Christmas Fun

Yes it really has been almost 2 months since I last posted. But in my defense I really have not had anything to write about, and more importantly I had no pictures to post. Because let's be honest here, most people look at blogs to see pictures. So I am back and have lots of pictures to post! This Christmas was a Caldwell year, so Me, Chase and Parker packed up the car and made the long trek to Utah! We were both really excited to go, however I was terrified for the car ride. Roads were snowy and icy, and anyone who knows me well, knows I am a wreck when it comes to those driving conditions. Chase told me to take some Dramamine so he wouldn't have to deal with me telling him to slow down, to stop getting to close to other cars, to not pass, and reminding him we have a baby in the car. But, against his will I refused to do it and he had one nervous wife for the first 5 1/2 hours of the car ride. But once we hit Idaho we had great roads and made it to Utah safe and sound.

We had a great time with Chases family! We ate tons of food, watched movies, ate food, shopped (the girls), ate food, Skied (the boys), ate food, and just sat around and enjoyed each others company. Oh did I mention we ate tons of food! Cause we did. And speaking of food, I need to mention that Chase, Spencer, Channing and Jeremy had a pancake eating contest with a Caldwell favorite, Sourdough pancakes. Now since I have been married to Chase I have gotten used to this. I never like it, but I can't stop it. But this year they took it to a whole other level. Channing came in last place with I think 1o pancakes. Then came Jeremy with maybe 14, I can't really remember. So it came down to Chase and Spencer. Now us girls went shopping that morning and before I left I told Chase to promise not to overdue it. He said he would quite before he made himself sick. Well...first game 5 then 10, then 15 and then 20 and yup then 25. And finally 26 pancakes. I hope you are all saying sick!! Because that is gross. Well Chase had to use the restroom after his 26 1/2 pancake and from inside the restroom he hears Spencer call his name. So Chase says, "Yeah?" And then Spencer says," 26 9/16th" So yes after all those pancakes, Chase lost! Serves him right. Great job spenc of taking the family title!

Parker had a great time getting to know all his other uncles and aunts better, and he sure did get the attention from them.

Sorry Chan and Chels and didn't have any pics of you guys with Parker. Parker always wanted to be the center of attention. However, when he would not get his way he would fall on the floor and try to act as pathetic as possible. It is always quite entertaining.

Isn't he CUTE!! He learns it all from his Dad, I swear.

I know both of my sisters have already posted this but, we had to opportunity to have a breakfast all together. We were all in Utah so of coarse we had to see each other. Darcee was so kind to host this breakfast at her new apartment. Parker and adallyn had fun going into aunt Darcee's room and taking out all of her shoes from her closet and trying them on. Parker always wants the high heels and I am not sure why :) We also had fun playing guitar hero, where we all laughed at Megan because she got booed off the stage. Poor girl, first flag football at thanksgiving and now this. I will be nice and not post the picture of Chad having a little of after breakfast dessert, but it was pretty funny. I am sure a joke to live a long time in our family!

Christmas eve was full of last minute shopping, a nap (for me), a fabulous dinner, new pajamas, and of coarse some Christmas traditions. For dinner we had ham and turkey, twice baked potatoes, homemade rolls, spinach salad, and of coarse the infamous holiday salad.

After dinner we read "Twas the Night before Christmas" a Perdue family tradition passed on, and had fun passing the gifts around the circle.

After the silliness we of coarse all settled down to hear to the true meaning of Christmas, and were given a short quiz on the Christmas story. It was interesting to see how commercialized Christmas has become, and to see what is really mentioned in the scriptures and what we have all come to assume. Then we continued the night with some Caldwell traditions of watching the Nativity story to the song "Mary Did you Know?" After this we were graced with a sweet story of the 3 little Christmas trees from Chelsea and Channing. I wish I would have taken pictures of this but I didn't. And of coarse who can forget the new pajamas. I don't have any of everyone together but I have some of Chase and his brothers and Sisters. What a cute family!

Christmas morning we woke up, and had fun opening all of our gifts. Chase spoiled me way to much this year with clothing and jewelry. And of coarse Parker was spoiled by both grandparents and got lots of fun gifts. One of the gifts Grandma and Grandpa Caldwell gave him was a huge tent with tunnels. He had fun playing in it. Aunt Darcee and Uncle Shane gave him some trucks that he also loves. And there were many other gifts as well. We had a GREAT Christmas and were so glad to spend it with Chases family!

We also had the opportunity to go to the Salt Lake Temple to go do a session. I had never been to a live session before so it was a fun experience. Thanks Megan and Chad for watching Parker so we could go to the Temple!

We had a great time in Utah and look forward to the next time we can all be together again!!

Halloween

Parkers first real Halloween was a HUGE success. We started the night off by having a fancy meal at McDonalds (perfect halloween dinner), and then we headed to the church to check out the halloween party. Parker had a fun time running around the gym and destroying anything that he could get his hands on. We wanted to stick around long enough to be able to go trick or treating around the church doors. Well...we stayed but there was only about 6 doors to go to and Parker was really getting the hang of taking candy from people and getting it in his bucket, so we decided to test out the real thing in a neighborhood. Usually Parker gets shy around strangers but he was really friendly on this particular night. Yes, it was only because they had candy but hey it works. We had fun watching all the people goo and gah over him. He was the cutest turtle around.

It's About Time!!

Well the title of this blog is for a couple of different reasons. The first is for the fabulous weekend that I had with my mom and sisters at Time out for Women. And honestly It was About Time I had a time out from the life here in Redmond. I know both Megan and Darcee have already posted this as well but here is my perspective.

Mom and I drove over to Portland Friday afternoon to meet up with Megan and Darc. Our plan was to get there a little early so we would have time to do a little birthday shopping for me. Well when you get two girls in the car who are not from Portland, well...you can probably guess. Mom was sure we were going the right way but once I started seeing signs for the airport I knew we were on the wrong path. But Mom reassured me she knew what we were doing. So, we ended up in Washington. OOPS! But, we turned around and soon found our way to our hotel. However, in my Moms defense she said there was a way to get to downtown Portland from the airport. After getting checked into our hotel we headed to the Lloyd Center where we found my super cool 80's shoes/boots. Thanks Mom for the birthday present!

I don't know if I will ever be brave enough to wear them with a shorter skirt but they are way cute with jeans. So, after shopping for a bit Darcee and Megan finally joined us for a gourmet meal in the mall. Subway and Chinese food was the assortment we had. After we stuffed our faces we headed to the convention center to start our Time Out experience. We had a great night filled with speakers and fabulous music. After the evening session was done we headed to Red Robin for a healthy snack of decadent mousse pie and Megan's request French Fries. We chowed down the Pie and minutes, and fought over the best pieces of it. Darcee even licked the plate clean :)

And of coarse there has to be a goofy pic of the sisters in here somewhere. I think I am the only one who really made a face...

After Red Robin we headed back to our hotel where we stayed up late watching Selena, and talked about old times. Saturday our day was full of great speakers who in each of their own ways had a message that was perfect for me. I love being able to be uplifted and rejuvenated to come back to real life. And what is a great adventurous trip without having car troubles. Well let me tell you it isn't one, so I am glad we got the opportunity to experience a shot clutch. It's even greater when you have four girls yelling in the car because we feel like we are going to die. Okay maybe not four girls but definentley two of us (Darc and me). But after hours of trying to figure out what we were going to do, we finally made it to Megans house. Mom and I had to rent a car to make it home the next day. It was another Memory to put in the books. Thanks for a great weekend Mom and sisters!!

The day we traveled back from Portland was my 25th birthday! It's About Time! We arrived home just in time for me to catch the last two hours of church and to see my boys who I missed so much. When we came home from church I was granted to opportunity to go take a much needed nap, since mom and I got up at 5:00 in the morning. When I woke up I went downstairs to find a decorated house by Chase.

He invited my family over for a wonderful Sweet and Sour chicken meal, and cake, that he also made and decorated.

Now one thing that I love about Chase is that I can trust him to go clothes shopping for me. He got me a cute outfit from AE and had it in the box so perfectly with all the layerings.

So with Chase making my birthday so perfect, I wanted to do the same for his which was the next day. However, I am afraid I am not much a cook so I didn't want to attempt the whole dinner thing. He wouldn't tell me what he wanted for his birthday so I had to find something, which he took back, and I didn't have time to decorate the house so he got the left overs from my birthday. We did however have a great dinner at Johnny Carino's and our favorite dessert, Italian Chocolate Cake.

So we both had great birthdays, I think mine a little better, but we are both one year older and hopefully a little wiser as we get into our old age. I am a quarter of a century now. I would say that is a pretty big deal!

About a year and a half ago Chase and I had some really good friends who moved away from here, and we were super bummed. I am always complaining that we have no friends and I have always been jealous of Megan and Darcee for always being able to go our with different couples. Well I am proud to say that It's About Time we had another young couple move into our ward who has a 11 month old son!!! YEAH!!! I had to come out of my shell and introduce myself to Keira because I was so excited that someone was our age. It's been only about two weeks and our families get along perfectly. Even weirder, Keira and I were delivered by the same doctor in Salem. I know, we were destined to be friends. Well last weekend Keira and I took Jaiden and Parker to the Pumpkin Patch, hoping for a good time and some cute pictures. Well we started off okay but then all we had were tears and more tears. All Parker wanted to do was pull the wagon around, and of coarse when I took it away he screamed. But boys will be boys. So here are a couple of pictures from out adventure.

So Sunday we had Keira and Brian over for dinner and so we could carve pumpkins. The boys did most of the work. Okay maybe they did all the work. I did have a pumpkin but it's hard to do more then 2 at once when you have 2 little kids in the house who require all your attention. So Keira and I stood back and watched while we tried to figure out what the pictures were on the pumpkins. We could not tell until after they were lit.

After the pumpkins were carved and lit, we had yummy carmel apples to end our festivities. We are so grateful to have new friends.

Oh one last thing. I forgot to mention Parkers new best friend. This best friend goes everywhere with Parker. He eats with it, rides in the car with it, and you better believe it is the first thing he grabs when he wakes up in the morning. So what is it?

Yup, that right a birthday balloon from my birthday. But, whatever makes the kid happy.