Thursday, January 20, 2011

5 things about Chelsey's wedding

1. So traveling with Audrey is the worst. She screamed 90% of the drive (unless she was asleep). 90%!!!!! I so wish that was an exaggeration! If we never ever leave Las Vegas again it will be because traveling is so miserable. How bad could it have been really, you ask? You are mistaken if you think her crying sounds like butterfly wings in flight, but you are correct if you think she sounds like a coyote. Fine, if you really want to watch the video of her crying I will post it, but only if you sympathize for me. Am I making this too dramatic? Don't most people post video's of their children crying? Cause they should.
 
2. Chelsey's bridal shower was a dream. Wait first I want to say that she received her endowments in the Vernal temple Saturday morning. It was so amazing to be sitting next to mom my and sisters in the temple. I bawled through most of the session just because I was so happy. The temple is such a wonderful place and I'm so excited that Chelsey and I can now go together. Ok temple=awesome. Now the bridal shower (insert ahhh). My awesome sister Camille hosted the shower at her house, her beautiful spacious but cozy home. It was wonderful to have the kids and men upstairs playing while the women enjoyed being together downstairs. We served soup in breadbowls with fruit kabobs and veggies on the side (thanks to Kristy). The games were fun, she only had 9 pieces of gum in her mouth (out of 11 questions), everyone fought over the dustpan in the present game, we heard some pretty funny first kiss stories, and found out Chelsey had only tried her dress on 9 times! Camille also put together a beautiful advice book for everyone to write in. She received awesome gifts and left only one unopened because she was too embarrassed to open it in front of her in-laws. We did a snowflake theme and decorated with lights and snowflakes across the ceiling. We handed out cookies and hot cocoa (with handmade snowflake cups) while Chelsey opened gifts. And everyone walked away with a cute snowflake key chain as a party favor. It was so fun to be together and spoil the bride to be.
 
3. Sunday we drove Kirk out to Salt Lake so he could fly home to Vegas to work for a couple days. The girls and I then drove up to Logan to spend some time with 3 of my younger siblings. We stayed in Chelsey's teeny one bedroom apartment. The girls thought it was pretty cool for the first 10 minutes but then spent the rest of the night trying to leave, sigh. It turned out to be a really long night with me determined to drive home to Vegas in the morning. But then Brett & Jess and Garrett & Emily showed up and all 9 of use hung out while the girls fell asleep in our arms. It was so fun to sit and visit with everyone with Audrey so calm and asleep in my arms. I have awesome siblings (in laws too!). The thing is Brett & Jess found some nice newlywed apartments in June. Garrett and Emily moved into the apartment directly below them in August. Chelsey and Cody just moved in right next door to Brett. There was never a dull moment and always someone to hang out with. Fabulous times! The girls loved Chelsey's utensil drawer, Brett's plant (especially the dirt), and Garrett's fish (Kirsten literally stood there for 30 minutes cracking up at the fish and telling them no no no). The girls and I stayed in Logan until Thursday and had a blast hanging out with my very best friend Camille and her cute cute cute kiddos. She let us overstay our welcome at our house many nights but man was it fun to be together. Tuesday night we ditched our adorable children and went to dinner with our friend Alison. We had such a blast laughing our guts out. Alison=hilarious. I so want to have dinner just like that at least once a year. Good times.
Hanna and Micah
Garrett and Kirsten wrestling
At the fun park Camille took us too. The kids had a blast!
4. Thursday we picked Kirk up from the airport (so happy!) and drove back to Vernal. We did some pretty intense reception planning with my mom Thursday night. Friday we decorated the cultural hall for the reception with my mom, Dad, Kristy, Camille, Riley & Crystal, and Janet. 30 yards of tule, 25 strings of lights, 12 candles, 36 picture frames, 1 gorgeous backdrop, 16 tablecloths, 16 tables, 75 chairs, and 275 ft of wire  later it looked amazing. When it comes to receptions we have the knack! The pictures just don't do it justice. That night we made 120 cupcakes for the reception. They were so fun to make with so many of the family around my parents dinner table.
 
5.Saturday morning I got up bright and early and went and watched Chelsey get her hair done. I just wanted to hang out with my beautiful (in so many ways) sister as much as I could. Before I knew it I was in the temple with 6 of my siblings. The wedding was beautiful, Chelsey had a grin on her face that not even Audrey's scream could wipe off. Cody kept doing this cute sideways glance at her all during the wedding. It was simply the best. After the ceremony my older sisters and I got to help Chelsey into her dress. She looked stunning. I've seen some beautiful brides but her radiant smile takes the cake. Even though she is married at 18 Chelsey is so happy with Cody and they are such a fantastic couple that I can not wait to see how much better they make this world. Their wedding was just so much fun. The dinner afterwards was delecious and everyone was so happy to be together. The reception was beautiful. So many friends and people my family love. I got to help Chelsey into her dress for the reception and then out of her dress after and it will probably be one of my favorite memories. I'm just so stinking happy for her!


We were exhausted the next day but we made that 8+ hours drive home and are so happy to be home again. There really is no place like home.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Leaving town for a wedding

We are headed to Utah tomorrow because my baby sister is marrying her handsome prince (seriously though). Saturday is her bridal shower and also the day she gets her endowments out. I am going to Logan with her Sunday and hanging out with her, Brett and Garrett for a few days (and to see some of my favorite friends!). Then we will be coming back to Vernal to help with the reception and wedding. She gets married on Saturday the 15th and I get to make cupcakes for the reception. We've been really busy this week getting ready.

  • bridal shower invitations made and mailed (not even one came back, I'm impressed)...check
  • Kirsten's early intervention appointment rescheduled...check
  • sub for primary class...check
  • bridal shower gift (hopefully Chelsey don't embarrass easily in front of her in-laws)...check
  • Abby, Allie, Eliza, Liana, Kirsten, Audrey flower girl dresses...check
  • cupcake stands, cupcake paper liners, sprinkles, icing bag and tips...check
  • bridal shower games...check
  • bridal shower decorations...check
  • bridal shower favors...check
  • center pieces for reception (including ribbon)...check
  • Purple flower hair clips made by yours truly for the flower girls...check
  • mom's birthday gift...check
  • clean house (including bathrooms)...check
  • laundry...check
  • snacks for car...check
  • car cleaned out...check
  • bags packed...check
Chelsey lets go get you married!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

New Year

In 2010 we 
lived with my parents
lived in a studio apartment
(next to the Las Vegas strip)
bought our first home
Kirk started working as a instructor for Tririga
Dynelle started babysitting Adam
Audrey kissed her first boy
on the lips...multiple times
Audrey and Kirsten had RSV
Kirsten and Audrey had croup
Audrey cut 7 teeth
Kirsten threw away her binky
Kirsten had a sedated ct scan 
Kirsten had a sedated mbr
Kirsten got a hearing aid for her left ear
Kirk traveled to
DC
Florida
Tennessee
New York
Chicago
Tronto
We have vacationed to
Utah
Idaho
California
(we drive through Arizona all the time)
we painted the the living room, kitchen, dining room, entry, guest bedroom, and playroom
installed our patio
witnessed Brett marrying Jess
welcomed Liana and Eliza into the family
Kirsten fell in love with all things princess
Chelsey lived with us for the summer
Audrey learned a form of crawling
Audrey started walking
Kirsten's vocabulary exploded
Audrey went to the ocean for the first time
spent countless hours swimming together

we are so ready to bring on another year of our lives

2011 goals
potty train Kirsten
acutally lets potty train Audrey too
run a marathon

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

It SNOWED in Vegas!

We were ectastic to wake up to snow yesterday. I finally felt like I could play Christmas music. After we all went out and danced in the snow Audrey did not want to come back inside, she thought the snow was too fabulous to leave. Kirsten finally had a reason to learn the word snow and then proceeded to use it all day, long after the snow had melted. Kirk's drive to work was really cold on his motorcycle, ha ha jk he took the car cause we kinda like him and want him to be safe. Traffic was awful and we were secretly hoping he would get to stay home from work, but no such luck. We ended up with 1/2 an inch I would guess. It was fantastic in every possible way! Don't be so shy snow visit again next year!
 

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Years Celebrations

My fantastic brother Garrett and his cute (pregnant) wife Emily ventured down to Vegas last week to hang out with some of their adorable nieces (Kirsten latched right on Garrett, Audrey took a few days). They got here Friday just in time for warm chocolate chip cookies (a must for when Garrett visit's). That night the girls went and hung out with Adam while the four of us enjoyed dinner at Cheesecake Factory. Such good food! We had a great time chatting and taking pictures of each other. Ya we are that cool.
Friday we broke out the Construction game and played for hours and hours and hours. Then we took a break and went to Petco. Garrett is great at getting us to our local pet stores! The girls LOVED it! I kinda felt foolish that I had never thought to bring them there before(but hey they like Target too). Petco has these adorable little carts and the girls had a wonderful time shopping. Audrey specifically loved the fish and Kirsten was huge fan of the mice, go figure.
We came home, had dinner, but the girls to bed and played more construction game. Garrett and Emily were so fun to play board/card games with. In addition to the construction game we played 2 games of bs, 4 games of Schank, 2 games of hand & foot, Egyptian Rat Screw, Sorry, Clue, Life, countless songs on Rock band, and close to a million levels on Mario Brothers. That's right we know how to have fun.
New Years Eve was celebrated by looking over our fence to the fireworks going on at the strip. It was really cold here so we just played warm and stayed inside playing games (bet you could have guessed that!) I got my New Years kiss from Kirk though so most of my resolutions are finished. See the fireworks between the street light and our neighbors house?
 
New Years day we went bowling at Red Rock. It was a lot of fun. Kirsten turned out to be the best bowler among us, she rolled the ball down the lane ever so slowly, at one point almost going into the gutter but it swerved and slowly slowly crept to the pins and STRIKE! Kirk proved to be better than any of us adults. I did pretty good until they took our bumpers down, apparently you can only use them if you are under 80 pounds. lamesauce Aren't they cute?
 
PS do you spot that red sippy cup she can't live without?

iphone movies