CENTS OF STYLE

OPEN HOUSE
&
BOOTS SALE

WHEN: SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2009
TIME: 10 AM -NOON
WHERE: SHAREE'S HOUSE (ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE)
CALL ME FOR MORE INFO!

ALL BOOTS ARE BUY 1 GET 1 HALF OFF! BASICALLY, 2 FOR $30.00!

ALSO, BRING A FRIEND AND BOTH RECEIVE 20% OFF A REGULAR PRICED ITEM!

Another January....Another Birthday

I turned 27 last week. John had to go to Vegas for work, so the kids and I drove up to spend the week with my mom. My birthday was really low key and nice. My family came over to my brother's for my birthday dinner. It was, as always, delicious.

Then, the next day my mom took me shopping for my birthday. Sometimes people complain about being born in January, because it is so close to Christmas, but I love it. Mostly because I always get shopping money and I always get great deals on the after the Holidays sales. Target had rack after rack of 50 to 75% of clothes. I scored.

Now, if I hadn't come down with strep and the flu the next day, it would have been the perfect week in Boise. Sadly, I had to miss dinner with my girlfriends because of being sick. LAME.

Even though John was gone for my birthday, he gets major points for my gift this year, again it includes shopping...

The Saturday before he left and before my birthday he told me to get a babysitter and nothing else. Well, 1 hour before the sitter was set to arrive, he handed me an envelope. The inside read as follows:

Birthday Shopping Bonanza

You have two hours to spend your allotted birthday money. You may chose wherever you want to go and any money leftover will be forfeited. Following shopping you must wear 1 piece you purchased to dinner.

It was SO fun. Shopping with no kids. Just for me. With a specific amount of money to spend. Fabulous. Seriously, my favorite thing to do. I hit up Forever 21 for the trendies and then went to BR and the Buckle for the necessities. They best part of this trip too was that EVERYTHING was on sale. My kind of birthday.

FIJI BABY!

My beautiful mother got her mission call today. She will be spending the next 18 months in the South Pacific, that's right, FIJI! We are so thrilled for her. She reports to the MTC in Provo in the middle of March. I am going to miss her terribly, but I know she will do an amazing job. Also, this means we are going to Fiji. How cool is that?

OUR BIG DAY!

On Saturday, January 3, 2009, we sealed Chase to us in the Salt Lake Temple. It was a beautiful day. We arrived at the temple and the kids got to go into the children's room while we were treated just like a bride and groom again. They gave us special attendants and I got to primp in the bride's room. We actually were sealed in one of the original pioneer sealing rooms. It was right next to the front doors of the temple and to get there we were able to go through some beautiful older areas of the temple that we would other wise not been able to see. It was so amazing, for so many reasons.

When they finally brought the kids in, Bella pretty much ran to my arms saying, "Mama! Mama! Mama!" She gave me a huge hug and then sat on Grandma's lap. Chase was his happy easy going self the entire time. Completely content just to stare at the chandelier. We felt so blessed to be able to be with them in such a holy place.

After the ceremony we took the above pictures. I thought they turned out pretty well, especially considering it was January in Utah. Then we headed over to a chapel in the avenues for a luncheon. It was simple and wonderful to be with all the people we love so much.

The next day John blessed Chase in our ward. John did such a nice job. I cried through the entire thing. I know I say this over and over, but I am so thankful for my kids. They are my miracles and I would not change who they are or what it took to get them for anything.

6 Months

Height: 25 inches
Weight: 13 lbs. 8 oz.
Head: Still Large

Chase continues to be my chill, happy little boy. He is sitting up, grabbing everything in sight, and even "inch worming" it across the floor. It is not exactly crawling, it is more like going all the way up on his toes and then down on to his tummy. He does it well though. He is moving all over. He even waved at John today. He is my sweetheart.

New Year's Vacation

We spent New Year's with my family up Ogden canyon at a cabin my mom had rented for the occasion. We had such a blast! We did Christmas while we were up there. My mom made all of the grandkids sock monkeys dressed to their specific interests. (My dad loved sock monkeys. It was a tribure to him.) Chase's was a "First Blood Monkey" and Bella's was a "Fashionista." They were fabulous.

My mom also made all the girls Tutus and head pieces. Bella did not take hers off. She even slept in it. I thought the picture below was so cute- tired girls at breakfast with one Thomas in the middle.

Coloring Cousins.

One afternoon we went sledding. We even convinced Grandma to go down the hill. She is such a good sport. Bella did not like to sled. She opted to build a "no-nan" instead. Everything in my family turns into a competition, even sledding. Janet beat John in the final heat down the hill, as one might guess, John was not happy about it. Let's just say he likes to win.

"Cecers" and Bren taking a minute.

"My Snow Angel", as John said.

Sledding was not the only competition we had while up there. Others included an appetizer and dessert "throwdown." Which John won the appetizer portion. A kereoke contest, Brennan beat out Emily to win, and a nice snowball fight too. Thanks for great memories mom!

It's Official!!

My Family with the Judge.

The Judge asked if he could have Chase's hat.

This is Bella imitating our attorney. So funny.

On Monday, December 29th, 2008, we finalized our adoption of Chase. It was a great day! We went to court with our attorney and social worker and then we were taken back into the judges chambers and we were asked several formal questions and then the judge signed a paper and it was done. This was the beginning of a wonderful week, finishing with Chase's sealing and blessing.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Tonight we went out to dinner. The waitress kindly asked me what I wanted to drink and I replied, my usual, "Diet Coke." She then turned to my 3 year old and ask her what she would like to drink and without skipping a beat Bella said perfectly clear, "Diet Coke." John and I started laughing so hard. Bella doesn't drink diet coke. She had a lemonade instead. It was pretty funny.