2009 comes to a close

1. What did you do in 2009 that you had never done before?

Ran a 1/2 marathon, completed a triathlon, lived outside of Utah

2. What would you like in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

money?

3. My best memory of 2009.
Jackson learning to walk and grinning from ear to ear as he runs into my arms

4. What was your biggest achievement?
Run the 1/2 marathon in under a 7 minute per mile!

5. Did you or someone you know suffer any illness?
Dave's grandma has dimentia and she forgets that anyone comes to visit. She is so lonely :(

6. What was your best purchase?
A new car

7. Where did all your money go?
a new car, tuition

8. What was your favorite song for 2009?
fireflies (but Dave hates it)

9. Who was your biggest influence of 2009?

Dave; My mom, Tessa

10. What was your favorite new TV show?
Better off Ted

11. What was your favorite new book?

Hunger Games & Catching Fire

12. What was your favorite movie?

to be honest, I was pretty disgusted with most of the movies I saw this year

13. What has kept you sane?

Scrapbooking, laughing with Dave and Jackson, MBASA, Signing Time video for Jackson

What I WISH I had a picture of

Warning: no pictures in this post, but it still may be entertaining.

#10 A picture of all my aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings laying on scooters and trying to get under a short hurdle in a family race.

#9- The 1000 piece puzzle, 2-500 piece puzzles, 3- 300 piece puzzles, and 2 100 piece puzzles completed (That is 3100 pieces minus the 2 missing pieces)

#8 Our Christmas day . . . amazing food, lots of presents, wrapping paper galore (Jackson in heaven).

#7 Jackson tripping over a 6 month old baby- me jumping to catch him and spilling orange tang all over my mother-in-laws newly cleaned carpet . . . I didn't even apologize about Jackson smashing the baby . . .

#6 Jackson methodically covering the kitchen floor with newspapers.

#5 Dave got into an 'argument' with Jackson. It went like this:

J: MEH! (more)

D: No!

J: Meh!

D: No!

J: Meh!

D: No!

J: Meh!

D: No!

J: NO! (Shaking his head) No-no . . . MEH!

Guess who won?

#4 Dave scoring the winning basket on the 'old man's team' at my family party (granted he is a 'few' inches taller than everyone else in my family)

#3. Jackson's first experience with red marker

#2. The look on Carly's face as she opened a leopard and zebra print shirt . . . "Is she serious?!?" She made no attempt to graciously accept this gift and promptly returned it :)

#1. Dave and I decided to try our hand at cooking a full turkey. Unfortunately, we did it with no 'adult supervison'. After digging around to find the entrails and whatever other grossness was inside, we attempted to put the turkey in the oven bag (which I had been coached on by my mom). I put some flour in the bag and then Dave tried to slip it in . . .and SLIP it did! The bag didn't even slow the turkey down on it's way down both of our legs and across the kitchen floor. Dave and I were covered in flour and turkey slime. My pants had a hole in the them, and the turkey ran away with the spoon. Just kidding, after taming the turkey (twist tying BOTH ends of the bag) we cooked and enjoyed the turkey. I think we are sticking with Ham . . . precooked . . . . from now on.

Lay-zee dayz

We are being so lazy and carefree on our 10 days off. I haven't even taken pictures because that involves getting the camera out of my bag . . . plus, then I would have to scrapbook the pictures :)

We have suceeded in watching an entire season of 24, playing several racquetball games, and packing up and unpacking for multiple trips to Lehi and Salt Lake.

At our MBASA Christmas party Jackson really seemed to like Santa he introduced us to Santa at least 15 times while sitting on his lap (saying 'dada' while pointing to either me or Dave)

Sushi night with our friends the Mackrory's. Jackson loved having 2 fun play friends, which gave us time to play a game of Ticket to ride. (yep there is a pizza WITH sushi for those who are weird enough not to like sushi)

We took Jackson sledding and he absolutely hated it. He cried everytime he went down . . . and even when he would just watch us go down. For being a daredevil he is a pretty sensitive kid.
I don't think I got a single picture of Christmas morning, but here is Jackson's haul. He got a lap top, tent, basketball hoop, bike, mittens and puzzles (Kind of sounds like a 20 year old's toys rather than a 1 1/2 year old's toys!)

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.