Melanie turns 5!

Melanie started asking for a birthday party last week, but I was a little hesitant to agree to one. I asked her what she wanted to do for a party and she said she just wanted to take Stella to Grandma Ashbaker's to soak in her hot tub, watch a movie and eat gummy bears. I thought that was a great idea for a party so that is what we did! After our soak Grandma and Grandpa took us to Pizza Villa for pizza, yum yum! Then it was off to redbox to claim our free Monday rental. The girls wanted to see Horton Hears a Who (again), but they only lasted as long as the gummy bears held out and then they wanted to be in on the cake decorating. I should have bought more gummy bears! After dinner (leftover pizza, thank you Grandma) we had the Anhder's over for the traditional cake and ice cream. She opened her presents, which included a new summer wardrobe and a coloring book. (toys were provided only by the grandma's & the aunt's) I can't believe Melanie is 5, it seems like just last week that she was 4. (hee hee)

New table and new grills!

After 15 1/2 years of marriage we finally made a furniture purchase at a real furniture store (Shopko does not count as a real furniture store!). We've been wanting this dining room table for a long time and we finally got it this last month. There was a little hassle with the delivery (a little surprise when we opened the box to find the wrong table), but after it was all said and done we are really happy with it. It's nice to have a seat for everyone at one time!

Emillie and I are also sporting new grills this month. She is wearing her Dr. Poole & Dr. Willis ortho sweatshirt that she got the day she got her braces, and I'm wearing my Nebraska College of Dentistry sweatshirt where my orthodontist, who is in the background, got his training. She was a good 2 weeks before she wasn't in a ton of pain, but lucky for me I was feeling pretty good after a week or so. Also lucky for me I will be done by the end of the year, she will be sporting her grill for two years. What we won't do for some mother-daughter bonding.

Something I forgot to blog...

A few weeks ago Taralee and a friend, Kristen, went to the Mall to go shopping. While they were there they bought milk shakes, but they didn't finish them. They brought them back to the house to eat them while they were "hanging out". When Kristen's mom came to pick her up I reminded her to get her milkshake from the Kitchen. She said, "Oh, yea" and ran off to get it. She came back empty handed and said she changed her mind she didn't want to take it with her.

I didn't think much of it until we said goodbye to them and I went into the kitchen only to find Justin talking on the phone, sipping on Kristen's milkshake. No wonder she changed her mind! We had a good laugh and Justin called Kristen to offer her a new milk shake next time they go shopping.

No More Wisdom...

Ever since Justin took a pan of my mouth last fall he has been itching to remove my one and only wisdom tooth. I finally made it in last Friday to let him extract it. I'll admit I haven't been in as much pain as I thought I would, but I'm certainly glad that I only had one and not four! He was such a good dentist and took very good care of me. I'm well on my way to recovery, today is the first day that I haven't looked like I had a golf ball in my cheek.
In other exciting tooth news, Emillie will be getting braces next week. When the orthodontist told her she was ready for braces, she grinned ear to ear and has been giddy with excitement ever since. I told her to be careful what she wishes for!

I guess I didn't do that great!

The below pictured groceries have roughly a $133.00 value, with their sale prices. I spent $63.47. As per your guesses I guess I didn't do so hot. I need to have Lana show me a thing or two about couponing. Or I can just give it up.

Guess how much?

Most of you know about the crazy coupon ladies in Utah (no offense to those of you who are), but my friend Mindy called me at 9:30 Tuesday night and said, "Want to go to Albertons with me at 6 am for their killer sale?" After hesitating for a few moments she showed me where to print coupons on the internet and we went grocery shopping at 6 am. Now I've stood in line for electronics, toys, cricuts, and even for my friends, but I have never (until now) stood in long lines for GROCERIES! After it was all said and done, we were gone for 2 hours and this is what I came home with. Now keep in mind I did not have all the great coupons most of the other crazy ladies did, but guess how much I spent on all these items. I'll post the answer in a few days. FYI: I'm not going to do this again, it wasn't worth it.
p.s. Today I checked out at Sam's club right behind the lady that I checked out behind at Albertsons yesterday. She told me her friend wasn't as quick to get in line as we were and it was 10:30 before she was able to pay for her groceries. That is 4 1/2 in a grocery store. At least I'm not that crazy!

Christmas at home!

We enjoyed spending Christmas in our own home this year. Christmases at Grandpa and Grandma's have been fun and memorable, but it was nice to be in our own home this year. We declared Christmas pajama day and some of us even stayed in them for a few days. After we opened presents we had our neighbors, The Anhder's come over for breakfast. The kids were so anxious to show each other what they got!

On Christmas Eve we went sledding with the Ahhder's and then had dinner at their house. After dinner the kids acted out the Nativity for us. When it was time for the Shephard, Taralee, and her sheep, Addilee, to come on Addilee would budge. She was laying on her tummy with her head buried in her arms. Taralee had to push and pull her into the stable to see the holy family. Everyone was trying hard not to laugh as Addilee peeked up every once in a while to show us her smiling and laughing face.

Every time I turned around Addilee was making another snow angel.

Tara, Hannah, and Emillie

Justin, Melanie, and Talia. Conrad and JR in the back. Thanks Anhder's for a fun Christmas Eve!