we're not in november anymore...

Is it really the end of January?

Really? Wow.

In all the NewYearsResolutionMaking, I was thinking of maybe

trying to do a blogpost every day for the new year...

*uh, that hasn't happened.

I was going to organize all our closets and declutter the basement...

*nope, didn't happen. and the clutter is making its way upstairs. ahhh!

I was going to workout harder, better, more, and maybe get training

for a marathon, or another 50/20...

*ha! (the phrase LOL comes to mind)

so, since I'm feeling an overwhelming amount of guilt for blogging right now, instead of cleaning or organizing, or running, or writing thank you's and birthday cards, or taking loads to D.I., or teaching my kids something, or helping someone, or planning some upcoming events... I'm going to try to quickly post about our: November.

Then when (i originally typed 'if') I get some stuff checked off my lists, and I can actually feel better about the condition of my family/home/life, I will write about the rest of our 2009, and have some fun going through all our pictures from Christmas in Hawaii and all that good stuff. (bytheway hawaii, i miss you)

Sound good? Good.

Soooo... november. The first week we have almost a dozen birthdays in the family. On the 6th is cousin emmett's, (and we wish we coulda been close by to celebrate with him, but luckily we got to have fun together on our hawaiian holiday) and also Gabrielle's- My "dearest, darlingest" sister... I was about her age when she was born. which is crazy. she is a truly beautiful girl, inside and out. someday I hope I figure out how to be more like her.

We got to hang out with my family for her bday, and have some "its a tradition Pink Cake",

and she let J & G 'help' her blow out her candles... they love their auntie gabby!

We tried to get a picture of her and gracie- since it was both of their bdays, and the Sunday we got together for gabby happened to be on the 8th, gracie's birthday. It was funny trying to get a picture where they were both opening their eyes/looking normal, and it was comical....

ATTEMPT #1:

ATTEMPT #7:

ATTEMPT #19:

WE HAVE A WINNER!

The cute birthday girls, G & G...

Gracie's birthday was just a relaxing Sunday, and we basically let her do whatever she wanted. Which for her, is a really good day! :) When she woke up, she opened her presents and was deliriously happy. The best $6 I've ever spent. Thank you dollar store! Tutu: $1, candy purse: $1, pack of wands: $1, stick pony: $1, bag of animal cookies: $1, cute wrapping paper: $1.

Birthday bedhead/pajama pictures: priceless.

Honestly, what's not to love about this girl? She's been driving me crazy/keeping me on my toes lately, and has some sort of sixth sense for finding trouble & making horrific messes. It's scary. But that's for another day, another post...

Thanksgiving was lovely... we are blessed to have most of our families so super close. There's always a bit of juggling with time and schedules, but we got to see a lot of family, and enjoy catching up with them all. It was nice that a lot of them traveled here to Utah, from Texas, Oregon, California, NY, etc so that we could see them! And the kids are surrounded by amazing loved ones- I'm grateful they have such great examples and friends among their relatives. We are very blessed.

Well that's November. 2009. Feels like it was yesterday. Time is whooshing by, that's for sure.