One Bed...Two Beds...Who got BUNK BEDS!!!

Yep...you read it right, I caved and the boys got bunkbeds! The bedrooms in our house, while adequately sized, don't really fit two twin beds, a dresser and a nightstand all too well so we decided to get the boys bunkbeds. They are LOVING IT! and I mean LOVING IT! Jaker got up this morning and was excited to make his new bed! He told me I wasn't allowed up there...(I secretly think he heard Grampa Al tell Turtle that I shouldn't be making the bed up there in my bloated state!) So Jaker did it! He made his bed, without being asked and he did a pretty good job! Jokester actually stayed in his bed all night, didn't come in our room at all! I think this will be a good thing! Or at least I hope so!

This sounds silly, but it was a little emotional for me moving Jokester into Jakers room. (Can you tell I am pregnant?) I am so not ready for him to not be a baby anymore. The boys are both growing up way too fast! Is it too much to ask for them to stay little a bit longer? Jaker is already in school, learning to read, sounding out simple words, and playing video games on his DIDJ. Jokester is already potty training! He has #1 down pat... almost 100%, now if I could just get that #2 under control... that would be nice! Any suggestions on easing a kids fear of going #2 on the potty?

Without further ado, I unveil the pics of the boys new room! They truly do LOVE it!

Festivities!

How was your holidays? I can sum ours up in two words.... BUSY and FUN!

We had so much fun and we got SUPER SUPER spoiled!

Jaker with his prized Optimus Prime

Me looking bloated!!!

Joker and his cars!

Jaker and new clothes!

Joker really REALLY LOVED unwrapping...anything!

We had a week of festivities! Christmas Eve we had opportunity to spend some time with my Uncle Bob and Joyce! We had yummy homemade Clam Chowder, cheese ball, and of course my favorite wedding recption cookies! After about an hour of visiting we headed to the Nadauld's for a get together!

Christmas Morning, was great! We had a great time watching the boys open their gifts! Then we had the grandparents over for brunch! Waffles, sausage, scrambled eggs, muffins, the works! Then we headed to the Nadauld's for more fun! I think we made it home at midnight!

Saturday it was another Christmas party with more family!!! Breakfast with German Pancakes, sausage, egg nog... all the goods!

Needless to say we all gained probably 10 pounds!

Entertainment!

We had the opportunity to see Jaker PERFORM! If you know Jake, you know he LOVES the stage! Anything he can do to be in the limelight, he will do HAPPILY! He is so good at it! He doesn't have a shy bone in his body... contrary to popular belief! Lastnight was his Kindergarten program at the Little Learner's Academy! We thoroughly enjoyed it! Last year he had a program there as well, and I saw a side of My little Jake, that I never knew existed! HE'S a HAM!!!! Here are some pics of the event last night. They aren't the best since I am photographically challenged, and well, let's just say the camera has had it's better days!

This is a video of Jake telling what makes Christmas special to him...in case you can't hear it well... he says, "When Santa brings me Presents!" Yep, that's my boy!

Today I had the opportunity to meet up with my girlfriends from Jr. High and High School. We went to lunch at the sandwich shop we all worked at our Sophomore year! So many laughs! So many memories, and lots of inside jokes that our old boss, the owner, had no clue what we were talking about! It was a FANTASTIC Day! Here are some pics!

Thanks ladies for so many years of laughter and fun... and thank you to Super Grinders for HEARTBURN from Hell!!!

Home??? What's that?

We have been SO SO Busy this month! It seems as though we have something going on pretty much EVERY NIGHT! Okay, I am exaggerating, but wow, we have been busy. Between company parties, parties with friends, hosting Bunco, a night of Kurt Bestor, Awards Banquets, who has time to shop for Christmas!
We have had so much fun this month. The company party this year was at the Flagship OC Tanner store (the store that won the award for Turtle!). It was truly exquisite! What a beautiful building inside and out. It was so enchanting! Being around jewelry of that caliber was....BREATHTAKING! After looking at some price tags, we could sell our home, and maybe be able to afford, A NECKLACE! Yeah, it is that expensive. But very beautiful nonetheless.
We had a great time spending last Friday evening with Turtle's ole buddies from High School. In the 12 years Turtle and I have been together, I have gotten to know these guys, and their wives. They are all so dang funny! I was able to witness first hand the six (YES SIX!) grown men watch the screen saver for the DVD player. Honestly, I think we all have gotten our healthy dose of The Office! The food was fabulous! The home was even more beautiful than I imagined! It was a lovely evening, full of great food, fun company, and of course lots of laughs! We had the chance to see a small clip of what the guys were like in 1999.... let's just say, they haven't changed a bit.
Saturday we saw Kurt Bestor at the Abravenel Hall. Every year, I am amazed at this man's talent. I love his music. I remember when I was in High School, my mother would blare his music through the house, and I couldn't STAND IT! UGH! (sorry Mom! It's true!) I thought it was so annoying. But now, I LOVE IT! He is so talented! Watching him perform truly is entertaining! What an amazing musician! His music just gets me. He has one song that literally brings tears to my eyes every time I hear it... any guesses on which one?
Between babysitting, school work and of course the shopping, in addition to the extra activities of December, my house has pretty much been neglected! It is pretty dirty, and I am pretty embarrassed about it! But hey, at least we are having a great time!

Kuddos to Turtle!

Lastnight, we had the opportunity to attend the ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) Awards banquet at the Hilton. Turtle had submitted a project that he worked on for an award. The project was the new OC Tanner Flagship store in SLC. Many of you may remember the building as the Hansen Planetarium. The work completed on this building was AMAZING! At the banquet I was able to see what they did to the building to retrofit it and make it what it is today. Simply AMAZING.

We had a great time socializing with the Architect he worked closely with, as well as the president of the RE &A (Turtle's employer) as well as the foremen from OC Tanner. It was a fabulous evening and experience. It was great to hear these men talk so highly of the handsome hubby. I have always known Turtle is a smart man. But to hear and see others tell me how great he is, is... well, gratifying. Turtle works really hard, and I am so proud of him!

As we sat through the awards, the projects that were submitted for awards were pretty dang cool. At the end of the evening, it was time for the announcement of the Grand Finale of Awards... the Grand Conceptor Award. We sat patiently, and I asked the hubby if he thought there was any chance his project would win it. He looked at me and said, "Probably not." Within minutes, the announcement was made.... Turtle's Project had won!!! It was so exciting! I am so proud of him! Here are some pics of the project. These are from the Deseret News in Sept. but it gives you an idea of how beautiful the project finished up!