In the eye of the storm

You know how they say that in the eye of a tornado the wind is still and all is calm? Well, that's where we are today. Last week was total craziness and I suspect the next few days will be filled with more fun craziness, but for today we are all taking deep breaths, sleeping in, watching it snow, and basically doing nothing productive. We've earned it though. Like I said, last week was a crazy one...3 band concerts, a piano recital, a neighborhood ornament exchange, my work Christmas party, Tyler's b-day, our anniversary, a road trip for Matt, Tyler's b-day party, the Hatch Family Christmas party, a kid totally sick with Strep, and that doesn't count the regular music lessons, PTSA meeting, class parties, friend's b-day party, and all the last minute Christmas shopping, grocery shopping, and chores that had to be done. I was so busy I didn't have enough time to blog about it all. So, here's some of the highlights that I missed posting on.

17 years ago on December 20th.........

...I married my Sweetheart, Matt. Crazy that it's been that long and then at the same time crazy that's it's only been 17. I know you can't tell from the photos, but Matt was actually 23 not 17 when we got married...lucky him, he still looks young for his age. This year we had to celebrate our anniversary a few days early, because Matt's main gift form me was letting him go to the Las Vegas Bowl with his brothers. They had a great time, even if BYU forgot to show up.

So what can I say about my sweetie? He completes me. He is strong where I am weak and weak where I am strong...a pretty good match I'd say. I am so thankful I have him!

Tyler's Party!!!

On Saturday we had Tyler's 11th birthday party. Lucky me got to entertain 14 kids for 4 hours. We were going to go to the sledding hill, but I decided not to conquer that by myself...they played in the snow in our backyard instead. We also played a few games, had a white elephant gift exchange, ate pizza, cake, ice cream, and hot cocoa, and watched Kung Fu Panda. Tyler seemed to have a great time and he got a lot of great gifts. Take note, he invited girls too!

Hatch Family Christmas Party...

Always a fun night! How can it not be when you have a bubblegum machine filled with M&M's and a whole table filled with other Christmas goodies?


Not to mention great gift exchanges! The younger kids loved exchanging gifts with their cousins. The adults, and older kids, had a fun with crazy white elephant gifts...the only useful place for bacon spam! We all had a great time. We feel blessed to live by so much of Matt's family. It's great fun for us and the kids to have them all around.

So, we are now enjoying our peace and getting ready for the fun Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will bring. We hope you are all having fun too!