Happy Birthday Tyler

I was feeling pretty good when I got up yesterday worked out at the gym came home when to have our taxes done and on the way home from Provo I had a melt down.  Tyler turned 18 which is not a bad thing, but I let my mind wander and we only have 9 months until he can send in his mission papers.  WOW I teared up in the car and thought my time is flying by.  Don't get me wrong I am so excited that he wants to serve a mission I am just not ready for it to be happening so fast. So after a good cry I pulled myself together and went on with the rest of the day.  I hope he had a great birthday.  Now for the next big event graduation if he can make it through the rest of his senior year.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER WE LOVE YOU

Great Friends

Meadowbrook ROCKS!  Joe and I are so lucky to live in such a great neighborhood.  This year for the Christmas party we went to play laser tag then had dinner at Los Hermanos.  I consider this neighborhood my second family.  The friendships that we have are priceless.  Thanks for the great times that we have had and many more to come.
This year for Christmas Tyler just had to have this jacket he is the one in white.  It's creepy to see him zip it all the way up although he says its great for removing snow it keeps your face really warm.  Tom is sporting the multi color jacket.

I am so grateful for such great young men that Tyler is associated with.  He has had the opportunity this year t0 meet Sam he is a foreign exchange from Brazil here for the school year. Adam (little derf) and Tom.   They know how to have a great time and have such great standards.  They were preparing to attend a school dance and all had a great time.

Family

Wow Alan is now about 7 feet tall I guess eating your veggies even as adult you can still get taller.
On Christmas Eve the Ashby family will get together to have a wonderful dinner and then exchange gifts.  Joe's mom has a wall at her house where everyone marks how tall they are every time we get together like the brothers are still growing.  They hate the fact that Tyler is now taller than all of them by 1/4 inch.  Notice in the first family picture to the 2nd Joe's brother Alan suddenly grew about 8 inches he just about cut his head out of the picture.  We are so lucky to have such a great family and to celebrate the holidays with them.

Christmas Traditions

The day after Thanksgiving my mother has all 21 grandkids come to her house to decorate the Christmas tree.  After they are done they all head upstairs to decorate gingerbread cookies.  This is a highlight for all the kids even the big kids think this is great.  Sugar overload is an understatement by the end of the decorating.  That evening around 10pm  the sisters the girls 12 and older head out to shop and will usually stay out until wee hours of the morning.  Even if you don't buy anything you still have a great time.  This year at the Parker Christmas party we decided to put items together for the House of Hope located in Provo instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other.  What a rewarding experience it was for all the family to help with such an awesome project.  Thanks to all my family members for making it a success.  

On Friday night we headed up to Zoo lights it was very cold, but we had so much fun.  My parents went and we met my sister and her family there.   I think this could become a tradition to try and do every year.
We had the Scott family Christmas party today.  I love going because there are some family members that I only see once a year.  Tyler was so excited to sit on Santa's lap he told him all he wanted for Christmas was more hugs from his Grandma.  The little kids thought he was so funny.  You can never be to old to sit on Santa's lap.

On Halloween we were so lucky to have a visit from Hannah Montana and her biggest fan.  Can you guess which Doctor is that I work with ?I am so lucky to work with such a great group of people at Utah Valley Pediatrics.  Shaylee, Polly and I decided to go all out and dress as M&M's the kids loved it.  I am still silently laughing about the lunch visitor.

Jimmy Buffett or BUST

yThis is the extent of our dressing up 2 beautiful lays.  We missed you Marq and Sarah, but Jimmy will be back next year and I am looking forward to a fun weekend again with you then.

Very friendly he/she they were the hit of the pre-party and I am sure the post party also
Three grown men in there 50 dressed as blonde beach babes funniest thing I have ever seen I asked one of them for a picture and got the biggest hug of my life from him

Party held at Margaritaville  starts at 11 am the day of the concert and people will hang out the entire day then attend the concert that night 

Joe in the lobby of the MGM  
On Friday we drove out to Hoover Dam its amazing to see.

This past weekend Joe and I were able to attend the Jimmy Buffett concert in Las Vegas.  Originally Mark and Sarah were on board to go with us, but certain events took place in there lives and they were unable to go.  We missed them terribly, but Jimmy puts on an amazing and fun show and its always fun to attend.  They host a pre-party where all the "parott heads" dress up come enjoy food and fun and drinking.  By the concert everybody is very happy and it turns into a giant sing along with Jimmy.  Here are a few photos from the weekend.

Proud Parent Moments

One step closer to getting her license Candace took her written final today with the state and PASSED!  She has been studying so hard for the past few days she was told by several friends its hard and you really have to know your stuff.  Joe and I are so proud of her for passing on the first try.  She will take her practical on the 16th in St. George once she passes that she can apply for a job, until then she is still working at Parkers and will tend for any of the neighbors. 

Tyler was in his first choir concert for the year.  Miss Warby is an amazing choir teacher the kids love her and she loves teaching you can tell she loves what she does.  It also helps that she is a member of the Tabernacle Choir or as the high school kids say Motab Choir.  Yes he can sing even though you never see him sing in sacrament meeting.  I am so proud of my kids its so much fun being a mom.  All  the sleepless nights when they were little are soon forgotten and now we have sleepless nights waiting for them to come home from dates.  I treasure every moment with them, because they will soon be gone and starting there own lives and families.