New Year's Part 3

New Year's Resolutions:

What would the New Year be like without any form of looking back on the old year and making resolutions and goals for the new year. 2010 was a decent year, for the most part. I worked at Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, was a full time nanny for the cutest little girl named Sabrina, moved out once in the basement of a house in West Jordan, moved back home after the bad experience of moving out into the basement of a house in West Jordan, got a new job at a big company Cybersource, and moved out again down to Provo where I am happily living now. It has definately had its ups and downs. Times are still a little rough when it comes to family life... but we are making it. Sometimes it hurts to breathe and the hole in my heart will never stop aching or be hole again. We hold onto each other and find out strength inside each other. I am very grateful for my close friends who keep me going, keep me happy, and really, keep me alive. You are all a great strength to me. Thank you. So, time to say goodbye to 2010 and bring on the new times in 2011! (Assuming the world hasn't ended by the time this is posted...) Moving on to the resolutions:

• Be Financially Stable
• Lose 25 lbs
• Be happy

Yep, they are few in numbers but tall in stature. Only 3 resolutions, all realistic. Ok 2011... Let the games begin!

New Year's Part 2

For dinner on New Years Eve me and Allie had a little dinner date at the Brick Oven. I had never been before, but let me tell you, it was absolutely delicious! We had their old fashioned root beer, garlic cheesy bread, and the BBQ chicken and pineapple pizza. Let's just say, we were both stuffed to the bone!

New Year's Part 1

Come Back to Texas?! Come Back to Utah!!!

We had a little free time on our hands this morning...and thought we would be hee haw larious to make a music video with Kristen's song "Come Back to Texas". We just changed the words.. did a little dance... had a little song.. And badabingbadaboom! Enjoy!

Whose A Pretty Princess?

Maren Is!!!

Thanks Ashley Rose!!!

Before...

For christmas my present from Kristen was a "Free Wax, Cut and Color" from her sister Ashley. I also got the same coupon from Carmel and Claire. Woo and HOO! I have been in desperate need of getting my hair done... and eyebrows waxed.. lets be honest I've just let myself go as far as the Beauty department is concerned. So, tonight I finally am getting together with Ashley to make me gorgeous again! And I thought a Before and After post was necessary.

So, Here is me before... Notice my face of horror that I am even posting this. I did nothing with my hair today really, plus I was out in the snow for a good amount of time getting my car driveable.

And the horrible regrowth... This is just my hair screaming at Ashley to please redo it...

On a side note... this is like one of my most favorite shirts. And, I have to say that it is not as snug as it usually is.. which only means one thing! Some weight loss! Another woo and hoo!

So, enjoy this lovely array of "hair desperately needing some tender loving care" and stay tuned for the magic of my stylist and saloonist Ashley Westover Albiston!

Allie's Dinnertime Creation

My sweet Allie is quite the cook. There hasn't been anything that she has made I haven't liked. I think that my top favorites are her Potato Soup and the Chicken Enchiladas. The Potato Soup we had on Tuesday and it was DELICIOUS. All that you put in it is some cream, potatoes, water, milk, salt, and the bacon bits at the end. I am very sad that it is Allie's last week. But it has been kind of nice because it's been just me and her the whole week! So our nights have been spent "just the two of us" and singing "you and me, me and you, both of us together!" quite a bit. I love her freakin' guts and you had better believe I will pester her to come back to Utah more often than not! I wish you luck in school Allie and will miss you DESPERATELY!

Life Summed Up In A Song...

Christmas 2010

Us kids with Grandma and Grandpa Linnell
Me and my Jeffy

Jeff's Daughter Shelby being cute with her new scarf and hat.
Uncle Mark, Cousin Kevin, and Alona Kevin's Girlfriend
Karinne, Dallan, and Amy

Grandpa Linnell Carving up the Roast
Baby Owen with my mom
Melanie, Mom, and Kyle

Dads wedding ring and Moms new ring she got for Christmas. We kids gave her a gold ring with diamonds that has all of our names engraved,including my dads, and all of our birthstones going down the middle. This picture doesn't do it justice. She loved it.
Jeff and his christmas presents. He got the mans dream of a tool box and a tool bench chair.
Moms beautiful Christmas Decor in the family room
The kids Christmas Present. A new downstairs game area and lounge. Got the new couches and the new big screen tv.
I'm so Vain...

Kyle enjoying his new ipod touch and Melanie playing her new ds Scribble Knots game

Our ever faithful dog Molly in her ever faithful position. At least she is sporting her cute Christmas Sweater!

We had a good Christmas this year. I got a new laptop from Santa, My mom, Grannie and Grandpa Brown, the tooth fairy, new years baby, valentines cupid, the leprachauns, april showers, and my Birthday. No presents for me until Christmas next year, which I am TOTALLY ok with as I absolutely love my new laptop. The kids got furniture and a tv for the basement so that they can have a cool hang out place. Along with other gizmos and gadgets named above.

We woke up at about 9ish and ran down the stairs to see what Santa had brought us. My mom opened her ring on Christmas eve and we also opened sibbling presents, pajamas and our calendars on Christmas Eve as well. Grandma and Grandpa Linnell came over for Chicken Cheese Soup and Dessert along with a short chirstmas program we put on for them. It's tradition! After we had opened all of our gifts and had a nice peaceful morning we headed over to Grannie and Grandpa Brown's for omlets and more present opening. Then it was off to the Linnells for more good eating and more present opening! All in all, it summed up to be a very Merry Christmas!

Editors note: I would have to say that Christmas is the second hardest holiday for the family, with Fathers day being the first. We did a lot better this year than last year with keeping it together. I actually felt like I was present in all the festivities this year, where as last year it all just felt like a dream and we just went through all the motions. I miss my dad deeply and there is still that ache in my heart and that hole that will never be filled. It is getting easier, I thought it never would, but it is. We are all slowly starting to heal... The pain is somewhat bearable. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts to our family during the Christmas Season. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas as well!

There was a young girl who had a ....

Zit!!!

Now, I don't have Horrible Acne.. I did in high school, yes, but now, not so much.

However, the zit monster always seems to grab hold me around special events.

Photoshoots, holidays, birthdays, weddings...

And for the life of me I can NEVER get rid of them in time!

Of course Christmas is Saturday... and what have I been fighting this whole week?

The same mean zit on the left side of my nose.

I just wish it would be gone before Christmas so that some decent photos could be had...

But alas. Such is life. Hopefully the zit monster won't win again...

Presents, Dinner, and a Movie

Last night Kristen decided she would finally grace us with her presence. So we declared a girls night and had made plans previously to go to dinner and a movie and to have our Christmas for us 3 girls. It was AWESOME! I got some new sweatpants and a picture frame from Allie (All home made) and then from the Kissy I got free beauty! (color, cut, AND wax from Ashley) along with some dry shampoo since she gets grossed out I don't wash it every other day and mucho candy! I gave to Kristen the ever talked about Scrapbook, and a sweater. And to the Allie, a "World's Greatest Room mate" Shirt.

After our small Christmas we headed over to see the movie Tangled...

And it is the cutest movie EVER!!!

I loved every second of it and have to say that I really should carry a frying pan around with me more often(just in case) cuz boy those things can come in HANDY!

I loved the adventure, the singing, the romance, the moral, and the whole story. Every second of it I LOVED!

It was THAT good of a movie.

After the movie we headed out for some grub at Mimi's Cafe where they have everything under the sun! From salads and chinese, to american and breakfast!

It was a much needed girls night full of entertainment, good eating, and GREAT company! Now we are all off to celebrate our Christmas Holidays seperately. But we have more adventures to come!

***3 days until Christmas! I love Christmas!

The Nutcracker

Last night I got a call and multiple texts from Ashley seeing if I was available and if I wanted to go and see the Nutcracker. As I was not doing anything, and since her husband ended up in the Dog House, I gladly accepted! The best part, the tickets were free because Ashley was able to win them off one of the give away blogs! I haven't seen the Nutcracker in a while and this ballet was very impressive. It was at the Stephen Covey Center for the Arts in Provo, right down the street from me, which was also a big bonus as we were running late.

This has always been my favorite part in the Nutcracker. Except, in our performance the big lady was in a blue dress and the little girls were adorable that came out and danced. I think I like it best since it is such a unique part.

The dancing snowflakes were also something to talk about. Especially since they had a huge snowflake for Clara to ride to and fro on!

It was a super fun night with the Ashers! After we saw the production we went and picked up darling Allie and headed over to Chili's for some dinner. When we got home we were all waiting anxiously for a Kristen to appear, but due to weather she doesn't come home again until tonight. Which shoudl be fun because we are doing gift exchange, going to the Training Table (it's on Allie's Bucket List) and seeing the cute show Tangled!

*Only 4 More Days until Christmas!!!

Traumatizing Event

On Friday I was real excited to go and babysit the twins. I switched my work schedule to an early shift so that I could get off in time to go and watch them. The night started off great! They opened their christmas gifts from me, which were pajamas for their build a bears, they chatted me up a good storm on what I had been missing out on (keep in mind I hadn't seen them since before thanksgiving!) and then we got dressed, did our hair, and headed out the door for some good eatin' at Chic Fil A!

Only to encounter this....

We had made it through dinner, the girls both ate real well and had enjoyed playing on the playground area. Not until we were walking out the door did the disaster happen.

We were leaving and the girls were running to the door in front of me when all of a sudden Carmel was on the ground. (Later that night Claire fessed up and admitted that Carmel had actually tripped over Claire's boot) Carmel got up off the ground and I was thinking everything was going to be ok... And then I saw the blood. So, in turn I started freaking out which then made Carmel start to freak out. She had bitten into her lip hard enough to make it bleed ALL OVER THE PLACE. Unfortunately for me, the lip is the part of the body that always seems to bleed the most. So I am picking her up trying to soothe her, the chic fil a workers are handing me ice bags and bandaids (really people? it's a lip? Who puts a BANDAID on a lip?!) And with bribbing of ice cream we were able to get cleaned up and into the car to be whisked off to artic circle.

Not gonna lie, it was a VERY traumatizing event for everyone involved. When we got to Artic Circle Cailin had asked for pictures of the lip (as she too was freaking out. Didn't help the fact that I had said Carmel had bit THROUGH her lip instead of just into her lip...) and so after I took pictures of the lip Carmel suggested I take a happy picture of her to prove to her mom that "She was ok now and there was no more blood"

Thank the good lord.

The night then continued on with bathtime and more playtime with Mare. Had there not been the lip incident, it would have been a PERFECT night.

This is her lip as of yesterday (Sunday). Seems to be healing real well, but was still a scary traumatic experience nonetheless.

And we became one of "those people" at Chic Fil A.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Me and the Twins hit up Artic Circle for a curtesy cone after the "incident" that is listed above. Luckily, we have bright smiling faces again! And they thought it would be funny, as well as silly, to rub the ice cream all over their faces, laugh at each other, and prompt me to take pictures of them. So... I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Carmel

Claire

Oh I Wish...

Oh I wish that I lived at Uncle Mark's house. This is the view from his apartment window. He is livin the life!

Maybe one day I will have the same view from my own house... Could you work on that for me please Corey? Love ya!

Typical Facebook Photo...

The other day I was at my moms chilling before we left for the Linnell Christmas Party. I was totally goofing around and ended up with this...

The totally typical Facebook Photo. Which, mind you, I have never had. I haven't ever taken a picture of me in the mirror with a camera before! So, I thought that I would just share my goofiness with you. And for the record, no this is not my profile picture nor will it probably ever end up on my profile.

An Uninvited Guest

I came across an unfriendly guest

As I came down the stairs before getting some rest

I heard it's squeaking, along with some scampering

Horror came about to my face

And I quickly ran up the stairs to my place

I called the home teachers and needless to say

John became my night and shining armor that day

He carried it out

Without even a pout

Even though some taunting and teasing came about

It was quite a night

and a very scary sight

To see the uninvited guest

Right before I was to get some rest.

I hope there are no more

Take this as a fair warning dear guest's friends

Don't come back again!

We Are Santas Elves!

"Ho Ho Ho! Ho Ho Ho!

We are Santas Elves!

Filling Santas Shelves!

With a toy for each Girl and Boy!

Oh We are Santas Elves!"

Merry Christmas From Carmel and Claire

These are my girls. Jealous? It's their cute Christmas Picture Proofs and I loved them so much I thought I would share one. Merry Christmas!