Gonna be a movie star....and I'm gonna learn to drive a car...

Q was on a serious performance kick tonight, and wanted me to video her doing some of her favorite songs and dances....I, of course, couldn't pick up the camera fast enough. I love watching her...hopefully you guys do to...if not, feel free to skip these videos.








What she sometimes lacks in lyrical memorization, she makes up for in commitment and entertainment value!

The days and nights are long. When you think you've had too much of this life to hang on

I have never had weather affect me as much as this horrible winter has. The constant snow, the biting cold, the gloomy cloudy days have taken their tole of me, my psyche, my emotions. I have no motivation to do anything, especially writing about my life. But looking back through my printed out blogs years from now, I don't want to miss this month, and the things we did, so here it goes. 

January: As Seen On Instagram and/or Facebook. 

Q and I spent New Year's eve just the two of us. We went to dinner at a sushi place, got dessert at Burger King (Q loves their strawberry milkshakes), then snuggled up and watch a couple old school movies on Netflix (Jumanji and Free Willy).  At about 10pm we could see a huge firework show at Provo Towne Center from our place, so we stood inside and watched from the window. Q thought it was so awesome.  Q had taken a long nap, in preparation for the nights festivities, so she stayed up and rang in the new year with me at midnight! She thought she was pretty cool.

I was super excited that an Earl wedding reception was going to be in Utah, because it meant that I got to hang out with my ladies.  Excellent food, good cake ball desserts, laughs, chit chat, and a dance party...that's what's up!  Plus I got to dust off my ol' "bye bye bye" moves...so it was pretty much an epic night. Q had sooooooo much fun, and was NOT happy when the party was over (yep, she's my daughter). 

Speaking of old school movies, I have started watching with Q movies that I loved from my childhood, and she is really loving them. She loved jumanji, and still watches it every couple days. She was also a big fan of the neverending story, princess bride, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. In fact Willy Wonka was showing in our house every day for like two weeks...so I broke down and got her the collectors edition DVD. She loves the music from it, and does a great Veruca Salt in "I want it now".  She is also a fan of the newer Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but likes the music in the original better. 

I'm sure Kim will post about this, but Elsie had a birthday party, and it was an "Art Party" theme...Kim went all out!!  It was so much fun. and the decorations and food were simply fantastic. 

I love Q's creativity, and her ability to make and do stuff on her own...

bead jewelry

homemade headphones

pirate costume

I've had a love/hate relationship with Q and her use of art tools. I love that she likes to color, and likes to be creative and abstract (she refuses to use coloring books), but I hate that she is so messy, and has ruined a couple shirts with pen or marker. So I got this art smock for her, so that she can be a free and uninhibited as she wants with her art and I don't have to keep buying her clothes. 

WE had such a fun ladies night at Linh's house. a yummy soup/salad dinner, followed by beauty tips, waxing, bra fitting, and gift bags with nail polish, nail files, lotions, etc. Plus we made homemade body scrub and foot scrub.  So yeah, it was a pretty fun night!!  I was able to get somebody to hang out with Q (thanks Ashley Tucker), so I was fancy and free all evening. I didn't want the night to end with my girls. 

Linh gave Q another doggy, and she was so super stoked. She had a great night hanging out with Ashley, and didn't miss me at all. 

The circus came to town! With a great discount on tickets through Groupon, I broke down and took Q to the circus. Kim, Aaron, and Elsie joined us as well and it was a great night. I'm not a super fan of clowns, but Q thought they were pretty funny. The show started late, so when it was almost 9 and the still intermission, we all packed up and went home instead of finishing it out. We had already seen tigers, dogs, trapeze, dancing girls, motorcycle and bike tricks, and juggling so we don't think we missed anything. Q asks to go again every day. 

Remember how I said that Q doesn't color conventionally...well she doesn't do most things the conventional way.Try as hard as I do, she just can't seem to sit on the furniture the way it's meant to be. She will choose the floor, the ottoman, or this...over simply sitting on the soft couch cushion. I don't know what else to do but laugh. 

Also on the list (but no pictures)

1. plenty of hang out time with Kimmie and Elsie

2. I'm getting thru all the oscar nominated best picture movies in time for the Oscars (thanks internet!)

3. Researching and planning a little getaway with Mindi Stoker to Playa Del Carmen (in March)....I gotta get out of this weather

4. dieting...again...it's not awesome.

5. I'm taking a weekly Polynesian dance class at the Rec Center (Q is doing hers again as well). It has been so fun and such a good workout....my hips don't lie.

Well there it is...what we've been up to in January. 

Walkin in a Winter Winderland

I am in love with my Winter shelves, and am so proud of how it came together. I can't stop staring at them. seriously. I have a problem. ahhahha.  I hate Winter, but maybe these shelves will help me get through it. 

The angel I got on sale at Tai Pan (I love this store!!!)

I got these red/white mitten ornaments at the $ store, and spray painted them chrome. 

all of these accessories I got on sale at Michael's, either before or after Christmas

My first homemade printable! I am so proud

Q chose this sleigh (also 50% at Tai Pan), and I thought it fit perfectly for my Winter shelves

And of course my simple Winter wreath (via Pinterest inspiration)

Winter is definitely here...

Make sure you read up on Winter Happenings, Christmas, and Q's preschool program below....Yeah for catching up on blog posts!!

This is how we do..

What have we been up to...Other Winter Happenings....

We got to hang with the Wise crew and celebrate Harper's Birthday. It was a cute Mary Poppins themed party with cute party favors and treats. 

We got together with the Woodruffs and made graham cracker houses. Always such a blast. Man I love these people. 

 We went to Elsie's recital! She did such a great job, we were so proud. Q sat on my lap and tried to copy every move done on the stage. She wanted a costume like Elsie so bad.

Q loves Christmas lights so we drove around one night and found as many cool ones as we could. This house by Ashley's house in Orem/Lindon was our favorite!

This other huge house in Provo, had their whole yard lit up with tons of colors all over the trees. it was pretty spectacular. 

Qiana has gotten plenty of snow time so far, playing with Elsie. She loves it.  The other day Aaron made this snow cave on the bottom of the sled hill for the girls. So awesome right?

and of course Q's been sick, yucky winter cold weather, but she is getting better..thank goodness for good sleep!

Simply, having, a wonderful Christmas time

Christmas was fantastic! Christmas eve we joined the Wise crew over at Gary and Sylvia's for delicious food, talking, laughing, presents and some games! It was super fun. Q had a blast running around with Elsie, Cannon, and Harper and even found new "boyfriend" in Braeden....seriously she loved him. At one point she walked up to him and said ( i kid you not) "I'm falling in love with you" hahahha. It was cute, and slightly worrisome.
After awhile, we played a little Christmas charades, and a minute-to-win-it game of marshmallow toss through the wreath.
Afterwards we headed over to Kim and Aaron's to get some sleep, and hopefully catch a peek at Santa the next morning.

Q was loving her some Braeden

Christmas Day:
It was early morning when we heard Santa's sleigh outside, I woke up Q and she bounced right out of bed with a very "let's do this" attitude. she was pumped. We quietly hid behind the couches, as Santa came inside, talked, laughed, left presents, and ate some cookies! At point Q pumped her chin on the couch and I thought she would lose it crying, but she held it in, while tears came to her eyes, and kept our hiding a secret. I was able to snap this one picture from behind the couch. Amazing right???

Q loved all of her Christmas presents, and spent the whole day playing with Elsie and their new toys.

Quick story about the zebra: At Disneyland, Aaron had taken Q and elsie into one of those stores next to the jungle cruise and Q became attached to this stuffed zebra, I came in to get her cause it was time to move on, and she wasn't having it (she needed a nap as well), and she ran away- with the zebra clutched in her arms-straight out of the store. I couldn't believe it. I put back the zebra, Q sobbed, and I told her if she was good maybe she would get one for christmas.  She loves her zebra.
Q wanted some baby stuff for christmas. She loves her baby dolls, and loves playing mommy, and I found this cute graco set on sale. I know people love those more expensive dolls, and they are super cute...but I can't see myself ever buying one when my daughter will put some fake diapers on her stuffed zebra and play baby ALL day with it.  She's easily entertained!

After a delicious brunch of stuffed french toast, sausage, bacon, hashbrowns, and juice...freakin delicious!!....We headed outside for some snow time. Aaron had made this huge snow mound and track that was perfect for sledding. The girls were in heaven. I am not a snow fan, and especially don't like sledding, but I watched with delight as the girls laughed and smiled in the beautifully fallen snow.

It was a great christmas!!!