It's Great to be the big sister!

I have added a couple of postings today so be sure to check them out!

I just had to put this picture up of my cute siblings. This was taken at Hunters b-day (I am not quite sure where I am)

Let me tell you why I am lucky to be the oldest sister of this crew.

Shanae (18) far left 1st off is just gorgeous. When she was a little girl she looked so much like me. She is kind, compassionate a ball of fun and is turning into a beautiful young woman!
James (26) is the only boy of all us girls. He was the cutest little fart when he was little we use to dress that kid up like a girl all the time. He reminds me so much of Jim Carey. He has the heart of gold but is always the comedian. He is a Captain in the US Army and he and his wife are expecting their 1st baby in May.

Jen (27) is only 17 months younger than me. She has always been so photogenic. She is gracious and kind and so sweet she could give you cavities. She would give you the shirt off of her back if you asked her for it. She is the most amazing mother and always surprises me with her patience. She is a stay at home working mom and a read hot real estate agent (anyone buying or selling a home?)

Misty (14) the baby of our family. She is 15 years younger than me and I was so lucky to get to grow up with her. She taught me so much on how to me a mother! She is so fashionable, I love to see what new hair style of clothes fashion she is going to have next. She is a great aunt to all the little nieces and nephews and loves them to pieces!

Christmas Festivities

Well Christmas this year was a whirlwind as usual. We went down to Salt Lake on the 23rd and went for Family pictures with all the Tippets on Christmas eve (my brother James is here on leave only for 2 weeks) Then it was the Annual Tippets Christmas party with all of my dads family. Then we dash home to try and get our kids to bed at a decent time. (Aren't they cute int heir matching jammies?!?!) We set up all of santas gifts upstairs (santa doesn't wrap at our house) and we told Hunter that he couldn't come upstairs until we woke up so we could all see the loot together. Justin stayed up till 4am putting together the air hockey table the his mom gave us and at 7am we hear Hunter screaming from the bottom up of the stairs MOM, DAD!!!! Aspen slept through the whole morning wich was just fine with me. The kids were so excited for their presents. Hunter got a wakeboard and a sled that will fit 2 (he asked santa for a sled that him and his brother could both ride), Ridge got a little tykes play house/kitchen set (I know he is a boy but he loves to play pretend and he thinks it is awesome) and Aspen got bedding for her crib. My wonderful husband bought me a BOSCH. I have been told by all of the amazing bread makers in my ward that you have to have a BOSCH to make great bread. That and Justin is sick of eating bread that is more like pound cake!
That evening we went to Justin's moms and the kids got spoiled there with lots of toys and clothes plus she always makes the best Christmas Day food. Then the day after Christmas we went back to my parents and did presents there. The kids got even more presents (there was more than they ever needed this year) and us big kids got an Itouch which was a HIT! Michele makes an awesome snack/dip bar for us all to munch on and we played a Wii all night and then had a big sleep over!
It was so much fun crammed into 4 short days!

A Week of Birthday's!

So on top of the busy Christmas season we always have a busy birthday week on top! Hunter turned the big 6 on the 14th! We had all the family up for dinner and a party then the next day had all of his friends over for some good old fashioned games and cake. All he wanted for his birthday and Christmas was an Ipod well he got his wish. It was so hard for us to decide if he should have one or not but I am so happy with my purchase. My sister gave him an Idog and with the 2 together has had a ball listening to all his favorite Disney toons and primary songs! I still can't believe that he is 6. I still remember the discomfort of pregnancy as if it were yesterday. He has brought so much joy into our home and reminds me so much of myself. We have always said that he has more Tippets in him than Torman.

Then my last year of being in my twenties was Tuesday and my parents took us to my annual Outback Steakhouse dinner (thanks guys!) As a huge surprise Justin gave me a Garmin GPS for my car (I have been begging for one for over a year) no more getting lost going to hosts/customers homes YEAHHH! My parents gave me this AMAZING map to hang in my office. I know if sounds lame but I really wanted a world map that I could put a colored pin in each time we went somewhere new.

He put it away!

Well much to my surprise the morning after my post about Justin's suitcase I awoke and it was emptied. While it did sit at the top of the stairs awaiting me to put it away (I can't ask for perfection can I!) in the basement. You all had such fun comments, Mindy yours was the best!

Who will win?

Now if you know me well you know that I don't like to lose so let me share a story with you about how I AM NOT GOING TO LOSE. This is Justin's suitcase and you will notice that the whole bottom section is filled with clothes from his trip to North Carolina in which he came back from 2 WEEKS AGO! I took out all the dirty clothes and washed them all that is left is the clean ones. This is sitting at the foot of our bed and he has to walk over it several times a day. I have only asked him a couple of times to please put them away and he said "I was waiting for you do do that" so I am holding my ground, I am not going to say anything but lets take a bet on how long it takes to put these away as well as the suitcase! ARGHHHHH!

So much to be Thankful For!

Once again another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I do have to say that this is one of my favorite holidays. I think mostly because I get to be with everyone I love and there are no worries of present buying, plus my hubby usually is home with me for 4 days in a row! YEAH!!! This year we started with a 5k run/walk that was done right in our neighborhood to raise donations of food for the needy. It was gorgeous weather and we had a great time. Hunter ran the ENTIRE way. We then went to a great dinner put on my my dad's sister at her church house. I love to see all of my cousins, aunts & uncles and their kids and catch up. Then we spent the night at my parents and me and my sisters got up at 4:30 for our annual shopping adventure. I really didn't have much to buy but it is fun to be with my sisters. We spent the rest of the weekend as a family putting out all the Christmas decorations and shooting clay pigeons. When we woke up Thursday morning we all laid in our bed and said what we were thankful for. It went something like this: Hunter: Ridgey, Apsen, Mom, Dad, Lake Powell, Granny, Papa, Grandma Naeg, Panka, Grandma Tippets & Grandpa Naeg Justin: Only 2 things because without those nothing would be possible, Jori & My grandma & Grandpa Jori: A husband that works so hard for our family, down comforters, Tivo, blogs, sleeping past 7am!

Pineapple Addicts

I had to just share a fun little blurb about our family. For a few years Justin and I have been buying whole pineapples from Costco. (they are around $3) Well our kids have fell in love for the tropical fruit as much as us. It has become quite the event to cut the pineapple up. Each kid now uses their own knife and we whip out the big cutting board and cut away. I always get a large bowl out to put it in but we end up only filling it up half full because the kids eat so much of it. As you can see we are training Aspen for the days to come!