I just love him

So just ignore the big word "zazzle" across my kids face....it's just because this picture is from the email that picturepeople sent me from his sitting last week. If its illegal to post this picture...please tell me cause I obviously dont' know for sure!

Just wanted to post about my sweet, adorable, darling boy. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world. He is sweet, funny, and so forgiving. Somehow, even after he gets in trouble, or one of us gets upset with the other about something, he still comes to me and wants me to cuddle with him. I really need to take advantage of that while it lasts, because as an adult - the last thing I want to do with someone after I am upset with them is snuggle up! I just love my boy and I am so grateful that I get to play with him every single day. I love his laugh, his smile, his cry, his long eyelashes, his curiosity, his big blue eyes, his voice, and just everything else about him. Love you bud!

Sweet President Hinckley

Just a little mention of how much I loved our sweet prophet, President Gordon B. Hinckley. What an amazing, warm, adorable, strong, spiritual, loving, and funny man. He has done so much for the LDS church, and has greatly influenced my life. I will never forget when I was able to go to a General Conference - maybe 6 or 7 years ago - everyone was sitting in the conference waiting for things to get started, 10's of thousands of people talking with their families and friends, then suddenly...out of no where ....silence. Then everyone stood and watched President Hinckley and his counselors enter the room. One of the cutest things I've ever seen was as he walked past his wife who was standing in front of her seat, he reached over with his cane, and tapped her on the leg. We Thank Thee O God For A Prophet was of course sung by the congregation, and I don't know if I have ever in my life felt the spirit so strongly. For one man's countenance to project the most amazing feeling I have ever felt must say something about President Hinckley. I am so grateful for his life, for his testimony, for his humor,for his amazing example and for the love that I know that he has for all of us.

71 Michelle Holbrooks?

Kind of a cool website. I can't decide if 71 Michelle Holbrook's is a lot or not....I just know I am not the only one. There's only 25 people named Michelle Andrus (maiden name)

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 71 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Yummy!

In general - I am usually pretty proud of myself when I make anything that is worth sharing with friends. Just wanted to say that this "Ultimate Reeses Peanut Butter Banana Bread" was really really good. I had some issues, but bottom line, it tasted good....so I'll thank my good friend Deborah for the recipe. She is my best friend from college, and has an amazing food blog, so just look at my list of friends and click on "deborah's food blog" to get her delicious recipes. Yummy!

Finally!

Finally! Snow! Well, I guess it snowed once in November or something, but ever since about the middle of December I have been wishing and wishing for snow! I talk to my parents all the time and they tell me about all the snow storms in Utah and it has been making me so home sick! We were so excited yesterday for the big snow storm! I wish we could have gone out and played with Damon's friends (thanks for the invite Jackie ) - but Damon decided to sleep forever! Yeah for Snow!

THE BACKYARDIGANS

I know this might be weird...but I wanted to post about a cute little cartoon that Damon watches right before nap-time, to help him calm down and get tired....It's called the Backyardigans...and I think it is so adorable. It honestly keeps me entertained. There are 5 little adorable animal friends, who all live by each other, and all of their back-yards are connected...they all meet in the back-yard, then go on whatever type of adventure they are doing that day, pirates, detectives, surfers, knights, etc......they do the cutest little dances and sing really funny little songs, and at the end they always go and have a snack at someone's house. It is so cute. What a weird post...I know. It's on NickJr. at 1:00 pm. I love it.

Slacker Mom

I can not believe what a dork I was at Christmas time this year. I took maybe a total of 5 pictures that are related to our Christmas this year. I don't even have a good excuse...I had my camera with me, I just didn't take pictures....

Since we didn't go to Utah this year we were invited to join some good friends of ours - Chris and Kelli Mehalic - and Chris' family - for Christmas this year in South Carolina. Mike and I love road trips, and we were excited to have something to do during Mike's break from work.....so we packed up and took off after church for the 8 hour drive (at least 4 of those hours in a down pour of rain - SCARY!) and showed up at the Mehalic's around 9 pm. We had a lot of fun, Mike got to golf, I spent some time shopping and hanging out with the girls, and I spent a lot of time chasing Damon around - while he was chasing around the 2 Mehalic dogs. (I CAN NOT believe I don't have pictures!) We had so much fun playing games with everyone, and are so grateful for the Mehalic's and their family for making us feel so welcome, for taking such good care of us, and for their generosity and love.

The only pictures I have are of Damon with a few of his favorite presents!

Thanks to the Huguely's for his new vacuum!

Thanks to grandma for the new game! It's so much fun!
His little basketball set from Chris' parents, Heidi and Chuck. He plays with it every day!

And last but not least...thanks to Sue and Taylor Guzman for the great putting set!

Christmas Treats

Yes...can you believe it...I made treats this year. Not just brownies from the box....real treats. I made my mom's mint brownies...and I will say they were absolutely delicious! Quite a project, but so worth it. Here's a picture of the finished products. Yum! (jackie - thanks for taking those other pictures too.)
Also...thanks to my mom for all the mint brownie memories!

Botanical Gardens

A big group of us had a fun outing in December to the Botanical Gardens. There are train displays, and lots of other cool things for the kids to see. Damon was so amazed at the particular train that goes around this gigantic tree...that he would not even face the camera for 2 seconds. He pointed the train out to me EVERY single time that it came around the back of the tree. It was a lot of fun.
all the kids posing for the camera....except Damon....
once again - showing me the train
he must have been getting tired to actually let me pick him up for a picture