EMMA'S SURPRISE PROPOSAL!

 Hunter and I concocted the perfect plan!! Emma knew she was getting engaged over Christmas break, but she didn't know when. She wanted to be surprised, have good hair, nails and makeup, she wanted pictures, etc. So we did it!! We pulled it off!! 

We had family pictures set with Annie Randall on Monday, but Hunter couldn't come into town by then. Except he could and he flew in the night before at midnight and Jared picked up him at the airport and dropped him off at my parents house! Emma thought he had gone to bed early and was sick throwing up and that's why he wasn't really talking to her on the phone. 

Annie was in on the whole thing and bless her heart and she showed up 30 minutes before our pictures to help Hunter set it all up. I got him the mirror, candles, cash for rose pedals and he bought her favorit baby's breath. Our family picture color scheme was black and white because that was her wedding colors so I figured she would like them for engagement pictures! And I was killing 3 birds with 1 stone and we were doing a proposal, family pictures and engagment pictures all in one! We didn't really have any other time to do it since we all live in different states. 

We walk into the barn and by some miracle the boys walked in first and saw Hunter and they didn't say a word they just walked in and moved over. I walked in next and saw him and wasn't sure what to do because I didn't think we would see him till a bit later so I hurried and moved out of the way and then she walked in and was stunned! It took her a few seconds to process that he was there! Then it hit her and she ran to him! Jared and I hurried and got our phones out to video it while Annie capture it all on pictures and the boys stood there perfectly quiet while he got down on one knee and proposed! Then Tyson asked me, "was this all a ploy and now we don't have to take pictures??" Sorry kid, pictures are still happening! 

It was the perfect surprise! The perfect propoal! And it was really special for our whole family to be there even though I thought it was just going to be them and not with us standing right there. She was glowing! 

The night before Jared told me he isn't going to talk to Emma anymore cause he almost keeps blowing it! And he was such a trooper and picked up Hunter because I was so dog tired I couldn't stay up anymore. We are so grateful for Annie being there and making it look perfect and for capturing the moment! 

Best Family Picture Day Ever!! 

FAREWELL TO BO SMITH!

 Bo Smith is in our new ward and he is one of the nicest boys! He is leaving for the MTC on Wednesday and he wanted to do lunch one last time with the Priest Quorum. So we let Eli ditch school for a bit and meet all the older Priests at WingStop for lunch! Jared met them down there and paid for them. I love that these boys who have grown up together have let Eli into their little group! (Bo, Eli, Teancum, Sinjon, Rees)

MY 45TH BIRTHDAY!

 We all know that Sunday birthdays are the worst, but actually I had a really good birthday! Saturday Sara Cardon surprised me and picked me up and we met Kati, Amber and Julie at Mod Pizza for lunch and then we headed to San Tan mall to get permanent bracelets put on! Then Sunday morning I woke up to some of my young women heart attacking my garage! Then in class they surprised me with balloons, cookies, a crown, one of them brought me cupcakes and flowers, the Priests texted me Happy Birthday, the girls all gave me hugs! Then my parents tried to come visit, Patrice and Bart dropped off flowers and card, we went to Nate and Jenn's so the boys could all get haircuts and Jared ordered Cafe Rio catering and Jenn bought Nothing Bundt Cakes, then we came home and I opened all my presents from Jared and we watched a Christmas movie all together in the family room! Oh and the best part of the whole day....we went to Target together as a family to pick out our toys for Noah's Ark and as we were walking out, Tyson grabbed my hand and held it! BEST DAY EVER!!! I truly felt so loved from all the text messages and everything else!! I am so lucky to be loved by so many! 

GINGERBREAD HOUSES!

 We had to squeeze in our traditional Gingerbread house decorating contest with Nate and Jenn's family. The only day it worked out was on my birthday. Jared ordered Cafe Rio and we took it over there and ate dinner, Jenn had Nothing Bundt Cake for us and we ate and then decorated houses...we thought this might be the last year, but they all really got into it so I guess we will do it again! We also of course did our traditional on the back of Jared picture! The older they get the more awkward it gets and the funnier it gets! Jenn did something for Tyson (I can't remember what), but we told him he owed her a kiss on the cheek, so he finally did it and Nate's face in the background is awesome! We love our family time togoether! 

TYLER'S BROKEN ANKLE!

 The basketball team had a "fun scrimmage" at Nathan's house. It was dads and coaches against the players. All was going great until Tyler went up to shoot a 3 point shot and Emmett went to block him but landed slanted and so when Tyler came down he came down right on top of Emmett's foot. He dropped to the ground and started holding it. In the video its pretty sad that the dads and coaches just stood there looking at him and finally Eli went over to him to check on him and helped him. I think everyone probably thought he had a rolled ankle. Jared got home with the boys and told me about it and mentioned that its not going purple like a rolled ankle that it was swelling instead. So as soon as I got home from being spoiled by my friends I asked Tyler if he wanted to go to the ER and usually that kid says "I dont care" to everything but when he responded with a "Yes" I knew it was bad. I took Tyler and we spent several hours in the ER. Finally they gave Tyler the bad news that he indeed did break his ankle and he would be out for the rest of the basketball season. That made Tyler cry. I told Tyler there was still hope. We left, I offered him anything he wanted for dinner, but again in true Tyler fashion he said he didn't care so we ended up with Cane's for him. Jenny Clouse hooked us up with a Tuesday morning appointment with Doug. He told Tyler he should hard cast him but if he really promised to not walk on it at all and only take the boot off for showering, he would boot him instead. Tyler promised. I tried to get Doug to give us some good news that Tyler could play again before the season ended and finally Doug could tell I was just trying to give Tyler hope so he said there was a "small, small, small, small chance!" I told him great! We will take it - it will be our Christmas miracle! We went to Dr Hunsaker's house and picked up his scooter and took Tyler to school and he has been scootering around ever since. That night at 10pm Tyce and his dad came over and brought Tyler some magical cream from Canada. They said if he rubbed it on multiple times a day it would help his leg heal faster. In a week we had a CT scan to see if he needed to have surgery. I didn't really believe the cream would work, but I am all about giving hope and Christmas miracles. We went for our follow up appointment and not only did he not need surgery, but Dr Clouse was shocked at how good it looked and told him he wants to see him back Friday, Jan 5th and at that time he might let him start walking on it AND there was an actual chance he could really be playing in a couple of games before the season ends! This canadian cream is a miracle!! (And Tyler has to temporarily switch spanish classes since his class is upstairs and there is no elevator so now he actually has every single class with Tyson!)

RANDOM DECEMBER HAPPENINGS!

 While all the boys went to the cabin for Thanksgiving weekend and Jared and I stayed home because he couldn't go....I decided to decorate the house for Christmas. The boys begged me to let them decorate the tree this year since I didn't last year. I did 90% of the tree and then saved a few ornaments for them for when they came back. We did our traditional hot chocolate and donuts and I very kindly told them where to place each oranment. Then these turds wouldn't take just 1 normal picture with me! Our December was also filled with the twins freshman basketball games, Eli played in a couple of baseball games and he coached the Rebels baseball team, Richelle gifted me a picture of her and Rj together (how have I gone my whole life without this) and we went to the Varvels traditional Chili party and Jenny Clouses favorite things party!