christmas

this year we started off december having the sanders side christmas with food, used white elephant and presents. we didn't do much to celebrate the holidays, as in seeing much christmas lights. we did go to a snow day at mtns edge park, the kids got to slide down the lil slope on their sleds and they had vendors coloring hoola hoops and things for the kids.w We also went to the ward christmas party, where matix decided he was very afraid of santa.amber and jared came down the week before to celebrate. we went to my parents christmas eve, had taco salad.. we choose a theme every year so its not the same ol turkey and potatoes. we swaped gifts. we drew crystal and ryans name and sheree and adam had ours. we skyped dale wendy and crystal. crystal gave us the great news that they are expecting a lil one in aug. went home to bed. brandon and i woke up at 6:30 christmas morning but waited till 7:30 to wake matix. it still took him about 15 min to wake up. he loves sleeping almost as much as his mommy. we had him check out his stocking and open all his presents but saved his balls for last since we knew hed be over it and just ready to play with those right away. after playing catch for a minute we put his new toy story movie on and opened ours. bbret and tammy came over to see matixs toys and we headed over there to check out brets new cotton candy machine.. which is awesome. we went to church, just one hour came home gma and gpa tippetts and trent adri came over. bret shared a christmas book with us which they also gave us each a copy. we ate and opened presents. us kids wrote our testimonies down and put them in a new set of scriptures we bought margene, which felt great to all of us. we each chose someone to help tthis christmas instead of drawing names, which was better than any gift we could have gotten. we then shared our experience with the family. 

Ambers and Jareds Wedding, Dustins Mission

Amber flew in town wednesday morning, she came over, i touched up her hilights, trimmed her hair and we got to catch up. We then practiced hairstyles on thursday and just decided on leaving it down curled with one side pinned back with a clip. that night we went to her bridal shower which her friend Eden threw. It was a lot of fun but i had to leave a little early to get my hair done. Denise did my hair a few days earlier but it turned out a brighter so i went over there for her to redo it. Friday morning we brought decorations to the church and the guys put up the cieling. we then went to the temple for Ambers endowment. it was awesome being there with Brandons whole family in the Celestial room. we went back to the church and finished setting it up. Saturday morning i did ambers hair and helped with her makeup, went home to get ready, brandon was late getting his suite from the cleaners, then as we rushed out the door i forgot my recommend. We then got to the temple and couldn't find our sitter. and waited on the recorder to give the okay for me to enter the temple. so needless to say we were pretty late and everyone waited about 10 min on us, soo embarrassing. there sealing was great, took fam pictures after and headed to the luncheon. immediately after that the reception started. It turned out beautiful, tammy did a great job putting it all together. Sunday we got to church and it was packed. Dustin invited a ton of friends, along with there being three farewells in one ward. Miguel and edward, and dustin spoke last. he did a great job on his talk, and by listening to that i knew he was ready for this. he was called to Lima Peru. The Rocha's in our ward have a going away party for the Boys that night and everyone brought food. Monday night Dustin got set apart. we all went around the room to give his advice for his mission which was very emotional for us, and president schlauter set him apart. we then went to olive garden and said our goodbyes back at the house. i gave edward and migual haircuts tuesday morning and me and Matix said  goodbye to dustin. Bret Tammy and the Bishop drove them up.

Halloween

We got together with my family to carve pumpkins on the 20th since that was the only day that worked. We got our pumpkins at sams club but my dad needed one so i offered to pick it up for an excuse to hit up the pumkin patch. we went in the jumping house, down the slide and pet the animals, rylee met up with us half way through. We were in charge of a creepy dessert so Matix helped me make earth worm pudding, and he helped with the whole thing and loved every minute of it.. espesially the taste testing. My mom gave me the carving utensils since she couldn't make it and of course i forgot to grab them. so me and adam took a trip to walgreens to buy more.. so next year we are going to have more than we know what to do with, since weve already collected so many over our years of carving.

Me and matix went to Desert View's trunk or treat. Brandon had scouts, so he couldn't come. we went over to my parents early, i did my dads hair and make-up for his dracula costume, i looked up a picture real quick on my phone and he was all for it. love doing that kind of stuff and he got a lot of compliments. sheree and garys family along with adams sister wendy came to. we ate, played games, and got lots of candy.

The weekend before halloween we went to Dumont. We left thursday afternoon with sheree adam jade and my mom. we got a perfect spot next to a hill to ride and dig in the sand. adams friend brad let us bring his rhino so we could take matix and jade around... they absolutely loved it. and matix rode in the little razor with one of the boys next to us. everyone showed up the next day, all of their friends, gary lindsey and my dad. We rode all around me and brandon went up comp hill which wasn't as scary as what people seem to make it. went to the north pole, and just had a great time matix loved digging in the sand climbing on the bunk beds in the trailor and chasing brads dog around.. but most of all riding in the rhino. oh and matix locked himself in the trailor. Brandon put him inside and shut the door for time out and matix trying to get out locked the door. we were trying to think of what to do for 5-10 min when we realised there was a little door that was unlocked jade climbed in but brandon just followed her thinking she wouldn't figure it out. and we didn't have to break a window thank goodnees. went to comp hill at night.. thousands of people, it was crazy and me and brandon headed home that night but got a lil lost.. didn't make it home till 1:30, so that sucked.

 On halloween we went to tara and petes for dinner, took the kids trick or treating in tara staleys neighborhood since their neighborhood was pretty dark so we had to skip a lot of houses. went back, the kids did their first trading section, and the kids went to bed while we stayed up and watch Scre4m.

Brandons 27th Birthday

Brandon got records from a yard sale 50 cents a piece, and figured he would sell them for more.. but then decided he'd rather keep them. so for his present i ordered a record player, which said it would be here 24-48 hrs, but in all actuality it was almost a week before it got here. so the day before his birthday ups tracking says it wont be here till wed. when his birthday is tues. so i was definately stressing about that. on top of all that i had planned a surprise party for him, and the day before he tells me he is going to scouts on his birthday. i convinced him to let me take him out, but it was a struggle... and i almost spilled the beans.the morning of his birthday i tracked his present which said it wouls arrive that day, so i was praying it got here before he got home from work, and it did. Then Brandon gets home from work at 5:30 the time i planned on leaving. but luckily we had time to go to Famous Daves eat with no rush and get to Laser Quest by 7:15 where everyone surprised brandon, and he truly had no idea. We played one round and Brandon took first, we then headed to golden spoon for some frozen yogurt. though i had planned on the cupcakery but it endedd up closing at 8. It ended up being a great night and i think everyone really had a blast, i know brandon did.

conference weekend

We had a great weekend, fridaynight we rented transformers and watched it with our aunt margene, she is staying at my in-laws for now. we woke up early saturday morning and took matix to his friends cali and deegans house, denise offered to babysit while we went to the massage school to get two for one massages. We waited about an hour, brandon got a guy and had to talk to the front to try to swap. I got called and went back. My massage was great when I got out Brandon text me he was in the car. I couldn't stop laughing on the way to the car. they wouldn't let him trade so he just got his money back. on the way home we stopped to get my parents projector. picked up matix, whom did awesome for denise. went home and got ready for pottery barns fashion show and trick or treat. Again with denise and her kids. they let your kids put on their costumes, model them and go around to get candy and stickers, it was a lot of fun for all of us. They chose the costumes for each kid. kind of a bummer but he still looked adorable. When that was done we picked up brandon and got supplies for our movie night. we invited some friends and family on friday to come sat night to watch a Despicable me on the projector, have popcorn and snowcones. And we actually had a pretty good turn out for only inviting them the day before. Brandon went to priesthood, so by the time he got home everyone was already there. he quickly set up the movie while we just hung out and started getting our snacks. everyone had a blast and the weather was perfect. We slept in sunday morning. came to the tippetts and made breakfast for everyone, which was delicious.Except Bret and Tammy went to utah for Brets missionary reunion and wedding planning. we finished up the first session of conference,i made a bunch of freezer meals for my fam... witch we swapped that night. watched second session, then headed over to tara and petes for fam dinner and planning for the holidays, while the kids played outside.. very accomplished and fun weekend.. though we need to watch the rest of conference, thank goodness for technology. Oh, and found out my sis in law michelle is pregnant!!!! so excited

swimming this summer

This summer Denise bought us a pool that we have really enjoyed. it is so dang hot in the summer. the only reason we are outside is for swimming. it was nice to have something fun at our house because we never really invite people over since it is so small. and having an effortless tan is always nice. Matix loved swimming with daddy because he would go crazy and make wave pools. he liked jumping off daddys back onto the rafts. and when brandon would throw him high and i would catch him in the water. He got a lot better in the water and by the end of summer he was holding his head under for about five seconds at a time. Me and brandon first got him to by blowing in his face and dunking him under., but he would get upset most of the time. then we had him blow bubbles and slowly put him face under. but what really did it was when his friend Piper came over and held hers under water. He didn't want to wear goggles so i would wear mines and i could see his cute little face and his eyes wide open smiling at me under water, wish i took a picture of him. We would pass the ball back and forth under water, thats when hed hold his breath the longest. We went to the public pool a few times this summer but not near as much as we used to. And a few of our friends had pools so we would swim with them as well. But from now on i want to have a small pool like this in the summer. sooo much fun

Matix Totnastics

We put Matix in Totnastics this august with his friend Piper,. It is a mommy and me class until they turn 3.  He is pretty shy and takes a minute to warm up to large groups so at the beginning of every class they started out grabbing ribbons and running and dancing to music which he never go into, and cried for me to pick him up everytime. then we sit in a circle to stretch and warm up. he slowly starts going along with what everyone is doing half way through warm up. then comes the obsticle course, which is different every time. he is ready to go by then. The kids do things such as balancing beam, summersalts, and holding on the bar and pulling their feet up. He really loved all of it, but would get a little distracted wanting to shoot hoops the whole time.. of course. or jumping on the trampoline over and over. He had so much fun and i think it was really good for him to get out of his comfort zone and follow instructions. We didn't have the car while brandon was at work but he now got a work truck, so we will definately be signing him up again soon.

New Mexico

My parents own a time share in Ruidoso New Mexico. We go the first week of june every year. This year my parents me and matix were the only ones able to go. Everyone had work or other obligations but we try to get as much of the family out there every time. We had the whole family except for Lindsey prob 4 yrs. ago but the group has been shrinking the last few years. Matix did awesome on he drive. Thank goodness for the DVD player in my moms van. We always stop in sho low to see me gma and gpa dulaney. we spent one night there and went to the air show in the morning. They have breakfast and different planes and helicopters to look at and they take some of them up in the air as well. we stop and get fruit or veggies at the local farmers market and then finish the drive. This year was different than most, we usually stay really active but i was pregnant and trying to take things easy, in fear of miscarrying. So we stared off the week by going grocery shopping. Then with church the next morning. its always fast and testimony meeting up there wich i love. i can always feel the spirit so strong there. My parents really work hard to read the entire doctrine and covenents.. which they started before the trip and i concentrated on having fun with matix, since there are always things to be done at home. I took naps with him almost every day, which was wonderful. We went swimming at least once a day, the water was really nice for the weather up there. it really is great weather all throughout the day which usaully makes it to chilly for swimming. my dad would always start out swimmiing with matix while i layed out and then we would switch halfway through. He got really good at kicking and paddling while we were there. We went to the park a few times,he learned to pump himself on the swing a little and would go down the big slide by himself. Me and my mom went shopping at the secondhand store and had some good finds. Another day we went for pedicures on main street, while my dad stayed back and watched matix. I have never seen so many movies in one week  we went to X-men and kung fu panda , and i guess my parents went to pirates of the carribean alone since i had just seen it. My dad loves to golf when we are there since the coarse is free and it is basically our backyard. We all did a round together and i decided it was about time i learn the real way to hit the ball. so the last few days my dad tought me how its done and i got so much better from where i began... just getting lucky here and there haha. and it was nice to spend that one on one time with him.