Let it be Christmas

Oh, this has been a very busy week! Between trying to manage my home and church callings, play with my sister and her kids while they were in town, finish reading "Twilight" (my review will be coming shortly), getting Carly's 24 hour flu bug, and decorate for Christmas, I am finally happy to say I'm finished--with the decorating that is. I absolutely love Christmas (as long as it comes AFTER Thanksgiving)! It makes me so happy to put on the Christmas tunes and dance around the house with my girls. Ashlyn and Carly were so very excited to help this year (which was good and bad...) We had a great time and now we are loving just laying around the tree at night, enjoying all the fun things about Christmas.

We decorated all around the house, but I have 3 favorite things that I get to put out each year. First, my Christmas tree. I add to it every year, and each time I just love it. It's so my style and I don't wish that it were any different. Second, my 12 days of Christmas bells (if you look closely you can see them on the mantle). These are a treasure of mine. Every year (for 6 years) since I was very little my Marmie and Papa would give me 2 new bells to add to my set. My family knows that I love them and they weren't too shocked when it was one of the first things I took with me when I got married. Third, our family stockings. I made these about 3 years ago and I still get so excited to put them up (by the chimney with care, of course). I was so happy with how they turned out.

Vampire Fever

For about a year now I have been hearing everyone tell me how great this book is. A must read. I seriously questioned, several times, how I would ever enjoy a book about vampires. I mean, really. Vampires?

Then my friend Trish convinced me to read it. How? She told me it was a high school love story. I was sold. So, I ordered it online one Sunday evening. It took forever to get here but I just got it and have read the first chapter. (Shane wasn't so excited to see it, he has heard about it and is worried I will lock myself up for the next couple of days). I have been introduced to the town of Forks. So far I like the place--small town, I love that. I have met Bella, and now Edward (so far kind of creepy, I picture a skinny little goth boy wearing make-up and girl pants). I'm curious to see if I follow suit or disappoint everyone around me by being critical. This could be interesting...

Happy Birthday Mom

More Comments at pYzam.com

Today is my mom's birthday. It's kind of sad that she has to share it with Thanksgiving because she deserves a day to herself. But, on the positive side, we get to be together and have Katie's family here, too. I love my mom so much for everything that she does. She is one of my best friends and I honestly don't know what I'd do without her (I tried it once while they were in Detroit and I missed her so much!). She works so hard to make things so great for all of us and we appreciate her so very much--more than she'll ever know, I'm sure. We love you mom!

Turkey Feast

We had our Haynie family feast last night. We have finally learned that if we do it the night before Thanksgiving we can have more people there--it's great! We were still a little small because so many were out of town this year but it was fabulous, as usual. I absolutely love Thanksgiving. I love that it is just about family time and having fun together. There are no distractions and when you feel like sitting down and watching The Best of Will Ferrell you can! The girls had so much fun playing with cousins and running around. Grandpa got a new air hockey table and it was a hit. Ashlyn couldn't stay away. Carly had 3 pieces of pie! We had a great time and today we are going to relax and eat more food!

I Bleed Red

The official countdown has begun. Rivalry week is the best week of the year for me--as good as any holiday. I love hearing the smack talk go down, I love watching Cougar fans get nervous, I love watching Ute fans get pumped up, and I love the anticipation.

Since I was little I have loved this game. I used to decorate the basement with Utah banners and posters and be so excited for it. Back then we usually lost, but we always had that hope. And come the end of the day, we could rest assured knowing that we were so much cooler and better looking than Cougar fans--win or lose.

I have the fondest of memories regarding this rivalry. I have gotten the best laughs while watching it all go down. There was the year we were there to witness BYU players and coaches being pelted with 100's of snowballs--that was classic! And when the dumbest BYU fan got the crap beat out of him for thinking he was tough enough to take on a Ute cheerleader (in his defense it was the flag's fault...). Every year brings something new to talk about, whether it be about the actual game or the idiots sitting next to you. This has it all!

The adrenaline is already pumping at our house. Use this music to get you all revved up--this year we're at Cougar Stadium so Popcorn Poppin' Darth Vadar is as good as it will get...

What Time Is It?

It's High School Musical On Ice time! What kind of parents would we be if we didn't take our girls to see High School Musical? Thanks to my awesomely generous cousin, Amy, and her hubby Nick, we got hooked up once again. These guys do the morning show on one of the radio stations here and they get all sorts of goodies that they so kindly pass our way. The girls were ecstatic when they sent us these tickets (and I do admit, I was happy also!) Shane was laughing at all the mom's that were looking so thrilled to be there--I had to explain to him that we mom's do get a little overly excited when our children are so happy! I was driving both Ashlyn and Carly crazy because I just wanted to get a picture of them and they just wanted to watch. All I could ever get was a profile or back of the head shot. I should be happy that they were so into it! We had a blast--thanks Nick and Amy! We'll be singing for the next week!

Every Village Has an Idiot

Church ball is supposed to be fun and uplifting. For the most part that is true. True, that is, until you involve men. Some men have this uncontrollable need to show everybody that they can hit a ball really hard, or win a game all by themselves (therefore leaving the rest of their team wondering why they even showed up). I totally don't get it. As our Stake's sports director, I am forced to watch many games and I've seen it all. We are just finishing up the volleyball season, and although it kept me extremely busy, the women's season was quite fun. However, the minute you transition into coed teams, the mentality totally changes. First, you've got the teams who walk into the gym complaining about everything from net height to warm-up time, you've got those who can't help but announce "I played college volleyball" (if they are not already wearing their 15 year old t-shirts or sweats from whatever school they played at, hoping someone will ask), those who for some reason think that they have to hit the ball as hard as they can right at those women who have never really played before, the guys who have got to open their mouth and put their 2 cents into any conversation (whether it involves them or not--especially if they "played college ball"), and, of course, those men that believe that no girl could possibly ever know the rules better than him! What's the deal--don't our men get enough validation in their lives? Congratulations--you can hit a ball through the block of that 50 year old woman on the other side of the net! You're unbelievably awesome!

Now, I'm all for winning. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win. But, this is church ball people! If you're team is winning by 20 points, you don't ask if you are allowed to jump serve, and you stop going all out trying to hit the ball at girls. It only makes you look like a jerk. And when you act like a jerk, just know that there is always a jerk on the other team as well, and that the two of you will eventually get into a fight. It's a given. Every village has an idiot.

I'm All Grown Up

So the response to my last post was a little disappointing. Props to my brother in law who is the only person to realize when something is truly funny--and that my blog does not just have to be cute pictures of my kids. As for the rest of you who are worried that I spend my hours at home dreaming of running away with celebrities--please don't worry, that's not ALL I do at home.

I guess I have officially become an adult. I don't know if I like it! I thought I was still young and hip enough to get away with things like celebrity crushes--obviously I'm not. I realize now that after you are married, with children, you can no longer have fun. It's serious business out there. I sincerely apologize for my reckless behavior. Additionally, I have revised my list to be more fitting to my age and role of mother and wife. I hope it makes you all happy, as I have conformed to the standards around me.

Steve Young

Donny Osmond

Bronco Mendenhall

Napoleon Dynamite

I'm feeling super excited about this list! Who knew there were so many good looking, worthy individuals out there to dream about. My dad would be so proud! Who needs Paul Walker when you've got Steve Young? (And, as Ross would put it, they're "local", even better).

Too Sexy

My aunts, uncles and cousins have been playing a game lately where we ask a question or decide on a topic of discussion and everyone emails their responses. It has been so much fun--we have listed favorite movies, vacation spots, things we want to do before we die, embarrassing moments and such. The other day it got me thinking about another "list". Any of you "Friends" fans out there remember the list that Ross made of his top 5 celebrity crushes. I admit, I have one, too (so do all of you, even if you deny it). My list changes every so often but here are the latest winners!

Kirk Herbstreit

Maksim Chmerkovsky

Paul Walker

Enrique Iglesias

Taylor Kitsch

There you have it. I realize that some of you may not know who a few of these guys are--that's okay. My list is just for me!

This is Halloween

Well, I have fed my addiction for the next couple of days, I think. This little adventure of mine took most of this evening, but it was so worth it! We had a blast today and couldn't have fit more in if we had tried. The girls are extremely happy tonight, and extremely exhausted. It feels as though Halloween has been going on for 2 weeks now, but we are sad to see it end!