Webb Party in Salt Lake City

We had the greatest time last weekend. My awesome parents sponsored the funnest party at the Hilton in SLC. All of us Webbs were there except for Jeff, Jill and Will, who were in Florida for some training for Jeff's job, and were very very missed! Pretty much gally-vanted and ate and laughed from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon...it was perfect. On Saturday, while the boys hit Crown Burger, my mom took all the girls to the Grand Christmas Tea Party at the Grand America (minus Preslie, she is way too destructive for that fancy place...). We went last year and it was such a hit, we did it again. It is just way too fun describe. We wear fancy clothes and drink fancy hot chocolate and fancy food at the fanciest place that we know of. It's so great! This year they had a story-teller there to entertain the little girls with Christmas stories while we lingered over our hot chocolate. They were enthralled! After that, they enjoyed twirling to the beautiful piano music in their fancy, matching dresses, courtesy of Grandma. So adorable.

Grandma and the pretty girls...

The dessert tray was gorgeous and loaded. It required much concentration to make our choices...yum!

After the tea party, we changed, and the girls hit the Gateway while the little girls and Jami made a Gingerbread house and the boys went to some surplus store for some very manly gally-vantin'. My mom even got matching shirts for the older girls to wear. Who cares if people thought we were in a singing group? It was fun!

Once it was dark, we headed over to Temple Square to see the lights.

It was so awesome. There really is nothing like Temple Square at Christmas-time.

It was snowy, so the idea was brought up to maybe skip it this year, but I fought, and it was worth it. I LOVE this tradition. Walking through the lights, seeing the nativity and the Christus, its just so inspiring. I remember being at the Tabernacle Choir Broadcast once when I was in High School, and there was a little girl there who had come to Temple Square at Christmas as her "Make A Wish." How can we not go every chance we get? We take all of our close temples, and just living here in "Zion" (Idaho counts!) for granted way too much!

Tayler, Huddy, and Kennedy Jae

After Temple Square, we went back to the Hotel to have a pizza party, talent show, do "Favorite Things" (tell about and give away an example of your favorite thing of 2008 - a treat, book, etc...can you tell mom loves Oprah? still, very fun) and exchange gifts.

Here are the highlights of our talent show:

Grandma accompanied Kennedy on Away in a Manger and Silent Night, and on very short notice. Nice Job!

Grandpa Jay gave the girls some artist lessons...

My mom will probably kill me for putting this picture on the blog, but seriously. How many people do you know who have moms / GRANDMA's who can do this? Nice talent, mom!

Cortnie also played an excellent piano number, and Jenna and Nate did a Dancing-With-The-Stars-inspired lift routine...very impressive. An awesome time was had by all. My favorite part was when we presented my parents with a huge, personalized temple picture - and Mom sort of giggled, and said "you'd better open your presents from us." We did and guess what? Smaller personalized temple pictures for each family. I was so thrilled! I was totally jealous of the one we were giving my mom...

On Sunday morning, we went to Tabernacle Choir Broadcast at the Conference Center. It was really fun, despite the parking fiasco and getting separated...
We ended up having to sit in the "Little Theater" because of having so many little ones, but it was fine, we had tons of room and the babies didn't have to worry about being too quiet. The guest soloist was a broadway star, and he sang "The Friendly Beasts" in the neatest way, doing different voices for all of the animals, we all loved it.

This was the closest we could come to getting a group shot in the matching outfits from Grandma. Can you tell where I get my love of matching from??

Later on Sunday we went to the Museum of Church History. I haven't been there is a while and it was great. There was a really fun kids room that everyone enjoyed...I mean everyone.

We even had our own little nativity. I think this picture is hilarious...aren't our guys good sports???

All in all, a most excellent party. Thank you so much to Mom and Dad, we had such a blast!

Kennedy's Christmas Program

Kennedy's school had their annual Christmas Program last week, and she was so excited to be in it! They sang lots of songs and did some dancing, too. Kennedy's class were little lambs and did a cute little routine. We were very proud! I was actually a little choked up during the whole thing, especially when they had the live nativity and a teenage boy sang a beautiful "Mary Did You Know." It was so beautiful and touching, and all of my other emotions about how I just couldn't believe how old Kennedy was getting, and I was feeling her excitement and nervousness about the night...it all combined to make me a little teary...jeez!

In this picture, she is straight down from the red fire thing on the back wall, on the second row from the back...

Cute little lamb!

Kennedy with her school buddies Bailey and Savannah.

Keeping Hudson by our seats was a full time job...we switched off on wrangling and camera duty...

Anyway, she was adorable, and insisted on accessorizing her required white shirt-black pants combo with a wide black belt. Yes, I was proud mama that night. :)

Catch up time...

So, this is a total catch-up post. I feel like I have spent the last week non-stop on the computer (CHRISTMAS CARDS! whew... love 'em. I won't post any, until maybe after Christmas, wouldn't want to spoil any surprises), but not one minute on my poor little blog. So, here is the rest of our Thanksgiving weekend.

Since we were all at my mom's that day, we decided to try and get a group shot. Not easy when a) there are 4 babies 2 or under, 2) you have to be in the shot, and d) your brothers do not realize the importance of gorgeous, natural, outdoor light, and show up at DARK. oh, well, I did my very best:

Here is what gorgeous, natural, outdoor light does look like: Could they be any more photogenic?

The day after Thanksgiving, my dad was working all day by himself so we decided to take him lunch, so he could also enjoy some of the delicious leftovers...

He is an operator at a hydro-steam (???)plant west of Ogden. He took the boys and Jami and Kennedy up to the top of the...something...to see the...something. I'll have to update this when Dustin gets home with the right terminology...

Anyway, it was huge and high and loud, and Kennedy did not like it. She needed a little comforting when she came down...

Here I am trying to distract Preslie from the many disaster-causing buttons she desperately wanted to push...luckily, Hudson slept in the truck most of the time we were there...

We spent the rest of the weekend in Smithfield with the Chambers' clan. Kennedy had a no-sleep-sleepover with her cousins, and this is all she did Sunday...even at lunch! Poor girl...

Hudson had a really good time with all of those crazy little boy cousins. They definitely taught him some new tricks. But how could you resist those faces???

On Saturday, I pretty much did pictures all day, and loved it! Wes found me an amazing place right there in Smithfield, with leaves (still!) and a barn and everything, and I was in heaven. Here are all the cute little Chambers cousins. This is one of my all-time faves, I think!!!

Saturday night, Dustin's mom Marcia took all of the girls to "The Forgotten Carols" in Logan. I had never been, and I loved it. It was such a neat way to start off the Christmas season, and such a fun girls' night out. Thank you Marcia! Also, thank you to the guys, who took all of the kids and let us have a fun, child-less night. Wes and Megan, sorry about your house. You are always the best hosts and look how we re-pay you...by the way, WES, ARE YOU ENJOYING THE NEW MUSIC??? that is for you from Dustin, NOT ME...

Shelli, Trina, Cristen, Megan

Marcia, Delaney, and Kim

(my "other" sisters - love ya!)

So then, after we had all recovered for a few days, My mom, Jenna, Nate and Preslie made the trek up here Thursday night. Yay! We love company. We shopped and played and then they came with us to watch Kennedy dance on Friday night. She was so happy to have her daddy, Grandma, aunt, uncle and cousin there to see her new dance. Thank you for coming, guys!

*See my big smile in this photo? It's because I didn't know that at this very moment, Hudson was working on the worst diaper-blow-out in history. I'll just say 2 things: I hope they emptied the garbage cans at the high school that night, and he rode home in a diaper. Nothing he was wearing survived.

Jenna and Kennedy - this is where she gets her dancing talent!

Ok, last thing to tell: On Saturday night, Kennedy and I went to the Nutcracker in Idaho Falls. It was so fun! We had a total "fancy girls night": dinner, the show, ice cream afterwards. So fun! I just love that she is getting old enough to do these fun, girly things with. She is my little sweetheart!

Can I just say that WHOA, I've never sat this close (5 rows back) to professional MALE ballerinas (or is it Ballerinos?). There is nothing left to the imagination. I almost covered Kennedy's eyes at a few parts... :) Sorry. Just being honest here.

Kennedy was so fun to take to the ballet. She is doing her first Lyrical at dancing this year, and she pirouetted all through the intermission and walking to the truck. My little prima!

Thanksgiving!

Ok, So I had a major picture weekend, I filled about 7 GB worth of memory cards...WHOA-A!

And, I'm not even close to done playing with them, so this weekend will have to be done in a series of posts...

Anyway, Thanksgiving! We were with the Webb side this year, and let me tell you, my mom knows how to do Thanksgiving! The table was gorgeous, the food amazing (probably enough for 80, and there were only about...18) and great company! We were all there, and we took many photos. Thank you, Jeff, for the many wardrobe changes... :)

My mom's amazing hand-made centerpiece!

The hostess with the mostest!

Me with my one contribution, delish spinach salad, which I was very proud of...

Although, Dustin did the rolls, so that counts, too...

The Adult table...notice I didn't say "the GROWN-UP table"...

Jami, ever the good sport, with the nieces at the kids table...

While everyone else was cooking, I got some cute pics of the kids...Aren't Preslie and Hudson adorable???

On the way home on Sunday, we stopped to visit Grandma Webb, and while the kids were playing out on Jenis and Brent's fun new swingset, I got this cute one of Jacer...Love that little guy!

I'm a little slow, but here are some highlights from last week:

On Wednesday night, Kennedy's dance team had their first performance at the Festival of Trees in Idaho Falls. They did so awesome! They only just learned this dance, and they really looked so darling. Kennedy has really started to PERFORM in the last year or so of dance, really smiling at the audience, it's so cute!

Unfortunately, Dustin was on call last week and got called out just in time to miss this performance. I really would have doubted the call was legit if I had not answered the phone. This performance is the WORST of the year to try to watch. The venue is WAY to small for the crowd, and it's usually pretty miserable. Plus chasing a two-year-old by myself...whew! Dustin lucked out...

My cousin's little girl, Hannah, is in Kennedy's class and they have become little buddies. Aren't they beautiful in their new costumes? Good job, aunt Lori!

I was horrified to discover that my camera batteries were dead, THANKS for the pictures, Debbie!

The best part was that the kids got to see Santa! That is nice to have done already. Kennedy's make-up was getting in her eyes, so she looks sad, but she was really glad to be chatting with the big guy. Hudson even got over his apprehension to tell Santa that he needs a "new Luigi" (the little yellow guy from "Cars"...umm, ebay, I guess???) I was proud of him for being so brave. Just shows how much he wants new cars... Kennedy asked for an American Girl doll. I'm guessing she'll be pretty thrilled (IT CAME TODAY, YEAH! am I on top of things or what?? I've never been this far along in my shopping by Thanksgiving)

On Thursday, Kennedy had her "Thanksgiving Feast" at school. The kindergarteners get to invite family and eat lunch at school. She totally guilted my parents into coming up for it (read about it here), and she was so excited! Dustin was able to come, too, and wild little Hudson tore up the place while we ate. It was fun, she was very proud of her family and introduced her grandparents to some of her cute little friends.

Grandpa Jay, Grandma Josie, and Kennedy the little indian...

You gotta love school lunch!

Kennedy was very excited to show off her classroom to Grandparents and Daddy (I see it every Thursday, you recall)

I thought this little turkey she made was so cute. I love that she said she was thankful for our dog, Tahoe. She is usually so annoyed by him...

Us on our 9th anniversary, Thank you so much for coming up, mom and dad, and for babysitting while we went to Twilight at midnight. We felt like kids again! And I promise, if it hadn't been so crowded, or a movie that I didn't want to miss a minute of, we totally would've made out in the theater...

TWILIGHT!!!

SO, I loved it. Now, obviously, it's not the book, word for word, but I think they got the point across. I don't want to spoil anything...you know how it's going to end anyway...But I think they knew that there is no actor on earth who could be like Edward, so they went with making him a little more realistic. He is a little bit akward at times,and I his looks definitely grow on you. Bella is a little bit stammering,but very much like I pictured her...although I think she put's a little bit more effort into fashion than she gives herself credit for in the book...a little bit. But it was still very romantic, and I particulary loved the baseball scene. Their relationship progessed too fast, I thought, but obviously, the movie was only 2 hours, and I was ok with it, because I felt like, since I read the book, I knew what was left out... I'd be very curious to hear what someone who hadn't read the books thought about it...is there a person like that out there?

So, the midnight premiere: I twisted Dustin's arm into getting there at about 10:30. We were off on our estimate at what time people would start lining up by about 6.5 hours. Yes, the first people in line had arrived at the theatre at 4 pm. Idiots. That was pretty much the theme of the night. I know they were excited, but idiots, everywhere. Loud idiots. Poor Dustin was one of about 6 guys in the whole place. He reminded me a couple of times that if this wasn't my anniversary present...(part of it anyway, he gave me an awesome swirly wrought-iron thing for the kitchen wall, too...I love it) He was a very good sport about it, though, all told. We got there and line was horrifically long...Luckily, when they split it into two, one for each theatre, we sidled into a spot up front. Yay! It was quite an experience. Dustin probably would've rather been anywhere but there, but I thought it was fun! Let me know your opinions when you see it!

9 *Blissful* years...

I never do these tags, but since today is our 9 year Anniversary, here goes:

Husband Tag

Dustin William Chambers-

-Where did you meet your husband? At high school! But it is kind of a cute story. The summer before my sophomore year (YOUNG, i know) Dustin bought hay from my dad. My dad asked him if he knew me, he didn't. He figured I was a "sweet spirit," since my dad was trying to get me a date (which I don't understand to this day, he always got on my case about being too-boy crazy), so later in the school year, he saw my name logged onto the school network and sent me a message, out of "charity." Little did he know, I was quite the hottie in high school and didn't really need the charity :)...but we e-mailed back and forth quite a bit before we finally met, and it's cheesy but I loved his personality. Turned out, we had lots of friends in common, and it was the beginning of something beautiful!

-How long did you date? From October 1996 to November of 1999 (if we had met 4 years later, probably that answer would be 3.5 months...)

-How long have you been married? Nine years today!

-What does he do that surprises you? No matter how many times I completely blow our budget, on clothes, house stuff, shoes, etc...he ALWAYS forgives me. And I am ALWAYS surprised.

-What is his best quality? He makes me laugh so hard, (and no, Jenna and JAmi, it's not always at your expense) and we can talk the whole 3 hour drive home from Utah and never once turn on the radio. Physically? hmmm. everything, but I do love his eyes. and his butt. sorry, being honest.

-Does he have a nickname for you? not that I can put here.

-What is his favorite food? anything and everything! His favorite is probably a big nasty burger from Big Juds and home-made choc. chip cookies. He's probably the better cook of the two of us, and I try not to be jealous and just feel lucky.

-What is his favorite sport? He likes to play Basketball and is awesome at softball, but is not into professional sports, although after growing up with Garret in the house, it was a little wierd to get used to, but nice!

-When and where did you kiss? Under the plum tree in my back yard, after about 2 months of dating...

-What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? Go to the movies together, road trips - without kids, preferably! and I love to walk around the lake with him on summer evenings after the kids are asleep...and other things...

-Do you have children? Yes! Kennedy and Hudson, don't know if that's it or not...we'll see.

-Does he have any hidden talents? I don't know how hidden it is, but he is a really awesome cook and is a wizard with Gorilla glue and all of Hudsons broken toys.

-How old is he? 28

-Who said "I love you" first? he did,after only 3.5 months! totally no contest.

-His favorite music? Probably Nickelback. He likes a little of everything, just like me, but his tastes are sometimes a little heavier than mine...

-What do you admire most about him? He is always so willing to help someone in need, and I'm usually good at finding him needy people! He is such a hard worker and really takes care of our family, in every way possible.

-What is his favorite color? I think blue? But in cars, definitely red.

-Will he read this? Yes, he makes fun of it a little, but he secretly LOVES our blog. He created our playlist with such care, and loves to check our comments every night...

-Who do you tag? Anyone who wants to brag about their hubby.

Happy Anniversary, Dustin! You know you are the best thing that ever happened to me. Ever. My life is heaven because of you.

PS - I'm heading to see Twilight in 3 hours! If I'm not too tired I'll blog about it after...at 2 am...maybe it will be tomorrow...