FINALLY a new post.. Inspired by Tiff!!

K.. this should be one of two birthday posts.. I KNOW! I KNOW!

BUT its not..

I was remembering Tiff's awesome post about her Christmas decor..

Though mine is nothing exciting, I thought I would share..

(Oh, and I seem to be experiencing some kinds of camera difficulties, of course.. So excuse the quality of some of these..)

Main Tree

When I was little, my parents started giving my sister & I ornaments every year..

This (I believe) is my first one..

Dated 1975

1976

(I've always loved this one)

To embarrass myself, and what I loved

Yes.. Its a Smurf ornament

1981

(really.. what rings in the holidays better than a Smurf??)

Yes, its a silver tree..

I realize its a little "Grandma-ish" but I love it..

Also known as our DISNEY tree..

Yep.. ALL Disney ornaments..

This probably wins as the "Weirdest" Disney ornament..

Its the Scar mask from "Lion King"

(bought this in New York last year, after seeing the show)

I have the Simba mask, but Scar really wreaks of holiday spirit, I think..

A really blurry picture of one of the many Mickeys on said tree..

(from World of Disney in NYC)

hard to tell, but this is large, like 8-10 inches across..

^^BEST decoration money every spent..

The girls still play with it..

(I have to arrange it daily..)

I wish I, like Tiff, had a photo of my Christmas cards ready to go.. I REALIZE that its December 23rd.. They're ALMOST done..

Somtimes You've Gotta Call It Like You See It..

Two nights ago we were sitting in the den talking with the little girls..

Savannah was asking us what we wanted to be (when we grew up) when we were little..

I said my usual.. A mom..

Davy said, "An astronaut".. He then went on to explain how he had strikes against him: his bad eyesight, his claustrophobia.. etc..

"So," he said, "my next choice was to be a Space Scientist.."

Savannah immediately interrupted, "Oh! A nerd?"

If You Are Not a Fan of TMI, Read No Further..

It's true..

This is definitely a story involving WAAAAY too much information..

But, as I've had 2 days to think about it, I can't help but share..

Please.. Read no further if late nights and bathroom talk embarrass you/make you uncomfortable..

Saturday night, Davy and I had gone to bed..

Chelsea was laying on the couch watching television..

Quite late, Todd (Chelsea's bf) came over..

Now, these 2 definitely have late nights, but this was particularly late, even for them..

(and a very late start time - had been at a friend's house who goes into the MTC this week)

As I doze, I'm particularly mindful of Davy's snoring, especially when Todd & Chelsea are downstairs, wanting to maintain his (Davy's) dignity and not let him snore like a gravel truck with company over..

Well, at about 2:30, I woke, noticing that Davy had wandered into the bathroom..

He didn't shut any doors, not knowing anyone else was awake, since he was asleep LONG before Todd came over..

Now, in Davy's defense, I had THREE possible doors {our bedroom, our bathroom, and the one separating the toilet & shower from the rest of the bathroom} I could have shut to "dilute" the noise a bit, but in MY defense, I was also tired, and ran to the door closest to him..

REMEMBER - this was all done to "maintain Davy's dignity"..

Well, in his half-asleep state, he heard me run into the bathroom {at 2:30 am}, and in rare fashion - he turned and, well, SCREAMED LIKE A WOMAN..

I have to say, it scared me to death..

And I, in turn, scared HIM to death..

When he returned, we spent the next half-hour silent-bed-shaking-abs-burning-laughing-our-heads-off-at-eachother..

In fact, we still can't bring it up without laughing till we cry..

Even if I bring it up in say, Sunday School..

Or trying to tell the story to the girls..

Or right now for that matter..

*Chelsea says she never heard a thing.. So, I'm hoping they were dozing also??

Chels.. You'll have to let Todd read this.. See what he heard..

Really, what is my blog for, if not, number one, embarrassing my immediate family??

Just Moving Myself Up Your List..

Arrgh!!

I'm not going to go on a rant..

But now you can see I've done lots of updating..

Thanks..

Are You Ready??

K.. Our internet decided to take a vacation recently..

It has only recently returned..

THIS is the reason for the loooooonnggg time it has been since I've had a new post..

{I know I am TIRED of the Chelsea's Dances post.. How 'bout you?}

So please!! Scroll Down!! I'll be playing "Catch Up" for a while!!

Stay tuned!!

Edit: Wow! I was productive!! I'm all caught up!!

{please enjoy the 4 posts below!!}

Happy Birthday Davy-Doo!

Happy Birthday!!

Sad for us, but Davy gets to spend his birthday in Las Vegas for work..

Couldn't let him off without some old pictures..

Him. Is. Cute.

That's all I can say..

I hoped if I'd had a boy, he'd be this cute!!

Since I don't have a lot of baby pictures,

I thought it would be far more embarrassing to post an awesome

SENIOR PICTURE!!

Oh ya..

Love the bangs..

Love our amazing school colors that result in such a stylin' letterman's jacket..

Love that he probably weighed 150 in this photo..

{Yes, he lettered in 3 sports.. Baseball, Basketball, & Cross Country}

Happy Halloween!!

Yep, Halloween is ALREADY over!!

My girlies..

{my camera was dead, so sorry about the fuzzy iPhone pics..}

I was realizing this was a "Homemade Costume" year..

Yes, I made all 3 of these babys..

{hmm.. and all 3 of those babies..}

Luckily, I was not crazy enough to make all 3 of them this year..

I made the Queen of Hearts last year..

I made Alice in Wonderland in 1998!! Chelsea wore this when she was in 2nd grade!

And, I made Tinkerbell this year..

At 5:15 pm..

On Halloween..

Yes, I'm crazy..

{it was finished by 6:30!!}

So here they are!!

Savannah!!

..as the Queen of Hearts..

Adeline!!

..as Alice in Wonderland!!

Chelsea!!

..as Tinkerbell..

This is how she actually looked..

We decided this was Disneyland Tink

after she ran into the castle during

Remember Dreams Come True..

My little Halloweenies..

Yours Truly..

Yep..

As much as I hate to admit it, I'm the BIRTHDAY GIRL..

I grabbed a couple of my favorite pictures of me..

Just for fun..

Me in the hospital..

I've always thought I had a CUTE hospital photo..

Not a wrinkly, alien baby..

I guess that's a perk of weighing in at 9'2"..

{I have always thought I looked a tad bit oriental..}

22 months old..

I have always loved this one, too..

{Now, the photo quality makes me feel even older than I am!!}

I've always thought I was rockin' a "Supremes" kind of hair-do..

{apparently, my mom would trim my hair every couple days..}

And, yes, I'm sporting a homemade terry-cloth dress..

I know.. You're jealous..

Happy Birthday to Me!

It was a great day!! Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes!!

C'mon.. You Know You Wish You Were There..

Davy is gone this week..

He is in Huntington Beach for work..

He's actually speaking at some Call Center Conference..

Sounds riveting, I know..

Wait.. It gets better..

The name of his class???

Closing the Disconnect in Brand Messaging: From Corporate, to Contact Center and to Agents

I know, you're jealous..

I sure am..

Chelsea's Dance Pictures..

{for a little back-story, please read the post before this one}

Recently, Springville High School had Homecoming..

The first High School dance since Chelsea graduated..

It, as I said in the previous post, made me "wax"..

Since I started this blog long after the High School Dances started, I thought I would catch everyone up on 3 years of Chelsea's Dance pictures!!

Lucky you, I know..

Bear with some of the details.. doing this for posterity, you know!

Sophomore Year

Sweethearts

February 2007

Date: Daniel Tullis.. {sophomore} {see previous post}

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: homemade by Su Tullis.. {Chelsea still says its the best chicken she's ever had}

I don't know if this is the case, but I think Stuart ALSO wanted to ask Chelsea.. Since she was taken, he didn't go..

The bad news? The camera broke down, so they didn't get an official picture taken..

We only have the photos we took when he picked her up..

The next bit of bad news?

Can't seem to find the photos we took when he picked her up..

{I promise when I find them, this will be updated..}

They had another couple in their group, Matt Skaggs and Jessica Cooper..

Oh, and it rained..

A funny piece of trivia.. Daniel had his driver's license, but hadn't had it long enough that he could drive with others in the car.. So, he walked the 3 houses over, picked her up, {in the rain}, and walked her to his house, where his mom had made dinner..

AND his mom drove them to the dance..

el Cheapo

February 2007

I guess this dance is either way.. girl-ask-guy OR guy-ask-girl..

There are rules.. I don't want to explain them..

This is.. well, a cheap dance.. I guess the object is to make it as cheap as possible..

Dinner: fake scavenger hunt.. {all food pre-planted by other girls in the group}

{group, by the way, people Chelsea has never really hung around,

still not sure how this worked out}

Chelsea asks Stuart.. He can't go.. Suggests she take Daniel.. She does..

Ironically.. Can't find this picture either {really, there are photos in this post}

{again, when photo is located, it will be added..}

Is it a conspiracy that our 2 missing pictures involve Daniel??

Oh, and it rained..

Preference

March 29, 2007

Date: Christopher {Phe} Brooks {junior}

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: Los Hermanos

{don't ask me about the Phe thing.. it's what he goes by.. even his parents call him this}

Okay, we don't have official pictures from this dance either..

Let's just say that these 2, in combination with the other couple in their group, Rachelle Moss & Cameron Foster, were notoriously late for everything.. Steve Brinton and Amber Beutler were also in their group..

Arrived at dance with 15-20 minutes to spare..

Didn't spend it in the picture line..

Oh, and it rained..

Phe & Chelsea

Last Chance

May 2007

Date: Phe Brooks {still a junior}

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: Los Hermanos {ironically, Chelsea HATES this restaurant}

Theme: matching hats (Utah State)

Yay! REAL PICTURES!!

Oh, and it rained..

Chelsea & Phe

Group.. another random one, to this day there are people in it we can't name..

really, some we searched for in the yearbook..

Top row: Phe, Chelsea, guy in black hat, his date, guy with long bangs, his date, Alana Root, her date Eric, girl in yellow, Matt Prawitt, Jessie Comoletti, Matt Groneman

Bottom row: Scott Kappas, Sheena Frazier, sideways standing girl, Caleb Tippetts, tall boy, Liz Condie, Nathan Smith, Rachel Fisher, Chase Crandall, Liz Tomco, Rachelle Moss, Cameron Foster

Junior Year

Homecoming

October 2007

Date: Stuart Oldroyd {junior}

{Daniel has moved to Spring City, UT}

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: PF Chang's

Went on a day date.. played racquetball..

Great date!

Oh, and it rained..

Stuart & Chelsea

Ashley Lancaster, Spencer Southworth, Cydnee Houtz, Brennan Schulzke, Kindall Palmer, Heather Houtz {yes, sisters}, Stuart, Chelsea

Sadie's

November 2007

Date: Bryant Taylor (senior)

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: TGIFriday's

Tallest dance date! 6'5"!!

Chelsea didn't have her driver's license, just her permit, but we let her drive up to pick up Bryant, then had him drive the rest of the night..

Oh, and it snowed..

Bryant & Chelsea

Top row: Andy Maylett, Emily Baer, Laurel Badger, Tim Call, Heather Wolz, Stuart Oldroyd

Bottom row: Chelsea, Bryant, Sarah Benson, Jordan Cruz

Morp

January 9, 2008

Date: Colton Loftus {junior}

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: make your own pizzas

Theme: matching socks

Went bowling on a day date {just with Cam & Rachelle}

Chelsea drove for real on this date..

We practiced the routes 5 or 6 times..

Oh, and it snowed..

Colton & Chelsea

Rachel Fischer, Levi Ashcraft, Colton, Chelsea, Rachelle Moss, Cameron Foster, Pierce Bennett, Sarah Ashcraft {yes, brother & sister}

Sweethearts

February 9, 2008

Date: Colton Loftus

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: Tucano's

We always enjoy the evolution of Colton's hair through these pictures.. {he had to shave it the week before the dance for baseball}

Best dance story! At dinner, in addition to their dance group {of 3 couples} there were many people in the restaurant that were dressed very wild.. {like Mardi Gras, or something} LOTS of short, short skirts, LOTS of cleavage etc..

When it came time to pay for dinner, the waiter handed the bill to Colton, and waited..

This seemed odd, but Colton went ahead and opened the bill..

Inside there was a note that said:

"Thank you for your example and modesty"

.. and their bill was paid!!

Oh, and it snowed..

Chelsea & Colton

Cameron Foster, Rachelle Moss, Chelsea, Colton, Lindsey Blume, Cory Foster {yes, brothers}

Preference

March 2008

Date: Colton Loftus

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinnner: Old Spaghetti Factory

Colton had a baseball game right before this dance, and had hit his knee against the outfield wall.. was very sore!

No weather problems!

This is our FAVORITE of all of Chelsea's dance pictures..

Colton & Chelsea

Colton, Chelsea, Stephanie Christensen, Spencer Whittaker, Amy Christensen {yes, TWIN sisters}, Brandon Allen

Prom

April 26, 2008

Date: Colton Loftus

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: Magleby's Oyster Bar & Grill

Location: the Barn at Thanksgiving Point

Went golfing on a day date.. Chelsea's first time!!

Was picked up in a handicapped-equipped van.. Very large! It fit their whole group!

REALLY cold..

Chelsea & Colton

Top row: Riley Christensen, Felicia Nance, Danny Larsen, Haeleigh Royall, McKenzie Matthews, Mike Salisbury, Kim Salisbury {yes, brother and sister} Hayden Roney

Bottom row: Colton, Chelsea, Kelsey Critchfield, Robert White

Senior Year

Sadie's

October 2008

Date: James Reber {Senior}

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: Red Robin

Theme: matching shirts

This was a group with all of the Senior girls named Chelsea/i/ey

NO weather issues!!

Chelsea & James

Chris Wahlquist, Cassie Hansen, Paco Beagles, Chelsea Hansen {yes, TWIN sisters}, Brennan Schulzke, Sarah Benson, David, Chelsi Dayton, Israel Lopez, Courtney Smith, Bryce Brunetti, Chelsey Jensen, James, Chelsea

Christmas

December 13, 2008

Date: Jacob Eaton {Senior}

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: Macaroni Grill

Only dance I missed.. I was in NYC.. Katie Snelson helped Chelsea get ready, and took the ritual photos of corsages, etc..

Oh, and it snowed.. and snowed.. and snowed.. full on BLIZZARD..

Chelsea & Jake

Brennan Schulzke, Sarah Benson, Stuart Oldroyd, ChaiDee Woods, Derek Jacobs, Cindy LaMont, girl in red/black, Brandon Whitby, Chelsea, Jake

Morp

January 9, 2009

Date: Jacob Eaton

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: at Sarah's..

Theme: Jungle Fever

Chelsea didn't have a say in the girl's outfits.. or the boy's.. {interesting side note - Jake had already been asked by someone else..}

Jake & Chelsea

Boys: Drew Botcherby, Jacob Eaton, Braden Rymer, Derek Jacobs

Girls: Sarah Benson, Chelsea, Chelsea Hansen, Cassie Hansen {yes, those TWINS again}

Senior Ball

February 2009

Date: Stag dinner/dance

No formal pictures at this one.. Just ours!!

Oh, and it snowed..

{do you recognize this dress?? its in another photo..}

Sweethearts

February 2009

Date: Dave Miner {Senior}

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: Otavio's

Doubled with Drew Botcherby and Janelle Frossard.. No group photo..

Chelsea had a fractured elbow for this dance! These 2 did a good job of hiding it for the picture!

Oh, and it snowed..

Chelsea & Dave

Preference

March 2009

Date: Tyler Johnson {Junior}

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: California Pizza Kitchen

What is with the freaky background pictures at Preference?

{all 4 in this group have lived in the 4th ward..}

Tyler & Chelsea

Chelsea, Tyler, Alecc Quesada, Jenna McCann

Prom

April 2009

Date: Jesse Sumsion

Type: guy-ask-girl

Dinner: Tucano's

Went 4 wheeling on a day date.. In a snowstorm..

This guy asked her 6 days before Prom, and Chelsea was pretty sure she hadn't said a word to him since 6th grade!

Oh, and it snowed..

After the dance, their group went to a movie.. On the way there, Jesse got pulled over and got a speeding ticket!

Jesse & Chelsea

Makayla Olson, Clay Stephens, Haze Ozborn, Rachel Miner, Aria Agle, Brady Jensen,

Jesse, Chelsea

Last Chance

May 2009

Date: Brady Hansen

Type: girl-ask-guy

Dinner: Bajio - ate up at Bridal Veil Falls

One of the girls in this group has a pool, so they swam afterwards!

Chelsea & Brady

Brady, Chelsea, Katie Snelson, Colby Relyea, McKensie Condie, Nic Jack, Megan Conrad, Daniel Kerr, Israel Lopez, Sydney Ricks

Some interesting {to me} stats:

A tally of how many times went to a dance with same person {as a date or in group}

2 times:

Daniel Tullis, Phe Brooks, Rachel Fischer {who used to live in the house we currently live in}, Cassie Hansen, Chelsea Hansen, Israel Lopez, Jacob Eaton, Derek Jacobs, Drew Botcherby

3 times:

Cameron Foster, Rachelle Moss, Stuart Oldroyd, Brennan Schulzke

4 times:

Sarah Benson, Colton Loftus

7 times:

group had siblings!!