Christmas Day

After church, we changed our clothes and ate lunch. Then it was FINALLY time to open our remaining presents.

We did something a little different this year. I wanted our focus to be on service and Christ...and less on getting and gifts. Jason and I agreed that each person would receive 3 gifts; a gift of "wonder", a gift of "usefulness" and a gift of "meaning".

I also focused more on the wrapping of presents, since I would have less to wrap. I used cute brown paper wrappings, white yarn pom-poms, unique tags and cute ribbon. It was fun to have cute presents under our tree. :)

I should clarify...everyone's gifts were wrapped except for Treyson's. Treyson had snooped in my closet and found one of his gifts. So instead of lecturing or punishing, I chose NOT to wrap his gifts. I tied a bow and label each one and put them under the tree. He could see all that he was getting. It was interesting to see that he wasn't that excited about opening gifts this year. Wonder if he'll have the desire to snoop again. Time will tell. :)

I like our new 3 gift tradition, but I'll have to say, there was a little bit of an adjustment. Honestly it was a little hard for Jason and I to narrow down gift giving to only 3 gifts...but it was good. The kids went along with it. They were a little confused at first, but they enjoyed what they got.

We tried to get things they REALLY wanted/needed, instead of lots of little things just because they were a good price/on sale. Less trinket-y... more sustenance... I think.

We will continue this tradition, but possibly make some adjustments along the way.

Happy Birthday Rylee!

On December 6th, Rylee turned 15!

Since her birthday fell on a Tuesday, she was gone ALL day. It's her regular Tuesday schedule; she leaves at 6:45am and doesn't get home until 9:30pm (Cantus choir practice and babysitting)! So she opened her gifts, when she got home, but we decided to do her birthday dinner and cake/ice cream the next day.
She received a jar from Treyson...

..full of smiles.

Just in case she needs one, she now has a whole jar full. So cute..totally his own idea that Taylee helped him execute.

Isn't this chair funny? I found it at Goodwill and HAD to get it for her. She loves shoes... especially high heels. I thought it would be perfect for her room.

For her birthday dinner, she requested fettucini alfredo, as well as a rainbow cake and "Moose Tracks" icecream.

She was trying to freak me out the other day by saying,

"Mom, do you realize that at this time next year, I could be going to Sweethearts.... and then Prom?!"

I tried to keep it cool and answered,

"Ya.... I'm sooo excited. That will be soooo much fun!"

Really I can't wait to help her think of fun, creative ways to ask guys to dances or answer when they ask. And honestly, really I am a little nervous about it too. :)

Happy 12th Birthday Taylee!

With all the partying last week, Taylee's actual birthday was pretty mellow.

We ate Taylee's birthday dinner request (BBQ chicken shepherd's pie casserole), then she opened her presents. She received lots of artsy type gifts (surprise, surprise), a make-up bag, mascara, swim goggles and some food items.

Treyson's gift to her was bubble gum that dyed your mouth.
I asked Taylee if she wanted something other than cake, since we had cake at the party. She was indecisive and indifferent, but finally said, "Surprise me."
So we had BIRTHDAY CAKE SURPRISE.
Instead of running to the store again, I used what we had on hand. We topped our "fun fetti" cake with cherry pie filling and whip topping. It actually tasted pretty good.


The kids decided to try out the gum Treyson gave Taylee.
Treyson's tongue turned Bronco Blue.

I think the red dye has gone straight to Abree's brain.

Ewww, Taylee has a BLACK tongue!

Next, we went to the YMCA for a free family day. Taylee was looking forward to rock climbing. When we got there, the rock climbing wall was closed and the swimming pool was PACKED. They gave us a family day pass to come back another day to try rock climbing. On to Plan B... Merrill Park.

We chose Merrill Park because it has a rock climbing wall.

Taylee was surprised at the size of the hand/foot holdings... small.

Don't know where Abree learned it, but she likes to give me peace signs now.

We didn't stay long, because it was so windy and COLD. We decided to head back home, get our jammies on, snuggle up and watch a movie together. It was a nice evening.

Taylee is SO EXCITED to be 12. She's had her primary and bishop interviews and will be going to Young Women's for the first time, on Sunday.

She can't wait to go on Trek, this summer, but is worried that they've already done all of the FUN activities before she came in. She's just sure of it.. ask her. :)

PS- Rylee left for Anaheim, California, Thursday evening, with her Cantus Choir group. She'll be competing in the Heritage Festival and then playing in Disneyland all day on Monday, then coming back on Tuesday. Lucky.

T-shirt Ringlet Scarves

I've been crafty lately... here's one of the things I've worked on.

I started out with this shirt (almost long enough to be a dress) that Taylee had outgrown. Cut it up into 3/4 inch strips.

Stretched each circular strip and then kinda twisted them into circle bunches.

Then took another little t-shirt strip and tied each circle bunch together...forming a scarf.

The process is hard to describe, but here is a great tutorial with pictures, if you're interested.

Here's another one that I made for my mom, for her birthday. --The t-shirts were thicker, so the "ringlets" held their shape better..but it made it a little heavier.

Abree volunteered to be my model.

What do you think?

Wanna make one with me?

A Favorite Things Party

You've probably heard of "Oprah's Favorite Things"... well, I did my own version this year.

Instead of our normal book club this month, I had a "Favorite Things Party".

I asked guests to bring one of their favorite treats or snacks to share.

We played a FAVORITES version of "What's Yours Like?" game.

I haven't actually played the real board game. Wonder if it's as fun as my made-up version. Anyone ever played it before?

Also, each guest brought one of their favorite THINGS to give. We shared about our favorite thing, then drew a name out of the bowl and gave it to the person we drew.

It was so cool to see all the favorite things and to hang out with "the girls".

I received tinted, minty lip gloss (Bath & Body Works) and bright red, metallic nail polish.

Can't wait to paint my toenails with it!

This was such a fun party to do. And shhhhh... WAY easy. :)

Anyone want to do it again next year?

My Birthday

My birthday celebrating began with this....

Treyson made me a Captain Crunch cereal, toast and milk breakfast-in-bed.

Started my sugar rush early...it was a FREE day!
For lunch, I went to Red Robin with some friends from the ward. I had a yummy burger. I can't remember the name of it, but it had a fried egg in it. I was a little scared to try it, but the waiter said it was good, so I went for it.
It was good.

We were also celebrating Stacey's birthday.

We're Birthday Sistas!!!

Weeks earlier, Stacey had told me she loved skulls. So when I saw this, it had her name written all over it!

She said, "I don't have one THIS big. Thanks."

Good Food + Good Company= Good Lunch!

I received a text from Jason, it said, "I'm getting off at 5. I will pick you up at 5:30 and we are going out!"

When I got home from lunch, I took a little nap. I was feeling a bit under-the-weather and wanted to rest up before the evening events began.

When Jason got home he showered and rushed around. He asked if I would hang out in the room for a while because he and the kids were doing something.

No problem..... I'll just take a little longer nap.

In my sleepiness, I heard scuffles, bumps and glass clinking together. Couldn't figure out what was going on out there, so I didn't try and went back to sleep.

Finally, Jason came in and said that they were ready. He escorted me to this quaint little Italian cafe, "Smullini's".

We were greeted by this lovely hostess...

"Hello. Welcome to Smullini's. How many will be in your party tonight? We have a table over here, next to a window, does that sound good? Great. Right this way. (Lead them to their table.)

I found her script, behind the sign, after dinner. Too cute!

We were seated and noticed the nice view of the broken trampoline, in the back yard. :)

Our waiter then greeted us...

"Hi, my name is Treyson and I will be your waiter for tonight. Can I get you something to drink? We have cherry Kool Aid and water" (said in the cutest, kind of robotic, voice).

He then took our order and poured our drinks. Next, he brought out our Caesar salads.

As he was walking back to the kitchen, he stopped (probably thinking to himself, "I should say something"). He then turned around, nodded his head and said, "Enjoy!".

So funny. We couldn't contain ourselves and started laughing. He was trying so hard to remember everything he was supposed to say and trying to be the best waiter ever.

He WAS very attentive. He kept our water glasses full. He also kept asking, "Does everything taste ok? Can I get you any thing else?"

Rylee the cafe manager.

I later heard her say, "Wow, being a manager, you've got to do a LOT of work (she prepped all the food and kept the kitchen running smoothly)..... I thought that I'd just be sitting back and watching!"

Abree the waitress.

She brought us our garlic bread, hung out in the kitchen and eventually brought me gifts to open.

Smullini's menu

When we were finished with our meal, Treyson said, "I heard it was some body's birthday."

All the kids came over to the table with a chocolate cream pie and candle and sang "Happy Birthday".

Next, it was time for gift opening.

The best gifts EVER!

"This coupon entitles Alisha Smullin to a 'get out of jail free card' from a weeks worth of laundry by your awesome Hubby."

"This coupon entitles Alisha Smullin to one full day (8am to 5pm) of honey do's (arrange with J) for a day."

"This coupon entitles Alisha Smullin to a sink free of dishes for the rest of the month of October. Happy Birthday!"

Can't wait to use my birthday coupons! I always tell Jason he doesn't have to buy anything big or expensive for gifts. All I want is a mile-long list of Honey Do's ....DONE.

He would rather buy the big or expensive thing. :)

Rylee is becoming the rich one in our house. She bought me these cute flats.

Taylee gave me this. She actually made it with a kit and a mold.

She said, "Do you get it?"

Me-"Uhhhh, no."

T-"It's a cricket..... you know a CRICUT."

Me-"Nice!"

Do you get it? "Cricut" is a scrapbooking die-cut paper cutter thingy.

She really knows what I like. :)

Treyson gave me a Bronco sport poster.

Abree have me a colored princess picture, sack puppet and a piece of gum.

She said, "Since I ALWAYS give you a sack puppet, I thought I should give you something else too, so I made you a princess picture."

To end our evening, I was escorted upstairs for a movie..... including a concessions bar; popcorn, cookies and pork rines. We all started watching the movie, but when it got too "kissy" we sent the kids to bed and finished it ourselves. They were not very happy about that.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable day. I felt loved, appreciated and remembered by the phone calls, texts and Facebook messages.

Thanks for making my birthday so nice.