It's not calculus . . .

Take one awesome partner Kristen (on the left) PLUSPlus this weapon
raised to the power of stinging flesh (yep I was flexing here, I'm glad you noticed)

EQUALS:

Getting Ready

Jackson LOVES to mimic us and do everything that we do. He gets so frustrated when he can't open everything we use (most of which he CAN open). He wants to be a grown up I guess (I keep trying to plant seeds of how grown ups don't use diapers . . .)

I love this layout because it is so Jackson. Trying to keep him from destroying all our technology is a full time job.

Take a Break!

3 days off of work and school was just what we needed. We had a great time with friends and family. (I am only disappointed that we didn't get more pictures!)

Top ten events?
1. FHE and bowling with my family ( 16 people in our tiny apartment- amazing!)
2. Jamie: Speed scrapping; Dave: Video Games
3. Thanksgiving Dinner with the Dave's family - getting 2nd in the "how many pounds can you eat?" contest.
4. Racquetball games galore (and no black eyes this year :) )
5 . Black Friday shopping at 4 am. We went to 8 different stores (not including 2 separate trips to 3 stores) and spent alot of money . . .oh, and of course got great deals.
Look at Jackson . . . doesn't that make you excited to see him on Christmas morning?
6. Celebrating 3 years of marriage
a. Bed and breakfast at the Armstrong Mansion- the Christmas room (yep-that's Santa Claus on the headboard!
b. Ice skating with conversation about our past 3 years together and our goals and dreams for the future.
c. SUSHI!
d. Sleeping in!!! (until 7:45- Thanks Mom for watching our boy all weekend!)
e. Massages on Saturday morning
7. BYU vs. UT - Food, Friends and a Victory- enough said!
8. The first Christmas movie of the year (our decorations were up weeks ago, I don't know why everyone else is so slow!)
9. Missionary Homecoming (Welcome home from Argentina Elder Dustin Harper). I love the power and spirit a good missionary brings home.
10. Singing the Messiah with the Utah Symphony and choir. Did I mention we tried (and succeeded) to keep this little critter alive despite his obvious desire to "live on the edge"? (he got up there from the little dresser next to the desk - his favorite place to be recently)

Welcome to the MAIN EVENT(S)

I have been REALLY busy the past 10 days. (Don't mock the scrapbook pages it was the best I could do to get ALOT of pics in a small space at 1 am).

On Saturday, Nov 7 I planned a robbery mystery dinner for 24 couples from the MBA program. Due to the numbers and lack of "free waiter and waitresses" Dave and I ended up being servers all night. For me it was fun to watch the other people get into their characters and enjoy a gourmet meal on fancy dishes. For Dave, well, he just loves me I guess. This was ALOT of work to get tables, chairs, settings for 24 people and enough food to go around. I appreciate my friend Rhandi who put together an amazing 5 course meal. We want to do this again, only we want to participate this time. Is anyone interested?

Then on Tuesday, Nov 10 I planned and prepared for a Pampering night which included massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, satin hands, foot baths and lots of food too. We had a great turnout of over 40 people! People didn't leave until 10:30!

Thursday, Nov 12 my PE classes, plus 75 extra kids, participated in the speed stacking event to try to get the most stackers in one day to beat the Guiness book of world records number. The kids really enjoyed the fun work out. We had 180 kids stacking for 30 minutes each.

Finally, on Monday, Nov 16 I planned a bowling night for families in the MBASA program. I was sad that, although the sign up sheet said that 100 people were coming, only 50 showed up. Am I crazy that I would rather have 100 people come? I just really like everyone to have a good time together. We still enjoyed ourselves . . . Dave even got 4 strikes WHILE holding Jackson (show off!) I barely bowled over 60 . . .

Not to mention (this is for my personal journaling sake . . .) making dinner for my in-laws, playing racquetball and flag football, going to a wedding shower, reading a 400 page book, have a dinner group with people in my ward, RS super Saturday activities, math night at my school, putting in grades for trimester 1, taking Jacks to the bean museum, going on a double date to a BYU game, and oh, yeah, and I have a son and husband too . . . They haven't seen much of me lately. I am already doing MUCH better this week.

Even though it has been alot of work it is really rewarding to plan something fun and see people enjoy it. As I went home from each event I was trying to find a way to repeat the activity so more people could enjoy it.

Funny and not-so-funny story

Funny:
I am on a Flag football intramural team with some members from MBASA. We are called the "trophy wives" and all the other girls are amazed that we are married WITH kids. Playing freshman is the funnest!
What 28-year-old, mother of one doesn't daydream about a fantastic play in flag football?
Well, first off, am I the only one who daydreams?
So I had this great image of me knocking the football out of the QB's hands and catching it and running it back for a TD (I am a rusher). Then, right before I went to my game, Dave reminds me to "rip their pants off" - Which is a joke because he got his shorts ripped off in the front at one of his games.
Ironically, both of these things happened in last night's game. I grabbed what I thought was a flag and it ended up being the flags with a handful of sweats that ripped right off. Luckily, we formed the 'girl' modesty circle and she borrow a pair of extra pants someone had.
The next play wasn't exactly like I dreamed, but I rushed the QB, so she started running the ball and ran into her own blocker, which squeezed the ball out and I happen to pick it off and run it back for a touchdown. Very awesome feeling.
I also caught another pass for a TD. We won 22-0. I am loving the games this year! We are in the final 4 - wish us luck!
Not-so funny: Our computer died . . . AGAIN. I am hoping that it is just the video card and NOT all the pictures/ scrapbook stuff. But either way, if I ever want to scrapbook again, we have to buy a new computer. I guess digital scrapbooking IS expensive :)

Jumping Jacks Take 2

Remember this from last year?

My recent hobby

Recently, I have joined a scrapbooking site at scrapmatters.com. I have been completing different challenges and in the process completing some of my scrapbook that I am so behind on. I love the challenges because, you know me, I am competitive. Plus it gives me a place to start, other's layouts to copy and great ideas for titles and journaling. I also like that once you post your layout, people comment on your pages . . . it gives me a sense of accomplishment, instead of waiting until I print an entire book for people to be able to look at it. Here is a sampling of my recent pages.