Something worth blogging about...

Big birthdays in our family yesterday...and I was too busy celebrating to blog about them on time, so here is a catch up.

Happy 29th Birthday, Dustin! I can't believe we are in our LATE twenties....I'm sure I thought I'd feel a lot older than I do...hmmm. I guess that's a good thing!

Kennedy and I had so much fun planning some birthday fun for Dustin. We made him some delicious gourmet BTS cupcakes, made some birthday cards, and decorated the house. Then, at 4 o'clock, we kidnapped him from work and took him bowling! It was really fun! Then we came home and made his exactly-as-requested birthday dinner: Bacon-Cheeseburgers and Mac&Cheese with Peas...he may have had a little help with his requesting from Kennedy...

Kennedy LOVED "Dad-napping..."

Hudson giving it a try...with a little help.

Hudson was way less naughty bowling than I was expecting. He thought everything about it was awesome, but especially the ball return. He hung out right here the whole time! And he said "Good Job!" every single time someone bowled. It was so cute!

If you are wondering, the birthday boy won...

The delicious birthday meal, complete with favorite chips and drink...Hudson picked Sesame Street plates for the party and was very excited about them!

And obviously I took pictures of the cupcakes...Cocoa Bean, eat your heart out!

Here is my list of 29 favorite things about my favorite 29-year-old...

1. how great you are with food! I love your cooking!
2. How much Hudson LOVES you. I'd probably pick you, too.
3. That you always forgive me. For everything.
4. That you take care of my truck for me.
5. That you always remember the garbages.
6. That you love being with me!
7. Your smile....sigh...
8. How great you are with our primary class, and were with the nursery kids. So sweet and compassionate. I love watching you with them.
9. Your shoulders.
10. That you always say "I love you" on the phone.
11. Your eyes.
12. That you always say yes to my scrapbook getaway requests!
13. *
14. That you don't ever want to work over-time...
15. But that you usually do. We appreciate it!
16. That you are such a better planner than I am...
17. That you like the same movies and TV shows I do...makes it nice!
18. That you always try to make me laugh.
19. That you teach with patience.
20. That you bring Kennedy flowers when she dances.
21. That you let Hudson "come with" whenever possible.
22. That everyone loves you, especially old people...(Jami doesn't count)
23. That you never let me carry anything heavy when you are around, and you usually carry all the groceries in yourself (usually in one trip! impressive!)
24. That you shop for them yourself a lot, too!
25. That you "get" date night.
26. Your cologne.
27. *
28.*
29. That you picked me. And that you do it again every day. I love you!


*too embarassing for the blog, but were in his card. I know, isn't that the point of a blog, to embarrass your husband? But I do have standards, people...

My Mom's birthday is also 1-22, and darn it, we didn't get to see her, but I wanted to tell her how awesome she is. As usual, Jenna beat me to it on her blog, and she said it so much better than I could, so I am stealing what she wrote and agreeing with it! I LOVE LOVE LOVE what she says about my mom and wish it had come from my head, so I will save you the trouble of clicking on her link and just put it here for you! Thanks, Jen!

I just wanted to say I have the best mom in the whole world. I hope I can do even half as good as she did with me and my brothers and sisters. Being a perfect mom to me does not mean your kids are perfect or your house is immaculate or you never make mistakes. To me it is when your kids can come to you at any time with anything and know you will be there for them and love and support them no matter what.
Here is the top ten reasons why she is the best:
1. I really admire my mom for the special and unique friendship she has with all of her kids.
2. Her ability to always look perfect wherever she goes. From the shoes, jewelry, clothes, etc..
3. Her patience with Preslie.. That's really hard to have with a one year old! She is a good Grandma to all the kiddos and they love her so much.
4. She smiles at every person she sees!
5. She is the best cook I know, and I know some good ones!
6. She is the my favorite person to shop with, we always like the same stuff! It never gets old to either of us and we know a bargain when we see one :)
7. Her goals and dreams are never ending, I think thats always a good thing to be working toward something in life, her current dream? To build another house.
8. She has a strong testimony of the church and shares it with her family frequently, and is not afraid to share it with anyone else, either!
9. When your around my mom it makes life feel like a party, she is such a blast! There is nothing in life that a little dessert can't fix :)
10. She helped me become the person I am today. I learned so many things from her and I love her for always making her kids and husband first priority.
SO Happy Happy Birthday!
Thanks for everything Mom!! We love you!

Juvenile Delinquent???

So, Hudson is really into Nickelback right now. Last night, when I was singing him his bedtime song, which is always "I am a Child of God," or every once in a while "I Love to see the Temple," he started saying "no, mom, countdown song! countdown song!" He was requesting "Gotta Be Somebody." Oh, MY.

He has heard that song quite a bit lately on the VH1 countdown, which Dustin has taught Hudson and Kennedy both to love. Never mind we have to skip past lots of inappropriate songs to get to the few good ones, they both come running to the couch when they hear good music coming from the TV....why isn't they don't beg to watch the Living Scriptures Movies that we are basically paying a second mortgage to own?? I mean, I love Nickelback myself, but since their new CD has, like, THREE songs I'll let him listen to, I have started seriously judging my parenting skills...

Oh, and the other reason I think he is a juvenile delinquent? Besides just his general naughtiness? He was trying to use the little seat in my tub as a diving board during his bath this morning. I told him, "Hudson, no jumping, be careful!" his response: "NO! Don't want careful!"

Happy New Year...

...a little late! Ughh, I have been so lazy lately...we have just been relaxing and enjoying our Holiday time off, and the blog has been on the bottom of my to-do-list. And I refuse to let it be another thing I "have to get done!" so, my news is usually late. Anyway, now that we are back to real-life, it's fun to remember our break!

Jeff and Jill and family came up to visit last week for New Years and stayed through Saturday. We had such a great time! Kennedy, Tayler and Cortnie were just three little best friends, sleeping together and trying to play Barbies, Polly's, anything without Hudson or Will destroying it! Cortnie is such a sweetheart, Hudson just loves her, and is still talking about her. She was a big help with the babies and even babysat while Dustin, Jeff, Jill and I went to dinner with our cousins. Hudson was asleep, but still! I was so proud of her, she did such an excellent job! Tayler is lots of help, too, and really had Hudson laughing hard! We also went to see the new Adam Sandler flick, "Bedtime Stories," which we all loved! Hilarious, and very clean for an Adam Sandler...

Here are the girls, enjoying Rudolph's Shiny New Year, while waiting for the New Year...they were so excited that we were letting them stay up till midnight.




And here they are, toasting the New Year with sparkling cider in fancy glasses. I love that tradition!

So, I was just smitten by Baby Will this weekend. Although, we pretty much can't call him that anymore! He is getting so big! I know he weighs at least as much as Hudson, and is almost a year younger! He is a solid little munchkin, and just so kissable! He is always so happy and smiley, I love it! He is so adorable, and gave me several spontaneous hugs over their visit, he just knows how to melt his auntie's heart! Love you Will! I loved getting to know your sweet personality a little better this weekend. Heber is too far from Rexburg!

After-Christmas fun!

Dustin's siblings and their families, minus Darin, Laney and Rod - we missed you! - came to Rexburg to spend a few days over the weekend after Christmas. We had a great time hanging out, and EATING! There were 19.5 people in our house...whoa! Everyone was awesome about sleeping wherever, though, so it worked! The kids were everywhere and I loved it! Thanks for making the long, dangerous trek, guys!

Here are the kids getting ready to exchange gifts...

The Painters gave Kennedy a great Princess book. Here she is showing Kim how well she can read all by herself! I am so proud of her!

Dustin and Mike arm-wrestled for something, I can't remember what, and looks like Mike is still the family champ...Don't you love Dustin's face in this picture???

The kids finally got to play in the snow for a while before they went home. Kennedy and Hudson had such a great time playing with their cousins!

Merry Christmas!

We had such a great Christmas! It was just us on Christmas Eve, and it really was a fun day together. Dustin only had to work for a few hours in the morning, and then we ran a few last minute errands and finished up some Christmas preparations. It was fun and so relaxing.

That afternoon the kids and I made sugar cookies for Santa, which we all LOVE making and eating. Kennedy especially loves to help, and wear her apron and taste everything. Hudson started out really excited to help and was being good and very cute, but he got bored quickly and soon was making messes and terrorizing the house.

Based on his behavior on Christmas Eve, it really is a wonder Santa brought him anything...he knocked down a few of the little trees a couple of times, tried to open some presents several times, and pretty much tried to ruin our traditional fancy Christmas Eve dinner of crab legs and cheddar garlic biscuits....ughh...two-year-olds. Whatcha gonna do??

Kennedy and I love to have fancy dinners and use the nice dishes, eat in the dining room, and light candles. Dustin is good to put up with it, and Hudson does his best to not cooperate at all...

That night the kids got to open thier new jammies and we read Christmas stories together before tucking them in. 

Kennedy was so excited, but still was asleep really quickly and didn't get up until almost 8 o'clock...I love that girl! We were so grateful for her not waking up at, like, 4 am like I always tried to...

Here is Hudson with his loot. You'd never know what a nightmare he is most of the time...apparently Santa is a sucker for that little smile, as well...

And here is Kennedy with her haul. She was such a good girl this year, and this proves it! She was so excited about her American Girl doll and the beautiful horse to go with it. She was so much fun for Christmas this year!

We had a great Christmas Day, we didn't get out of our jammies at all! We relaxed, watched some of our new movies, and drank hot chocolate and ate home-made cinnamon rolls, thank you Dustin. Dustin did go out to push snow in his new coveralls, that was it. It was awesome!

Since Dustin and I are going on a fun trip to Grenada and the Dominican Republic in February, we had decided on no presents for us. He broke his rule and got me amazing Ugg slippers and the cutest new swimming suit. He knew exactly what I wanted, thanks Dustin! Enjoy those new covies...I really don't know that they count for a present. I found his old pair today in the wash, and I'm pretty much ashamed at how hammered they got before he asked for a new pair. What a selfless guy.

More Partyin'...

Last weekend the kids and I went to Logan for Grandma Marcia's Christmas Craft Party. The kids had such a great time. They made cookies, crafts, and lots of noise! They loved running around the church gym, and enjoying their cousins.

Seth, Paige, Taft, Kennedy and Rhett making fun Christmas crafts!



Santa even came and had gifts for all of the kids. Kennedy was thrilled to see him (again) and was all smiles. Hudson was extremely nervous until he watched everyone else get a present from the bug guy, then the greed took over and he wanted in...little stinker...

All the Chambers Cousins!

Dustin's Grandpa Cooley and sweet Grandma Charlotte were there, and I was so glad to visit with them for a bit, and for my kids to see them. I didn't know any of my great-grandparents, and I love that Kennedy and Hudson have gotten to know quite a few of theirs....

Thanks for the fun party, Grandma Marcia!

We even got to see Grandpa Steve on Saturday, too. He gave the kids the cutest new pajamas. Hudson was so excited about his Lightning McQueen jammies he couldn't even wait to take his other clothes off, he had to put them on over his shirt! He is so obsessed with all things "Cars"...

Kennedy loves Grandpa Steve, and the feeling is mutual, he just can't ever stop talking long enough to get a picture with her... I have several that look just like this!

On Saturday night we stayed at Garret and Trulie's house and got to help Garret celebrate his 26th birthday. We were so happy to be there with them. Happy Birthday, little brother! Let me just say, Garret is definitely in my, like, top 3 favorite people. He was my very first best friend and has always been so funny, kind, smart and generous. He makes me so proud to be his big sister and has brought one of my newer best friends into our family (Trulie) and has given me the cutest, sweetest, fluffy little nephew. I love you Garret!

We also got to go visit Grandma Webb for a while on Sunday morning. We had such a great visit. I loved being able to spend a little time with my Grandma, gossiping, doing hair, looking at pictures. Sorry about my messy kids, Grandma!

There is never enough time to visit everyone that I want to when we come down for a weekend...sigh. I hate making the trip by myself, too. Dustin was on call over the weekend and had to stay home. We missed you like crazy, Dustin! I just wanted to say, a big THANK YOU to Wes and Garret for all of your help, you made the trip so much easier on me! I'm so lucky to be surrounded by such gentlemen! Also, thank you to Megan and Trulie for being the best hostesses, as always. You are the best!

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!