Mom's Birthday :)

Yesterday was my mom's BIG 40th birthday! Hahaha this may sound weird, but I feel older now because of her birthday! I can't imagine how she's feeling... ;)
I'd like to apologize in advance, I didn't take that many pictures, and I'm kind of mad at myself for it :P

My mom loves hot air balloons. She's like a little kid when it come to them actually, she will literally scream and freak out. We have to calm her down. It's great. So, we had a few plans for her birthday this year because it was especially big (even bigger than my 16th birthday if I might add). My mom's first plan, she wanted to drive Navoo down to the night before her birthday and spend some days there. I was way excited for this plan, I adore traveling anywhere, especially if it is a road trip. That plan failed because Ash has basketball stuff :P (as always, that's why we can never go anywhere in the winter, and cuz of my mom's work).
Next plan, ride a hot air balloon. Of course this would be one of the options. This one actually worked though! We woke up at 5:00am on her birthday. It was in Park City where we were going to go. So we start heading there, we were about half way there and they people called and said that we wouldn't be able to do it because there was a storm coming and there were high winds. We sadly turned around and went home. My mom was really bummed, but we are going tomorrow on Katelyn's birthday instead. So that worked out ok ;)
So the rest of the day we came home, and took  nap. My mom decided that what she wanted to do for her 40th birthday for some crazy reason was get a mammogram. Who does that really. Talk about ouch. But it really was because my aunt Rachel works at the hospital and it was "walk in Wednesday's" and my aunt could do it for her. Still... some birthday present ;)
So while she was out me and sisters cleaned up the house really good and then when she came we gave her feet and hand massages (I know, hand massage... it's weird, but she loves it...) and a manicure and pedicure. She loved it. That's one of her favorite things. Then we got ready and decorated for her party her sisters were throwing for her here. Then we had the party and it was pretty entertaining and fun :)

Her presents from my aunts. Of course.

She loved them.

She didn't really like her hat... she started to chew on it ;)

I'm actually surprised we didn't get the cops called on us, we were playing loud games and stuff. I couldn't hear myself think, but it was great!

All we really did way play games and eat food. But that's the best times. One of the funniest times of the night was when my mom and a few of her sisters played just dance... some for the first time. Talk about peeing in your pants! We couldn't stop laughing!!! It was hilarious and so much fun ;) I do have a video, but for some reason can't upload it...


So that was pretty much the day :) it was great. I love my mom so much and I'm glad she had such a good time :)

CHRISTmas :

Christmas this year was a little different from the rest. Really only  because I don’t technically “live” at home, even though I come here every weekend. So we had our normal family Christmas party for my moms side of the family and it was great as usual good food (especially the new chocolate fountain that I hope is at every single one of our parties), family, and fun (as all our parties are).

We usually do a dinner with everyone, then the older kids (us) get to go and fill the socks that everyone brings. The whole sock thing was a tradition I think my great grandmas started with my mom and her siblings and they loved it so we continue it and do it every year. So we filled the socks while the kids got ready to the nativity which is what we do every year as well. I remember being in the nativity, oh man good times. We always wanted to be the shepherds. When we were little we wanted to be the angels. The cutest thing about that is, all the parents are recording and just loving it while me and my cousins and sisters can’t help but giggle and laugh at the little kids just wandering around the stage like they are on a new plant. It’s great.

So then after that we have Santa come (my uncle James) and give all the kids their socks and they can sit on their laps. The funny thing that happened this year was we had a microphone that was really the microphone that went to the primary room. So it was like a foot long and Ashley looked like a fool trying to use it. And yes, we really do need a microphone for just our family. We are very large, and very loud. I guess that’s what you get for having 9 siblings. It’s just a party every day!

Another funny thing, my aunt Diane brought coal for my mom. So, we called her up with the weird microphone she sat on Santa’s lap and he gave her a huge rock of coal. That’s just my aunt Diane for you. She’s hilarious and always does the funniest things to everyone. In July we voted her the funniest of all our Aunts ;)

Then, it was Diane’s turn to sit on Santa’s lap. My mom had this huge bag of red hot’s that we have literally had for 5 years. My mom brings it to the gingerbread making party we have around Christmas at Diane’s every year. It’s hilarious because we all remember it and don’t even use them.

So, Diane sat on her lap and guess what she got? Yep. The bag of red hot’s. She laughed so hard.

This year was a musical Christmas theme. After we do the whole Santa things we do something that goes with our theme. So people performed piano songs and stuff. Then Karl sang her song, with the weird microphone. After she was done singing, my grandmas told my mom “Her middle name is Ruth.” My mom laughed and then announced that to everyone. My grandmas is always so supportive and kind. I love her so much!

That was that. We went shopping a little after then went home to get ready for Christmas eve. We cleaned up, ate dinner, and went a little crazy. Literally, we were bouncing off the walls. It was a blast. We always get to open one present on Christmas eve, it’s always PJ’s. Not this year!

A little bit ago I told my mom that we had a lot of pictures of Christ in our house so this year (we get a different picture for our house every year from the money that my grandmas gives our family for Christmas) so I really think it would be cool to have a picture of a strong women in the church like Emma Smith or someone like that. So we all open our presents expecting pajamas. But nope, we each got a beautiful picture of one of the ten virgins. I think it’s beautiful. Then we read the story of the ten virgins and talked about it. My mom told us that every time we looked at the picture we should think that we can be her and return to our heavenly father making sure that our lamps are lit at all times. J It was very spiritual and a new twist to our Christmas eve. I can’t wait to get home and hang it up J

The rest of Christmas was fun. I like it being on Sunday because then it really is centered on Christ. We woke up early to go to our cousins church and watch her sing, her church was at 9:00 so we didn’t open our presents before. We came home and opened them and then ate breakfast, played a few games and went to church.

What I got for Christmas:

1.      New lotion and perfume.

2.     New shirts

3.     New shoes

4.     A new super cute coat

5.     A Cosmo pillow pet

6.     A new BYU jacket

7.     New pair of jeans

8.     The picture

9.      A spongebob connect 4 game

10.   Lot of stuff in my stocking

11.   Your Happily Ever After book (which I’ve wanted forever, it’s my favorite talk ;)

12.  A weight watchers scale (I think my mom is trying to tell me something ;)

13.    Then a bunch of stocking stuff that was stuff I actually needed like bobby pins, pencils, gum, and chap stick.

Overall, it was simple and amazing J I loved every second of it! 

You might be a Calder Girl if...

You LITERALLY pee your pants from laughing at least once a month.

You run out of mustard twice as fast as ketchup and mayonnaise.

You have never ordered soda at a restaurant.

You lose everything you touch.

You have never been on time to anything in your entire life.

You can eat 5 serving of fruit and not have diarrhea.

You can eat mashed potatoes for every meal.

You’re wearing BYU clothes before you have the chance to decide if you like it or not.

You always have some kind of ice cream in your fridge.

You’d rather stay in a tent than a hotel.

You have family parties just for the heck of it.

You are an expert in card games.

You cry when you lose a basketball game.

You make at least 6 different kinds of baked goods in one day.

Your competitive side comes out in everything you do.

You sing at the top of our lungs just because it’s fun.

You can run around in your house naked.

You can talk about “girl stuff” 24/7.

You spend more money on food for the neighbor kids than your own family.

You always have a party going on at your house that you didn’t know about and… EVERYONE’s invited.

You leave your Christmas tree up till March.

You’ve never read more than 5 books in your life.

More will come when they enter my brain ;) 

The Simple Things :)

Fun things we do ;) 

I really believe that it’s the simple things in my life, or anyone’s life, are what really  make it all worth while. 

This last week I’ve really just been noticing the really simple things that matter and that truly make me happy.

For instance, yesterday we were at our neighbor’s house (The Wilson’s) and we talked for 5 hours straight just about everything from basketball to poop to Christmas. We literally were on the floor laughing our guts out. NONE of us could even breathe! We just couldn’t stop laughing about everything. It was amazing. It was really needed after a long week of finals and other stressors from the weekend. I really just can’t believe the little moments that my Heavenly Father puts into my life that make me extremely happy. I don’t know what I would do without them! I’m so glad that I have the Holy Ghost and the spirit in my life so that I can listen and just enjoy these little moments.

Things like:

Playing Disney Sing-it with my Mom and sisters and screaming all the songs at the top of our lungs acting like we are in our own personal concert. And again, laughing till we all had to run to the bathroom.

Setting up the Christmas tree and putting the ornaments up one-by-one laughing and telling Christmas memories.

Seeing a boy kiss his girl friend on the head as she gets a huge grin on her face.

My mom telling me she loves me at least 3 times a day even when I’m not at home.

My dog coming up and cuddling with my while I’m sleeping.

Someone telling me that my hair is beautiful ;)

Hearing my sister sing and play the guitar.

Going to see my Dad’s grave and reading scriptures and talking about him and all the memories.

Just listening to my mom talk about things spiritual.

Wrestling with Katelyn till we both are sore.

Anyways, I know there’s more, but really I just appreciate the little small things in life. I don’t know how anyone could be happy if they didn’t have all those small experiences and notice them. J  

This is the cutest Mormon Message that really describes what I'm talking about :) 

Moments that Matter Most

Answered Prayers!

Prayers do get answered and I have living proof of this!

I have been praying for, well a lot of things, but some things in particular. For one friend in particular, that is for one of my friends to go on a mission. Actually, I have been fasting for this as well.

So, anyways, long story short. He called me the other night and told me he was going to go on a mission. The funny thing was, that just last Sunday was when I was really fasting hard for him. It was AMAZING to hear those words! I couldn’t believe, well, I could, that my prayer had been answered! Heavenly Father just has certain timings and things that we need to work with. Patience is something I have been trying and trying to learn, because it’s really hard for me. But, I’m getting better at it because I know and have faith that it will all work out in the end.

But anyways, I just know that fasting and prayer works and that He really knows us, and loves all of us more than we will ever understand or know! He’s just amazing in every way!

Theeeeee End!