Here's to 5 Years

Today is mine and Jason's 5 year anniversary. The last 5 years have been the best of my life. I can't hardly remember what my life was like before Jason (and my kids). He is my best friend. He is the most hardworking and honest person and would do just about anything for anyone. Most of all he is always supportive of me, and lets me be me. This brings out all the best in me. I wouldn't be who I am without him! Love you Jase! Well since I just got a new computer I don't have any pics yet on this computer so.. until I get them loaded, here is one I made him take with me just now--he didn't like that!

Today is also Jason's parents anniversary. I don't remember how many years it is for them--we are guessing 28. Happy anniversary to Shelly and David, the absolute best in-laws in the world (no I'm not just saying that because they will read this!) We love them and appreciate their love and support. We only wish we could live closer so we could be together more often. Happy anniversary to you--to us!


Today is also exciting because we found out that my sister-in-law is going to have a baby boy. When I told Mckenna this she said that she was so excited for a little baby Jesus. That's the only baby boy she is familiar with. Congratulations Brian and Ash!

Well Christmas has come and gone, and I am feeling very blessed. We couldn't be with family this year, but we have good friends that we spent Christmas eve with. We did a nativity with the kids. Mckenna was Mary for about 2 minutes and then announced that it was taking too long so she gave up her role to her friend. We are so thankful to know people here that kind of take you in and make you feel like family. Friendships are different, and stronge with people when you have no family around to rely on.

Like most parents, the excitement of Christmas morning is not in opening presents, but in watching your children s excitement. This year was no different for me. Except for on top of getting to watch my girls get so excited they might jump up to the ceiling, I was given some really nice gifts. We'll start with Jason, but there is a story that goes with his best gift.

Jason had gone out shopping alone. I knew that he had bought a few little things I had asked for, but Jason usually sticks to what I tell him when it comes to gifts for me. Opening gifts from him is so nice, but not usually much of a surprise. On his shopping trip I was sure that he had bought a play station 3--something I really don't want him to have-- but apparently he just had to have a blue ray player. Wrapped under the tree was a box about the size of a PS3. When I looked closer at it I was a little annoyed that he had gone to so much trouble to wrap something for himself and then he even put "to: Celeste, Love Jason." I figured he was joking around. The next night we went to a little Christmas party for Jason's work. Jason was working, but me and the girls went. A bunch of guys were talking about what they were going to get their wives for Christmas. I told them just get yourself a play station, wrap it and put HER name on it. They were laughing pretty hard about it and even harder when I told them Jase really did that.
Jason took a bunch of crap at work from the guys.. and i don't know if anyone believed him (including me) when he said that it wasn't really a play station under the tree.
I opened it Christmas morning I was very surprised. Jason had wrapped a shoe box with old shoes in it (to give it weight) and under the shoes was a beautiful diamond necklace. Jason also got me a new laptop.

The girls had so much fun opening their presents. Kayla would open something look at it with utter joy and wonderment and then throw it aside and ask for another one to open. Mckenna really couldn't contain herself. It was so fun to watch them. One of the things we got them was a sled. Snow and anything to do with snow is so new to her. Kayla's gift to mommy this year may have topped everything now and from previous Christmas's. She decided on Christmas that she wanted to wear panties and use the potty. She has had some accidents, but I think after this week she will be diaperless. Who could ask for more?

I missed my family, but we still had a Merry Christmas.

cold--snow.. but not ice

Moving to Maine has been a big change. I don't mind the snow as much as I thought I would. I don't mind the cold either, but the thick Ice.. that's not fun. It was -4. Yes that's a negative!!! The pattern here lately has been snow, then rain, then cold. Thus we end up with thick sheets of ice everywhere. It hasn't been fun and I just hope that it will warm up so getting in and out of the car doesn't take 25 minutes each time. I 'll get some pictures up of this soon.. it's actually kind of cool to look at.. just not live in!

Thanksgiving

I have to say that Thanksgiving feels much different here than it did in Arizona. Maybe it's the difference in weather--having snow on the ground and the cold air, or maybe it's that we had not just turkey, but moose too (which is really good if you ever get the chance). We had a lot of fun (except that Jason had to work and we missed him terribly). We were invited to spend Thanksgiving with some other loners--meaning they have no family around either. There are about 5 other families in our situation up here so we all got together and gave thanks. I wish that I could have been with my family, but we still enjoyed it.
Here are the cutest in the world--ready to play and eat!

Happy Birthday my little Kenna

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Mckenna's birthday was yesterday. I can't believe she is 4. We didn't have a big party or anything since we don't know a lot of people here yet. I don't think that bothered her. She helped me make her flip flop cake and we went to Mcdonalds. My favorite part of the day was hearing Kayla sing (she is quite the singer) "happy boooooth day to kenna...." It was so sweet. Even though we didn't do a friend party, the girls had fun playing together with kenna's new baby doll and her little ponies.

*I am just realizing that because we were so busy with the moving that I didn't post anything for Jases birthday or my birthday. Our birthdays are only a week apart--and then Mckenna's is another week after that. We get pretty birthdayed out. Are birthdays really a big deal when you get older? This was the first year that I really wasn't looking forward to saying I'm another year older. I always thought my parents were weird for dreading their birthday. Now I know the feeling.

Sweet Pea Living

My sister is the most creative person I know. She has started a vinyl lettering catalog. I thought I would try to help spread the word. I know you have all seen the vinyl stuff a lot, but her designs are very unique and the prices are great! If you are looking for a great personalized and unique Christmas gift--check this out! www.sweetpealiving.blogspot.com I also have a permanant link on my side bar. I hope you will all check this out. It's worth taking a few minutes to look at!

More Halloween Fun

The girls were cheerleaders this year. (I don't know why Kayla felt she had to stick her cute belly out?) The community here is great. They do a Halloween carnival for the kids at the rec center. The girls loved playing the games and being with other kids. I liked it cuz it's safer and a whole lot warmer. The girls won the costume contest for theirgroup--ok every kid their age "won." Actually it wasn't too cold to take the girls trick-or-treating so we did that on our way back from the carnival. We went to a few houses around our house and they were so excited to have trick-or-treaters they practically dumped their whole candy bowl in to the girls bags. The neighborhood we live in is on the outskirts of town so they get few trick-or-treaters, plus it's an older neighborhood. It was a good way to meet our neighbors. "People here sure are friendly"--that's what Mckenna says! Halloween is so fun, but really every day is Halloween around here.

Happy Halloween

When we left Willcox, I had to take a picture of our friend. Appropriate for Halloween. I hope the new owners don't kill her. When she first started building her web she was tiny. She was eatin' good! I hate spiders, but one good thing about living in AZ was that I found out there is something worse than spiders--cock roaches. How can you see this and not think it was kind of

cool? Happy Halloween!

Back on Earth

We have finally got ourselves situated here in Maine. Just in time for the winter.. yesss. I know a lot of you are wondering if I was ever going to update. I'll start at the beginning. It has been a hectic and eventful month or two. We left Willcox to make the drive. If you're wondering how we got here these are the cities we spent the night in. Albuquerque, Amarillo, Tulsa, St. Louis, Louisville, Charleston, Harrisburg, Hartford, Portland, and finally here we arrived. Now here is where I would insert pictures of all these cool cities, but I left my camera in Willcox--actually I found it under my seat with a bunch of toys when we got here. I only thought I left it. We enjoyed watching the landscape change as we drove. There was so much to look at and take in... and so much for me to think about-- the drive never got boring. With two kids it did get loud and frustrating, but never boring. Thank goodness for DVD players.

For now we are living in a nice little basement apartment--small, but it works. We are going to buy something soon I think, but we are still cruisin the market. We have just been getting a feel for everything here and so far we really like it. It snowed tonight for the first time. Playing catch up isn't very fun. I can't write a tenth of what has been happening. This is all I got --with pictures to come as soon as I can swing it!

Good Bye

My friends here are the best. They did a little surprise goodbye lunch for me. It was so sweet of them! ( I love you guys! Thanks!) It is hard to leave. I never thought that Arizona would really feel like home, but it does. The movers are coming tomorrow and we will leave a few days after that. I will take us about 10 days to drive there (by the governments 300 miles/day rule). I will try to post as soon as I can with storied about how fun the drive there was! Anyway, This is me signing off from AZ.

Home for Now

We got back from our Maine house hunting trip a couple days ago so it's catch up time. I am getting a little sick of explaining where we will be--look for Caribou on the map. That's the place! It is so amazing there. I knew it was going to be beautiful, but pictures just are never like the real thing. We drove up to Caribou from Portland which is about a 5 hour drive. We spent some time up there meeting people and getting to know the area. I am feeling a little weird because people there were so nice. More than once I found myself looking around asking, "were you talking to me?" The lady at the drug store even let me use their "non-public" restroom. A couple of logger guys at Mcdonalds told me I was gorgeous. Nice confidence boost. We couldn't get out of the church because people wanted to talk to us--I'm sure us south-westerners are fascinating--that or just weird. I knew we stood out, but I don't know why ...... yet.

Here are a few pictures from out trip--with more to come in a month or so--I know you're all on the edge of your seat for every post, but I fear this will be my last until we get settled up there.

This is Old Orchard Beach just outside of Portland (really close to Biddeford-Caleb) We planned to go to the beach and were surprised when people were there in swimming suits--it was barely 70 -- Sorry I'm not in a swimming suit. I know you're all disappointed!


This is a really cool church in Portland. There are churches every where out there and each one is very unique.

This is Mars Hill. A popular ski resort area--if I remember right it will be about 1/2 hour from us. Notice the wind energy thingys--what are those called?

The other side of the river is Canada. We were considering a house on the river. Couldn't do that down south!!

If you look close you'll see a moose..this is pretty typical of what the landscape is like there. Unless there is a farm or a house it is just thick with trees.

There's nothing as nice
as a new teddy bear
To tickle and cuddle
and take everywhere
to share all your secrets
your laughter and tears
to keep by your side
through seasons and years.
There's nothing as nice
as a new teddy bear,
except for an old one

with memories to share
.

Coming to AZ--Happy Birthday my Kayla!

We have been busy with family visits for the past few days. Jase's brother Brian and his wife Ashley moved here last week. Jase's parents were down for the weekend to help with the move so we got to have some time with them before we go out to Maine in a few more weeks. Grandma and Grandpa Mathie spoiled them as usual, but I guess that's what grandparents are for. Grandma bought them some really cool beads that Mckenna played with for hours! Work it girl!

Kayla turned 2 on the 14th. We just did a small family party. I can't believe my little baby is 2. She has got to be the cutest 2 year old. We did a sand castle cake and it turned out so cute. Kayla loves to play in the sand (as most 2 year olds do). Grandma and Grandpa got her a cute new baby with all the hip accessories. Brian and Ashely got her some really fun books, a cute puzzle and to be funny the big glasses--which everyone took turns trying on. Happy birthday my little Kayla!

Happy Birthday Papa Bear!!

Today is my dad's birthday so of course I have to post and tell you all how amazing my dad is. Me and my dad are a lot alike. He is a great example to me in everything.
If you know my dad then you know that he can fix anything.

He is an avid reader and it shows by how knowledgeable he is about so many subjects. My dad has the best sense of humor. Sometimes I joked with my friends that they were using me to come hang out and talk to my dad.

I have so many great memories of my dad. He has taught me so much about how to live the gospel and how to be responsible.

He taught me to drive the tractor and I loved when my dad would take me to the dentist because he always stopped for shakes on the way home. There are so many countless things my dad has done for me and there is no way to thank him--except to be the person he has taught me to be! Happy Birthday Dad! We love you so much!

!

The Wedding

My little sis got married on July 17th. Congratulations to Emily and Ben. The reception was in my parents backyard and turned out so beautifully. We did have to do a lot of work, but it really came together seamlessly. Emily wore my mom's wedding dress with a few changes to the length and the sleeves. She looked beautiful! Congratulations to Auntie Em and Uncle Ben!

Next Week

I was getting Kenna dressed after a bath and she put her legs out and said, "mom, my legs are really long."

I said, "Yes, your legs are really long."
"I'm getting so big."
"Yes, you are."
Then she said, "Maybe next week I'll have boobies."

She was totally serious so I said as I tried not to laugh, "yes, maybe."

Gateway

We took the girls up to Gateway Mall in SLC. Kenna didn't like it that much, I think because she didn't like the randomness of the water. Kayla however couldn't have been happier. When the music came on it was a swing song and Kayla was dancing and jumping like she was in a contest or something. I wish I had it on video. Pictures don't do that dance justice.

This is a part of Kayla's dance. Don't you love that she is in midair. That kind of shows how excited she was.

Kayla is testing the water, and then runs away when it sprays. She did this over and over. It was pretty cute.

Is she 3 or 13? I don't know why she didn't like the water.

FrIEnDs

We went up to Syracuse to visit our friends that moved not too long ago. Mckenna and Ashlyn immediately picked up where they left off. The first thing they did was dress up in pretty leotards. Mckenna wore it to bed. We tried to put them in the same room and it worked for about 2 minutes.




We let the girls play outside for a while.
Kayla's favorite thing was driving her and Kynlee
around in the jeep--until they saw an airplane.



Our friends live really close to Jason's childhood home so we drove by and took this picture. He lived in Utah until I think the 5th grade. Then they moved to California. He was happy to see that the house was in good condition.