Silhouette Machine!

I LOVE the craft blog Brown Paper Packages! It has so many fun crafts. I have already tried several and have plans for more :) They are having a Silhouette giveaway. I hope I win! Check it out here.

Temple Square Lights

A couple of weeks ago we went to see the lights at Temple Square. My work party was that night right by LDS Hospital. So, first we went to the party and then headed the to the temple. It was the perfect night to go! It was warm and there weren't very many people there. Jackson loved seeing all of the lights. When we walked up to the big, fake tree on main street Jackson said, "Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!" It was too funny :)
I loved the nativities. I suppose they are the same every year, but I just think they are so cute.
I forgot my camera so these pictures are from my crappy phone camera!

Jackson in front of the tree he was so excited about!

Checking out one of the cute nativities

Bad picture of the fam in front of the temple

Jackson was sick of the stroller so dad let him ride on his shoulders :)

Kellsi came with us and we really had a great time! Unfortunately she isn't in any pictures, but we were happy she was there!

Gingerbread Houses

We have been having lots of holiday fun! Last week we made a gingerbread house. Now I am not super fancy, I didn't make the gingerbread. I just bought a kit at Target! Anyway, we had a lot of fun building it. Jackson loves it and shows me the house with the little door every day. While we were making it Alex said we should put a mouse in it and let it eat its way out. Now, Jackson thinks there is actually a mouse in it! Crazy boys! 

Jackson picking out a candy

decorating

eating about as much candy as he put on the house

helping dad

helping mom

cheeser!

All of us with the finished product

My cute little Ute fan!



A Whoville Christmas Party!

Every year our friends have a Christmas party. I have been wanting to host it and Alyssa was nice enough to let me! My friends at work actually came up with the theme of a Whoville Christmas party. The party was a lot of fun and I had fun planning it!

Here are the invitations:

The inside was cute. It said:

Don’t be a Grinch this Holiday Season,

Not quite convinced? I’ll give you a reason:

A Whoville Christmas Party

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Time: 6 pm

Place: Matesen Home

Come to the party where we will feast, feast, feast, feast!

On _______________________ (please bring) and the rarest roast beast.

Games will be played, so come ready to win,

Brush up on the trivia on your Grinchiest friend!

So, bring your Who-Self, Who-Daughter, Who-son

This Christmas Wholibration will be lots of fun!

We moved our couches out of our living room so we could fit everyone in the same area. Here are the decorations:

These are the place settings. Everyone had a place card. The red ones were for the girls and the guys had green Grinch ones.

Our menu was "roast beast," cheesy potatoes, salad, vegetable tray, homemade rolls, and corn. For dessert I made some cute cupcakes (that I didn't take a picture of!), and some delicious cheesecake brought by Tim.

Jackson eating his food (in my spot because he didn't want to sit in his own spot)

Milly chowing down :)

Alex and Eric getting some food

Eden and Brandon (with Tim ruining the picture :)

Little Seth (sadly I don't have a picture of his mom and dad! Alyssa- maybe you can send me one so I can add it :)

Tim, Landon, and AJ

After dinner we played a Grinch Trivia game. Most of the questions were from the book, but a few were from the movie. It turned out pretty fun!

Carrie and Tim squaring off

Milly taking pictures

Brent and Alex playing the game

Lindsey and Eden. Lindsey is apparently talking smack to Eden!

Cute little Asher

After the game we watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the animated version) and then everyone just talked while the kids tore apart my house!

Jackson, Amelia, and Jason playing ball on the couches

The party was a lot of fun! I was so happy that most everyone we invited was able to come. We are so lucky to have such fun, great friends. Thanks everyone for coming and making it a great time!

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas. . .

Last night we decorated our house and tree for Christmas! I love putting up my Christmas stuff and I am always sad to take it down after. Jackson was a lot of fun this year. He was pretty excited about all the snowmen, santas, and lights. His favorite though was playing in the tubs we store the stuff in. He kept telling me "Night, night. Go bed." And then he would climb in and lay down for a minute. He is a goof ball :) Well, that is enough writing-here are some pics of our winter wonderland :)

Alex putting the star on top



Our little fam with the tree. Jackson wouldn't let us hold him so it is kind of a weird pose :)

I stole this idea from a blog I saw last year. I can't even remember what blog it was to give credit, but just know it wasn't me!

Jackson helping dad hang some decorations

I saw THIS topiary on Brown Paper Packages and I decided to turn it into a wreath. It took FOREVER! There are about 800 pieces of ribbon on that thing! I love how it turned out, but I will never make another one!



A close up of the ribbon



Thanksgiving Weekend

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. We had Thanksgiving dinner with Alex's family at his uncles home in Peterson. I made rolls and pie (both for the first time!). Fortunately they both turned out delicious! We had dinner, then Alex took the kids outside to play in the snow. Later we played a fun game Alex's mom brought. That night we headed down to Nephi.

Friday morning my mom and I left for shopping at 3am! Crazy! We went to Macys, Sports Authority, Walmart, Target, and South Town Mall. We met up with my Aunt Bobbie, Aunt JoRae, and Kellie at the mall. We shopped until 6pm! It was a long day, but we had a lot of fun, plus lots of great deals! While we were shopping Alex, my Uncle Richard, Uncle David, Brandon, and Kaitlin went Christmas Tree hunting. Alex got us a beautiful tree (I will post that with my Christmas decorations).

Saturday we mostly recovered from our long shopping day :) We watched the Utah/BYU game with my grandpa and my Uncle Richards family. Luckily, the Utes came out on top! I wouldn't want to have to listen to my brother gloat about BYU winning for the next year :) After the game I played Rook with Kellsi, Kaitlin and my dad. It was so much fun! It was a pretty crazy game. I was in last place for a while, but ended up in second! Later that night my cousin Margo came over with her kids. Jackson had so much fun with her little girl Tayler. They are around 6 months apart and it was fun to see them run around together.

Sunday was my birthday! We went to church and then my mom made me a delicious dinner and cake. My mom gave me the cutest watch! I love it! She also gave me a cute ring and a snowman cookie jar. Alex gave me a sewing machine! I have been wanting one for a while-now I just need to learn how to use it!

Alex and I were supposed to go home that night, but it was snowing so hard we decided to stay. Nephi got so much snow! It snowed all night and didn't stop until about 11 Monday morning. 

I love Thanksgiving weekend! It is full of fun activities and family time! I have so much to be thankful for. Here is a short list:

*Alex-seriously the best husband and dad any girl could ask for

*Jackson-this little boy steals my heart

*My parents-they both sacrificed a lot so I could have a wonderful childhood. They are such great examples to me and I am thankful for such a strong relationship with them.

*My sisters-they are my best friends. I love spending time with them!

*My brother and his cute wife Cindy-Jordan and I don't always see eye to eye, but we love each other! He is such a great person and is a spiritual giant who I really look up to. Cindy loves my brother and makes him happy, which makes me happy :)

*My exended family-I am really lucky to have a huge family who is close. I love that I am good friends with all of my family.

*My home

*My job-I love being a nurse and love the unit I work on. I work with the most amazing patients. I also have the best coworkers ever!

*Alex's job-he gets great benefits and they allow him to go to school and pay for it

*Good health

*The Gospel-I know I am so much happier because of my testimony.

*My primary class-I teach the cutest 5 and 6 year olds. I am so sad I won't be their teacher next year

*Great friends-I have so many friends who would do anything for me. I am lucky to have them in my life.

I was a terrible photographer and these are the only pics I took all weekend. This is Jackson with Tayler-isn't she cute! Then my dad kept teasing them by sitting on their little chairs :)

My cute watch from my mom. Don't you love it!?!

This Little Boy

Here are just some random pictures of Jackson recently. He is growing up so quickly! He seems to learn something new everyday. One night after his bath I put his hair into a mohawk. Now, he loves them and wants one everyday. He told me that he looks like a shark! He has learned to count to 13 (although he skips 4 most of the time :).
It is so much fun being able to communicate with him. He is a little parrot and copies most of what we say. He says, "Oh my gosh!" and it is adorable. My sister Kellsi lives with us and he loves her. He will stand at the bottom of the stairs and yell her name over and over until she comes down to him. One morning he was waking up and whining, but Alex hadn't gotten him out of bed yet (I was at work) and Alex heard him say, "Oh," then he started yelling for Kellsi! He knows if we won't do something for him she most definitely will! He is obsessed with How to Train Your Dragon. He asks for the Dragon movie several times a day! He still loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and it is so funny watching him watch it. He understands what is going on in the show and he laughs and laughs at it.
Kellsi and I took him to the zoo a couple of weeks ago and he loved it! He was so excited to see all of the animals. He really loved the elephants and monkeys. We rode the train and he tells me about it all the time. He says, "What the guy say? All Aboard!" He cracks me up.

We got Kellsi some Krispy Kremes for her birthday and Jackson would eat the sprinkles of the
top of the donut. Silly boy :)

Courtesy smile :)

My little model with his mohawk!

Jackson with the tigers at the zoo. He didn't want his picture taken.

I guess that is a good enough update! We love this little boy and are thankful for him in our lives. He is definitely a two year old and can drive me crazy, but then he gives me big kisses and I forgive him!