Saturday, December 30, 2006

Dodge Christmas Party


Yesterday was the Dodge Family Christmas Party! Yeah, a little late, but better now than never. The place looked a little sparse as the family keeps growing which means people are on missions, living out of state with their own families, and so on. It's always overwhelming for me as an in-law to go to then in-law family parties, especially this one. Arvid and Clara had eight kids! And all those kids had lots of kids and so on. But I learn more and more every year & that makes this whole experience so much more enjoyable! Plus, I had a blast chatting & catching up with my wonderful sister-in-law, Kolbi!

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Christmas Day

Yeah, I'm a couple days behind... Todd bought me a new camera & my dad gave me Adobe Photoshop so I've been playing with all that instead of updating my blog. Ya know, I just can't leave my toys alone... they NEED me!

So Christmas morning was a hoot! Liv was all awnry (as she usually is in the morning) so I was cuddling her & then we told her that Santa had been here... then she pushed me away & headed down the hall. When she walked into the front room I think she was just shocked... she just stood there & smiled, then looked at us like she was waiting for permission to touch the presents & such. So we told her to pick a present & so began our morning of unwrapping. Liv really enjoyed opening a present then playing with the toy & then she's let us know she was ready for more by asking "another present?" Gary didn't want to unwrap, he just wanted to play with whatever Liv was playing with! They are working on sharing a lot lately!

We had breakfast with my dad & the boys. Dad made baked eggs, which I requested because since I haven't had it for so long since we moved out of Dad's place. Dad & the boys spoiled us rotten (as well as did Todd's parents) Thanks to all, you really didn't have to!

We took a drive up to my Grandma & Grandpa Montgomery's place for dinner & sharing of presents! My cousing, Toby, was in town & I was so happy to see him. I think my family thinks I'm way too bubbly, but what can I say!! I felt bad that I didn't go by my mom's grave, but I really don't feel her there... I feel like she's available wherever I am & I could feel her close all day both Christmas Eve & Christmas Day!
Later that evening Tyler and Kolbi (Todd's brother & sister-in-law [as well as one of my roommates from college]) came by. They have been living in Spokane, Washington while Tyler earned is master degree at Gonzaga. Todd was so excited to see his big brother! This is what Christmas is about... being with family! Well, that & Jesus!
Love ya all!

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve Todd, myself, and the kids hooked up with my dad & the boys. I was thinking... nice night to stay inside & play games, watch Christmas shows. Instead, following a new tradition the boys have created, we bundled up the kids and headed to downtown Salt Lake to look at the lights on temple square. It was a whole lot of fun! My kids were so good, no whining, fussing, etc. We must've done a good job bundling! I am glad that we went down town, because the lights on temple square are a traditional part of Christmas in this valley!

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Good Friends, Good Times


Last night we had some of Todd's friends over for dinner. These people are great! Todd has known some of them even as far back as Junior High... talk about loyalty! There's Nate Kelley, Adam & Julie Kelley, and Cory & Melissa Huff. Anyways, so here we are at dinner. I made up some easy, but yummy Navajo Tacos. Then we played games & even exchanged some presents! Extra thanks to Nate for letting me open his present... he wanted me to wait until Christmas, but I had an itch to unwrap something BAD! Thanks dude! And a reminder to Adam & Julie to play nice with their presents :)

Friday, December 22, 2006

Baby It's Cold



The first snow is still falling throughout the Salt Lake valley & we have been enjoying it (as long as I don't have to drive in it)! I really do enjoy the snow, up until Christmas is over & then I want it all to go away... it's totally a holiday thing for me. Anyways, we got out as a family the other day. It was fun to see Gary's reaction to his first contact with snow. At first he was real upset, then he got quiet, and then he got real smiley and was all happy... fun stuff (Liv just screamed and screamed the first time I took her out in the snow)! Liv is such a , she didn't want to step in the snow at all... when she finally did, though, we had some fun. But we weren't able to stay out long enough to make a snowman... still too cold. But I will make a snowman this year!

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Christmas Party

It has been a busy time as we count down the last days until Christmas day, but I wanted to make sure that I made a post about the wonderful Montgomery Christmas party we had this last Sunday (the 17th). It started with a yummy ham dinner...





Then the little cousins reinacted the nativity scene. I have to say, my daughter is the cutest little Mary ever! I was so proud of how well she behaved, and it was cute that we had to call her "Princess Mary" to get her into her costume. And that there with her playing the role of Joseph is my adorable cousin Robbie...





As we were telling stories of Christmas times past who should appear? With a knock knock & gingling bells... it's Santa Clause! Liv was so excited to see him there up close and personal! When it was her turn to sit on his lap she didn't say a word, but gave him a great big hug before she got off his lap. Gary did okay with Santa, but he hasn't been himself lately anyways due to teething. & as you can see (by Todd's turn on Santa's lap) you are NEVER too old for Santa!



HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

Friday, December 15, 2006


A book I love was made into a movie & tonight I went with my brothers, Dad, & friends, Gustafsons, to check it out... Eragon! Todd has taught me well not to go expecting the book to be as good as the movie & so I don't. Even so, there was a lot I didn't like about the movie that doesn't have to do with the comparison between the book & movie versions. For example, I the actor John Malkovich, he's like nails being scratched on a chalkboard, or forks being scrapped on a clean plate. But I guess that does make him a good bad guy! As much as I love Rachel Weisz, I thought that they made Saphira sound so cheesy. And I d the inconsistency of Durza's makeup... it seemed that it was different shades & emphases in almost every scene. Yes, they left out a whole lot of wonderful stuff, but that's to be expected. I just didn't like that it felt so rushed, I think it'd be real apparent to even those who didn't read the book. (Like the fourth Harry Potter movie. I haven't read that book, but I could just tell that they were trying to squeeze way too much into the alotted time for a movie.) Since I did know all the little insides, though, I think that's why I did enjoy it. I will say, though, as a movie in itself it was entertaining & I would tell others to see it (keeping my fingers crossed that they would want to read the book to learn more).

Wednesday, December 13, 2006



Meet the Book Club ladies! This group of lovely ladies started in 1987, and I am now an adopted member since my mom was one of the originals. Last night was a lot of fun as we celebrated Christmas together. There was good food & a super fun "Steal the Present" game. (Sorry it's not the best pic. I think I'm ready for a new camera!)


Within five minutes of being home from the party I heard a little voice crying "Owie, Owie!" I went in to check on Liv, she said she had an owie as she pointed to her chin. I kissed it better, then she sat up and vommited all over. It's the first time that has happened like this. I'm proud to say that I didn't get nausious while helping her (that has always been my biggest worry). After sleeping next to her, we woke up to a very hot baby. Turns out Gary had caught the bug too. Todd took the day off & helped me with the kids. I appreciated that so much since the kids both needed a lot of love & attention... I wouldn't have been able to do that on my own. At the end of this sick day I'm glad to say that Liv is feeling a whole lot better... Gary's not so good, but hopefully it will pass soon. I love these two kids so stinkin' much!

Tuesday, December 12, 2006


Gary is such a boy! He loves "playing" with our guinea pigs, but I don't think they are so fond of him. I'm sure one day they are going to get a good nip of his finger tip. As for now they are extremely patient with the curious litte kid. One day he was reaching & reaching for Reden (Raydan) when he nose-dived into their cage. He was covered in pine shavings from head to toe! It was a mess, but so cute. That day I think I heard those pigs laughing at him... you know what they say about payback!!!

Sunday, December 10, 2006


It is a winter wonderland here in Utah today. There are all sorts of large fluffly snowflakes falling from the ski. I am very grateful to be inside my warm house watching it through strong pane of glass!


Olivia was so excited to see Santa at our church party last night! She sat on Santa's lap last year, but I thinks she still didn't understand what this old man dressed in red was all about. It was super fun to see her eyes light up when he showed up at the party this year! She still doesn't understand the roll of the line, though. She kept trying to drag todd or me through the massive crowd of super excited kids! It took us quite a while to get to him, and once we did Liv was not going to say a word. Amazingly, I got this real good shot of the two of them! When she went to get off his lap, she gave him a great big hug! So stinkin' cute!

Friday, December 8, 2006


Olivia learned a song from Dora the Explorer & loves to make mom sing it over and over with her while she "mixes chocolate"... although it is incredibly annoying it is also so stinking cute when she wants to put on her apron, get out a bowl & spoon, and mix and mix the chocolatae!

It is a lot of fun to see Liv getting excited for Christmas. Every day she gets so excited to move the snowman a day closer on our Christmas Countdown. It's cute, though, when we ask "What does Santa say," and she responds "Jesus!" Kudos to her nursery teachers, they must be doing a good job teaching the reason for Christmas!

Thursday, December 7, 2006


Last night I went with my family to watch my littlest brother, Aaron, perform in the band at Kennedy Junior High. I am so stinkin' proud of him! He did a solo for a swing song, he was worried that he couldn't hit the notes, but he did! It was great & I was so amazed at how long he can hold the note! Way to go Bear!
Todd took this picture of the kids and me when we were bundling up to go out into the cold. I think my kids are so cute in beenies! And it's fun to put them on Liv since when she was younger she wouldn't let us get near her with a hat of any sorts, I'd have to buy the kind that I could tie real tight to keep it from being pulled off... now she loves them! Fun stuff!
While I was here I wanted to give my two cents: I d the movie The Breakup. It was absolutely depressing from beginning to end. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Break-ups are hard enough to go through, I just don't understand why anyone would want to watch it more than once like break-ups.

Monday, December 4, 2006

Tonight my husband took me to a Jazz game. We had a great time having a date night. Neither one of us is all that fond of basketball so we didn't pay much attention to the game. Instead we chatted a lot with our neighbors. The Jazz did win though, that was awesome, I love when they win cause then the guests are given mint chocolate candies... YUMMY!
I've been busy working at the scrapbook store, so I haven't been around to post anything. Mostly I spend my days brainstorming, as Todd puts it, ways to spend money! As if I didn't have enough to scrapbook already with two kids I have decided to take on documenting my little brother's lives as well... what can I say, I just can't get enough of this stuff!

Friday, December 1, 2006


I've gotten a lot of crap due to my not so great christmas list. The fact is that I really just wanted to post my Quickutz wish list somewhere, but there are other things I'd like... There's a couple of books: Mitch Albom has a new one out and The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks or one of the last two books by Mary Ellen Edmunds. I also need a new violin case. And Gift Cards to Old Navy or Target will be much enjoyed! Thanks! And Christmas cards will be out soon!