Dum, Dum, Da Dum!

I know this isn't my event but I just couldn't help myself. My little brother is engaged and I couldn't be more excited for him. His fiance is Summer, from Idaho as well, and he couldn't have picked a better girl. The minute we met her, we always knew that she was the type of person that would only help Dave be better! They are great complements to each other's lives. They are getting married the end of May (time to loose weight right?) in the Timp. temple. Congrats--love you both!

End of the year recap...

1. Went to Idaho for Christmas--a white one!
2. Santa came--wahoo!
3. Kids racked in the mother load
4. Ate LOTS of food with no concern for consequences
5. Celebrated our 7th anniversary--yes, we are that old.
6. Brought in the New Year in typical Tidwell fashion e.i. food, football, fun!
7. Limped back to Vegas (car has been in the shop for the last week--long story)
8. Decided to move to Kingman, AZ and manage a project for Scott's company for a year
9. Visited Kingman and about changed my mind!
10. Currently packing house because the Lord made it clear that I shouldn't change my mind.
11. Eating, shopping, visiting all my favorite people, doing all my favorite things one last time for the next year since the only major store Kingman has is a SuperWalmart and even though I love Walmart I don't foresee myself buying any new clothes there any time soon. Ahhh. How I will miss my Ann Taylor outlet--well lets be honest--ALL the outlets, my restaurants, my business partner and good friends, my non-crazy windy, non-dusthole, non-doublewide lifestyle Las Vegas (never thought I'd say I would miss it here--wow).
12. Reminding myself that we will be only 2 hours from family and friends in Phoenix/Mesa, only 2 hours back to Vegas, temple, friends etc, 1/2 hour to the Grand Canyon, and 4 hours to the CA coast. Disneyland here we come!
What an adventure this will be!

Just a few photos from Christmas...

Jason building a snowman with my brother David and his girlfriend Summer (who I absolutely adore!)

Ryan and Papa

Jason and Papa after an afternoon of sledding near Lucky Peak

Our anniversary meal

Just some photos...

Nothing major to say, just posting some pictures for all the family to see--easier
than emailing to a million different people. ~Merry Christmas~

*Jason and his best friend Garrett being shephards in the Nativity story...


Guitar playing "Joseph" serenades a hiding Mary-a little ad libbing never hurt right?


Jason proud of his gingerbread train...


Santa and Jas at the Ward Christmas Party


Jason and one of his best friends-Collin-playing under a table at the party...


Ryan with 2 chicken nuggets in his mouth and one in each hand-gotta love this kid!

Pendulum

Lately I've been amazed at how easily my emotions are affected by outside elements. Anything from the weather, books, people and especially music have big influences on how I feel. I'm becoming more attuned to how those things affect me and try to use them for the positive! So when I looked outside a few days ago and saw huge white, soft, fluffy flakes drifting past my window, I took a deep breath and knew it was going to be a good day. I grabbed Jason and pulled him up next to me, sitting on my cedar chest under my bedroom window. And he sat for a half hour watching the flakes build momentum in the sky. He would point at each one like every flake was new to him. At one point he turned, excitement burning in his bright blue eyes and said "mom, it's so bootiful". I couldn't have agreed more!

I bundled up the kiddies-not even bothering to think about all the effort of coats, hats, gloves etc just to potentially turn around and take them off 15 minutes later. I didn't think about the runny noses or whining about being wet and cold. I jumped right into the moment knowing that this was probably a once in a life time memory for my boys living in Las Vegas. They got to play in the snow! Ryan tasted everything and I tried not to cringe as he picked up snow off the grass, stuffing it in his mouth. Once or twice I caught him shaking his head rigidly, shuddering as the snow touched his new front teeth. Jason was thoroughly engrossed in how the snow stuck together as he squished it between his gloved hands. We made a snowman-who lasted about as long as Ryan let him, after pulling the grape eyeballs and carrot nose off and eating those as well.

I found myself sad when they were ready to go inside, because little did they know how fragile that afternoon was. It couldn't be duplicated and wasn't likely to be repeated as long as we are living here. They would wake up tomorrow and the enchantment would all be gone and I knew how disheartened Jason would be. So I'll dream of a white Christmas in Idaho and hope that we have more afternoons just like that one! And I keep reminding myself, don't worry about the hassle, the work, the burden or cost of spur of the moment ideas. Be that mom who lets her kids run barefoot or play in the stream (or the sandbox in my case-which reminds me of a large litter box so I make the kids stay away from it!) because the memories are worth far more than the hassle.