Best Things of 2008

I'm sure it is the same for everyone. There are things each year that one would rather just forget and some that they hope to remember forever. This year has been interesting for our family~full of life changing events. Sometimes it is hard to believe how fast a year can zoom by, but then it is crazy to think about all of the moments, experiences, memories that have occurred within that given amount of time. It is easy to focus on the negative, because a lot of times those things have the biggest impact on our outlook on life. I am making on resolution this year...to be more positive. I think that this one thing will help me to actually keep resolutions I've been making year after year for years! So, in the spirit of positive thinking, I am listing the 12 best things from my 2008:



12. Olivia is learning to play the violin. Talents are so important, and I'm so proud of her.



11. My sister-in-law is able to care for Abby while I teach. I love that Abby loves her Aunt Haley so much and is so well taken care of.



10. We built and moved into our home. It was a LONG process, but was worth it.



9. I had the opportunity to learn from my Sunbeam class. These 12 kids were a challenge, but a joy. I will miss their smiling faces, sweet spirits, and pure love.



8. I live next door to my sister. It truly is a blessing to be so close to my best friend and it is extra handy when I run out of ingredients!



7. I live in an amazingly supportive community. I am truly without appropriate words for how blessed we are to live where there are so many kind and loving people.



6. I have stellar friends and a wonderful family on both sides.



5. I have an able body and mind. (They aren't perfect, but they work!) After reading and hearing about so many who have faced tragedy and illness ~ I am grateful for the blessing of just being able to actually fold the laundry, face the crowds at the mall during Christmas, and, yes, to go to the gym!



4. I am a mother to two beautiful girls who make each day worth living. Sometimes kids run us ragged, drive us crazy, and make life messy...but I wouldn't trade my girls for anything.



3. I have the best husband a girl could ask for! He has his problems, as we all do, but I am grateful he chose me.



2. I am a member of the true church. In a world full of lost souls, I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to exercise my faith and to find comfort in the gospel.



1. The BEST thing of this year, and any year, is that families can be together forever. Family ~ there is nothing more important.



I know, I know, I know! It's a little sappy and churchy, but after the year I've had, these are the things that really matter. Wishing you a happy 2009...

Christmas Marathon

The holidays provide some of the best moments of the year. However, it is often a marathon! I have had zero time to post anything this month, like most of you, because it has been CrAzY! So, here are some pictures of our December holiday marathon:

Gingerbread Houses with Grandma Wendy:
Abby is always ready to pose for the camera!

Olivia is frustrated with the frosting...

Michael and the kids making their masterpieces. Olivia's Christmas Program:

Olivia loves to sing!

Christmas Morning:

My mom bought all of the grand kids matching pajamas for Christmas. Here they are happily waiting for Dad to be ready to see what Santa brought. Liv woke up at 5 a.m., but had to wait until 6:45 to go see if the big guy had come. We are so mean...
Olivia was so excited to get a pink iPod nano.

Abby was overjoyed to get the other half of her American Girl twin set and the stroller for two!

Obviously Liv was pleasantly surprised to get her High School Musical Build-a -Bear, appropriately named "Troy." :)
Abby didn't care what was in each package, she just loved opening them.

Look familiar??? This is a portion of the aftermath...we didn't go without!

The rest of the month was spent hosting and going to family parties. I forgot my camera, but Sarah captured most of our family's for me and my sis-in-law has a new fancy camera that she was snapping away with...between the two of them I should be covered! Merry Christmas to all!

Sunday Snapshot ~ December 28, 2008

I am really failing on my Saturday Snapshot goal! I have decided to do it sporadically. But today, for a one time only thing, I'm doing a Sunday Snapshot.

My little brother McKay is leaving on a mission. He enters the MTC on Wednesday and then will go to Brisbane, Australia. Today he spoke in church, and I was so proud of him. He did an excellent job, as speaking in front of large crowds is not his favorite thing to do. Believe me, there was a LARGE crowd! The church was packed.

I've gotten pretty close to McKay because I have had the opportunity to be one of his high school teachers for the past four years. He has really grown up a lot in that time and this will surely help him to find success and build his future. We are all proud of this decision and know that if he has faith in the Lord and does what he is supposed to ~ he will succeed and will be watched over.

Good Luck Carter! We all love and believe in you!

Saturday Snapshot ~ December 20, 2008

It seems that whenever someone dies people have wonderful things to say about them. They were always the best and anything bad or negative doesn't seem to matter as much, and the wonderful things are shared over and over. It's too bad that we don't share these stories and feelings before death comes, but sometimes it is awkward to share feelings and emotions freely. The thing is that all of us make mistakes and have flaws, but in the end (as long as we've tried our best) none of that will matter. It will be the good things that will stand out and that will be remembered.

Our minds continue to drift to Michael's brother, especially with Christmas coming. It is so weird to think about life going on without someone who was so integral to our lives. I feel it important to write a few things so that my girls, and his son, will know what a great guy he was.

Haizer always had a smile. It was a contagious grin that lit up a room. He had a fun sense of humor and loved to tease his sisters, nieces, and nephews. He was the light of his mom's life; she is missing him so much. He was a loyal friend and brother. He was a very hard worker and wasn't afraid of a challenge. He loved animals and was so good to help out on his family's farm.

Haizer loved Christmas. When Michael and I first got married, he'd call us up at 5 a.m. to see what Santa had brought us. After the first couple of years, his parents made him wait until 6 to call. :) He made those calls each year early Christmas morning to see if we were awake and ready to share the holiday. It was heartbreaking not to get that call this year. My favorite story is of my first Christmas with Haizer. He was seven years old and Michael and I had been married for about 6 months. Haizer was excited to have a sister-in-law. Michael and I arrived at the house to exchange gifts pretty early in the morning (as Haizer had called in the wee hours to ensure we'd be out promptly), and we were met at the door by Haizer and Haley. They were both wearing wide grins and were overly enthusiastic about the holiday~as kids thankfully are.

Haizer was nearly jumping up and down as he told me that he had gotten me the BEST Christmas present EVER. When it was time to open gifts, it was suggested that we start with the youngest...Haizer. He declined and insisted that I go first. He and Haley delievered a long, heavy package to me and sat inches from me waiting for me to open it. It was an odd shape, like a stick or a bat. I tore off the paper and Haizer yelled, "It's a beefstick! It's a beefstick! Can you believe it? Isn't it great?" Now, I was not a big fan of cured meat, but his enthusiasm made me giggle. He presented me with a second gift and insisted I hurry to open it as well. He yelled, "It's a CHIA HEAD!" Sure enough, it was a Shaggy Chia head. You know? Like a chia pet? Then he offered, "You know Arynne, I could keep that here and grow it for you." I took him up on that offer and before long Shaggy had quite a head of grass!

I loved that kid. We all miss him so much.

I'm thankful for the time Haizer was in our lives. I'm thankful for his fun personality, his giving spirit, and for that smile.

Saturday Snapshot ~ December 13

I am posting a "snapshot" of my siblings. I am the oldest of six children. So, this photo from Jacob's wedding shows us as we are now ~ in order. There is me, Adam, Zachary, Sarah, Jacob, and McKay. I love this picture because it marks a really good memory of some of my favorite people. After the wedding, the six of us stood around chatting and joking as adults and it was so fun. To detail a few of my favorite things about each of my siblings:

Adam: has a lot of talents. He can sing, act, and is pretty dang funny. It's fun to watch him find joy in fatherhood. He has two sweet step kids, and just recently welcomed his first son to the world. He loves that kid so much!

Zach: is super ambitious and detail oriented. He has a great sense of humor, is wonderful with kids, and is always there when I need him. He and his wife just recently built their dream home and it is stunning thanks to his many talents and abilities.

Sarah: is my only sister and best friend. I've already dedicated a whole post to her, but she is someone I love and admire so much.

Jacob: is a giant teddy bear at heart. He has very strong opinions and isn't afraid to tell you what he is really thinking. However, at his core is a sensitive heart. He also has a great sense of humor.

Carter (McKay): is the baby brother. He has been picked on, coddled, spoiled, and loved his whole life. He has a determined spirit and tries his best to please those he loves and cares about. He is a wonderful uncle and the kids all adore him. He is leaving on a mission soon, and we will miss him a lot. Me especially since I call him to run errands a few times a week. I will miss his smile, positive attitude, and hugs.

Note about Jake and McKay ~ I'm sure they may not have always enjoyed this experience, but I had the opportunity to teach both of "the little boys." I got to assign homework, tattle, and observe. I cherish these memories because I didn't really get to know them until then, as I was older and married as they were growing up.

My Parents: Although not in the picture, they are the reason we have each other. My dad is a hard worker who wants the best for his children. My mom is the ultimate homemaker, cook, mom, and grandma. My parents have often put their wants and needs aside for the six of us. We are truly blessed.

Time with family is truly the greatest gift of the season in my opinion. I may not always show it perfectly, but I have an unconditional love for my siblings and count them as my closest friends and favorite people. I should be the example as the oldest, but often they provide the example for me.

Oh what fun it is to spend...$1

One dollar can do this:

And this...

And this again...

It's the gift that keeps on giving! Go spend $1!!

Merry Christmas!

I didn't have enough photo cards to send to everyone, but Kayla Evans did a FABULOUS job and I wanted to share the picture from our cards:I always HATE all pictures of myself, but I think everyone else looks FAB (as I said) in this pic. There were so many to choose from, I had a difficult time. So, if you want FAB pictures, check her out at http://www.kaylaevansphoto.com/! Now, if I could just Photoshop my whole body...hmmmmm. I was thinking that it's been a pretty crappy month. Maybe the man upstairs could just, you know, Photoshop me for Christmas!? I mean, I'm not asking for more, I'm asking for LESS. No? I'm gonna get struck by lightning? Darn!

Grandma's Workshop

Wanna visit THE North Pole? Well, too bad! I'm pretty sure that few will ever have the opportunity to visit the jolly one at his actual home, but I am privy to information that will delight those who are prone to visions of sugar plums dancing AND those who long to settle for a LONG winters nap!

I don't have a picture of the woman, few do as she avoids cameras like the plague, but I do have pictures of her workshop. My mother-in-law transforms her living room into a miniature North Pole every November and opens her workshop to the community through December every Christmas season.

How did this phenomenon start? Well, I am afraid I have to take a little credit, but only the smallest bit. I started her with her first few pieces of Department 56's North Pole Village when I worked at The Cinnamon Tree a few years (okay, TEN years!) back. I wanted something I knew I could buy her, a collection. Well, no one can buy her any of these now because she is OBSESSED! She has EVERY piece ~ minus one coveted first edition Santa's Workshop, which by the way is pretty impossible to afford, let alone find. She can't wait to receive them as gifts...she loves them way too much! When I bought that first set, I never imagined my mother-in-law would become one of the obsessed customers I loved...and feared!
It is a sight to behold. It takes over a week for her and her little helpers (her daughters, sons, some of their spouses, and her grandchildren) to construct The North Pole. I have yet to help with the transformation, so I can't take any credit at all, but give props to the rest of the fam! (I'm not mean, just a control freak who shouldn't place herself in such a situation.)She is a true collector, so all houses are stored in original, near-flawless boxes sealed in Rubbermaid bins to preserve their value ~ yes, the boxes AND the actual piece. Then, when they are taken from these special boxes for display, they are handled with the utmost care. When I say that the grandkids help, I mean that Grandma is sweet enough to invite them to observe. Knowing the cost and chances of scoring a retired piece keeps most of us from sending little helpers to actually join in the fun! But, after it is all done ~ they are lost in wonder. They play "I Spy" and look for various little accessories. Believe me, no small detail is spared!

See what I mean? It's really amazing!

When visitors come, they are asked to sign a special guestbook (handmade by my talented sis-in-law) and all kids are treated to a candy cane. This will be one of the highlights of your season! Go see it...you won't be disappointed!

(It is located in a place almost like taking a journey to the actual North Pole ~ but gas prices are back down, so make the trip!)

The Reason for the Season

I've spent much of my free time lately decking the halls and SHOPPING. I really love online shopping...no muss, no fuss, NO CROWDS! I've had some fun decorating our new home for the holidays. Here are some pictures of my handiwork...

The Basement: I put up my little Rudolph Village in the Basement and tried to make it FuN for the girls.

I like levels in my village displays, so I wrapped some packages and put them under the houses.

I decorated a big tree to coordinate with the village and actually allowed my girls to help with the decorating!! Yes, I'm kind of a control freak with any sort of decorating...it's mean huh? They used to have a tiny, little tree to put all of their Care Bear, Strawberry Shortcake, (etc.) and homemade ornaments on. They were thrilled to have a big tree all to themselves.

They like it all lit up and want Santa to ignore my tree upstairs.

I wrapped the girls doors to look like gifts. Abby thinks it's really funny...

But the most important part of our decorating downstairs was the Nativity. We all love what it reminds us of and it is the most favorite decoration of them all...

Upstairs: Our traditional tree that we've just added to since the beginning of our marriage has a Santa theme. Every ornament has sentimental value to me. I can tell you where I got it or who gave it to me. I love this tree because of this reason. All of my other decor consists of either my mom's cast aways, or things that have been given to me.

My mantle features my mom's old cast away greenery, and the gorgeous, handmade Santa atop my cabinet is just a little something my mother-in-law has made for each of her children.

You deserve a better look at our Father Christmas, my mother-in-law is seriously talented. She even made all of his clothes! She teaches people how to make porcelain dolls and sometimes even makes them for you if the price is right!!

It's kind of hard to really want to celebrate anything this year, but remembering the Savior is key ~ and that is what really counts. We are making memories and starting new traditions, and enjoying family. We hope the same for all of you...Merry Christmas a little early.

It's late and I should be in bed...but I have to preview my next post. Yep, got it all planned :). If you need a fun family activity for FHE, go visit my mother-in-law. She has the ENTIRE (well, minus one piece) Dept. 56 North Pole Village collection and displays it each year for ALL to see! It is amazingly cute! She has a guest book and usually even a candy cane for the kiddos. Let me know if you want to set up an appointment. Here is a sneak peak:

Saturday Snapshots

Wow! It has been quite a month for our family. Just after we got back to life, there was Thanksgiving (which was bittersweet ~ but nice), then last Thursday Abby had her tonsils and adenoids removed and tubes put in her ears. My students are wondering if I'm really their teacher!

So, I'm behind on what I wanted to be an every Saturday thing...my Saturday Snapshot. I wanted to feature someone who I love and let you get to know him/her too. I'm behind a couple of Saturdays...so I'm just going to do them both short and sweet here and make a goal to do better.

Saturday, November 29: Brighton

This is my one of my adorable nephews. I have a lot of sweet little guys to love, but this particular cutie happens to be just the age for hugs and kisses...and lives just next door. He always makes me smile ~ just look at that face! I'd NEVER just let my kids go to town with chocolate pudding without a bib, but I happily let my little "Boppy" anytime he grabs my hand and pulls me to my fridge and points and says. "I want. I want! I WANT!" He even calls me mommy when he wants a treat, and he's no dummy. He knows where I stash the goods. My own kids are too old to just lay their heads on my shoulder and cuddle, but I'll tell you what...when this little boy came back from his extended vacation in Arizona, I was thrilled when he came running into my arms! His determination is growing, and Sarah claims he can be a handful, but just look at that face! I just want to add whip cream and EAT it! (Disclaimer: I am kidding ~ I do not make a habit of eating my adorable nephews and nieces...or my own children:)

Saturday, Dec. 6: Michael Blu

I've really already bragged about my husband, but today is his birthday. He, like any of us, has his days ~ but overall, I hit the husband jackpot! I am SO blessed and am so thankful for him, flaws and all. (Hope he feels the same!?)

Some of you may not know, but his middle name is BLU; yep, like the color. When he started school, he went around the playground asking new potential friends what color their names were. (Awwwwe:)

Here he is looking at Christmas catalogs with another of my adorable nephews. (I guess I must really like to offer them pudding!?) He is the BEST uncle and all the kids adore Uncle Mikey because he's patient, fun, and gives SWEET presents!

Happy Birthday Michael Blu Hoge! I'm glad you are stuck with me :).