Rock Band Mania!!

The girls have made great use out of Santa's generous gift...They are already asking for Rock Band 2 for newer songs :)






Thank You Santa!!

Snow Day!!!

We headed up north towards Flagstaff this morning with the Nowlins to go play in the snow for the day~~~ We found the perfect spot...it actually felt like it was warmer there (hour and 1/2 north of here) than it was here!! The sun was so bright...it was a beautiful day...we ended up staying there from 11am til 4:30...the kids did sleds...had a snow ball fight...attempted to make a snowman...and sat by the fire :) What a great day!! Carli and Taylor Carli and Tatum Codi and Tori A Craig sandwich :) There is a story behind this one...sorry Tad..couldn't resist...I think he was having hot flashes :)
I actually figured out how to post a video...go me :)

What A Great Christmas :)

We had a great Christmas this year...the girls get soooo excited for the big day...Codi claimed she was going to stay up all night and Carli said she was gonna get up at 4am...well..we had to wake them both up at 5:30 :) The girls were so excited to open their gifts and were very appreciative :) One of the funny presents was a HUGE box for Codi...she has been bugging me to shave her legs for the first time so I wrapped a razor in a huge box...her expression was so funny!! I got Craig his perfect push-ups...he has been getting great use of them...all over the house!!!

Cousins on Christmas Eve


Christmas Eve Pictures :





Christmas Day!!


Carli and I playing rock band..(I stink at the drums :)

On Christmas Break!!!

All four of us have began a 2 week Christmas Break...Craig took the entire 2 weeks off also!! The first three days of the break I spent with the Centennial volleyball team at Disneyland to Celebrate the State Championship!! The trip went without a flaw...perfect weather...great group of kids...and not as crowded as I expected :)

The girls stayed home with my mom and went with their cousins to a Broadway showing of the Christmas Carol. Craig enjoyed some "boy time" riding rangers in the rain and snow. Doing the final touches on getting everything ready for Christmas...We do Christmas eve at Craig's parents(my parents and sister's family goes there too) and Christmas day at our house (with both sides). We are lucky enough that both my side and Craig's side will all be together for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day...most people don't have that luxury!!! Here are some pics from our first weekend of the break :)

My mom and the Grandkids at the Christmas Program


The whole Centennial group entering Disneyland :)


Carly and I in front of the Castle...it is so beautiful at night :)


Boy time!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

So the girls thought it would be special for them to write my blog today...(they were so excited to officially be "bloggers" for this!! Kind of a cute idea until they both had me in tears :) It has been a great birthday! Ii am so lucky!!



Dear Mom,

Happy 40th Birthday! I love you so much! Words can not describe how much I love you. You are the worlds greatest mom. You have always been there for me when it comes to school, sports, and etc. We have had so many great memories and there are so many more to come.

One of my favorite memories so far is when we went to Disneyland and you totally lied to Codi and I about Splash Mountain. When we went down the huge drop, we both turned and screamed YOU LIED!!!! By the way, I can not wait to go to Disneyland!!!

I always laugh when you tell me all the stories about me when I was little. How I always had two binkies in my mouth and two in each of my hands. How I always wanted to watch Barney. How I always told you that I hold you. And all of the other stories!! It just makes me laugh!!!

You have helped me do so many things that I never thought I could possibly do. Like for instance volleyball. You have helped me so much at volleyball and I am so glad that you are my coach this year!!

You have also taught me what the meaning of life is. Years on, we will look back on this and I will always remember writing this letter to you on your 40th birthday!! Happy Birthday MOM!!!!!!! I will always love you!!!


Love,
Carli
P.S. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Dear Mommy,
Mom Happy Bithday!!!!I hope that all of your wishes come true!!!You are the best mom in the entire world!!!!!And you have taught me a lot of things in life!!You also help me with my homework when i ever need help:)Which is the nicest thing!!!


So i will never ever forget you!!!!!Because you are #1!!!!!!So i just wantede to tell you oncem again that you are the best mom in the world!!!And thank you for everything you have done for me:)Happy 40th Birthday!!!!Love you TONS!!!!

Love,
Codi

Don't Blink!! :(....

Yes...you know the song!! So true... In the last few weeks or so the girls have been riding their bikes over to my sister's house to play with their cousins. It is such a milestone for them to be big enough to do this :(....Marci's house is only 3 blocks away and when we were their age we were definately riding all over the place but times have changed...

The girls have also been sleeping together again...this time in Codi's bed...I think Carli is arranging it so that she doesn't have to make her bed in the morning :)

He Got Me!!

I knew that Craig and I were doing something for my birthday this weekend...I just didn't know what. When I got home from school on Friday...Craig had a nice car in the garage...I did freak for a few seconds hoping that he didn't buy it...once I saw what rims were on it, I know he wouldn't buy those (sad that I know his wheel taste)...We packed a suitcase (still didn't know what I was packing for)...and began driving north..finally he let me know that we were meeting some close friends at their cabin in Sedona...I was excited...wanted to see this place for a while and really wanted to see their new baby :) We did a great dinner Friday night...went to breakfast Saturday morning and headed down by the creek that runs behind the cabin...I turned around and 16 of the most important people to me were all standing there :) I am sure I looked like a confused idiot!!! It was a great day hanging out with everyone...we drank lots of everything!! We had a great dinner that night with more wine...We had a nice breakfast the next morning and took our time heading out of that beautiful town!! Thank you Craig...It was perfect!!! Thanks to all my close family and friends that made the drive up there and to the Viterbos for giving up there place!! I still have a few more days before "the" birthday gets here...I think I am okay with it now...It is just a number :)

All the Girls


All the Guys on the Creek (they were all out there playing like little boys...bobble and Chris were wet caualties)

Marci and I


Craig and I (the guys were troopers with all the photo ops)



The view outside our hotel window...


Thanks again Craig...I love you!!! (by the way...all my pics are taken with my new camera that Craig and the girls got me) :)

Nothing New and Exciting!!

So this full work week is finally almost over :) One more full week before the easy week of finals :) I am so looking forward to a few weeks to slow things down :) The girls are sooooo excited for Christmas this year...I have to cherish these years that they totally get into it because I know it goes by fast...Although I am excited for it too...so maybe if you make sure they know what the true meaning of the season is, the excitement never goes away :)


On a side note...here is proof that Codi can eat what everyone else is eating...spaghetti is one of her favorites :)

Black Friday Success :)

Kelsey and I kept the new tradition alive and headed out Friday morning. It was a lot easier to get up this year...last year we all watched a movie until like 1130 before getting up at 4:30..no movie this year...we were all in bed at 9:45 :) We hit Walmart, Target, Old Navy, The Mall (which will will remove from our tour next year), and Sports Chalet :). The funniest thing was when the Play-Doh that Kelsey wanted was already sold out...we were standing in line and the guy next to us walked away from his cart for a few minutes...I thought Kelsey was going to reach over and take his Play-Doh canister out of his cart...she was tempted :) Thank God we found a good deal for the Play-Doh at Target :) It was a great day...Going out early that morning helps "kick off" the Holiday spirit :)

Happy Thanksgiving :)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving today at our house...Craig's parents, my parents, and my sister and her family...nice cozy group!! For the first time we all actually sat down at the same table to eat together...we usually do buffet style. It was nice...Poor Craig's grandma was at the end with the four kids...they had her entertained!!

Carli helping my mom peel potatos ~~Carli gets very excited to help....Notice my mom's shirt~~she takes over my kitchen and does most of the cooking...well she forgot her apron this time so she wanted to borrow an old shirt of mine while she cooked..:) kinda funny because my mom doesn't drink (I know..you are thinking how is she my mom) ;)


All of us at the table together :)


Craig took quite the nap after we ate...the kids became brave and put make-up on him as he snored :)


Craig is a hottie :)

Turkey Trot #1 :)

Carli's 7th grade turkey trot was today. Each year...it seems like they increase the distance!! Carli got third place...she ran hard...it was so funny when she passed by us she looked like she was dying a bit...then she heard footsteps of the girl behind her and she took off again!! Her competitive genes come from daddy :) Codi has her trot tomorrow...let's hope she doesn't become an asthmatic mess!!

Carli at the finish line (in the gray shirt)


Carli and Daddy :)

State Champions :)

Our Varsity Girls won the State Championship on Tuesday night :) Couldn't have asked for a better situation!! The gym was packed with a great crowd of students and parents. We lost game one...and came back and won the next three (never a doubt right Carly :) This is a one of a kind group of girls!! Our semi-finals match was equally as exciting given the circumstances!! We play the best 3 out of 5 games...we lost the first two games 23-25, 23-25...came back to win game 3 25-23, game 4 27-25, and game 5 which only goes to 15 was 15-13...The kids have put Centennial Volleyball on the map!! Congrats Carly :) (aka "the contender") :)

The winning moment :)


Carly and I after the end of the Semi-Finals ;)

My Spelling Queen :)

Codi won the spelling bee for her 5th grade class so yesterday they had the school spelling bee which included 3rd through 8th graders. Probably the cutest part was that Carli got Codi all ready that morning ~~picked out an outfit, did her hair, and gave her accessories :) When we sat down with the other parents waiting for it to start, I could see that she was extrememly nervous!! Luckily they did a practice round which eased her nerves :) She missed her third word..."allegiance"...We are so proud of her :)




Codi spelling "mathematics" :)

Single Mommy :(

Craig left yesterday on the boys' trip to Seattle... They have fun plans planned...two football games...probably some wine to drink...and other gross "boy" incidents that we would prefer not to hear about. Hope they have a good/safe time...meanwhile... I have to admit that there are already dishes in the sink that might stay there til Sunday (i'm kidding~~kind of)...He will be happy to know that we ARE turning all the lights off when we aren't in the rooms.....I could really freak him out and text him right now and tell him that I am going to mow the yard for him :) :) Miss you Craig :)

P.S. Craig left the girls and I some pretty roses before he left :)

Major Progress :)

We have turned a major corner in our house!!!! Carli has always had MAJOR issues with spending the night at anyones' house...she simply just wouldn't do it!! Two years ago we sent her to church camp for the week and had to drive up and pick her up two days into it :(.. Since then she has spent the night a few times but not without some major convincing...Last night she was invited to a birthday party that was a spend the night gig...Carli packed her bag...never had a puppy sad look on her face...and went without incident!!! Holy Buckets!! Hopefully this is the new Carli :)...Codi on the other hand would spend the night anywhere for weeks at time!! She enjoyed her opportunity to sleep in mom's bed last night since Craig worked (man that child talks in her sleep)~~~

More Volleyball !!!!

Saturday marked the day of the girls' club volleyball season starting. Poor Codi has waited for this day to come since her season ended last April!! I can relate to her being the youngest and having to wait "her turn" for everything!! Carli got to play school ball this year since she is in 7th grade...Codi is only in 5th so club season is all she gets :()....Since last April, Codi has had a volleyball in her hand every chance she has had!! I don't think she slept well Friday night and was up early Saturday on her own. The girls both did their tryouts yesterday and made the travel teams for their age groups. (I guess all those years of dragging them to the gym for my practices/games has paid off )...:) It will be fun to watch both of their teams this year :)

Halloween!

It was so nice that Halloween was on a Friday night this year!! That means no rushing to make sure everyone gets to bed at a decent time :) Tami and I decided to do Halloween like we used to a few years back...we had lots of family/friends/neighbors over...rented a bounce house...and did pizza and lots of other goodies...let's just say no one should have been hungry for quite some time :)




My sister must have got the creative genes in the family...every year she comes up with some cool costume...this year she made Austin, Carli and Codi Ipod costumes...they were so cool!! Thank you Marci!!!





All the kids :)




Lauren and Kaelyn were the cutest Ariels...(good thing is was warm...they were showing some skin :)



The backside of the Ipods :)

Costume Party!!!

Last night we went to a costume party that Scott Sully, Gabe, and Carly hosted. :) Craig definitely had reservations about dressinig up in a costume so I decided to keep it simple...found two masks at the grocery store of an old woman and an old man....So I was the old man and Craig made one hot old woman...once we started getting him dressed up with his boobs made of dodgeballs...he was wanting jewelery and perfume too....we had a great time..some good costumes too :)


This is Craig and I...masks made difficulty for drinking and enjoying the yummy food!

Carly and Gabe...love the fake cig in Carly's mouth :)

The guys...Gabe, Bobble, Craig, and Scott (Carly's brother)

Gabe, Sully, and Craig

Emily and Bobble

Anyone who knows Joe know this was the perfect costume for him :)


Hot Cop!!!