Feelin' Special

I've been feelin' pretty special all week long because of the way my friends and family have helped me celebrate my birthday. So first of all, THANK YOU! My sweet sisters took me out to dinner to Pizza/Pasta Factory a few days prior to my birthday since Margaret would be flying to Ohio the day of my birthday. Ruthanne gave me a scrapbook calendar, with pre-designed pages for each month. I just have to post some pictures on it, and it'll be darling. I'm excited! And Margaret gave me some adhesive tape for scrapbooking. We had such a fun time just talking and laughing. I love my sisters.

On Thursday morning, I woke up to Emily and Jon (with help from daddy) singing "Happy Birthday" to me. Then Wade made us all Fruit Smoothies for breakfast. Mmmm! And later when I checked my email/blog, I saw that Wade had surprised me with the beautiful post prior to this one. I cried as a I read it. It was incredibly thoughtful, and I feel lucky to have Wade as my husband. I was also so happy to read all of your sweet comments on my blog and receive emails, texts, letters in the mail, and phone calls. It brightened my whole week. :) Thank you.

When I returned home from grocery shopping at noon, Wade had a bouquet of flowers, a pork burrito from Cafe Rio for us to share, and a homemade chocolate cake waiting for me, again another surprise. It was wonderful! Thanks so much honey. That night, I blew out my candles and we enjoyed cake and ice-cream as a family.

Friday morning, Melissa Sevy and I drove to Syracuse together to visit Suzanne, Matt, and Ali Miller, the children with Down Syndrome we used to nanny for. Their mother recently lost her battle with cancer and passed away. She was such an incredible woman. Their dad is trying his best to raise these 3 children with special needs, by himself. They have a few nannies to help, but without her mother's positive influence, I'm afraid Suzanne has put on a lot of weight and just doesn't seem quite as happy. It breaks my heart, and I'm grateful Melissa and I could make that trip and spend some time with them. I still love them and feel an undeniable connection with each of them. The whole drive, Melissa and I discussed what an amazing experience it was to care for these children for all those years. It really prepared me for motherhood in more than just getting practice at bathing, feeding, and changing diapers. I learned about sacrifice, patience, and unconditional love, the kind they showed me.
That night, I had a Girls Night Out Birthday Party. It was such a blast! This is me with a big cheeser on my face because I'm thrilled Kim brought an Oreo ice-cream cake. Wahoo! Thanks again, Kim.

I blew out my one candle in just one breath. Proud of me? (We didn't want to ruin this beautiful cake by putting 26 whole candles in it.)

My new friend, Christine Gibb, and one of my old and dear friends, Becky Bruso. They look and act so much alike, it's uncanny.

da girls...watching Mama Mia and just relaxin'. The party started at 6pm, and we didn't even start the movie until 8pm, because we were having such a good time talking. L to R: Becky, Ruthanne, Kristine, Traci, Alix, Kim, Darci, and Kristal on the floor. I took this real quick in the dark, so I didn't realize until now that the picture cut off Cynthia. I still love you, friend. And Michelle was there, but needed to go home after we had dinner, to feed her baby. Thanks again everyone for coming! What an awesome night! I might just make it a tradition. ;)

After the party, Wade snapped a picture of me with the flowers I received from my mom and dad and from him. Can you tell I'm a little tired? But yet I can't stop smiling. What a happy week!

Happy Birthday Catherine!

Before I get started on the mushy stuff, I just want to wish my favorite person in the world, Catherine, HAPPY 26th BIRTHDAY!!

Catherine's First Photo!

Catherine at about 1 year old. I just love that happy smile!

I can definitely see where our kids get their cuteness!

Now, since you are 26 years old, you get 26 of the innumerable things I love about you! (In no particular order)

1. Just you...because you are my best friend!

2. The fact that you love me

3. Your beautiful smile

4. Your passion for life

5. Your love of all people, especially children with special needs

6. The way you teach and interact with Emily and Jonathan

7. Your love of the Gospel

8. Your testimony of Christ's atonement and the restoration of His Church

9. Your postive attitude

10. Your spunk

11. Your joyful heart

12. Your tight hugs when I get home from work

13. Your unfailing support of me and my pursuits

14. The way you keep our home clean and organized

15. Your soft kisses

16. Your love of music

17. Your angelic singing voice

18. Your ability to plan

19. Your boundless energy

20. The way you go out of your way to serve others

21. Your ability to make friends with strangers

22. Your ability to make others feel happy and loved

23. Your yummy dinners

24. Your emerald eyes

25. Your generosity

26. The way that you love me

Bonus...an original poem (sort of):

26 Years

26 years are but a few

of the many years ahead of you.

I love you, Catherine!

Christmas Parties

Saturday morning, we went to the Neighborhood Christmas Party at our church. We invited our neighbors, Trent and Alix, and their kids. Here, their daughter, Juliet, is decorating cookies with Jon after we had breakfast. We were having a lot of fun until...Santa came...
...then Emily was not so happy... ...and neither was Jonny!
After Santa left, the kids were themselves again, running around the gym and having a great time! Jon and Addie kept holding hands and running together.
Afterwards, we had the Stoney Family Christmas Party at Wade's mom's home in South Jordan. We had lunch and then decorated cookies together.

Isn't it pretty, mom?
Jon loved opening his gifts and was especially excited about some little animals his grandpa and grandma gave him.

Emily was thrilled to receive a new baby doll with a matching diaper bag and blanket with the words, "Made especially for Emily by Grandma Stoney" embroidered on it. It was a sweet gift.

Before we all opened gifts from mom and Keith, mom read us all a story and then talked about the tradition we started this year as a family. Instead of giving each other gifts at Christmas, we're all going to use the money we would have spent and donate it to a family or cause of our choice. Then we write about our experience and put it a white envelope and set it on the tree to help us remember that special experience during the season. I'm really excited to continue this tradition year after year to help me remember how blessed I am. It really feels good to help someone in need. Thanks mom and Keith for the idea and for the wonderful party!

Build-A-Bear

My cousin, Carolynn convinced me that Emily needed a Build-A-Bear, and since they are only $10 right now, and I had a $5 off coupon (thanks Kim!), I decided to do it. When we got there, Jon fell in love with the puppy dogs, so Carolynn insisted he build one, too, and she would pay for it as a Christmas gift to me.

We had never been there, but it really is a fun process where the kids get to help build the bear along the way. Here Emily is pushing the peddle with her foot that makes this machine shoot cotton into her bear's body, so it can be soft and fluffy.

And then she picked out a heart to be put inside of her bear.

Then they gave their bear and dog a bath, scrubbing it's fur and everything.

Then Emily picked out a Snow White costume for her bear to wear and Jon picked out a Utes t-shirt for his dog to wear.
Thanks mommy and Carolynn. I can't wait till Christmas when I get to play with my bear!

Let is snow! Let it snow! Let is snow!

Being a St. George girl all my life where snow is uncommon, I always get excited with the first snowfall here in Salt Lake. :) Before heading to Emily's preschool party last Monday, we had to stop and enjoy the falling snowflakes. The kids were so cute sticking their tongues out and trying to catch snowflakes in their mouth.

Then this morning, I woke up and looked out the window and this is what I saw. Our backyard was covered in beautiful white powder!
And this is the street we live on, a winter wonderland. Isn't it just gorgeous? Later this morning, we drank hot chocolate and watched Joy to the World as a family. Emily was quite concerned that the Innkeeper wouldn't let baby Jesus stay there. She looked at us and exclaimed, "We need to find a place for Him!" That's a powerful thought coming from a 3 year-old. It's true-we ALL need to find a place in our lives for Him. :)

Reality Check

Just in case you ever thought my house is always clean and that my children are always happy, and that I am always a sexy lady (well that part is true)...haha...I want to steal Jodi's idea and give you a Reality Check of my life.


1. I recorded The Office tonight, but I am patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for Wade to finish a final test at school, so that we can watch it together when he gets home. What's bad is that I'm tempted to watch it without him and act like I didn't!


2. While Wade's been up studying for his finals, I've been reading Breaking Dawn every night this week (oh my gosh, I can't even put it down!). Because I've been up so late, I've slept through my alarm 4 days in a row and haven't worked out a bit. And that cookie dough I keep sneaking into isn't helping my guilt either!


3. The kids and I ate cereal and yogurt for dinner twice this week. It's hard to be motivated to cook a nice, hot meal when Wade's gone. I'm going to be so glad when he finishes his last final next week, and I can cook Salmon and Rice or Spinach Lasagna for the whole family again. (I promise I'll send that recipe soon, Janese)
4. More of this needs to happen at our house. I put the kids to bed without brushing their teeth more than I would like to admit. Sometimes it's just such a hassle because they want to do it themselves, and we both know I have to help them, so the brushing is effective, and they're not just sucking the toothpaste off their toothbrush. :) When Wade's home, it happens. But at least we always read stories and have family prayer. That I am very proud of.


5. I get stressed really easy. I think about my two sisters all the time and worry about them because they're so stressed with life, but I get the same way. Sometimes I have so much going on, that I'm in my "go" mode, racing around the house, trying to accomplish what I need to. And then I often spill something or forget something later. I think I just need to slow down.


6. I haven't swept the kitchen and wood floors in over a week. It's a good thing you're coming for dinner on Sunday, Elaine, to celebrate Warren and Wade being done with school, because it gives me an excuse to sweep and mop and maybe vacuume, too. We'll see...


7. I attended Enrichment last night where we ate a fantastic dinner and listened to an amazing program (I even got to be a part of it and sing a musical number). But then, I didn't want to go home. Is that awful? I helped clean up afterwards just so that I could continue to visit and hang out with these cool older ladies. Because I serve in the primary, I don't get to know some of these other women as well. The night before in practicing for my musical number, it was the same thing, 30 minutes of practice, and another HOUR of just talking with these two awesome girls from my ward. I knew the longer I stayed at the church, the more likely the kids would be asleep in their beds when I got home, and that Wade would have already done the dishes, so that I didn't have to.

8. I secretly laugh when Jon cries like this. He's just so dang dramatic (you better not be thinking "just like his mom!") He's such a sensitive little guy, and he comes to me crying all the time over the littlest thing, like when Emily takes his toy horse or if his yogurt is all gone, and he wants more. It's pretty funny, until it goes on and on...then it's just obnoxious.

Twilight

I finally saw Twilight on Friday. I went with my cousin, Britni, and we both loved it! For the last year, my friends and family have been telling me I have to read Twilight. I finally read it a few months ago and I couldn't put it down because it was such an exciting read! However, right after I finished reading it, Wade and I discovered the show, The Office, so every night, we would watch one or two shows of season 1-4 to catch up. Hil-ar-i-ous by the way if you've never seen it! So it took me longer to read New Moon and Eclipse because I only read while the kids were taking their afternoon nap. Plus neither book is quite as thrilling as Twilight, when Bella first discovers she's in love with a vampire and another vampire is trying to kill her. That's intense.

I just started reading Breaking Dawn and so far, I really like it. Anyway, I don't know if I've ever seen a movie as good as the book, but Twilight came awful close because it was so amazing! And when asked the next day if I thought Edward was smokin hot, my response was, "I think WADE is smokin hot, but yes Edward is pretty good-looking." Wade was happy to hear that I'm more in love with him than an actor. ;)