The month of LOVE

January and February have been slightly quieter than usual but it's been nice.  I think Ty and I are both experiencing a newly acquired seasonal depression from this frigid winter!!  We were very spoiled by the constant summertime in Florida... sniff sniff... we miss it so much.  But life is pretty busy- Tyler is now 1/2 done with law school and getting closer to finishing his second year at the U!   I'm still working away cleaning teeth and just enjoying being back with great friends and family!  This is the cutest picture of the year so far...

I LOVE HIM!!!!

 This was on Valentine's Day.  Kind of scandalous- I'm aware, but pretty dang cute if you ask me!  He also got a box of chocolates and a mindy mint heart from Mrs. Cavanaugh's!  Ty was the sweetest ever- he had school late on Tuesday night.  So when I got home, he had laid out my sweat pants, some magazines, rented 'Breaking Dawn' (since I had been begging him to take me to the dollar theater to see it!) and set out some snacks.  He also wrote a letter telling me to get comfy, watch the movie and snack until he got home!  Then around 7:30 when he did get home, he took me to a very simple but perfect place to eat- Denny's!  We always talk about going there since it was one of our very first and favorite dates!  So he had some breakfast while I enjoyed a delicious strawberry shake!  We laughed and chatted and just enjoyed some time together.  I loved it!

I am feeling extra lucky these days for such a special spousie.  I just love him and I'm thankful for all of his hard work in school and in life.  He's quite amazing and I wish I could be more like him!  I know the day of love was a few weeks ago, but he is my valentine every day.  Grateful to have his constant love and friendship forever.

Our Holiday!!

This is the loveliest tree yet!!  Mostly because I love my decorations!  They make me happy!

 Our tree was only about 1/3 the size of my parents tree though... and oh boy is it a chore to decorate!

 Grandpa turned 95 years old this month too!!!!!!!  They are so amazing for their age.  We celebrated at El Matador- one of his favorites!

 Tyler's finals drug clear out until the 22nd of December!!!!  It was terrible... so I spent a lot of time with these two little boys above!  Oh my goodness I love them!

 Happy 5th Anniversary!!!  Tyler and I did get to spend the weekend of our anniversary together!  We hit our 5th year on the 15th of December.  I cannot believe it has been that long!  I love him more than I ever could have imagined. I just adore everything about him still... and finding more things every single day to love!  We spent the weekend in Boise seeing family, going to the Potato Bowl and relaxing at a nice hotel!

 The Potato Bowl was quite the big deal!!!  Tyler got the shirt he is wearing here the morning of the game for an anniversary gift.  He kind of loves it and I just kind of love him!

 I just think it's the cutest how devoted he is to the Aggies even though they are just not the greatest most of the time! 

 Ty's Dad and his nephew Mason also met us in Boise for the game.  We froze our little bums off!  But so worth it!

 Ty had warned me about this very very blue field they played on!  He told me that sometimes birds mistake it for a body of water... and it doesn't turn out so well for them!

My little sweetness!  Happy 5th Ty- can't wait every day I get to spend with you! 

 Our Wendover tradition took a small turn this year- but a great one!  On December 23rd, we all met at the Dollar Store.  We then drew names and bought our secret someone a dollar gift we thought they'd enjoy!  I was surprised how excited the little kids were to shop for each other!  Definitely the highlight of the night for me!

 After the adventurous shopping- we made our way to the Golden Corral for a delicious dinner!

 The kids had a ball- Braden even made this funny little roll person!

 Lots of messy hands and faces after we stuffed ourselves!

 Then it was back to my parents house for the gift exchange!  Everyone LOVED their gifts and it was so fun to keep it a secret from them!  Here is little Ashy getting his gift!

 And here is the whole gang enjoying each other's company!  We did crafts afterwards while we listened to Christmas music, then finished off the night by watching 'The Grinch!'  It was the best!

 It was definitely different than our annual Wendover- jerky-shooting-hot tubbing- sleepover, but it was so much fun!

 Here are the boys enjoying some pine nuts together!!!

 Little Mason slept over with us that night- I just can't get enough of him lately!  He sure makes me smile!

 Christmas Eve is always a day I REALLY look forward to!  We get to see relatives that we just adore!  We saw Tyler's aunt Lori, her sister Sylvi and my grandparents!!!  They are such a light to our lives and we are so lucky to have them!!

 Above is Lex, Lori, Cali, Bri, me, Ty and Codes.

 Then we made our way to Tyler's parents house for the evening of fun!  The food traditions are really just the best!  Chik-fil-A chicken platter, home made egg rolls, chips and avocado ranch from Chili's, cookies, veggies etc etc!!  Then after the food, we open our jammies!!!  This year was fun because we got to skype with Tyler's family!  We saw Jess and Steph's fam via skype and got to see them open gifts and see their cute faces!  Somehow we ended up watching several of the Rocky movies and even Swiss Family Robinson!  Kind of strange picks- but a lovely series of great movies! Then bed time!

 Christmas morning looked like this- sleepy but so happy!!  Ty loved his stocking!

 ... and I loved mine!  This is my favorite tradition of all- doing each other's stockings!

 We went to my parents after we opened gifts at Ty's parents house.  We were joyfully greeted by my cute festive Daddy!!!

 Tyler got JUST what he's always wanted!!!  I had to get him 3 because I just didn't know what size he needed- he has since returned 2!

  And here is the ENORMOUS Reese's cups that Steph and her family gave to Tyler!!!  Only 1200 calories per cup!  Pretty disgusting!!

 So this year we decided to re-gift some items for my dad!  He has a ton of stuff downstairs that I thought for sure he had forgotten about... so we wrapped lots of it up trying to trick him!  And turns out... he remembered most everything and caught on quick!  Still pretty funny though!

 Cute Liv, Brookie and Bren!

 So good to see all of our family on Christmas!  This is Jake opening his marshmallow gun!

 And sweet Wes and his new semi trailer!

 All the grand kids got pillow pets and they couldn't have been happier!

Some of the pets were even bigger than the kids they belonged to!

And that was our Merry Christmas!  Lots of family, food, fun and laughter!  Just perfect and much needed!

 

On the 27th we got together for a night of Bunco!  Ty and I had not played it before but it was a blast!!!!  We are with BJ and Angie in this pic! 

 Ty was loving the time spent with the guys, reminiscing about the good old basketball days!  They are just the cutest!

 Candice, Ang and me!

 They dudes- James, BJ, Harv, Jordan, Brick, Brandon and Ty.  Handsome bunch!

 and the lucky ladies... Rachel, Laura, Candice, Angie, Alisha, Whitney and me.  Thanks Laura and Harv for putting it together!!  and Tyler was THRILLED that he won the grand prize!  (a $25.00 gift card to the movie theater!)

 We met up with an old neighbor of ours, Matt Bown and his wife Deborah for some dinner.  Great to see them as always!  We ate at El Matador yet again- a favorite of my family's!

 And New Year's was a delight!  Steak and crab... Yum!  We went over the Jeff and Jessica's for the evening and rang in the new year with them! 

And this is the first pic of the new year- kinda sleepy looking since it was at 2 am...!  I always love the new year- a time for change and new beginnings.  2011 will probably be the most memorable of all years for us- we are so grateful for our MANY many blessings and for the joys of life.  We are very thankful for a new year and we wish you all a very happy 2012!

That was fun!

 We made famous 'Myrtle's turtles' this weekend!  This tradition has been going on since I can remember!  Grandma Myrtle would have us all over to dip chocolates the day after Thanksgiving!  It's one I've loved forever and will continue always!  Tyler, Mason, Kacy and Jess helped me dip the yumminess!

 What a cute crew!! 

Here is the finished product!  They always taste better than they look!  Tyler finished off the chocolate with some strawberries.  Always fun! -let the holiday pounds start adding up!

A wish come true!

Cody has been BEGGING to see Santa this year!!  I kept telling that she just needed to write a letter because she is getting pretty old to sit on Santa's lap.  So I really had no intentions of making a special trip to take her... but a miracle happened and Cody's wish came true!

 The three of us were walking into Wal Mart when the greeter said, "Santa will be here for 10 more minutes" and then pointed us in the right direction.  Cody was grinning from ear to ear, bigger than she's ever grinned! And I've never seen her walk so fast in all my life!  We made our way over to Santa, and he was happy to let her sit on his knee!  He said, "Would you like a boyfriend for Christmas?"  She loudly and half giggling said, "NO!"  If you know her, you can hear just how she said it!  Codes forgot to tell him what she wanted while we there so we had to make our way back and she whispered to him that she wanted a Christmas CD this year... but in all reality, her wish list is PAGES long and is not even close to being finished!

Mason was pretty happy about it too!  He asked for 'drilling toys'... and pretty sure Santa's already made that happen!  I'm not sure who was cuter to watch... Mason or Codes!!  I was very grateful that Cody's wish came true that day.  It was a very sweet moment that I'll never forget!

Let the holidays begin!!!!

The hOLiDaYs are amazing and simply my favorite!  I have just been soaking up any family time that I can get and somehow it's never enough!

I just love the little ones in my life that just let me snuggle them!  Thanks Megs!

 

 Here is my brother Derek and his cute family enyoying a yummy Thanksgiving dinner!

 And my and my sweets!

 My brother Matt and his adorable fam!

And us again!  Love my Ty!

 This was the buffet of delicioius food!  My parents were so wonderful to let all 20 or so of us make a huge mess of their house on Thanksgiving day!  My Mom did an amazing job with all of the food!

 Yum!

 These are the youngest babes on my side, Meg and Ashton!  Just at the age where they love to give kisses!

 And after dinner game of Clue with my sweet girls Liv, Cam and Brookie!

 And save room for pie!!  I know these boys did!  Craiger, Ty and Derek... all stuffed to the max!

 We had the pleasure of having my aunt Barbara over for dinner too!  It had been much too long since I had seen her.  Loved having her!

 And the turkey did it's toll on us all!  Black Friday ads and some holiday movie really did the trick!

 Love this cute Brookie!

 They were glued to the tv!!!  So cute!

 The day after Thanksgiving is probably one of my top 4 days of the entire year!!!!  Cutting Christmas trees!!!

 How cute is this little stinker!!  So independent... wouldn't let anyone hold him... but kept falling and crying the entire 5 minutes he lasted while tree hunting!  Cutie Wes!

 A hunting we will go!....

 Mason and Derek!

 Me and my Daddy!

 Matt and Ash!

 Me and Honey!

 Matt couldn't get enough of how cute Ash was all bundled on his back... he stole my camera and took tons of pics like these!  He got a few cute ones I must say!

 So sweet!

 This is my parents 17 footer!

 And this is where the boys spent pretty much their entire day!  In the back of the car playing!

 Our tree!!  Perfect like usual!

 And Bimbo's tree!

Happy hunting!  Sure beats my cardboard tree I made last year!

 We ate at Steph's diner in Morgan on the way home.  We were all exhausted... but plenty of energy for giving kisses!

 Love my Tyler!

This smile pretty much sums up Thanksgiving and tree cutting!  Thanks Mason for capturing the feeling I felt all weekend inside!!  JOY!  Great to be home for the holidays with family!