Thirty, flirty and thriving.

I had one of the best birthdays in a long time. Let me tell you why my birthday week was so great, which by the way everyone should celebrate the entire week like I do:

• I achieved my first small weight loss goal. I set it for myself to get to by my 30th birthday.


• Some of my girlfriends kidnapped me and took me out to dinner at The Olive Garden (one of my favorites) and then shopping at Ross. (So much fun.)


• I had a fun lunch at Old Grist Mill with friends the day before my b-day.


• I got to celebrate the entire weekend with my hubby, kid-free thanks to our parents, in Las Vegas with a bunch of friends. Shopping, German food, and lots of good times.


• I got an awesome Bissell steam mop from my in-laws, it cleans my tile faster and better than being on my knees scrubbing by hand. (Which by the way, was the best way to clean my tile.)


• My parents took Colby and I to dinner at Paradise Cafe & Bakery and added some spending cash to my card. Thanks!

So, it turns out that this age is not so intimidating. Thank you to all who made it so great; the surprises, gifts, cards, well wishes and time spent with me. I love you all.

I have to give myself some credit for all the things I have accomplished by 30:

• Married my best friend.
• Lived out of Utah for 6 years and loved it.
• Given birth to 3 beautiful boys.
• Bought a condo, sold a condo.
• Have no car payments.
• Bought a home, maintaining a home. (Phew!)
• Finally got my ears pierced.

If you are finally at the end of this post, I apologize for the self-congratulations. I had a bad Wednesday and needed to post something positive. Kind of my gratitude journal.

Our December...in a nutshell...

So...December is usually crazy for us: Christmas and a birthday. But, this year we added more for some reason. Here's what we've been up to:

Colby, Gabe and Tristan made a lot of Mac n Cheese; since they all like to eat it so much.

We did our fair share of shoveling the driveway, though I'm sure there's more to come.

Found more moments of Skitterz napping on napping boys.

Visited Christmas Village for the first time, and last. It was boring!

But, had fun playing on the playground there.

We all drank a lot of hot chocolate.

And made sure we had clean teeth, since December brings so many wonderful treats from neighbors and friends.

Gabe's preschool class celebrated his 1/2 birthday, since he's out for summer break during his actual birthday.

Tristan wore jingle antlers that he insisted on owning from Shopko all the way to the Koch side family Christmas party. He jingled the whole way down to Bountiful.

(He called them his "ho-ho-ho"s)

Most of us got new fancy holiday clothing to wear to church the Sunday before Christmas.

Braxton turned 8 years old on the 21st.

RaeAnne actually cooked breakfast for Christmas. This usually only happens on Christmas, and only because we eat at about 10am.

For Christmas Tristan got a much coveted Wall-E toy.

(He has watched the movie daily for the last 6 weeks; I don't know why, but he loves it!)

Colby helped the boys put together Lego sets from Santa.

Colby received a miter saw to continue home projects he has in mind.

Colby, his brother Ty, and her boys all got RaeAnne new earrings.

(My escapade in June paid off big time at Christmas.)

She also got the amazing BodyBugg to help in the never ending goal to lose weight, yeah!

It was a year for Nerf guns.

It was also the year to give the Snuggie as a gag gift. Here is my sister, Heidi, modeling hers. All of my siblings and I got one. I gave Colby one as a joke. And Colby's nephew received one as well.

Here are all of my parents' grandchildren on Christmas: Tristan, Gabe, Caitlin, Shaila, Grant, Taryn, Gracee, Braxton, Carson, Jed, Wyatt and baby Blakely in the carrier.

Braxton was baptized on December 27th.

The boys had fun playing outside and sledding down the deck stairs.

Happy New Bed Day!

We decided to treat ourselves to a new mattress since testing a few in May. And...we chose a King Sized one. It's so fun being able to hog the bed at the same time as Colby hogs the bed. And the best part, choosing new bedding because we only had queen sheets. Girls love that kind of stuff. The mattress is so soft and fluffy that it makes the bed really tall, which is something I was hoping for. We have never bought ourselves a bed. We took Colby's old queen when we were first married, and then his parents kindly bought us a mattress one year for Christmas. But, we had never had the opportunity to test them and pick what we thought was most comfortable. I have been sleeping great since Saturday. It hugs my body and won't let go of me in the morning, or afternoon when napping, or evening when reading and watching TV. Okay, let's just say that since being delivered we try to not leave our bedroom. TV has been moved from the big TV in the basement, to the comfort of our room. Story time has been moved from Braxton's room. Lunch and Dinner for me have migrated to the bedroom. And, usually I read on the couch. Not any more!
Oh, and we celebrated our 9th anniversary this last week. We had two days of eating way too much wonderful food, shopping alone without the kids. Going to the movies and just cruising in the convertible trying to feel younger. I'll tell you what, 9 years has been hard, but worth every minute. We have both grown up and changed in ways, but hopefully we are able to communicate with each other better every year. Love ya, Colb!

Block (Street) Party!

Last week I was chatting with a couple of my neighbors as we watched someone move into a rental across the street. We decided that we needed to put together a party including everyone living on our street. The south side of the street isn't including in our ward boundaries, oddly enough, so we don't know them very well. We have lost Braxton several times to the rental house across the street, someone fun to play with always lives there. And he forgets to tell us where he is going. So, my neighbor Rachel and I stamped up some cute invitations, and we had the neighbor kids deliver them to all on our road. It was a huge success! We had so much fun, and the kids always have a blast with the others on the street. We celebrated a little neighbor girl's birthday, and her mom had brought over a fishing pond for all the kids to experience. Some of our friends from other roads wandered over, but we welcomed them to the party warmly. Our plan wasn't to exclude anyone, just to get to know the other side of the street better. Many of our new friends said how glad they were that we had decided to put this together. Connie and Rachel, we were a success! Ryan and Colby hanging out while the foods cooks.
Jed and Tristan, buddies sharing a cup full of ice between them.
Taylor and Elizabeth get the soccor game set up. And Gabe practices running to the goal.
The men grilling our main dishes.
Spoils from the fishing pond: Bling teeth for Ethan and redneck teeth for Braxton, here's Jacob sporting his loot, a stick-on mustache.
Duke trying to escape Tristan's constant love.

Lagoon

We went to Lagoon yesterday for the first time since we have been married. It was one of the first days that Colby thought he could step away from the office, and yet still work using his BlackBerry while out with us. We took Braxton and Gabe along, and met up with some of our friends that we have been trying to do something with all summer. I was all prepared that morning: had the correct walking shoes on, so my feet didn't get sore, dressed everyone in cool clothes because of how hot it was supposed to be, had water, snacks, money and sunscreen put in the backpack, had arrangements made for Tristan and his diaper bag packed. I thought I was completely prepared for anything and everything. We were going to meet down at Lagoon at 10:45, just in time for them to open and us to enjoy the park with not too many people there yet. Dropped off Tristan, paid for parking, and found a great parking spot after which we unloaded ourselves from the car and started walking toward the entrance to buy ticket.....the discount tickets! I forgot them! There was no way we could afford to attend the park without our discount tickets from Deseret Book. We turned around and got back in the car, talked to our friends about the mistake and said we would call them when we were back down there. I was so angry at myself the entire drive back home. Why am I so compulsive about being on time and having everything ready, when it usually results in me forgetting the most important things (This has happened to me more than once, just in other situations.). Back at home, the tickets were not in the spot I thought I had left them, we searched everywhere I could have put them. When a thought dawned on me to check my accordion coupon file in the car. Yep! There they were, along with a list of rides I had made that Gabe was able to ride, and not to ride. Again, lots of anger and swear words entered my head. Why didn't I think to look there before we left the parking lot. Aarrgghh! I guess I had put them there last week, so that I wouldn't forget them. Anyway, we got back down there, purchased our tickets and met up with our friends. The kids had a blast, as did Colby and I. I think the last ride that was new when we were there last was the Wild Mouse. That was probably back in 1998. I loved riding Odysea, me and my friend laughed so hard while trying to dodge the water squirting at us. Braxton's favorite ride was the Jumping Dragon, their newest ride. They have re-done the kiddie ride area and front gardens since I have gone. The new water fountain area was fun to watch, the kids didn't want to run around in it and get wet. They are crazy, because it was super hot yesterday. We got both of them to go on Tidal Wave: Gabe loved it, Braxton hated it. We enjoyed the log flume as a family, although I think we waited for an hour in line for a 3 minute or less ride. We snacked on Churros and an Icee, then grabbed cotton candy on our way out of the park. We are hoping to bounce back there next week for some more fun. Thanks mom for watching Tristan most of the day for us!

Kelly helping Gabe climb up into the Dragonfly ride and get buckled. With Braxton and Bryce behind them.

Ready to ride Tidal Wave: Bryce, Gabe and Kelly. Me, Colby and Braxton.

Gabe, Braxton and his main squeeze Kelly on the Carousel.

Riding the train, just for our boys: Gabe and Colby. Braxton and myself.

Here are Gabe and Braxton riding a bunch of kiddie rides. Nice and tame for Braxton, a little too boring for Gabe. Don't they just look so thrilled in each picture. I hope is was the heat and not the entertainment lulling them to look so drab.

Braxton and me on the Sky Ride across the park. Colby with Gabe saying,"Hi Mom."

Me and Gabe on the Tilt-a-whirl together, we had a crazy-fun time.

Braxton almost asleep on the drive home, and Gabe completely worn out.