Snow Birthday

My mother in-law's birthday was the 29th. The girls went and got pedicures and then (once our nails were dry and re-dried again with hair dryers just in case) we all bundled up and went outside for a snow day. Audrey had been saying for days that she wanted to go out and build something but it was always too cold. It was still cold mind you, but we decided to brave the cold for one of her birthday activities. Considering that all of our winter clothes got sent to DI when we left for Georgia years ago, we had to round up some layers here and there. Shaun ended up still in his jeans, and I took a bright purple liner of somebody else's jacket. I hadn't played out in the snow in probably at least six years so it was a major blast/hilarious. Not to mention the nephew looked adorable all bundled up. . . 

This was right at the start of the snowball fight that my father in-law started.

The little guy figured out he could eat the snow. Which left for a cold mouth and snow mustaches

It was such a fun day celebrating one of our favorite women.

Love you Audrey!

Martha

We joke with Mom that her new sport is decorating. The house transforms with every holiday. I don't mean just the normal (almost cheesy) decorations you can buy. We're talking starting from scratch. She makes mostly everything have her own touch. She paints, glues, mode podges, and puts together three different things to make nothing come together into something brilliant. My favorite this past year has been, like I've said before, her table settings. Growing up, dinner as a family was a huge deal. We were always home from our friends house or after school activity by dinner time so we could always have it as a family. It makes it a lot more fun when you have a gorgeous table to sit at. I feel like I'm at Martha Stewart's home every time I come visit. Way to go Mama!

I have told myself that I am stealing every last one of those reindeer napkin holders.
Ps she just modge-podge tartan fabric onto chargers. They turned out amazing!

Thanksgiving

After the wedding, my family went to Boston for Thanksgiving and the wedding open house there. We headed to Shaun's parents house for Thanksgiving. Most of the morning was spent prepping. SJ convinced his parents to get a turkey fryer the night before which did not disappoint! The last few years we've gone over to a friends house for Thanksgiving. They usually have a fried turkey and a baked turkey and the fried one disappears in seconds. It was delicious, but the prep for the turkey was not so delicious. Shaun was a champ.

There was a lot of nephew play. Shaun is obsessed with his mini me.

(no joke, he looks so much like Shaun as a child)

We also got to go shopping for a yummy-smelling Christmas tree.

Clark was loving his life running through the trees like a maze. 

Then of course we always try to take a few family pics in my in-laws beautiful backyard. These Utah mountains mean so much to me! I am always so shocked how huge they are when I come home. 

The Jo-bro's

Halloween Recap

For posterity's sake I'm going to throw it back to Halloween! This holiday is usually Shaun's holiday where he is completely crazy and goes all out for his costume. This year was a little busy so I took charge and found some simple couple costume ideas. I decided I wanted to portray our favorite things.

SJ's favorite movie: Cast Away

 I was supposed to wear a huge paper mache ball with Wilson's face 

on it but I was not loving that idea. Plus we wore this costume to our ward 

party and I had to at least be semi-functional for the youth's contribution that night.

Nicole's favorite food: pizzzzza

 I saw this online and knew I HAD to do it. Those who know me

know that I will: 1) be your best friend if you offer me pizza 2) a sad day turns

into the best day with pizza, and 3) I'd rather order a pizza then go out

to a snazzy dinner {unless it's pizza...} The pizza slice did take a little bit

more time to make than I thought it would but I was happy with the result!

{And Shaun's such a cute pizza delivery boy} 

I took care of costumes this year but SJ tackled the ward trunk or treat. We had the idea to do some sort of vending machine but knew it wouldn't look as amazing as we wanted. That idea soon turned into the "Trick or Treat Machine." Shaun hooked up his mixer in the back of the car so he could change his voice to sound like a robot. The kids just thought it was a recording until he said a few of their names (peeking through a small hole we made for him). Some were freaked but most had fun with it. Shaun would try to throw the candy down the chute as the kid would press the button.. sometimes I even believed it! 

The night of Halloween we had some games and laughs with our favorite Bloom family. Their kids are just obsessed with "Brother JohnSHon" so they had some fun while we tried to make some witches brew in the kitchen. I had not been trick or treating in so many years so it was fun going around the block once or twice with the kids.

SIDE NOTE, it was so great that we could actually see the kids costumes. In Utah growing up we would spend all this time on our costume and then it would be covered up with a huge coat...or our parents would somehow convince us to wear the costume over the coat. That was attractive...

Even the youngest babe knew the drill! She would lean down from Shaun's arms--take a candy--put it in her bucket--and then wave goodbye. She was tipping over by the end of the night with how full her pumpkin was. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays, and this years definitely did not disappoint!

Also, this had to be documented. Baby Bree will NEVER EVER let Shaun hold her.
So this was a miracle that he got to take her around trick or treating.
It must have been dark or something ;) 

11.22. Wedding Day

My sister is married! That is weird to say. It was such a beautiful day. I'm so glad I was here a few days early to help my wedding-planner-mama with everything. The day after my wedding {that she put together} she said "I am never doing this again!" I guess two and a half years later she forgot that feeling because she took it all on again. She's amazing. Pictures on another post.

Kristine was beautiful. Of course it was sunny days before the wedding and after, but the day of: it rained and rained. We were pretty discouraged but we were able to see a sneak peek from the photographer and the pictures turned out cute! She said it was her wettest wedding yet though! In the chaos of the umbrella's, rain, wind blowing the temple fountains in people's faces...my camera bag got set down somewhere and we didn't pick it back up. An hour later I realized it was gone. Like gone gone. Shaun demanded to see the temple security footage (haha). He saw two people pick up my camera bag, walk right passed me and my mom into the temple. The camera footage didn't show them going into a session or the front desk so I thought it was gone for good.

While Shaun was doing that, I was having a melt down at the luncheon--minutes from giving a speech about the beautiful bride. It was a sad 2.5 hours. That camera not only is my third arm, but is $$$ and I also had my families video camera in the bag as well. Long story short, IT WAS AT THE FRONT DESK OF THE TEMPLE. These old men at the front desk just told us no without looking because the lost electronics always go back to security. It hadn't made it's way back there yet so it was sitting safely at the front desk. My relief overpowered the frustration I felt towards those elderly men!

I was able to take some bridals of my sissy pants for all the frames and decor at the reception. Roger had not seen her dress yet so we did a little unveiling (that is why he looks like a blind man/ninja below).

selfie coming out of the temple. husband & wife!

(somebody's phone pic) The rain called for cute creative pictures with umbrellas

I LOVE MY FAMILY