Still catching up . . .

November

The first part of November brought us our nephew Austin's wedding to his lovely bride Tori.  I just couldn't believe that the little guy who wasn't even a year old, when Dustin and I started dating, was now getting married!  My brother-in-law and sister-on-law, Clint and Cheri, who live in Texas flew in for the wedding.  Austin and Tori were not going to have a rehearsal dinner so we offered to host a family dinner, at our house, the night before their wedding.  It had been a long time since all of us were together so it was fun to catch up.  Clint and Cheri left their three boys home, with her family, so we missed them but still had a good time.

 

 

 

They were married the next day at the Springville Museum of Art.  I had never been there before and it was actually a really beautiful place!  Caden was one of the groomsman.  It was a beautiful wedding and we were very happy for them to start their new life together.

The kids started basketball season and we had to start our Christmas shopping!!  We ended the month celebrating a lot of family birthdays and having Thanksgiving at Dustin's parents house.

 

What I am thankful for!

December

December was SUPER busy!!  With both kids playing basketball, school, work, and Xmas shopping the month flew by!  We didn't even get to do any fun holiday stuff. :( 

We did do our annual charity giving through my work.  This year my office decided to give to Volunteers of America - Homeless Youth Resource Center.  I was on my work committee and we went to visit the center to see what it was about and what items were most needed.  I was truly speechless and in tears.  This is a center for the homeless youth of Utah that primarily helps kids from the ages of 13 - 21 that have been kicked out of their homes due to them being on drugs, getting into trouble, the parents can't afford to take care of them and some because they were gay.  Homeless youth can go there to get free meals, clothing, take a shower or just hang out.  However,  this facility is only open from 9 am to 5 pm Monday - Friday.  They do not have the means or the ability to house the youth overnight and on weekends.  These kids have to fend for themselves by sometimes staying with friends but mostly they all sleep near Downtown Salt Lake City in parks, tunnels, abandoned buildings, tents and sleeping bags, etc.  The center likes to give out backpacks to the youth.  This way they have something to carry their belongings in.  And by belongings, I mean clothing, toiletries, and food.   They ask for donations of backpacks, toiletries, Smith's gift cards or gift cards to fast food places and movie theaters, etc.  Movie theaters you may wonder?  To help get them out of the cold and to also keep their minds off of their troubles.  They also take gently used clothing, sleeping bags, tarps and tents.  It broke my heart to see kids walking around, all close to my children's age, that didn't have anywhere to go.  I watched a young girl walk through the front door who was pregnant.  It was cold that day and all she was wearing were leggings, a t-shirt with a zip up hoodie over it and flip flops.  Flip-flops in December!!  I went home grateful for everything I have and had a heart felt discussion with my family hoping that my kids would realize how fortunate they are.  Everyone was on board to help.  Again, Caden and Carlin took their charity money they had saved and bought items needed for the center.  Dustin and I always buy whatever we can to help too.  I wish we could give throughout the whole year but I am grateful that we can always help in some capacity.

 

An example of some of the items that we bought.

Christmas was fun - we had our Freeze/Dawson family Christmas party complete with Santa  . . .

Our Hardcastle family party with the "ticket" game and funny prizes . . .

And since Dustin had to work Christmas we opened presents on Christma Eve and the kids and I went to our annual breakfast at my parents house.  I was happy to see my grandparents who haven't been in the best of health.  I love my family and I am so grateful for everyone.
The kids were spoiled as usual and they loved the blankets I made for them. :)  Dustin bought me a Nook tablet which I really like!  I just need to find the time to read more.

 

Feeling Guilty!

Yep - I am feeling pretty guilty for not keeping up on my blog!  This is my attempt to catch up - it is a new school year all ready!  I will have to start from last October!  Geesh!!
Right after Caden went to Homecoming, we started doing some remodeling on our house.  We just couldn't stand our carpet anymore!  Dustin worked a lot of overtime and we replaced it with new laminate.  We also bought a new rug and couches.  We found a really nice entertainment center, on KSL, and Dustin refinished it to match the new mantle he built for our fireplace.  I have to credit Dustin for working so hard both at work and at home.  Plus, he is super creative!  He has come up with alot of ideas for our home and if I have had an idea he has been able build it, fix it or change it.  Thanks honey!

BEFORE - Gross!  You can totally see where our couches were! No matter
 how many times we cleaned the carpet nothing made it look good!

AFTER





Mantle - rock on the fireplace not finished yet

Next up was Caden's 16th birthday!  We had our family parties and on my side celebrated my sister Tara's birthday too.

He also had a party with his friends.  We set up a big table in the backyard with pizza, drinks, treats, and music.  They were able to play basketball or just hang out.  Later, when it got dark and colder the kids came inside and watched a movie downstairs.  You can tell how excited some of them are to get their picture taken!  The picture below was taken before the movie.  When the movie started, Dustin and I stayed upstairs and all of a sudden it was rotating teenagers!  More kids showed up, ate and went downstairs while others would come up and leave for 5-10 minutes and then come back.  It was funny to watch but everyone said how much fun they had and I think Caden enjoyed it too. :)

Towards the end of the month, we had our traditional Halloween party at my mom's.  I didn't think Caden and Carlin would dress up but they literally put their costumes together that day.  I knew what Carlin wanted to be but when both of them walked out dressed up - we were in hysterics!  Carlin was "Facebook"  and Caden was an old school basketball player!  I don't know how but he managed to wear a pair of Carlin's basketball shorts.  Holy Cow!  The kids get to paint a pumpkin to take home and they hit at a pinata for lots of candy.  Plus we get to eat lots of food!  Good Times!

Time to catch up!!

Yes - it is 2012!  Yes - I am behind from posting many things for the end of 2011!  Yes - I need to do better!

Let's catch up shall we?

When we left off, Caden had just asked a friend of his to Homecoming!  About a week after he had asked her, I got a text from her asking if she could come decorate Caden's room.  He was just starting Fall Baseball so it worked out great that he would be gone after school.  We set up a day and she showed up, with her friend, to decorate his room.
I expected a full on trashing of his room but it was pretty tame!  Both of the girls were really cute and friendly!  They decorated it with balloons, streamers, and the glow in the dark stars that stick on the walls.  They put a sign on the front of his door and then the answer on the back of the door.  He was pretty surprised when he got home!

So, a few days later Caden was playing in his SECOND game of Fall ball.  He was playing First base, a ball was hit towards him from the Batter,  Caden scooped it off the ground and went back to First to tag the runner.  The runner hit into his gloved hand and somehow bent back Caden thumb on his right hand.  I took him to instaCare to have Xrays.  He ended up having a small hairline fracture along the base of his thumb on the inside of his hand.  No more Fall Baseball and just in time for his first dance! :( .  Because his hand was so swollen they wrapped it.  We were told to bring him back after a few days to put a cast on.

Dustin took him back to the doctor a few days later.  The doctor decided to not cast it.  Caden just needed to keep a brace on it for a few weeks to let it heal.

HOMECOMING!

     After Caden was given a "Yes" to Homecoming we had very little time to get the plans rolling.  We took him shopping for new clothes.  He was double dating with his friend Justin and his date.  They planned to take the girls to Boondocks for their day date, go home and change, pick up their dates, go to dinner and then the dance.  Since both boys couldn't drive yet, Justin's family would take and pick up for their day date and I would be driving that night.  Depending on the girl's curfews they would possibly end up back at our house to watch a movie after the dance.

     The day of the dance they headed off to Boondocks.  I told Caden to take pictures on his cell phone while they were there.  Do you think he did??? NO!  He didn't want to look stupid!  GEESH! (I told him I could be an embarrasing Mother and next time follow him around with my camera - You should have seen the look on his face - LOL).  AND wouldn't you know it some of his other friends had taken their dates to Boondocks too and were posting their pictures on FB later in the day.  Anyway, when he came home it seemed like he had a lot of fun.  He got changed for the dance and looked very handsome!

He grabbed the ticket and her corsage and off we went!  Her mother was very nice to let us come in and take pictures!  They all looked so great!

All the kids seemed nervous at first - it is a lot different to be on a date than talking to each other at school. I just laughed to myself.  When the night was over everyone agreed the dance had been awesome!