Happy 27 to Matson!

Today is my guy's birthday. This is the 6th birthday I have celebrated with him. And I am so incredibly lucky to be the one that gets to celebrate with him.

This morning after feeding little Nixon, I got back into bed to snuggle Matson and I told Matson just that. That I was so lucky to have him. And you know what he responded with? he told me that he was so lucky to have me. I reminded him that it wasn't my birthday. But he didn't care. THAT is why I am so lucky right there. He is so good to me.

As I look back at these 6 years of birthday celebrating...I really am the lucky one. Although we may argue sometimes, get incredibly frustrated with each other, say things we don't mean, and fight about what stupid television show to put on (Don't be surprised if I pull my hair out if I have to watch another episode of Top Gear, Mythbusters, or Family Guy again.), I still love him so much. And at the end of each day he is the one I want, the one I choose, and the one I will never be tired of.  AND I am the one he wants, he chooses, and the one he never tires of.

Well this is my short love letter to Matson on his 27th birthday. I won't bore you with 27 reasons why I love him because he can read those on the 27 sticky notes hidden around our house. Ha. But I will tell you, Matson, in front of all these readers and bloggers that I love you. I love you more than bright yellow flowers, more than Western Family Shark fruit snacks, more than direct heat from a fireplace, more than a Sunday nap, more than anything.

Happy Birthday, Mats! I truly am grateful that you were born and that I am the one that gets to celebrate that with you.

Photo by Teagan Alex

Photo by Teagan Alex

My Nephew's Mickey Birthday Party

My nephew turned one back in June and his mommy threw the cutest Mickey party for him. My little nephew loooooves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and anytime the theme song comes on he starts dancing and smiles from ear to ear. He could be in the middle of the loudest, saddest cry of his life but if that song is on he will calm down to listen to his favorite tune! So, this Mickey party fit him well. Everything was Mickey-ed out or at least were the Mickey colors of red, yellow, black, and white. Even I matched his party with my Mickey tee (from Target's Men Section).

Here are some of the emotions a little one year old goes through at his 1st birthday. These three photos were just too cute to not post!

We love this little boy so much and were soooo happy to be there for his 1st birthday! We look at him as our little baby before our own babies! Seriously. 

All photos via Teagan Alex Photography. She can photograph your family, parties, or anything you need!

A Mexican Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we spent it with my family in Cancun, Mexico. It was the best time for a vacation - right after my month practicum in an Elementary school in Heber and right before finals for the both of us. Matson and I really enjoyed it. Usually we just relax our days away there, but this time my dad really wanted all of us to see Tulum and we also got to play with monkeys one morning (post coming soon all about the monkeys)! We also play a lot of tennis, volleyball, and other games!

We celebrated John's birthday (a couple weeks early)
at Bubba Gump's where they sang a ridiculous song
and made him dance.

We saw the new Twilight.

Mikado at the Marriott Casamagna.
THE best dinner!

Matson playing volleyball.

Dinner at Chili's with everyone.

Me at Tulum 

The beach at Tulum was gorgeous. SO pretty.

Thanksgiving Night. My sister's hubby was sick and missed.

My dad has this silly thing where he likes to try to kiss
the guys in pictures...He won't start until you have already counted to 3.
Matson was playing along.

At our last dinner we were sitting there and our waiter told
us there was a croc! They fed him some yucky chicken.

Funny stories for my own memory that were hilarious at the time but will probably come off as a complete yawn to you all.

• While playing Rook and after seeing the "kitty" I said, "Man, you got some good ish in there!" Then my mom in a completely serious tone said, "Wow. Good ish." I busted up laughing because my mom just said "ish." It was hilarious.
• Matson was singing in our hotel and my dad heard him and started singing along. My dad has a horrible voice. My mom and I were just staring at them singing and somewhat more like barely harmonizing together. After they finish their little tune my dad said, "We could be Nysnc or One Dimension." I thought, "One dimension? What is that? Some old band...oh no! He meant One Direction." I then said, "Dad...do you mean One Direction?"

Thank you Mom and Dad! We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving vacation.

Read about our Cancun Thanksgiving 2011

Belated Birthday

It's been crazy busy for us over here. We have been to California, enjoyed General Conference, and been super focused on school these last two weeks. A little over two weeks ago was my birthday on the 29th of September. It was a fun one! We started my birthday out by opening the infamous Grandma Doris Package. It did not disappoint this year. Laughter arrives as soon as I rip open the box.

This red suit is a geeem.

This note was on top: "To the first girl [I was her first granddaughter] who will be giving me my first great grandchild!" I hate to disappoint you Grandma, but T* (my brother and his wife) may beat me to it. Ha ha. Read about another great Grandma Birthday gift here.

My family met up with us at Provo Beach Resort to do some indoor surfing. I hadn't done it in a while and it was so much fun! We made my dad do it by paying for him before he even arrived, so he had to it. He was worried he was going to get hurt (biggest excuse). I am happy to report he was not hurt and surfed his first try and was surprisingly good for a 50 year old. At least he came, my mom would only watch and didn't even come in a swimsuit. I conquered the barrel roll on a boogie board and after we all ended our session, my mom kept telling us that she could do it better than us. Psshhh.

Matson surfing

Dad knee boardin'

N* just boogie boarding

Having a blast boogie boarding! I really was laughing and having so much fun! 

For dinner, we all met up again at Macaroni Grill. I was seriously craving their Macaroni Cheese and so was Matson and N* too apparently.

Matson has closed eyes, of course. Read about Matson's Closed Eyes in Photographs Disorder here. 

I got spoiled on my birthday and got some great gifts! We ended the night by seeing the hilariously entertaining Pitch Perfect movie. "I sometimes have the feeling that I should do crystal meth, then I think hmm...better not."

Throughout my birthday and days after I was finding cute little notes like these all over. Thanks to sweet Matson! He was so fun and treated me like a queen...he even cleaned the whole house for me on the morning of my birthday! SAY WHAT!?

My in-laws spoiled me too with a homemade meal, my favorite eggless chocolate cake, and some special gifts! Oh and cuddle time with my little nephew was the perfect ending to my birthday.

The After Party

My mom's birthday is September 15th, but her cousin is getting married that day out of town so my dad knew he couldn't have a party that day so he did it a little early...After my sister's reception on August 24th, my Dad had this brilliant idea to plan a little "After Party" for my mom's 50th birthday. With my mom's wonderful friends help and my help too, my dad pulled it off! Although it was a couple weeks early, it was such a fun party and my mom was COMPLETELY surprised. She hates attention like this, but for some reason my dad loves to surprise her and embarrass her a little bit.

Throughout the night at the reception we quietly spread the word around to stay around after the reception for a little 50th bash for my mom. After the newlyweds drove off from their reception, my dad shouted, "Stay around for a surprise for Susan in the backyard" and my mom's friends blindfolded her.

She got to the backyard to see this birthday set up with a poster of 50 Things We Love About Susan, a custom cake, a banner, old photographs of my mom, and some gifts!

The Poster. Bad flash.

This is my mom getting mad at my dad! She was probably saying something like,
"I can't believe you did this!" 

Lots of people stayed to celebrate with my mom. So kind!

The woman who made my sister's wedding cake also made this birthday cake for my mom. It's a suitcase to represent all the traveling my mom loves to do and the suitcase has 5 stickers of my mom's favorite places she has traveled to. Inside the suitcase was a quilt since my mom loves to quilt and it even had a tag that looked just like my mom's quilt tags. My mother is also known for wearing high heels so the cake also had a high heel that looks just like a pair of high heels she has. It was all eatable and so cool and so my mom!

The Birthday Cake

The Quilt Tag

The Shoe Cake

Happy 50th Birthday, Mom! She's had like 5 celebrations already and her birthday isn't until Saturday. She is one loved, talented, happy, and selfless woman so she deserves it!