Carrie Time

We all could use a little Carrie time. I love my friend Carrie from freshman year at BYU. We had a great time getting together once again. Her kids are so freakin' cute it kills me.

White Elephant Party

Every year, some of my friends and I participate in a White Elephant Christmas Party. We have such a great time chatting, enjoying some great food, and exchanging funny gifts. This year, Traci even gave us all a personality test! Quite interesting! I didn't get home till after 2 am. Definately worth the exhaustion the next day!

The girls

Krissy

Missy

Miss Jen

Traci

Sally Ann

The White Elephants: A bag of coal for Miss Jen

A flip flop flyswatter and some Lysol

An Ernest DVD with the famous Santa bag that returns to the party every year.

I brought the F stocking. What was I thinkingwhen I bought it? Even if it was about $1 at the Target post-Christmas sale. Yeah, the problem is I don't have any family members starting with F. So, it was a good time for the White Elephant. Hope Missy can make use of it!

I fought for the Life is Crap calender from Miss Jen

Sally got the stocking for her daughter Syd!





The personality test!

Such great ladies, such a great time!

BYU vs U of U Rivalry Fun

When you have friends who are U of U fans, kidnap their flag, put up a BYU flag instead, and don't forget the signs on the garage. Our neighbors just did this and we had a good laugh from the sidelines. This should turn into quite an amusing neighbor prank game. Sorta' glad we don't have a flagpole about now.


Payback Time!
So, it was payback time. Too bad BYU lost! Bummer! It was time for the "U fan" neighbors to have some fun. They put the BYU flag at half mast. Poor BYU!

The "U fan" neighbors posted this sign on the garage of our "Y fan" neighbors.

Till next year-----

Gotta' love rivalry fun!

College Buddies

My friend Mindy was in town from California, so we all got together to chat! Fun times! That Freshman Year at BYU led to so many incredible friendships---which I will always be grateful for. It is funny to go to the campus and see all the kids there, they all look too young to be in college. Were we really ever that young? Did we look that young? Where does all the time go? It's been 18 years since freshman year. That seems like so long. It only seems like it's been about half that much time. I know, I am rambling.

Sally and Mindy

Carrie and me

Little Attitudes

Tyra, Sally, and I hung out today and took some pictures of all the kids. My favorite is Andrew---but I have to laugh as they all have big personalities. They must get them from their fathers, because we are the most demure, shy, inward women you could EVER find.

Tyra's Marin

Tyra's Andrew

Sally's Syd

Sally's Summer

Ethan, Benj, and Marin

Dylan

Maddie

all the munchbabies

Stevenettes

OK, so it is not Stevenette's anymore, but do you guys remember that shake place by BYU that we all trafficked back in the day? Well, we went there last night----SO fun! I swear, they had the same seats they had nearly 20 years ago when we went to BYU. They also still had a jukebox and broken mirrors (I guess to make the place look bigger?) Tyra thought she recognized a raspberry stain on one of the chairs from back then. I wouldn't be that surprised. It definately hasn't changed much through the years---anyway, we had to admire John, for "braving" all us girls and hanging with us! We had so much fun. We still have so much in common---we all for the most part are "Hills" junkies (a bit frightening)! It's amazing how when we all hang out again---it is like nothing has changed. Yeah, all of us may be a little older, and one of us may be a little bigger, but besides that (and the kids we left at home) we still can talk till the crack of dawn! Thanks for a great night!

What used to be Stevenettes

John & Carrie---meeting up at the Stevenettes

Carrie

Earlier in the night, Sally, Tyra, and myself

Everybody Poops Sometimes (just not on their friend's floor)

My friend Tyra is in town, so of course we had to take this opportunity to all get together. All Mom's could use some chat time---and knowing each other for almost 18 years always makes for great conversation. Are we really that old? Shhhhh...don't answer that question. Many questions, just remember, are rhetorical.
Tyra

Carrie

Sally

Sally, Carrie and myself
Carrie and me

Carrie, Tyra, and myself


Oh, and I won't tell you how I have been avoiding some of the friend-kid get togethers, as my children have been more "fun" of late. So, feeling brave, I ventured out to Sally's home, and of course, in Laura good luck form (does this have anything to do with the fact that my favorite number is 13?), Dylan's diaper was partially undone underneath his shorts, so his poop went all over Sally's carpet right after we got there. A fabulous thing to have happen at your good friend's home. (Pray tell, why could this not have happened at the McDonald's we were at prior to Sally's home? I will once again blame that on "Laura Luck".) Just remember, Tom (Sally's man) does NOT need to know about it !

I know, we can be quite the fun crowd to be around right now. Thank goodness bad stages come and go. I would say we are in a "bad" stage right now. I just don't have enough hands to control my 20 month, 2 1/2, and 3 1/2 year old. Luckily, the 6 and 8 year old are usually pretty good at this point!

Anyway, rumor has it, that life will get WAY easier when the youngest is 3 years old. Some bits of truth we just have GOT to hold on to as tight and fast as we can--- (although, like sand, it will escape you quite easily) and hope for the best until then. We are just doing our best to get through every day!!!

We also braved McDonald's with all the kids. It was a MADHOUSE! I told my friends thank you for being the village that it takes to help raise my kids at times! I am grateful for friends that are kind, understanding and not too judgemental!!!! Thank you!

Oh, and our family will be anxiously awaiting all your invites to your homes, as clearly you will not be able to resist all the fun experiences we can bring with us!!!

There is nothing like a bit of poop to humble the soul; especially on your friends carpet!