Near extinction . .

 

 The popularity of the names Susan and Susie over the years . . . I'm almost extinct.  Then again, Niels didn't even make the chart.

Check out your name, or your kid's names here:  http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager

It's not really looking like Christmas in Vegas, but we'll try anyway.

It's still 70 degrees here (not complaining), so we figured we better do something to get in the holiday spirit. After all, it is our first winter away from snow in 7 years. (again, not complaining)

The entryway creation . . .

The tree . .

I have this quirk sometimes that if I am going to do something that I care about, I want it done well. Hence this little Douglas Fir. I didn't want to fork out the dough on an expensive tree this year, only to adorn it with tacky ornaments that would drive me crazy to look at every day (being that those are likely all we could afford right now). But, it's not Xmas without a tree so I decided to put the 11 ornaments that we own on this 18 inch beauty. We pick a new one each year and the others were gifts. My plan is to get a steal in January on a big tree and some pretty ornaments for next year.

I promise I am going somewhere with the following:

Most of you probably already know that many celebrities have their various assets insured. Well this was completely news to me last month and frankly I was baffled to learn that J-lo's derriere is insured, as well as are Mariah Carey's legs, not to mention Bruce Springsteen's voice, Liberace's hands, Dolly Parton's you-know-whats, etc. , etc.

I also recently learned that most dentists insure their hands in case anything debilitating happens during their career. While it totally makes sense, I guess it never really crossed my mind that we would have a policy on Niels' paws someday.

Still going somewhere with this. . .

This all being said, I am slightly overprotective of Niels' hands as they are kind of our future. I got a tad nervous when he played in last week's Turkey bowl, and to be honest I have doubts about our ski trip next weekend as I envision all kinds of worse case scenarios. I know it sounds crazy, but Niels will testify that his professors back me up on this.

Earlier this week I was nervous for his hands as he climbed a 20 ft ladder to hang Christmas lights on the top story of our house. Now he tried to convince me that it was ok and very normal to just hang them on the first story above the garage. But because of my above mentioned quirk, that was simply not an option. That is, it was simply not an option until I saw how tall that ladder really was. I told Niels to let me get up on the ladder becasue we needed his hands. He replied from 20 ft. above me, "You're not getting up here. We can still have children if I don't have hands."

Ta dah . . .

We took the girls to an outdoor light fesitval at Springs Preserve. Jen told Taylor the real Santa was there and she cocked her head and rolled her eyes in very Taylor fashion.

Who needs a Douglass Fir, when you can have a huge Saguaros instead? Kind of cool.

Turkey Tales

It was soo last week, but . . .

This year we hosted Thanksgiving dinner at our house for my family of 6, minus both my sisters and my nieces. My mom brought the bird and Niels and I made all the sides. I told her I couldn't cook anything else if I had a Turkey in my oven all day. While that is very true, I was actually just too nervous about making a turkey.

It was the very first adult only holiday we have ever had. It felt slightly incomplete to not have the girls running around to buffer conversation with how cute they look or how funny they are.

I didn't take any pictures of my food creations, just of the ambiance . . .

My awesome brother Ryan saying, "Stop, don't take a picture of me . . . I don't want to be on your dumb blog!" He used to work in banquets at various hotels and has amazing napkin folding skills. I am jealous.

My best friend Jessica Jensen, her husband and her kids stayed with us for 3 nights. Her kids are pretty much little replicas of her and her husband, Travis. So cute.

On the same day that Jessica and Travis left, we wiped down the counter, washed all the sheets and towels and had a quick overnight visit from yet another Jensen family. Niels' brother Trevor and his family stayed with us on their way back to SLC from Disneyland. Caden and Hailey are alwasy cracking us up. It was so fun to see all of them.

To top off the busy week, we had . . . eh hem, we got to speak in church on Sunday. I was actually ok with it so people can stop asking us if we are new at functions.

Needless to say it was a crazy and eventful week. However, we are indeed thankful for the wonderful family and friends we had to share the holiday with!

You Old Hag

If you know me well, then you will know my best friend Jessica Jensen as she usually comes up in conversation on average of about 3.74 times a day.

Today is her 25th bday (you're old Kika) so I thought I'd tell you all how much I love this woman. Seriouslly, who drives 10 hours to be a bridesmaid at my wedding 7 days after giving birth?!

Jessica and I became friends shortly after she decided to no longer be scared of me in 7th grade. You see I went through a skater phase in middle school where I wore a chain on my wallet and one those metal ball necklaces. I also wore blue mascara with white eyeliner and only wore Vans shoes (kind of like Avril). Jessica, being a naive girl from Farmington, Utah . . . knew that girls that looked like me must have been trouble. But, she eventually she saw past my facade, and embraced my quirks in all their glory. The rest is simply history.

I first thought about listing 25 things I love about you, but I could only come up with 7.

So instead I just want to say thank you for being such a huge part of my life. I know without a doubt that I would not be who/where I am today if you were not in my life these past 12 years.

You make me excited to be a mom someday when I watch you play with your kids. I just hope you will still consider living next door to me someday when we finally decide where we settle. And no, Forks, Washington is not an option.

Love your guts.