictures of my Christmas tree...

I LOVE my tree and am really happy when I get it all decorated.

The Santa in the top right hand corner is my FAVORITE.

I got it from my Great Uncle Stan when I got married.

He is a widdler...and he carved this out of wood for me!

I remember every summer at the family reunions,

he would try to teach all of us grandkids how to widdle.

It would always end up that we would just destroy a piece of wood,

but it was fun none the less!

and YES

if those of you who know me are noticing a little RED in my tree.

It is true.

HOWEVER...

this holiday season, I did find out that my boss, Susan

who is a HUGE Utah fan

has a BLUE tree.

So, I guess it's ok!

Things that happened...post 5!

Christmas Day!

The kids had fun opening their presents this year.

AND, this year I decided to simplify.

We did only 3 Santa gifts.

And that's the way it's going to stay.

Mom and Dad got them some clothes and stocking stuffers.

It was a really nice morning.

Brison and his stocking stuffer motorcycle.

Brooklyn and her new dresses....she had this look after EVERY present she opened!

AND she would exclaim...."It's just what I ALWAYS wanted!!!"

Brian BEYOND excited for the new Wii fit!

Then it was off to Mom and Dad's for breakfast.

Then it was home to get dressed and ready for the day...

and play with some toys.

Then it was back to mom and dad's for the Travis family gathering.

Then it was quickly to Brian's parents for Christmas evening.

Brison got a new BYU hat...

He was a little ornery, to say the least.

He was a little sleep deprived.

And NOT as excited to get his stuff as the givers thought he would be!

So SAD!

Brooklyn and her princess toys.

Her Aunt Shannon spoils her, and her cousin Mariah!

Showing off new gifts!

It was a really hectic, really fun day.

Every Christmas is....

I wonder when we can simplify that?

Things that happened....post 4!

Christmas Eve.

We always spend Christmas Eve and my mom and dad's.

When I was growing up...I remember Christmas Eve and my Grandma Steiner's house.

ALL the cousins would be there....

and when I say ALL the cousins, I mean it...there was probably 70 of them.

There would be no room to sit on the floor...and my Uncle Randy would usually be in the bedroom

asleep on the bed with all the coats.

anywhooo...back to NOW.

We have Prime Rib dinner

and then do a short...but hopefully getting longer as the kids get older

Nativity reading.

It usually consists of dad reading from the scriptures and the parents

taking a TON of pictures and the kids giggling at their outfits...

but hey, whatever works..right?

This year Gretchen thought it would be fun if the kids "surprised" grandma and grandpa

with a song...so they learned "Picture a Christmas"

and it was REALLY cute!

Brison even got up there and sang...usually the last word of the sentence..

but hey, he knew some of it so that's good...right?

Even on this very, VERY busy night...we had a special visitor.

It was really fun this year because it happened to be somebody who

knew the family REALLY well.

He even got a little smack on the cheek from Brian.

(no pictures folks, I was behind the video camera!)

Brooklyn and Brison were not scared at all....

All the kids were singing...well, at least those without the candy canes in their mouth!

Aunt Alli decided it would be fun for the kids to decorate sugar cookies for santa to eat that night.

I think she has decided to do this every year.

Let's just hope she can relax a little and realize that the kids are

GOING TO EAT THE FROSTING.

There's no getting around that with kids!

The honorary Christmas Eve p.j.'s!

It wouldn't be Christmas Eve without them!

Things that happened....post 3!

We made a trip to Arizona this month for our good friends...a.k.a. my sister

Tanya and her new husband G.

On our way down, we made a stop at the Hoover Dam.

Here are our dam pictures.

The dam family

The kids doing some dam running.

The new dam parking garage....overlook I guess you could say.

The Hoover Dam dam building.

The dam security guard.

The dam Nevada time.

The dam Arizona time.

The dam sign.

The dam boat.

The dam water.

The dam toilet...

The dam

The new dam bridge....it really is AWESOME.
You have to see it to believe me!
I can't imagine how much that weighs...and how it is being held up!

The dam overlook.
I had so much fun taking these dam pictures.
I was giddy thinking of the post I was going to make about my dam pictures.
I am 5 years old!
I realize that...but I had too!
Unfortunately, I my camera battery was low when I started and I forgot to pack my charger.
So...I don't have any pictures from the wedding.
But, if you are friends with me on facebook, I've been tagged in some..so I have proof I was there!