Kori's 40th Birthday Gift

My friend Kori turned 40 on January 26th. Another one of my friends had a party for her on Friday the 29th. We had a ton of fun! My plan for her present was to make forty dollar roses. I am so glad that my friend Tina was willing to go in on it with me. We realized how long they were going to take so we recruited some help (a huge thanks to Laura, Tamera, Sherry, and Lauri...we wouldn't have gotten all the roses rolled without them). I'd have to say that the bouquet turned out pretty cute. I forgot to take pictures of it until we got to the party and Kori didn't want to take the cellophane off so the roses are kind of hard to see. Here they are anyway:

Christmas/Las Vegas Trip

It's been a while since I posted last. I was able to go home for Christmas and had a great time. Chad was home from Christmas Eve until the 27th. Kristen, Rick, and Gracie came on the 31st and I left to go back with them on the 5th of January. I didn't get any pictures while I was there...terrible, I know!

I was also able to go visit cousin Jen and her family in Las Vegas. I think I've said this before, but Jen's family and my family lived about a block away from each other from the time I was six. Because of this, Jen and her brother Blake are more like siblings to Chad, Kristen, and me. We feel very fortunate to be so close to them! Well, I was supposed to go alone, but Kristen, Gracie, and my mom were able to come as well. My great-aunt on my mom's side passed away on January 7th. She had Down's Syndrome and was 67 (a pretty long life to live with Down's if you ask me). They held her funeral in L.A. on January 16th (which would've been her 68th birthday). My mom flew in to Salt Lake to drive with my grandparents to the services in L.A. Kristen and Gracie came, too. They stopped in Las Vegas and Kristen and Gracie stayed while my mom, uncle Mark (who lives in Vegas), and grandparents went to L.A. We had a ton of fun. Carter had his birthday party while we were there. He had a pirate party and I was able to make the cupcakes. I didn't take pictures, but I am borrowing some from Jen's blog (thanks Jen).

The kids were pretty goofy as you can see from the next pictures.

Gracie ran around trying to be one of the big kids and had a lot of fun with her cousins the whole weekend. The three kids were sitting on the floor watching T.V. and Gracie got down there to be part of the bunch.

I didn't get any pictures of Kate (their new baby...born November 4th), but luckily Jen had another one I could borrow. :)

Drew left to go to Haiti for the Air Force while I was there. He was called Friday and left by Monday. It was hard for Jen and the kids to say goodbye, but it will be a wonderful experience for Drew. Please remember to keep him and the other people over there in your thoughts and prayers.