Hmmm........so much to say.......long post

Wow, I haven't really blogged in like forever! So much going on. I always used to wonder why people talked about the holidays being so busy. Never seemed that bad to me until this year lol. Maybe that's because I chose to make a lot of my gifts this year. That actually turned out really well. At least I think so. But dang it was time consuming! If I ever do that again, I'll need to start much earlier. I also make my own Christmas cards, and every year it seems like the list gets longer lol. But I enjoy it. Some of them didn't get out until a few days before Christmas though. But, oh well. They got out didn't they?
Anyway, so I guess I'll start from November and go forward lol. And I'll probably forget something.
Nov 13 my sisters and I went to Disney on Ice with my niece, Jordyn, for her birthday. We had lots of fun. Most of the pics didn't really turn out, but this is my favorite lol. She really liked the popcorn!

Nov 22 I went to my sister, Lacy's, medical assisting class to let her draw my blood. Ack! I was scared. I had a bad experience with a phlebotomist once lol. But, she actually did really well. I'm putting this on here because I am really proud of her for going through schooling. And I think she is really going to like this profession.

Nov 24 was of course Thanksgiving. I didn't take any pictures this year because they would be the same as any other recent year, and that can get boring lol. We had a nice quiet dinner here at home with just my little family. Shane's dad came over for about an hour and ate with us. Then my dad and his girlfriend, Diane, came over later for some pie and to visit.

That same weekend, we went down to my dad's house for a short visit. Shane, Dad, and G went 4-wheeling. But before I would let them go, I made Shane and G take family pictures. If I waited they would have been all muddy and gross. Kaitlyn, my soon to be step-sister, took these. She is only 17--pretty good huh? Considering the sun was in our face (that's the reason for Shane's expression lol).

Isn't G getting so handsome?

Dec 3 Lacy and I boarded a plane for Boston! Kim was working close to there and flew us out for another awesome girls weekend. Of course, I don't have room to post all the pictures here. But, most of you are friends with all three of us on facebook. And we all have pictures posted there.

The first day we were in Salem--you know we had to do the whole witch thing, right? Then Boston on Sunday, where we saw A LOT of cool historic shiz, and on Monday we spent most of the day before flying out on a quest to get awesome lighthouse pictures in and around Gloucester. I think we did pretty well for such a short trip lol.

Salem Witch Museum

Having a locally brewed beer (a huge thing in Boston)

Touristas

 The crew with our walking tour guide, Tim. He was cute :)

Me and one of the MANY views from the Prudential Tower

Lighthouses!

 Same lighthouse, different view--I took that from my cell phone!

Another cell phone pic

Same lighthouse, before the sunset

And a GORGEOUS sunset--did you know the sun sets at like 4:00 there? OMG. That sucked.

Moving on. Dec 9 was my birthday. So that Saturday Shane took me to see Breaking Dawn. LOVED it. CAN'T WAIT for the conclusion (even though I know what is going to happen lol).

Dec 17th my sisters and I took the kids up to Temple Square. But first, Lacy and Dusty took a bunch of us out to dinner. Dusty cashed out some of his shares in the company he works for, and they paid off their house and a bunch of other bills! So it was sort of a celebration dinner. And they really just wanted to take everyone out somewhere nice while they could.

My mom and dad used to take us kids to Temple Square each year, and I think we're making a comeback on that tradition. We love it. Even if we aren't Mormon. There is a manger scene set up and a recording of the story of Christmas plays. And there is a huge statue of Jesus in what I have called the 'blue room' since I was little lol. It looks like the sky. I think it's beautiful. 

At the Trax Station

 The gorgeous temple building

 The 'blue room' lol--my favorite

Then, the next day (Dec 18th), Dusty and Lacy took just my family out to Red Lobster. Shane didn't make it the first night, and Dusty really wanted to see him and take him out too. Aww......bromance! Lol. So we went to Shane's favorite place. Man was that expensive. But the look on his face when he got his dinner......priceless! I have never gotten him to smile like that for a picture. He was in 7th heaven.

And then, of course, there was Christmas. I didn't take pictures--bad scrapbooking mama! I just didn't feel like it. It's less exciting when everyone complains about it and no one wants them but me. 

We went to my dad's house on Friday night (the 23rd) and spent time with our family, and our soon to be step-family! Yes that's right. It finally happened. My dad and Diane are engaged! Here's the ring. Fuzzy cell phone pic, but you get it. I think this all happened somewhere around the 17th.

I believe someone has pictures from Dad's house that night with the gift exchange and stuff. I just need to get them. So I will post when I get something usable lol. 

On Saturday, we stayed out in the living room on our air mattress and opened gifts at midnight again. I like that new tradition. It's pretty fun. 

This year G just got a game he's been wanting, some game accessories (headset, Live membership, etc.), and clothes. Again, nothing exciting. But I'll probably get pictures of something eventually and scrap it anyway.

Here are some last pictures of gifts I made (I won't bore you with the same ole ones from the last post). It's too bad I didn't get pics of the other girls hat and scarf sets. They turned out really cute. I thought I did, but guess I was in a hurry. 

Oi Vey! That is a terrible picture of me. But, these are the headwraps I made for all the girls--6 sets.

Blurry cell phone pic, but still--you see it.

These are the 5 different styles of cards I made for my cousin, Arian, to send out. She paid me people. I don't do this for free lol--too much time and money.

And, finally, our Christmas cards this year. We sent them with a family picture.

Wow. That was L-O-N-G. Hope someone is still with me here lol. That's it for catching up for now.

Here's to the new year! I hope it is blessed for everyone.