John's Parents Visit

Christmas Decorations...

 THE tree - there is an elf in there

 Garland (thanks Costco)

 I love these big ornaments

 So this is my wishing tree - the photo doesn't do it justice...it turned out great!  I tried to buy branches and couldn't find them and then when we cut our tree I actually just cut a few white birch branches and hung tiny ornaments on them.  Camden said, 'oh pretteeeeee!'

 wreath - needs something...I still have to figure out the front walkway

Our stockings - the last one (all red) is Molson's (our dog) that is why it is ALL red.  I actually have the pottery barn kids stocking holders (which weigh about 5 lbs each) but Camden pulled on it and it landed on his head!  Concussion (I'm not kidding - it was awful).  So I went out and bought these at Bed, Bath and Beyond - they are so so cute - SOFT and little snowmen and about 1/3 of the cost!

THE CARSON FAMILY TRADITION...

So, growing up we NEVER had a fake tree - ALWAYS real and at least one.  My mom would even 'spray paint' the needles different colors according to the theme that year.  One year (ask my Aunt Cheer) she did a Pink and Black tree (they thought she had lost her mind) but it actually caught on and people would ask where she got her trees.  My dad would have to run all over Jackson looking and buying every strand of lights in that years color.  (believe me...it is hard to find pink christmas lights - or it was back then).  Sometimes he would even buy the all colored lights and and then go through and replace the bulbs to have an entire strand of one color.  They were a good team once...Thanks for that memory...it is a good one. 

So...anyway, when I met my Boston Boy (who had only bought or used a fake tree) we started 6 years ago going out and getting our own.  In Jackson it is easy!  In Utah it is tough.  Seriously, who knew?  Last year I was having a baby and so I had to break down and I had one delivered (fresh cut from Oregon - it was dead upon arrival).  I had researched it and found that you have to go up to Heber as they only give out 2000 permits.  1000 on Friday and 1000 on Saturday.  PEOPLE SPEND THE NIGHT!  I'm not kidding!  So, I asked Shannon if she would do it with me and she said sure and since her friend Dafnie had done it in the past we all met Friday morning at 5am and then waited in a line until they opened at 8am.  UGH!  (haven't they heard of the internet???)

 Going on a Tree Hunt...I'm not scared (I should have been, however)

 AHHHHHH - there she is in all her Glory.  Taylor's came with us and it was so funny, Shannon found THE tree and she was running for it yelling 'Come to MaMa.'  Cory didn't like it so the search went on and on and on.  Shannon and I could have found a cut a tree in minutes.  What is it with these guys (grass is always greener syndrome).

 Watch out - I have a Saw

Go John Go - TIMBER!

I forgot to post a few pictures...

 Those are milk chocolate skeletons and in chocolate GRAVES

 'tubby time' at our house

 Crew laughing and Carson giving him loves...so so cute!

just blogging...

Carson has been saying the funniest things lately...

The GIRLS from our old neighborhood came to play and as we were driving them home I asked what was wrong with him and he said 'well, I am just feeling lonely inside!'

I was explaining the voting and campaign signs and I asked him if he knew who the President of The United States is?

Carson said, 'hmmm....Jesus?'

Today he was trying to talk me into letting him sleep in my bed and I said probably not.  He said, 'why?  If I sleep in your bed I am sure I will sleep longer than a BEAST!'

He makes me LAUGH out LOUD.  Which reminds me of one of my most favorite words...'giggle'!

And one of my VERY most favorite sounds...is when the heater turns on and you can hear the sound of air coming through the vents.  We could be in the middle of meltdowns and candy negotiations but when I hear that sound everything seems to be blissful!  Which is ONE reason I LOVE winter! 

Carson just came in and asked for icecream with sprinkles - how much fun is it to be a child in a home with heaters and icecream with sprinkles:)

Some days being a MOM is seriously hard (the small font makes me feel better saying it out loud and TYPING it) and then there is a MOMENT...one single moment can change our lives, our perspective, our future...

Sometimes I wish I was just more thankful that it was just who I was! Some inherent gene of thankfulness...and then I have one of these 'MOMENTS' and I am overwhelmed with GRATITUDE. 

Halloween

I'm not sure why I think this is SO funny. When she sent the photo I thought they were here real ONES.  They are NOT so rest assured NO NUDITY here!  It really is so creative and I only hope she went somewhere exciting as GARFIELD!

My cousin's wife, Afton aka Garfield!


My G-PA thought John was a China Man with a Ponytail!

avatar, great white shark, tiger, and giraffe
Hansen Halloween Party

Make a Wish Tour...

Each glass star represents a wish GRANTED.  Sad because that is a lot of sick little kids!

 We drove up to SLC to the Make a Wish Foundation and were given a tour of the facility.  It really is such a great place.  They grant 3-4 wishes PER WEEK!!!!  Big Wishes!

These are current little kids that have wishes - so the money Carson raised from his birthday will go to help make one of these wishes come true!

This is the TOWER (like in a castle) - kids come in here and put their wish into this vessel.

Granted wish - twin boys (Carson's age) both with Cancer...very rare for twins to both have leukemia.

This is the wishing well - she gave both boys wish tokens and they each threw their coins in the well and made a wish.  Carson wished for a football field in his backyard!

Pay It Forward (from the MAKE A WISH Blog)

...I often feel blessed working for this organization because I am constantly given glimpses of the basic kindness of human beings, and despite the terrible painfulness of life that I constantly encounter here also, I have always been able to hold on to an optimistic view of humankind.

There was an article in the SALT LAKE TRIBUNE this week that talked about the fact that human evolution produces, not the expected vicious fight for survival at all costs, but rather a survival of the kind and good. The instinct to make things better for another, even to our own personal detriment, seems to be a fact in nature. We are all surviving because of our deep patterns of cooperation and moral values, not in spite of them.

Ivory Ridge Halloween Party...

 Avatar and my animals...

I think I was the ONLY adult that dressed up for the party and the Avatar body suit was SO dang tight is was up my butt most of the evening...ANNOYING!  However, I might have won a gift certificate - Do I look like a boy?  I should have put some Hapari boob cutlets in my suit:)

Last Soccer Game of the Season

 It was rainy and cold but Carson still played like a stud! 

Happy Birthday John Curry...35!!!

 Dinner the night before in Jackson at Calico...noodles, noodles everywhere!

Tori couldn't get over Crew and his cardigan - she was calling him the little Professor all night...he did look like a nerd - who dresses that kid?  Poor Sucker!

 Birthday morning in our condo in Jackson (aka THE HOLE)

 home home jiggity jig...On our way to dinner with our friends...we went up to Ruth Chris in SLC

Witney's 17th Birthday Party

 I hosted Witney and 6 of her girlfriends for her Birthday...

I made her a Boobalicious Beach Body Cake since the theme was Luau

 A few of the 'extra' Party Goers

 I rolled Sushi and John manned the grill - Korean Beef Steak (it was SO tasty)

 Crew is psyched to be getting all the leftovers!

 Wit and her friends...

 They played Twister, How Low can you Go, & Bean dropping from their noses!  

Girls are LOUD!  My Boys were not born with Lungs like that:)

Fresh Seafood & Flowers from Pike's Place

Our friends (he is a captain for US Airways) flew him and his family to Seattle - picked up yummy seafood and flowers and flew them here to Utah for a Feast!  It was so good and so much fun!

St. Pete's Beach, Florida

Photo Booth Pics - we stayed at this Groovy Hotel called 'Postcard Inn' it was on the BEACH, very modern and minimalistic but FUN!  We will definitely go back...

Models for On My Side Photoshoot

Studio Shoot