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!

Fourteen!

My baby girl turned 14 in July!  I will say it again, the years go by so fast!  Carlin is such a wonderful young woman and we love having her in our family.  The first year of being a teenager actually went pretty well.  I hope it stays that way :).
To celebrate she had two birthday parties one with each of our families.  She scored with the presents - geesh!  On my side of the family, we celebrate Carlin and my niece Madalyn's birthday together for July.

New Pair of shoes

Money is nice!

Carlin and Maddie

And what is I am sure one of the highlights of her birthday was the surprise party her BFF Bailey threw for her!  The day before Carlin's birthday Bailey asked if Carlin could hang out with her and their friend Matt.  At around 3:00 p.m. they came to her door with their swimsuits on.  Carlin was like "You didn't tell me we were going swimming!"  So she went outside to leave and on the side of the house her friends yelled surprise!  They walked to the park up the street where they met up with Bailey's parents Mike and Bobbi!  They were so awesome to help out Bailey and put the party together.  Dustin and I had given them money for pizza and treats since we were both working.  

The kids had a blast playing kick ball (boys against girls), throwing water balloons and cupcakes at each other, hitting each other with socks full of flour (what a mess - LOL) and the highlight was spraying each other with a fire hose.  Mike works for Unified Fire and had some of his coworkers brought a firetruck to the park!

Carlin and Bailey

Later on they went back to Bailey's house to play games, jump on the trampoline and just hang out!

  

Thanks Bailey, Bobbi and Mike!

Happy Birthday Carlin darlin!  We love you!

SURPRISE!

My siblings and I decided to throw my parents a "Surprise" Happy 60th Birthday and 40th Wedding Anniversary Party!  They are pretty much the best parents in the world so we thought it would be fun to get family and friends together for a little celebration at my house!  I wish I could post all the pictures because they are all so cute but here are a few to browse over. . . 

The Invite!



Guestbook table





Family picture



Just for Fun :)




Mom and her high school friends



Mom's family - cute!

Great friends!

Fun cousins!

Here is to many more years - We Love You!

Lordy, Lordy Look Who's 40!

Yes - Dustin and I have hit the BIG 40!  I can't believe it!  Don't you remember when you were young and you think 40 is soooo old!

Our first celebration was before our birthdays and to celebrate with our cute nephew Hunter who turned 5!

Dustin is 10 days older than me so for his actual birthday I had invited some family and close friends to a "Mini" Surprise party.  I told him the morning of his birthday about the party!  And - he was very surprised but he was fine about it.  The kids and I took him to dinner and then came back to the house for the party.  It was on a Tuesday night but we had a pretty good turnout.  I really appreciate everyone who was able to be there.  I could tell he had a great time!



"40 sucks" suckers :)





On my birthday, I went to lunch with one of my BFF's Jen - she is wonderful!  We went to Archibald's in Gardner Village and then walked around the shops.  Later on when the kids came home from school, everyone gave me presents!  I received a cute new purse and Dustin SPOILED me with a 3 hour pamper package at The Cottage Retreat Spa in Gardner Village.  I get a pedicure, facial and a massage!  I can't wait to get this booked!  Then we went to dinner at Lonestar.  We also had family over for my favorite Brownies and Ice Cream!!