14 Years...and counting!

This time, 14 years ago, Scott & I were being married in the Salt Lake Temple. If you ask Scott what he rememebrs about that day, he will tell you that he thought he was being "stood up" because I was late getting to the temple! What I remember, and for anyone that was there with us, was how COLD it was. Seriously Scott & I had blue lips in our pictures!! We laugh about it now, but we were freezing that day!

So here are 14 things I love about Scott...
1. i love when you laugh
2. how you can make me laugh
3. Graison
4. Baylee
5. my bike you got me for Christmas!
6. how you let me talk you into my crazy logic about a "SALE"
7. that we are now closer to my family than yours
8. that you love to cook
9. what a talented photographer you are
10. you hardly ever complain
11. i love your family
12. you make me try new things
13. you played board games with my family at Christmas
14. that we will be together for time & all eternity!!

What A Weekend!!!

December 13 Baylee had a Christmas Dance Recital, where she was in the Nutcracker. She was so excited, and of course did an awesome job! I absolutely love watching her dance.

So, during the recital I got a phone call from my mom saying that they were headed to our house. I was a little surprised, but always excited to see family, and my sister Joy was coming to our house for the first time. I kept getting phone calls, saying how terrible the roads were and they were having to drive very slow. What is usually a 4 hour drive took them about 7! I felt so bad that they were having such a horrible time, but blessed that they were making this trip to see me and my family.

When they finally get here, we are bringing bags in, and putting dinner in the oven...When there is a knock on the back door. I ask one of the kids to help Aunt Joy in (knowing she went out to get bags) and my mom says, Jana just go get it for her. So I open the door for Joy, only to find my other sister Jennifer and her 3 adorable boys!!!!!!! I wish I could have seen the look on my face. I was surprised and couldn't stop saying how shocked I was.



My sister Jennifer truly is amazing. She flew..ALL BY HERSELF...with 3 boys (ages 4, 3 and 18 months) into Vegas then had to rent a car and drive the 9 hours to our parents house. I don't know how she has any hair left!! I would have pulled mine out from the stress.

















It was a very quick visit, but I wouldn't have traded those precious hours for anything!! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family. Who would risk the icy road conditions just to surprise me. I loved getting to see 2 of my 3 sisters, and my nephews and spending time with them.

Thank you Jennifer for giving me an awesome Christmas present.
Thank you Joy and Tate for coming too, and being a part of the surprise!
Thank you Mom and Dad for coming and being a part of the visit.

I love you all. Thank you for being my family...and most important my best friends.

Date Night

Scott and I have not been out to dinner without kids since we have been to Boise. So with 2 other couples, we went to dinner and an impromptu movie (we didn't think to make reservations). We went to a nice restaurant called PF Chang's and just enjoyed the company of our friends. We had been talking about ways to enjoy the true meaning of Christmas, and trying to explain to our kids that they don't need to make long wish lists. One friend, Jodi, mentioned that in past they went and bought McDonald's gift cards then went and found homeless people. I was determined to come home and talk the kids about ways they think we could help people less fortunate than us.

As we were ordering dessert and the waiter was boxing up all our "leftovers", a homeless man walked by the window pushing his bicycle and a pull along loaded down with his belongings. The girls and I just look at each other and Cristin said, "Should we?" and we all knew what she meant. The boys didn't think we could catch up to him, but don't underestimate 3 girls trying to do a good deed! Indeed, 2 blocks and across the street later, we did catch up to this gentleman and offered him our food. He was very thankful, and we immediately felt so good for doing this for him. Honestly the leftovers probably would have sat in our fridge for days only to get thrown out.

I am so thankful for friends who are such a good example to me. I honestly would never have done anything like this before. Then in listening to the First Presidency's Devotional tonight, talking about helping those less fortunate just reemphasized this for me. I am going to try and set a good example for my kids.