'Tis The Season

Merry Christmas! It's been a busy holiday season for our family. We had a get-together for Spencer's "homecoming" just before Thanksgiving in Logan. The whole Robinson extended family came up (from Las Vegas) for the occasion. The house was full and crazy and so much fun.

We got to spend Thanksgiving with the Youngs. It was so fun to have Chris and Nicole there from Denver and we LOVED having the new nephews around. Family pictures to come soon.

Right after Thanksgiving Stephen and I picked up our tree. We strapped this beauty right on to the top of the Passat. Who needs a truck anyhow? It smelled amazing and was a little bit bigger in our house than we thought it was going to be when we picked it outside.

I actually managed to purchase ornaments this year, I am pretty pleased with the tree but Tai Pan Trading was a little intense for me and Stephen.

Santa came early for us this week when he dropped this on to our door step. Stephen did a fantastic job assembling it. Thank you Santa!

Stephen gave me my first gift today. It was a truly selfless gift, this year's Michael Buble Christmas CD. I just can't help it, his voice is so wonderful. Stephen didn't even mind listening to it with me...or at least he didn't say anything.

Tonight we finally made it downtown to look at the lights at Temple Square. They were impressive as always and unfortunately it was freezing as ever. There are only two days left but we are keeping our fingers crossed for a white Christmas to come along with this cold.

Happy Holidays!

Marcel

Stephen found this video on youtube and we thought of our friends Adrienne and Heather, this one goes out to you two. Marcel The Shell With Shoes On, Two:

Welcome Home Elder Champlin!

Spencer FINALLY got home from his mission in Buenos Aires Argentina this past weekend. It actually didn't feel like he had been gone for two years but I didn't like him being gone at all. It was a joyous reunion.

Three of Spencer's best friends/companions from his mission came to the airport with us. They were the designated sign-holders. My fourth graders helped me make these signs. Yes, we were shameless in the airport to Stephen's chagrin. He is in the airport with obnoxious people like us a little bit too often I guess.

Lyndsay and Kamie with...yes...balloons.

The whole group waiting...

Spencer and his lovely sisters.

This is now the only family picture that we have with everyone in it besides my wedding photos. It's so great to be all together again! Check out Ashley's baby bump, the first grandchild is due in May!

In true missionary style he's sporting his ripped shirt and shoes with the soles barely hanging on.

It was such a fun weekend. We watched both of the Harry Potter 7 movies, ate delicious cheesecake (his first food request, can you tell that he grew up with all sisters?), went to the temple, and just had such a great time together. Welcome home Spencer!

Two Weeks

Thats right folks, only two weeks until this greatest, cutest, most wonderful brother gets home from his mission in Argentina.

It's going to be great...

We're going to hug mom...

We're going to take some (more) great family photos...

We're going to catch up on the Harry Potter movies...

We're going to get Spencer ready for the rest of his life as a real man...

We're going to see the sights...

We're going to watch some sports (sadly not the Red Sox this year, next year though)...

I can hardly wait!

It's Fall and It's Busy

This will be a mega update post. It appears that I have less time to do things like blogging when I am actually working.

School Update:

My class is doing a lot better, or at least I am used to them and they are used to me. I have one particularly...interesting child (I have many actually but this is one of them) who likes to make very strange comments to me. I am trying to write them down so I don't forget. Here are a couple:

Boy, stroking his face: Mrs. Young! I feel like I'm in second grade again!

Me: Why do you feel like that?

Boy, still stoking his face: Because my skin is so soft.

another...

Boy: Mrs. Young, I just have to admit, you look SO beautiful today. 

And when he isn't sharing his musing thoughts, he is usually humming songs very loudly and dancing in his chair, no matter what myself or the rest of the class is doing and regardless of his spot on the front row (strategic spot on the front row). 

Another school highlight that just occurred this week, or at least I found out about it this week, is that I have a child in my class who's had ringworm for the past month or more. Lovely. He was promptly send home and we all promptly sanitized "everything that a child might touch" in my room. So far I don't think any of the other kids know, which is good. I don't want him to be shunned by the other students even if I might feel like shunning him. 

Family Update:

Jessica (Stephen's sister) had her baby! His name is Miles Morris and he is so precious. Stephen and I are now an aunt and uncle two times over. 

We now have two little nephews and they are just the greatest. Thomas looks like a tank next to miles. I am so excited to have them both around for Thanksgiving this year!

Stephen and Jayme's Life Update:

It's fall and we are loving it at our house. Over Conference weekend we too full advantage of the lazy Sunday and made some of my favorite fall foods. Apple Pie, amazing and fall-like for obvious reasons, and Peach Fluff. I love fresh peaches in the fall and besides just eating them straight, this is my favorite way to enjoy them. It's like peaches and cream and it's amazing. In case you're interested in trying it:

34 large marshmallows

1 cup milk

pinch of salt

1 1/2 c whipping cream

4-6 cups of cubed peaches

Heat the milk and marshmallows until melted. Add salt and cool in the fridge for one hour. Whip the cream and fold in the marshmallow mixture. Add the peaches and refrigerate until serving. It's not exactly health food but it is delicious. 

Stephen and I ran the Dirty Dash at Soldier's Hollow a while back with some friends. We got a before picture...

As for during, it went a little something like this...

It was hilarious and so much fun and I would do it again in a second. I highly recommend it if you ever get the chance. 

And last of all in this marathon post, Stephen and I had the greatest Sunday today. We took off right after church (Primary program today! I am now teaching the four-year-olds in the primary, such a stark change from being in the young womens. Not going to lie, it's been tough but I am getting to be more ok with it) and headed up to have a picnic in American Fork Canyon. It is SO beautiful in the fall and I have to say that I think this weekend was the prime time for a lot of the areas we went to. 

We LOVE living in Utah, beautiful things like this are just a quick drive away. 

Real Salt Lake and One Republic

After being gone for much too long on business trips, I told Stephen that he could feel free to plan a great date for us last weekend. Did he ever! I love going to Real Salt Lake games and this game that he took me to had a concert after. One Republic was actually better than I thought they'd be. The game was still my favorite part but the whole night was wonderful.

A blurry bad camera phone picture to document the evening:

Baby Quilt Number Two

I finished another project! This is a baby quilt for Stephen's sister Jessica who is having a baby boy in just a few weeks. I was happy with how it turned out and I think Jess liked it too. Can't wait for baby Miles to come!

Hey Baby Let's Go To Vegas!

This weekend, Stephen and I went to Las Vegas with my family for my cousin Brooke's wedding. My mom is from Las Vegas so when we go there (which is quite often) it's usually for family gatherings rather than vacation but we love it! I was able to fly one way and come back with my family. Poor Stephen had  to come from and go back to Florida for work, at least I got to see him for a couple of days!

Most of the group, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.

Little cousin Whitney having some cupcake, such a doll.

This is the only picture I got of the couple, bad form on my part. At least their first dance was very cute.

Grandma and Grandpa Robinson

Ashley and I with the beautiful bride.

Proof that I spend at least 2 days out of these 2 weeks with my husband.

Costco

Stephen and I are officially Costco members. I couldn't be more excited. Now we have unlimited access to these babies. I am more than a little bit obsessed. Thanks Mark!

Baby Thomas

This weekend Stephen and I took advantage of the extra day off and went to Denver for baby Thomas' blessing. It was so great to finally see him in person and to spend time with Chris and Nicole and the rest of the Young family.

The proud new parents

The whole family (minus Jess and Adam, who were missed)

Stephen and I just pretending, Thomas just being the floppiest

The cutest little smiling baby at just seven weeks old