The Holidays in a nutshell

It's been a while...I know. We have been really busy with weddings, family, traveling, and a sick little one. Oh, and did I mention that everything went so fast that I woke up the day after Christmas & couldn't believe it was already over! I always DREAD the day I have to take the tree down. I feel like the "Holiday Magic" just came and went! But, this year I got the decorations down early because I was excited to start the new year & set some new goals for 2009. One of my new goals is to keep up with my blog!!! I'll let you be the judge of how well I do that. :)

One of the beautiful things about marrying a man from your hometown, and living in that same hometown is that there is family GALORE! And we eat it up. We were able to spend Thanksgiving with both sides of the family. I love Thanksgiving food!!! Not as much as Ben, but pretty close. I even tried a few little recipes of my own. It was fun to add to the meal. Ben and I have the best chefs in our family!

After Thanksgiving dinner we headed up to my mom and dad's cabin in Island Parkwith my family. We had a blast watching movies, hanging out with family, and playing games. And, not to rub it in, (Bubba and Olivia) but Ben and I dominated at POUNCE! (An insane game that our family gets WAY too in to.)

On Saturday the Dance side of the family came to the cabin too, and we went out in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Landon was such a trooper! It was fun to bundle him up and take him with us. Ben found the perfect tree, and we took turns cutting it down. And, just as a disclaimer, the tree next to us in the picture above is NOT the tree. :)

December 2nd was our two year anniversary. Yay!! Two years! It was in the middle of the week, so we decided to celebrate during the weekend. So, that Friday night my mom (who loves nothing more than having Landon all to herself) watched Landon, and Ben and I escaped. We got a room, (thanks dad) ate take-out from our favorite restaurant, watched movies, and enjoyed a good night's sleep! It was so fun to relax and be together. When we got to the room, there was a huge basket of yummy food, sparkling cider, candles...etc. Thanks mom. We had such a great anniversary.

Also in December we took a fun trip to Salt Lake City to celebrate Ben's sister's graduation. Emily received her Master's Degree from Utah State. Yay Aunt Emily!!! We are SO PROUD of you!! We went to the Spaghetti Factory at Trolley Square for dinner, and then we jumped on the Trax and headed to Temple Square to ohh and ahh at the Christmas lights. They were, as always, so magical.

Early the next morning the weather was crazy. It was snowing non-stop, and we got a frantic call from my business partner, Mel, saying that she rolled her Durango on the way to set up a wedding. Thankfully, nobody was hurt-but the SUV was totaled. So we packed up our stuff and cruised back to Idaho Falls to help. No more traveling in snow storms for me. Good job Ben! He was completely calm & collected. Overall, our trip was a complete whirlwind, but it was so fun to be with family.

Ben's company Christmas party was the 15th. Becky and Byron are so good to us. We had dinner at the Sandpiper with the whole Byron Beck Builder's crew. Again-such good food. Are you seeing a pattern here?? We love food at our house!

The next few days were a frenzy trying to finish getting ready for Christmas. We tried to spend as much time with family as possible. We took Landon to visit Santa-and he loved it. He sat down and started pulling on his beard. :) I thought Landon might be a little afraid, or even apprehensive to sit on a total stranger's lap. I was wrong.

We have a couple Christmas birthdays in our family. Deanna (Ben's mom) is the 23rd, and my mom is the 24th. It's actually really a lot of fun because we get to celebrate for 3 days! On Christmas Eve Landon got really sick. So, Ben and I took turns trying to comfort him and help him sleep. By Christmas morning he was feeling a lot better, and Ben and I were SO EXCITED for him to open the things Santa brought him. It was so fun to watch him get excited over the paper. His grandparents spoiled him rotten. I can't wait until next year!

I know it's overdue, but we loved your Christmas cards and letters! Thanks you for remembering us. We hope you had a wonderful, memorable holiday season!

***Sorry about the random pictures...they are completely out of order-I'm not a savvy blogger... yet. Maybe with my resolution to be a better blogger I'll figure it out.

Twilight

Okay...it was fabulous! I LOVED IT! I only read the first book because I had a brand new baby, and a brand new business-so I didn't have time. But, I was so excited to see the movie so I could understand what all of the psycho/can't hardly wait/I'm in love with Edward/ hype was all about. And tonight I discovered why the movie made 33 MILLION dollars on opening night. A bunch of girls in my ward got together and we went to see Twilight tonight. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!! The hubbies stayed home to play "dad", and we went out for a night on the town. And, I have to confess that I don't think I've been up this late since Ben and I were dating! Oh geeze! I sound so old. There were times in college when I would pull all-nighters no problem. Right Kymmie? I think those all-nighters are finally catching up with me. Now I'm going to bed so I can dream of Edward-Ohhh, actually I hope I don't have nightmares. All that blood-sucking/vampire kung-foo got pretty intense. Can't wait for the next movie!!!

Random Thoughts

Tuesday I spoke at the baptism of a woman named Brandy. I was lucky enough to get to know her over the last few months through the sister missionaries. We met at one of her first discussions, and we were instant friends. She is amazing! She already knew so much, had great questions, and wanted to be baptized. She has the most wonderful family. Her husband was very supportive, and her daughters (still too little to be baptized) will be so thankful someday for their Mother's decision and example. This recent experience with Brandy made me remember a lot of feelings from my mission in Bulgaria when I was able to see someone I helped teach be baptized. There was a time after I came home from Bulgaria when all I wanted to do was go back. And even though it's been five years (I know! Can you believe it??) since I've been home, I still miss it every day. I miss teaching the gospel 24/7, my great companions, and most of all- the Bulgarians!!
Anyway, I was looking through some pictures on my computer, and found a couple pics from the summer. It was so fun when three different times this summer I received a phone call from mission friends saying they were close to Idaho Falls for a wedding/vacation/farewell, etc. I was SO EXCITED that they thought to call me. There are only two pictures (I know there is a third somewhere-sorry Hazel) , but here they are! Thanks for taking time out to see me!

This is Elder and Sister Brown from Washington. They took such good care of me in a city where we served together. This was the first time they got to see Landon after he was born. I think he was 3 months here. Anyway, they are two of my very favorite people-so giving, caring, loving...just wonderful. They came and took me to lunch when I was pregnant, and they were as excited as I was for me to be a mama!

This is Chelsia. We were companions in the capitol in Bulgaria. We had such a great time teaching and learning how to get around that crazy city! We had all sorts of random experiences. (One of the people we were teaching was being held hostage in her home one day when we went to give her a discussion!!!) Anyway, this isn't the best picture because you can't see the babies, but my Landon and Chelsia's LucyMae were born on the same day just 2 hours apart. It was SO fun to see them!! Thanks for calling Chels!

It's Official...fall is gone and the snow is here!!

Sunday night in Idaho Falls got me so excited for the holidays. It was FREEZING cold, so Ben and I turned up the fireplace, made some hot chocolate, and cranked the old fashioned Christmas tunes. It was so much fun planning for the holidays. Earlier in the week I saw this tree when I was out running errands and thought it was amazing. Fall is so beautiful here in Idaho, I almost didn't want the snow to fly. But, after Sunday night I decided it would be okay to have a skiff here and there. Monday morning we woke up to a white blanket all over the ground. It was so beautiful!
We were in Portland for Halloween, so Landon didn't go trick-or-treating, but we dressed him up anyway. Ben and I were both born and raised in Idaho Falls, but he grew-up as a Bonneville "bee", and I grew-up as an I.F. "tiger". So, of course, Ben wanted Landon's costume to be a bee.

And I wanted him to be a tiger. So, I took pictures in both costumes, but in the end...

Mommy won! Yay!!! The little nose and whiskers lasted just long enough to show uncle Tyson & then Landon decided he'd had enough. He doesn't look like himself without his curls showing-but he makes a dang cute little tiger. :)

I just threw this picture up because I LOVE the little ringlet hanging over his ear! I don't do anything to his hair except put a little baby lotion in it and let it go. He gets called a "girl" all the time, but I can't bring myself to cut his beautiful curls---ever!!!

It's my blog, so I'll brag if I want to...

I know, babies in general are dang cute-but I think I have the world's most adorable, hilarious, heart-melting child on earth! That's 'cuz he's mine. I'm sure if your children belonged to me and I spent 24/7 with them I would be saying the same thing. Anyway, blogs bring bragging rights, (try saying that last line 10 times really fast) so here are just a few pics that I love.

Crazy Weekend

Last weekend was crazy- as are most weekends at the Dance home. But, this was a particularly insane few days. Most of you know that my friend Melanie and I bought a wedding business a year ago. It has been such a fun, creative outlet for me, and a great way to make money doing what I love.
Last weekend we had two weddings- which is really no big deal because we've done five (can you believe it) in one weekend before (August pretty much killed me) and I lived. But this weekend was a big deal. The first wedding was pretty much the biggest performance I have ever put on in my life.
Colors: Chocolate, raspberry, and bubblegum.
Flowers: All shades of pink hydrangeas, calalillies sp?, and roses.
Highlights: Vinyl lettering, string quartet, cupcake tree, weathered walnut picture stands, solar lanterns, Victorian linens, antique candy table, fall leaves, faux ceiling, chandelier, chocolate organza, immersed floral centerpieces-etc. You get the picture. It turned out fabulous-mostly because money was no option for the bride, and I had such a great time creating things that we had never done at any other wedding. And just as disclaimer-my business partner, Mel, is pretty much the world's most creative human...so she always gets my creative juices flowing too.
Anyway, we spent weeks preparing for this big event. There were tons of little details that just made it magical, and it will go down in wedding history (at least in our book) as the all-time favorite. We will compare all other weddings to the October 24th wedding. (Pictures to come.) So, needless to say, we were beyond exhausted, but on a good note...we had about a hundred single girls in attendance ask us to do their wedding. Priceless. :) And on a very tired note...we had another wedding to do the next day.
My cute little Landon didn't want to sleep Friday night, (little stinker) so Saturday morning was brutal. It's a good thing he's so dang cute. OH- and thank you, thank you, to my wonderful mom for taking such great care of my babe-o while I was off decorating in "Wedding Land". And Ben is always such a good sport too-thanks honey!

The Saturday wedding was so different from the Friday wedding. It was also very pretty-just different. Colors:Royal purple, lilac, and silver. Flowers: Lilacs and lavender roses. Highlights: Cinderella carriage for gifts, and lilac ribbons and flower balls tied around the chair covers. The backdrop was a sheer, chiffon canopy (gorgeous) and the cake was silver. (A first for us.) Both events turned out great. Most people think that if the bride is happy you know you were successful. WRONG. It's the mother of the bride that has to be pleased. If mama ain't happy... So, after setting up on Saturday, I had to go to Relief Society super-Saturday. After S.S. (the R.S. did such a great job) Ben and I went to dinner with his parents and his brother, Matt. Matt and his girlfriend Jennifer announced that they were engaged (I ADORE her!) and we started planning another wedding. I swear...I do weddings in my SLEEP!! It's a good thing I love it so much. So, if any of you have any fun ideas, or something you've seen at a reception-please let me know. We love new ideas! And CONGRATULATIONS Matt and Jennifer!! I am thrilled to have another sister!!! I know, this post is pointless, but I wanted to let you into my "wedding world".

Landon Dance

Cabin fever

This weekend was the ultimate, much needed getaway. We packed up the babe and headed to the cabin. We spent the weekend with my family and all of the cousins on the Landon side. We had such a great time feeding our faces, playing games, and watching conference, that it was hard to come home.

Not to mention...the scenery was beautiful. All of the leaves were changing, and I could feel the snow waiting to fly. Conference was really uplifting. I loved all of the international speakers.

On a slightly different note- I found this really incredible picture of the SLC temple on my friend Kym's website. I love it, and ordered a large print for my house.She has a lot of other great pics on her site too, like this one...

If you enlarge it you can see all the good details. (Like the green eyes.) If you wanna check out more of her work, or order a print, click on http://panoramawayphotography.blogspot.com/

I Love to see the Temple

This morning I drug my lazy bum out of bed a little after 6:00 so I could shower and meet the youth at the church. Ben was already at work, so my amazing, wonderful, extraordinary mom came over at 7:00 to watch the babe, and I headed off to do baptisms at the Temple. It was fun to see the youth so enthusiastic, even so early in the morning. We had a wonderful experience, and after everyone was dressed and finished we headed to the temple cafeteria for breakfast. (There is nothing like temple food. I so look forward to it.) This morning I thought a lot about when I was a teenager and my ward would go and do baptisms. Lots of great memories-especially when I was a beehive and I got to go for the first time. I remember having butterflies like crazy. Anyway, I also thought about the day I took out my endowments, the day Ben and I got married, and the day my Aunt and Uncle were sealed to their children. (They had one 8 year old daughter and 6 year old triplets at the time.) That got me thinking about a funeral I went to last Saturday. At the end of the meeting the children played the Michael McClean song Together Forever, and they did a sign language presentation to the music. It was incredible. That is one of the times in my life where I have felt the Spirit the strongest. I love the reassurance of knowing that I have "forever".

Conference Weekend

I love General Conference! I always look forward to it. I don't think I ever really appreciated it until my mission. I have really lucked out, and for the last four years I have gone to at least one session in the Conference Center every Conference. I even flew home from DC and Chicago on two separate occasions because I had tickets in the Conference Center that I couldn't stand to waste. Ben and have gone to Salt Lake every April and October since we got engaged. It's so fun! Aside from walking around Temple Square never wanting to leave, we also go shopping in Park City, eat Cafe Rio for every meal, hang out with our best friend Kymberli, visit the Christensen's, soak it up in the hotel hot tub, and meet up with old mission friends. It's like heaven on earth. Always something I get so excited about. But...this October session is going to be a little different. We have the babe-o now. Our lives will never be the same-and we LOVE it! So, we've opted to sit this one out and go spend the weekend with my family at the cabin in Island Park. This isn't 2nd place, it's just a more cozy spot to hear the Prophet speak. I'm sure a weekend with the fam will do us some good. Not to mention, I am the ultimate, undisputed champion when it comes to Phase 10 and Apples to Apples.