Christmas in Colorado

We had a fabulous time on our trip to Colorado for Christmas. Although the quarters were a bit tight, we all got along with relatively few kid battles and tattles. Although my camera bit the dust when Coryn threw it on the tile. That was about the only negative thing. We played games, went sledding, went to the movies, went to the Dillon Rec center to swim, shopped at the outlets and ate WAY too much food. It was perfect and Santa was even able to find us there to bring the kids their gifts. Here are three reasons why the new condo beats out the old one:




The view is just AMAZING. I mean it literally takes my breath away, well that and the cold.

And here is the silly picture of the fam:


I have some sledding pictures I'll share later after I steal them off my sisters camera. I am in the market for a new camera so if you have any suggestions feel free to let me in on the things you love and hate about yours. I am not sure how much I am willing to spend just yet. The broken camera was a Sony Cyber-Shot 8.1mp point and click. I am open to new things though.

Christmas Hits in our House

I was thinking about all of the things that my kids got this year(way too much once again) and decided that it might be nice to share what the big hits were for Christmas 2008. So without further ado:

The Melissa and Doug Pizza Party. Coryn LOVES this toy. She loves sorting the mushrooms, peppers and pepperonis and making us each our own special piece. She especially loves cutting the pizza.


Parents Pet Vet from Target. Another Coryn favorite. She loves opening and closing the little doors and putting the animals in their little compartments. I love that all of the pieces can be stored inside it.


The Whoonu game by Cranium. Big hit with the bigger girls. We have had a lot of fun playing this easy to learn game.


Much to my dismay this movie is hanging over my head even longer than it ever should have. It seems like Troy and Gabriella have been a part of our lives FOREVER! But alas the soundtrack to HSM3 is yet another hit.


Mario Party DS! Really any of the Marios have been a hit. This just happens to be our latest.


So what were the hits at your house?

End of 2008

The end of this year actually seems fairly anti-climatic. I am not complaining, because I know this year has been anything but anti-climatic for several people I know and not necessarily in good ways. So I'll take my boring old 2008 and my wonderful life and just savor it all. All&Sundry a blog that I was turned on to by my friend Kelly, has challenged us to answer the end of the year questionnaire as she has been doing for several years herself. So here goes. I challenge you to do the same :)

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? Paint an entire interior of a house
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't make resolutions
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Kelly and Heather
4. Did anyone close to you die? Uncle Ken on Valentines Day
5. What countries did you visit? Just stayed in the US
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? One house payment
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Valentine's Day because we lost a great great man
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Getting this house in shape to move in
9. What was your biggest failure? Wow that's a tough one, probably just not being as patient with my kids as I needed to be
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I hurt my ankle painting the bath. Don't stand on a bathtub to reach higher.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My new washer and dryer oh yeah and the house.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Stephanie Vest
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I can't say there is anyone that appalled me or depressed me, I had my shake my head moments, but really I won't let someone get to me that much.
14. Where did most of your money go? The house
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Moving here
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? American Boy
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter- do you think those two are related?
c) richer or poorer? Poorer
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Eating
20. How did you spend Christmas? In Colorado with the Smith clan
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Just stayed in love
22. What was your favorite TV program? Top Chef
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Don't be a hater.
24. What was the best book you read? Twilight series
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? I fell in love with Kid Rock after seeing an interview with him and realizing how intelligent he actually is. It still has me puzzled so don't ask.
26. What did you want and get? A new washer and dryer
27. What did you want and not get? A boob job
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Twilight
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 35. We had just moved in here so we didn't really do anything special.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having J.R. around a little more
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Comfy
32. What kept you sane? Zoloft
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Sarah Palin
34. What political issue stirred you the most? The presidential election
35. Who did you miss? Nicole
36. Who was the best new person you met? Felicia Nigro
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008. Talk Less
38. Quote a song lyric or something from a book that sums up your year. I am going to quote something from the book, The Shack that was very powerful for me "paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions. Most emotions are responses to perception- What you think is true about a given situation. If your perception is false, then your emotional response to it will be false too. So check your perceptions, and beyond that check the truthfulness of your paradigms-what you believe. Just because you believe something firmly doesn't make it true. Be willing to reexamine what you believe. The more you live in the truth, the more your emotions will help you see clearly. But even then, you don't want to trust them more than me(God)."

Here is to another uneventful 2009 of happiness and truly living life and looking for ways to improve myself. And you?

That's just gross

Appetite for seduction: BK’s new fragrance - Fashion & Beauty - TODAYshow.com

I am hoping that this is meant as a joke gift. I have never walked into a BK and thought, I wish I could have that smell to take home with me. I think I would puke if I had to be around someone with that "cologne" on. Now I can see the gem in the product if it is placed in the same category as ugly fake teeth, fake poop, and other novelty type items. But Really?!?!

Lots more to share

I have a lot of pics that I just need to share.

Coryn and her friend Gabby

Coryn has a bff! She is adorable and they love each other so much.

My sweet little hookers

That's what J.R. said when he saw Ella and Tara's costumes. He can always find just the right words. He really should have been a writer instead of a banker. And yeah I know it's almost Christmas but the pictures just got uploaded.

We should all enjoy pudding so much!

If you don't have it all over your face, you aren't truly enjoying it.